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Ceasefire Deal Struck For Ukraine; Pope Proposes Changes To Vatican Bureaucracy; Korea Air Executive Convicted; Kurdish Fighters Cut Off Lifeline To Mosul; Uber Adds New Safety Features to App
Aired February 12, 2015 - 8:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.
Now breakthrough in Belarus. Now leaders agree to a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine, but will it work this time around?
Plus, Egyptian authorities release two jailed journalists after they spent more than 400 days in prison. We are live in Cairo with the
conditions placed on their freedom.
And a former Korean Air executive in South Korea is found guilty in the now infamous nut rage case.
We begin this hour with hopeful developments out of Belarus.
Now world leaders holding peace talks in Minsk have agreed to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and for all parties to pull back their heavy
weapons. That ceasefire is said to begin on Sunday. It was agreed to during 17 hours of talks between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany
and France.
In a statement all four leaders also acknowledged their respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The German
Chancellor Angela Merkel says big hurdles remain, but that the outcome provides a glimmer of hope.
Now all this as Kiev says Russian tanks and rocket launchers crossed the border into Ukraine during those peace talks.
Now for more, CNN's senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen joins us now live from Kiev. And Fred, a lot going on here. So what is
the view in Kiev about this new ceasefire deal?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's sort of a wait and see attitude at this point. I think many here in Kiev might be
somewhat disappointed at some of the details of this new ceasefire agreement, especially the fact that Ukraine de facto won't have control
over its eastern border the way it wants to until the end of this year.
There's also a lot of political concessions that the Ukrainians have made as well.
But of course the main thing that was agreed to -- and this was the most important to the government here in Kiev -- is the fact that there is
going to be this ceasefire that goes into place on Sunday at midnight and then going forward a day after that heavy weapons need to be removed from
the battlefield -- 50 kilometers for artillery, somewhere between 70 and 140 kilometers for rocket launchers, depending on how big the rockets are.
So that's the most important thing for the government here in Kiev.
Petro Poroshenko, the president of this country, came forward after the negotiations were done and he said there was a lot of pressure along
the way. Let's listen in to what he had to say afterwards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETRO POROSHENKO, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): I can say that everything was difficult, and in fact various unacceptable
conditions were put to us -- conditions of retreat, of surrender. We did not succumb to a single ultimatum and clearly defended our position that a
ceasefire be announced without any preliminary conditions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: There's actually also been some military units that are fighting on the front lines, some of them have already criticized this new
-- this new ceasefire agreement saying that defacto Ukraine appears to be ceding some of its territory.
So, there are some people who criticized this very heavily. There's others, of course, who say that his is the only way out of this conflict.
And if you listen to the other leaders that were present there, especially the Europeans Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande who are saying that this
is by no means a perfect deal that was made here. However, at this point in time it is the most progress that could be achieved.
And you said, Angela Merkel saying this is a glimmer of hope and certainly something to work with going forward, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yeah, we have a ceasefire, but a lot of details need to be hammered out. Fred Pleitgen joining us live from Kiev. Thank you.
Now lets get the latest from Belarus. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now live from Minsk. And Nic, as Fred
just mentioned with the number of issues yet to be settled here, will this be a ceasefire that can last?
PLEITGEN: It's going to depend on the sequencing, it's going to depend on the sort of goodwill and faith of both sides and how much the
sequencing builds trust.
The initial part of the sequencing is the most fundamental part, if you will, that is that the ceasefire needs to come into place in two-and-a-
half days time fully all the way along the front lines. If that happens, then the heavy weapons are supposed to pull back. After that, if the heavy
weapons are all pulled back to everyone's satisfaction that the buffer zone as agreed is created. Then there would be a move to change parts of the
Ukrainian constitution to allow local elections in the separatist region. If all of that goes off successfully, by the end of the year you could have
the Ukrainian government back to controlling its own borders, particularly that area between the separatist region and Russia.
That's been so much concern for the Ukrainian government, because obviously when they don't have eyes on that and don't control it their
concern is that Russia could easily flow more weapons, more troops across the border into the separatist region of southeast of Ukraine as indeed the
Ukrainian government is saying Russia has been doing in the past 24 hours.
So it's in that sequencing that really this whole thing can founder. And again, there are still details that we have yet to learn and those
cautions really that we're hearing from the Germans and the French, this is not the best deal that the one that they were hoping to achieve, it's the
best they could get. So it's going to come down to that level of trust that's established on the ground and that is in very, very short supply,
Kristie.
LU STOUT: The deal was the best they could get there in Minsk. How will that outcome influence discussion at the EU summit in Brussels today
where sanctions will be on the agenda?
ROBERTSON: That's a tough one to predict. The expectation had been that these talks would be given time to see if there could be a political
solution, but if there was a failure to get a political agreement, therefore they could be an increase in sanctions on Russia. The EU had
sanctions and it increased sanctions ready to go, pencil -- penned on paper if you will that were ready if you put in place on the 16 of February,
that's a day after the deadline is supposed to come into play.
One can expect the European leaders to be reasonably skeptical at the moment, hopeful but skeptical of the situation here. So they will likely
park again those increased sanctions that were going to be leveled against Russia and some of the separatist elements. They will possibly park those
and push those down further down the time line to be looked at in a week or two weeks perhaps.
So I don't think we're going to see those pushed off the table just yet, because this has a long way in which it can play out and a long way in
which it can further go wrong.
Obviously, the European Union, the French and the Germans have a big role to play. That's been established here in assisting beyond what the
IMF plans to do, that $17.5 billion over four years to help the Ukrainian government. But the French and Germans expected to play a role in
rebuilding the finance and banking sector in those areas that have been affected by the fighting.
So there is a lot that the European Union stands ready to do when it comes to sanctions. I think they're going to be cautious and I think
they're going to wait with what they've already got pen to paper on before they put that in place -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Nic Robertson reporting on the international response to the crisis in Ukraine and that new ceasefire
deal. Thank you, Nic.
Now let's take a look at what the rebels have been fighting for and why. Now there are two main areas of control -- Luhansk and Donetsk --
have cut off virtually all of southeast Ukraine. The latest flashpoint is Debaltseve.
Now the government-controlled territory is a rail and road hub, a strategic area, that's why the rebels are eager to take control of it from
Ukrainian forces.
And you have Mariupol that's in the south. It's not only a key port, it's also a gateway to Crimea that Russia annexed last year. But so far
Crimea is inaccessible from Russian soil.
Now on our website, we have a reminder of how we got to this point from the 2013 protests in Kiev to the referendum in Crimea and the previous
failed ceasefire. You can find it all at CNN.com.
Now, after more than 400 days in prison, an Egyptian court has released two al Jazeera journalists. And one of them, the Cairo bureau
chief Mohamed Fahmy is free on bail of more than $30,000. But their retrial has not been dismissed.
Now CNN's Ian Lee has been monitoring developments from inside the courtroom. Let's go to him right now in Cairo.
And Ian, the retrial again has not been dismissed, but the two journalists are no longer behind bars. So what brought about their
release?
IAN LEE, CNN CORREPSONDENT: Well, Kristie, this is a moment of joy that for many in a trial that has been disappointing so far with
journalists will be freed We do not know exactly when after talking with a family member so they said that they're just looking forward to having
some time with them after -- over 400 days.
And you have to remember that Bahar Mohammed had a child born while he was in jail. So he is going to have a meeting with his baby.
And also Mohamed Fahmy, he has serious medical issues that need to be taking care of the family. (inaudible) about that.
It really comes down to the judge's ruling. He was looking at the previous -- that sent this trial into a retrial. The judge said that there
wasn't enough evidence. There wasn't anything to tie the journalists to the Muslim Brotherhood, to supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, all to
pointing out to the fact that they were tried in a terrorism court when they hadn't convicted -- or haven't any of the crimes -- alleged crimes
were nonviolent.
So the judge used sound rationale to release them. And the courtroom erupted in cheers. Mohamed Fahmy gave an impassioned speech before the
trial, or during the trial talking about his medical condition, but also talking about having to give up his Egyptian nationality, which was a very
painful process for him.
I'm talking to the family. They said that they're going to not try to get out right away, but going to see what the legal procedure is. If
Mohamed can leave then country, then they will try to go that route. But his brother said that they're going to just try to do everything by the
book as to not screw this -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yeah, a lot of moving parts here to bring about the release of these two journalists.
Ian Lee reporting live from Cairo, thank you.
Now you're watching News Stream. And up next, a horrendous crime. Three Muslim students are shot and killed in the United States. Police
think it was a dispute unrelated to their religion, but their family has a different theory.
Plus, it started with macadamia nuts and it's ending with prison time. The outcome of the Korean Air nut rage trial could be a cautionary story
for the way South Korea's corporations do business.
Also ahead, Uber is back online in New Delhi with new high tech features designed to protect women. We'll show you how the new panic
button works.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the stories we have for you on the
program today. We've already told you about that ceasefire agreement to end the violence in eastern Ukraine. And later, we'll bring you reaction
from South Korea where a former airline executive has been jailed for what's known as the nut rage incident.
But now to the U.S. state of North Carolina. Now police in the college town of Chapel Hill are looking to see whether a triple murder
there was a hate crime.
Now the three victims of the shooting were Muslim. They were college students killed by a neighbor who later turned himself in.
Now our Jean Casarez is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She's been looking into the competing theories about what might have motivated the
shooter. And she joins us now.
And Jean, what led to the deaths of these three Muslim students?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the question, that is the issue under investigation right now.
You know, this is smalltown America. This is a college community. The University of North Carolina is right here in Chapel Hill. Residents
tell me it's a very diverse culture. And that's why people cannot believe that someone would execute bullet in the head three students just beginning
their adult life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want everyone to remember them, please, only for -- in the good.
CASAREZ (voice-over): Heartbreak and outrage over the murder of three Muslim students in North Carolina.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard about eight shots go off in an apartment, more than one girl screaming.
CASAREZ: Friends and family deeming their execution-style killing a hate crime.
DR. SUZANNE BARAKAT, SISTER OF VICTIM: It's basically incomprehensible to me that you can murder three people over a parking spot.
CASAREZ: According to a preliminary investigation, police say 46- year-old neighbor Craig Hicks may have shot Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha,
sister Yusor Abu-Salha, and Deah Barakat in the head over an ongoing parking dispute at their apartment. Hicks' wife says her husband was
frustrated with the parking issue.
KAREN HICKS, WIFE OF CRAIG HICKS: I can say with my absolute belief that this incident had nothing to do with religion or victims' faith.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in shock.
CASAREZ: But the family says there had been issues of disrespect and harassment.
MOHAMMAD ABU-SALHA, FATHER OF VICTIMS: My daughter, Yusor, honest to God, told us on more than two occasions that this man came knocking at
their door, she told us, "Daddy, I think he hates us for who we are."
CASAREZ: Hicks, who claims he is an atheist, allegedly posted an anti- religious statement on his Facebook page, quote, "If your religion kept its big mouth shut, so would I." CNN cannot independently confirm the
authenticity of this post.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you. We will never forget you.
CASAREZ: Overnight, thousands gathered on University of North Carolina's campus...
DEAH BARAKAT, VICTIM: I'm embarking on a trip to Turkey with ten dentists to help Syrian refugee students in need of urgent dental care.
CASAREZ: ... mourning the loss of three scholars dedicated to serving their community.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CASAREZ: And we do want to tell you we understand the funeral for these three victims will be today.
And I want to tell you a little bit about these victims, Deah Barakat who was married for only a month to his wife, another victim, was a dental
student right here at the University of North Carolina. He had such a passion for people and dentistry, he was a son of Syrian immigrants and his
goal was to go back to Syria and teach dental hygiene to the refugees there.
Now 46 year old Craig Hicks stays behind bars. He has been charged with three counts of murder. And hate crime or not, this is North Carolina
in the United States and this is a death penalty state -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Three promising students, all victims of a horrendous crime. Jean Casarez reporting. Thank you.
And if you want to learn more about Barakat's charity, we've put a link on our website. Just go straight to CNN.com/impact. And you'll find
it there.
Now, to the U.S. state of Texas. Now the first day in the so-called American Sniper murder trial included emotional and tearful testimony from
Chris Kyle's widow.
Now Eddie Routh is accused of killing the former Navy SEAL and his girlfriend at a rifle range. And Kyle was the leading character in the
top-selling book and hit movie American Sniper.
Now the defense argues that Routh is innocent by reason of insanity. Testimony in the trial continues.
Now Pope Francis wraps up a two-day closed door meeting. He's trying to push forth major reform plans for the church and we'll go live to the
Vatican after the break. Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.
Let's return to our top story, the breaking news of that ceasefire agreement to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine. And for more on the
ceasefire deal, we're joined now by CNN's senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh. He joins us live from Donetsk. And Nick,
what is the reaction there to this ceasefire brokered in Minsk?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the leaders of the separatists have referred to how -- one of them said Ukraine needs
to be given a chance, the other, the head of the Donetsk separatists Alexander Lukachenko (ph) said how if there's a violation it will be the
Ukrainian side's fault.
But the real issue is the diplomats can run through the technicalities, set border lines. It's still a very confusing picture how
it's practically going to work, even to those with knowledge of how it's going to have to be implemented.
The question is how do the fighters on the ground actually react?
Now, we spoke to some at a key front line to the south of the city of Donetsk just a few hours ago. They hadn't actually heard of the fact a
ceasefire had been agreed. We broke that news to them and the reaction was, well, we've been deceived before. We're not going to be deceived
again. We're going to keep fighting for the rest of the Donetsk region. There's a lot of territory still to take.
Now of course these are fighters who have commanders. They may be told to lay down their arms. They may be told to obey this particular
ceasefire.
But it's a messy agreement in that you see there are heavy weapons being brought back a variety of different distances -- different for the
separatists who have to bring them back to the significantly further back lines they established in September, the last Minsk agreement. And the
Ukrainians from the current position now.
But it effectively cedes to the separatists all the territory they've taken in the past few months and does still leave separatists without heavy
weapons, perhaps potentially very close to Ukrainian troops as well. And of course provides another 36, 48 hours for the fighting to continue
potentially for some further territorial gains to be made or upset it could potentially mean the peace deal has derailed.
But in the hearts, I think, of those separatist fighters we spoke to, and I say that's a small number and they do have commanders who can
overrule them, there was certainly a sense of anger that meant it's unlikely you'll suddenly see everybody go home with smiles on their faces
in the next 48 hours -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for us from Donetsk with the view on the rebel fighters there. Thank you.
Now the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is back in a French courtroom testifying at his aggravated pimping trial. It is the third day
of testimony. And again, he denies that he helped to arrange to have prostitutes at sex parties.
He was questioned about text messages sent to a friend asking if he was bringing girls, sometimes referring to them as equipment.
Strauss-Kahn says that did not refer to prostitutes.
Now, at the Vatican today Pope Francis is holding closed door meetings on how to push ahead with his reform agenda.
Now the pope called for greater efficiency and transparency within the church administration as he opened two days of talks with the entire
college of cardinals.
Now I'm joined now by John Allen. He is CNN senior Vatican analyst. And he's also the associate editor for the Boston Globe. He is live for us
in Rome. And John, good to see you.
And walk us through, I mean, precisely what kind of reforms are being discussed at the Vatican?
JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Hi, Kristie.
Well, as you know Pope Francis is sort of the Energizer Bunny of popes. I mean, he simply does not seem to have an off switch. And this is
another busy week in terms of him trying to push forward his reform campaign.
Today, as you indicated, he's brought together all of the numbers of the college of Cardinals from around the world to discuss ideas for
overhauling and restructuring the bureaucracy of the Vatican.
The idea, Kristie, being to make sure that the structures of the Vatican serve the mission of the church rather than the other way around.
So, in concrete one of the ideas that's emerged is creating a couple of new super departments, powerful new Vatican departments. One for justice and
peace and one for the laity of the family to make clear that those are core priorities of this pope and of the church.
Tomorrow, Kristie, the cardinals are going to be hearing progress reports on a new commission the pope has created to try to clean up the
child sexual abuse scandals that have been such a problem for the Catholic church and also a new structure he's created to try to avoid the financial
scandals, but over the years have been such a source of heartache for the Vatican in particular.
And this, Kristie, is all coming ahead of a big public ceremony on Saturday where the pope is going to create 20 new cardinals from all around
the Catholic world including places such as Myanmar and Tonga and Cape Verde. So it's another very busy week with a lot going on, Kristie, in
what has already been an enormously dramatic papacy.
LU STOUT: Yeah, this agenda packed week in this meeting. It comes months after that incredible speech that the pope gave back in December
when he clearly stated what he felt was wrong with the Vatican bureaucracy, everything from, in his words, spiritual Alzheimers to gossip, careerism,
et cetera, et cetera.
How will his overall reform agenda tackle all that?
ALLEN: Well, that's a good question, Kristie. I mean, it's an open question whether simply tinkering with the structures of an institution
will really change its culture. And I think Pope Francis would probably be the first to say that getting to the root of those spiritual illnesses that
you referred to that he ticked off that day -- the terrorism of gossip and so on, you know, it's simply creating new offices isn't going to accomplish
that. That that's about a spiritual reform of heart and mind.
That said, this is a pope who was elected on a reform mandate. The cardinals wanted somebody who was going to shake up the structure, shake up
established ways of doing business in the Vatican. And I think at a bare minimum, he wants to make sure that the resources of the Vatican, both its
human and its material resources, are invested not in building empires or serving personal interests, but accomplishing the things that the church is
supposedly around to accomplish. And that's why in particular I think he's interested in looking at these new departments for justice and peace, which
would mean things like the role he played in trying to pave the way for a deal between the U.S. and Cuba. It means things like his interest in the
environment and so on. But that's front and center.
And also that the life of the laity, that is ordinary rank and file believers, and in particular families, is also at the top of the to-do list
-- Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right. John Allen live in Rome for us. Thank you.
Now you're watching News Stream. Still to come on the program, the verdict is out on the nut rage trial. We've got details on the fate of the
former Korean Air executive who threw that costly tantrum over a bag of nuts.
Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq seal off a lifeline to Mosul, but will that see the ISIS stronghold crumble? We'll have an exclusive report
from the battlefield. Keep it here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.
Now leaders holding peace talks in Belarus have agreed to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and for all parties to pull back heavy weapons. That
ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday. Now the agreement follows 17 hours of talks in Minsk, Belarus. Now leaders say there is still other measures
that need to be sorted out. And it comes as Kiev says Russian tanks crossed into eastern Ukraine.
Now for more than 400 days behind bars, jailed al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy and Bahar Mohammed are out of jail, but their retrial has not
been dismissed. It's due to resume in little over a week.
Now South Korea's nut rage case has ended with the former Korean Air executive found guilty of breaking aviation law and sentenced to a year in
prison. Now Heather Cho was upset that a flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a plate. She ordered the flight back
to the gate and told the attendant to get off.
Now the case has grabbed the attention of South Koreans, because Cho is also the daughter of the chairman of Korean Air.
Now for reaction to the verdict and the sentence, CNN's Paula Hancocks is in Seoul. She joins me now.
And Paula, is the one year jail sentence much less than what prosecutors were originally seeking?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: Well, Kristie, they were going for three years in prison, but of course the maximum term that
Cho could have got for violating aviation security was 10 years maximum. So of course one year for some may seem quite lenient, but of course for
others it is significant the fact that she's going to be serving any prison time at all.
This court case was really a test case. It was about more than just one woman, more than about Heather Cho and her tantrum on board that flight
from New York to Seoul. It was also about these family run business and the very powerful and rich families that many people in South Korea believe
behave badly and allowed to get away with it.
So, the fact that she is serving any prison time at all will make some people pleased that she does appear to be treated like everybody else.
Now the three judges that decided that she was guilty of violating aviation security and also changing the flight path said that it didn't
matter that the plane hadn't moved very far, that it has only moved about 17 meters back from the gate. The fact that she ordered it back to the
gate means it deviated from the flight path and there was a security risk. So that's one of the main reasons, they say, that they found her guilty.
LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Paula Hancocks there with the latest on the verdict as well as the larger debate in South Korea about Chebols (ph),
or family run firms. Paula, thank you.
Now the U.S. President Barack Obama is asking congress to authorize military force against ISIS. He wants approval to conduct airstrikes in
Iraq and Syria, train and support non-U.S. troops and provide humanitarian assistance.
Now the mission is to last no more than three years. And there will be no combat troops except for special circumstances.
Under law, the president has to seek congress approval to prolong a military operation.
Now this map, it shows areas of Syria and Iraq that ISIS controls in red and areas where they enjoy significant freedom of movement, that's in
yellow.
Key areas include Raqqa and villages around Aleppo in Syria as well as portions of northern Iraq, including Mosul.
Now that city remains an ISIS stronghold, but Kurdish fighters threaten to end that.
Now CNN's Phil Black brings us the latest from the front lines in this exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These Kurdish fighters are holding onto very important ground.
Known as Peshmerga, they say ISIS attacks them every day, sometimes by driving huge truck bombs into their defenses.
(on camera): This is probably the most contested piece of territory in all of Northern Iraq at the moment, because, from this position, the
Peshmerga have effectively cut off ISIS from being resupplied across the border in Syria.
(voice-over): An ISIS outpost is just 800 yards away. For the Kurds, taking and holding at this crossroad is a key objective in their strategy
of surrounding and choking off Mosul, the ISIS stronghold in Northern Iraq.
And it's another sign of the huge progress the Kurds have made in rolling back ISIS initially conquered so easily.
MASROUR BARZANI, KURDISTAN REGIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: So, we had to drive them out of this entire region.
BLACK: The head of the Kurdistan's security council says the Peshmerga have taken back almost all the ground they can until the new retrained
Iraqi army is ready to take the field.
BARZANI: There are some limitations of how far we can go, because we don't want to create any political sensitivities with the Arabs. And for
the rest of the region, we need cooperation and the Iraqi army to participate.
BLACK: Much of the territory claimed by Kurdish forces has been scarred dramatically by war, homes flattened, villages wiped out.
(on camera): ISIS blew up some of these homes as they retreated. Others, they rigged with explosives to detonate when people returned.
Locals say four were killed here when they opened the front door.
(voice-over): Across this recent battlefield, people have started returning to what's left of their homes, even as the war against ISIS still
rages only a short distance away.
Phil Black, CNN, near Mosul, Northern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Now meanwhile, world leaders are looking at non-military means to fight ISIS. Now the UN security council is set to vote on a
resolution to cut off funding sources for the militant group. It calls for sanctions on anyone who buys oil from terror groups, bans the trade of
antiquities smuggled from Syria and condemns countries for paying ransoms to get back kidnapped citizens.
You're watching News Stream. And still to come, Uber is rolling out a new safety feature in India after one of its drivers was accused of rape.
We'll have the details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now Uber passengers in India can now connect with local police officers with one tap of their finger.
Now Sumnima Udas explains why the company is rolling out this new safety measure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After a spate of high profile rape cases in the capital we've been looking at what it's like to
be a woman in Delhi. We've been on public buses.
Asked a majority of women here and they'll tell you harassment is a daily issue.
We've been on three-wheeler taxis.
It seems quite safe. What can really happen in an (inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just in case you don't know where you're going, you're going to some place you haven't been before, the other riskshaw guy
would take you anywhere.
UDAS: Commuting in Delhi is simply not easy, especially for women.
So when the app-based GPS monitored car service Uber arrived in Delhi a little over a year ago, smartphone wielding young women embraced it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have to do like (inaudible) where you cannot step out after 8:00. These apps are really useful.
UDAS: Early December, though, a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped by an Uber driver. The victim sued the company saying it's not doing
enough to keep passengers safe. The service was then banned in Delhi.
"Because of that one driver, we all had to suffer," he says.
But just a few weeks ago this message we are back with two new safety features introduced on Wednesday.
The first in-app feature is this SOS, or panic button on the top right. So if there's an emergency you tap it and it automatically dials
100, which is the police hotline here, equivalent of 911 in the U.S.
The second feature, which passengers perhaps may use more often is the send status to contacts button, which with one tap enables the passenger to
send details of the car, the driver, the driver's photo, the license number to five pre-selected family and friends. And this is really important,
because it allows family and friends to track you in real-time all the time.
Several other Indian cab companies boast similar features. Authorities say app-based car services are still officially banned in New
Delhi. But with India as the second largest market in the world for Uber after the Untied States, the company says it will do whatever it can to
assure a smoother ride in India.
Sumnima Udas, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: And turning now to something we've covered extensively here on News Stream, Gamergate. Now the online hate mob is the latest focus of
Law and Order: SVU, one of the biggest TV shows in the United States. And Wednesday's episode, it showed cyber criminals threatening to rape, murder
and mutilate a female game developer.
Now these threats were actually made by Gamergate in real life.
Now Brianna Wu (ph), a target of Gamergate, responded to the show. And she spoke about the harrowing abuse saying this, quote, "during the
reign of terror of Gamergate I have had hundreds of conversations with other women. We are exhausted. We're terrified we'll be next. We're all
thinking of quitting."
But Wu (ph) also outlines ways to stop the misogynist hate of Gamergate. She calls for the CEOs of social media sites to step up against
hate groups and for law enforcement to stat taking the threats against female gamers seriously.
And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere, World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.
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