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Train Derailment Outside Paris Kills At Least 6; Edward Snowden Reapplies For Asylum In Russia; Egyptian Photographer May Have Photographed Own Death

Aired July 12, 2013 - 16:00   ET

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

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Tonight, train tragedy in France. We are live at the scene in the southern Paris suburb of Bretigny-sur-Orge for the latest and we speak to a passenger who was on that train.

Also ahead, U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden reappears in a Moscow airport. We're going to speak to one of the human rights activists there who met with him.

And...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALALA YOUSAFZAI, PAKISTANI EDUCATION ACTIVIST: Now it's time to speak up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Standing up for education, Malala Yousafzai tells the United Nations books and pens are the tools to defeat extremism.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: All right, first to Paris and the very latest details for you this hour. At least six people have been killed and dozens more injured after a train derailed just south of Paris. The regional train came off the tracks in Bretigny-sur-Orge, a commuter town 15 miles outside of the capital.

The French interior minister says there are about 370 people on board that train, which was traveling south from the French capital to the city of Limoges.

Well, emergency teams and experts are on the scene.

This was about four or so hours ago that the accident happened. French President Francois Hollande has also arrived.

I'm joined now on the phone by Ariane Mole who was on board the train and in that compartment that derailed.

The pictures are absolutely shocking. You were with three friends, Arienne. Tell me what happened.

ARIANE MOLE, PASSENGER: Yes, exactly. Hi, I was with three friends. I was with my husband and two friends. And we were in two different cars. My friends were at the end of the train. And we were in the front. And, well, there was a -- you know, a big shock and for three seconds we heard a lot of noise and the brakes. And there was also a lot of smoke and the luggage were, you know, flying around.

So when the train stopped, we saw that just behind us, a car was turned over and when we looked the other way, we showed that on the end of the train the well on the cars were crashed. So, I called my friends immediately and they were OK, but they said that there were some dead people with them and injured, a lot of injured people.

ANDERSON: And we're looking at pictures Ariane. As you speak to me, we're looking at pictures of survivors being taken from that train and new pictures just coming in to us here at CNN.

How would you describe how people reacted. Did they panic?

MOLE: Well -- you know, some people were really injured, but a lot of us could not see what was happening. So, I think it really depended on the car where people were standing. But I don't think there was a panic. I think there was pain, but no panic, I don't think so.

ANDERSON: And what sort of injuries did you witness?

MOLE: Well, I didn't not witness injury personally, because I was not on that side, but my friend said that they saw corpses and people who got, you know, electrocuted so -- who were burned. So that's what they saw.

And I really -- well, really we were very lucky to -- well, to be OK, but I'm very -- I'm still very, very sorry for all the injured people and the people who got killed.

ANDERSON: This was a packed train. This was late in the afternoon on a Friday.

MOLE: Yes, exactly. So a lot of people going on holidays, of course.

ANDERSON: And can you describe the scene as you got off the train for me? We, again, we're looking at some of the shots that we had from Twitter and some of the film that's coming in. Describe the scene at the station?

MOLE: Well, one -- one side of the train, there was this car just behind us that was upside down. And then when we looked we saw that there was nothing, I mean, no cars after that. The cars were long away from us. All the other cars were crushed and they were like 50 meters ahead, which was really like a bit apocalyptic. I can't tell. Because that's what I saw. I didn't see the dead people, but my friends saw them. And afterwards we saw some -- we saw other people who came who were rescued. And, you know, they were, yes, injured.

So, it's a big accident, yes.

ANDERSON: Very, very distressing. We thank you very much.

Ariane, we are so pleased that you're OK and your friends are OK. But shocking scenes as we look at the live pictures from the suburb of Paris Bretigny-sur-Orge 15 miles out of the capital where a deadly accident today, a train coming off the rails you can see.

This was a train that was, as we understand, on its way from Paris to Limoges, not expected to stop at this station. Unclear at present exactly what happened. I believe that we have got a reporter on the scene. Am I right in saying that?

No, OK. We're going to go to a reporter on the scene for you to find out the very latest on what will be an early investigation into this.

But live pictures, as I say, from Bretigny-sur-Orge tonight, the scene of a devastating and deadly train accident.

All right, well his leaked information exposed widespread domestic surveillance in the United States. And he has been on the run ever since.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWARD SNOWDEN, NSA LEAKER: A little over a month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: On Friday, Edward Snowden made his first public appearance in weeks. He faced the world for the first time since he outed the United States' Prism program, as its known. And tonight, we're live at the airport in Moscow and at the U.S. State Department in Washington.

First, to Phil Black.

And what did Snowden have to say today as he reappeared?

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, he announced a change of plans. He no longer hopes to make the jump straight across to one of the Latin American countries that have offered him permanent asylum. Instead, he's reapplied asylum here. And he wants to stay here in Russia, at least temporarily.

Now he's applied for asylum here before, but withdrew that application because the Russian government set a condition. It said he would have to stop all work aimed at harming the United States. Snowden withdrew that application because he said he wasn't prepared to do that. The people who met with him here today say, however, he's had a change of heart. He is now prepared to live up to that condition if Russia lets him stay, Becky.

ANDERSON: All right.

That's the latest from the airport. Edward Snowden in response to a question on the Russian condition that he stops harming the USA said I've said I knew and I will not harm the United States in the future.

All right, let's get you to Washington, then, because reaction from both the White House and the State Department today. Elise Labott standing by with that part of the story -- Elise.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, well the Obama administration is saying that they're very disappointed, they're angry, in fact, with the Russians for what they say providing Edward Snowden what they call propaganda platform, to be able to speak to this. President Obama scheduled to call President Putin a little bit later this evening basically to ask him to hand -- once again, to hand Edward Snowden over. They say he's not a whistle-blower, he's not a criminal. And they hope that Russia can still do the right thing.

Now Becky, I think what the United States is really upset with is that they're already in fact treating the Russia -- Mr. Snowden as if -- the Russians are already treating him as if he's someone who is seeking asylum. They're offering him access to human rights groups. They're helping facilitate this. These human rights groups could have never gotten to the airport without the Russians facilitating that.

So they see what's happening right now, Becky, is that the Russians are already taking steps to help Edward Snowden. What they're really concerned about is ultimately that they're moving to accept his asylum petition.

ANDERSON: Elise Labott with the U.S. side of this story.

So Snowden looking for asylum in what some might say is an unlikely place. We're going to do move on this story.

In fact, Elise let me bring you back, because we are waiting on a guest out of Russia who was actually at the news conference in Moscow today. You say, though, that Washington will speak with Moscow in the hours to come. Have they, in any way, changed their stance? Or is this -- visa -- passports revoked, we want him back at this point?

LABOTT: Well, publicly Becky, of course that's what they're saying. They're saying he's a criminal. He's charged with three felonies. And he doesn't have travel documents. And he should be extradited to the United States.

Whether they're talking to the Russians about some secret deal that they could send him through some third country where, in fact, we know he'll come back to the United States, we don't know.

But I think there's a perception that President Putin has kind of boxed himself in. This has been going on for a long time. He was kind of in effect screwed by the Chinese when they sent him over to Russia on documents that they don't believe were legitimate. And now he really -- if he had sent him back to China at the time, if he had sent Mr. Snowden through another country -- either to a third country for asylum or to the United States, maybe that there was a chance that Russia could get out of this unscathed.

But now President Putin has a choice between domestically showing that he's powerful to the all-mighty United States and not bowing to U.S. pressure. But at the same time, he wants to preserve his relationship with the United States, President Obama. He's expected to have a meeting with President Obama later in September. I'm told that no decision will be made on that until they see how this plays out.

So the Russians now a little bit in a box about what to do next.

ANDERSON: Elise, thank you.

So, Snowden looking for asylum, as I said, in what some might say is an unlikely place.

I'm joined now by Sergei Nikitin of Amnesty International who was at the news conference in Moscow today.

Why does Snowden want asylum in Russia at this point? You were there. You spoke to him. Tell us why.

SERGEI NIKITIN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Yes, I was there. And I did speak to him. I think that it was predictable, at least at the moment I received an email signed by Edward Snowden, I realized that if we, Amnesty International together with Human Rights Watch representative, are invited to such a meeting that means he's going to be important -- something important is going to happen there. So my expectation would be that he would announce that he is willing to ask for political asylum in Russian Federation. So I was...

ANDERSON: Sergei, how was he? How would you describe him?

How would you describe him today?

NIKITIN: Well, the guy I saw today, he looks quite witty and clever lad, neat and tidy, seemed to be not very much depressed, which I would expect in his condition. He made jokes. So absolutely adequate. And it was -- well, personally very nice to see him. You know, feeling well and preparing to answer the questions.

So when we had this meeting, the first thing he did that was his statement, like 10, 15 minutes long. And then there was an option for questions from the audience.

There were not too many people there, just two representatives as I said Human Rights Watch and myself. And the rest were the people from the official sources.

ANDERSON: All right, let me put this to you. The U.S. is very clear about this. He is not a whistle-blower. He is not a human rights activist. He is wanted on a series of serious criminal charges, that is what Washington says.

What is Amnesty doing to help him and why?

NIKITIN: We totally disagree with the position of the White House. And we issued a number of statements. And we've been watching what is happening for Snowden for quite a long time since he, you know, appeared in Hong Kong and then when he moved to London.

We keep on saying and still say that no country should extradite Mr. Snowden to the United States and there are a number of reasons why. We are talking about the -- you know, the fact that some high officials in the United States already called him as a traitor. We know that the conditions in the American prisons are not perfect at all. There are examples like Guantanamo or Pelican Bay. We know what is happening to Bradley Manning in the United States.

So all this makes us absolutely sure that there is no way he should be sent to the United States.

And we think he's a whistle-blower. We think that he did not violate anything. He just followed the thing called human rights, which is universal. So what he did was absolutely perfectly acceptable.

ANDERSON: Sergei Nikitin of Amnesty International, we appreciate your time on what is a very big story today out of Moscow for you.

I'm going to get you back to our top story this evening. The latest on the derailed train in France at this point. At least six people are dead and many more are injured after a train came off the tracks just south of Paris. BFM TV reporter Julia Delage is in Bretigny-sur-Orge. And she joins us now.

What is the latest from emergency crews there?

JULIA DELAGE, BFM-TV REPORTER: Well, the chief of the French train company spoke about the worst train catastrophe in France. The statement is six person dead, a dozen very, very injured, and a 100 less injured. But it's not the end of the statement, because some people may be still in the train.

Here, all the people we met describe an apocalyptic scene like children cached into the train.

Here, a dozen and dozen rescue trucks are still there now in the evening. In the crisis center, many persons are trying to organize the rescue and it's very difficult because the train is totally dislocked in the station.

One of the rescuers told us that he couldn't say if there's still people in the station, because everything is crushed.

The President Francois Hollande went here to express the solidarity of the government and to try to understand how the rescuers work, beside police have begun investigation to try to understand what happened today.

What...

ANDERSON: Can I stop you there? Sorry, yeah, OK.

Tell me -- sorry, I interrupted -- tell me, what do we know at this point?

DELAGE: What we know, the first point the train was going to Limoges in the center of France. And here in Bretigny-sur-Orge, two wagons derailed and then four other wagons derailed too.

But for the moment, nobody knows why policemen are at work now trying to understand what happened really in Bretigny.

ANDERSON: At this point, let's just be clear, this was a train going from Paris to Limoges. And Julia, it wasn't expected to stop at this station. Do we know how fast it was going?

DELAGE: Yes, quite fast, because the train wasn't supposed to stop here in the station of Bretigny-sur-Orge, because it's quite a speed train from Paris to Limoges. And you know today for French people, it's big holidays and many, many persons were in this train, 370 people -- persons - - were in the train this afternoon which derailed around 5:30 here in Bretigny.

So, many, many explications come -- explain the fact that the train derailed. But for the moment, policemen can't say anything about the origins of the problem this afternoon.

ANDERSON: All right, Julia, thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Just updating us on a story that broke 5:30 French local time.

370 people on a packed train from Paris to Limoges. The train for some reason derailing at a station on route 15 miles -- or 15 kilometers out of Paris. Six dead, sadly, a dozen injured. The possibility that people are still trapped. And as your reporter there relaying, apocalyptic scenes witnessed by those on board and those at the station.

As we get more on this story, of course, and on the investigation as to why this happened, we will of course bring it to you here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson, this is Connect the World.

Coming up, happy birthday Malala. The 16-year-old Pakistani school girl celebrates with a powerful speech at the United Nations.

First, though, the tragic story of a young photographer who may have filmed his own death during the upheaval in Egypt. We will be back in about a minute-and-a-half stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Tens of thousands of Egyptians are delivering a message tonight en masse. These protesters in Cairo demanding the return of ousted President Mohamed Morsy and say they won't give up until the military coup is reversed.

But their outrage hasn't slowed efforts to form a new government. Interim authorities are trying to finalize cabinet positions by Monday.

Well, a short time ago the United States joined Germany in calling for the release of Mohamed Morsy who hasn't been seen in public since his overthrow last week.

Nick Paton Walsh following developments from Cairo tonight -- Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky the protests have in some ways been ebbing in numbers. The anti-Morsy one behind me in Tahrir Square not particularly large compared to previous days. And the pro-Morsy one not reaching the million mark that had been pledged.

But that U.S. demand for the release of ousted former President Mohamed Morsy really injecting tension back in the situation here.

Here's what the State Department spokesperson had to say earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTORIA NULAND, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: I don't know. I know there's -- every case is different, but we still continue to view this as politically motivated arrests and still continue to believe that they should be released.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me ask you -- the statement made by the German foreign minister today. They called -- they called for the release of President Mohamed Morsy. Do you concur, or are you likely to do the same thing any time soon?

NULAND: We do agree.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You do agree that he must be released.

NULAND: Mm-hmm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: Now, that throws this standoff in the streets back into geopolitical arena and presents a real dilemma for the interim government here. Do they ignore that U.S. demand and potentially jeopardize the cooperation their military so symbolically likes to have with the United States, or do they accede that demand releasing Mohamed Morsy back into the political arena here, perhaps allowing him to be the figurehead that many of these protesters still on the street, showing now signs of going anywhere will certainly welcome, Becky.

ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh in Cairo for you this evening. Thank you, Nick.

Young photographer among the 51 people killed on Monday during clashes outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo. He was shot by a soldier and may have actually filmed his own death.

Now it is unclear whether the soldier knew the photographer was holding a camera in his hands or whether he thought it was a weapon. What is clear is that a promising life was cut short.

Karl Penhaul filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMAL EL-SENOUSY, PHOTOGRAPHER'S MOTHER: I was alone. I was (inaudible)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Those tears are for her son. Ahmed al-Sanussi (ph) was passionate about photography, so passionate he may have documented his own death.

This is a photo he snapped during Monday's deadly clashes. Friends say these are the last unedited images he ever took.

That may be the soldier who fired the deadly shot. The official autopsy shows a bullet went through his face.

The army did not respond to CNN's telephone request to comment on scenes shown in that video.

EL-SENOUSY: I tell him it's very dangerous. I said Ahmed (ph), you will die. And I think he will die. And he, every time he said if I die about the truth I welcome death.

PENHAUL: El-Senousry grew up on this street. To his mother, he's still a sweet potato.

EL-SENOUSY: He loved the photo and the photograph. From long time, from long time, since he is a boy.

PENHAUL: He had freelanced for international media. Most recently, he worked for a newspaper loyal to ousted President Mohamed Morsy.

But his mother says he was driven by something more profound than politics or religion.

EL-SENOUSY: I tell him photograph in newspaper is very dangerous, Ahmed. He said yes, I know, I know, and I like this. I like this. I like to get the truth.

PENHAUL: She sends up a prayer for her fallen photographer. His friend Kareem stoops in silence.

KAREEM, PHOTOGRAPHER'S FRIEND: His weapon was his camera. And he believe his weapon is much more powerful than their weapon.

PENHAUL: El-Senousy's father is a doctor. He now finds himself reading his own sons preliminary autopsy. He explains the trajectory of the bullet.

DR. SAMIR ASSEM, PHOTOGRAPHER'S FATHER: From side, because here (inaudible) here.

PENHAUL: He says his son sympathized with the Muslim Brotherhood, but was not a fanatic. Dr. Assem says that sometimes caused arguments since he opposes the Islamist group.

According to his mother, El-Senousy he was worried he may be risking his wife by covering Egypt's violent political turmoil.

Two days before his death, he played her this song.

EL-SENOUSY: It's a song about death, old. The song say don't cry, momma.

PENHAUL: Despite the lyrics of the song, she cannot hold back the tears.

EL-SENOUSY: I miss him.

PENHAUL: Karl Penhaul, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: The latest world news headlines just ahead here on CNN.

Plus, a case that has gripped America nearing an end. We're going to have the latest for you on the Zimmerman trial. Next up, their feet -- on their feet for Malala Yousafzai. For a Pakistani school girl standing up for education.

That all coming up after this very short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Just after half past 9:00 in London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Becky Anderson for you. The top stories this hour.

It is nighttime near Paris where rescuers are cutting through this wrecked commuter train. At least six people were killed and more than 20 hurt when the train went off the tracks at a suburban station earlier. It was headed to the south of France. Authorities say three investigations will take place.

"I have no regrets." That's what Edward Snowden is saying about leaking US surveillance activities. Today, Snowden met with rights activists and asked for help getting temporary asylum in Russia while he tries to travel to Latin America. The US still wants him on espionage charges.

New calls for the release of Egypt's ousted president as his supporters rally in the streets. The United States and Germany urging Egyptian authorities to free Mohamed Morsy. He hasn't been seen in public since his overthrow last week. The US calls his detention "politically- motivated."

No word yet on what caused the fire on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that halted air traffic at London's Heathrow Airport for about an hour earlier Friday. No one was onboard when the fire broke out, and there are no reports of injuries. The entire fleet of 50 Dreamliners was grounded, you may remember, in January after lithium-ion batteries caused overheating incidents on two aircraft.

A teenage Pakistani activist who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban has delivered a speech at the United Nations on her 16th birthday. Malala Yousufzai called on developed nations to support education for girls in the developing world.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALALA YOUSUFZAI, ACTIVIST: Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Really remarkable stuff. As you heard there, Malala calling for education for all, not just for girls in Pakistan. Fionnuala Sweeney witnessed Malala's speech, joins me now, live from the Untied Nations. And it was quite remarkable, when you consider this young girl, just 16 years old today. It's Malala Day around the world. She had some quite remarkable things to say, didn't she?

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if people remember her at all from her interview with CNN a couple of years ago, Becky, before she was shot by the Taliban last October, they would have found a very calm, self-assured, outspoken young girl.

But what we saw today was simply a global leader in the making. Not only was she calm or self-assured, she was full of utter conviction, and she spoke very eloquently, articulately, and she really now has become a global figure for the younger generation in terms of getting global education.

And she appealed to that younger generation around the world, 50 percent of whom are under the age of 25, to help her in her goal to achieve universal education for every child by 2015.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUSUFZAI: When were in Swat, in the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The very saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" was true. The extremists were and they are afraid of books and pens. The power of education -- the power of education frightens them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SWEENEY: All right. We spoke to Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister as well, who's, of course, the UN special envoy for global education around the world, and he is optimistic that that goal can be achieved, attaining global education for every child in the world, on this planet, by 2013 (sic). And we'll have that interview later on on CNN. Becky, back to you.

ANDERSON: Fionnuala, thank you very much, indeed, for that. Well, as you heard, there, Malala calling for education, not just for girls in Pakistan, but for kids all over the world.

According to a 2009 UNESCO report, for south and west Asia, 14 million children never finish primary school. In that region, Pakistan does have the highest number, 5.7 million girls and boy out of school when this report was written.

But the worst figures are in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for almost half of the world's 60 million children not receiving a basic education. In Nigeria, a staggering number of 10 million out of primary education. And when you consider just how successful their economy is, that's just wrong, isn't it?

What is most concerning about those figures is that they reveal that we are a far cry from achieving the millennium goal set in 2000 of making sure every child is being schooled by 2015. I asked education advocate Sarah Brown, the wife of former British prime minister Gordon Brown where we're going wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH BROWN, CO-FOUNDER, A WORLD AT SCHOOL: In 2000, the figures you're quoting at me were twice that. So, we have made a lot of progress. Gordon took on the role as the UN special envoy for education a year now and has really been looking and addressing, talking to the country leadership in Nigeria, in Pakistan, in Bangladesh, and the political will is there, but it needs a real shove more.

ANDERSON: Can we make a decision that we're going to hold people to account, at least by the end of this year, if not yet -- next and say we want these figures to change. Are you doing that?

BROWN: Yes, there's a lot of work. You can sit and unpack the figures and look at which countries have got what challenges, and all of that work is happening.

And certainly, with the United Nations secretary-general choosing to launch his Global Education First Initiative, putting Gordon Brown in as the UN special envoy, making all of those commitments, you also see the World Bank's new president, Jim Kim, also making education a priority. I think we're starting to see quite a change in the landscape.

But I think the real secret ingredient is this mass movement of young people. I think nothing is going to stop them now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: All right. While in many parts of the world, poverty is the main barrier to education, cultural views are -- on girls' rights are also blocking progress on reaching this key millennium goal.

Saudi Arabia is one example where human rights groups have concerns over how women and girls are treated. Let's get the perspective, now, from a member of the House of Saud, Princess Basmah Bint Saud, who also works as a humanitarian.

Firstly, just on the numbers, the latest report that I looked at from UNESCO actually didn't have any numbers for Saudi on girls' education, so tell me, I'm pretty sure the numbers aren't that bad, but go --

PRINCESS BASMAH BINT SAUD, SAUDI ARABIA: No, definitely. You won't find a lot of numbers about Saudi in all sorts of issues. But in education, definitely you wouldn't have them pinpoint anything because there are no records whatsoever in the country -- the countryside, the suburban areas where schools are scarce. It's mainly in the cities that you can really go and pull whatever and check things out.

ANDERSON: So, that's problem in the first instance. In the second instance, the way that kids are being educated is something that you in the past have called for an overhaul of, that being the education system. Just explain why.

SAUD: Definitely. I think education is, as Malala has pointed out today, and as a lot of people have pointed out, is one of the main key issues in progress in a country, whether they give women seats in the parliament -- parliamentary board or we put them anywhere.

Well, education, if you don't education them properly, the kind of education -- the quality of education is not there, you won't get anything out of the positions.

ANDERSON: You've said at a talk that a woman's position in society is inferior --

SAUD: Yes.

ANDERSON: You've said, "I consider these ideologies to be inherently abusive and incorrect." If you are a member of the House of Saud --

SAUD: Yes.

ANDERSON: -- why can't you do something about this?

SAUD: Well, actually, I'm not a very active member over there, apparently.

(LAUGHTER)

SAUD: If I was, I would have done a lot of things from the beginning, from a long time ago. But it's not everything that actually -- I feel a part of the family or a part of the system doesn't mean that you're active. Not being political for parliament, it means that you're an active person and policy making.

ANDERSON: Let me just bring our viewers a few more facts, here. I was looking at a Human Rights Watch report earlier today saying that authorities in Saudi continue to suppress or fail to protect the rights of 9 million Saudi women and girls and 9 million foreign workers.

(CROSSTALK)

SAUD: I --

ANDERSON: I'd ask you -- whether there's anything that you can do to correct these inadequacies. What do you see the government and the House of Saud doing to correct these inadequacies? These wrongs?

SAUD: Well, Becky, let me tell you something. Actually, if you want to address a problem, you have to address the problem from all its sides. You cannot give women only the rights while men don't have the rights.

It's humanitarian rights at the bottom of the line that is lacking there and a constitution that holds everybody in charge and in a position where you know what are your boundaries and what are the other boundaries are.

So, women do suffer more in any society whatsoever because -- and especially in a society where, actually, they do not exist as an -- equal or even exist in the laws. Whenever you have a law in Saudi Arabia, it addresses men most of all.

ANDERSON: How frustrating is it to be a humanitarian who is a member of a family that runs a country, but he feels that you can't --

SAUD: Helpless.

ANDERSON: Yes. You feel helpless, do you?

SAUD: I feel helpless. I feel totally helpless. I feel helpless when I have a call of -- abused women calling me in the middle of the night, I feel helpless --

ANDERSON: Does that happen often?

SAUD: Oh, yes, it does. It happened a lot, and it does still happen. And I'm on Twitter. And on my tweet, I've got hundreds -- hundreds of cases and thousands of cases where they demand -- they tell me, "You're the daughter of -- Saud family, you should be able to help us."

And at the end of the day, they have all the right to say that, because I am there, but they don't know I'm one of 15,000 which are there. It's true, I'm calling for a lot of things, but I do not help -- hold any power on the ground. Because even an activist or a humanitarian in Saudi Arabia, or outside Saudi Arabia, has no right to vocalize the needs of women, and especially of the elite.

ANDERSON: All right.

SAUD: We are elite. We cannot say a lot in that respect.

ANDERSON: Seems wrong.

SAUD: I call for education.

ANDERSON: Thank you.

SAUD: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Call for education.

SAUD: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Thank you very much, indeed.

SAUD: Thank you, Becky.

ANDERSON: A message on Malala Day. Well, Malala has inspired people around the world. Just as an example, let's take a look at some of the birthday messages that have been posted for the 16-year-old schoolgirl on our Facebook page.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEXT: "You are an example of what women should do when men become evil." -- Edlokeng Ebil Achigbe

"Malala -- you are a testimony to the fact that one woman's resilience can change a nation." -- Jackden AuNanke, Nigeria.

"Happy 16th Birthday, Malala! You are a great inspiration. Stay strong!" -- Kelly Lynn Diehl

"Happy Birthday Malala -- your efforts in the girls' cause is sterling. May God grant you favour!" -- Solomon Mulieri

"Happy Birthday!" May God continue to keep you and direct you in all that you do." -- Patricia Ezedi, Nigeria

"Happy Birthday Malala and other girls in the world. Don't stop fighting to get what you want." -- Karvila Syimala

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, join us this weekend for a CNN special. It takes a closer look at this inspiring young woman. See how she spent her 16th birthday at the UN. That is "Malala's Day," Saturday night, 8:30 in London, 9:30 in Berlin here on CNN.

Live from London, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. In the US, a hotly debated case is in its closing stages. The Zimmerman trial goes to the jury. That up next.

And an African band that many say is a must-see. This and more coming up in our entertainment roundup for you this evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: All right. It's now down to the jury in a trial that has split the United States. Last year, African-American teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, who stands accused of second degree murder.

Well, they've started deliberations, no way to know how long they'll be debating amongst themselves, but moments ago we've learned that jurors have a question for the judge. Apparently, they want to know if there is an inventory list of evidence by number and description.

Well, in the meantime, CNN's Jon Mann takes a look back at the case that has polarized the nation over the issues of race and gun ownership.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBRA NELSON, JUDGE, SEMIONLE COUNTY, FLORIDA: We're back on the record on case number 12CF1083, State versus George Zimmerman.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Was it a case of murder, manslaughter, or self-defense? That's the question the jury faces in the George Zimmerman trial.

It's been more than a year since Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman, called police to report a teenager he described as "suspicious" walking through his Sanford, Florida neighborhood.

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, 911 CALL (via telephone): He's got something in his hands. I don't know what his deal is. These (expletive deleted) always get away.

911 DISPATCHER (via telephone): Are you following him?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes.

MANN: One thing in question is whether Zimmerman pursued the teen after a dispatcher told him not to. What is clear is that there was a violent confrontation. Emergency calls record someone in the background screaming for help. Then you hear the fatal shot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, 911 CALL (via telephone): I can't see him, and I want to go out there. I don't know what's going on, so --

911 DISPATCHER (via telephone): What are hearing now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's screaming.

(SCREAMING IN BACKGROUND)

911 DISPATCHER: Do you think he's yelling help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

911 DISPATCHER: What is your phone number?

MANN: The victim was 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman admits he killed Martin, who was not armed, but says he acted to protected his own life.

ZIMMERMAN: I felt like my body was on the grass and my head was on the cement. He just kept slamming and slamming. It felt like my head was going to explode.

MANN: But Martin's family takes strong issue with Zimmerman's version of events. They say their son was the victim of racial profiling, that he was simply walking from a nearby convenience store with a bag of candy and a drink.

SYBRINA FULTON, TRAYVON MARTIN'S MOTHER: I ask that you pray for me and my family because I don't want any other mother to have to experience what I'm going through now.

TRACY MARTIN, TRAYVON MARTIN'S FATHER: As we enter the courtroom today seeking justice for our son, we hold onto his smile, which strengthens us.

MANN: The case has divided the US on issues of race and gun laws. Now a jury of six women will decide if Zimmerman is guilty of second degree murder or manslaughter or is not guilty. If convicted of murder, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Jonathan Mann, CNN.

(END VIDOETAPE)

ANDERSON: Video feed coming from the trial, the empty seats of the jury box as six women are deliberating on the second degree murder trial of George Zimmerman. We will, of course, bring you coverage of the verdict whenever that comes here on CNN.

The jury deliberating in the second degree murder trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin. They've got a question for the judge, the deliberations continue. More on that as we get it.

Coming up after this short break on CONNECT THE WORLD, a new action comedy with Sandra Bullock and other entertainment news. It's your entertainment roundup after this.

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ANDERSON: Let's get your weekly fix of all things music and entertainment, shall we? In this edition, discover an African band taking European music festivals by storm, and what you get when Sandra Bullock teams up with a bridesmaid. Check it out.

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ANDERSON (voice-over): This week on CNN Preview, we begin with Hollywood's new action comedy movie, "The Heat." Oscar winner Sandra Bullock's uptight FBI agent is partnered with a rough and tough, foul- mouthed cop played by Melissa McCarthy.

MELISSA MCCARTHY AS MULLINS, "THE HEAT": Hey, if anyone sees the captain's (expletive deleted), let me know. They're about this big, and they're like, really, really, tiny, little girl (expletive deleted).

SANDRA BULLOCK, ACTRESS: As everyone knows, there's not many great scripts, but there's less amounts of great comedies. This was something that I'd always hoped we could find, and I was in the process of looking at men's scripts and seeing if we could change it to women, just by changing the name but keeping the situation the same, when this one came along.

PAUL FEIG, DIRECTOR: I've always wanted to do an action comedy, and I love working with funny women, and so when this script came to me, it was like, OK, there's the two things together in a format -- in a genre that had never really been done. There aren't really any female buddy cop movies. So, it was really fun to kind of play with that and see the girls just thrive in it -- in the format.

ANDERSON: "Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig encouraged the actors to improvise on set and showcase their talents.

(MCCARTHY SCREAMING)

JAMIE DENBO AS BETH, "THE HEAT": Are you a boy or a girl?

JESSICA CHAFFIN AS GINA, "THE HEAT": It's a fair question.

ANDERSON: Expect physical comedy, witty one-liners, and the ability to elevate personal insults to a higher level.

DENBO AS BETH: How do you get that close a shave on your face?

ANDERSON: "The Heat" is on worldwide release.

Milka Singh, the Flying Sikh, is a sporting legend. Indian film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag," which means "Run, Milka, Run," is inspired by his tumultuous early life. Singh witnessed the murder of his family, killed during the violence of partition. Left destitute and alone, he worked his way up to become a symbol of newly-independent India, that nation's greatest track athlete.

RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA, DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: We've all grown with the folklore of Milka. He's always been a source of inspiration for us, especially from where he came from and what he achieved. For generations after that, he's always remained a huge inspiration. This part -- was born to make a movie about him.

FARHAN AKHTAR, ACTOR: I was fortunate enough to spend time with Milkha Singh and understand for him. And yet, most importantly, I think an emotional blueprint for all the scenes, especially, that are in the film.

And then, of course, the training for becoming an athlete was a whole other ballgame. So, that took about six and a half, seven months of training before the film. It was pretty intense, but completely wanted as a rule and the character of Milkha Singh, the person that he is. He really demanded this kind of justice to be done.

PRASOON JOSHI, SCREENWRITER/LYRICIST: I wanted to tell a real story. Not a documentary on a sports person. There are many facets of his life which aren't known, and those were the windows I was trying to open.

ANDERSON: "Bhaag Milka Bhaag" successfully weaves gritty drama and memorable soundtrack and sharp choreography. The film heads to cinemas in the US, India, the UK, and Ireland from July the 12th. Singh's extraordinary autobiography will be published a month later.

(MAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE)

ANDERSON: An African band is making a big impression as a must-see live act at summer music festivals across Europe. Makoomba met at school in Zimbabwe's famous Victoria Falls district. Friendships bonded through music.

ABUNDANCE EPHRAIM MUTORI, BASSIST, MAKOOMBA: Our music is described as an Afro fusion, and it's a fusion of our Tonga and Ndebele beats, and we're singing with modern channels of grooves, like a bit of funk, a bit of reggae, a bit of pop, and a bit of soul, and we thought of fusing all those grooves with our own Tonga and Ndebele beats to make more inference for a wide range of audience to our music.

ANDERSON: After delighting crowds in Denmark, the band is continuing its European tour behind its critically acclaimed album "Rising Tide" and will perform at WOMAD and the Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK.

MUTORI: As our role as young, upcoming artists of fusion, we are here to uplift the Zimbabwean people and to speak positive about Zimbabwe and to also showcase other kinds of cultures from Zimbabwe, also the rich cultures, like the Tonga culture that hasn't been seen for quite a long time.

ANDERSON: That's all for this edition of CNN Preview. I'm Becky Anderson.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: I'm still here with you. In tonight's Parting Shots, finally, a question for you all. What happens when you combine a tornado with sharks? Well, you get the made-for-television movie that people can't stop talking about. Take a look at "Sharknado."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - "SHARKNADO")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming, and it's coming fast!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tornado! We need to destroy it before it gets to them!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Watch out!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can't just wait here for sharks to rain down on us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's too many of them! We're going to need a bigger chopper!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Storm's coming!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes, "Sharknado" is about a super tornado that sucks up sharks and rains them down on Los Angeles. It airs on the SyFy channel, which is also behind the title, "Arachnoquake," "Sharktopus," and "Piranhaconda."

Some say the Twitter comments about the "Sharknado" may be better than the movie itself. Wil Wheaton says, "Today's forecast, cloudy with a chance of sharknado." Actress Elizabeth Banks, "Well, there goes my Emmy." And Greg Berlanti, "Somewhere in Hollywood, there's a senior exec yelling a junior exec for not coming up with Sharknado first."

That was CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Becky Anderson, hoping a sharknado isn't forecast for the weekend. From the team here in London, it is a very good evening. CNN, of course, continues.

END