Return to Transcripts main page
NEWS STREAM
Israeli-Palestinian Ceasefire Agreements Falls Apart Before It Began; Leading Women: Bobbi Brown; IBM's Smarter Cities Initiative Partners With Beijing On Pollution
Aired July 15, 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 Israel agrees to a ceasefire, but Hamas does not as tensions continue between the two sides.
Now World Cup winners Germany return to a heroes welcome in Berlin.
And we'll speak to an expert who thinks the answer to China's pollution problem is data.
Now a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas may be in jeopardy before it even begins.
Now Palestinian security sources say there was an Israeli air strike in eastern Gaza earlier today. But a spokesman for the Israeli prime
minister's office says that there has been no air strike.
Now this comes just hours after the Israeli security cabinet accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt.
Now Hamas says it has no official response yet, but its military wing caused the proposed truce worthless. And militants have been firing
rockets at Israel from Gaza. Now the proposal calls on Israel and Hamas to stop air strikes and rocket attacks. It also calls for border crossings to
be reopened and high level talks among the parties.
Now Diana Magnay joins us now from Ashkalon in southern Israel. And Diana, it seems that the fighting continues to go on even after Israel
accepted this truce.
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.
It does. We're in Ashkalon, which is very close to the border with Gaza. You have 15 seconds here once you hear the sirens to run for shelter
before there is a hit or an intercept. And those rockets have kept coming. There was an intercept just above our position a couple of hours ago.
In the six hours since this ceasefire was meant to go into effect, there have been more than 30 rockets coming over towards Israel from Gaza
and also reports from our colleagues in Gaza that there have been continued Israeli air strikes.
Now, the spokesman for the prime minister Mark Regev told CNN a little while ago that it was doing its part of this deal. Hamas had to play its
part also.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK REGEV, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SPOKESMAN: The prime minister took a decision to accept the Egyptian ceasefire proposals. Our goal ultimately
is defensive, we want to protect the people of Israel from those incoming rocket attacks from Gaza.
Now if it's possible to do that diplomatically, we'll support that. The problem is so far it's a one-sided ceasefire. We've halted all
effective operations against terrorist targets in Gaza.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Wait a second, there have been no Israeli air strikes over the past five hours?
REGEV: Correct. We haven't initiated any offensive operations against terrorist targets, but there have been some 40 rockets fired at
Israel and this can't go on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAGNAY: People here say we live with this threat of rockets all the time and it is an untenable situation to have our cities and our lives
constantly under bombardment. We feel for the people over there, but we have a right to self-defense. Here's what a couple of residents of
Ashkalon had to say when I spoke to them about this deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like that there were going to be a peace talk, but still we need to be very realistic. The children grows to be the
next generation. They grew up with full of hate and they -- it is always going to be the same.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think will be another round within one year or two years, because it's not settlement that is -- that solves the problem,
the real problem between the Palestinian and Israelis. Only a comprehensive settlement will cease fire here in the area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MAGNAY: We can see in fact two rockets -- we'll just turn the camera going up in the sky, two more coming out of Gaza. So you can see this does
not stop. The question is...
LU STOUT: OK, unfortunately we just lost audio there. But you can see on your screen what Diana Magnay was pointing out live from Ashkalon
there in Israel, sign of more rockets being fired from Gaza. That, despite the fact that Israel had accepted that truce deal that was brokered by
Egypt.
And we'll have much more on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the prospect of a potential ceasefire to end the bloodshed. In fact, we'll
be taking you live to Gaza ahead right here on News Stream.
Now, Palestinian officials say at least 194 people have been killed in a week of Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, that is a higher
death toll than during the fighting two years ago between Hamas and Israel.
Now CNN's Ben Wedeman is in northern Gaza and has more on what families there are going through.
OK, just one second. OK, it seems that we're having technical difficulties here. I was hoping to get an update on that just then. My
apologies for that.
Let's go straight to break. More News Stream, I promise, after the break. Keep it here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: All right, breaking news for you. Let's return to our stop story, the resumption of Israeli military air strikes on militants in Gaza
despite a ceasefire proposal that was brokered by Egypt.
Now Diana Magnay joins us once again now. She joins us from Ashkalon in southern Israel. And Diana, again, breaking news. Israel has, in fact,
resumed air strikes on Gaza. Have you confirmed that?
MAGNAY: Yes. That is right, Kristie. That is what we're hearing that the IDF, the Israel defense forces have restarted -- resumed their
military campaign operation Protective Edge against the Gaza strip. And Hamas militants in Gaza. Clearly six hours into this ceasefire, it has not
been respected on the side of Hamas. That is why Israel has decided to go back to what it was doing before continuing with these air strikes.
The big question now, of course, Kristie, is whether it will expand the operation and step it up to become a ground invasion as well, something
that many people fear.
Here in the town of Ashkelon, which is very close to the border, which therefore means that people here are very used to incoming rockets, there
was a sense of disappointment at the idea that this ceasefire would have achieved nothing. The mayor here believes that what really needs to happen
is for Israel to go in and go in hard however long that takes, months, two months, even with ground troops, to really destroy Hamas's military
capabilities.
It's not the view held across the board, clearly, in Israel, but many people fear that ground troops will mean the loss of Israeli soldiers'
lives. And popular opinion is something that Benjamin Netanyahu will have to take into account.
But earlier today when Hamas was caught obviously continuing its rocket fire, he said we are trying with this peace proposal to sort things
out, to have a ceasefire. This will give us international legitimacy in a way. Whether it does, it remains to be seen.
But the fact that they have tried is one thing.
And he said if we fail, if Hamas does not agree, we will expand our operation.
So now we wait to see whether the ground forces who we've seen massed around the border will not be deployed into the Gaza Strip.
It -- the question is whether Israel really feels that it has managed to hammer Hamas's missile arsenal enough -- clearly not as these rocket
attacks continue. They clearly have more to fire and will go on firing -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: OK. Now let's for our viewers bring up some video on our screen just into us of what appears to be smoke rising in the aftermath of
a new Israeli air strike in Gaza. Video of that event on your screen. This takes place hours after Israel said that it had accepted a ceasefire
proposal. There has been rocket fire from Gaza since that ceasefire proposal was accepted by Israel. We have our Diana Magnay joining us live
from Ashkalon. Diana, we're still waiting for an official political response from Hamas in regards to that ceasefire proposal.
If Hamas does not accept the proposal at all, how will Israel respond here. You mentioned their troops have been lined up at the border. Will
Israel broaden its military offensive?
MAGNAY: Well, Hamas has already said it doesn't think that this proposal is worth the ink that it's written with. It has more demands that
aren't met contained remotely in the proposal.
It clearly wants the siege of Gaza, the economic siege of Gaza to be lifted. Egypt holds some screws to a certain extent, because it has shut
the Rafaa (ph) crossings and shut the crossing have shut the tunnels blocked off a lot of the tunnels linking Gaza with Sinai through which
Hamas, especially, got many of its supplies. It taxed the tunnels. It got a lot of money that way.
That is why Egypt is really the only broker regionally who could try and negotiate this kind of a deal. But Hamas has already said we don't
respect this. We want the Palestinians, the Hamas sympathizers who were rounded up in the West Bank after the abduction of those three Israeli
teenagers last month. We want them to be released. And we want the situation for our people in Gaza to be changed completely. And that is not
contained within this proposal. So it's fairly clear where Hamas stands.
As far as Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu said if this not accepted, we will expand our operation. Whether that means more and stronger air
strikes or whether it means moving in with troops remains to be seen.
What we know from the Israeli defense forces, what we know form the military leadership is that Israel is prepared to move in with troops if it
has to. They are there and they are ready to go in. A ground offensive will step up this campaign considerably. It will cause much larger loss of
life on both sides of the conflict.
Civilian loss of life in Gaza itself, you can imagine if you have troops on the streets, even if they are special forces, fighting one
another the possibility for collateral damage, for loss of civilian life is going to widen considerably.
And public opinion here is very important for Benjamin Netanyahu. And although people want these rockets to stop, they also do not want their own
soldiers to be killed in a messy and long conflict in Gaza.
So it is a very tricky situation, but it looks as though we are back on the path towards escalation, Kristie.
LU STOUT: OK, Diana Magnay joining us live from Ashkalon. Do stay put there, Diana.
Let's go straight to our Karl Penhaul, joins us from Gaza. And Karl, as Diana has been reporting, despite accepting that ceasefire proposal
brokered by Egypt, Israel has continued its air strikes against Gaza. Have you seen the aftermath of that latest airstrike?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We've seen those air strikes taking place, Kristie. The last ones took place
just a few moments ago, about five minutes ago. We saw at least five strikes going in on an area just east of Gaza City. We saw a fireball
going up and then large plumes of smoke. And overhead we heard jets streaking through the sky.
Now that, as I say, was about five minutes ago. Now, before those strikes took place we just got a statement from Mark Regev, spokesman for
the prime minister's office in Israel. And he denied that any renewed air strikes had been taking place over the Gaza Strip. That in response to
another question of ours because earlier on in the morning, maybe just before midday, we also observed smoke plumes coming up from that direction
across in northern Gaza from what we believe were two air strikes at least in that area. And after that, an additional air strike in eastern Gaza.
But as I say the ones that we observed did just about five minutes ago now. We heard the sound of jets overhead. We heard the impact of bombs on
the ground. We saw fireballs going up and a large plume of smoke.
We've just been in touch with ambulance crews who cover this part of the Gaza Strip. And they've said to us so far that they believe that those
bombs have impacted on open ground and they have no reports of any injuries right now.
But do bear in mind that right now the death toll from this nine day old offensive now is running at about 200 people. And according to the
United Nations between 70 to 80 percent of the casualties have so far been civilians, Kristie.
LU STOUT: And Karl, what is this exchange of rocket fire and air strikes mean for the ceasefire proposal? What is Hamas saying about it?
PENHAUL: Well, of course that is something that we must absolutely keep in -- that's something that we must keep in perspective. It's not
that Israel simply decided to renew these airstrikes unilaterally. We do have to say that even a short while after that cease fire had been due to
kick in, we also did observe barrages of militant rockets being fired out from the Gaza Strip heading towards Israel.
At one point, in fact, we saw a volley of at least seven missiles flying out from a single launcher heading off to Israel. And we understand
from the Israeli military several dozen missiles have been fired from Hamas and other militants positions toward Israel. So certainly cause and
effect.
At this point in time at least the al Qassim Brigades, Hamas' militant wing, rejecting any talk of casefire, continuing to launch these rockets.
And now these retaliatory air strikes by Israel.
What we've heard also in the last few minutes is that representatives of Hamas' military wing are meeting with representatives from Islamic
Jihad's military wing. They're continuing talks through the day to see perhaps if they do revise their position to see perhaps if they do decide
to take part in a ceasefire.
But right now, with rockets and bombs flying on both sides, difficult to see that this will only end in worse escalation, Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, very critical update there from our Karl Penhaul live on the ground there in Gaza to this fast moving story.
Karl Penhaul reporting live from Gaza.
Earlier, Diana Magnay reporting from inside Israel, a big thank you to you both.
You're watching New Stream. We'll be back right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
There has been a major train derailment in Moscow. Now state medias say that three metro train cars derailed during the Tuesday morning rush
hour. At least 15 people have been killed, more than 100 were injured. And the head of Moscow's transportation department says it was not a
terrorist attack, but the cause remains unclear.
Now let's get straight to Moscow right now where CNN's Phil Black joins me.
And Phil, what is the latest thinking about what led to this accident?
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if there's a theory, Kristie, they're not commenting on it yet. At the moment they're
saying it was a derailment. They will not speculate as to the cause, whether it was human error, mechanical failing, or anything like that. At
the moment, though, the focus of the rescue workers here is very much on recovery now. It's no longer a rescue operation, as such, they're
recovering bodies, particularly those that are still trapped in the most seriously damaged parts of what is now the wreckage of these train cars in
the subway system beneath me here. They're literally cutting through that mangled wreckage to try and recover some of the people who were killed in
this accident.
Now the number of people who have lost their lives, it's been a fluid figure through the day. The most recent figure we heard here on the ground
from a senior official was 15. There are now reports in Russian state media it could be as high as 20. So there is the potential there, at
least, for this to -- for that number to increase.
And in terms of the numbers of injured, well that's pretty significant, too. Hundreds of people who fled this train line in the
moments after the accident coming up to the surface here, many of them dazed, confused, bleeding, very much the walking wounded. Officials here
say as many as 160 were injured in some way, 100 or so have been treated in hospital and we've had helicopters ferrying the injured away from this
location all through the day. And there is still a very serious number who are very seriously injured as well, a number of 50 who are still fighting
for their lives. And so, again, greater potential still for that death toll to increase further.
The key point that they are ruling out, as you've touched on, is this was not a terror attack, which is some consolation to this city, because I
think what a lot of people here hear about a major disaster on the Moscow metro system, they think about the potential for terrorism, because
terrorists from the north Caucuses region of the Russian federation have struck in Moscow, have detonated bombs on its metro system before, killing
dozens of people as recently as 2010.
So in this case, a derailment, not saying why. But it is clear that it is a significant accident, one that has had a very human cost and one
that struck the very hard working Moscow metro system at its busiest time of day -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yeah, a very, very significant, horrific accident. And it really calls into question the safety of the rail system there. The metro
there in Moscow, it's one of the world's oldest underground rail systems, but just how safe is it?
BLACK: Generally pretty reliable. This sort of thing, I've not heard of something like this in recent history, never experienced anything like
it certainly.
The Moscow metro system was the pride of the Soviet Union to a significant degree. It was built to be big and impressive. And many of
the metro stations here are famously very beautiful, quite spectacular. And even today, it is the backbone of the public transport system in this
city. It is incredibly hardworking, it carries as many as 10 million passengers a day, and does so very, very reliably.
So, this sort of accident, it is by no means common for this particular very hardworking underground train system, Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right. Phil Black reporting live from Moscow. And a very horrific accident. Thank you very much indeed for that update.
Now, there has been heavy speculation this Tuesday over the arrest of one of China's highest profile TV personalities, Rui Changgang. Now on
Monday, we heard from the People's Daily. It's a daily newspaper regarded as a pulpit for the country's communist party.
And in a tweet they said this, quote, that Rui Changgang, CCTV anchor now under probe held shares in a Beijing subsidiary Edelman PR that
provides CCTV services.
Now in a statement that came out Monday night U.S. time, the U.S. PR firm admitted to co-owning shares with the detained TV star. It confirmed
it points to alleged use of inappropriate influence in business dealings.
Now Rui is not the only high profile figure to be arrested in China's corruption probe. At least 30 officials have now been detained in recent
months, several of those have been linked to the ex-security czar Jo Yoncang (ph).
Now if he is formally charged, Jo (ph) would become the highest ranking official ever to face corruption charges in the history of the
People's Republic.
You're watching News Stream. And still to come, fresh air strikes today despite a proposed ceasefire. It's raising the very real possibility
that it may just be another diplomatic dead end. Much more on that.
Also ahead, double digit growth has been the focused of China's political agenda for years. But now, there's a new major push at the top
of the list: fixing the problem that is threatening the health of the nation. We'll explain after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.
Now the Israeli offensive on Gaza has resumed following continued rocket fire from Hamas. the IDF says Hamas militants have fired 47 rockets
since Israel suspended its airstrikes Tuesday morning. Now earlier, Israel accepted a proposed ceasefire with Hamas set forth by Egypt. Now the armed
wing of Hamas rejected that proposal.
Now in the Russian capital, a major train crash has left at least 15 people dead and 100 injured. Now three metro cars derailed during the
Tuesday morning rush hour commute in Moscow. Now terror motives have been ruled out, but the cause remains unclear.
Now Jean-Claude Juncker has just been voted in as the new European commission president. Earlier today he set out his plan for reviving
Europe's economy. Now the former prime minister of Luxembourg promised more investment and said that there will be no EU expansion over the next
five years.
Germany is celebrating the homecoming of its World Cup winning football team. Now the team touched down today before riding a victory bus
through jam packed streets of Berlin where thousands, tens of thousands if not more, of fans were there to cheer them on.
Now, let's get more on the situation on the Israeli-Gaza border. Again, Israeli air strikes and Hamas rocket attacks are underway again
today despite a truce that was proposed by Egypt.
Now Karl Penhaul, he joins us again from Gaza City. And Karl, what more can you tell us about these new Israeli air strikes on Gaza?
PENHAUL: Well, Kristie, Israel certainly now seems to be responding with force at the Hamas decision not to take part in any ceasefire. Fair
to say that in the course of the morning in the hours after that ceasefire was supposed to kick in we saw multiple rockets from Hamas and other
militant factions being launched into the air and heading towards Israel. We did see two or three Israeli airstrikes in the course of the morning and
the early afternoon. But now, in the last 10 or 15 minutes, we have seen a real uptick in strikes by Israeli fighter jets. We have heard jets
streaking overhead. We have heard now at least 10 bombs exploding. And we're hearing that Israeli airstrikes have taken place in the northern part
of the Gaza Strip, in the central part of the Gaza Strip, in the east of Gaza Strip and also down in the south of Gaza Strip.
So far, talking to ambulance crews responsible to -- for this central section of Gaza, they say that they have no reports of any casualties. We
will, of course, be monitoring that closely. There are, of course, other ambulance teams who respond to emergencies in different parts of the Gaza
Strip.
Another detail to add to you, if I looked from our vantage point where we are now, to a position southeast of here towards the border, in fact on
the border between Gaza and Israel, we can see dust clouds moving up into the air, not too high into the air, that we believe -- and we're trying to
get confirmation of this, is the movement of possibly Israeli tanks there on the border.
Of course, we shouldn't take that as any indication that Israelis are ready to launch any kind of ground invasion at this stage. Those could be
just maneuvers on the border area. But again another element we have to watch.
What is Israel's game plan going to be now that the militant factions here on the Gaza Strip have rejected any sense of ceasefire. That said, of
course, and in the last hour or so we did hear a statement from the militant wing of Hamas and also the militant wing of Islamic Jihad that
they would be continuing talks between their militants in the course of the day to see if they were ready to revise their position to perhaps come on
board with some kind of ceasefire. But certainly right now what we are seeing is a kind of an escalation, certainly Israel retaliating for
militant rocket attacks earlier in the day. Now we will have to see once again what the response from Hamas and the other factions is likely to be,
Kristie.
LU STOUT: That ceasefire proposal is in jeopardy. You're closely watching the situation overhead given these new Israeli airstrikes as well
as the situation at the border.
And Karl, the stakes are very high. What is the latest on the humanitarian situation and the human toll of the crisis now into day nine.
PENHAUL: The stakes are always very high on the Gaza Strip when bombs and rockets are flying. That is because this is a pretty densely packed
area of land, an area really that is about the size of metropolitan Las Vegas or metropolitan Detroit. And when bombs start falling here the
civilian population has nowhere to run to. The borders are sealed. They cannot displace themselves either into Israel or down into Egypt, those
crossings are simply closed. They have to stay here and hunker down.
What we know now from the Palestinian health ministry is that so far in this nine day offensive now about 200 people have been killed and around
1,400 have been wounded. And we also hear from the United Nations that they believe between 70 and 80 percent of the casualties so far have been
civilians.
So again really the civilians appear to be bearing the major brunt of this confrontation between militant factions here in Gaza and the Israelis,
Kristie.
LU STOUT: Now, again, fresh Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Karl Penhaul joining us live from Gaza City reminding us of just what is at
stake here.
Karl, many thanks indeed for your reporting.
Now after decades of runaway, breakaway growth, China's pollution problem is now an urgent priority for its people and also for the party,
the ruling Communist Party. Now the government says it is tackling the issue by cracking down on big polluters.
But activists say that much more must be done to improve the country's bad air, its water, and its soil.
Now in big cities like Beijing, the problem is especially pressing and that is where IBM has started the smarter cities project to help curb
pollution. Now its so-called Green Horizon Initiative will use data to predict and prevent smog buildups.
Now so far this project is only happening in Beijing, but the company is looking to expand.
And joining me live is the director of Smarter Cities, George Thomas. He joins me live from Beijing. George, thank you for joining us here on
News Stream.
Now first, in general terms, how can data help tackle the air pollution crisis in China? How does it work?
GEORGE THOMAS, SMARTER CITIES: Thank you for having me, Kristie.
So essentially if you look at what cities do, we have been doing the same things in cities for 5,000 plus years. We provide places to live, we
provide food, we provide water quality, we provide sanitation. This has not changed in the 5,000 plus years we've been living in cities.
What has really changed has happened over the last decade literally actually over the last five years. And what has changed in the last five
years is access to data.
We are putting censors, GPS, RFID, all manner of censors in all kinds of things that we would not have thought about before -- manhole covers,
transit systems. And this is providing vast amounts of data. And we have access to look at this data and deep industrial knowledge to understand
what this data is doing.
So, what IBM has been doing is working with China to help China achieve its very ambitious goals for energy and environmental protection.
And doing this by using the data to look at cities, look at these individual domains of cities, be it transportation, be it air pollution, be
it transit, and use this to then manage and give leaders within the cities real-time information and predictive capability to be able to look forward
and do proactive things to change what the future will look like.
LU STOUT: So data can help pinpoint and also predict where the pollution is coming from. But will better data about China's pollution
lead to effective action and more of those famous blue sky days for Beijing?
THOMAS: Yes. Definitely. What we believe is by looking at the Green Horizon project, which is a 10 year initiative that we launched, one of the
major components of this, as you mentioned, is with Beijing municipal government to look at air quality. What we hope to achieve jointly with
Beijing municipal government is the predictive capability to have a visual map.
So we would look at data from weather satellites, we would look at data from the vast number of air monitoring stations that Beijing has. We
would look at other sources of import data and visually map the source of the pollutants coming into Beijing. We would map the dispersion of these
pollutants across the city. And with this information allow the government to then take proactive steps on curbing the worst offenders, as it were, on
looking for ways to conserve energy, on looking for ways to proactive move things around to get better clearer blue days as you mentioned.
LU STOUT: Now IBM's Green Horizon initiative in China for China is a very important one. Also got to say it's a lucrative one, as well, it's a
10 year initiative. I'm just wondering how IBM scored it? I mean, there's been a lot of high tech tension between the U.S. and China in the last year
over cyber espionage, cyber hacking, NSA spying.
So is going green and focusing on China's pollution problems, is that the way for American tech firms to generate new business in China? I've
got to get your thoughts on that.
THOMAS: So, China has been organizing at a scale that's unprecedented in human history. The last 30 years have seen more migration of people
into urban centers than we've ever seen in human history. And this is the net result of the great and fantastic growth that the government has
managed to achieve.
But this comes at a cost, which is, you know, effect on the environmental -- water, pollution from an air perspective, pollution, heavy
traffic. And these things China, I think, has been now very proactive in recognizing that they need to do other things to make it a sustainable
development.
So from IBM's perspective, we have been part of this 30 year growth of China. And we have always been part of the initiative at the national
level and at city level across the country to look at ways we can help and adjust.
So we have been very, very narrowly focused on looking at technology from the perspective of IT, from the perspective of engineering. And then
big data and analytics -- cognitive computing. We're using things like Watson. And then trying to figure out how do we use the latest advanced
technology to effect the quality of life of humans at the ground level.
And this is stood us in good stead.
LU STOUT: All right, well here is hoping that big data and your technology will help bring about big solutions for China's environmental
crisis. Thank you so much for joining us. George Thomas, partner and director Smarter Cities of IBM joining me live from Beijing. Thank you and
take care.
Now time now for your global weather forecast. And the Philippines -- people there are facing a new typhoon threat. Let's get the latest now
from Mari Ramos. She joins us from the World Weather Center -- Mari.
MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kristie. This is indeed a very intense weather system. It pretty intensified very, very quickly
right before it was expected to make landfall.
This image that you see here behind me is from Project Noah. It's from the Philippines government. I want to make sure we give them the
credit. And you can see on this radar image what was the eye of the storm, which is that right there, beginning to kind of fall apart a little bit as
it interacts with land.
The storm made landfall very close to Legaspi (ph). I believe that they did feel the most intense winds. And we were trying to get a storm
chase from that area, but communications appeared to be down and we were not able to get in touch.
But we do have reports of very strong winds in that region and of course a lot of problems with flooding. And as the storm continues to
track farther and farther toward the west, we're going to continue to see that weather system. Unfortunately, bringing some very heavy rain across
this area. That is going to be one of the major concerns.
It started raining already yesterday. and some of the rainfall totals are pretty impressive. Already over 200 millimeters of rain. So that is a
concern. And on top of that, of course, you have to deal with the wind. Right now close to 180 kilometers per hour, gusting to more than 230.
If this was a hurricane in the Atlantic that would be a category three, a major storm making landfall in a very vulnerable area that you're
looking at right here across this region.
Even metro Manila will see some pretty significant weather because of this advancing weather system.
Let's talk about the rain, first of all, because this is very significant. Already in Legaspi, we estimate they have had over 200
millimeters of rain, another 180 millimeters not out of the question as the storm begins to move away from this area as it tracks from east to west.
But look at along the track, these areas in red, easily 250 millimeters or more. Manila proper, which it doesn't take a lot for you
guys to see some significant flooding, I'm expecting an addition 130 millimeters of rain here not out of the question. So floods, landslides a
huge concern. These areas all have warning signals already because of the strong winds also that are expected.
And I want to Tacloban right here in the south. You've got to remember that this is that area that was affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
People are still living in tents and temporary housing all across (inaudible) and particularly in Tacloban. So this is a huge concern, of
course, for that population there.
So we're talking about a widespread weather system that's affecting millions of people. Very quickly right here in Manila, this is the
forecast wind gust, down to about 140 kilometers per hour by Wednesday morning. So this is very significant and definitely the most populated
area of the Philippines needs to get ready for the storm.
Back to you.
LU STOUT: And preparations are under way. Mari Ramos there, thank you.
Now I want to update you on one of our top stories this hour, that horrific crash on the Moscow metro has now killed 20 people. The death
toll has indeed risen. Now that is according to Russian state media.
Now three metro train cars derailed during the Tuesday morning rush hour. More than 100 people were injured. And the head of Moscow's
transportation department says it was not a terror attack, but the cause remains unclear.
You're watching News Stream. We'll be back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now makeup mogul Bobbi Brown started her billion dollar brand with just $10,000 and a desire to champion the so-called natural look.
Now Poppy Harlow sat down with Brown to ask her about how she went from makeup artist to the top of the beauty business.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bobbi Brown is a makeup artist turned makeup mogul.
BOBI BROWN, FOUNDER, BOBBI BROWN COSMETICS: This is gel, longwear eyeliner. And this is a product I totally invented.
HARLOW: She's the founder and chief creative officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
Sitting down with Brown is anything but your typical CEO interview.
BROWN: I like to dance.
HARLOW: I hear you're a pretty big hip hop fan.
BROWN: I love hip hop. I do. I even hopped on stage with Flo Rida gold chain and all.
HARLOW: After floundering at first in college, she got her degree in theatrical makeup, then packed her bags for Manhattan.
You moved to New York City, didn't know anyone, opened up the phone book.
BROWN: The yellow pages.
HARLOW: And what did you look up?
BROWN: I looked up makeup. I looked up modeling. I looked up fashion.
HARLOW: She worked her way up, eventually landing her first Vogue cover in 1987.
What was that moment like?
BROWN: I'll never forget. It was Naomi Campbell's first cover. The photographer Patrick De Marchlier (ph) and it was shot on the beach early
in the morning and you never know if it's a cover or not. And when I heard it was a cover I was beyond.
HARLOW: By 1991, with just $10,000, she and her partner launched Bobbi Brown Essentials with a singular mission.
BROWN: To make a lipstick that looked like lips, because most of the lipsticks on the market looked artificial.
HARLOW: That lipstick line burgeoned into a billion dollar business, reaching new heights when the company was acquired by Estee Lauder in 1995.
Leonard Lauder said to you we want to buy your company in part because you're beating us in all the stores.
BROWN: Yes. Yes, we were beating them in the stores. And he did say that.
HARLOW: Brown will be the first to admit she's no good at dealing with corporate bureaucracy and has gone against the grain from the start.
BROWN: Yellow foundation -- women don't want yellow foundation. Well, guess what, that's what makes a woman look natural.
HARLOW: But she also makes clear it's not about looking perfect.
BROWN: My philosophy of my company is to help women appreciate who they are and be who we are.
HARLOW: Today, 63 percent of its business is international from Dubai to Shanghai, Bobbi Brown is sold in more than 1,700 stores across 68
countries.
BROWN: My favorite is this.
HARLOW: After penning eight books, she's now editor and chief of Yahoo Beauty and has launched a new eyewear line. As far as her corporate
role model?
BROWN: Mickey Drexler is one. He's amazing. Howard Schultz from Starbucks is also incredible. How do you make coffee so desirable? And,
you know, and he did it. And the third I haven't met, he's on my list, and it's Richard Branson.
HARLOW: Her namesake brand is ubiquitous, but that certainly doesn't mean she's ready to rest.
BROWN: I haven't made it yet. I haven't made it yet.
HARLOW: You're not quitting any time soon.
BROWN: I'm quitting any time soon. No, I'm really bad at golf and worse at tennis.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Go Bobbi.
Now just ahead here on the program, we have insights from cutting edge labs in Japan to meet the robots of the future and see how they're offering
smart solutions to every day problems. You'll want to see it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now a few decades from now, some jobs as we know them could be replaced by robots -- housecleaners, cares for the elderly, cooks, even the
job I'm doing right now.
Now this is Kotomo Royes (ph) here on my right. And she is the world's first news reading robot.
The robot revolution is definitely well underway in Japan as new androids are more humanlike than ever before. Now CNN's Will Ripley steps
inside the lab where the robots of tomorrow are being developed right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why does something so cool have to be so expensive? Honda's humanoid robot Asimo is always a crowd pleaser, but
the reported up to $1 million price prevents pretty much everyone from owning it.
Now, imagine this in your family's future, a robot that gets you out of bed, serves you a drink, even makes you breakfast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This robot can understand the location of the bed and the refrigerator in the kitchen.
RIPLEY: 21 is the brainchild of Waseida University (ph) professor Shigeki Sugano (ph). His team's mission, mass production, making a robot
like this both reliable and affordable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This form and also the factories...
RIPLEY: He says it'll be 30 to 50 years before family robots are rolling off assembly lines like family cars. The technology is still too
expensive.
But commercial robots are already here.
For about $2,000, pepper is designed to sense if you're having a bad day and cheer you up.
For just under $6,000 this therapy robot, a cuddly comfort for seniors who can no longer care for their pets.
And some say this is the next big thing in Japanese robotics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is an android newscaster.
RIPLEY: Android newscaster.
Tinkling eyes, silicon skin, lifelike movements. The new androids at this Tokyo technology museum look almost like real people with a lot of
plastic surgery.
These prototypes are not for sale, yet. And they only work with a person at the controls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Please pick me up.
RIPLEY: Hello.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, now I'm ready.
RIPLEY: Same for this telenoid, an experimental communication device that kind of looks like a dismembered doll.
It's designed to feel more personal than a phone call, because you're talking to a human like face.
Someone could teach through a telenoid?
UNIDENTIFEID FEMALE: Yes. Maybe. Because like we can see movement as well.
RIPLEY; Everything.
It may all seem a bit strange to some, but it wasn't too long ago when many thought cameraphones would never catch one. We all know how that
turned out.
Call them cool, call them creepy, Japanese engineers hope someday you'll call these robots your own.
Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: And before we go, a moment to honor and incredible life. Now the Nobel Prize winning author and actress Nadine Gordimer has died.
Now she was a prominent speaker against apartheid in her home country of South Africa. Former President Nelson Mandela was one of her close
friends. He turned to her books while he was in prison.
Now some lasting words from Gordimer, quote, "the truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for it is."
A fitting mantra for the life of this writer who fought bravely to speak the truth during the bitter years of apartheid. Nadine Gordimer's
family says she died peacefully in her sleep. She was 90 years old.
And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.
END