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NEWS STREAM

Protests Continue In Egypt; Profile Of Korean Opera Singer Sumi Jo; AIDS Patients In China Face Discrimination; HSBC To Pay Record $1.9 billion Fine To U.S.; Nelson Mandela Being Treated For Lung Infection

Aired December 11, 2012 - 08:00   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 we're watching for more mass protests in Egypt today ahead of Saturday's vote on the country's controversial new constitution. Now doctors say Nelson Mandela is suffering from a lung infection. We'll have a live update on his condition.

And turning the spotlight to AIDS in China and the plight of an entire family that is HIV positive.

In Egypt, another round of mass protests are planned in the Egyptian capital ahead of a controversial referendum set for Saturday on a new constitution.

Now President Mohamed Morsy has given the military the power to arrest civilians as part of what he says are measures to maintain security.

Now tanks and troops have been stationed outside the presidential palace for days amid growing fears of more clashes between pro and anti- government demonstrators.

Let's bring up live pictures from Tahrir Square in Cairo. And a witness who spent the night there said that dozens of unknown attackers threw Molotov cocktails and fired bird shot at protesters early Tuesday morning. Health Ministry says nine people were wounded, four of them critically.

Opposition groups accuse Mr. Morsy of risking a, quote, "violent confrontation" by moving forward with the vote on Saturday.

And a top aid to the president tells CNN that a powerful minority is behind the current political unrest, but opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei spoke to Christiane Amanpour on Monday and he says a majority of Egyptians are angered by the upcoming referendum.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, EGYPTIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: I think people who are non-Salafis, non-Brotherhood are actually 70 percent of the country and these are the people who are revolting again today, or are very angry or is very apprehensive. And -- however, we are not -- and if need be, we probably will go to the polls and make sure that this document will not pass.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: ElBaradei called the referendum illegitimate and says opposition groups will either vote no or boycott it altogether.

Now Reza Sayah joins me now live from Cairo. and Reza, Egypt is clearly still on edge. What have you seen today?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, people are anxious to see what the coming hours bring. This is another critical day and another potentially explosive day and that's because both sides in this conflict have called for mass demonstrations. The opposition facts, the opponents of the president have called for marches to start in about an hour, hour-and-a-half. Those marches are scheduled to culminate and end up at the presidential palace later tonight. And then the Muslim Brotherhood, supporters of the president, they've called for their own mass demonstration about 15 minutes away from the palace location. I think a lot of people are relieved that these two demonstrations aren't going to take place at the same place, because we all know what happened last time that happened.

Last week, both the pro-Morsy and the anti-Morsy demonstrators gathered at the palace. And you really had some ugly and violent clashes, several people were killed, nearly 700 people were injured. I don't think anybody wants a repeat performance of that day.

But certainly a potential for violence tonight as both of these sides in this conflict calling for demonstrations in the coming hours at the palace and the surrounding areas, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Reza, you're looking out for these rival protests to take place later today. Also at the military's role. I mean, they now have the power to arrest and detain. So are you seeing the military's presence in a significant way today?

SAYAH: Well, they're certainly out there. And this is another added layer to this conflict. And we're going to see in the coming days, especially the day of the vote, if this is going to be a significant role that the military plays. The president says the military has been given these powers to arrest citizens because he wants to protect the state institutions and the citizens. For now, they've remained on the sidelines.

Last week, for example, when the Republican Guard came, it was the first indication that the military was coming into this conflict. When protesters broke through their barricade they didn't make any arrests, they just stood by.

Now they have the power to make some arrests. And I think it's going to be a test, a barometer of what exactly the military's role is in this conflict, if any. It's also going to be a test of the president's relationship with the military. If things get out of hand, a lot of people are going to be watching closely what the military does, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right. Reza Sayah on the story for us. Thank you.

Now the reputation of the international banking industry has taken another hit. The London based banking giant HSBC is to pay American authorities a record $1.92 billion to resolve money laundering allegations. Now the settlement, it follows a Senate subcommittee report that accused the bank of failing to prevent transactions by Mexican drug cartels and banks linked to terrorism financing.

Now while it is a record settlement, one analyst points out it's only about 1 percent of HSBC's market cap. What's more, it's probably the deal no one at the bank will be prosecuted provided that certain conditions are met.

For more, I'm joined now live by CNN's Jim Boulden in London. And Jim, $1.9 billion. It's a huge settlement, but it could have been worse. So why is it that HSBC was not indicted?

JIM BOULDEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, often in these situations negotiations go on between Justice Department officials and the banks. And then the banks promise not to do it again. And that's what HSBC has said. They said they have changed their ways. That much of this happened between 2006 and 2009. And HSBC already put aside $1.5 billion in a filing in the SEC last month knowing this was coming. And as you say, the Senate subcommittee last July had already detailed what HSBC allegedly was up to and it does involved money laundering allegedly, allowing Mexican criminal gangs to use HSBC's transaction abilities to move their money in and out of Mexico.

The bank says it has reformed. We've heard this from other banks, Kristie. Of course, we've seen Standard Chartered fined more than $300 million. ING fined more than $600 million. Some U.S. banks as well.

But Ralph Silva, a banking analyst said earlier on CNN he would have expected this bank, HSBC to pay less if it was an American bank. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RALPH SILVA, BANKING ANALYST: Now I'm not here to defend any of the banks, but this fine actually is much higher than it should be. If this was a U.S. bank the fine would probably be half the amount. And the reason they're fining this is simply because HSBC can, a, afford it, because they're a huge bank doing very, very well. And b, they're not an American organization so they're not going to be pulling $1.9 billion out of the U.S. economy. So as a result they can do this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOULDEN: Kristie, I think the way to look at this is that the many of these international banks aggressively moved in to the U.S. and they purchased either local banks there or they tried to increase their businesses. And they got themselves into trouble because of U.S. sanctions, be it against Cuba, Libya, Sudan, working with Mexican drug cartels. And while the banks don't admit this, it does seem that many of these banks were -- they're accused of sort of turning a blind eye to how they were getting their business growing in the U.S. And it's taken some time, but the Justice Department has come after them.

And much of this happened, you know, 10, 15 years ago. And these banks have said that they are now reformed. And they are now following U.S. sanctions, following U.S. money laundering laws. The Justice Department says it will be keeping an eye on them for the next few years.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the Justice Department is saying that the banks are saying that they are reforming, but will the situation improve? I mean, banks are paying record fines, but these are fines that they can afford. And they're being spared prosecution.

So is there enough incentive to really improve money laundering controls here?

BOULDEN: Well, they said they've already put those new money laundering controls into place. And the Justice Department of course could take them to court again. They could have criminal charges if they, for instance, HSBC was found to be violating the agreement that has been done with the Department of Justice. So it doesn't end here at all.

Also, HSBC has yet to find -- be fined by UK authorities. And they said in their press release today they do expect a settlement here in the UK. So they will be fined potentially a bit more money as well. But the money really isn't that relevant for these huge, global banks.

What they need to do is be able to work in the U.S. And they need to be able to follow U.S. law. They don't want to be losing their licenses in the U.S. And that, of course, is still something that can hang over them, something some U.S. senators have talked about threatening these banks if they don't follow the laws.

So I think what you'll find is these banks will say that they are continuing to monitor their own systems to make sure it doesn't happen again. But as I say, the Justice Department will be watching very carefully.

LU STOUT: Jim Boulden reporting live from CNN London. Thank you.

Now financial markets have reacted nervously to political uncertainty in Italy. Prime Minister Mario Monti has announced that he will step down this month ahead of elections in February. But in an interview on Italian state television on Tuesday, Monti left open the possibility of staying in politics.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is trying to stage a comeback. He has sharply criticized Monti's government saying that its policies were too German centric for accepting severe economic austerity measures.

You're watching News Stream and coming up next, Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela is being treated for a lung infection in this South African hospital. We'll have a live report from Pretoria on how the former president is faring.

And this family in China are all HIV positive. We'll find out about their struggle for treatment and acceptance.

And cooking up rebel firepower, a master bomb maker in Syria shows us his trade.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now we have more information about Nelson Mandela's health. The former South African president remains hospitalized in Pretoria. And authorities say he is suffering from the recurrence of a lung infection.

Robyn Curnow joins me now live from Pretoria. And Robyn, what more have you heard about Mandela's condition and his treatment?

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there.

Just that brief statement from the presidency confirming that he is suffering and being treated for a lung infection. They say he is responding to treatment.

Now I've spoken to two doctors. And they have said that lung infections are very common in geriatric patients. Remember, Nelson Mandela is 94 years old. And they say that's because elderly people don't move around a lot, don't get up and walk. We know Nelson Mandela has been sleeping a lot. And when you're lying down sitting down a lot fluid builds up in the lungs, in turn that creates an environment for infections to breed, for bugs to breed.

So it's very, very common, they say, just how severe or mild this infection is, we don't know. What normally starts off as bronchitis can become pneumonia. We don't know where Nelson Mandela falls on that spectrum.

What is clear, though, is that this is far more serious than routine tests, because as you'll remember over the past four days the presidency and even his family have been saying don't worry, keep calm, this is just a routine visit to have tests in this military hospital behind me. Though we now know that Nelson Mandela is a sick man and he is being treated no doubt aggressively, say these doctors, with antibiotics, physiotherapy and also being nebulized.

LU STOUT: And also Robyn, what have you learned about Mandela's health these last few years?

CURNOW: Well, you know I've watched Nelson Mandela particularly over the last four years since he turned 90 along with family, along with the South African public slowly and steadily decline, that is for sure. Now we know that in early 2011 he was also hospitalized for a lung infection. His wife told me over his birthday this year that they were all very worried with that health scare that seemed like it was catch touch and go. So no doubt people concerned now.

And we also know from sources that around that same time Nelson Mandela was agitated, disoriented, confused, he wasn't happy. He was frustrated with his lack of control over his mental and physical abilities.

In the last 18 months to two years, there is a sense that he has calmed down. He has been happier, particularly within his rural homestead where he has even joked to me before where he can see his cows out the window. You know, that has made him happy.

But from what I understand, I was last at his home in July. And he got very quiet, according to some sources very close to him. He doesn't say very much. So there is a sense that he's been retreating within himself.

LU STOUT: OK. That's a good sign indeed.

Robyn Curnow joining us live from Pretoria. Thank you very much indeed for that.

Now let's go to China next where 780,000 people live with HIV/AIDS. And the number of cases is rising, up some 13 percent this year.

Now China's new leaders were on the front foot on World AIDS Day promising to stamp out discrimination and expand services. Presumpting Premier Li Keqiang promised to help groups fighting the disease. But some Chinese AIDS activists view him with skepticism. They remember Li as governor of Hunan Province the area most devastated by an HIV/AIDS outbreak linked to local blood banks back in the 1990s.

Now China has made some reforms is recent years to help people with the disease, but illness is not their only struggle. Anna Coren shows us one family's ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In a coal mining town on the outskirts of Xintai in northern China lives a family with a burden no one should have to bear. It began 18 years ago when Fung Ying (ph) gave birth to a baby boy. Due to complications, she had a cesarean. Doctors then gave her a blood transfusion.

But it wasn't until her son broke his arm a decade later they would learn the devastating truth.

"The doctor asked me if I'd ever had a blood transfusion and I said yes."

Tests on Fung Ying's (ph) son revealed he was HIV positive. Further testing showed the whole family was infected with the virus, including their baby daughter.

"I was terrified and so scared," she explained. "What had the hospital done to my family? They've ruined our lives."

Tens of thousands of other families were also caught up in the HIV blood scandal across China in the 1990s. Fung Ying's (ph) family was awarded $90,000 in compensation by the government, money that must pay for all their treatment for the rest of their lives.

"Because we're farmers and not educated we didn't understand the law. The compensation we received was small compared to the cost of our medical care."

Each day they take their medication, a concoction of drugs to try and boost their immunity and prolong their lives. The closest hospital that can treat them is six hours drive away in Beijing. Last year, their daughter was so ill she spent four months in the ward.

These nuns visit every few months and help out financially when they can.

"They really need help," says Sister Ren Yulei (ph). "Their lives get worse each day. Their bodies struggle to work. And they can't make a living."

One of the biggest problems to people living with HIV/AIDS in China is the discrimination they face on a daily basis. This family was bullied and ostracized so badly they were forced to leave their own village. They came to this town hoping to make a new start, but this community is no different. And now they feel like prisoners trapped in their own home.

"We've been discriminated so much I can't even describe it. People treat us like we're monsters. I sometimes think being dead would be better than living."

Fung Ying (ph) and her husband, both in their early 40s, try not to think about the future. Doctors won't say how long they have left, but that's not the cause of their agony.

"I'm so scared for my children. Who will care for them when they're gone?"

Anna Coren, CNN, Xintai, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Now there is a social network showdown going on as Twitter and Instagram are taking aim at each other. Now Twitter is launching a new version of its mobile app today that allows you to apply filters to photos. Applying filters to photos and sharing them is of course what Instagram is all about. You can see here how the photo on the left changes dramatically using a simple filter.

And now you'll be able to do this directly on Twitter without using Instagram. And this comes just days after Instagram stopped displaying its photos directly inside Twitter.

Now let me show you what I mean. This is what it looks like when you post a photo to Twitter. Now the picture, it appears directly in your timeline. And this is what Instagram pictures used to look like on Twitter until a few days ago. But now, if you post an Instagram to Twitter, this is all you'll see. No picture, just a link.

Now -- that right up there. Now the link is to view the photo on Instagram's own site.

Now it's just an extra click, but it's another sign of the growing split between the two social networks.

Now let's shift our focus to the Philippines and the terrible aftermath of Typhoon Bopha. Mari Ramos joins us now from the world weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, this continues to be one of our top stories, because, you know, just when you think, OK, maybe they've gotten to the bottom of the scope of the devastation here, the loss of homes, the material losses, but also the human toll. But then we get more news. The death toll going up to about -- to 700 -- just over 700 people, the missing up to nearly 900. It's really devastating numbers here in the aftermath of this deadly typhoon.

Now this is one picture of what's going on here in the Philippines in the southern portion of the Philippines. They're still looking, you know, for the missing. And one official said, you know, we're hoping against hope that we can find some of these people alive. Maybe they're lost somewhere. Maybe we can find them. They're particularly hopeful about finding many fishermen, those are the higher number of the missing actually comes from fishermen that ventured out to sea as this typhoon was approaching and they're hoping that maybe they're still drifting in their boats, they're hoping that maybe they're in a nearby island. So those kind of searches are still continuing. And hopefully that number of those nearly, what, 900 missing will go down.

The UN has started an appeal, an international appeal to 65 million people to the international -- $65 million I should say, to the international community just to help, try to help out with what's going on here.

And internationally they say that the money will be used for emergency shelter. You've got to remember that there are over 200,000 people lost their homes -- for water, for sanitation, for food and also to try to improve the livelihoods of people because so many lost their way of life, how they were making their money, how they were making their living, how they were buying food. So this is not just an immediate need, but this is also a long-term need that's going to be happening here across the Philippines.

And you can see, especially the south of course which is where the typhoon hit, scattered rain showers expected across this area here. It's hot. It's humid. But a little closer to what it should be this time of year.

You did have one weather system coming through, a little bit windy as head across the northern parts of Luzon, a little bit cooler here across these areas. Those cooler temperatures translate back over into southeast Asia as well. Temperatures here also colder, cooler than average, cooler than average as we head to areas to the north.

And this is a picture from India. Here the snow. Some of the first snow of this season making travel a little treacherous on these mountain roads. It looks absolutely beautiful, almost like a post card, right? But it is a difficult travel once the snow begins to fall.

You can see the conditions generally clear, except for that little bit of moisture that continues to trail along here across the northern portions of India. Fog is a problem, also, this time of year, especially as temperatures continue to cool down.

Let's move on and very quickly show you northeast Asia. Temperatures here again below freezing. And that lake effect show, I should say sea effect snow, continuing to be a problem across parts of Japan. This is going to keep the snow making machine in place.

What happens here, Kristie, is that you have very cold air that comes across and it moves over the relatively warmer ocean water. The water hasn't frozen yet. So there's a lot of moisture there. And once that bumps up against the mountains, all of that moisture falls in the form of some very wet, heavy snowfall. And that is also expected to continue for the next few days.

Still a lot of snow across central Europe as well. We'll talk more about that in the next coming hours. Back to you.

LU STOUT: Yeah, that snow making machine, as you call it, is definitely churning. Mari Ramos there, thank you.

You're watching News Stream and still ahead we got the latest on the crisis in Syria. We look at growing concerns about one rebel group that's said to have radical ties.

Also, weapons of war made by a man who says his mission is peace. An exclusive report from inside Syria.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

In Egypt, a witness says attackers threw Molotov cocktails and fired bird shot at protesters in Tahrir Square early Tuesday morning. The health ministry says nine people were wounded and four of them critically. Protests are being held today ahead of the constitutional referendum set to take place on Saturday. Now President Mohamed Morsy has given the military the power to arrest civilians in order to, quote, "preserve security."

Global banking giant HSBC has agreed to a record settlement with U.S. regulators. It will pay $1.9 billion to resolve money laundering allegations. HSBC says it accepts full responsibility for what it calls past mistakes.

The South African authorities are providing new details about Nelson Mandela's condition. They say he is suffering from the recurrence of a lung infection. The former South African leader was hospitalized at the weekend. From the office of President Jacob Zuma says Mandela, who is 94, is responding to treatment.

An autopsy will be performed today on Jacinta Saldana. She is the nurse who apparently took her own life after answering a hoax call at the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge. The radio station behind the prank call says it will donate at least $524,000 to a fund for her family.

Now countries supportive of Syria's opposition are preparing to meet in Morocco this week. But ahead of that gathering, the U.S. government is sanctioning one radical Syrian rebel group.

Nick Paton-Walsh joins us live from Beirut with more on the Al Nusra Front. And Nick, who are they? And why is U.S. out to name them a terrorist group?

NICK PATON-WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the U.S. says that they are basically a new front, a new name for al Qaeda in Iraq. You'll recall four to five years ago how they targeted many U.S. soldiers. But to many Syrians, the Al Nusra Front are the most effective part of their rebellious effort against the Assad regime responsible for taking over significant air base in the north of the country just finishing that operation, in fact, today.

But there is, of course, great controversy as to this U.S. move.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATON-WALSH: They not only look different -- black flags, well armed, and disciplined -- they fight differently too. Using suicide tactics and mass casualty car bombs, radical extremists, but undeniably effective.

The Al Nusra Front are behind a stream of rebel victories, overrunning regime bases across Syria, making many think the end of Bashar al-Assad is nearer than ever.

So why has the United States, who also want Assad gone, black listed them as terrorists?

VICTORIA NULAND, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: We've had concerns that Al Nusra is little more than a front for al Qaeda in Iraq who has moved some of its operations into Syria.

PATON-WALSH: That link clear in the document filed Monday. Al Nusra deemed not a new group, just another name for al Qaeda in Iraq.

U.S. officials believing insurgents who killed Americans in Iraq are not fighting for rebels against Syria's Assad.

But given how badly America wants influence over rebel fighters rapidly advancing on the ground, this move may make sense in principle, but say experts right now less so in practice.

JOSHUA LANDIS, CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES: This creates a confusing picture for the Syrians, because Jebhat Al Nusra is the hardest hitting group amongst the rebels. The U.S. says it wants to take down Assad, but at the same time they're cutting the rebels off at the knees. It doesn't make sense.

AARON ZELIN, THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE: Jebhat al Nusra group should be considered a terrorist organization based on the fact that there are alleged connections with al Qaeda in Iraq. No long-term after the regime does fall, I do think it'll provide an opening since most of the rebels, while they respect Jebhat al Nusra, they don't actually believe in their world view and therefore the more secular and liberal as well as the moderate Islamists within the opposition might utilize this as an opportunity, as well as the United States, to distance themselves.

But in the short to medium term, especially prior to the collapse of the regime, I don't see how this will help out.

PATON-WALSH: They are popular with some Syrian fighters who see Al Nusra behind this radical attack on an army headquarters as badly maligned heroes. The extremist bombings they are blamed for, says one Damascus commander, is actually the work of regime loyalists trying to tar Al Nusra's reputation.

"When America wants to put them on the terror list," he says, "it should differentiate between those who fight for and defend the Syrian people and those who the Assad regime has implanted to lead the world to believe that this group is in al Qaeda."

Some Syrians even look to the organized Al Nusra Front for services and food, like this handout where other rebel groups failed them. Since the black listing, online petitions have told Syrians to protest their support for Al Nusra nationwide Friday.

Jihadists have congratulated Al Nusra. Radical, but effective. And whatever America's intention as this war rages to a conclusion, they may be black listed, but are far from marginalized.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PATON-WALSH: A wave of dislike, frankly, from across the Syrian rebel movement for this move. One jihadi Syrian group are calling the black listing an honor for Al Nusra. Some parts of the political opposition saying that it is a move by the U.S. to try and sow division amongst ranks. And I call, as I said earlier, for protest across Syria and online petition.

Interesting, though, the move welcomed by the Syrian government who say it's simply an endorsement of their long held notion they're fighting terrorists, not rebels. But of course the U.S. today after I think perhaps trying to balance out this decision by also introducing sanctions against the leader of the Shabiha, that's the pro-government militia accused of many atrocities, too.

But still a deeply controversial decision, which many think will make the U.S.'s role in Syria in the future so much more complicated -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Nick Paton-Walsh reporting for us, thank you.

Now Syria's uprising has lasted for the last 21 months. And as rebel fighters try to topple the Assad regime, some are armed with weapons of their own creation. Arwa Damon brings us an exclusive look at one bomb maker in Aleppo province.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: With the precision of a master chef, Sheikh Omar (ph) adjusts the flame. In the pan, table sugar and a chemical compound bought locally that we've agreed not to name.

"It's almost ready," he says, "as the color darkens."

Sheikh Omar (ph), who doesn't want his face shown, has decades of experience in the art of war. He says he fought with the Palestinians and was detained twice by the Israelis in the 1980s. But they had more mercy than the Assad regime, he adds bitterly.

Now he's using his training and weapons design that he got in Libya.

This amount, combined with another substance is what he uses to make a single grenade. When it comes to making the propellants for a rocket, it's around 20 times this amount and two more substances are included.

Sheikh Omar (ph) now works alone after his assistant was killed while they were experimenting.

He's designed crude, but effective grenades. And his biggest accomplishment, a sleek looking rocket which he claims has a range of 12 kilometers.

Much of what Sheihk Omar (ph) uses comes from unexploded ordinance like this fired by government forces. And clearly marked on this rocket, made in Russia.

When he first started, Sheikh Omar (ph) tells us he would modify unexploded rockets.

"From here to here, for example, it's our adjustment as are the fins," he says. "We'd shoot one, and it would just go three kilometers, or it would turn back around in our direction."

Now he designs from scratch, mixing a substance he won't reveal, but that is imported from outside with the explosive he extracts from the government's artillery.

He may be the master bomb maker, but Sheikh Omar (ph) says he's a man of peace. He wants to see a democratic Syria that reflects this nation's rich diversity. And he believes that after the Assad regime falls, there will be another revolution to purge this one of extremists and opportunists.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Aleppo province.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Another fascinating look inside Syria. You're watching News Stream. And still ahead, from hitting the high notes to managing life's low points. We'll hear music and candid comments from opera superstar Sumi Jo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now Psy has taken the world by storm with his global hit Gangnam Style, but there's far more to music in South Korea than K-Pop. Now this month on Leading Women, we are following the career of one of the country's biggest opera stars Sumi Jo and her 25 year career. She has performed at some of the world's most exclusive venues. But, as we found out, her success has not come without great personal sacrifice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: It's nearly 8:00 pm at the Seoul art center. And the crowd is streaming in, thousands of music lovers here to see one of South Korea's most famous artists. As the orchestra tunes and the conductor takes the podium, the anticipation builds until she steps on stage.

This is what they've come for.

(SINGING)

LU STOUT: She's an award winning opera diva who has performed at some of the most renowned performance halls in the world: The Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, and she has more than 50 recordings to her credit.

This world class soprano is Sumi Jo.

Sumi Jo's fame is rooted in an opera career that's lasted more than 25 years and performances all over the world.

SUMI JO, OPERA SINGER: I open my mouth. I start to sing. I can realize that they just -- I don't know, they've got a beautiful smile on their face. I can see them from the stage. So I say, wow, this is beautiful. I can do something special for them, you know. I think that's the best part of my life.

LU STOUT: Known for her mastery of elaborate roles from Italian opera like Gilda in Rigoletto and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

JO: All these women at the end you die for love, you know. There's dramatic roles I prefer. But recently I have discovered that I love -- I'm quite good as in comic roles as well.

LU STOUT: Jo is still a big star in her home country, though she hasn't lived in Seoul since moving to Rome nearly three decades ago. This morning, she's getting ready for an interview on television station MBN as to share her thoughts on everything from the upcoming Korean presidential election to the country's rise as a global trend setter.

JO: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LU STOUT: Later, it's off to rehearsal.

JO: Tonight is going to be a (inaudilbe) with an orchestra.

LU STOUT: She takes a few minutes to check in with her dog sitter in Rome.

JO: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LU STOUT: Yes, really. And to call her mother who she has yet to see in Seoul.

JO: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LU STOUT: For a public figure, Jo is startlingly honest about the toll she feels her career has taken on her personal life. With constant travel and constant tours and recording commitments, she rarely sees her family and has never married.

JO: Sometimes I feel very lonely and sad. I mean, I think everybody sometimes feel alone, but especially in this job. It's -- it's not easy.

Because I'm a home person. I love to be at home. I love cooking. I love cleaning. I love shopping, you know, those things.

LU STOUT: Her toughest moment came in 2006 when her father died. She was due to perform in Paris and her mother urged to sing for her audience instead of returning home for the funeral.

(SINGING)

LU STOUT: She broke down in tears during the encore, Shubert's Ave Maria.

JO: It's an incredible, the most saddest moment in my life. And I announced to the audience to say that, you know, my situation. And everybody stood up and gave me applause.

LU STOUT: At tonight's rehearsal, she'll practice a lesser known version of Ave Maria, this one by Italian composer Caccini.

(SINGING)

LU STOUT: Along with one of her crossover songs in her repertoire.

JO: I think I'm more me when I'm performing alone like recitals and concerts, because I can wear different dresses and I can be, you know, directed to the audience. It's like more fun for me.

(SINGING)

LU STOUT: In the coming weeks, see how she feels about her image as an opera diva.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And we will hear more from Sumi Jo next week. And we'll catch up with this month's other Leading Woman, the president of GM Brazil. Don't forget there's more at CNN.com/leadingwomen.

Now still ahead, it was all monkey business at one IKEA store. And we'll show you the very well dressed, but very unlikely window shopper who turned heads in Toronto and around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now the New England Patriots had a slow start to the American football season, but they're now being talked about as Super Bowl favorites. Let's join World Sport's Alex Thomas for more -- Alex.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie. Star quarterback Tom Brady says it was a great way to end a great week after the Patriots won their showdown against the Texans five days after he became a dad for the third time.

Both Bill Belichek's team and their Houston rivals had already booked playoff places. So this really was a measure of their Super Bowl credentials. And Brady's skills shown brightest, finding Aaron Hernandez here for the touchdown in the second quarter as the Pats surged into a 21-0 lead.

Brady is now being tipped for the season MVP award after passing for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Dante Stallworth scoring with that big play in the third. And even the luck went New England's way. Danny Woodhead stripped of the ball during this touchline run, but Brandon Lloyd picked it up in the end zone for his second touchdown of the night.

The Patriots hammering Texans 42-14. The Pats go from 3-3 earlier in the season to 10-3 now.

Brady referring to their -- well, we were going to hear from Tom Brady. We can't hear that sound bite. He talked about what a difficult game they've got up next against the San Francisco 49ers this weekend. The Texans go head-to-head with AFC South rivals the Indianapolis Colts.

On to the NBA where both Tony Parker and Jeremy Lin enjoyed record individual performances on Monday night, although it was the France international who was happier after the battle of Texas. Parker notching up the first triple-double of his career with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists as the Spurs beat the Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Lin gave the other outstanding individual display during a close contest setting up Omer Asik for this jumper in the fourth quarter as the scores are tied at 120 apiece. With James Hardin injured, Lin's haul of 38 points was a game and career equaling high, but he needed to be on defensive duties to stop Tim Duncan as this one went to overtime.

The Spurs looking better than the rockets after that Manu Ginobli with the steal as he gets the ball off to Chandler Parsons, Parsons to Danny Green for the lay-in. Later in overtime Duncan returning the favor to the Aregentian as the Spurs won by 134-126. Five wins on the (inaudible) for San Antonio. And we'll have more in World Sport in just over three hours time. Back to you, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, a good one for the Spurs there. Alex Thomas, thank you.

Now Toronto can get pretty cold over the winter, so Christmas shoppers would do well to bundle up. And one dapper customer at an IKEA store took that advice to heart and had everyone doing double takes. Jeanne Moos has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You go to IKEA expecting cheap furniture, not expensively dressed monkeys.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is so bizarre. Like, why is there a monkey at IKEA?

MOOS: There he was, running around in an outfit outside an entrance of the Toronto IKEA in an outfit that freaked everyone out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's definitely faux fur, not a shearling. It's like a faux shearling.

MOOS: Double breasted, no less. The tweets started to fly. "Anyone lose their monkey at IKEA?"

Well, actually, yes. The owner was shopping inside the store when the monkey managed to get out of his crate and then out of the car.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All the people were trying to, like, call it towards them, but it was very scared. It was darting all over the place. They were trying to get it away from cars.

MOOS: His diaper only detracted a little from what was later described as his favorite jacket. We asked stylist to the stars Robert Verdi to critique the look.

(on camera) How stylish a simian is he?

ROBERT VERDI, STYLIST: I thought for a second that it was an editor that I've seen at Fashion Week.

MOOS (voice-over): OK, it wasn't quite as formal as the red- carpet outfit worn by the primate star of "Hangover, Part 2," but who dresses up to shop at IKEA?

Animal control folks eventually captured the 7-month-old primate. Unfortunately for the monkey's owner, this shopping trip ended with a no- return policy. Because monkeys are prohibited as pets, the owner was fined $240 and had to permanently hand over the little guy, identified as Darwin. He stayed briefly as Toronto Animal Services.

MARY LOU LEIHER, TORONTO ANIMAL SERVICES: He's not happy right now. He's having kind of a bad day.

MOOS: Separation anxiety. He was moved to an Ontario primate sanctuary, where it's hoped Darwin will live happily ever after, but his name will live on as IKEA monkey. He instantly acquired parody Twitter accounts, describing him as lover of fashion. A Connie Stevens song was dedicated to him.

Some speculated he headed for IKEA in search of Swedish meatballs. His image was inserted in an ad for IKEA bedroom furniture.

As for the jacket...

VERDI: I bet he's going to start a trend, and we'll be able to find a version of it at H&M next week.

MOOS: Now, that's evolution.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that is News Stream. But the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END