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Israeli Authorities Prepare to Release Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners in Return for One Man; Car Racing Tragedy; Siege of Sirte; Massive Flooding in Southeast Asia Leave Dozens Dead; Chinese Nuns Run For Orphans

Aired October 17, 2011 - 08:00:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Welcome to NEWS STREAM, where news and technology meet.

I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.

And we begin in Israel, where authorities are preparing to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return for one man. And we ask, is it a fair deal?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost one of my best friends, one of my greatest teammates, and I don't know what to say.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too many places in this country that you can have a two-time Indy 500 champion walking the streets along with you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Shock and grief, as IndyCar racing loses one of its brightest stars.

And sniper fire in Sirte, as fierce fighting continues for control of Moammar Gadhafi's hometown.

Israel's supreme court is facing a heart-wrenching decision, one that could mean anguish for Palestinians whose loved ones have remained in Israeli jails for years and more pain for the family of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Now, some Israelis say that they are suffering, too, as Israel prepares to release more than 400 Palestinian detainees as soon as Tuesday, as part of a planned swap of more than 1,000 prisoners for Shalit. And while many Israelis support it, others whose loved ones died in terror attacks want the supreme court to stop what they're calling madness.

Now, the first group of 477 Palestinian prisoners are being taken to two Israeli detention facilities. Even after their release, not all of them will be allowed to go home.

Here is the breakdown. One hundred and thirty-nine will be allowed back to their homes in the West Bank and Israel. Another 133 are from Gaza, one is from Jordan, and some will be subject to security arrangements. That can restrict their movement and require them to check in with police periodically. As for the rest, they'll be "relocated."

Now, 40 prisoners considered high risk are being deported abroad, and possible destinations include Turkey and Qatar. Another 164 could be sent to Gaza or elsewhere, and fewer than 20 will be allowed to return after three years.

Gaza is preparing a hero's welcome for many of the released Palestinian prisoners, but as we mentioned, the Israeli families of some terror victims say that the price of the swap for Gilad Shalit is too high and the potential consequences are too dangers.

Frederik Pleitgen has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gilad Shalit -- more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli soldier. While many are applauding the prisoner swap, others are outraged.

Arnold Roth's daughter Malki (ph) was killed in a terror attack. Now one of the women convicted for her participation in the plot is likely to be released as part of the Gilad Shalit deal.

ARNOLD ROTH, FATHER OF TERROR VICTIM: Everyone wants to see Gilad Shalit safe and well and back home, but I think that there's a real failure to understand the price that's being paid. The price is phenomenal. We are releasing people who dedicated their lives to killing Jews and Israelis.

PLEITGEN: In August, 2001, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Sbarro's pizza parlor in downtown Jerusalem, killing 15 people. Many family members of the victims of this and other terror attacks on Israelis oppose the exchange for Gilad Shalit. Almost 300 prisoners serving life sentences will be released from detention centers. One man who lost five relatives in the Sbarro bombing even desecrated the Yitzhak Rabin memorial in Tel Aviv.

(on camera): This is the site of the Sbarro bombing, and, of course, even 10 years later, for many of the victim's families the wounds have not yet healed. But for Israel, there's more at stake here, a larger security concern. Could those that they're releasing now perpetrate other acts of violence in the future, and could it embolden extremist groups to try and capture additional Israeli soldiers?

(voice-over): Some Israeli politicians say these concerns made it impossible for them to approve the deal.

UZI LANDAU, ISRAELI MINISTER FOR NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Voting for such an agreement will be a tremendous encouragement for future terror. In the Middle East, it will be perceived as a move that simply says that terror pays off.

PLEITGEN: Still, Israel's prime minister insists there was no other choice. "It is very possible that this window of opportunity that opened because of the circumstances would have closed indefinitely," Netanyahu said, "and we would never have been able to bring Gilad home at all."

An argument Arnold Roth says he cannot buy into. And while Israel gets ready to welcome Gilad Shalit home, many here fear the consequences the deal for his release might have in the future.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: The world of motor sport is mourning the death of Dan Wheldon. The 33-year-old was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the series champ in 2005. And Wheldon was killed in a horrific 15-car wreck in the season-ending race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and he was driving this car, number 77. And the rest of the event, it was canceled after the crash.

After learning of Wheldon's death, the rest of the drivers, they returned to the track for a five-lap salute in his honor. Wheldon is survived by his wife Suzi, his 2-year-old son Sebastian, and his 7-month-old son Oliver.

Even before the race, some drivers had voiced concerns about the venue. Now, this is the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Thirty-four cars were whipping around that oval track at speeds of up to 350 kilometers an hour. And the pileup happened 11 laps in, as cars slowed drastically to avoid trouble at the front of the field and others couldn't slow down quick enough right around turn two.

Wheldon died of what one official said were unsurvivable injuries. And a look at the footage, it shows you just how bad this crash was.

Now, ESPN aired a bit of car 77's driver cam, and Wheldon, he could not maneuver around the pileup. His car, it then bolted through the air. It slammed into the catch fence, and it burst into flames.

And this is the perspective from car 12 in slow motion. The driver, Will Power, he managed to walk away from this, and he was later taken to the hospital with back pain, was evaluated, and released. Two other drivers are still in the hospital for observation.

Let's bring in Don Riddell now. He joins us from CNN London.

And Don, he was one of the most successful drivers in British motor sports. So how is the community there reacting to his death?

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Kristie, the motor sport community on both sides of the pond is reacting with a great deal of sadness. Wheldon was a very successful driver and a very popular one.

It's curious though that he wasn't particularly well known here in the United Kingdom. This story has made front and back page news today, and the pictures, as you know, are absolutely horrific. But I think many sports fans in general are today hearing of Dan Wheldon for the first time, because he was very successful here as a junior driver, but he grew up and he moved to the United States to seek fame and fortune in IndyCar, which he did. But for all his achievements, for all his success and his two Indy 500 wins, he never became a household name here and he was never that well known.

And it's additionally sad, I guess, that the British public are only really now getting to know who Dan Wheldon was.

STOUT: We have to talk about safety next. That oval track at the speedway in Las Vegas raising some major safety concerns.

What is being said?

RIDDELL: Well, I'll tell you what. A lot is being said. And actually, a lot was being said before the race.

There was concern from a lot of drivers before the race that they thought there were just too many cars in this field. It's a very small track. And as you've mentioned, these cars go at speeds of 350 kilometers per hour. When something goes wrong on these tracks, it can go very, very badly wrong.

A lot of comparisons made with Formula 1, a sport which was very, very dangerous in the 1970s. You know, several drivers every year used to die in Formula 1, but they really cleaned up their act.

The same cannot be said for IndyCar. In the last 15 years, there have been four fatalities. Dan Wheldon was the latest of those, of course. And a lot of drivers get injured in IndyCar because it's so fast.

It's faster than Formula 1. The cars are so tightly packed together, and you're surrounded by a perimeter wall and a fence. And if you hit that at high speed, then you really are rolling the dice and taking your chances.

STOUT: And Don, one more question for you. Dan Wheldon, he started from the back of a grid in a challenge to win a $5 million prize. Do you know what will happen to that prize? Are there calls to give it to his family?

RIDDELL: You know, I haven't heard anything on that. I think the motor sport community just really is in such a massive sense of shock, I've not heard anybody talking about that yet.

I can see how that would seem like the right thing to do. I know Dan Wheldon was very successful. His family, of course, his two young children, his wife, are now going to have to continue without him.

He did make a lot of money out of the sport, but I can see how in the next couple of days, there may be calls to give that money to his family. That would certainly seem like the right thing to do.

STOUT: OK.

Don Riddell, joining us live in London.

Thank you very much for that.

And ahead here on NEWS STREAM, the battle for Libya. It's coming down to two holdout cities. Revolutionary fighters say they are gaining critical ground, but will they advance only to be pushed back once again?

And protests and crackdowns in Yemen. The deadly violence resurges. Is the country at a tipping point?

And where there was once land, now there is a sea of water and devastation in Thailand. We'll have the latest on the efforts to get help to those who need it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

And we want to take you inside one of only two remaining Gadhafi strongholds in Libya.

Now, this is Bani Walid. It's southeast of the capital, Tripoli. And revolutionary fighters say that they've surrounded the city, and they tell CNN that they are close to seizing full control of it.

(GUNFIRE)

STOUT: Following fierce fighting this weekend, soldiers loyal to the interim government say that they are sweeping through much of Bani Walid. They reportedly are focusing on the city's airport, and they say they have captured at least 20 pro-Gadhafi troops.

An intense and prolonged battle for ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi's birthplace also continues. And Dan Rivers takes us inside the coastal city of Sirte, where any sudden movement can result in a burst of gunfire.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The front line hasn't moved much for days now, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous. This is the safest way to get around here. Snipers have been picking off NTC soldiers every day. They have plenty of ammunition, just not much discipline when they use it.

One Gadhafi sniper can keep a dozen NTC troops pinned down for hours. But the revolutionaries have their own sharp shooters. Patiently, they wait on rooftops until they see movement, and then the inevitable.

Away from the fighting, the city is deserted, abandoned like the livestock which roam these once busy neighborhoods. Almost every building is pockmarked with bullet holes, some are utterly destroyed.

(on camera): Sirte used to be a city of some 100,000 people, but now it's difficult to find just one. The handful that we have encountered have been here just to salvage a few more possessions from the wrecks of their homes, and all the while the fighting is continuing.

(voice-over): It's why few have made the dangerous journey here to collect belongings. This man and his wife grab a carpet and some cushions to make their night in a tent more comfortable. They hurry as a NATO jet circles overhead.

Others come to look at what remains of their homes. This man and his mother get what they can. He doesn't want to be interviewed, but he's beside himself with worry. He said he paid $20,000 for this apartment, and now look at it.

One man does talk anonymously.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am not with Gadhafi. I am not with the other side. I am a man of peace.

RIVERS: It's clear these people are worried the National Transitional Council will view them as pro-Gadhafi simply because they haven't taken up arms. But outside, we find a flyer from Gadhafi's regime wanting residents to resist the sedition of the rebels for the safety of their families and children. It sounds like a veiled threat.

That all-pervasive fear was stoked to perfection by Moammar Gadhafi's regime for more than 42 years, and it still hangs in the air here, even though Gadhafi no longer rules these shattered streets.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Sirte, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And take a look at what Moammar Gadhafi's former compound in Tripoli looks like now. This is what was the Bab al-Aziziya compound. It's now a fallen pile of rubble and debris, and here, a bulldozer is tearing away chunks of the concrete walls. Now, exhilarated fighters and civilians, they cheered and flashed signs for victory as the walls of the once heavily-fortified compound were literally torn down. And watching all this unfold, a young Libyan man who is standing before another wall covered with pro-revolution graffiti.

Now, ahead here on NEWS STREAM, more unrest rocks the Arab world over the weekend. Ongoing violence in Syria is putting the country's Arab League membership at risk, but there's still no end in sight to the month-long crackdowns.

And in Yemen, men and children flee for their lives as government forces break up protests with live gunfire.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

An Afghan intelligence chief in the country's northwestern Faryab province was nearly killed early on Monday after a suicide bomber attacked his car. A local official say that he and several bodyguards were injured, but a young girl was killed as she waited nearby for school. There's no word yet on who was behind this attack. And certainly violence in Afghanistan has been on the rise in recent months.

And putting more pressure on Syria, the Arab League says it is considering suspending the country for its ongoing violence against civilians. And on Sunday, leaders for the Arab League held emergency talks in Cairo to discuss the issue. And while they were meeting, this was apparently the scene in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor on Sunday.

This amateur video purports to show security forces opening fire on a funeral procession for prominent activists. The U.N. says more than 3,000 people have been killed across Syria since the violent crackdowns began more than seven months ago.

And Sunday was a bloody day in Yemen as well, as government forces opened fire on peaceful protests in the capital and nearby cities. At least five protesters were killed, dozens more wounded. And activists say that this is a serious escalation of the regime's crackdown.

Mohammed Jamjoom reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They carried signs saying, "We are no armed. Don't attack us with gunfire." But that's exactly what anti-government demonstrators say happened in Yemen Sunday, when they gathered for a march through the streets of Sanaa.

For the second straight day, they say they were fired upon by security forces and snipers. Medics said at least five of the protesters were killed and dozens of wounded were entering the hospital by the minute. They called on people to donate blood. But Sanaa wasn't the only flash point.

In the southern city of Taiz, another demonstration and a death that has shocked even those jaded by the seemingly unending cycle of violence in Yemen. Eyewitnesses and medics say a woman named Aziza Osman-Khalid (ph) was killed by a shot to the head from a government sniper. This disturbing YouTube video purports to show Khalid (ph) as she's being carried away. Yemeni activists say she was 20 years old and the first woman to be killed while watching against the government.

ATIAF ALWAZIR, ONLINE ACTIVIST: The fear now is that today's attack against -- the sniper attack against one woman who was killed in Taiz is really an escalation, and it's a sign that the government security forces will not release -- stop shooting even if they're women, because culturally, women may have been beaten, arrested at time, but never directly shot at.

JAMJOOM: CNN has not independently confirmed the details of the reported violence in Sanaa or Taiz, nor has the government responded to our request for comment.

The protesters remain determined, promising they'll continue their peaceful revolution despite any threats or dangers they may face, vowing to keep flooding the streets until the reign of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh has come to an end.

Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now, three people in the U.S. city of Philadelphia are facing charges including kidnapping and aggravated assault after a landlord discovered a secret basement with people trapped inside. The four alleged victims have disabilities which authorities say that the suspects were likely exploiting for profit.

Susan Candiotti has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police call it an act of evil. In a basement below the basement of this Philadelphia house, a chain shackled one of four mentally and physically challenged adults to a boiler, all of them locked behind a steel door. One woman and three men age 29 to 41.

LT. RAY EVERS, PHILADELPHIA POLICE: It looks like a dungeon. These people were stored like surplus meat in the basement.

CANDIOTTI: Held captive in a 15 by 15 foot room, emaciated, covered in bed sores and filthy conditions, the building's owner discovered them Saturday, when he heard dogs barking inside. He pried the door open and couldn't believe his eyes.

TURGUT GOZLEVELI, BUILDING OWNER: One person was from the left ankle with a padlock and chain, and even the police didn't have the tools to cut the chain. I got my hacksaw to cut the padlock.

RICHARD ROSS, DEP. COMM., PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPT.: Quite simply, this case just makes you shake your head. I mean, it's despicable and unspeakable. The mere fact that, you know, individuals would treat disadvantaged people like this is just ridiculous, and it just simply makes us sick.

CANDIOTTI: Neighbors couldn't believe what was going on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's crazy that somebody in real life can do something like this. This is only stuff that you see in movies.

CANDIOTTI: Three people are charged, including Linda Weston, who police say orchestrated the alleged kidnapping. Police say the suspects traveled with their victims from Texas to Florida, and arrived in Philadelphia October 4th. They're jailed on six charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault. Investigators say they might have been stealing Social Security checks of the alleged victims. The FBI is looking into that.

The four victims are now hospitalized.

ROSS: I don't know whether the motivation in this is financial or whether it's just out-and-out evil. I'm not sure. But either way, it's just a despicable act.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): The victims were in such bad shape, the landlord who found them told us if he had discovered them one day later, he believes they would have been dead.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Philadelphia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now, since launching the CNN Freedom Project earlier this year, CNN has brought you hundreds of stories about modern-day slavery. And this weekend, we'll be airing a documentary that showcases every aspect of this global criminal enterprise.

Now, four years in the making, spanning five continents, "Not My Life." It delivers an unflinching look at humanity's greatest shame.

Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Under water or above, life on Lake Volta is dangerous. Diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, bilharzia thrive in the lake's warm, shallow waters. Infections and injuries fester in the heat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was hurt in the water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For most of these children, their resilience is so great, that they can go from an almost zombie-like existence of brutality, which is a reaction to brutality, to a pretty normal childhood -- a happy, playing, educated, enthusiastic kid. And I've watched this miracle time and time again, and it absolutely floors me.

In fact, I've got to say, if there's one thing that keeps me doing what I'm doing, it's that. It's watching those kids go from being kids without hope, and kids without any light in their eyes, and kids without any play in their hearts, to being free, happy kids again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Powerful stuff. That's a peak there at a special two-night TV event, the CNN Freedom Project special presentation of "Not My Life." It is an unforgettable documentary from filmmaker Robert Bilheimer. And you can see part one Saturday night, part two Sunday night, at 7:00 p.m. in Hong Kong, right here on CNN.

Thai authorities say that flooding is no longer a major concern in Bangkok, but in many areas north of the capital the situation is critical. Ahead, a look at some of the aid efforts now under way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines. Now the world racing community is mourning the loss of one of its top drivers. Indy Car champion Dan Wheldon was killed in a horrific multi-car crash at the Las Vegas Indy 300 race. Wheldon and three other drivers were rushed to the hospital, but Indy Car CEO Randy Barnard said that Wheldon's injuries were simply unsurvivable.

The family's is Israeli terror victims were going to court to try to block the release of more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners. They're being released in exchanged for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured in 2006 during a raid on an Israeli army outpost.

France's Socialist Party has picked long-time politician Francoise Hollande to try to unseat incumbent Nicolas Sarcozy in next spring's elections. Hollande defeate Martin Aubry in a run-off election on Sunday. Now the former party leader is pledging to bring new vitality to the country. The Socialists have not won the presidency since Francois Mitterrand served from 1981 to 1995.

The trial of Michael Jackson's doctor has been put on hold, because the father of the prosecution's last witness has died. The medical expert is crucial to the state's effort to make the case that Jackson's death was caused by Conrad Murray's negligence. Now Murray's trial is still expected to go to the jury early next week despite the delay.

Thai authorities say flood defenses have spared Bangkok from the worst of the country's flooding. And elsewhere, the flood waters are slowly starting to recede. Many areas still need to drain. And official say that many people are in desperate need of basic supplies.

Paula Hancocks reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're in central Bangkok at one of the main centers where people are bringing donations, things like sardines which is canned goods, very useful for those in the flooded areas that may not have homes anymore, may not have the ability to cook. There's also long life milk back there as well, so you don't need a fridge for it.

Now people have been coming all day bringing in food, water, clothes for those who have affected. And also cash, which has been very welcomed by the organizers, because they can buy the specifics they know are needed. They've been making up these packs to take further north.

Now as you can see, they're being carried now by the Royal Thai Army. And they're loading them out the back here into a truck and they will be driven to one of the areas that need it most.

Now this isn't just this year that this kind of effort has happened. There are floods every single year here in Thailand. And it's also this always donation effort. But it's never been anything like this year. The floods have never been anything like this year. And this is an incredible local effort.

In the flooded areas, anyone with a boat is helping the aid effort, transporting food, water, and possessions. If you don't have a boat, a rubber tire will do, even Styrofoam.

The military drives down the main streets of Sangkok (ph), a suburb of Bangkok which has been turned into a river handing out aid to those it passes.

But aid is slow to reach those along the back streets.

This man says "it's very bad around here. We really need food."

Temples are playing a very big role in the aid effort. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist. And this is where many people are turning for help.

This monk tells me, "whenever we get donations, we share with the villagers."

There are also serious concerns of historic statues and temples being damaged if the water doesn't recede soon. But for now, this is secondary to helping those in need.

Aid is also coming in from abroad: $1.5 million from China, $1 million from the U.S. The U.S. is also sending 26 helicopters, crucial to get to these areas that are now inaccessible by road.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Bangkok.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: So aid is very much indeed in the flood zone there in Thailand. We are also monitoring flooding elsewhere. Mari Ramos joins us from the world weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Kristie, amazing those picture. People just living in those conditions with that water so high. There are many hidden dangers in the water that we've been talking about since last week. You know, there could be power lines. There's of course deadly animals that could be there. There's debris. You never know how deep the water could be. So the emergency certainly not over for people in Thailand.

And across southeast Asia, this is just another image there. You can see the shots there in the background, the homes in the background still covered with water. I would take weeks for the water to drain from some of these hard hit areas.

Now on Saturday we had pretty heavy rain even in Bangkok, over 100 millimeters of rain. Any amount of rain that falls here is going to be a huge, huge concern. But Thailand is not the only area affected by this massive flooding: Laos, also Cambodia, and Vietnam all have been affected by serious flooding. And you can see here the thunderstorms and the rain showers moving through these areas as well.

In the last 24 hours, the heaviest rains that I found were over in Vietnam. And you can see that they had over 300 millimeters of rain. They had over 200 the day before. So you can see the significance of these rainfall totals.

And back over toward Danang, 136 millimeters of rain in the last 24 hours. That's also very significant.

I can see now, and you can see it too, that the heaviest rain we're probably going to be reporting on tomorrow morning will be these areas here by Cambodia and also neighboring portions of Thailand.

But Thailand overall, we're seeing a little bit of a lull as far as the rainfall is concerned here. The heaviest, like I said, will probably be here near Cambodia, back over into the border near Vietnam areas hard hit as well.

And then right over here with this area of low pressure near Vietnam. And you can clearly see that here with our computer models indicating, again, that area of central Vietnam that I just showed you, those incredible rainfall totals from an additional 15, maybe even 25 centimeters of rain. So just really be aware of this. We're still seeing a lot of rain across this region.

Another area in south Asia that I want to tell you about is in the Bay of Bengal. This time of year, when the monsoon begins to retreat, is when we begin to see the possibility of tropical cyclones forming in the Indian Ocean or the Arabian Sea. We were looking at this area right here in the northern areas of the Bay of Bengal. It looks like it's dissipating, but it is bringing some heavy rain to Myanmar, parts of eastern India and even into Bangladesh, areas that have also have had tremendously heavy rain during this monsoon season.

Let's check out your forecast next.

RAMOS: And these are pictures from the other side of the world. This is in El Salvadore. Authorities there are asking for international help now to meet the needs after torrential downpours leave at least 27 people dead. There are more than 3,800 in family shelters according to government officials after this deadly deluge started falling on Friday, which are the pictures that you see there.

In neighboring Honduras, which is the next picture that I want to show you, you can see people walking around with waters up to their chest. Across Central America, the death toll continues to rise from these rains affecting not just El Salvadore, not just Honduras, but also Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and southern parts of Mexico.

I want to bring you back to the weather map and show you again there's going to be these areas along the Pacific that will get the heaviest rain. I'm really concerned about the situation here in El Salvadore, because again we're expecting some very heavy rain. And they've already declared a national emergency, an additional 25 centimeters of rainfall possible in the next 24 hours, Kristie. This is going to be a crucial, crucial time for this part of the world.

And last by not least, right here in the Yucatan Channel, we do have the potential for a new tropical cyclone within the next 24 to 48 hours. Monitoring this heavy rain from Cancun to Western Cuba to southern parts of Florida for now.

Back to you.

STOUT: I can't believe the photos you just showed us -- knee high, chest high water, very dangerous situation there. Mari, thank you very much for the update.

Now bad weather in New Zealand is further complicating efforts to pump oil off the stricken container ship The Rena. Now this is how the ship looks now. And you can see clearly just how badly it's listing.

Now Maritime New Zealand says so far its workers have pumped off 70 tons of oil, or about 5 percent of what the ship was carrying when it hit a reef earlier this month.

Now the agency says workers will continue pumping overnight, weather permitting, but one look at the stern just says it all. The containers still on the deck are buckling under the pressure. And authorities fear if the weather is bad enough, the vessel could actually split in two.

Now another salvo in the smartphone war, Samsung has filed an injunction to block the sale of Apple's iPhone 4S in Japan and Australia siting patent infringements. And since April, Apple and Samsung have been waging a legal battle against each other in nine countries.

Now despite the global legal tussle, both companies have worked together. Samsung makes chips for both the iPhone and the iPad. And (INAUDIBLE) reports that the president of Samsung Electronics was invited to the private memorial service for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who past away earlier this month.

Now Lee Jae-Yong told South Korean media this, quote, "we were competitors. We also grew fond of each other to the point where he would be the first to call and console me whenever I was encountering difficulties," unquote.

So, yes, the relationship between Apple and Samsung, it's symbiotic and it's also complicated.

Now it was a busy couple of days for police and protesters alike as the Occupy Wall Street protest went global. But as the movement gains more worldwide momentum, officials are arresting more and more protesters for things like trespassing, disorderly conduct, and violating curfews.

Now demonstrations began one month ago in New York as a way to rally against corporate greed and social inequality.

And this was a scene in Chicago Sunday night. Police arrested about 175 people who refused to leave a park after closing time. But the rally has now spread far outside the U.S.

Occupy London protests, it continued in their second day on Sunday while 400 people spent the night St. Paul's Cathedral.

And this was the aftermath of Occupy protests in Rome on Saturday. More than 100 people were injured when violence broke out in a crowd estimated to be in the thousands.

Now a group of Chinese nuns has stepped outside their usual habit to take part in one of the country's major sporting events. And ahead, we'll tell you what prompted these nuns to go on the run.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: A graphic video showing a toddler in a brutal road accident is trigger massive online reaction in China. Now in Forshan (ph) a surveillance camera tracked every detail as a van ran over two year old Yeye (ph). Now Sina Weibo has a page dedicated to her story. Now this took place on Thursday. And the video is so disturbing we can't show it to you.

And this is a screen capture. It's right after the accident. You can see Yeye (ph). She's lying on the ground here motionless. And the video shows over a dozen people walking around and avoiding her. It also shows another van running over the girl a second time.

And minutes tick by until a trash collector sees Yeye (ph), carries here to the side of the road. And eventually the girl's mother appears and rushes her to the hospital. And again, every single moment is captured on closed-circuit television.

Now the driver of the second van has been apprehended by police. The first driver is still at large. The toddlers mother has opened a verified Weibo account to update the public. And her post two hours ago, it reads Yeye (ph) is still at the ICU and cannot breath on her own. But she has slight feelings in her hands and feet. Thank you for all your care and support.

And Chinese netizens have expressed outrage. And they're also stating on the state of morality in modern China. And thousands are using the hashtag pleaseendtheindifference to raise awareness online.

Now a group of Chinese Catholic nuns says it was not charity, not sport that pushed them to join this year's Beijing marathon. It is rare for anyone in China's religious communities to seek the spotlight, but these sisters say that they wanted to raise awareness and money to help some of the country's youngest victims of HIV aids.

Jaime Florcruz reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Over 30,000 people have joined this year's Beijing marathon, some running to compete, other just to have fun with friends and family.

These Chinese Catholic nuns are running for charity. Sister Tian has been running a center carrying for orphans of farmers who have died of AIDS. They teach them arithmetic and reading and give them special care.

Days before the marathon, she shared a home cooked meal with the orphans.

TIAN WENJIAO, CATHOLIC NUN (through translator): I'm running for these children, because they need a lot of attention and care.

FLORCRUZ: Like many poor farmers in north China, their parents got infected with AIDS after selling blood to unscrupulous traders who used unsanitary methods that infected and killed countless donors.

The orphans, Tian says, remain psychologically fragile.

WENJIAO: We want them treated with respect and dignity so that they can have confidence to live.

FLORCRUZ: Tian's charity group are also helping poor farmers living with AIDS to become more self-reliant. They give them seed money to raise goats, the extra income, and to help boost their health and self-esteem.

His heard has already multiplied from two to 16 in one year.

Back in her charity center, Sister Tian packs up her nun's habit and running shoes. She hopes to raise 60,000 Renminbi, or $9,400 U.S. dollars, to fund her charity projects.

Nuns participating in a major public event is an unusual sight in China. Religion here is still state controlled. And Catholic figures prefer to keep a low profile. Still, the 52 sister ran with gusto, some even finishing a half marathon.

WENJIAO: I had fun running. Next time I think I can run a half- marathon.

FLORCRUZ: Their nuns habits are too long for them to run with, but for Sister Tian and her fellow nuns, 9.8 kilometers, or 5 miles, is not that long, because for them they say this is a run for a good cause.

Jaime Florcruz, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now China is no stranger to the problem of pollution. In fact, the country is currently the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse cases. And many cities are shrouded in heavy smog like this for much of the year. And residents of those cities are turning to digital media to help them keep track of pollution levels.

Now people living in Beijing may be familiar with the Twitter handle @beijingair. The U.S. embassy in Beijing uses this account to provide hourly updates on air quality and ozone readings in English.

As you can see here, the tweets include a reading of the finest particulate matter, it's known as PM2.5. Now these tiny particles are especially dangerous, because they're small enough not only to enter the lungs, but also the blood stream.

And earlier last week, the government proposed tightening standards related to these particles. And right now they're reading unhealthy for sensitive groups right here.

But often tweets of bad, and hazardous readings contradict official claims of blue skies, bringing complaints from local authorities.

Now tensions escalated in 2009 when a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable suggested that China was nervous that the data released by @beijingair would cause confusion and public anger. Shortly aftewards, Beijing decided to block all of Twitter within China's borders.

But you can access the information with mobile apps like this one right here. And similar apps are also available for other cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.

Now polluted waters have prevented Hong Kong swimmers from venturing into the harbor for some 33 years, but on Sunday Hong Kong resumed its annual cross harbor swim. It brought 1,000 swimmers to the daunting 1.8 kilometer swim. Environmental officials say the harbor is considerably cleaner than it used to be.

And still to come here on News Stream, catching a crocodile this big is one thing, but feeding it and keeping it healthy is quite another. We'll check in on Lolong in the Philippines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Now the celebrations continue for the All Blacks who have reached the rugby world cup final. For now, New Zealanders are savoring a hard fought victory over their bitter rivals Australia. But soon enough, attention will turn to Sunday's final where the All Blacks face the French.

Alex Thomas reports from Auckland's Fan Zone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Fans here in New Zealand probably woke up this morning pinching themselves and wondering was it all some terrific dream? Well, the minute they looked at the national newspaper they realized it wasn't. The New Zealand Herald "finally the choke is on them. No longer can Australia's tease All Blacks fans, saying that in those big rugby world cup moment they're side bottles it."

They're through to the final for the first since 1995. And 24 hours earlier, their future in that final was in doubt. A lot of nerves here at Queens Wharf, the rugby world cup Fan Zone, and across the country. Everyone wearing their All Black shirts in a show of support. And they needn't have worried.

The minute the match kicked off at Eden Park Stadium, Australian star fly half Quade Cooper kicked the ball out of touch and the All Blacks were on the front foot from that moment on.

Ma'a Nonu scored the only try of the game. And the All Blacks went on to dominate the match, winning by 14 points, but it could have been an awful lot more.

That triumph sparked scenes of jubilation at Eden Park, across the country, and especially here at the Fan Zone on Queens Wharf in central Auckland. Delight and relief for the All Blacks fans that their team were through to the final where they'll face France in a repeat of the title match from 24 years ago, which as everyone in this country knows is when the All Blacks won their first and only rugby world cup title.

Alex Thomas, CNN, New Zealand.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And do you remember this monster crocodile? Well, catching the 6.4 meter long reptile last month was quite a feat, but caring for it turns out to be an even bigger task. Alex Zolbert (ph) got a glimpse of the croc that people in the Philippines have nicknamed Lolong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX ZOLBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is Lolong, a giant saltwater crocodile, one of the largest ever captured measuring a staggering 6.4 meters, or 21 feet long.

Lolong was snared last month near a village in the southern Philippines where the croc is blamed for killing a fisherman earlier this year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the most successful trap in the world by capturing the biggest, largest crocodile.

ZOLBERT: Trapping the reptile was certainly a feat. And now the question is what to do with such an animal.

These days Lolong draws curious onlookers and spends its days lounging in a murky pool at a planned eco park.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully this can help us educate our people for the preservation of this species.

ZOLBERT: But caring for a giant croc is no small task. And critics say Lolong doesn't belong in an enclosed space of this size. They've also expressed concerns about its eating habits.

This is Lolong's counterpart, Panjang (ph), who lives at the Singapore Zoo where today is feeding day.

SAMUEL TAY, SINGAPORE ZOO: Saltwater crocodiles are known to be a lot more aggressive towards people. They will consider us food items.

ZOLBERT: Samuel Tay knows Panjang (ph) and saltwater crocodiles about as well as anyone.

TAY: Crocodiles have to feel secure, especially if it's a wild animal. You would have to provide a lot of visual barriers. You have to keep it away from people just so that there's less stress on the animal.

ZOLBERT: And as for feeding, saltwater crocs don't need to eat as much as one might think.

TAY: The stomach of maybe a three meter crocodile would only be about the size of a basketball. Basically a crocodile in the wild would take down its prey, eat until its full and then go for a month or so without eating.

ZOLBERT: And while it sounds simple, Tay says it's best to follow the idea of treat others as you want to be treated.

TAY: Put yourself in the animal's position and just think about what the animal would want. And I don't think you can go wrong with that.

ZOLBERT: Sound advice for anyone dealing with one of the world's most feared creatures.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We dream that this crocodile will become one of the top tourist attractions not only in our province, but in the whole country of the Philippines.

ZOLBERT: Alex Zolbert, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And to get a closer look at the giant reptile and some other exotic species just go to CNN.com/ecosolutions.

Now it's time to go over and out there now to Sesame Street. Now fans of the American children's television program got an eye full on Sunday when they checked out the show's YouTube page. Now they were expecting to see images like this of Big Bird and his friends giving an educational message, but instead the only message they got was -- let's just say it was brought to them by the letters XXX after hackers broke in and posted porn.

Now Sesame Streets YouTube page, it was shut down shortly after as you can see here. And the show's organizers, they issued an apology. And YouTube says the explicit content has been removed.

And that is NEWS STREAM. But the news continues at CNN. "WORLD BUSINESS TODAY" is next.

END