Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Tunisia's Terror Camps; Greece Divided on Referendum; President Obama's Great Week in Washington; Death Toll Rises to 41 in Philippines Ferry Accident; North Korean Scientists Insist Space Program Peaceful. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired July 3, 2015 - 08:00:00   ET

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


[08:00:25] MANISHA TANK, HOST: I'm Manisha Tank in Hong Kong. This is News Stream. A warm welcome.

Greece is divided over a critical referendum on Sunday where they'll decide whether to vote for or against a bailout deal.

In the UK, pauses to remember those killed in a terror attack in Tunisia, the worst attack against British citizens in a decade.

And we get an exclusive look at North Korea's space program, a program that critics say is just a front for ballistic missiles.

Greeks have spent the week cutoff from most of their cash, limited to one small withdrawal a day. It's the latest pain for a nation that has

tolerated tough austerity measures for years.

Now they have to decide who they are more angry with: international lenders who demanded deep cuts, or their own government.

Opposing demonstrations are expected later today. Athens is called a referendum on Sunday to ask people if they support a bailout proposal

that's already been rejected by the government.

Well, the bailout expired on Tuesday, leading Athens to default. European leaders say there's still hope for a fix if the yes votes win out

on Sunday. But European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker warns it won't be easy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNKER, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: Even in the case of a yes vote, we'll have to face difficult negotiations. In the case of a

no vote, the Greek position will be dramatically weakened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Jean-Claude Junker there.

Well, the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is urging Greeks to vote no. His finance minister has vowed to resign if the referendum goes the other

way.

Yanis Varoufakis had some harsh words for the country's European creditors. He spoke with CNN's Richard Quest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YANIS VAROUFAKIS, GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: Think of what's going on in the last five months, as an investment into achieving an agreement that is

mutually beneficial for everyone. Why is the Greek economy stagnating so badly in the last few months? Why are the banks closed? It is because the

euro group has decided to blackmail our government into extending and pretending further like the previous governments were. And we're not going

to do this.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the euro group will say the banks are closed, the Greek economy is in the situation is in,

because the government in Athens is incompetent or inexperienced, or maybe even both.

VAROUFAKIS: Richard, the reason why we were elected was because the euro group of five years has failed miserably. They have imposed a program

of fiscal consolidation that will go down in economic history, global economic history, as the greatest failure ever. This is why I'm sitting in

this office now.

So, perhaps all sides should take a step back and reconsider their own contribution to the last five years of this disaster. And maybe they

should take very seriously the very simple proposition that it is time to stop extending this crisis into the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Greek finance minister Yani Varoufakis speaking to our Richard Quest.

And as Richard mention, the anti-austerity Syriza government has been blamed for making the situation worse. And it's ordinary Greeks who are

suffering.

Isa Soares shares one man's struggle to make ends meet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Saki (ph) has given his heart to these broken pieces, lovingly fixing and restoring them.

But now after 40 years of labor, he's struggling to put himself together. His emotions are running raw.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'm 65-years-old and I'm a beggar. How can I live? I've had triple bypass. Any something happen to

me now, would my wife have to decide to let me die, because we don't have money.

SOARES: Saki (ph) retired two years ago and passed on his family carpentry business to his children, already in its fourth generation. But

even with the business, he worries about the life they'll lead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I feel very sorry for my children. My first son is looking for a job, my daughter is in law school

and I have no money to send her abroad for something better. My third son works here, so at least he can have something to feed his family.

There is no future for young people.

[08:05:02] SOARES: Form time to time, he returns to this workshop to help out, but mainly to forget about the world outside where millions of

Greek pensioners struggle to make it day by day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Every day I go and wait outside of the bank for two or three hours to get 60 euros. I sold my

wedding ring, because I had to. I sold everything just to get by.

SOARES: And in case I didn't quite understand his frustration, he takes out his wallet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All my money.

SOARES: 20 -- 35.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): That's all I have. And I have to provide for my family. 10 euros for electricity, five for petro,

some for shelter and supermarket, and then that's gone.

SOARES: Showing me around his workshop, he tells me he's seen many crises, having 10 employees before to absolutely none now.

From it all, he came out stronger, but now at his age he tells me, he's defeated.

You're clearly very emotional. Are you angry? Are you frustrated? Are you sad?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am frustrated that this is the end of my life. I am angry at the people who brought us to this. I am

sad, because I cannot provide for my family. I'm sad I cannot enjoy the last years of my life after all the years I've worked for it.

SOARES: Heartbreaking words from a man who has spent his years giving life to broken pieces.

Isa Soares, CNN, Athens, Greece.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TANK: Well, let's go live now to Athens and speak to journalist Elinda Labropoulou who is there now.

Elinda, listening to that story, it really resonates how heartbreaking this must be. This is just one man, and there are many Greeks who probably

have similar stories. And now we understand that the limited money, the cash that people can get their hands on, even that might be running out.

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes. In some cases it seems to be the case, some of the ATMs only now have 50 euro

notes, which means the daily allowance, which is now 60 euros, some people cannot get that.

So, instead what I've seen myself, is that people here -- this ATM only has 50s, and they start queuing all over again just to get that 10

extra euro note that the government allows them.

So, as you can understand, people are extremely concerned about the situation. A lot of them feel very angry.

I mean, you know, people blame different sides. Some blame the government, some do blame Europe. And at the same time there are

conflicting messages coming in from all sides about what this referendum means and what might actually be better for them.

There are those who will vote no, voting for a no to austerity, which is their way of understanding the question. And there are those who will

be voting yes, who will be understanding for a yes to Europe.

Because the actual question of the referendum is very complicated. It's on the proposal that is not actually any longer on the table. So

basically they will have to make decisions based on their own judgment and what might work better for Greece in the long run.

TANK: OK, Elinda, thanks very much for that. Elinda Labropoulou there in Athens.

Now, Chinese shareholders appear to be verging on panic, despite Beijing's attempt to calm the market there. The Shanghai composite index

plunged nearly six percent on Friday's close. Authorities say they're launching an investigation into possible market manipulation.

That was just the latest of a series of huge losses that we've seen in the Chinese markets recently.

Since June 12, the Shanghai composite has lost 24 percent of its value. The fluctuations have been extremely violent, the market swinging

by as much as 10 percent in mere hours. And in just weeks, it has wiped as much as $2 trillion off the value of shares.

Despite all of this, the Shanghai composite is actually still up 20 percent since January 1.

A reminder, you're watching News Stream. Coming up on this program, nations in mourning. Victims of the Tunisia terror attack are remembered

with memorial services there and also in Britain.

And a tragic site in Ormoc as divers pull more bodies out of a capsized ferry. We'll have an update on the desperate search in the

Philippines.

Also, satellite or ballistic missile program in disguise? North Korea vehemently defends its space program Nahda (ph). We have an exclusive

report later in the show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:11:20] TANK: In the last hour, across the UK and in Tunisia, mourners marked a moment of silence to remember the 38 victims of last

week's beach massacre. It was a shared minute or the two countries. Britain suffered the heaviest loss of life in the attack. 30 British

citizens were killed.

In Tunisia, a minute of silence at a memorial ceremony in Sousse. It was held on the same stretch of beach where the terror rampage took place.

People there have left flowers in tribute of those gunned down.

We'll take you to Sousse, Tunisia in just a moment, but first CNN's Max Foster has been following the remembrance events taking place across

the UK and he joins us now from Downing Street.

Of course, a very somber day, Max.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONA CORRESPONDENT: It really is. And we just literally in the last hour or so had the full list of names, confirmed

names to a parish, British names over there in Sousse.

So, we're a week on from the attack. We've also got the confirmation of the 30 victims and the names have been published as well. And what's

really sad about them is there's groups of names on there as well. So couples and families all together in that list, all with their own stories.

So, that's really hitting home. And that minute of silence really started, you felt as though the nation had stopped. Obviously led by the

queen and the prime minister, but also schools and at Wimbledon, sports events -- the Formula One for example -- all around the UK literally

stopped to really comprehend what happened as that information drips through with only today until we get the final figures and the final

confirmation of names.

Meanwhile, David Cameron and his cabinet considering airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, because he believes this is a battle now against an

ideology, against a group and after this particular incident, there might be appetite within the houses of parliament for airstrikes and an effort

which failed two years ago, but there's a different mood now, Manisha, in the UK.

TANK: Certainly. I wanted to ask you about that, Max, as people stop and they remember -- I'm sure they're also thinking about how it's

Britons that have come under attack specifically in this case. And how has that changed the mood there?

FOSTER: I think it makes people feel vulnerable not just in London. People have always felt vulnerable. They've known it's a target. But they

now feel vulnerable wherever they are. So if you're being targeted on a beach as you're lying on a sun lounger and the local community isn't being

targeted, that's an attack against Britain.

So that was the real atmosphere that I felt when I was at Brize Norton where bodies continue to be returned, repatriated to the UK, that sense

that this was an attack against Britain, not against individuals, because these individuals weren't known to the gunmen, they were just Brits, and

that's the atmosphere we're in right now.

So it does feel against -- feel against some sort of battle against an ideology, but it's against Britain as well. So you're -- this wasn't an

attack against individual holiday makers, this was against -- an attack against Brits who could have been holiday makers.

So everyone feels vulnerable wherever they are right now.

TANK: And we're just seeing pictures, Max, of those bodies arriving back. Thanks very much for that.

The service in Tunisia, meanwhile, was held on that same stretch of beach where the terror attack happened last week. Senior international

correspondent Nima Elbagir is there for us. Nima, tell us about that memorial.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a moment of shared grief, Manisha. The British ambassador walked down after the minute

of silence was sounded with the Tunisian premier and the U.S. ambassador and representatives of other nations that also lost citizens here.

It was a sense that they were together in this, and the British prime minister has already said that they'll be together in their response, but

where do you even begin now that the questions are being asked in seriousness and the need to find some sort of way to finally start stemming

the tide of violence that is washing across North Africa and the Middle East.

We traveled to Qasarin (ph), a town that has been hemorrhaging young Tunisians swelling the ranks of ISIS fighters. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:15:35] ELBAGIR: The Shambi mountains on Tunisia's border with Algeria. For months now, the government has launched campaigns aimed at

rooting out the terror camps hiding in these barren slopes. This operation, like all those before it, failed.

Winding on the foothills of the Shambi is the road to the town of Qasarin (ph). It was in these poor streets that the spark of the Tunisian

revolution caught flame, hoping for a better life that never came.

"We have nothing, nothing."

But something else did. This young man spent two months in a Tunisian jail. He says he was accused of being a terrorist, a charge he denies.

We're not revealing his identity for his safety, and the safety of his family.

They taught me how to pray. We used to pray together, then one day police raided the mosque around the dawn prayer. I stopped going to the

mosque. I even stopped praying.

But they weren't done with him. Earlier this year, the threats began arriving over Facebook. It was the men from the mosque. He says they told

him they knew where he lived. His sin: he hadn't joined them.

A man describing himself as an ISIS commander told him, we've got a job for you.

I knew it was either going to be killed, or be a killer.

Western intelligence agencies believe Tunisian fighters swell ISIS ranks in numbers unmatched by any other nationality. And Tunisian

authorities identify Qasarin (ph) as a veritable pipeline of recruits.

Many of the mothers we meet here tell us they lost sons to jihadi ideology, either missing, jailed or dead.

Osbana Zaha's (ph) son prayed in the same neighborhood mosque. One day last year he disappeared.

"After 10 months we were watching the news and we heard them say they'd been fighting in the mountains. As we sat there, we heard them

announcing his name, Nasardine Mansur (ph), and the group with him was killed in the mountains. I heard the interior minister announce it."

In spite of the influence of foreign fighters, the Tunisian jihadi battlegrounds are now increasingly here at home where attacks on soft

western targets grab headlines around the world. Recruitment we're told is in the mosques, brazen and in person. He said to me, you I know your

mother, your father. I can take your brother, your mother. I can throw a bomb over your wall.

The Shambi terror camps are just a few of the training grounds in the mountains of northwestern Tunisia. It's a contagion spreading across the

country and felt far beyond its borders.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELBAGIR: As the UK mulls hitting ISIS in its Syrian strongholds, they're having to come to terms with the fact that jihadi battlegrounds are

now spreading far beyond those initial positions, Manisha.

TANK: I understand, Nima. In response to all of this and what's happened in the past week, that there is a bigger security presence there.

Is it noticeable? And do you think from your assessment it's going to make much of a difference?

ELBAGIR: There is. We have seen it. But the concern is that it took too long to materialize days after the attack. There really still wasn't a

sense the Tunisian authorities had gotten to grips with the security situation. It took too long, because so much of this is about visibility,

it's about a sense that people feel protected, because they can see those armed security officers patrolling the beaches, patrolling the towns, and

that just didn't happen quickly enough.

Tunisian authorities did say, though, that they were concentrating on the investigations, an investigation that is proving to, they say, show

links between -- increased links between this gunman and those who were responsible for the attacks in the museum in Tunis that also killed -- took

so many tourist lives.

So while they are obviously having to focus on those priorities for the sake of their economy, for the sake of their tourism industry, they

need to step up their game in terms of a visible presence, Manisha, and they're not quite there.

[08:20:08] TANK: OK. Very interesting to get your perspective, Nima. Nima Elbagir there in Sousse, following that story for us.

Now to Uber, which says its suspending Uber Pop in France, because it's worried about the safety of its drivers and passengers. The service

has drawn angry protests from taxi drivers, that's because it allows users to book rides with private drivers who don't have a taxi license.

Critics say that that gives Uber Pop drivers unfair advantage over the professional drivers.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is cautiously optimistic about talks on Iran's nuclear program. In a new statement Yukio

Amano says both parties now have a better idea of how to move forward, but says more work is needed.

Iran and six world powers are set to push through this weekend to hammer out an agreement. Several hurdles still remain, including whether

Iran will allow inspectors inside its military site.

You're watching News Stream. Still ahead, searchers have recovered more bodies from a sunken ferry in the Philippines, but there is still

nearly a dozen people missing. We'll tell you whats' being done to find them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:25:03] TANK: You're watching News Stream, and the visual version of the news that we're covering this day.

We started with the looming referendum in Greece where the finance minister is urging people to vote against a bailout deal.

And later, we get an exclusive look inside North Korea's space program.

But now, to the Philippines. More bodies are being recovered near a Philippine port after a fery capsized with nearly 190 people on board.

The death toll now stands at 42 with 11 still missing. David Santos from CNN Philippines spoke to us earlier from Ormoc City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The operations are still ongoing for the remaining missing passengers of the sunken ferry here in Ormoc

throughout Thursday morning local time. At least three more bodies have been retrieved on the sunken vessel that is (inaudible) boat (inaudible).

The bodies belong to two female adults and a toddler. Now that brings the death toll here at 41, based on these counts by the local rescuers.

There are about a dozen -- about a dozen people still believed to be missing and now the subject of the ongoing search operations.

Now all of the same 16 crew members, including both captains, have been accounted for. We've been told that they now under the custody of the

local police, perhaps as part of the initial investigation on the incident. However, they have not been allowed to speak to journalists.

Now, we've got more than 100 passengers who have survived the tragedy are also recuperating in local hospitals based on their account, many of

the passengers panicked when the boat tilted to one side when it was maneuvering in the waves while leaving the Ormoc port.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: David Santos of CNN Philippines there.

North Korean rocket scientists say their space program is there to help their nation, not to threaten others. We have an exclusive report on

North Korea's satellite launch, that's after the break.

And it's been a great week for the leader of the United States. We'll take a look at his turn of fortune. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANK: Hi again. I'm Manisha Tank in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream and these are your world headlines.

People in the UK and Tunisia observed a moment of silence a short time ago. That was in honor of the victims of last week's beach massacre in

Tunisia. The majority of those gunned down were British citizens. The British embassy also held a memorial service today on that same stretch of

beach in Sousse where the terror rampage took place.

Opposing demonstrations are expected in Greece as voters decide if they're for or against conditions demanded by international creditors.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due to attend a rally urging people to vote no. Opinion polls are currently too close to call.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is cautiously optimistic about the talks on Iran's nuclear program, but more work is

needed. Negotiators in Vienna are set to push through this weekend to hammer out a deal.

Take a look at the moment an earthquake struck China's Xinjiang province, sending people running out doors. Xinhua news agency reports at

least four deaths. Authorities say homes were damaged and communications were disrupted. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake's magnitude

at 6.4.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one, turbo pumps up to flight speed, maximum thrust and liftoff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Well, just hours ago, the Progress 60 spacecraft launched into space from Kazakhstan. The unmanned Russian spaceship will deliver more

than three tons of food, fuel and supplies to the International Space Station. The launch comes just five days after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

exploded just minutes after blasting off. Progress 60 is scheduled to dock at the station early on Sunday morning.

North Korea is pressing ahead with its space program, preparing for a satellite launch, but critics say it's a ballistic missile program in

disguise. CNN's Will Ripley traveled to Pyongyang to speak with North Korean insiders. Here is his exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:31:47] WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: 90 seconds after launch in April 2012, this North Korean rocket exploded. It was the

latest in a string of disappointments for Pyongyang's fledgling space program. Eight months later, a different story -- a North Korean

observation satellite reportedly made orbit.

Two of the scientists behind that launch deny claims from western observers the satellite was damaged, essentially becoming space junk.

"It's running normally," says Jung Cheong-jak (ph). "Of course, sometimes we do have problems with communication and data transmission."

The National Aerospace Development Administration, NADA, has so far seen more stumbles than success. That's not stopping North Korea from

annual increases in space spending, even as wealthier nations cut back.

The UN World Food Program says 18 million North Koreans, 70 percent of the population, is food insecure, highly vulnerable to food shortages.

Is this a program that your country can afford?

"It's essential," he says. "Our goal is to improve the economy and people's living standards. He says observation satellites will lead to

advances in weather forecasting and agriculture, helping North Korea reach its goal of producing enough food to feed its own people.

Late leader Kim Jong-il made science and technology one of North Korea's three pillars of power and prosperity along with ideology and guns.

Many international experts say Pyongyang's space program is really a ballistic missile program in disguise.

"We find that absurd," says Hyeong Guan-il. "The United States and its followers are trying to stifle and isolate my country."

He claims North Korea already has ballistic missiles that can hit anywhere in the world.

The U.S. and its allies also worry about Pyongyang's growing nuclear arsenal, and suspected cooperation with nations like Iran.

"If I tell you which countries are cooperating with us, the United States will accuse them of developing intercontinental ballistic missile

technology," he says.

Adding, "fear of bullying and sanctions scares away prospective partners."

Crippling UN sanctions have hurt, but not stopped North Korean space ambitions. These scientists say at least two advanced satellites are ready

to launch any time. Their message, especially to the American people, Pyongyang's, quote, "peaceful" space program poses no threat.

"Trust us," he says. "The west is too suspicious about our program. If you won't trust us, at least suspend the sanctions and don't stop us

from going forward."

Despite decades of isolation, sanctions and struggle, North Korea continues developing its space program. While they'd like international

cooperation, they say they'll keep going with or without it.

Will Ripley, CNN, Pyongyang, North Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TANK: Still to come here on News Stream, as the U.S. prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July, President Obama may be especially happy after

waht some are calling the best week of his presidency.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:36:22] TANK: A plane powered only by the sun, the Solar Impulse, is on the verge of completing the most demanding leg of its journey yet.

Pilot Andre Borschberg is more than four days into a grueling flight from Japan to Hawaii. He's already set a world record for the longest solo

flight.

This leg over the Pacific is considered one of the most -- the more dangerous in the around the world attempt. But speaking from the cockpit,

Borschberg believes it's worth it to fire up the debate over renewable energy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDRE BORSCHBERG, SOLAR IMPUSE PILOT: To (inaudible) we had to develop and use efficient technology, so technologies which use very little

energy.

And these technologies, if we can use them in an airplane, we can certainly use them in our homes, in the way we build homes, in the way we

build transportation systems, appliances, to reduce energy consumptions.

We know we have the climate conference in Paris this for the governments. And instead of talking about the problems, we should talk

about solutions and this is certainly a very good solution that we want to push forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Andre Borschberg there.

Well, after touching down in Honolulu, the Solar Impulse's next leg will be to Phoenix, Arizona, about 4,700 kilometers away.

A rainbow-lit White House, court victories and a thumb's up from the American public. Historic decisions were made in the United States in the

past month. And some marked victories in longstanding political battles for the U.S. president.

Jonathan Mann takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He is in the waning years of his presidency...

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The pastor...

MANN: ...his hair has grayed, and a lot of attention has turned to the campaign that will choose his successor. Even so, U.S. President

Barack Obama has had quite a streak.

The U.S. economy is growing, adding 223-thousand new jobs last month, according to the latest jobs report. While the unemployment rate fell to

5.3 percent, the lowest it's been in more than seven years.

The recession that he inherited when he was elected is very clearly over. Add to that a victory in Congress giving the president fast track

powers to negotiate new trade deals.

Probably the biggest initiative of his presidency, the enormous health-insurance reform called the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Its

opponents have fought it every step of the way, but for a second time the U.S. Supreme Court upheld key provisions.

Obamacare includes a guarantee that sick Americans can no longer lose their health insurance because of illness.

OBAMA: Some day our grandkids will ask us if there was really a time when America discriminated against people who get sick, because that is

something this law has ended for good.

MANN: And a huge victory for same-sex marriage. Obama had been slow to embrace the cause, but he did, and he celebrated the Supreme Court's

landmark decision to recognize a right to same-sex marriage nationwide.

OBAMA: This ruling will strengthen all of our communities by offering to all same sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great land.

MANN: Obama joked with reporters when he was asked at a news conference whether he thought last week was his best week.

OBAMA: Now my best week, I will tell you, was marrying Michelle. That was a really good week. Malia and Sasha being born, excellent weeks. There

was a game where I scored 27 points. That was a pretty good week. I've had some good weeks in my life, I will tell you.

[08:40:07] MANN: The court victories...

OBAMA: Hello, Wisconsin.

MANN: The economy, all had an impact.

A new CNN/ORC poll found that for the first time in more than two years, 50 percent of Americans approve of the job he's doing. They also

have a positive view of his handling of race relations.

His final term ends in less than two years and time is running out to achieve his remaining goals. But after a remarkable month, he's checked

more of them off the list, and his legacy seems more solid than ever.

Jonathan Mann, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TANK: Well, it's reassuring to hear that President Obama has been having some good weeks, but I'm not sure the next story is going to do to

my week or yours. This is a story that could make your heart skip a beat, but we promise it's all going to be fine. The company that created bubble

wrap says it's come up with a new version. This one doesn't pop when you squeeze it. I find this very alarming.

Now the news quickly set off panic across the internet with a new Twitter hashtag called #savebubblewrap. But fear not, the original bubble

wrap isn't going anywhere. The company says production will continue. So those who prefer it can keep up popping.

But retailers can choose an alternative version, the new one, which can be stored in less space.

I know which one I'm going for.

And that's it for this News Stream. I'm Manisha Tank, but don't go anywhere, World Sport is up next with my friend Alex Thomas.

END