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The Trumpless Republican Presidential Debate; Syrian Town Liberated With No One Left To Celebrate; The One Way Bus to Raqqa; Elon Musk Talks Colonizing Mars. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired January 29, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:35] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

Now the shadow of ISIS, the militant group was driven out of this Syrian town, but there's barely anyone left to celebrate.

Republican presidential candidates spar in a debate, but the campaign's biggest hitter was missing.

And...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELON MUSK, CEO TESLA: What is the most useful thing you can think of to do and that others are not doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Elon Musk's advice to inventors and his plan for Mars. The final part of my exclusive interview with the billionaire entrepreneur.

Almost five years on, the war rages on in Syria. According to the United Nations, more than a quarter million people have died in the

violence and more than half -- 4.5 million have fled their homes. And many have tried to find a new life in Europe, some with deadly

results.

The international organization for migration says the first three weeks of this month alone 310 migrants have died trying to cross the

Mediterranean. But thousands have made it to Europe's shores. And as the continent struggles to cope with the wave of people, international

negotiators are planning to sit down in Geneva this Friday for peace talks.

But on the ground in Syria, the fighting is taking a very heavy toll. In this this CNN exclusive, Clarissa Ward visits al-Hawl, virtually a ghost

town now that ISIS militants have been driven out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kurdish fighters are now in control of the town of al-Hawl. But the shadow of ISIS still looms

large.

The militants left here in a hurry. ISIS documents litter the floor of the Islamic courthouse.

Further up the road, Kurdish fighter Reinas Shamo (ph) showed us a hastily abandoned bomb factory. One room is stacked with landmines and

crudely fashioned home-made bombs.

In another building, barrels packed with explosives are still ready to be detonated.

"All of these are filled with hundreds of pounds of TNT," he says. "They load seven or eight of them on to a truck and then make a suicide

attack. They can cause us massive devastation."

These stockpiles just a tiny fraction of the munitions scattered all overseer Syria.

The battle for al Hawl didn't last long. Coalition air power saw to that.

This town was liberated nearly two months ago, but when ISIS fled, so did all the Arab residents and the streets here are still completely

deserted.

Kurdish fighters told us just one of the 3,000 inhabitants remains. The rest, weary of life under

Kurdish control, simply vanished leaving behind shuttered shops and empty schools, an ominous

sign of the deep mistrust that haunts every corner of this country.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, al Hawl, Syria.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: A very complex conflict to be sure. A UN spokesman says peace talks in Geneva will go forward today as planned.

Nic Robertson is there. He joins us now. And Nic, after some initial doubts and skepticism, we have learned that, yes, these peace talks will go

on. What were the factors that brought about this turn of events?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, these are proximity

talks. So, it is possible to have just one side at the talks for the talks to get underway. Staffan de Mistura, the UN representative, leading the

negotiations here is expected to greet the Syrian government delegation led by the UN representative -- their representative to the United Nations

rather, Bashar Jafari (ph). That meeting is expected to get underway in the next hour or so.

So, that's why the talks are able to get under way, because one party, one group has come here. The other group, of course, the high negotiating

committee. That is a conglomeration of opposition elements that range from hardcore Islamist fighters all the way through to an ex-prime minister.

So, quite a range of people in that group.

Each side will have 15 members in its delegation. But the UN representative Staffan de Mistura has been urging Syrians to push their

leaders to get into these talks, the importance of them, an opportunity not to be missed. This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:05:17] STAFFAN DE MISTURA, UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA: Five years of this conflict have been too much. The horror is in the front of

everyone's eyes. You must know also that we count on you to raise your voice, to say it's enough, to say to everyone who is actually coming

from Syria and from abroad to this conference that there are expectations on them to make sure that their vision, their capacity of compromise and

discussion for reaching a peaceful solution in Syria, is now and they need to produce that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So while you have Staffan de Mistura urging Syrians to urge their various leaders to come to these talks, the high negotiating

committee, the HNC, is still making up its mind whether it will attend, how it will attend these talks and the issues, it says, come from the UN resolution itself, paragraphs 12 and 13, which call

for humanitarian access to beleaguered towns and villages across the country, release prisoners with particular reference to women and children

there first. And also an end to the bombardment. And the HNC say they've been pressing the UN representative Staffan do Mistura to do something to

help bring that about. That's what they would like to see in advance of getting into talks.

But right now you are in a situations where the Syrian government is here. And it appears so far at least the HNC is not -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: You said at the top that these will be proximity talks. Can you elaborate? What does that exactly mean?

ROBERTSON: Sure. I mean, proximity talks is the way that these talks can get going with just

one party here. Because the two parties, the Syrian government and the opposition -- when the opposition here are represented solely by this

conglomeration, the the High Negotiating Committee.

So, these two governments, the government and the HNC don't get into the same room. They're in separate rooms. This is negotiation by

proximity. They are close to each other, but they're in different rooms.

So, the UN representative, in theory, goes from one room to the other, perhaps there's hours, maybe -- even we may see days in between some of

those meetings.

But Staffan de Mistura will meet first with the government of Syria, their respresentatives arriving here shortly. And then we will be

expecting to meet with the -- a delegation from the HNC.

Although, precisely when it's not clear.

So proximity really means you don't get all these sides, these two sides, around the table with the UN at the same time, at least not yet.

Obviously, the aspiration is that they will get to that point later.

But that seems an awfully long way off right now, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Nic Robertson reporting live from Genera. Many thanks indeed for that.

Syria's civil war is complicated and has rapidly deteriorated in the past few years. There are many groups fighting each other but few are at

the negotiating table.

Now, let's look at the four main factions. The Syrian Arab Army, fiercely loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and financed by Russia and

Iran. His force maintains a stranglehold on Damascus.

And then you have the opposition, or Free Syrian Army. Now, these rebels they want to topple Mr. Assad. And here is where it gets a bit

murky. They are funded by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In the northeast, you have the Kurds or YPG, an ethnic minority wanting autonomy. They have been sidelined at the Geneva peace talks even

though they have been critical in beating back ISIS.

And finally, the self-proclaimed Islamic State is entrenched in eastern Syria. Raqqah is the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate and

its tentacles reach into Iraq and to the Turkish border.

Now government opposition and Kurdish fighters are all battling ISIS, but they are also fighting each other while backed by rival nations.

That's why peace talks are so critical and yet so complex.

Now, concern over the Zika virus is growing as the World Health Organization warns that there could be up to 4 million infections within

the year.

Now, the virus is carried by mosquitoes but can be transmitted to a fetus through the mother.

Now, Zika has been linked to thousands of cases of microcephaly in Brazilian newborns. And two dozen countries are dealing with the outbreak,

mostly in the Americas.

Now, Rafael Romo is at CNN Center with more on this story. He joins us now.

Rafael, the WHO says the level of concern is high. Is that translating into a heightened response by Brazil and neighboring countries

to control the virus?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, most definitely, Kristie. Number one, Brazil has deployed its army to some of the most affected areas

in the northeast of the country. States like Pernambuco (ph), ground zero for the infection in Brazil.

Also President Dilma Rousseff is asking people to unite against this disease and listen to what she had to say yesterday. She said, afterall

the mosquito cannot be stronger, she said, than a whole country away of this threat.

But the reality is that the challenge is huge, Kristie. We're talking about 1.5 million infections last year. The number is growing. Also,

4,000 cases in Brazil alone of microcephaly. This is a condition, neurological condition that causes babies to be born with smaller heads. A

very worrisome kind of condition.

And we're only talking about Brazil. But if you go to Colombia, 13,000 cases already, if you go to Central America and El Salvador, for

example, 4,000 cases. And also in places like Honduras, which had not seen cases in the year 2015, have reported 1,000 cases just in the month of

January alone.

So as you can imagine, Kristie, a lot of concern throughout the Americas.

Also in the United States, and we were just taking a look at that map there, the presence of the Zika virus has been detected in as many as 31

states. Most of the people, though, have been travelers who went to places like Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico. So, no domestic cases in the United

States yet, Kristie.

[08:11:29] LU STOUT: Now the outbreak is spreading. Ground zero is effectively Brazil. And it raises the question, can the country safely

host this year's Olympic games in Rio?

ROMO: Brazilian authorities are saying yes, although they are preparing for it. And they are inspecting the sites where the athletes

will live and congregate and practice by conducting daily inspections.

The other thing that are doing is trying to make sure that people get rid of sources of stagnant water. As you know, Kristie, this is where

mosquitoes breed. And this particular mosquito causing, or transmitting the disease, the aedes aegypti mosquito is very aggressive. It is a

daytime biter, unlike other mosquitoes that prefer dawn or the early evening hours.

But, again, one of the ways to prevent this is trying to get rid of those sources of stagnant water so the larvae doesn't grow as fast as it

can, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, we have to rely on these measures of prevention when there is no vaccine, no treatment available yet.

Rafael Romo reporting. Thank you.

Now, a deadly attack in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's state run news agency reports that two people were killed and seven were wounded when a

suicide bomber blew himself up near a Shiite mosque. A second attacker opened fire. It happened in the southeastern al-Ahsa region.

The Saudi press agency says the gunman has been arrested.

Now, U.S. Republicans face off in the final presidential debate before the first vote in the race for the White House. But the party's biggest

contender was on a stage across town. We've got the details ahead.

And later, Washington says a new reading of data questions North Korea's nuclear capability. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:10:00] LU STOUT: Now the U.S. Republican presidential candidates clashed on the debate stage one last time before the nomination contest

begins on Monday. The absence of Donald Trump loomed large in a debate largely free of the theatrics that were so dominant in previous faceoffs.

John Berman rounds up the highlights.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For a debate stage absent of Donald Trump, it was hardly a debate absent of Donald Trump. From the

very first question...

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Before we get to the issues, let's address the elephant not in the room tonight.

BERMAN: To the very first joke.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL: Let me say, I'm a maniac, and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat, and ugly. And, Ben, you're a

terrible surgeon. Now that we've gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way -

BERMAN: To a completely changed dynamic, where with no Trump lightning rod, other candidates had to dodge bolts.

CRUZ: So I would note that the last four questions have been, Rand, please attack Ted, Marco, please attack Ted, Chris, please attack Ted, Jeb,

please attack Ted. Let me just say this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a debate, sir.

CRUZ: Well, no. No, a debate actually is a policy issue, but I will say this. Gosh, if you guys say -- ask one more mean question, I may have

to leave the stage.

BERMAN: And some candidates got flat out more attention. This was Rand Paul questioning Hillary Clinton's values relative to her husband's

infidelities.

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do think that her position as promoting women's rights and fairness to women in the

workplace, that if what Bill Clinton did any CEO in our country did with an intern, with a 22-year-old, 21-year-old intern in their office, they would

be fired. They would never be hired again.

BERMAN: The most extraordinary moment of the night even came on an issue Donald Trump put front and center, immigration. It led to an all-out

melee. Jeb Bush versus Marco Rubio.

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm kind of confused because he was the sponsor of the gang of eight bill that did require a bunch of

thresholds, but it ultimately allowed for citizenship over an extended period of time. I mean that's - that's a fact. And he asked me to support

that. And I - I supported him because I think people, when you're elected, you need to do things.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's interesting that Jeb mentions the book. That is the book where you changed your position on

immigration, because you used to support a path to citizenship.

BUSH: So did you.

RUBIO: Well, but you changed the...

BUSH: Yes.

RUBIO: In the book.

BUSH: And so did you, Marco.

RUBIO: You wrote a book where you changed your position from - no, you wrote a book where you changed your position from a path to citizenship to

a path to legalization.

BERMAN: Rand Paul versus Ted Cruz. PAUL: I was there and I saw the debate. I saw Ted Cruz say, we'll take citizenship off the table, and then

the bill will pass and I'm for the bill. But it's a falseness and that's an authenticity problem that everybody he knowns is not as perfect as him

because we're all for amnesty.

BERMAN: Ted Cruz versus Marco Rubio.

CRUZ: You know, John Adams famously said, facts are stubborn things. The facts are very, very simple. When that battle was waged, my friend,

Senator Rubio, chose to stand with Barack Obama and Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer and support amnesty, and I stood alongside Jeff Sessions and Steve

King, and we led the fight against amnesty.

RUBIO: This is the lie that Ted's campaign is built on, and Rand touched upon it, that he's the most conservative guy and everyone else is a

- you know, everyone else is a rhino. The truth is, Ted, throughout this campaign you've been willing to say or do anything in order to get votes.

BERMAN: Chris Christie versus everyone.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I feel like -- I feel like I need -- I feel like I need a Washington-English dictionary

converter, right?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that was John Berman reporting.

Now Trump was also in Iowa on Thursday hosting a fundraiser for military veterans. He says he raised nearly $6 million, $1 million from

his own checkbook. And the frontrunner for the Republican Party's nomination refused to participate in the debate over a feud with Fox News

and one of its hosts.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come, new analysis of North Korea's claim that it

tested a hydrogen bomb is raising concern. We've got the details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:22:59] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong KOng, you're back watching News

Stream. And we are learning more about North Korea's claim that it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. The U.S. still doesn't believe it.

But now a U.S. official says there may be an H-bomb link.

Paula Hancocks has more from Seoul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After initially dismissing the claim, the U.S. believes that North Korea may have been

trying to test components of a hydrogen bomb.

Pyongyang carried out nuclear test back on January 6th. It claimed that it was the H-bomb and the U.S. now says it has gone back over seismic

data which shows that the test may have been conducted more than two times deeper than previously thought.

This would be in line and consistent with what might be needed for a hydrogen bomb.

So the U.S. now believes that North Korea may have attempted to test hydrogen components. Although the U.S. official says this is not a final

conclusion.

This comes just after the U.S. says that North Korea may be preparing to carry out another

rocket launch or satellite launch saying that satellite images show that there has been movement at

the Sohae satellite launching station, movement of personnel, of rocket- related equipment, and a fuel into that facility.

Two interesting developments as Washington is trying to garner Chinese support for strong

sanctions against North Korea. Up until this point, Beijing appears reluctant to go along with strict sanctions against its neighbor.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Investors in Japan welcomed a surprise move by the central bank to kickstart the

economy. The Bank of Japan has intro a negative interest rate. Now, the Nikkei closed up almost 3 percent on the news. It's the latest in a series

of surprise policy shifts designed to stave off deflation. In theory, negative rates encourage to save less and spend more. It may also weaken a

country's currency, which would make its exports more attractive to buyers.

A Canadian man has been charged with spying and stealing state secrets in China.

Now, Kevin Garratt and his wife ran a cafe in Northeastern China before they were both detained back in 2014.

Now, CNN's Matt Rivers in Beijing has more on their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:25:16] MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was late Thursday night here local time in Beijing that state media outlet Xinhua first

reported that Kevin Garratt, a Canadian national, was formally indicted on charges of spying and stealing state secrets.

That article also went on to say that in the course of an investigation Garratt was accepting tasks from Canadian espionage agencies

to gather intelligence in China.

Now, Garratt and his wife were both taken into custody in 2014 as they were operating a cafe in

northern China near the North Korean border. They were both taken into custody. Although CNN partner CBC reported last year that Garratt's wife,

Julia, was released on bail while Garratt himself remained in Chinese custody.

Now the couple's children have publicly criticized these accusations from the Chinese, telling Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post

that the accusations are wildly absurd and crazy.

Now, the Canadian government also weighed in today on this issue telling CNN, quote, "Canada finds the indictment of Kevin Garratt by China

concerning. The government of Canada has raised this case with the Chinese government at high levels. We remain in

contact with Chinese authorities and the family, and are monitoring developments closely."

Canada's Conservative Party also released a statement saying in part, quote, "this case has been concerning to Canadians for many months. We are

also deeply concerned for Mr. Garratt's wife, Julia, who remains under a form of house arrest in China."

And today at a press briefing, a spokesperson for China's ministry of foreign affairs here in Beijing would not give much further detail on the

case saying only that Garratt's legal rights have been protected throughout this entire process.

State media is reporting that Garratt will have a trial in the city of Dandong but no trial date has yet been scheduled.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Garratt was indicted by prosectuors in the northeastern city of Dandong. And keep in mind, this is China's gateway to North Korea.

It is a thriving border town within throwing distance of the hermit kingdom.

You're watching News Stream. And after the break, we take you to the central bus station in Beirut where you might be surprised to learn that

people can catch a bus to the de facto capital for ISIS. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:31:18] LU STOUT: Now, we have seen millions of Syrians fleeing the country's civil war, but there are some who want to take the dangerous

trip into one Syrian city that is the headquarters of ISIS.

It might surprise you to know that passenger bus service operates between Beirut, Lebanon, and

Raqqa, Syria.

Now, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joins us now live from Beirut. And Nick, I mean, who is boarding this bus to Raqqa?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Interestingly, it is hard to tell, really, the motivations and the reason why people are

getting on board this bus that leaves from not far from where I'm standing in central Beirut, why they will feel they will be safe when they get to

other end in Raqqa.

But still a reasonable number of people are getting on board for that 24 hour long Journey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: Central Beirut Bus Station and this is what travelers call, and they're not really exaggerating, a one-way ticket to death: the bus to

Raqqa, the Syrian city ISIS call their capital. They have sold nine tickets for the 24-hour trip through the regime-held capital Damascus and

onwards. Yet nobody wants to show their face, apart from this man, the manager, because he isn't actually going.

He explains the rules.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): A woman that is not dressed right will be sent to Islamic training. She of course needs a male

relative to escort her. Men need to leave their beards grown long in their natural state with mustaches trimmed. Trousers should not be tight and a

certain height over shoes.

But ISIS realized when people travel, they can't always look like that, so it's OK.

WALSH: Most who fill these seats seem sure somehow ISIS will let them in, yet won't say why.

It is remarkable that a bus still goes from Beirut to Raqqa, but this is what it looks like on

the return journey, absolutely empty. Those getting on board do not expect to come back.

Tonight's cargo is on its final journey. A man who died of a heart attack, we're told, headed to his hometown for a family funeral.

Sadness at this loss here but also nervous last cigarettes, not because the trip ahead where

fighter jets often fly low, buzzing the coach, but because smoking and music are banned under ISIS Medieval rules.

Nicotiny fingers will be later be soaked in perfume. Racy pictures and music deleted from phones. Snipers, airstrikes on the way, their

matter of fact world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): A plane might strike some distance from the

bus. It's normal. No one can really pin down where the sniper fire is coming from. That's when passengers get afraid.

WALSH: Tonight's hurdle arises. They don't have the paperwork to take the body out of Lebanon. We learn that the bus did leave 24 hours

later. One man telling us Raqqa used to be his heaven.

But ISIS, the war, poverty, and even the trash have now made it hell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: Now, it is interesting to observe there, nearly everyone saying it's impossible to get out of Raqqa. We know for a fact ISIS demand

clear permission from their sort of leaders for people to be allowed out of that city.

But there were two instances in which it appeared people did by discussion or conversation suggest it was possible to leave. One man said

that if you had an urgent medical condition that needed treatment you could get 15 days out of Raqqa to pursue that. But if

you stayed longer away from the city, your property risks being confiscated by ISIS. Another woman appeared, or said at least, she'd been on a trip to

the Gulf and was heading back to Raqqa having originated her journey from Raqqa as well.

Always on the clear, really, the motivations there. And I think you can suspect that many of the

people getting on board that bus are closer to ISIS, or at least their relatives greeting them at the

other end when they were necessarily let on to.

And two, that journey, Kristie, gives you a sort of strange window to -- you know, we see ISIS because of the militant attacks in Europe and

elsewhere as sort of, 10-foot-high monsters. But here in this kind of normal societal interaction where a bus has to go for basic human reasons

between one city and another, you do notice how they've have had to coexist in normal cities and often interact with fairly normal populations,

certainly in a place like Raqqa -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, and busloads of people willing to take this journey and to go there to Raqqa. And one has to wonder what's going to greet them

there? I mean life under ISIS, bombardment by air strikes. When these passengers get off the bus, what are they going to be facing?

WALSH: Well, as I said, it is interesting to note that they are willing to make the journey, which makes you think they probably are

relatively relaxed about the reception they will get from ISIS. We understand they do get off the bus, they are checked, their documents are

gone through. And you must imagine to some degree that they have adequate people vouching for them at the other end to allow safe passage.

And that's just our speculation, though.

But yes, Raqqa has a quite lengthy time have been under a form of siege. From the north it has Kurdish and Syrian rebel forces pushing down

on to it. It has been bombarded by air strikes that intensified remarkably after the Paris attacks that ISIS claimed responsibility for.

Damage to infrastructure, shortages we're told of. And I think a sense, too, that pressure from the international coalition is focused upon

that city right now. And it is hard for ordinary people to have a life there, let alone get out -- Kristie?

LU STOUT: Nick Paton Walsh reporting. Thank you.

Now millions of Syrians and Iraqis who fled their war-torn homes, they are looking to start a

new life. And if you head to CNN.com/impactyourworld, you can find a list of organizations that have helped these refugees. You can also learn about

ways that you can support these groups.

Now, you're watching News Stream. And still to come, we have more on my exclusive interview with SpaeX CEO Elon Musk. We'll hear why he thinks

ambitious projects like a colony on Mars is so important for development on Earth.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now, all this week we have been bringing you my exclusive interview with Tesla's CEO Elon

Musk. Now we also talked about his other high profile company SpaceX. Now Musk is one of the visionaries of private space expeditions.

And while some see colonizing other planets is a pipe dream, the SpaceX CEO has a very different outlook on why space exploration is so

important.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You are also the CEO of SpaceX. The ultimate goal is Mars. It is getting humankind to Mars. So, why does Mars make sense?

MUSK: The goal of Tesla and Solar City is to minimize the existential threat of a delayed

transition to a sustainable energy economy. The purpose of SpaceX is to help make life multiplanetary.

If life as we know it is multiplanetary, then the probable length of existence of human civilization is much greater.

So, I mean, think of like the unifying philosophy behind all three companies is trying to minimize existential threats, that kind of thing.

LU STOUT: And I see that.

But Mars...

MUSK: Why Mars instead of something else?

LU STOUT: No, no, no. But how I see Mars being your destination as sort of a backup plan for humankind, right?

[08:40:05] MUSK: There are really I think there are two main motivations for Mars. I mean, one is, is the sort of defensive reason of

saying, OK, if something were to happen to Earth, is -- does life as we know it end? If it's on another planet, then it probably doesn't end. A

multiplanet civilization is likely to last a lot longer than a single planet civilization.

The other part of it is it would just be an incredible adventure. It would be a very exciting -- and even if somebody never planned to go to

Mars, just following the progress, I think vicariously, would be quite inspiring.

And I do think it's important that we have things inspire us. It can't just be about solving you know miserable problems all the time,

because why get up in the morning?

LU STOUT: What's your advice to encourage people to do the hard stuff and to invent the hard stuff for the betterment of humankind?

MUSK: I think the right way to think of things is like what is the most useful thing that you can think of to and that others are not doing?

If the problems are getting well solved by others, there isn't much point in going and then competing against them if they're going to solve it well

anyway.

It is better to work on things that you think probably people -- enough smart people aren't working on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And that was just one part of a long discussion I had with Elon Musk earlier this week.

And you can see much more of it on talk Asia next week. Musk talks about Tesla's efforts to make self-driving cars. Why it's important to

sell people on solar power. And what it would feel like to live on Mars. That's all on this month's Talk Asia. You can catch it next Thursday, 5:30

pm Hong Kong time.

And finally, we want to celebrate a milestone for one of the original pioneers of Mars exploration. This week, the NASA Mars rover Opportunity

is celebrating its 12th year on the Red Planet. And to mark this special event, Opportunity's official Twitter account tweeted out this short clip

of the rover hard at work.

Now it wasn't intended to stick around for this long. It was built to just last 90 days. But the solar powered rover is providing -- it's

proving, rather, it's tougher than expected.

Now, it's completed an official marathon distance on Mars, did that last year.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere. World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.

END