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Russia Says Any Crash Theories Are Premature; Chinese Sub Tracks U.S. Aircraft Carrier off Japan; Aung San Suu Kyi on the Landmark Election; First Same-Sex Union Certificate Issued in Japan; Britain Has Plan to Fly Stranded Tourists Home; Drone Registration Required in U.S. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired November 5, 2015 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. You've been watching our partner network, CNN USA. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and this is NEWS

STREAM. And do stay with us as we continue our coverage of the investigation into the crashed Russian passenger jet. Next, we are live

with the latest from the Kremlin.

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STOUT (voice-over): Also ahead, another sign of tension between the U.S. and China at sea. Why the U.S. Navy has revealed and what it has revealed

between a Chinese submarine and an American aircraft carrier. We have that story still ahead on the program.

Also ahead, a first for Japan: the historic moment being celebrated by same-sex couples in Tokyo.

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STOUT: Welcome back to NEWS STREAM. Let's recap our top story this hour, the investigation into the crash of that Metrojet passenger plane crash in

Egypt's Sinai. The Egyptian president, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, is meeting with the British prime minister, David Cameron, in London at this hour.

And ahead of that meeting, Mr. Cameron told British TV it is more likely than not a bomb brought down the Russian airliner, killing everyone

onboard.

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STOUT (voice-over): An Egyptian aviation official says there is no evidence to support that but U.S. intelligence suggests ISIS or one of its

affiliates may have planted a bomb on the plane.

For its part, Moscow says any crash theories are premature as it holds funerals for the Russian victims. Russia says it has grounded Metrojet's

entire Airbus A321 fleet for additional safety checks.

Nic Robertson is in St. Petersburg. He joins us now live.

Nic, why is the Kremlin so cautious about the U.S. and U.K. intelligence reports that suggest a bomb may have caused the crash?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, I think one of the things we have to get into here is these are not just U.S. and

U.K. reports here. Also a source I talked to in the Middle East, who was - -

[08:15:00]

ROBERTSON: -- briefed on intelligence issues has also been saying exactly the same, that there is quite a possibility that a bomb was put aboard the

aircraft.

Why is the Kremlin so cautious?

They say because they're following the protocols and procedures of investigations into air crashes; that is, the country where the aircraft

crashes leads the investigation. That's Egypt. Everything has to be done through the Egyptian authorities.

That said, the federal aviation authority here, the top aviation body in Russia, has said that it will investigate the possibility of this being a

terrorist action, that they will search for explosive residue and explosives impact on both debris and passengers.

They say they will also look at the security of Sharm el-Sheikh airport to see if it was possible that that security was circumvented somehow by

someone putting a bomb onboard the aircraft.

On the one hand, they're saying they're not ruling it out. But you do have President Putin's spokesman this morning at the Kremlin, saying very, very

clearly in response to this latest information, that if the British and Americans have more information that they should put it forward.

He did say it was too soon to rule out whether or not this was a terrorist act or whether something else brought the aircraft down.

But there is a very strong line coming from the Pentagon -- coming from the Kremlin, rather, and they're saying very clearly that everyone should stay

away from speculation at this time because, until the investigation is complete, then the information isn't clear. So in a sense, this is a

strong pushback from the Kremlin on this line at the moment -- Kristie.

STOUT: Yes. Strong pushback from the Kremlin and we have multiple sources here, saying that this could be the work of a terror attack that brought

down the Russian jetliner.

What does this mean for Russia's intervention in Syria and has the disaster affected the campaign there in Syria at all?

ROBERTSON: You know, what hasn't happened here -- and I think this is a subtle shift and this is President Putin himself sort of signaling that

potentially Russia could be in line for a spate of terrorist attacks and that could be potentially based on what he is hearing about the

investigation so far in Egypt.

But he said at a speech today that Russians overseas, particularly in Syria, Libya and Yemen, be under no doubt that the Russian state will

protect them. He also said about the Russians fighting in Syria at the moment in that air campaign, he said that they're heroes, that they chose

to go there, that he salutes them but that they're fighting rebels and terrorists.

So we also heard from the Kremlin as well today, saying that it will position a surface-to-air -- a more complex and sophisticated surface-to-

air missile system in case of hijacking. They said that was going into Syria.

So you can see Russia is, in a way, preparing itself to be on a footing to confront and deal with the public relations fallout, if you will, that

would happen if there were a terrorist attack.

The narrative continues to be there for the leadership here to wait until the investigation is complete and they're saying that could take several

months -- Kristie.

STOUT: Our Nic Robertson reporting for us live from St. Petersburg, Russia. Thank you, Nic.

The death toll in the collapse of a four-story building in Pakistan has now climbed to at least 23 people. At least 80 people were injured. The

fourth floor of the building in Lahore was under construction when the entire structure just crashed to the ground.

Rescue crews are digging to find more victims. Workers say as many as 100 people were buried in the rubble.

The recent military exercises conducted by Japan and the U.S. were closely followed by China. Now news that a Chinese fast attack submarine shadowed

an American aircraft carrier for at least half a day. This is the latest in a series of tense naval encounters between these two countries. Brian

Todd reports.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A nuclear-powered U.S. super carrier stalked by a Chinese submarine. CNN has learned a Chinese attack

sub recently tracked the USS Ronald Reagan, a massive carrier with 5,000 American servicemen and 90 aircraft onboard off the southern coast of

Japan.

A U.S. Defense official says the sub followed the Reagan closely for at least half a day. A former carrier group commander has seen this first

hand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What could happen when ships operate close together is there is a potential for misunderstanding or the potential for a strategic

miscalculation. Some person cuts off the other one; ships can collide. We've had cases where people didn't understand intent, where gun mounts

were trained.

TODD (voice-over): The U.S. official did not say how close the Chinese sub came to the carrier but says it was submerged the entire way. There's no

indication that the sub made threatening maneuvers toward the Reagan.

[08:20:00]

TODD (voice-over): According to the official, the U.S. and Chinese commanders did not communicate with each other. The Chinese vessel was a

kilo class, fast-attack sub.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has torpedoes and it has the ability to operate quietly.

TODD (voice-over): The U.S. official says anti-submarine aircraft were used to track the Chinese sub; those would likely have been attack

helicopters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They would make sure that the submarine knew that we've got eyes on you.

TODD (voice-over): The U.S. and China have been engaged in a dangerous Cold War-style standoff over China's construction of manmade islands in the

South China Sea. The U.S., which views the area as international waters fears the islands could be used as a military outpost.

China says the islands and those waters are theirs. And just a couple of days after the submarine incident, a U.S. warship sailed just 12 miles from

the construction of the islands. Later, a top Chinese admiral warned his U.S. counterpart of the dangers of a miscalculation. Analysts say it's all

part of China's new strategy of aggression in that region.

ROBERT DALY, THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER: They're expanding their submarine fleet at a very fast rate. They're building a new submarine base off of

Hainan Island. They would like to be a primary strategic actor and a shaper of their own security environment in the region.

TODD: Admiral Daly says we may see more incidents like this in the near future. He says both navies may start to build up forces in the region to

project strength. The Chinese have not commented on the submarine incident -- Brian Todd, CNN, Annapolis, Maryland.

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STOUT: You're watching NEWS STREAM. Still to come, it is a major step forward for LGBT rights in Japan. Two women in Tokyo are the first same-

sex couple to have their relationship recognized.

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STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you are back watching NEWS STREAM.

Myanmar's pro-democracy leader, Aung Sung Suu Kyi, is speaking up just days before the country's landmark election. And while the vote is said to be

the freest in 25 years, she warns that Western countries could be overly optimistic and the government is dragging its heels on reform by blaming

the economy.

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AUNG SUNG SUU KYI, MYANMAR PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER: It's not economic sanctions alone; in spite of the fact that economic sanctions have been

lifted, the economic situation of our people has not really improved.

A small group have profited out of the new opportunities but a great majority of our people, particularly in the rural areas --

[08:25:00]

SUU KYI: -- remain as poor as ever and there are some that have come to the conclusion that they're, in fact, poorer.

So it's not just economic sanctions alone. It's giving this present government the kind of encouragement that has led them to believe that they

have done sufficient with regard to the democratization process.

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STOUT: Now Suu Kyi met with the media at her villa in Yangon, where she spent some 15 years under house arrest and even if her party wins the

election, she is barred from becoming president.

Same-sex couples are celebrating a landmark moment in Japan. Tokyo has issued the nations' first certificate recognizing a same-sex union. It's

mostly symbolic but activists say it underscores a major shift in gay rights. Will Ripley reports.

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WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are steps countless couples have taken but never a couple like this.

Four years after they met, fell in love and moved in together, Koyuki Higashi and Hiroko Masuhara walked into the Shibuya ward office and 20

minutes later walked out with Japan's first-ever certificate recognizing a same-sex union.

RIPLEY: You just made history today.

How does it feel?

RIPLEY (voice-over): "I am so happy," she says. "When they gave us the certificate, I cried. Our friends cried."

It has an official stamp but businesses, hospitals and landlords aren't legally bound to acknowledge it. This kind of certificate only available

for residents in two of Tokyo's 23 wards, nowhere else in Japan.

RIPLEY: Despite recognition like this from some local governments, Japan still has no national laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination.

Coming out can mean getting fired, evicted or denied health care and there's no legal recourse.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Being gay openly is rare in Japan. Even in young, hip Shibuya, the rainbow flag unfamiliar to many.

"I just don't understand it," she says. "I prefer a normal relationship with a man."

"They can't produce children so, in principle, I oppose it," he says, "but in today's world I think it's OK to accept those kind of people."

Japanese schools are slowly beginning to discuss LGBT issues and this historic moment is making headlines across the country.

"We are very privileged to come out publicly," she says, "but lots of people can't and they suffer. I hope this will change things."

Shibuya's mayor, who campaigned for LGBT rights, calls the certificates a landmark step but admits it is just one small step for a community in

Japan, who often describe feeling invisible -- Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.

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STOUT: As you can see on this map, according to the campaign group, Freedom to Marry, no country in Asia has legalized same-sex marriage. This

year Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote.

And a month later in June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no state can ban same-sex couples from marrying.

You're watching NEWS STREAM. And still to come, as investigators work to figure out just what brought down Metrojet Flight 9268, the U.K. is setting

its sights on getting British tourists home safely from Egypt. We have got the details straight ahead.

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STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM and these are your world headlines.

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STOUT (voice-over): Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London to discuss the Metrojet

crash investigation. The British government has suspended flights to and from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh amid security concerns.

Cameron says it is more likely than not a bomb brought down the plane. Egypt says it's found no evidence to support the idea that a bomb caused

the Russian airliner to go down in the Sinai. Moscow is also expressing caution. It says any crash theories are premature.

Transport officials say it will take several months before investigators will be able to draw any conclusions.

The death toll in the collapse of a four-story building in Pakistan has now climbed to at least 23 people. At least 80 were injured. Rescue crews are

digging through the rubble trying to find more victims buried under the debris.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Plans are being made to bring home thousands of British travelers stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh in the aftermath of the Metrojet disaster.

Our Phil Black joins us now live from Heathrow.

And, Phil, I read that up to 20,000 British nationals are stuck there in Sharm el-Sheikh.

What is being done to get them home?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, different airlines are responding differently. There are five in total that fly directly from the

U.K. to Sharm el-Sheikh; easyJet and British Airways say that they are constantly reviewing the information and the instructions that are coming

from the British government and at the moment they are effectively suspending their flights one day at a time. So they will not fly before

tomorrow at the earliest.

The remaining carriers that handle these package holiday tourists, Thomson (ph), Thomas Cook, Monarch, they have suspended their flights until

November the 12th at the earliest. They're not going to fly for a week.

Now in terms of how many people are there, it's difficult to know exactly.

The package holiday providers and the tourism industry here says that there are at least 9,000 British tourists there that have traveled in that way

plus an unknown number of people who have traveled there independently.

Today, according to the British government, 3,500 of those or around that number were due to fly back. So for every day that passes, where scheduled

flights are suspended, that number of stranded tourists, that backlog, the number of people who thought they'd finish their holidays and were due to

fly home, that grows substantially.

What the British government is hoping to do is work out what they're describing as short-term measures, where they can satisfy security

situations on the ground, work with airlines here to start sending out special flights, empty planes that would fly to Sharm el-Sheikh and start

bringing people back, either those who wanted to come back early or those whose holidays are already finished, to try to make up for that backlog, if

you like, start shortening that until the security situation on the ground is stabilized and regularly scheduled flights are able to begin once again

-- Kristie.

STOUT: All right. That is the plan to bring them back home. Phil Black, reporting live from Heathrow. Thank you.

And we have complete coverage of the crash investigation here on our website. You can learn more about the theories and more about the history

of ISIS in the Sinai. It's all at cnn.com.

Coming up, we have more on a week-long coverage --

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STOUT: -- of drones from filmmaking to commercial deliveries. They're starting to be used everywhere.

But what about safety and what about the invasion of our privacy?

Do drones need more regulation?

We dig into the debate next.

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STOUT: Welcome back. This week on NEWS STREAM, we've been focusing on drones, on the technology's potential and its pitfalls. Now a drone can

film spectacular vistas but I probably don't need to explain why a flying camera poses important questions about privacy or the security risk of a

small, unmanned aerial vehicle.

Now there are also worries about drones flying too close to commercial aircraft -- and this isn't a hypothetical concern.

The FAA in the United States says pilots report 100 drone sightings every month. These are just some of the reasons the U.S. says it will start a

drone registry. Owners will have to register their vehicles, allowing the government to track any errant drone behavior back to its user.

So how do drone makers feel about increased regulation? Well, Chris Anderson of 3D Robotics told us that he thinks the industry can do more to

address concerns but he says the fear of new technology is nothing new.

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CHRIS ANDERSON, 3D ROBOTICS: To be honest, I've been around long enough that I've seen the exact same backlash happen with personal computers and

the Internet and smartphones and Facebook, all new technologies have this sort of shocking to society about both their pros and their cons.

Drones are here to stay but we, as an industry, can do a lot to address some of these concerns. The biggest one is safety. So right now we've

made drones so easy to use that people aren't really briefed on what safe and responsible use means.

And so they just push a button and off they go. And if they happen to be near an airport, they may not even know that that's illegal. So because

these drones are getting smarter and smarter, we can actually help them behave responsibly so they can't take off if it's near an airport.

It can't take off if it's near the White House and it can't fly over other no-fly zones. And because they're connected to the cloud, we now know --

we're able to tell where they are, what they're trying to do. And we can actually stop them from behaving badly.

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STOUT: So do drones need more regulation or would that put the brakes on innovation?

Let's get more now from Nick Thompson. He joins us live from New York. He, of course, is the editor of newyorker.com.

Nick, what are the current regulations in place for drones in the U.S.?

Give us a lay of the land.

NICHOLAS THOMPSON, NEWYORKER.COM: There are a set of classifications for different kinds of drones that have different regulations.

So there are government drones, used by local police departments. There are commercial drones, the most important thing with a commercial drone,

let's say you want a drone to fly over your crops to see how your wheat crop is doing.

You have to register those with the FAA. I believe there are about 2,000 licenses for commercial drones that have been granted.

And then the third category, the category that seems most in flux right now are for personal drones, for hobby drones, the ones that you get for

Christmas, you unpack and you start flying around your city.

Right now there are a set of regulations and recommendations put out by the FAA. Don't fly near an airport, keep it in the line of sight, stay

within 400 feet, don't fly recklessly.

But what's going on right now is that a committee has been formed to try to come up with a new set of regulations and, most importantly, to figure out

how to have a registry so that everybody who has one of these drones will have a record of it.

STOUT: That's right. And the idea of having a drone registry, how would that work? How do you even define what a drone is?

(LAUGHTER)

THOMPSON: Right, it's tricky, right?

Because if I get my kids -- my kids have little drones. We have little airplanes we put batteries in. We fly them around the apartment. They

certainly don't have to register with the FAA.

So what you would do is you would set some kind of standard and this is what the committee is looking at right now.

Is it done by size?

Is it done by use?

If I fly a large drone over my backyard, do I need to register it?

If I fly a small drone over my neighbor's backyard, do I need to register it?

So you need to figure out what the actual --

[08:40:00]

THOMPSON: -- what actually is a drone based on size and then also how you're using it. And these are tricky questions and the committee that's

been formed to come up with the draft rules for the registry only has a couple of weeks. So this is pretty important.

STOUT: And, Nick, we heard from a DJI executive earlier this week, who said that loose regulations in China, that's a factor behind DJI's success,

it's a Shenzhen-based drone maker, of course.

So would more rules in America mean more success for Chinese drone makers?

THOMPSON: That's a really interesting question. From an American public policy perspective, you want to have as much of the drone industry here as

you can so maybe you need to have the rules be lax.

On the other hand, having sensible rules, having sensible regulations, having a registry will increase the way people trust drones. There is a

lot of distrust on drones and, in fact, they can be quite annoying.

If you're going for a hike and a drone circles over your head, it's annoying. So if you have a sensible registry and sensible rules that were

enforced properly, it would probably help the industry, because people would be less scared.

That's what Chris Anderson was talking about a minute ago. There is fear of drones; proper regulations, proper rules can reduce fear and that'll be

good for Chris' company and all the other companies out there.

STOUT: Yes. Rules are necessary but they've got to be sensible. Nick, many thanks indeed for joining us. We'll talk again next time.

Now with all the ways we could use these gadgets, it's no surprise that some people just want to have fun with them.

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STOUT (voice-over): Welcome to the world of drone racing. Competitors in drone racing need to strap on goggles to get this, this dizzying view, as

they guide their drones around a course, over and under obstacles.

The view, check it out, is just so realistic that pilots have been known to duck and sway as they speed around tight corners. That story at this time

tomorrow as we conclude our series, "The Rise of Drones," only on CNN.

That is NEWS STREAM. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. "WORLD SPORT" with Amanda Davies is next.

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