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Reinvigorated NATO Looks to Respond to Russia, ISIS; Apple Reputation Dinged After iCloud Attack; Flooding In Pakistan As Monsoon Rains Linger

Aired September 04, 2014 - 8:00   ET

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

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

Now NATO's secretary-general is set to speak shortly amid the crisis in Ukraine and the spread of ISIS. We'll bring you that live as soon as it

happens.

Now the leader of al Qaeda says the terrorist organization is expanding in South Asia.

And after dozens of celebrities saw their iCloud accounts targeted, we'll look at how it could dent Apple's image.

It is day one of what's being called the most important NATO summit in more than a decade. The host, British Prime Minister David Cameron, is due

to make opening remarks any minute now and he'll be joined by the NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Now the summit was originally intended to focus on Afghanistan, NATO's biggest overseas commitment of troops. But other crises, including the

conflict in eastern Ukraine, are now taking center stage.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the summit. And the alliance has said that it will support

Kiev in the face of what it calls Russian aggression.

Now another source of growing concern here, ISIS. Now NATO is looking for ways to combat what British Prime Minister Cameron calls the poisonous

ideology of the militant group.

Now Mr. Cameron says ISIS needs to be, quote, "squeeze out of existence." And says he is not ruling out British airstrikes on ISIS in

Iraq.

Now the NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the 28 member bloc would seriously consider a request from Iraq for any help in fighting ISIS. Now

there is plenty to talk about here as the NATO chief Rasmussen puts it, quote, "we are seeing the greatest number of emerging crises since the end

of the cold war.

Let's bring in CNN's Nic Robertson from Newport, Wales. And Nic, tell us more about how this summit will address these threats from ISIS and

Russia.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Kristie, there's a real sense here that big steps are going to be taken, that this

is the most, or one of the most important NATO summits since this organization first came into existence. Why? In essence, not only

galvanized by what ISIS is doing in Iraq and Syria, and the threat that it has to many of those NATO member states, but really what is happening in

the south and east of Ukraine, Russia's involvement there, this is really turning -- turning NATO back to its core, if you will, to focus on the east

and to develop and put in place plans for a rapid reaction force, thousands of troops that can get to the border region within days, to have a

persistent rotation of troops, to have bases in Poland, the Baltic States, with pre-supplied with equipment. These bases are the places that the

troops would rotate through.

All these things are on the agenda here.

And I talked with the British Prime Minister David Cameron before the meeting got underway today. And I asked him about the other issue, ISIS,

that hasn't been on the agenda. He said very much this will be a topic of discussion. He expects it to be discussed by leader when they have a

banquet dinner tonight in Cardiff Castle despite that, he said, there is a strong -- despite the fact that it's not on the proper agenda, if you will,

there is a strong commitment here to deal with it, that there will be bilateral meetings, other types of meetings.

I asked him if Britain was prepared to engage in air strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We don't rule anything out. We'll act with partners in our national interest. We've already taken some

important steps with Americans and others. We've been helping the Kurds. Just last night, British plane landed with body armor for the Kurdish

forces. We're helping the Iraqi government.

I think there's more we can do in both those areas.

We've been flying surveillance and other missions over Iraq, working with our American allies. We support the actions the Americans have taken

so far.

But we must recognize that what's required is helping those on the ground rather than some western intervention, as it were, completely over

their heads leaving them to pick up the pieces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Over their heads and leaving them to pick up the pieces, it really implies there that if airstrikes are going to be on the agenda

for the British and perhaps some of the other nations here. It may be a little way down the road. They want to build a bigger coalition, it seems.

And he was talking there about supporting countries in the region -- Jordan, the kind of Jordan is here today attending this NATO summit.

Obviously Jordan not a NATO member.

But the desire to support Jordan militarily, it borders both Syria and Iraq and has seen as a key ally.

So this is the context, if you will, of how the British, at least, see defeating ISIS -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: We're waiting for David Cameron to give his opening remarks. We're waiting for the NATO summit, this two-day meeting to kick

off any moment now.

Let's talk more, Nic, about NATO itself. Now in light of the security threats from ISIS and from Russia, how has this turned into a very pivotal

moment for the alliance?

ROBERTSON: Well, I think there's a strong feeling here that this absolutely is a pivotal moment. And the pivot really has come about

because of President Vladimir Putin's actions inside Ukraine, sending troops across the border. I talked to Prime Minister Cameron about that.

You know, he said that Russia denies there are Russian troops on Ukrainian soil. He said everyone knows that is not the case, that they are

there on the ground.

So, it's -- there's a real sense that Vladimir Putin, in a way, has energized NATO, made it go back to its core, to focus on the threat from

the east. There's a perceived threat from the south as well, the ISIS threat, the instability in the Middle East. But it is really Russia that

has caused NATO to reassess itself and make sure it can respond to this threat and give confidence to its new eastern -- or newer eastern European

states like that Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, countries like that need to feel that NATO stands behind them.

And Prime Minister David Cameron told me that absolutely, that is at the core of this meeting and that is something they must make very clear

that NATO stands behind every single member -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: CNN's Nic Robertson reporting live from Newport, Wales, thank you, Nic.

Now with all the claims and counterclaims about what's happening in Eastern Ukraine, it is difficult to sort of the facts. Now CNN's Diana

Magnay has seen evidence today of fighting on the ground near the key port city of Mariupol. And she's also been touring towns where the battles are

over, but they've left some very telling clues.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Peace could not come soon enough to the battlefields of Eastern Ukraine. As leaders struggled

desperately to end this carnage with diplomacy, massive firepower dictates the facts on the ground, bringing conquest and defeat.

This is a hilltop just north of the town of Starobiesheva (ph). The devastation goes on for a mile or so. And in the air, a terrible cloying

smell. Some of those who died here were buried in haste, it seems, in shallow graves beside the battlefield, others left where they fell.

Any sign of a ceasefire seems a very long way away. This battle seems to have been fought a few days ago. But over there in the valley things

are still going on. We're hearing mortar fire, heavy machine gun fire, occasional small arms fire, too. And what we believe is happening is that

the Ukrainians there are effectively encircled, trapped, as the rebels sweep south.

It is hard to know what happened here. The SS 21 Scarab missile is used by both the Russian and Ukrainian armies. There are Russian issue

ration packs in amongst the debris, Army of Russia it says across the top. But they could easily have been supplied to the rebels.

This man says this was a regular pro-Russian rebel checkpoint and a mercy corridor for Ukrainian troops trapped by rebel forces further north.

"It was the Ukrainian national guard who were trying to escape," he says. "And they started shooting at the rebels and the rebels shot back."

And in the end, two rebel guards were injured and 40 soldiers from the national guard were killed here.

It is impossible to tell who started he fight, or whether the Ukrainians were ambushed. If this was a humanitarian corridor for fleeing

Ukrainians, it's hard to see why they would have been still fully armed.

And the rebels at the checkpoint were clearly able to call in heavy weapons.

The government forces are losing ground. And 75 years since World War II broke out, the fields of Europe are scarred once more by conflict.

Diana Magnay, CNN, near Starobiesheva (ph), Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And coming up this hour, CNN talks exclusively to a defector from ISIS. We will hear his firsthand

account of what the group wants to achieve through its iron fist rule and cold-blooded brutality.

Meanwhile, another Islamic extremist group is competing for the world's attention, al Qaeda lays out a new expansion plan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. Yeah, let's bring up some live pictures for you form Wales for the two-day NATO summit is due to take place. It has

been called one of the most pivotal and significant NATO summits in years due to the rising threats from Russia and from ISIS.

We are waiting for the host, David Cameron, the leader of the UK, to give opening remarks at the NATO summit. And when it kicks off, we'll

bring comments to you live.

Now so much of the world's concern has focused on ISIS this year. But right now, al Qaeda is demanding attention. In fact, the groups leaders

Aymen al Zawahiri released a 55 minute long video outlining plans to establish a new branch in India. Now he talks about waging Jihad across

parts of Asia, but some analysts say that the video reeks of desperation and could signal that al Qaeda is struggling to recruit new followers in

the shadow of ISIS.

Let's head to India now and our New Delhi bureau chief Ravi Agrawal joins us live with more. And Ravi, tell us more about exactly what does al

Qaeda pledge to do in India.

RAVI AGRAWAL, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Well, as you said, Kristie, Aymen al Zawahiri in this video he pledges to create a new brunch of the

terror outfit on the Indian subcontinent which is, of course, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

And he used phrases like waging Jihad on the Indian subcontinent. He said he wanted to liberate India and restore India to the caliphate. He

wanted to restore India's sovereignty.

Now, Kristie, I should remind you, of course, India and the Indian subcontinent has been free and democratic since 1947. Many analysts here

in India and around the world that I've spoken with are all saying that, you know, the video is a desperate attempt by al Qaeda to restore its

prominence.

LU STOUT: And tell us more about that. I mean, why is al Qaeda trying to launch in India right now?

AGRAWAL: Well, there are two reasons one could attribute to this, Kristie. I mean, the first would be that of course India has a lot of

Muslims, about 176 million Muslims-

LU STOUT: Pardon me, Ravi, I'm going to have to leave it at that. The NATO Secretary-General is speaking right now. My apologies. Ravi

Agrawal joining us live from CNN New Delhi. Let's go straight to Wales where the NATO secretary-general, I believe, is speaking. Let's bring up

live video for you and tune in now.

(NATO SUMMIT COVERAGE)

LU STOUT: OK, you've been looking at live pictures there from Wales where the two-day NATO summit is commencing.

This has been called a critical summit at a critical time. Just then we heard from the NATO secretary-general. And he began with a tribute.,

it's underway right now, to ISAF forces in Afghanistan. The NATO secretary-general, he said this, quote, "our mission is not over yet, but

we are proud of what we have achieved."

Now Afghanistan and the security of the country is on the agenda there, but of course at the very top of the agenda of the two-day NATO

summit is the rising threats from ISIS as well as Russia.

Now let's go back to this live event underway in Wales as we witness the beginning of the NATO summit.

(NATO SUMMIT COVERAGE)

LU STOUT: Moments ago you heard that minute of silence for those who have been injured or paid with their lives to serve in Afghanistan. You've

been watching a tribute to NATO forces, to ISAF forces who served in the country and it is this tribute that begins the two-day NATO summit in

Wales.

Now we heard from the NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. We are waiting for him to speak again. And Mr. Rasmussen said to those who

serve, he said this that, quote, "NATO is the most powerful alliance and it will remain so because of the skill and determination of you." He also

added, "our mission is not over yet, but we are proud of what we have achieved."

Let's go back to Wales as the event continues, the beginning of the two-day NATO summit there.

(NATO SUMMIT COVERAGE)

LU STOUT: OK. Live comments there from Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary-general as well as from David Cameron kicking off the two-

day summit there in Wales.

Let's bring in Nic Robertson. He joins us live from Newport, Wales. And Nic, we heard just then from David Cameron, the hosts of the summit,

the British Prime Minister, he said, it is absolutely clear that NATO is crucial to our future as it is to our past.

Tell us more about this reinvigorated alliance and the role that NATO is playing, especially in the light of these threats from ISIS and Russia.

ROBERTSON: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, David Cameron said very clear we must reinvigorate and refocus NATO. This is a historic summit, that's

the way everyone is viewing it here. And what is very interesting, a very touching moment, a patriotic moment for all those nations whose flags were

brought into the hall there, all members -- all contributed troops to ISIS, ISAF in Afghanistan.

And today in the early hours of today, we heard from those NATO forces in Afghanistan, another NATO soldier killed early in the day. So even

while they're talking here about refocusing, moving from a military footing to a training and assisting mission here. We heard the NATO secretary-

general talk about that. The cost of this to all the nations here clearly continuing.

Interesting, as well that he pointed out, the NATO secretary-general pointing out, that we are ready to commit to this new phase, this train and

assist phase. However, he said it still requires an Afghan signature to allow that to happen. And we're not at that point yet. And the

anticipation was by the time this summit came along that the Afghan political process would have moved forward enough for NATO to have agreed

with Afghan officials with a new president. That hasn't come into being yet for this transition and new phase of NATO activity inside Afghanistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been very clear in his assessment. Russia has got to stop its involvement in Ukraine that this summit is about

standing firm as an alliance.

Refocusing and reinvigorating, those have been the watch words, the key words, if you will, we've been hearing as the summit has come together

here, Kristie.

LU STOUT: You know, and it wasn't a deeply touching tribute to NATO forces in Afghanistan, that moment of silence, that began the NATO summit

there in Wales. We heard from Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary- general saying that our mission is not over yet, but we are proud of what we have achieved.

Again, I just want to get more of your thoughts about the task and the challenges ahead for the alliance in Afghanistan.

ROBERTSON: Well, it's very interesting. You know, a few years ago -- eight years ago I went to Afghanistan along with the ambassadors of all the

NATO nations and the then secretary-general of NATO at that time and the essence of that trip was to get nations to contribute troops to that fight

in Afghanistan. And at that time, the expectation was -- and I asked the secretary-general then as well, I asked Jaap de Hoop Schaffer, I asked him

at that time, if these NATO ambassadors realize that Afghanistan was becoming a much more difficult environment. Defense ministers at that time

were predicting that their troops would never fire a shot in anger. Of course it turned out entirely differently. And the cost of that mission is

now being paid tribute to there as we heard.

So, the challenges that lie ahead for NATO is to now look beyond this largest overseas mission that is had in Afghanistan and rise to the

challenges and refocus to the challenges that Russia presents, that ISIS presents. What we are hearing here ISIS and the issue of ISIS in Iraq and

Syria has really rushed up the agenda.

There's no place for it at the formal meetings here, but Prime Minister David Cameron told me earlier on today he expects members of NATO

and other leaders to discuss this around their banquet dinner tonight in Cardiff Castle.

So, it's going to be a much more crammed series of meetings here and a much busier time than many people would have expected.

When this -- when this summit was initially set up just, you know, several months ago it wasn't anticipated that there would be this much on

the table, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And addressing all the leaders who have gathered there in Wales for the summit, the NATO secretary-general he also said that we are

stronger together and we have proven that in Afghanistan.

Now how will the alliance come together again to act against ISIS and Russia? I mean, what are the possible outcomes from this summit?

ROBERTSON: What we're expecting to hear, one of the prime issues we're expecting to hear, or prime agreements, if you will, a rapid reaction

force, NATO troops, several thousand troops, able to go to the borders with Russia within a matter of less than two days. That's the sort of timeframe

that we're hearing being talked about.

They'll be able to do this, because it is expected at this meeting that the leaders will agree to preposition equipment in countries like

Poland, the Baltic states, they will preposition it at bases there. They will persistently, as they're saying -- they're not calling these bases

permanent, but they will persistently rotate these troops that are on a sort of forward leaning rapid deployment footing, rotate them through those

bases so that NATO is more nimble, more active, more ready to respond.

So these are substantial changes. NATO has had these aspirations before, but it seems very clear now that the leaders of the NATO nations

here really feel that Russia is not as predictable as it was, that President Putin is taking Russia on a different course than the one they

expected, that economic sanctions are not enough alone, and that they must get on a different military footing. And that's -- that will be one of the

stronger messages that emerges from here.

We can expect, perhaps, not to hear of how NATO will tackle ISIS in Iraq and Syria, but perhaps from bilateral meetings, and other meetings

between two, three, four or five different countries about how they will -- how they will work together to tackle the threat of ISIS.

But one of the big things, and they'll get to this in the agenda on Friday, will be the money. All NATO nations are supposed to contribute 2

percent of their gross domestic product on defense spending, only four nations do at the moment -- the United States 4.4 percent, Great Britain

2.3 percent.

So there will be questions asked to hope that these leaders will offer up more money in terms of increased defense spending. And of course

discussions on what they should spend that money on, not on bulking up armies, but on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, having an answer

to the propaganda message that's coming from Russia that's allowing Russia to engender strong feelings in Russia and among pro-Russian rebels in

Ukraine, how to answer those modern-day problems, not the old sort of problems of battling large armies, a recognition that the battlefield is a

changing environment. It has an element of social media. It needs NATO not only to have troops on a rapid footing, but it needs to have answers to

some of the other ways that Ukraine is now facing its own territory being essentially occupied for want of a better word by some Russia's forces at

the moment, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All these issues to be addressed by this reinvigorated NATO alliance for a new era. It's being called a critical summit at a critical

time. Nic Robertson joining us live from Wales, the sight of the summit. Thank you very much indeed for that, Nic.

Now let's get an update on the other world headlines this hour. And officials in Ukraine, they say that battles are still raging in the eastern

part of the country that despite talks of a ceasefire. Now a CNN team, it's there in that region, says that they can see a plume of smoke from

artillery firing near the city of Mariupol. Now officials in Kiev, they reported several skirmishes in the last 24 hours, including shelling from

inside Russia. Russia continues to deny direct involvement.

Now a third American infected with the deadly Ebola virus has been identified as a missionary doctor. Now Dr. Rick Sacra was not working

directly with Ebola patients, but was delivering babies in Liberia.

Now the World Health Organization says more than 3,500 people have been infected with Ebola since December.

Now the European Central Bank has cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.05 percent, its lowest ever level. Now the second rate cut in three

months, it comes in response to pressure on the ECB to kickstart the EuroZone economy. And we will have more on that in World Business Today,

it's coming up right after News Stream.

Now shares of Apple have fallen in the aftermath of a hack attack that released private photos of celebrities. Now Apple has said its iCloud

service was not breached. Investigators are still working to identify the hacker or hackers involved. It has cast a shadow over Apple's upcoming

product launch.

Let's bring in our regular contributor Nicholas Thompson. He's the editor of The New Yorker.com. He joins us now.

Nick, thanks for joining us. First, let's talk about Apple's response this week. I mean, has Apple adequately addressed concerns and defended

itself about its iCloud system?

NICHOLAS THOMPSON, NEW YORKER.COM: We don't know for sure yet. So initially there was a big question, were individuals targeted or was the

whole service compromised? And Apple came out after about 48 hours investigation and said individuals were targeted, but the whole service

wasn't compromised so most of us are pretty much, OK.

And everybody has believed them. There have been some skepticism on the Internet, but it seems like it wasn't a huge breach. They did patch

the holes that existed. So their press response was probably OK. But that doesn't mean that this doesn't cast a shadow, as you say.

LU STOUT: That's right, especially in advance of next week -- pardon me.

There is going to be this huge Apple event, this launch event next week, can you tell us more what's expected to be unveiled and the iCloud

shadow and the hack attack. How is that going to affect proceedings?

THOMPSON: Sure.

So, there are going to be a bunch of new announcements next week. Of course we don't know exactly what they will be, but the rumors are pretty

good. So, first, on Tuesday we're going to get an iPhone 6, a larger iPhone, a better iPhone. We'll have all kinds of new services. People are

excited.

We'll also probably get some kind of a smartwatch. It will be Apple's new watch. People will be very excited about it. There has been a watch

from Samsung. There have watches from other people. This will be a new one. It'll be, you know, it will be very fitness focused.

And then there will be some other services like an iWallet.

What's really important about this is this is the first time under Tim Cook's leadership that they've launched a new product category. In the

past, they've just iterated the iPhone, they've iterated the iPad, but this is the first entirely new thing. It's Tim Cook's moment.

And up until last week, everybody thought this would be his great moment to shine. There was huge anticipation and excitement. And now

suddenly there's this big hack, which is a problem. And then of course if you're launching an iWallet, you don't want a large hack right before.

LU STOUT: That's right. Not good timing to launch a mobile payment service, right.

I mean, this iCloud hack, it raises the big question, do you think Apple can thrive in a world of cloud services? Your thoughts, Nick.

THOMPSON: So this is a huge question. It's kind of an existential question. It's a great question, Kristie.

So, the computer industry has moved from, you know, fully focused on hardware to software to cloud services. It's in the middle of this

transition. And Apple, of course, has done great with hardware. They made wonderful computers. They made this, you know, magnificent phone and

tablet. And they've done really well with software. But they haven't done as well with cloud services.

So iCloud is not as good as some of their competitors. It still has flaws. It still has problems. And people have said maybe it's just not in

the company's DNA. Maybe they'll never really figure out the cloud.

And then having this huge breach, this big problem with iCloud, which they probably should have been able to prevent, some of the entry points

into iCloud were known about awhile ago and should have been patched, having this big problem makes some people wonder in the tech industry can

Apple really succeed in this next step in the evolution of the industry? Probably. Apple has great engineers. They have great people. But this is

a very interesting problem. And it was the wrong time for an iCloud attack for them.

LU STOUT: Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it, Apple is doing so well with hardware, with software, but cloud services is a big test for them.

And final question, and it relates to us, the consumers, and about cloud computing in general. You know, after this week should we be scared

or more wary about the cloud? Or just be more mindful about how to secure ourselves?

THOMPSON: It's -- yes and no. So we should be a little bit -- we should be aware, but we should always have been aware. We should change

our passwords frequently. We should use complex, long passwords. We should protect ourselves. We should be aware of how these services sync.

We should know that when you take a picture on your phone it's automatically backed up to the cloud. It doesn't just exist in the phone,

it exists in the ether. And the ether can be hacked into.

So, you should be worried.

On the other hand, there are massive, huge benefits to the cloud. It's great to have all your stuff backed up, because then you lose your

phone and you still have your pictures of your kids.

So, there are lots of reasons why we should keep using the cloud. We should help the cloud develop. But we should be wary and we should be

careful.

LU STOUT: All right, Nick Thompson there. Good message. Thank you very much indeed for that. Take care.

Now, Samsung took the wraps off a number of new phones on Wednesday, including the Galaxy Note 4 and a new handset with a screen that curves

around the edge. It's called appropriately the Galaxy Note Edge.

Now it's supposed to allow you to keep an eye on things. Information can scroll down the little strip on the side at all times.

Now Samsung also announced a virtual reality headset that works with the Galaxy Note 4. You drop the handset into a special harness that you

wear on your head, just like that.

Now the headset, it was built with the help from the VR pioneers Occulus, which is rather fitting. I mean, they used Samsung Galaxy Note

screens to build prototypes of the Occulus Rift headset.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come, he is admiring his reflection, or maybe not. We'll introduce you to this guy who maybe having

some anger control issues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News Stream.

And time now for the global weather.

And late monsoon rain has caused flooding in the subcontinent in India and Pakistan. Mari Ramos is standing by for more from the World Weather

Center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Kristie. You know, by now is when we start talking about the retreat of the southwest monsoon

across northern parts of Pakistan and northern parts of India, Pakistan in particular especially as we head into this first week of September. You

should definitely be seeing drier weather, but that's not the case.

Look at these images from Lahore in Pakistan. They've had over 200 millimeters of rain, that's just in the last 24 hours. If you do the math,

that's over eight inches of rainfall. That's pretty significant stuff.

And this is an area that, first of all, is not accustomed to getting this much rainfall, especially this late in the season.

Now it is needed, because -- we need the rain because they do rely on this for their water supplies, for the agriculture to fill up the

reservoirs, to fill up the rivers. But this much rainfall is happening so quickly causes widespread flooding like what you're seeing in these

pictures right now.

When we look at the satellite image, you can see still some moisture here across the north and especially near the border between Pakistan and

India stretching all the way down as we head over into the Arabian Sea.

Now some of this rain will continue to be locally heavy even as we head through the evening hours tonight. So be aware of that.

Islamabad, I think you should stay generally dry. You may get a passing thunderstorm or two. And I think in Lahore for the most part the

rain is over.

But as we head up into Kashmir, that's going to be a huge concern. We've already had reports of significant flooding in those areas and

landslides. And that will continue to be a problem for you overnight tonight and as we head into tomorrow.

I talked about the withdrawal of the monsoon. Well, September 1 is the date that we really begin to look at for the withdrawal of the monsoon.

And you see that right there. By now, all of Pakistan should pretty much be dry. By the middle of September, we start to see the monsoon starting

to get closer to New Delhi -- I should say the withdrawal of the monsoon. And then after that, gradually we should continue to see the areas getting

drier and drier until we get to the end of the year.

So, this is a process. And if it's on time, that's how it should happen.

So these areas here of eastern India, Bangladesh, Nepal that have had so much rainfall in the last few days still have a long time to go, at

least another three to four weeks of rainfall expected in this area if the monsoon behaves the way it is supposed to.

And then we head to China. Here we're at the end of the rainy season also. And he water levels are extremely high. More than two dozen people

have been killed in the last couple of days just in Chongqing and in that area. There have been dozens of rescues like the ones that you saw there.

And this picture, it's amazing, to see the power of the water just gushing out of the dam here. They've had to open up some of the gates of the dam

here because the water level is at peak level right now. It's at the highest it has been in over a year's time. And this is very significant.

So areas downstream are on alert for the potential for flooding and the Three Gorges Dam was built as a hydroelectric plant, but also to help

prevent flooding. And it's doing a pretty good job so far, but when they open up those gates areas downstream really need to watch it closely.

Notice more rain showers moving into interior parts of China. Some heavy rain back over toward Hong Kong and even as we head over toward

Japan.

Dry in Beijing and dry across the Korean peninsula. And yes, across the Philippines we're still looking at some rain. Very, very quickly I

have about 15 seconds to tell you about Manzanillo, Mexico. They've had over a months worth of rain in just the last two days.

Manzanillo right here, very close of course to where Hurricane Norbert is swirling around. More rain expected in that area even as we head

through the day today.

Norbert is swirling right here. It could bring you some very heavy rain also all the way to the Baja Peninsula and definitely, this is the

next storm we're monitoring here at world weather. Back to you.

LU STOUT: All right, good to know, always comprehensive. Mari Ramos there, thank you.

And finally, I want to tell you about a sheep named Rambro. As his name implies, he headbutts everything.

Now Jeanne Moos explains why he is on a rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How would you feel if you were having lunch and suddenly you were buzzed by a drone? Well, if you're

a ram named Rambro you live up to your name. You not only ram the drone, you go after the guy who comes to retrieve it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Slow down. MOOS: The guy who's dedicated a Facebook page to you. The official Facebook page of the badass-- motor bike

hating Angry Ram. Oh, how you hate motorbikes. Even though it was a YouTube video of your attack on a motorbike that first made you famous. The Angry

Ram was almost a dead ram. The New Zealand farmer who owned him was going to kill him because he was attacking dogs and fences. Marty Todd took him

in. Letting him wander his 100 acres to have what Marty calls a love/hate relationship. Rambro has bruised him, but Marty feeds, shaves and pets the

Angry Ram.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You must be in a good mood.

MOOS: Marty responded to our questions via e-mail. He's not keen on TV interviews.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cool them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rambro.

MOOS: Think of Angry Ram as sort of the grumpy cat of sheep. Now, while grumpy is famous for his frown, Angry is famous for ramming things.

As Marty's nephew found out ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do we get away from him without him chasing us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Run, man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm so glad I'm wearing this ...

MOOS: A couple of times Marty used bread to distract Rambro and installed a go-pro camera on his back for a little while. When he finally

got it on, he got a sheep's eye view of his Subaru getting rammed. No dodging this ram. When he hears a motorbike, he goes out of his way to

intercept it. He rams drones. He rams people. He even rams rams.

Jeanne Moos, CNN. New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: My goodness.

That is News Stream. But the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END