Welcome to CNN STUDENT NEWS. I`m Carl Azuz. It`s a country of nearly 45 million people,
one of the largest nations in Europe. And right now it`s in a struggle with itself.
We`re talking about Ukraine. Kind of a crossroads, Western Europe to one side, and Russia to
the other. The tension happening in Ukraine right now is over which side the country should
be closer to. Ukraine`s president and many of its people prefer to be aligned with Russia.
Ukrainians who want to move toward Western Europe have been protesting. They`ve taken
over parts of the capital city, Kiev, and put up barricades around their gathering spots.
That is until late Tuesday night.
It`s 2:00 in the morning, and it would appear that the riot police have decided that this
is the time to go into the square in full force. I don`t know how we`re going to get
in, this is the only way down, and there are police three deep (ph), but we`ll try.
(INAUDIBLE) How are they going to push through these barricades, which have been up there
for a long time. You can see the protesters manning the barricades and there are hundreds
of riot police here, but no easy access for them through into this square, which is exactly
the way the protesters want it.
So, the police have moved on here with chainsaws to try and saw through these barricades and
also use brute force to pull them back. And it does look as though in that corner it is
giving way.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Now, you have the sea of helmets, the red helmets of the protesters against the black
helmets of the riot police, head on head. And we`ll see what happens next.
On Wednesday, protesters in Kiev started rebuilding those barricades that were torn down overnight.
Catching up on a few other stories now, starting with Merrill Newman. The 85-yar old American
is home after being held in North Korea for weeks. That country`s government released
a video, in which Newman read a supposed apology for things he did during the Korean War. Newman
says that apology was given under duress. "Anyone who has read the text of it knows
that the words were not mine, and were not delivered voluntarily."
Next up, a lawsuit involving human rights for non-humans. The Non- Human Rights Project
was suing to get chimpanzees some of the same rights as the legal person. Their goal was
to get some animals move from private owners to sanctuaries. Three courts of New York have
rejected the lawsuits. The Non-Human Rights Project says it will appeal those decisions.
And finally, a follow up about outbreak of meningitis, which involves inflammation around
the brain and spinal cord. After several cases of the disease at Princeton University, school
officials decided to offer students there vaccine. This particular vaccine is approved
in other countries, but not in the United States. Princeton says it will cover the cost
of the vaccine and only offer it to students and certain members of the university community.
It`s time for the "Shoutout." What did Queen Elizabeth II, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mark
Zuckerberg have in common? If you think you know it then shout it out. Have they all been
Nobel Prize winners? "Time`s" Person of the Year? Awarded the Medal of Freedom? Or Harvard
Graduates? You`ve got three seconds, go!
The Queen, MLK and Zuckerberg have all been "Time`s" Person of the Year. That`s your answer
and that`s your shoutout.
When picking a person of the year, the editors of "Time" magazine consider who affected the
news and people`s lives the most? Good or bad? And who embodied what was most important
about the year. "Time`s" pick for 2013, Pope Francis. He was elected to lead the Roman
Catholic Church in March of this year. One of "Time" magazine`s editors says that since
he became pope, Francis has changed he church`s image and its substance, focusing on service
and helping the poor.
Some people thought "Time`s" Person of the Year should have been the runner up (ph) Edward
Snowden. The former U.S. National Security Agency contractor leaked information about
government surveillance programs. People pushing for Snowden to be person of the year say he
had a bigger impact on the world than the new pope.
This next story is kind of about technology, it`s kind of about the environment, it`s kind
of about business. But it`s mostly about perceptions, and that old advice not to judge a book by
its cover. Think about the aps that people use on smartphones. Now, try to picture what
the people who design those aps look like, and now watch.
This is Patrick, the kind of driven computer wiz who starts companies in college. He came
to New York hoping to meet someone in tech that would buy his ideas and change his life.
He just didn`t know it would be the homeless guy on the walk to work.
He just has something about him. And the first time I remember thinking of him ahead like
- you know, who is this guy?
This is Leo. As a kid, he was obsessed with science, astronomy, chemistry, physics, but
then he fell in with the wrong crowd, became a father too soon. And two years ago first
lost his job, and then his home.
What did you think he wanted?
I didn`t do anything.
You got the wrong guy.
No, he just said, hey, I`m just - it may sounds strange, but I`ll put you an offer. I`ll either
give you $100 and you spend it however you want to or I (inaudible) with this brand new
laptop and teach you how to code. And instantly, I just said, in my mind, number two.
He would write code for hours, for days, on the banks of the Hudson or in the corner nook
in Patrick`s office. At night, Patrick would go home, and Leo would go back outside. Shelters
just aren`t his thing. Which all seemed fine, until winter blew in.
How do you stay warm on those really bitter nights?
I can go to train station or bungalow (ph) like tons of blankets.
It`s getting really cold, and I keep telling this, and he, you know, he`s like, I`m good,
man, let`s keep going.
See, Patrick just wanted to get him employed and housed ASAP, but Leo had other priorities.
What is it you wanted to do with this information he was teaching you?
Make the world a better place.
See, he is a passionate environmentalist. His heroes are scientists who brave the rugged
outdoors.
This is what life is supposed to be like, you know.
Going outside?
Yeah. I want to be around plants and I want to breathe as much oxygen as possible.
Since he`s really worried about a changing climate, he decided to use his new skills
to create a carbon cutting ride sharing app, called Trees for Cars.
These would be riders in the same area who want to ride with you.
OK.
If you make money off of this app.
Right.
Are you going to go get an apartment? What are you going to do?
Oh, yes, of course! Trump (inaudible) Hotel.
Central Florida, western Pennsylvania, southern Indiana. That`s where we are heading for today`s
"Roll Call." In Florida, we are checking in with the Hawks from Lake Minneola High School.
From there it`s up to Pennsylvania and the Warren Area High School Dragons. And finally,
we`ll make our way over to Clarksville, Indiana, where the Providence Pioneers close out today`s
roll call journey.
Going to the gym is always a little easier when you`ve got a workout buddy. And who better
than men`s best friend? In fact, this gym is designed more for the pooches than their
personable pals. The owner says it`s designed for dogs to relax and have fun, apparently
get a serious workout, too. There are programs for athletic dogs, for older dogs. Treadmills,
waterobics. Presumably, it`s open to groups who want to lose some weight because after
all, gym is a perfect place to deal with dog pounds. Of course, there`s only one way to
describe how these pounds come off: shedding. It`s a weighty subject, but we still like
to have a little pun in every show. We`ll work out some more and meet you bark here
tomorrow to close at the week.