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NEWS STREAM

Latest on the Sony Hack; German Author Gets Inside Look at ISIS; Unseen Hong Kong

Aired December 22, 2014 - 08:00   ET

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


MANISHA TANK, CNN HOST: I'm Manisha Tank in Hong Kong. (Inaudible) continues when news and technology meet.

The serious consequences of what began as a comedy, now new warnings from North Korea in the wake of that massive Sony hack.

Plus, face-to-face with the evil of ISIS. A German author gets a rare glimpse of the terror group in working. We have an exclusive report.

And shining a light on the cities unseen, a domestic helper captures stunning photographs of Hong Kong.

(MUSIC)

TANK: We begin this hour with a war of words between the U.S. and North Korea. Let's get you caught up in the latest developments. First,

Pyongyang has threatened to attack the entire U.S. mainland.

North Korea media Sony's movie, "The Interview", which pokes fun at Kim Jong Un was the U.S. government's idea. Well, Pyongyang also denies U.S.

accusations that it launched the cyber attack on Sony Entertainment. Other countries also weighing, including China which says it opposes cyber

attacks, especially by nations or individual using a third country to carry them out. But China didn't blame North Korea for the attack on Sony.

Japan says it condemns the attack but wouldn't comment on North Korea's potential involvement. While South Korea is taking action after finding

its nuclear power plant operator was the victim of recent hacking. Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power is holding a two-day drill to safeguard against

future cyber attacks.

Well, the United States is also considering how to respond to North Korea's ramped up rhetoric, our White House correspondent, Michelle Kosinski takes

a look at Pyongyang's language and what the U.S might do next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: North Korea now openly threatening U.S. security, vowing, "Nothing is a more serious

miscalculation than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target. Our toughest counteraction will be boldly taken against the

White House, the Pentagon, and the whole U.S. mainland, the cesspool of terrorism."

And even while denying responsibility for the Sony hacking, North Korea now promises escalation, saying the hackers are "sharpening bayonets to do

damage thousand of times greater".

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think this was an act of war by North Korea?

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No. I don't think it was an act of war. I think it was an act of cyber vandalism that was very costly,

very expensive. We take it very seriously.

KOSINSKI: But that characterization, not a cyber war or even terror, but vandalism has launched the President's critics here at home.

JOHN MCCAIN, (R) U.S. SENATOR: This is a manifestation of a new form of warfare. When you destroy economies, when you are able to impose

censorship on the world, and especially the United States of America, it's more than vandalism and we need to react and react vigorously.

KOSINSKI: What America can do and when is a question. Possibly sanctions against the already strapped regimes' economy, its banks or military. The

U.S. has now reached out to China and asked for cooperation. But what exactly that would look like, U.S. officials decline to say. What has been

stated in no uncertain terms at the highest levels is that options against North Korea are being weighed as we speak.

OBAMA: They caused a lot of damage. And we will respond. We will respond proportionally, and we'll respond in a place and time and matter that we

choose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Well, that Michelle Kosinki reporting. "The Interview" was initially set to release in cinemas on Christmas Day, but many theaters

decided not to show it after the initial threats from the hackers. Sony then decided to pull it completely. But a studio suggests, you actually

may still be able to see the movie after all, just looking for platforms to show it.

For more, CNN's senior media correspondent Brian Stelter joins us now from CNN New York. And Brian, I did wonder, has any of those platforms stepped

up and said, "Yes, we would carry this movie."

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: If they have, we don't know it yet. So far nobody's commenting. Not Netflix, not YouTube, not Amazon,

and not any of the big movie theaters that decided to pull the movie last week. It's possible this film could still get a theatrical release, maybe

some time early in the New Year. But what I'm focusing on more is digital distribution because, you know, nowadays you can rent a movie from the

comfort of your couch. You can watch it on an online streaming service. And all of those platforms would seem like possibilities for Sony. There

were active talks going on over the weekend but all Sony would say is, "No decisions have been made, no plans have been set. We are still exploring

options for distribution."

TANK: Yes. I think if they have -- if they have an equivalent of a crisis center, I'm sure they've been using it over last few days...

STELTER: Oh they sure have.

TANK: Go ahead

STELTER: They sure have.

TANK: Yes.

STELTER: By the way, they have site of their own called Crackle, it's an online video streaming site. People has been asking why don't they put it

up on that site. I think one of the answers is because there's no way to charge people to watch the movie there. It's an entirely free site and

Sony would prefer to be able to charge people to watch movie, that way they can recoup some of the $44 million budget. But, listen, it may come to the

point were they decide they're just going put it online for free.

TANK: Yes. But what's remarkable is what sparks this crisis and probably many board of committee meeting. It's been a movie that been terribly

underwhelming if you talk to the critics, and you would have thought if everything else from Sony got leaked, how come this didn't get leaked.

STELTER: That is a good point. That's something early on I wondered about. You know, the movie "Annie" got leaked. Some of their upcoming

films in early 2015 got leaked online, but "The Interview" did not show up online. That was an early indication of the hackers' motivation, and then

later they made it more explicit by demanding the film never actually be shown.

Now, you got to wonders those. You got this group of hackers say never show this movie, never let this movie get on the internet, never let it get

into theatres. What if another group of hackers demanded the movie be seen, be put in movie theaters. That's the disturbing precedent being set

here. This notion that a movie studio could be influenced or controlled by an anonymous group of hackers acting for who knows where? Doing who knows

what? That's the danger in Hollywood here that this could happen sometime again.

TANK: Yes. And I wondered, Brian what does this mean overall in your view for Sony Pictures?

STELTER: For Sony, there is a big hole they've got to climb out of. They have got untold amounts of damage done by these hackers, both financial as

well reputational. There's a lot of relationships in Hollywood that are going to have mended after all of this. After the leaks of all these

emails and all these documents, and of course the hackers do have some information, some stolen information they haven't released. So, there's

always the threat of more coming out.

I got to say though, the studio is soft in running. And Sony wants that to be known, they're still making movies, they're still making TV shows and

trying to recover from this. They had a new movie called "Annie" opened on Friday. And it made a decent amount of money in the United States. It's

on track to make a lot more in the weeks to come so, hopefully that's a glimmer of good news for them, one they desperately needed.

TANK: Just finally, Brian, artists all over the world has been speaking out about this story. A lot of them, very concerned about freedom of

expression, should they be that concerned you think?

STELTER: I understand why they are and I don't want to overstate it but you can imagine scenarios where it's not just North Korea which is, seems

to be in this case, that can have a chilling affect on the making of films or the making of media. You could imagine more powerful countries having

the same effects or abilities in the future. Maybe that's why we are now seeing some organization going on in Hollywood. We've seen some groups

formed against censorship, calling for this film to be seen in some form and some way. I think we'll hear more of that in the days to come.

Even the Republic and National Committee here in United States has called on Sony to release this film and they have said if they do it, the Sony

does it, the RNC will send a message to its millions of supporters and subscribers, urging them to go and see the movie. What a strange moment to

see the Republicans in the United States supporting Hollywood.

TANK: I think that's discussion for a different day, don't you, Brian.

STELTER: I do.

TANK: Thank you very much, Brian Shelter.

STELTER: Good talking to you.

TANK: And to you too. Always a pleasure.

STELTER: Thank you.

TANK: Now, North Korea is one of the world most oppressive (ph) countries with numerous acquisitions of human rights violation. The UN Security

Council is expected to discuss that today is there are calls for Pyongyang to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

Now, New York police are receiving more threats as the community warns two officers shot and killed just days ago in an ambush. Police aren't taking

any chances and now tracking down those behind the online threats.

For more, here's Alexandra Field.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Officers on heightened alert following a new online threat. In Brooklyn police are searching for an

alleged gang member who posted a threatening message towards officers on FaceBook with a photo of a police vehicle. And in Memphis, police question

a 26-year old man, after he posted on Instagram, #shootthepolice, two more going down tomorrow."

LOFTON: I didn't mean it like that. It got mixed up.

FIELD: Investigators scours social media on the look out for copy cats after 28-year-old, Ishmael Brinsley shot and killed two NYPD officers,

Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, execution-style Saturday afternoon. Police looking into more than 15 online threats according to a law enforcement

official.

Family and loved ones mourning the loss of officers Ramos and Liu at an evening vigil in Brooklyn.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope and pray that we can reflect on this tragic loss of lives that have occurred.

FIELD: Earlier Sunday, New York's Commissioner Nier attending mass at New York's historic St. Patrick's Cathedral where the congregation, stood and

applause for the slain policemen.

These, a stark contrast from the NYPD turning their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio in a news conference Saturday, angered about his support of the

protest for Eric Garner, the unarmed Staten Island man who died after an apparent chokehold by NYPD officers.

The shooter's onslaught begins Saturday morning. He posted this ominous warning on Instagram, "I'm putting wings on pigs today." Accused of

shooting his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore, the 28-year-old then traveled to New York, murdering Ramos and Liu with his semiautomatic gun before taking

his own life. The scene, horrific.

When you walk up and you saw that patrol car, what was going through your mind?

TANTANIA ALEXANDER, EMS RESPONDER: He have a family. So and, you know, if you're going to go hit -- you don't know if you're going to make it -- to

his job and you put your life on the line everyday for people.

FIELD: Brinsley also posting before his rampage, "They take one of ours, let's two of theirs." He's postings make references to Michael Brown and

Eric Garner, according to police. Garner's mother heart broken all over again.

GWEN CARR, ERIC GARNER'S MOTHER: We want you to not use Eric's name for violence because we are not (inaudible) thing. These two police officers

lost their lives senselessly.

FIELD: Officer Ramos' son posted this message on Facebook, "This is the worst day of my life. Everyone says they hate cops but they're the people

they call for help."

He writes, "I will never forget you. Rest in peace, dad."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: That was Alexandra Field reporting. Officer Ramos leaves behind his teenage son whose statement you just heard, and a wife. The second officer

killed was a newly wed.

French police have arrested a man accused of deliberately ramming his car into pedestrians, injuring a dozen people. It happened on Sunday in the

city of Dijon. Witnesses reportedly said the driver shouted, "God is great," in Arabic.

Just a day earlier in another French city, report said a man shouted those same words as he entered a police station and stabbed three officers.

In Australia, a court has revoked bail for the partner of the Sydney siege gunman, Man Haron Monis. Amirah Droudis was free on bail after being

charged with the murder of Monis' ex-wife. Well, Droudis is now in custody after the court ordered her to be held while waiting for her trial.

Monis who was accused of being an accomplice to that murder was free on bail when he stormed a cafe in Sydney last Monday. The 16-hour siege ended

with three people dead, including Monis.

You're watching News Stream. Coming up, we take you behind ISIS enemy line. After the break, an exclusive interview with the man who spent time

with ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria.

Plus, a live report from Moscow for a fresh look at how oil market and sanctions are affecting the country's battered economy.

And the world's biggest lottery is happening today in Spain. We've got the latest on the spoils, it's opening nearly $3 billion, later down the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANK: You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the stories that we've got in the show today. We've already told

you about the international fallout from the hack on Sony Pictures, and later, we'll bring you a unique perspective of Hong Kong.

But right now, we want to bring you an exclusive look inside ISIS. A German author says the group is more dangerous than people realized. He

spent more than a week with ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria and believes he is the first western journalist allowed to visit.

Our Frederik Pleitgen has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's an extremely rare glimpse into the inner workings of the most dangerous terrorist organization in the

world. German author, Juergen Todenhoefer managed to visit ISIS territory both in Iraq and in Syria.

JUERGEN TODENHOEFER, GERMAN AUTHOR: They are only 1 percent -- it's a 1 percent movement in the Islamic world. But this 1 percent movement has the

power of a nuclear tsunami. It's incredible. I was so amazed. I was -- I couldn't understand this enthusiasm.

PLEITGEN: Todenhoefer spent several days in Mosul, Iraq's second biggest city conquered by ISIS in June. He even visited the mosque where ISIS had

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi gave a speech earlier this year. He also met with child soldiers.

TODENHOEFER: How old are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am 13.

PLEITGEN: Todenhoefer even managed to get access to a Kurdish prisoner in the hands of the extremists.

TODENHOEFER: What did they tell you? What will happen to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Our captors said that we have Islamic state fighters in prison with the Kurdish Regional Government. You

are prisoners here and we will trade you back for our fighters. They didn't say they will kill or slaughter.

PLEITGEN: Todenhoefer says people living in ISIS-controlled areas are in fear of the harsh penalties for infringement of the stringent laws. But

there's also a sense of order and stability. According to Todenhoefer, fighters say they often manage to defeat much larger armies like the Iraqi

military because they're not afraid to die.

TODENHOEFER: It took you how many days to conquer Mosul? Four days?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We didn't kill 24 but we killed a score of them so they got terrified and ran away. We don't retreat. We

only fight for God Almighty, we're victorious. Those who have reverted from Islam do not have a solid ideology so they ran away. They came to

fight for the tyrant, fight for money.

PLEITGEN: During battle, he learned, many of the ISIS fighters wear suicide vests, willing to blow themselves up rather than be captured. In

one interview, a senior ISIS fighter warns the U.S. and Europe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We will conquer Europe someday. It's not a question of us wanting, we will. We'll kill 150 million, 200

million, 500 million. We don't care about the number.

PLEITGEN: Atrocities ISIS has already committed suggests they're serious about their threats. This German author's visits to the Islamic state

shows a brutal, merciless group, but also one that won't go away anytime soon.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN Munich, Germany.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: And you can hear more from the man, Frederik Pleitgen (inaudible). Christiane Amanpour sits down with him on a special edition of Amanpour.

Watch the entire interview tonight at 7:00 in London, that's 8:00 in Berlin right here on CNN.

Pakistan now plans to expedite the execution of 500 terror-related convicts. The decision was announced at a news conference in Islamabad on

Sunday. Pakistan has been cracking down on insurgents in the aftermath of the Taliban school massacre that left 148 people dead in Peshawar.

The decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty was made before the attack last week but it prompted authorities to speed up the process.

A reminder, you're watching News Stream. Coming up on the show, a migrant worker in Hong Kong finds a sense of belongings through the camera lens.

The results, stunning photos that capture both the city's bright and dark side. More on that right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANK: All right. It seems that much of Spain has its eyes locked on the television screen as the numbers are being drawn for the world's biggest

lottery. El Gordo, meaning the fat one is a Spanish tradition that dates back more than two centuries.

Two balls are drawn from two machines, one determines the wining ticket number, the other decides the price value. The lottery takes hours due to

the sheer number of prices. Well this year's payout totaled nearly $3billion. So worth getting that ticket if you're in Spain.

One lucky lady is showing off an incredible present from her Reddit Secret Santa. The website has organized an international gift exchange since

2009. 25-year old Kalli (ph) says her secret Santa was none other than Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. In addition to their rather attractive Loki

horns, she says Gates also made a donation to a vaccination program in her name.

Reddit says nearly 213,000 people took part in this year's Secret Santa, that's a new record. They come from 188 countries.

So to sign up, you create a profile and wait for Reddit to match you and trust that as you -- trust that you will send a gift. A stranger will give

you one in return, and Reddit then says other celebrities who signed up this year included Snoop Dogg, and also Alyssa Milano.

Now I would like to show you the works of a very special photographer. Xyza Cruz Bacani draws her inspirations from Hong Kong, even though she's

not from here. In fact she's one of the thousands of so-called domestic helpers who've moved here to work as housemaids.

Here you can see Bacani's reflection as she takes a shot, and I've got that one over here -- over here, over here to my left.

She shared with CNN what it's like to document fellow helpers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XYZA CRUZ BACANI, PHOTOGRAPHER: When I'm wearing my camera, I'm not a helper anymore. I'm an ordinary girl who's just shooting around. It's a

way of protection because when you're a helper here, there's a kind of stereotyping that (inaudible).

I'm Xyza Cruz Bacani. I'm 27, a Filipina and I'm a domestic worker. And I'm the eldest of three kids. For, mainly, my brother and sister to be

able to study, I need to come here and be a helper myself.

I'm in here for like nine years and I still feel like I don't belong in the city. I'm still an observer, so I always shoot this stuff, like the

mirrors because I always feel like we're on the same area, we're -- same space, same area, same air, but I don't belong on that scene. I'm always

here and there and there.

When I go out once a week, I had this excitement built up because it's the only time I can see outside. I was like in prison for six days and then I

have this one day off, so as much as possible I try to absorb everything that I see and I tried to shoot them one day in a week.

And this is a very modern city. It's a very successful city but still there are people who are not or who are thinking like they treat helpers

like slaves, and they see like they owned the person. When I see the girls, I talk to them, I absorbed all their emotions and I can't really

believe that some people can do that to other human being. We're the same. We're immigrant workers, but I have a boss who treat me with respect and

like a human being, bBut these people, they were treated badly. It makes me more grateful. It opened my eyes and it makes me want to tell their

stories more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Really thought-provoking images from Xyza.

Well, earlier this month, a trial started for a Hong Kong employee accused of torturing an Indonesian domestic worker. 23-year-old Erwiana said she

was bitten and forced to work 20 hours a day. In her most recent testimony, she said, her former boss (inaudible) her when she got blisters

on her feet and couldn't walk properly.

You're watching the News Stream. After the break, a live report from the Russian capital, we'll take a look at how the country's hard hit market is

moving today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SONI METHU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This week on Inside Africa, Nigerian photography and pride winning contemporary (inaudible) to experience a

festival of (inaudible) provoking images and to meet some of the artists creating them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the next Inside Africa only on CNN. In association with Zenith Bank.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANK: I'm Manisha Tank at Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream, NBC World headline. North Korean media had broadcast threats to the U.S. also

Washington blamed North Korea for a cyber attack on Sony Pictures. Pyongyang denies it was involved and now says Washington was responsible

for the Sony movie "The Interview" that pokes fun at the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. Sony says it may still release the film.

Spain's Princess Cristina, the sister of King Felipe, will stand trial on two charges of tax fraud. The unprecedented case also named her husband

and 15 others. The princess and her husband has both denied any wrongdoing.

Pope Francis has strongly criticized his colleagues in his Christmas address to them. He said church leaders have forgotten to act with

humility and fail to care about others. He also accused them of gossiping behind people's backs and forgetting God's spiritual guidance.

In Tunisia, veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi has claimed victory in the presidential round of election. Sunday's vote was the first time in

decades that Tunisians have really chosen their leader. The former president was ousted almost four years ago, (inaudible) and what became the

Arab Spring.

So the Russian Central Bank has just announced that it will spend $546 million bailing out trust banks. The movement is a symptom of the hard hit

economy there. The collapse in oil prices has bathed the ruble, so have Western sanctions which just last week, the Russian Central Bank said the

economy could shrink 4.5 percent next year if oil remains at $60 a barrel.

So let's get a bit more on the story now and bring in CNN International Correspondent, Matthew Chance who is live for us in Moscow and has been

following the story. And Matthew, you know, President Putin has been very clear, he was in his address just a few days ago in his Q&A that this is --

it hadn't anything to do with sanctions. But perhaps it might be some degree, but certainly oil prices have really hurt the economy it seems.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean there are two fundamental causes for the Russian economic crisis at the moment.

The first one is the collapse in the oil price, the Russian ruble is pegged to the price of crude oil and it rises and falls with that price which is

why the rubles have been dragged down to very considerable points over the course of the past several weeks.

It plunged to 80 rubles to the (inaudible) at one point a few days ago. It since recovered and stabilized to the rend 55 rubles to the dollar. And

so, to that's the one hand. The other hand, the other point is the international sanctions that had been imposed against Russia by the United

States and by the Europe Union. They've imposed punitive measures on Russia for its actions inside Ukraine, it's cut off rest western companies

or they have cut off western companies from sources of finance in western banks, and that has made the economic crisis even worst.

And so, it's those two issues that are really affecting the ruble right now and really affecting the Russian economy. Vladimir Putin, let's go back to

your points, denying that the sanctions have anything to do with Russians actions in Ukraine, anything to do with its annexation of Crimea, saying

that that was merely a motive given by the west. The real reason, he says, is to clip Russia's wings to prevent Russia from becoming strong.

And so, that's what his line is been all along. And you're right, he repeated that a few days ago and that three and a half hour long press

conference that he gave to the nation, addressing a range of topics.

TANK: Despite the fact that we've seen a bit of a bounce back, Matthew, for whatever reason and it could be Central Bank intervention. But for

whatever reason we seen these bounce back in the ruble, I know that in the last week or so that you've been out talking to ordinary Russians trying to

get a handle on how they're coping with the slides in their currency. Are you seeing any change in their feeling about their president?

CHANCE: No, not at this point, in short. And Vladimir Putin's popularity is still extremely high. The latest opinion polls all of them, Putin's

popularity rating at well over 80 percent and so he still by far the most popular political figure in the country. That popularity buoyed by his

nationalistic moves over the course of the year, including the annexation of Crimea.

And so though, he is still a deeply popular figure and at this point, it's -- there's still very little sign that that's changing. Having said that,

it is just the start of this economic crisis really or at least the start of the effects of it being felt by the (inaudible) Russian population and

it's difficult to see that if the economic pain continues, how those popularity ratings can continue. I mean they might for a while, but when

you start seeing your mortgage payments go through the roof, when you start seeing the imported goods that you're used to eating and buying disappears

from the shelves. And ultimately I think the political leadership will get the blame. At the moment though, that process has not began.

TANK: OK. Matthew. Thanks very much for that Matthew Chance live in Moscow for us. Thank you very much.

So I want pause for a moment to note the passing of an acclaimed British actress. Stage and screen star, Billie Whitelaw has died at a nursing home

in London. She was 82 years old. Whitelaw appeared in more than 50 movies from the classic horror film, The Omen to Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy,

Whitelaw was perhaps best known for her collaborations with the playwright Samuel Beckett who called her the perfect actress.

Still to come here in News Stream, a Japanese rock band singing to its own tune. How the band is creating a new sound from traditional instruments,

stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANK: We head to Japan now where one band is changing out performance art by way of tradition and rock and roll. In this week's Art of Movement,

Kristie Lu Stout introduces us to KAO=S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): My name is Jack, I play the shamisen.

SHUJI YAMAGIRI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I'm Shuji, band leader of KAO=S. I play acoustic guitar.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Riding on a bed of tradition and rock and roll rhythms is where the band KAO=S find itself. On the shamisen,

Jack strums the strings of the bachi, the (inaudible) sounds of his heritage.

JACK (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I often play with eyes closed. It has no frets which guitar has, so I just try play by sharpening my feelings in acoustic

sounds.

It is an instrument we have to play with a gut feeling.

STOUT: In strumming, Shuji channels the likes of Led Zeppelin on the guitar. But it's in between these notes where a performance is born.

KAORI KAWABUCHI, KAO=S BAND MEMBER: I'm Kaori and I use a samurai sword called katana.

STOUT: Part music, part theatrics, the songs become Kaori's guide.

KAWABUCHI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Music gives me imagination or inspirations by just listening to it. It's like I have a story oozing my body.

I got an image from the sound by the members under the conditions on that day, energy given by the audience and the atmosphere.

STOUT: And in turn, Kaori's movements, fluid and swift, translate the music.

YAMAGIRI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Strength and characteristic of our bond is we have her between us. And through her movement she expresses the feeling

of sadness and delight that we try to express in our play, using the motion of her body. I think it makes easier for an overseas audience to

understand. She can deliver feminine delicacy and tenderness and also intensity which is (inaudible) strongly in (inaudible).

STOUT: The result is an exchange of energy and emotion moving across the stage resulting in spell-binding performance. Coming together just after

the devastating tsunami and earthquake of 2011 -- to inspire Japan moving (that) called over of a cherry tree would strengthen their country to the

art of movement and music.

YAMAGIRI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We start with a chaotic dark world, it becomes large then she losses or almost gives up then stands up again and

fight and win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANK: Great stuff. That's it from News Stream. I'm Manisha Tank. But don't go anywhere, World Sports with Alex Thomas is up next here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALEX THOMAS CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Welcome to CNN World Sport I'm Alex Thomas in London. They were seconds away from defeat, but after salvaging a draw

against Arsenal, Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers said his team can finish in the English Premiere Leagues top four despite opening the scoring

in front (inaudible) support. Liverpool conceded (ph) twice on the side of the half time.

Here's Olivier Giroud scoring the second of Arsenal's goals as they took the lead at the end here. There were nine minutes of added time at the end

of the game, only seconds remaining, Martin Skrtel's header rescued a draw and a point toward (inaudible) win. The score line hides the real story,

the (inaudible) Liverpool enjoying more 63 percent of the possession and had almost four times as many shots as Arsenal. They might easily have

lost on Sunday, at two draw leaving them in the top half of the table with only just Liverpool in ten spot, nine points behind West Ham, by the fourth

place that would put the race back into a champions league qualifying position. Arsenal are up to six.

Earlier, Ian Stafford from sports social networking site Kicker, said he wasn't sure about Roger's claims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRENDAN RODGERS: Back until last weekend, their form was absolutely reporting, they win at (inaudible) and they get a draw. You can fill the

stats you like, they were seconds away from losing at home. They're nine points behind fourth place, fourth place is West Ham, I don't think anybody

seriously think West Ham are going to finish fourth. But if you -- you know, you considered that it's probably two-horse race, Chelsea sitting at

the top and Man United looked, you know, in great position getting third.

It's a race for fourth. Arsenal's in a much better position, Spurs in a better position. Liverpool are nine points up, of course that's catchable

but their defense remains very shabby and OK they got two goals against an Arsenal team who's defense is pretty important as well. You lose Suarez,

you lose (inaudible) you got problems.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: An awesome Sunday at the NFL's regular season has seen more teams clinched their playoff spots including the defending Super Bowl Champion,

Seattle Seahawks. Running back Marshawn Lynch looked unstoppable with 79 of his 113 rushing yards coming on this incredible touchdown run. Seattle

gaining a franchise record, 596 yards of a 35 to 6 scratching of the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks complete the season sweep of Arizona, and

are now the team to beat.

Once again, Seattle can clinched the NFC west title with the win over of St. Louis on Sunday, Dallas have already clinched the NFCs with the 42 to

7 trashing of Indianapolis. Green Bay host Detroit on Sunday for the NFCs North title. The loser will be a wild card team. And as silly as it

sounds, the team with the losing record is going to win the NFC South, Atlanta host Carolina on Sunday for that divisional title.

In the AFC, Tom Brady the Patriots will be resting at home for the side of the playoffs. Jonas Grey's scoring the go ahead touch on a one yard run

early in the fourth as the Pats clinched the bye with a 70 to 16 victory over the New York Jets. New England becoming the first team to earn an

opening round bye in five successive seasons.

Meantime, the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the playoff party this year thanks to the 20 to 12 win over the Chiefs. Quarter back Ben

Roethlisberger, directing the Steelers to their third straight win, passing the 220 yards and a touchdown, they clinched at least the wild card for --

but they're still in the running to the AFC North title. They must beat Cincinnati on Sunday and before then, the Bangles take on the Broncos in

Monday night football, a win to the Bangles puts them into playoffs. And for Denver, it would seal an opening round by San Diego, a favorites for

the final AFC wild cards spot.

Well, when CNN World Sport returns, we're spending sometime with MotoGP's rising star.

MARC MARQUEZ, MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION: Hello I'm Marc Marquez (inaudible) and you're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

THOMAS: Hello. CNN World Sport is back with skiing's golden girl, Lindsey Vonn, and the American's bid for a record equaling 62 World Cup wins, it

will have to wait a little longer. The four-time World Cup winner crashed down of Sunday's Super G after entering a gate, slightly too wide instead.

The race was won by Austria's Elisabeth Gorgl, Vonn is trying to match the record of 62 World Cup race wins that stood for 34 years. And while that

goal is on hold, Vonn says her knees are at least fine, said she'd go home for Christmas with a big smile on her face.

Now, to the two-time MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez who won't be cruising the streets of his hometown in Spain over Christmas because -- or despite

dominating his high speed sport, he doesn't actually have a road license for his bike. That was just one other things the 21-year old revealed to

our own Christina McFarlane when she went to speak to this rising star of motosport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When people call you Felix (ph) or a magician or superhuman, how does that make you feel? What do you

think?

MARQUEZ: It's nice to hear but of course that's -- you need to (inaudible). You don't need to take it like, yes, I'm a superhero because

in the end, if you want to keep this level and continue in that way, you must also keep your mentality.

MACFARLANE: MOTOGP wiz kid Marc Marquez sent records tumbling this season, becoming the youngest ever rider to take motorcycling's top title twice in

two seasons. But it's his riding style that has astounded his opponents with an audacious elbow down cornering technique that seems to defy the

laws of physics.

MARQUEZ: I always would try to find the limit of course on the tires. When you feel that the tires start to slide or you start to have a lot of

movement on the bike then you say. "OK, now we must stop." For me, the most difficult is try to be exactly same in two laps. For example, I don't

know, Jorge Lorenzo, his every lap, same line, same breaking point. And I'm doing every lap something different.

MACFARLANE: How does that make you feel to know that other riders are now trying to copy your style, riders like Valentino Rossi?

MARQUEZ: Sometimes, he say to me, "I try to copy your riding style", I mean, it's strange because, you know, when I was a kid, he was my hero and

he was like, "Oh Valentino. I will never arise to be or to compete with him."

MACFARLANE: But with great speed comes great risk. The death of Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli three years ago was a sober reminder of what

can go wrong in this most daring of motosports.

MARQUEZ: It's difficult to accept but in the end, we have that risk. In the end, it's a world that you enjoy and you accept that risk.

MACFARLANE: At the opening of his new museum in his hometown of Cervera, Marc Marquez is riding high. Next season though, he knows that his rivals

will be hungry for revenge.

MARQUEZ: The biggest challenge of course now is try to win again because that is the pressure what I have. Lorenzo improved a lot, Valentino too,

Danny (ph) too. So next year from the fair (ph) race, they will be there.

MACFARLANE: But for the next few months at least, he'll be taking things at a more sedate pace.

When you're just riding on your motorbike around town here at home, are you riding still like a MotoGP racer

MARQUEZ: Honestly -- honestly, I don't have the license of motorbike.

MACFARLANE: Did you?

MARQUEZ: Yes, really.

MACFARLANE: No.

MARQUEZ: Yes, yes, yes. I only have the license for 50 CC but not for the big bikes.

MACFARLANE: Sometimes even the fastest man on two wheels have to live life in the slow lane.

Christina MacFarlane, CNN Cervera.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: He's achieved so much at such a young age. Looks even younger than his 21-year of age. We'll have more from Marc Marquez on World Sports

tomorrow.

There's been a mixed response to a statue made in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning world Footballer of the Year. And that's being

generous. The tribute's been put up into town on the Portuguese island of Madeira where Ronaldo grew up, although, not exactly a site of his

popularity where local (inaudible). His statue is part of museum chronicling his achievements but it's been created Ronaldo himself. Some

fans who came to see the monument complained, it didn't look much like him. And most of the talk on social focused on the rubber -- bigger hugging

nature of his shorts, shall we say.

At this festive time of year, have you ever wondered how one man in a red and white suit could fly around the world in just one night? Well perhaps,

the answer is that he just trains a lot. This (inaudible) of the year might look like a Santa fitness session, it is in fact a charity fun run

that took place in Moscow. Although who knows if any of these 500 (inaudible) are the real thing. If they are, they better move a lot quicker

on Christmas Eve.

That's all for this edition of World Sports. I'm Alex Thomas in London, I'll have more for you in just under two hours.

Next here on CNN, World Business Today. Stay tuned.

END