Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Civilians Fleeing Aleppo; France Remembers Man of Peace; Donald Trump Under Fire; Pope Francis Holds Mass to Celebrate World Youth Day; Pro-Turkey Rally Planned for Cologne, Germany; Zika Virus Stigma; Australians Protesting Treatment of Aboriginals; Investors Eye NYCFC. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired July 31, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:00:16] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A city under siege. Syrian government forces encircle Aleppo while a number of civilians queue up to flee that city.

Remembering a man of peace, as France pauses to honor the memory of a priest killed by terrorists last week.

And the tragedy of the Zika virus now expands. We will bring you the story of mothers who've been abandoned by friends, by family, as they struggle to raise babies affected by this devastating virus.

From CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States, and around the world. I'm George Howell, CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

Welcome. In Aleppo, Syria, Russians say that 169 civilians have used new humanitarian corridors to leave the city that is under government siege. But many others say that they still don't trust Syrian officials to protect them if they leave. And the opposition says the Syrian government is using these corridors as a military strategy to empty that city.

CNN is following this story with our Ian Lee live in Beirut, Lebanon, this hour. Ian, first let's talk about these humanitarian corridors. There are talks for more. What will that look like?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, there have been three set up already. Four more will make seven. These are humanitarian corridors for civilians, as well as fighters. Rebel fighters who want to lay down their arms and be granted amnesty to leave the city.

The Syrian government is giving a three-month window for any fighter who wants to lay down their weapon and be granted amnesty. And as you said, a Russian state media reporting that 169 civilians have already left. 69 fighters according to them have laid down their weapons. They have released a video, on Syrian state media, showing people leaving this area.

Although we can't independently verify those accounts. And I say that because talking to sources inside the city of Aleppo, they say they have been to these humanitarian corridors, they say that they haven't been open and from what it appears like they haven't -- there was no evidence that they had been open. So you do have these two conflicting narratives. So Russia also saying that people who do leave the city, they have 14 tons of humanitarian supplies waiting for them things that Aleppo desperately needs.

HOWELL: Point Ian, just how bad is that humanitarian situation inside Aleppo right now?

LEE: Well sources are telling us George that when you go to a market there's no food there. There's no fruits, no vegetables, nothing to buy. There's also no gas. And that is crucial because not only people can't drive around but ambulances can't drive around either.

A doctor telling us that they have no medical supplies -- or medical supplies are running low. Medicine is running low. Some one-time use items are being sterilized and used over and over again. Diesel fuel to run the generators at the hospitals are also running dangerously low. And at normal times before the siege began it was still difficult to get the supplies and now is completely impossible, so the UN has said that they would like to see a 48-hour cease-fire from the fighting, from both sides, so that they can get this humanitarian assistance inside the city also get people out if they want to get out, so far we haven't heard any word from either side about that cease-fire.

HOWELL: Ian Lee live for us in Beirut. Ian, thank you for the reporting. We'll stay in touch with you.

One of two brothers detained in Belgium has now been charged. The 33- year-old is suspected of planning a terror attack and participating in a terrorist organization. His brother was released without charges. They were arrested after house searches in two Belgium cities on Friday. No weapons or explosives were found. The arrests do not appear to be related to the March attacks that killed 32 people inside Brussels.

Church services will be held across France on Sunday for the first time since a terror attack at a catholic church Tuesday in the city of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. The country has been shaken after two men murdered an elderly priest by slashing his throat last week.

France's president says ISIS is behind this attack calling it, "cowardly assassination." Both terror suspects were shot dead by police.

[05:05:00] Following the story, CNN's Alexandra Field joins us now live from the french capital. Alexandra, so, Muslim leaders are being encouraged to attend mass. Talk to us about the significance of that there with the backdrop of Notre Dame behind you.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. That's happening all over the country this morning, George. It's happening right here at Notre Dame Cathedral. Certainly one of the most significant, one of the most well known, one of the most recognizable cathedrals here in France. Today it is being transformed into a powerful symbol of unity. This is a regular place of worship for ordinary Parisian Catholics in this city. They would come here on a Sunday morning. It's also a place that is, of course, visited by long lines and big crowds of tourists who want to take in some of the symbolism here. But this morning, it is a place where catholic leaders and Muslim leaders are coming together and they are encouraging both the catholic masses and the Muslim community to turn up here together, as well. It is a show of solidarity. It is a show of unity. It is very much in line with kind of unity marches that you're seeing happening in France this week. Not just a response to that attack in Normandy where an 86-year-old priest was killed earlier this week but also really a response to this steady stream of attacks that this country has been subject to since January of 2015.

So you do have these religious leaders from two big groups here in Paris and across France coming together trying to project a different image, and trying to lead people in a different direction. Now as they struggle to make sense of what has plagued this country, and this city in recent months, George.

HOWELL: Alexandra, I'd also like to ask you about this latest alleged terror plot that was uncovered. What more do we know about that investigation that was targeting Brussels?

FIELD: Now we know that eight different locations were searched, two brothers were initially taken into custody, and arrested, but a judge has reviewed the case. He has decided to release one of the brothers to charge the other with attempted terrorist murder and ties to a terror organization. It isn't clear what the suspected plot could have been or what stage of the planning process that plot may have been in. And we also don't know where exactly the attack or whatever was being planned was meant to take place, just somewhere in Belgium.

But authorities have been very closely trying to watch and trying to find people who could be connected to terror networks throughout Belgium, and specifically in Brussels. That's the result, of course, of those vicious and deadly attacks which unfolded in the city of Brussels back in March, when an airport was attacked, at a metro station, but these counterterrorism operations even precede that attack of course. We know that these operations really accelerated after the November attacks here in Paris when authorities were able to identify the fact that so many of the attackers had come from Brussels or had ties to Belgium.

So the counterterrorism operations in that country continue. Here in France you've got the French President Francois Hollande, saying he plans to double the number of some of the officials involved in counterterrorism work here, and just this week even in Germany, you've got Chancellor Angela Merkel saying that she plans to boost security and counterterrorism efforts there, as that country tries to recover from a recent series of attacks.

HOWELL: Alexandra Field. And we just lost her signal. But Alexandra, thank you for being with us. And thank you for the reporting. America's Choice 2016, Donald Trump now being slammed for his remarks against the father of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan gave a powerful speech on that podium last -- at the last night of that convention. He denounced the Republican candidate for proposing a ban on Muslims after his own son died defending the United States. Khan said that Trump had no idea of what sacrifice means.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF MUSLIM U.S. SOLDIER: Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending United States of America. You'll see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing. And no one!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Trump responded to the searing criticism by saying I'd like to hear his wife say something, suggesting that she wasn't allowed. He also defended himself to ABC News by listing the sacrifices he has made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS ANCHOR: How would you answer that father? What sacrifice have you made for your country?

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think I made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs. I think there are a lot.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Those are sacrifices?

TRUMP: Oh, sure I think they're sacrifices. I think when I can employ thousands and thousands of people, take care of their education, take care of so many things -- I was very responsible, along with a group of people, for getting the Vietnam Memorial built in downtown Manhattan, which to this day people thank me for.

[05:10:13] I raised and I have raised millions of dollars for the vets, I'm helping the vets a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: The criticism of the Khan family has sparked widespread outrage. Former Republican presidential candidate John Kasich tweeted this, "there's only one way to talk about gold star parents, with honor and respect."

Hillary Clinton lashed out at Trump saying, someone who attacks everybody has something missing.

Speaking to "The Washington Post" Khizr Khan said the Trump's words were, quote, "typical of a person without a soul". You can hear much more from Khan on the next "State of the Union." Tune in for a live interview right here on CNN, that is at 9:00 a.m. eastern time, 2:00 p.m. in London only here on CNN.

Hillary Clinton and her running mate are now on a bus tour across two important swing states, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Democratic presidential candidate, and her vice presidential pick Tim Kaine, they spent Saturday in Pennsylvania, and that is where they tried to sell their economic plan to working-class Americans at a stop in Johnstown.

Clinton called her Republican rival Donald Trump called on him for failing to offer any solutions for fixing the country's economic problems.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, at each of our conventions you get four days to tell the country what you want to do. That -- that's what they're supposed to be for. At the Republican Convention, they spent more time on insults for me than on jobs for you.

Donald Trump spoke for 75 minutes, and offered zero solutions. Now, I don't think that's good enough. I have this old-fashioned idea, if you're going to ask somebody for their vote, we owe you a clear explanation of what you're going to get for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Relations between law enforcement and their communities, that was also a major focus of the recent political conventions in the United States. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, endured violence on both sides and then earlier this month Alton Sterling, an African-American was killed by a police officer.

A few weeks later a Missouri man traveled to Baton Rouge and was shot and killed -- and shot and killed rather three officers. CNN's Nick Valencia shows us a city that is trying to heal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a city exhausted by violence, a tribute to the fallen.

The mood this week at the memorial for the three slain Baton Rouge officers was indeed, somber, but the message from the speakers was one of hope and healing. On hand the vice president of the United States. He spoke directly to the officers families.

JOE BIDEN, UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT: When you think of your son, your husband, your daddy, I promise you the time will come when it will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.

GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS, (D) LOUISIANA: We're going to do better, and by doing better we're going to be better. VALENCIA: For Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards the killings of the police officers are personal. Edwards comes from a long, family line of law enforcement. His stomach sinks thinking about all that has happened this month.

EDWARDS: It's easier said than done. And it won't happen overnight. But at the end of the day we have to replace hatred and violence with peace and love. We can do it. And we're going to do it here in Baton Rouge.

COL. MIKE EDMONDSON, LOUISIANA STATE POLICE: Our hearts are broken but our spirit's intact.

VALENCIA: Since the shooting death of Alton Sterling on July 5th, local leaders like Louisiana State police superintendent Col. Mike Edmondson, have tried to unite the community. He says he's leaned on faith to move the city forward.

EDMONDSON: I want to be part of that community. You can either be a part of the community or be apart from it. Being a part of that community means you grieve when they grieve and you heal together. Baton Rouge is going to heal together. They're strong. They're committed. They're dedicated. We're going to heal together.

VALENCIA: There is perhaps no one who wants to see Baton Rouge heal more than the family of Alton Sterling. The aunt who raised him tears up thinking about the possibility of more violence ahead, if the officers involved in the shooting death of her nephew aren't charged.

SANDRA STERLING, AUNT OF ALTON STERLING: Baton Rouge is so small. If we tear Baton Rouge up we're not going to have anything. So we got to protect what we have right now, whether it's good or bad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May Baton Rouge be a place for revival.

VALENCIA: In a town where sadness has been pervasive, focusing on the good is all many have left.

Nick Valencia, CNN, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Nick, thank you.

We are monitoring live pictures this hour of the pope's final mass in Poland. He's been spending the week there meeting with children who came from all around the globe for World Youth Day.

[05:15:05] We'll have a live report as "CNN NEWSROOM" continues live across the United States, and around the world this hour. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back. In the U.S. state of Texas an accident involving a hot air balloon appears to have taken 16 lives. Federal authorities say there are no survivors after the balloon crashed between the cities of Austin, Texas, and San Antonio. Here's what one eyewitness says that she saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think any of them even realized what was going on because we heard the popping sounds, and I didn't look in time to see the balloon go down. But, the way it went up, I don't think any of them even had any idea what was going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Two sources tell CNN that balloon may have hit power lines. The National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene investigating.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIK GROSOF, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: You have weather. You have coordination with a number of resources here, local, state and federal. Getting the documentation. It's much like a crime scene.

You only get one chance at it. So we want to make sure we do everything correctly. And thanks to the cooperation of all these agencies standing next to me and behind me we've been able to start on our right foot with that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Investigation then continues and if investigators determine, confirm that those 16 deaths in fact happened it would be the worst hot air balloon disaster in U.S. history.

Pope Francis is holding mass in celebration of World Youth Day in Southern Poland, wrapping up his five-day trip to that country. Our Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher joins us from Krakow, Poland, following this story. Delia, good to have you with us. What has been the highlight of this trip?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPODENT: George, there have been many important and moving moments for Pope Francis and for the 1.6 million kids that have come here to Krakow from more than 187 countries around the world. One of them certainly happened last night at the prayer vigil when the crowd was hushed when a young girl from Aleppo, Syria, name Rand Mittri took to the stage and told people who are her age what her life is like in Syria.

Let's take a listen to some of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAND MITTRI, SYRIAN WOMAN FROM ALEPPO: Every day we live lives that are surrounded by death. But like you, we close our doors behind us as each morning as we leave for work or school. [05:20:12] It's -- in that moment that we are gripped by fear, that we will not return to find our homes and our families as we left them. Perhaps we will be killed that day, or perhaps our families will.

It's a hard and painful feeling to know that we are surrounded by this and killings, and there's no way to escape. No one to help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And, George, the Pope said this is one of the reasons why they come to World Youth Day, so they can hear stories like Rand's and realize that it is not just some anonymous person that they hear about on the news, these are their brothers and sisters and that their response to a world at war, as the Pope calls it, is brotherhood is to join together in fraternity and solidarity.

In this morning's mass, his final chance, George, to offer a message to these young people, the Pope said to believe in a new humanity, he said in a world that rejects hatred between people, and that refuses to see borders as barriers. He also said have the courage to be more powerful than evil by loving everyone, even your enemies. He has one more important announcement to make, George, and he'll do it in just about an hour, and that is where the next World Youth Day will be held in 2019. George?

HOWELL: Delia Gallagher live in Krakow, Poland. Delia, thank you so much for your reporting there.

Hundreds of soldiers are now free after being detained in Turkey's post-coup clampdown. Many had surrendered after the failed military coup that happened earlier this month. Turkey's state-run news agency says 758 soldiers were released on Saturday on the recommendation of a judge.

About 231 others remain in custody. More than 15,000 people have been detained since that coup attempt.

Far right protesters in Germany are demanding that Chancellor Angela Merkel resign over her refugee policies. Hundreds of people marched through Berlin Saturday shouting, "Merkel has to go". That country has seen five deadly attacks over the last two weeks. Several of the attacks were carried out by people who have come to Germany as asylum seekers.

As many as 30,000 people are set to take part in a rally in Cologne, Germany, soon. Some of the country's large Turkish population is gathering to support Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the recent coup attempt. The Kurdish groups may also hold counter protests.

And following this our Fred Pleitgen joins us in Cologne with this story. Fred, what message are these protesters trying to convey?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're trying to show their support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he does have a massive following here in Germany among the very sizable ethnic Turkish population. There's about 3 million people who are all Turkish descent who actually have Turkish passports here in Germany, and at least 60 percent support Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

If we look at the stage behind me where as we stand, this protest is just very slowly getting under way. So quite early morning hours here in Germany, you can see the message they're putting on there is, "yes to democracy, no to the coup." So obviously in the aftermath of the coup they want to show their support for the Turkish government.

There is also a substantial criticism also of German policies, as well of some of the rhetoric that's been coming out of the Germany. Many Turks who live here feel that the Turkish president is not getting the support that he feels he should get. There was some criticism by the German government of some of the measures that were taken after the coup. Some people here in Germany feeling that those went too far. That some of the purges that took place in the realm of the military but also of course in education, in the universities, as well, they felt that that went too far.

Here the Turks say they want more support from Germany. They don't feel that they're getting enough. Not really only Germany now, it's also the European Union and NATO that they're criticizing, as well. So right now they're coming out here as you said about 30,000 they are expected here on this day even though the weather is set to be quite bad. Nevertheless the German authorities quite concerned about this demonstration as well. There's also a sizable contingent of police that's on the street, as well, to secure this demonstration and make sure that things don't get out of hand.

HOWELL: It was about that Fred, you talk about this sizable, you know, force that is in place. Why are authorities there in Germany so concerned about these demonstrations?

PLEITGEN: Well because Erdogan is also quite a controversial figure here in Germany, as well. One of the things we have to keep in mind is while this country has a very large ethnic Turkish population, also has quite a large ethnic Kurdish population, as well.

[05:25:02] And some of them may come out, however it doesn't appear as though there's going to be an official Kurdish demonstration to sort of counter this one. But what there is going to be is there are going to be four demonstrations in criticism of this one right here. One of them by a right-wing group that is actually set to march straight path this venue at some point in time. About 1,000 people set to take place in that.

Then there's also some -- by some groups of the German political parties that are set to take place, as well. But again, the police here not taking any chances. They have somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 officers on the streets. We've seen many of them around. They also have eight water cannon trucks that are waiting. And there was a clear warning also from the president of the police here in Cologne, saying that there was no way. They were going to let this get out of hand. They said any time that there's any -- even an inkling of any sort of violence that they will step in. And they will step in with a hard hand, George. HOWELL: So, a sizable force in placed there in Germany as these demonstrations continue. And also, Fred pointing out this political pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Fred, thank you so much for your reporting and we'll stay in touch with you.

This is "CNN NEWSROOM." Still ahead, Brazil is promising to make the Olympic game safe. We'll show you how authorities are preparing for all kinds of emergencies even ones that could happen in the water.

And new moms in Brazil fighting the Zika virus. They're also facing some unexpected consequences that have them bonding together. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back. To our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell, with the headlines we're following for you this hour

[05:30:06] In Syria, Russia that says that 169 civilians have new humanitarian corridors that they've used to leave the city of Aleppo. Moscow also says 69 militants surrendered. Two CNN sources inside Aleppo are disputing those reports. The opposition says the Syrian government is using the corridors as a military strategy to empty that city.

Church services will be held across France Sunday, the first since Tuesday's terror attack on a catholic church in the northern part of that country. Two men murdered an elderly priest, slashing his throat. They were then killed by police. France's president says that ISIS is behind these attacks.

Far right protesters in Germany are demanding that Chancellor Angela Merkel resign over her open-door policy for refugees. Hundreds of people marched through Berlin on Saturday shouting "Merkel has to go."

More demonstrations are to take place in Cologne. The country's Turkish population is rallying behind the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Pope Francis has been holding a mass in southern Poland in celebration of World Youth Day. He's wrapping up his five-day trip to the country. Young Catholics from all over the world make the pilgrimage every couple of years for the gathering.

The International Olympic Committee will have the final say on Russia's Olympic Roster. Many of the countries athletes have arrived in Rio not knowing if they will even be able to compete due to the suspensions over doping allegations. A three-person panel from the IOC will look at each and every banned athlete's case before coming to a final decision. Those games expected to begin on Friday.

While the IOC says that it has full faith that Brazil will host a successful Olympics, there has been no shortage of problems leading up to the games. A recent "New York Times" article has a warning for aquatic athletes. It points to the dangers of competing in some of Brazil's contaminated waters. Saying, "Health experts in Brazil have a word of advice for the Olympic marathon swimmers, sailors, and wind surfers competing in Rio de Janeiro's picture-postcard waters next month. Keep your mouth closed."

But one American rower, Megan Kelmoe, who's hoping for gold in Rio, wants to move past that advice. She told the Guardian newspaper, "At this point it is known that there are issues with the water quality. It is known that athletes are going to be at risk for illness. It is known that we are going to have to be smart, hygienic and take precautions. Great. Let's move on," she says.

Brazilian officials have worked to make the games safe and secure. Authorities there preparing for different emergency situations that could happen there on the ground, but also in the water. CNN'S Rosa Flores has more for us from Rio.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're heading out with Brazilian military firefighters for a drill ahead of the Olympic Games, and here is the scenario. There is an athlete in the water, and an accident has occurred.

A helicopter with several first responders is dispatched by air. And lifeguards on Jet Skis are launched by water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The games time we are going to provide these services 24/7.

FLORES: A fire brigade colonel is in charge of aquatic search and rescue efforts during the Olympic Games and says, he has 1,000 lifeguards on the ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During the games we're going to run about -- we are going to run five helicopters, and also 37 boats.

FLORES: From the air, he says, pilots monitor the water below looking for people in distress. Their eyes in the water, lifeguards on Jet Skis. This time, I'm riding along.

The first days of the drill, a person is drowning and needs to be airlifted. Two lifeguards drop from a helicopter near the victim. A net is dropped and the victim is scooped into the net, lifted, and transported to nearby medics who begin first aid immediately.

Once the patient is out of the water, first responders say that the first thing they want to do is make sure that the patient is breathing and that the heart is stabilized.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not good condition of the water. The tides are very high.

FLORES: For part two of this drill, a person is drowning and first responders in Jet Skis take action. A lifeguard jumps into the water and pulls the victim up, and onto the rescue board that's on the back of the Jet Ski.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And going to the lift him. And that's the end of their mission.

FLORES: Just like Olympians train for the games, these firefighters train to save lives.

Rosa Flores, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:35:04] HOWELL: Rosa, thank you.

The first-ever Olympic refugee team enjoyed many of the sights in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. They visited the world famous Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks that city.

A team of ten people made up of athletes from Syria, from South Sudan, from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republican of Congo will repeat -- compete rather in the names of refugees around the world. One of them says she's doing it for his family, too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPOLE MISENGA, CONGOLAIS JUDOKA (Through Translation): It's been many years since I have seen my family, my two brothers. I don't even know what my younger brother would look like if I saw him here today. I wouldn't recognize his face. But the older one I would recognize. I send many hugs and kisses to him, and all of them.

I am here in Brazil, I'm participating in the Olympics, and I thank God for that. If my brother can see me on TV, to know your brother is here in Brazil, striving to maybe see him, to be together one day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Some new mothers in Brazil are dealing with an unexpected consequence of the Zika virus. They're being shunned by family members and friends for giving birth to babies affected by that virus. Our Arwa Damon has this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Every day Maria Louisa (ph) plays her little princess this song of God's love for his children. And every day she cries.

MARIA LOUISA (PH), MOTHER OF BABY WITH ZIKA VIRUS (Through Translation): I get sad because of everything that has happened. I'm not sad because of her. I'm happy with her. She's wonderful.

DAMON: Maria Louisa's (ph) husband left her a month after the baby, Sylaniara (ph) was born with microcephaly. One relative even asked why she didn't abort. Sylaniara's (ph) older sister, too young to really understand, sometimes calls her crazy.

LOUISA (PH) (Through Translation): I say your sister is not mad. She's a normal child like you.

DAMON: Largely abandoned Maria Louisa says her neighbor is now like a second parent to the girls. Support groups like this bring mothers together. In the epicenter of Brazil's Zika outbreak the mothers of the so-called Zika babies lean on each other.

ROSIE CLAUDIA (PH), MOTHER OF BABY WITH ZIKA VIRUS (Through Translation): When I had my child and knew she had microcephaly, I was like every mother. I thought I was the only one going through this.

DAMON: Rosie Claudia's (ph) daughter, Clara (ph) turned nine months today. And like most days it's spent going from one appointment to another.

The sheer commitment of raising a child with microcephaly bonds these mothers into an extended family. Rosie Claudia (ph) says she feels her isolation most in public, under the piercing stares of strangers.

CLAUDIA, (PH) (Through Translation): People ask, ah, she was born with that disease? They keep looking, whispering. Look, that girl with the little head.

DAMON: She is constantly arguing back that her baby isn't diseased. She's special. Most have experienced that same stigma. Their love for their little ones is unwavering. But they can only hope and pray that society evolves to accept their children, not reject them.

Arwa Damon, CNN Recife, Brazil.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Arwa, thank you.

A major Eastern U.S. city brought to a halt because of flooding, the very latest on the conditions of the Metro Baltimore area which officials are calling life threatening.

Plus, protesters in Australia are condemning the alleged abuse of young detainees. What new footage from inside a detention center appears to show? Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:42:28] HOWELL: Across Australia, protesters are condemning the alleged abuse of detained young Aboriginal people. Last week the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, released shocking footage that appears to show children and teens, being abused at a youth detention center in the northern territory. That network, ABC, says the videos show boys being stripped naked, tear-gassed, and held in solitary confinement.

Mark Santomartino with the affiliate Sky News Australia has more for us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK SANTOMARTINO, SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA REPORTER: Emotions were running high. Chanting, "Shut it down and sack the government, many in this crowd were out for blood. The pain of seeing young boys brutalized in detention cells cuts just as deep on the other side of the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Putting them in small rooms with no running water, for 23 hours a day, in the middle of the northern territory, and getting beaten and stripped and tortured is certainly not the answer to any human being in this country should be ashamed of. And we shouldn't -- we all need to stand together whether you are aboriginal or not.

SANTOMARTINO: This rally is one of several being held across Australia today. Its organizers want those in charge, the gods (ph), aims the governments to feel the full force of the law. Having stayed hidden for so long, they insist that what we've seen is just the tip of the iceberg.

For many of the protesters behind me the problem is what comes next, how are we going to fix this issue? While a royal commission has been called into the northern territory detention centers, many of those in the crowd have little faith it will work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The recommendations won't be carried out. We want some real outcome.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're wasting time and they're looking for a quick political fix to respond to the extreme outrage that's happened at what's happening to kids in detention.

SANTOMARTINO: Mark Santomartino, Sky News, Melbourne.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Australia's Indigenous Affairs Minister has responded to the scandal. He said in part, "I'm sorry I wasn't aware of the full circumstances that were exposed this week. Every person in our justice system must be treated with humanity and respect at all times, there can never be any excuse for authorities entrusted with the welfare of children held in custody meting out brutality to these same children.

People in the eastern part of the United States of Maryland -- State of Maryland are being told to move to higher ground now to go immediately because of flooding. Rescue workers have been busy all weekend with scenes like the one you see here.

[05:45:04] In Baltimore, and nearby areas, some streets are starting to cave in due to water. U.S. Weather officials issued flood warnings on Saturday. They describe the situation as extremely dangerous and told residents there to stay put unless they need to evacuate. We'll continue to monitor that of course.

Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is following at all care enough from those scenes in Baltimore. This looks pretty bad.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is terrible. This is really a developing story although the people in Maryland really knew all about this when the rain came down. It came down so swiftly, it was shocking. And we're starting to see some really very impressive pictures coming out of central Maryland, into Baltimore, also into New Jersey. These are just a few of the images. Primarily it was Baltimore City, and probably even more extensive damage now coming out of Ellicott City. And they declared a flood emergency.

Now, estimates are about four inches, about 100 millimeters of rainfall, could have been about six inches or around 150 millimeters of rainfall fell over a very short period of time. And the -- because we have this essentially as a concrete and asphalt, it can't absorb into the ground. It has been devastating across the region. We don't have any reports of any fatalities, no reports of any injuries. But people have been out of their homes, because it has been such a devastating flood situation.

Now, our other big story is the tropical storm Nida, could be Nida, we don't have confirmation on how that is pronounced just now. But it is expected to move towards the northwest. It is increasing intensity, 120 kilometer per hour winds with it now. It is expected to make kind of a little shift more towards the west.

So, a city of about 7 million or 8 million people, Hong Kong, by about Monday, going into Tuesday, it looks like, at least according to the computer models, that this could be at typhoon intensity and making landfall within this region. Why? Well, because as it's moved across the Philippines it has really been the monumental rainmaker. Some areas reporting 200 and 300 millimeters over the last couple of days, but we're looking at such substantial flooding. It's not really so much the wind, although that is problematic, but the rain produces the mud, and the landslides.

So it pushes out into the open waters, probably regains some strength, because of its interaction with land, it gets torn apart a little bit. But very impressive looking on the satellite imagery here over the last 12 hours or so, it moves over the open waters, and becomes better organized. When it becomes better organized, it's going to increase in intensity.

So we think for this region across southeastern China. Specifically in the vicinity of Hong Kong, be prepared. Now is the time since it looks like this is kind of the target zone, either way, you're looking at high winds, heavy surf, heavy downpours. We'll watch it. All right. Back to you, George.

HOWELL: So, Karen, people there in Hong Kong obviously they need to pay attention to the storm's path. But I'd also like to ask you about that situation in Baltimore again. People are being told to stay put at this point, right? Until officials tell them, hey, you need to move on. You need to evacuate particular areas?

MAGINNIS: Absolutely. We have seen images, you showed those images, of the cars just streaming down the street. After a certain amount of precipitation, cars will just literally float. But some of these roads were like rivers. I don't know if we can put that video back up again. But very impressive.

This is happening just outside of the nation's capital. This is Baltimore City, Ellicott City. That's where I've seen probably the worst damage done to buildings, done to homes, cars, fortunately for now, people are reportedly safe, but stay indoors for now.

HOWELL: Karen, wow. Thank you so much. We'll stay in touch with you. Again, following weather on different parts of the world. A lot happening. Thank you.

The passion for football is growing here in the United States. We'll tell you why some big stars and investors are closely following the New York City Football Club. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell. Known as soccer, here in the United States, football is becoming much more popular in this country. And the New York City Football Club is making a name for itself. On Friday, the team defeated the Colorado Rapids, 5-1. It's only their second season in major league soccer. But they're backed by a lot of cash and some big names. Our Nick Parker explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the return run, David Villa the long ball.

NICK PARKER, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Legendary Spanish striker David Villa taking care of business for New York City Football Club. Built from scratch, the team only actually entered major league soccer last season and ambitions are high.

CHRIS SMITH, FORBES STAFF: There's a ton of money there and they're talking about an ownership group that is more than willing to spend. They have three designated players making over $17 million in aggregate.

PARKER: The New York Yankees have a small stake in the team. But the majority shareholder is city football group, the heavyweight Abu Dhabi based consortium with other teams on their roster including English Giants Manchester City.

The influence from city is clear from the pale blue kits to sponsors Etihad to the attacking playing style, the hope is that synergy in branding with a big team will translate into success in the MLS at a time when U.S. consumer access to the English Premier League is growing.

[05:55:07] JON PATRICOF, PRESIDENT NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB: I believe it's a compliment. I'm firmly -- a believer in this. Impassioned soccer fans, you know, grow up that they're going to want to consume more and more soccer all the time in any way they can. And right now, it's a soccer fan in the United States there still isn't enough access to professional soccer.

PARKER: Building support in the city is key for the new team. This event with star players and New York's mayor they announced a partnership to build 50 football pitches for children at a cost of $3 million.

FRANK LAMPARD, NYCFC PLAYER: Across America and across the MLS, I've seen the MLS grow huge extent since the first years I came here, probably 10 to 15 years ago now, and it's been a great place. I think it can get better.

PARKER: The latest TV rights deal for the league is worth $90 million a year. Triple what it was two years ago. But still a long way short of the multibillion dollar price tags for top U.S. Sports.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Handing it off now, the cross of (inaudible) turned in by Frank Lampard.

PARKER: Big name signings like Frank Lampard who always get eyeballs. But analysts say what is needed is the development of home grown talent and higher wages for them. It's certainly a long-term play. The team is believed to be still in the red, but focused on building a profitable future.

Nick Parker, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Nick, thank you.

Now it's party time for one giant panda who turned 4 on Saturday. California's San Diego Zoo treated Xiao Liwu with several treats including the strawberry-kiwi ice cream cake. Look at that. That's pretty cool.

Zookeepers topped it off with apples and four bamboo sticks instead of candles. Wu is the sixth panda to be born at the zoo. He's grown quite a bit and now weighs the same as his father. Wu is one of three giant pandas on loan from China, part of a program studying the endangered species.

Thank you for being with us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. For viewers in the U.S., "New Day" is next. And for other viewers around the world, the "Word Headlines", straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)