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NEWS STREAM
Putin Visits Crimea For Victory Day; Apple to Buy Beats Electronics?; Anti-Government Protesters in Thailand Call For Removal of Caretaker Government; Rio's Crackland; Clippers' Owner Defends Self Against Racism Charges; Manchester City Under Investigation for Unfair Financial Practices
Aired May 9, 2014 - 8:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.
Now Russia marks the end of World War II with a massive parade in Moscow and an appearance by President Vladimir Putin in Crimea.
Why is Apple reportedly interested in the headphone maker Beats? Well, here's a hint, it's not about the headphones.
And we hear from Nigerian schoolgirls who say they escaped the clutches of Boko Haram while over 200 of their classmates are still missing.
Let's begin in Crimea. Now President Vladimir Putin is in Sevastopol. And he is there as part of Russia's victory day celebrations to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe.
Now earlier, Vladimir Putin was at a military parade in Moscow's Red Square. You're looking at pictures there filmed just moments ago. Vladimir Putin there in Crimea on a boat.
His visit there, it comes after Russia annexed the region from Ukraine in March despite international outcry.
Now let's get more now from our correspondents on the ground. We have Phil Black. He is in Sevastopol. And Matthew Chance in Moscow. Let's start first in Crimea with Phil.
And Phil, what is the mood there in Crimea as President Putin has landed? He is there to commemorate Victory Day.
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, really a big celebration here in Sevastopol today. Where I am standing to the international community maybe considered disputed territory, perhaps even occupied territory, but clearly not to Vladimir Putin who is traveling here, or has traveled here so recently after this land was annexed by Crimea and is certainly very much rationed territory in the eyes of really the tens of thousands of people who now line the shores here around this port city.
They are very excited. It is a celebration of Russian patriotism. And they've been here for the better part of the day, too. First of all, we saw a big military parade involving land military vehicles coming through. And as I speak now, we're just hearing the crowd make a bit of noise, and I think that's because Vladimir Putin's vessel has just entered the bay here behind me.
We're going to pan across and show you this. I hope the quality of the video shows, you can see a long line of warships there from the Russian Black Sea naval fleet. We have pictures of Putin, I believe you can see now. As he enters this bay, the crowd here really erupted and it could only mean one thing, they've been really anticipating his arrival here for the better part of the day. And what we expect to see happen now is perhaps the highlight of the celebration here, it is going to be a big naval and aviation display involving Russian military aircraft and vessels from the Russian naval Black Sea fleet as well.
His appearance here, the Russian president's appearance here will very much be considered an act of triumphalism, I think, by much of the international community.
But clearly, here, in Crimea, certainly among these crowds, and I suspect among much of Russia as well, it will be very warmly received, because these people very strongly believe that they are Russian and across the broader path of the Russian federation, there are many people who believe that Crimea itself has always been part, an integral part of the Russian state, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Wow, scenes of celebration there in Crimea as President Vladimir Putin has arrived to celebrate Victory Day and to survey the recently annexed region. Phil Black joining me live from Sevastopol.
Let's go straight to Matthew Chance in Moscow. Matthew, why is Putin there? I mean, why did he decide to celebrate Victory Day in Crimea?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think Phil Black was absolutely right in saying this is a classic example of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, ignoring the sensibilities of the international community, or at least of the west, and playing to his own Russian audience.
The annexation of Crimea back in March was an immensely popular move amongst the Russian public, that they've long considered it you know Russian territory and has long considered it be a historical injustice that it was awarded under the Soviet Union, under the Soviet Union to Ukraine in the first place.
And so it's immensely popular what Vladimir Putin has done and annexed this part of the territory, made it part of the Russian territory, Crimea. And I think he's very much playing to that.
This is also Vladimir Putin putting his own personal stamp on that annexation. He wants that popularity of the annexation to be transferred to him personally amongst the Russian public. And there's good evidence that that's actually taken place. The approval ratings of Vladimir Putin, as we've been reporting over the past couple of days, according to the latest independent opinion polls put his approval rating at 82 percent, absolutely astonishing for this political leader here in Russia, Kristie.
LU STOUT: And after seeing those scenes of celebration there in Sevastopol there in Crimea, what has been the scene in Moscow? How was Russia marking Victory Day today? What evidence have you seen of this nationalist sentiment coming through?
CHANCE: Oh, well, I mean, this Victory Day in Moscow was on one level like many others in the sense that it's always been a day of immense national pride, a day for Russians to show off their military might -- parades of tanks, of missile launchers, of nuclear weapons even through Red Square in the center of the Russian capital. We saw all that today, the Russian military has been refurbished to a certain extent, billions of dollars have been spent on new equipment, that was on display as well.
It's interesting, the first vehicle to enter Red Square in this military parade was an armored personnel carrier of the Black Sea marines. And it was flying a Crimean flag just underlining how important Crimea is in terms of the national mood, the national sentiment of pride amongst many Russians.
So, yes, a day of national pride, but it comes against this growing backdrop of growing nationalism in Russia as well. And I think many countries, particularly the neighbors of Russia, particularly in the west, that are looking at this are deeply concerned at the growing sense of Russia's military might.
And so a day of national pride, a day of concern for many onlookers.
LU STOUT: All right, Matthew Chance reporting live from Moscow, thank you.
And let's take you back to those scenes of celebrations there in Sevastopol. Again, the Russian president Vladimir Putin, he has landed in Sevastopol. He is there to mark Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Let's listen in and take in the scene.
All right, the Russian President Vladimir Putin, moments ago you saw that boat there. He was on board that boat there in Sevastopol, Crimea, there to mark Victory Day celebrations, a day which has been a day of patriotism for Russian, but now a day of Russian nationalism on the back of that annexation of Crimea. Live pictures there of the Russian Victory Day being celebrated by President Vladimir Putin there in Crimea.
Now Victory Day celebrations are, for the most part, muted this year. Authorities have canceled many public events in Ukraine and demonstrations of support for Russia that could spark more violence.
Now meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, they're going ahead with a referendum on independence. Now despite a call from the Russian president to postpone the vote.
Now our senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh went to find out how some are preparing for the vote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDNET: This is how Slovyansk's militants (inaudible) news there will be a referendum on Sunday whatever Vladimir Putin thinks.
Laps around the town that's not about to back down. These men arriving fresh to join the militia now encircled by Ukraine's army. Putin's advice they delay, letting Putin both distance himself and claim this is a home grown uprising.
In the central square, they mourn the dead of the past days, but in his office, the self-declared mayor also brandishes new ballot papers brought in, in the last night.
Russia's flag is still on his desk ,but now he sleeps behind it with a flak jacket and rocket launcher.
He reads me a note from a local girl hoping her guardian angel watches over him. He may need more than that when this vote goes ahead.
"Am I ready to have a referendum," he says. "We have a commission. People ready. We have the papers. Putin is the head of the Russian Federation, we have our own Donetsk People's Republic. Let's get it right."
Life here is on pause. This, the only working bank. Ukrainians caught between either a bloody intervention by the army, or a messy and flawed vote to likely join Russia.
But the last barricade before the army, they hang this figure.
"Next is the interior minister or the president hanging themselves in the real world," they joke, before showing their arm with only Molotov cocktails. They say the bridge is mined.
The safe ways out of this town, and this crisis decreasing fast.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Slovyansk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come, Thai protesters take to the streets yet again in a fresh push to oust the government. Hear their demands after the break.
Plus, it looks like Apple may be poised to make a multibillion dollar buy. Find out why the Silicon Valley giant wants to take a bite out of the hottest headphones around.
And Nigeria is getting international help in the search for the more than 200 abducted schoolgirls. We'll bring you the very latest when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the stories we've got in the show today.
Now we started with the president of Russia celebrating Victory Day with an appearance in Crimea. Now, I want to take you to protests in Thailand. Now thousands of protesters are marching on government house in Bangkok. Some say they will stay the night. Now the protesters want the country's caretaker government removed.
On Wednesday, a top court dismissed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for abuse of power. She was later indicted by an anti-corruption body that happened on Thursday. And elections are planned for July.
Now CNN's Saima Mohsin has been at the protests all day. She joins me live from Bangkok. And Saima, what did you see earlier today?
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, well we saw thousands of protesters come back out onto the streets to show their show of strength, a show of force against the government. Of course, they're calling for the current caretaker setup to go.
We haven't seen quite any major announcements or final day of battle, as it was promised this time last night by Suthep Thaugsuban, the protest leader, the People's Democratic Reform committee, this umbrella group that belongs to the anti-government protesters. He sits at a stage. He said that they were going to stay the night and bed down. And we saw people coming very much in that kind of festival atmosphere as we've seen over the last few months. Nothing really very new.
But we had seen other pockets of protests through the day where there was a confrontation with police where tear gas and water cannon was used. And earlier, Kristie, in a very strange new twist to this protest, we saw thousands of protesters surrounding local TV stations demanding they stop any broadcast involving the current caretaker setup, the government or anything to do with the Shinawatra family, that hasn't been -- come to fruition in terms of any kind of takeover yet. But so far tonight, as night falls, we've seen pop stars taking to the stage, trying to keep the crowds here, keep them going. But as I said, not quite the final day of battle that was promised -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: That's right, Yingluck Shinawatra may have been dismissed. That's not enough for the protesters. They are angry. They want more.
Now tomorrow, Saima, we know that a rival demonstration will take place, a protest against the dismissal of Yingluck Shinawatra, so could we see clashes? Could we see a major confrontation on the streets this weekend?
MOHSIN: Well, as far as the Pheu Thai Party, Yingluck Shinawatra's party, the Red Shirts also as they're dubbed, is concerned it has taken this line of trying not to have any kind of confrontation with the anti- government protesters. So they picked a separate day for their protest. They've picked a very different location across the river, across the other side of Bangkok for their protest.
But we are hearing bits and pieces this evening of rhetoric coming out and threats of violence sporadically and we have seen that, haven't we, over the last few weeks as well.
But let me also refer to what you're talking about as far as Yingluck Shinawatra going is concerned. Yes, she's been dismissed by the constitutional court, but the Pheu Thai Party still holds the caretaker government. So as far as they're concerned, they're very much in a position of strength. And tomorrow is all about coming out showing their support for Yingluck and her party and saying we are here to stay. We're not going anywhere, Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, Saima Mohsin reporting live from Bangkok, you could hear behind her the anti-government protesters, that protest still underway likely to continue well into the night. Saima Mohsin there. Thank you.
Now Apple could be hooking up with Dr. Dre. Reports say Apple could be buying the rap mogul's company Beats Electronics for some $3.2 billion. Now why would Apple buy Beats? Now the company is well known for its distinctive and popular headphones, but those headphones are often criticized by audiophiles for focusing on the base above all else, more style than substance some would say.
Now instead, some think that Apple might be more interested in Beats' music subscription service. You can download music from Apple and you can stream music from iTunes Radio, but Apple does not have a subscription service to compete with Spotify.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN BRYANT, EDITOR IN CHIEF, THE NEW WEB: Those kinds of services are difficult to set up. You've got to do a lot of negotiations with the record labels, record labels, remember who kind of resent Apple's power in the music retail spaces. They gave a lot of power to Apple back in the early part of this century when iTunes Music Store launched.
So, the idea that labels might be keen to deal with Apple straight away in that regard seems unlikely. So if they can buy an existing service, a small service, it's only recently launched, it doesn't have that many subscribers compared to something like Spotify, but it's been very much acclaimed for its music discovery elements, for the technology behind it, which Apple could very well integrate into iTunes and into its iPhones, iPads et cetera relatively easily.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT; So that's the explainer here.
Now the reported deal would also be Apple's largest acquisition by far. While Facebook and Google have recently made their billion dollar purchases, today Apple's biggest acquisition was paying $400 million for the computing firm NeXT back in 1996. Now you probably don't recognize these NeXT computers, but you do know the man behind them -- Steve Jobs. The deal to buy NeXT brought him back to Apple as an adviser. Within a year, he was interim CEO. The year after that, he launched the iMac. So it's safe to say that the groundwork for Apple's revival was laid when the company bought NeXT back in 1996.
You're watching News Stream. And coming up next, counting down to the World Cup. As Rio De Janeiro goes through its final cleanup effort, one church group is picking up where the government has left off. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.
Now South Korean defense officials say three aerial drones found in March and April were sent from neighboring North Korea. They say an analysis indicates the low tech devices were programmed to return north with images both of President Park Guen-hye's residents and of South Korean military facilities.
And while the planes don't seem to pose any serious danger, their discovery comes ahead of a looming countdown to what the north says will be a test launch of a nuclear device.
Now CNN has gotten a rare look inside the world's most secretive state. Chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour sat down with the man who, for years, served as the regime's propaganda machine. And now, 10 years after defecting, he gives us his inside take into who was really running the hermit kingdom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So what about Kim Jong-un, the current dictator in North Korea? Many people thought because he was young, because he went to school in Switzerland, because he likes Disney, because he has a pretty wife that there would be a change.
And yet he has gotten rid of a lot of the old guard, including his own uncle, who he had executed.
JANG JIN-SUNG, NORTH KOREAN POET (through translator): When Kim Jung- il died and Kim Jong-un succeeded him, people saw the transfer of power from father to son.
What they did not see also was what happened to the apparatus of the totalitarian system that supported the rule of Kim Jung-il; it's called the Organization and Guidance Department, the OGD.
This is the organ that Kim Jung-il rose through up 30 years with his friends in the university. Kim Jung-il had the OGD as his old boys' network. Kim Jong-un may have friends in his Swiss school; he has no one inside North Korea. He did not build up his power to get where he was. He received it symbolically.
After the execution of Jang Song-Thaek, he has become an orphan, not just in terms of family connections, but in terms of politics. He's a political orphan. He has to rely on his father's advisers.
The OGD has remained then and now. The same men are in power. The same men have kept their positions, the men the world has not seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: And that is just part of CNN's interview with Jang Jin- sung. You can watch more of that conversation online. Just go over to CNN.com.
Now Brazil will host the World Cup in just five weeks. And in Rio de Janeiro, the spotlight will be here at the Maracana Stadium where the final will take place. But just to the north, there is a shocking and dark corner where crack addicts feed their addiction. Shasta Darlington takes us there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Like possessed souls, they crouch and chant, pray and even collapse on the floor. Evil, for many of them, has taken a singular form: crack cocaine.
This evangelical church filled with recovering addicts and their families. Reverend Selu Ricardo (ph), a former addict himself, their guiding light.
"You can only understand tears if you've cried," he says. "I know their weaknesses."
Once a week, he heads back to the streets of Rio de Janeiro hoping to save more lost souls, armed with bibles and food in the back of his van.
We arrive at an eerie squatter's camp. Plastic tarps line a dark alley, heads crooked sideways sucking in smoke. A baby carriage piled high with garbage rolls by. And everywhere the plastic water cups used as crack pipes.
Zair (ph) has been using crack for years.
"People say crack is the drug of death," he says. "But I don't think it is."
Tatiana (ph) shakes her head no when I ask if she wants out.
This is it, this is Crackolandia, Crack Land. It starts all the way a block back there. There have got to be 200, 300, 400 people here. It is probably the most depressing place I've ever been. People are just so desperate and you can see it in everything they do.
They line up for food and receive blessings with eyes closed. Hobson (ph) got off these streets just three months before.
"It's a unique time in my life," he says. "Before this, I couldn't have walked by and not joined in."
Every night, a few new followers end up back at the bare bones shelter and rehab center set up by the pastor and his wife. They sleep on beds crammed into precarious rooms built on the roof of the church and cook meals over wood fires.
They're encouraged to live here for at least nine months to avoid temptation. But a good two-thirds of the men suffer relapses.
Robson (ph) is back at this austere commune for the second time. He used drugs for a decade before discovering crack.
"It was like love at first sight," he says. "But it stole my personality, my whole being."
Now, he just dreams about making it sober to his daughter's 15th birthday. In the meantime, he works on the frontline in Crack Land, tryingto help his old friends get back on their feet.
Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Now the search for the abducted Nigerian schoolgirls is now an international effort with several nations including the U.S. and China joining in. Ahead, hear the challenges searchers will face from those who have seen the kidnappers up close.
And a new audio recording appears to show L.A. Clippers co-owner Donald Sterling defending himself against allegations of racism. We'll play it for you and bring you the latest twist in this NBA saga.
All right, let's go straight to Sevastopol in Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin is there. He's speaking now.
(VICTORY DAY IN CRIMEA COVERAGE)
LU STOUT: Just then you heard from the Russian President Vladimir Putin making remarks there in Sevastopol, Crimea. He is there to mark Victory Day celebrations and the recently annexed region of Ukraine. CNN's Phil Black is there in Sevastopol. He's covering the story for us. He joins me now.
And Phil, give us an idea of the pageantry and the propaganda surrounding Putin's visit there to Crimea.
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you heard it there from Vladimir Putin, "I congratulate you on a great victory." It's a fairly powerful message, very much one to the people here. He said, we are now together. We're going to overcome all the problems. And we're going to be stronger.
What we have seen here today is a huge crowd that is lining the shoreline here around Sevastopol, celebrating Russian patriotism. And it has just reached its peak. We saw an impressive military flyover involving dozens of aircraft followed by an aerial acrobatic display. The crowd really cheering very loudly and screaming, "recia, recia (ph)."
Vladimir Putin watched all of this from a boat and then came ashore to deliver those words which we just heard.
As I say again, congratulating the people of Sevastopol on really tearing themselves away from the nation of Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation, something that the international community believes Vladimir Putin played a very significant role in.
So it does have a triumphalist feel to it today. And I think that is how it will be interpreted internationally as well. But here it is being received very warmly indeed.
The crowd here is enthusiastic. They are very proud to now consider themselves part of the Russian Federation, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Now Kiev wanted to avoid any sort of major celebration marking Victory Day, and yet today in Sevastopol there in Crimea we see the arrival of the Russian President Vladimir Putin being very warmly received there. How is Kiev reacting to this?
BLACK: Well, it has become a tale of two nations today, in a sense. We see this celebration of Russianess here in Crimea, but just north of here in the southeast, the east of Ukraine, that remains a region very much in crisis, where the Ukrainian government is still trying to wrest back its authority from pro-Russian groups that have continued to occupy key buildings, key pieces of infrastructure, really whole towns in some cases as well. And we have seen, or had reported clashes in that region, the city of Mariupol, for example, today. This is where Ukrainian government forces and those supporting that pro-Russian movement continue to battle.
So it is interesting, and it will be certainly interesting to see what Putin's visit here, what this sense of triumphalism here in Ukraine today will be received north of what is now the Crimean border into Ukraine. And whether or not this will continue to fuel that pro-Russian movement that has taken such strong hold there and continues, really, to try and gain momentum. Even though we heard from Vladimir Putin this week encouraging those pro-Russian groups not to go ahead with a referendum voting on independence, or great sovereignty from the Ukrainian nation. Vladimir Putin has asked them not to do that, to give a process of dialogue more time.
Those pro-Russian groups that are now occupying that building say they will proceed. They want to hold this referendum.
Today, those groups, their leaders, they will be looking south to Crimea and hoping perhaps that in a year's time some of them very much would wish they could be part of this sort of Russian celebration -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Vladimir Putin has redefined Victory Day with this visit there to Sevastopol, claiming victory after the annexation of Crimea. Is it still a region very much in transition? What is it like for those living there in Sevastopol, living under the Russian flag?
BLACK: It is very much in transition, Kristie. And people here now experience difficulties on a day to day life. And I think that's what Vladimir Putin was just referring to when he was saying we'll get through these hardships together, because what this region and the people in it are now facing is a huge bureaucratic process of transitioning from the rules, the regulations, both legal, financial and so forth that exist under Ukraine to those of Russia.
And that transitional process has created enormous uncertainty and really great difficulty in people's day to day lives just simply accessing their lifelong savings. Some people can no longer do that, because the Ukrainian banks in which they were kept have shut up and left town outside the Russian banks that are beginning to replace them we are seeing huge queues on a day to day basis.
But what people have been telling us in the lead up to today, and it's really being reinforced here today, as well, that is those that were very keen to become part of Russia are still very keen to be part of Russia despite the difficulties they are now currently experiencing, Kristie.
LU STOUT: But what about those who were never keen to be part of Russia? What about the minority Tatars and those who campaigned against the Russian takeover there in Crimea? What do they make of their new life under Putin?
BLACK: They don't like it, I think you can say that very comfortably, indeed.
The Crimean Tatars, and indigenous ethnic groups of this region, one that suffered significantly during the Soviet Union, in fact they were deported to central Asia and not even allowed to return here, only began returning here in the late 80s to what is their ancestral homeland, they were very happy to be part of Ukraine. They still very much wish that they were.
They're not happy. It is outside the regional administration body of the Crimean Tatar community that the only Ukrainian flag continues to fly that in this territory.
On top of that, they now believe that they are experiencing pretty frequent discrimination as well at the hands of Russian authorities and at the hands of those green men, those self-defense units, the local militias that played such a prominent role in separating Crimea from Ukraine. They're still on the streets as well. And people like the Crimean Tatars, and even other people who believe -- who campaigned pretty openly against the Russian takeover, they say they're now are experiencing a very tough time here as well, Kristie.
LU STOUT: We've seen this live video feed, a number of people still there at the waterfront in Sevastopol. They are there to warmly welcome the Russian President Vladimir Putin and to warmly welcome his words claiming victory in Crimea on this Russian Victory Day. We'll have to leave it at that. Phil Black joining me live from Sevastopol, many thanks indeed for your reporting.
Now, in eastern Ukraine, reports of fresh violence out of Mariupol. the interior ministry tells CNN that there is fighting and the National Guard has entered the city.
Now the Donetsk regional health department says three people have been killed and 25 injured. In a Facebook post, a member of parliament says separatists had blocked themselves off in police headquarters surrounded by Ukrainian security forces and that there are casualties.
Now CNN cannot verify that account.
And, as we just reported, international teams are arriving in Nigeria's capital to aid in the search for more than 200 schoolgirls. Now militants from Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitory on April 14, but some of the students managed to escape.
Now CNN has obtained video that is said to show some of the girls that got away. Vladimir Duthiers has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's taken three weeks, finally the people of Chibok are being heard. Under a state of emergency, cut off from the world, pictures continued to emerge from this remote northern Nigerian town. In this cellphone footage, taken by a local resident and obtained by CNN, this student says she was able to escape so many of her classmates did not.
More video from Nigerian station Channels TV, CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity in which this young girl describes the moment she says Boko Haram stormed her school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They told us to gather around. They said its nothing. There's nothing that will happen to you. Then we gathered and asked us where was the food and said if we didn't tell them they would kill us.
DUTHIRES: Now they fear the worst for more than 200 of their classmates still missing after being kidnapped by the terrorist group.
With the attention of the world now firmly focused on Nigeria, her in Abuja at the World Economic Forum, the country's president responded to criticism that his government hasn't done enough.
GOODLUCK JONATHAN, PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA: I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of end of terror in Nigeria.
DUTHIERS: Pledges of help in the fight against Boko Haram from the United States and other governments are gaining traction.
We're learning now that a unit of seven United States military personnel are scheduled to arrive, joining a team that's already on the ground.
Meanwhile, in Chibok, it still means very little to a community that knows all too well in this part of Nigeria, lawlessness is the norm. Unprotected and neglected, their fear remains.
Vladimir Duthiers, CNN, Abuja.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Now U.S. officials say that the girls who remain captive may have been separated into smaller groups and taken across the border to neighboring countries.
Now for more, Isha Sesay joins me live form the Nigerian capital of Abuja. And Isha, the girls' whereabouts. I mean what is the latest intelligence on where they could be?
ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kristie. Well, that is the big unknown as to where exactly they are. As you know, these girls were taken last month over three weeks ago. And the Nigerian government admitting when they spoke on camera the president for the first time since this all happened that they have no idea where they are, even though there has been an international effort brought to bear now, these teams are now arriving in the country.
We still haven't got any word that they know all the specific locations of these girls. What we know from a senior U.S. official is their belief is that these girls have been split up into groups. As to whether they're in the country, whether they've been spirited away to neighboring countries -- Chad, Niger, Cameroon, again that is unknown.
But it is possible, because the borders between Nigeria and those three countries are extremely porous.
You also have to understand that the region of the country that we're talking about is under the control of Boko Haram. This is their terrain. They have dominated it for a number of years now. So they know what they're doing. They know how they're operating. And they know how to move and evade detection.
The hope is that with international community coming to help Nigeria now, bringing advanced tracking systems. China saying that they're going to use their satellites to provide intelligence to the U.S. And the U.S. getting critical guidance from the U.S. and the UK when it comes to intelligence and surveillance and hostage negotiations, the hope is that all of that expertise that is now being brought to bear in this search and rescue mission will yield results and that they will find exact location of these girls and bring them home.
But the short answer is right now we still do not know where they are, Kristie.
LU STOUT: That's right. And despite all the international expertise on the ground there, if the girls have indeed been broken up into smaller groups it's going to be a lot harder to find them. And Isha, the parents, they must be in absolute agony now. You talked to the father of one of the missing girls. What did he tell you about the search?
SESAY: Kristie, I have to admit, you know, we've all been doing this job for a long time. And we've spoken to a lot of people with heart wrenching stories, but this was really difficult to hear this man speak of his utter pain.
This man said to me that he has lost two daughters that were abducted by Boko Haram. But in total, six members of his family, six girls were taken -- nieces and another family member. In total, six girls have been abducted. They do not know where they are.
He told me of the moment that he got that phone call telling him that something is going on at the school. We believe it is being attacked by Boko Haram as he went from house to house in his village asking other parents with kids at that school what are you hearing, what are you hearing? Kristie, they all were in this panic saying, yes, we're hearing the same thing that the school has been attacked.
And I want to share something that was just almost too much to bear. The father said, one of the parents received a call from his daughter and she said, daddy, Boko Haram are here. They are taking us away. They are loading us into vehicles. Please tell mommy that she may not see me again. Please tell her to pray for me. And that was it, that was the last he heard from his daughter.
It is just too much, Kristie. These people are in absolute agony.
LU STOUT: And an agonizing account there of the moment of abduction when these girls were taken away. Taken away from their school. Isha Sesay on the story for us live from Abuja, thank you so much for your reporting.
Now you're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, Manchester City, they are just one win away from the Premier League title. They are also facing sanctions for their finances. Alex Thomas explains football's financial fair play rules, that story up next. Stick around.
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LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now Manchester City looks set to win the Premier League for the second time in three years on Sunday. But, the club is also bracing itself to find out what punishment it could face for violating financial fair play rules. Now they were recently put in place to try to level the playing field in football, an attempt to counter the billions of dollars pumped in by rich owners.
Now World Sports' Alex Thomas has more.
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ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Football is only a game, but like Monopoly, the money and deals are crucial. If you played this, you'll know you have to slowly accumulate wealth to win.
But like doing instantly from no houses to a hotel, new rich European football club owners have taken a shortcut to success to go, if you like, part of the reason why governing body UEFA has introduced financial fair play rules.
So how does it work? Well, if going around the board is like one year, then UEFA says each team cannot spend over $62 million more than they earn this season and next. That allowable excess falls to $41 million in the following three seasons and will gradually keep coming down until clubs are never losing more than $6.9 million over a three year cycle.
UEFA is measuring things like the cash splashed on signing players and their wages, versus money gained from TV deals, commercial income and sponsorship.
The sponsorship has to be fair, though, you'd never spend $10 million on the electric company would you? And some football club owners of course are bosses of other companies as well.
Investing in stadiums, training facilities and Youth development is seen as community chest style good spending and is not included in the calculations.
For the clubs who overspend, there's a range of punishments, including something as minor as a fine through to a cap on the number of players you can use in UEFA competitions to the ultimate sanctions do not pass god, exit the tournament and go to jail -- well, hand back your trophy.
Unlike Monopoly, FFP will allow negotiation with the banker. Guilding clubs can agree and acceptable punishment or face their case going to an independent panel. And their verdict is final, except for legal action.
Go this far, and a club and its fans will feel like someone has turned on their water works.
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LU STOUT: I suspect there.
Now that is how European football is trying to ensure a competitive balance. But how do other sports handle it?
Well American football uses a hard salary cap. That means there is a limit to what players can be paid. Now the very simple level, the salary cap for last year was set at $123 million. So a team's salary cannot exceed $123 million.
Now the NBA also has a salary cap, but it's known as a soft cap. That means you can exceed the limit, but you'll be charged a tax when you do. It allows richer teams to keep spending if they want, they just have to pay extra for that right.
And of course, these solutions are much easier to implement in the U.S. European football is made up of hundreds of clubs in dozens of leagues across multiple countries, making it much harder to find a one-size fits all solution.
Now staying with basketball, controversial L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling is fighting to keep his team after the NBA imposed a lifetime ban on him over racist comments caught on a secret recording and now another audio recording plus a legal challenge by his estranged wife have added new twists to the saga.
Brian Todd reports.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's talking to a longtime friend, seemingly aghast that the friend may think he's racist.
DONALD STERLING, CLIPPERS OWNER: You think I have anything in the world but love for everybody? You don't think that. You know I'm not a racist! TODD: The gossip Web site RadarOnline says it acquired a secret audio recording of Donald Sterling speaking to a friend whose identity we don't know. CNN cannot independently verify that the voice on the recording is Sterling's. But Radar Online says its source provided an affidavit confirming that the phone call was made by Sterling.
D. STERLING: How can you be in this business and be a racist? Do you think I tell the coach to get white players? Or to get the best player he can get?
TODD: It's unclear who made the recording and why they did it. The tape also indicates Donald Sterling's about to fight the NBA over its attempt to force him to sell the L.A. Clippers.
D. STERLING: You can't force someone to sell property in America.
TODD: Or can you? A source familiar with the situation tells CNN Sterling's racist comments violate a clause in the NBA's constitution, saying an owner can lose a team if they fail to meet their obligations in such a way as to affect the association or its members adversely. That could mean a moral clause might force Sterling out.
On the other hand...
DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The NBA constitution addressing the ouster of owners deals primarily with owners who are unable to pay their bills or make payroll. But this is new ground for justification for ouster of an owner.
TODD: Sterling's estranged wife is maneuvering on her own. Shelly Sterling, who co-owns the Clippers, is legally entitled to retain her stake in the team, according to her attorney, and she intends to. Could she become the principal owner?
A family trust actually owns the Clippers. Shelly and Donald Sterling are the only trustees. As state attorney Michael Curtin points to one statement from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, when he talked about Donald Sterling's punishment.
ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: This ruling applies specifically to Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling's conduct only.
TODD (on camera): Did Commissioner Silver leave her an opening?
MICHAEL CURTIN, STATE ATTORNEY: I believe he left her a very significant opening. But the power in the trust, or the power of the trustees in the trust, would allow her to purchase assets from the trust. She may very well wind up being the owner of the entire interest.
TODD: Shelly Sterling's attorney says she's been in touch with the NBA regarding her desire to maintain her stake in the Clippers. The NBA is not commenting on that or on Donald Sterling's apparent remarks in that recording.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
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LU STOUT: Still to come right here on News Stream, mapping the world off the beaten path. We talk to Google's Street View team about its shrinking technology as well as a new feature that lets us go back in time.
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LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now over the years, Google has expanded its Street View program by making its technology smaller. Now I got a behind the scenes look with Google's Cynthia Wei and tracker Raf Ho right here in Hong Kong into the unique challenges of mapping the world.
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CYNTHIA WEI, GOOGLE: This is our latest project. As you can see this is wearable Street View equipment. Do you might turning around a little. Let everyone see it slow.
So this is our latest Street View technology. It's called Trekker. And we shrinked all this equipment that we used on cars and on that, shrinked it into this wearable backpack.
So this is the computer right here and this is a camera. And you have 15 lenses on this globe. And then as the operator walks, it will take a picture automatically.
LU STOUT: It's interesting to see, like over the years of Google Stree View started six years ago, started with the car and then you had the Google Street View push cart, right.
WEI: The tricycle.
LU STOUT: The tricycle, got it. The trike. And now it's come to this.
And I've got to ask Raf. You can turn around now Raf. You're the Google Street View trekker here, how much does that thing weigh?
RAF HO, GOOGLE TREKKER: It is exactly 18 kilograms.
LU STOUT: 18 kilograms. And how long can you go? How many hours a day with that on you to go and map?
HO: I think with the battery lifetime, it's at most I can do six to eight hours.
LU STOUT: and most recently here in Hong Kong, you did hiking trails.
HO: Yes.
LU STOUT: Anything interesting happen along the way? I heard you got attacked by wild dogs.
HO: Yeah, wild dogs. When I was on -- when I was trekking on the Alema (ph) Island I was attacked by the wild dogs. And what can I do is to use this hiking pole to swipe the dogs away. And luckily I'm find, OK. And I'm here.
LU STOUT: That's right, all in one piece.
This is one of the pictures that you picked up on one of the gorgeous hiking trails here in Hong Kong. You also had to deal with wild monkeys as well.
One thing that really strikes me, is how many parts of the world have yet to be mapped by Google Street View. I mean, I thought six years on that already the world has been mapped, but that's not the case is it?
WEI: Yeah, that's exactly the reason why we want this equipment to be here, because the very beginning we used Street View cars to map the public roads. And afterwards with the trike to map parks and then trolleys to map museums and indoors. And then we realized there are so many different places that we want to go, but we couldn't go using those equipments. And this wearable backpack gives us access to places that's only accessible by foot, like hiking trails and Angkor Wat that we just launched earlier this month and then Fuji mountain.
LU STOUT: Now there's also the issue of remapping, because in many parts of the world, especially here in Hong Kong, buildings get demolished, new buildings, new city blocks get built up. I mean, how many times do you have to go back and remap an area?
WEI: This is actually what we're going to announce. We actually announced it yesterday that we're going to start redriving Hong Kong, the whole area soon, like the second half of 2014, because we realized there are a lot of streets and shops, it's constantly changing.
And one of our goals for doing Street View is to keep all the imagery as the most up to date at once.
LU STOUT: All right, now a couple of days ago Google Street View launched something called back in time, right, which shows users, you know, what Google Street View images looked like years ago. Why do that?
WEI: I always find it very useful and valuable that Street View archives all the imagery. At the same time, it's also archiving memories for people. So people can using -- they can use Street View to go back in time to find out where they had their first kiss, where their old apartment is, where they went to places with their loved ones and all that.
LU STOUT: So it becomes this very nostalgic archive.
WEI: Yes, definitely.
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LU STOUT: It's a heavy backpack there.
And you can already see Raf, the trekker's, hard works on Google Maps. In fact, they have already published Street View pictures for several hiking trails in Hong Kong.
And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.
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