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Iraqi Military Retakes 16 Villages; Eight Iraqi Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attacks South Of Baghdad; Hong Kong Chief Executive Says Beijing Will Not Compromise; Open Support For ISIS In Southern Jordan; The Korean Tech Startup; Leading Women: Rosalind Brewer

Aired September 30, 2014 - 8:00   ET

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

AMARA WALKER, HOST: I'm Amara Walker at CNN Center. You're watching News Stream's special coverage of the massive protest gripping Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's leader warns that Beijing will not compromise with protesters, but that's not stopping tens of thousands of people who

continue to block one of the city's main roads.

And we begin this hour in Hong Kong where thousands of pro-Democracy protesters are standing firm in the streets disrupting traffic and business

in the city's busy financial district.

These are live pictures that you are looking at. The crowds are demanding that Beijing give up control over who runs for Hong Kong's top

leadership position in 2017. Now that's currently held by CY Leung, Hong Kong's chief executive. Protesters want him to step down, but he is

refusing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CY LEUNG, HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE (through translator): China will not compromise even if some people threaten them illegally. These actions

will not make China take back the decision made based on the basic law on the 31st of August in the standing committee of the National People's

Congress.

According to the basic law, this allows the Hong Kong people to have one person, one vote by 2017 for the next chief executive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Now despite saying there is no compromise, Leung has also pointed out that the reforms are still a work in progress.

He wrote in an op-ed for CNN.com, quote, "we have not even started to discuss the detailed, but crucial aspects of the nominating process for

potential chief executive candidates. This will be the subject of a public consultation to be launched soon and which will eventually lead to the

enabling legislation on changes to the electoral method for the 2017 election."

Let's get the latest now from the middle of the protests. Ivan Watson is there and he joins us on the line live. Ivan, we're entering another

night of protests. Can you tell us what you're seeing in terms of the turnout and the mood? We can hear the chanting there behind you now.

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I don't know if you can hear over the phone line, the voices of the thousands of people

chanting here. If you needed to cast the commitment of these demonstrators, mother nature just did a few minutes ago when a flash

monsoon blew through here with thunder and lightning in a downpour. The demonstrators were armed with umbrellas, which have kind of become the

symbol of this--

(AUDIO GAP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: We are back looking live in Hong Kong right now as thousands of pro-democracy protesters are settling in for another night on the

streets of Hong Kong. They are not backing down from their demand that Beijing stay out of their local affairs and that's despite Hong Kong's

chief executive CY Leung saying earlier today that China will not compromise.

Protesters are extremely well organized. They have stations set up with food and water. They also make sure to clean up after themselves each

morning to keep the streets tidy.

We asked some of them why they find this cause so important.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are not very satisfied with the current situation in Hong Kong, because (inaudible) and Hong Kong do not rule

according to the wish of the Hong Kong people. They just follow the orders from Beijing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm proud of Hong Kong, because you can see we are very peaceful here. We are very self-disciplined. And this is what

I'm proud of. (inaudible) places, the shops belong (inaudible) maybe robbed already. But we are not trying to stop any (inaudible).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: And we will have much more on Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the rest of our hour.

Let's turn to Iraq now. And police in Baghdad say ISIS fighters have attacked Iraqi army patrols and checkpoints just south of the capital. At

least eight Iraqi soldiers were killed in the attack in the area shown here.

But east of Baghdad, the defense ministry says Iraqi forces are taking back ground, ousting ISIS from 16 villages in Diyala Province.

Now this video shows the military operation on the ground. In the skies over Iraq and Syria, the U.S.-led coalition is intensifying

airstrikes.

With more now on the latest fighting, Jomana Karadsheh joins me now from Amman in neighboring Jordan with more. So, Jomana, just how close is

ISIS to Baghdad?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Amara, these attacks that took place on Saturday, according to police there, are just

eight miles south of the Iraqi capital. This is on the southern outskirts of Baghdad. This is the Arab Ejbur area. This is close to what is known

as the southern Baghdad belt. This is an area that has seen some ISIS activity in the past. This is an area that has been of concern.

So these attacks not much of an advance in this rural area where there are much orchards there and open space, really, not much of an urban area.

It was more of hit and run attacks, a number of attacks targeting patrols and checkpoints (inaudible) abilities and the abilities of ISIS to carry

out attacks like these on the security forces.

And Amara, I was in Baghdad just a couple of weeks ago and there officials were saying that Baghdad was fortified. They felt confident that

between the Shia militias they're protecting the city and Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. air cover that there was no direct threat to the

capital itself.

WALKER: OK, well, you know as these airstrikes continue, Jomana, you visited a town in Jordan where there was really open support for ISIS.

Tell us more about that.

KARADSHEH: Well, look, Amara, first of all, Jordan here there has been concern, of course. Jordan bordering both Syria and Iraq, has been

concerned about the expansion of the ISIS presence there. It has really beefed up security on both its borders. And really we've seen Jordan just

last week join that U.S.-led coalition and taking an active and proactive role in going after ISIS in neighboring countries.

But there has been concern here among Jordanians about the threat from within Jordan's borders. And this is what we found when we went to the

southern city of Ma'an has been known as a rebellious city, the center of violent anti-government riots and confrontations with security forces.

But perhaps the most worrying for Jordanians is scenes like this in recent months. Small protests in support of ISIS.

While many downplay these demonstrations, the streets of Ma'an tell a different story. Pro-ISIS graffiti is spray-painted across the city like

this one that reads ISIS's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is our prince.

ISIS supporters were not hard to find in the city's market. This man interrupts our interview with a resident telling us the only solution to

Ma'an's troubles is the Islamic State.

Others, too, say they want to see ISIS in Jordan.

"We hope the mujahedeen come here and enforce Islamic Shariah law. We want Shariah law," this man says.

Not surprisingly, most here are opposed to Jordan joining the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.

AWAD AL-MAZAIYA, MA'AN RESIDENT (through translator): For almost four years our brothers in Syria have been bombed, civilians and children

killed, mosques destroyed, and we haven't seen the U.S., Jordan's apostate military and the infidel Arab armies move to support our brothers in Syria.

But when it came to the mujahedeen, they mobilized all their armies and started striking.

KARADSHEH: While this key U.S. ally faces the danger from ISIS on two of its borders, many here fear the threat from within will only increase

now.

Ma'an's mayor also says joining the coalition was not in Jordan's interest.

MAJED AL-SHARARI, MAYOR OF MA'AN (through translator): The Salafi Jihadi movement have been in Jordan for years, not just in Ma'an, but also

in other cities. If this movement in Iraq or Syria declares a war on Jordan, they will not hesitate to carry out operations here.

KARADSHEH: Like many of the city's resident's, al-Sharari says anti- government sentiments and unrest in Ma'am stem from poverty, unemployment and years of marginalization by the government. He warns that unless the

grievances of the people of his city are seriously addressed there will be consequences.

Back on the streets of Ma'an, ISIS supporters insist only an Islamic State will bring them a better life. And that dream of Islamic State is

now under attack.

"People are repressed. A lot of pressure will lead to an explosion. So wait and see. It will not pass peacefully," this man warns.

For now, it might just be words and threats, but many fear these signs foretell what the future may hold.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH: And, Amara, a short time ago, Jordanian government officials reached out to us saying that ISIS sympathizers in this country

are few and the majority of them, they say, have been arrested. They say over the past few weeks 71 sympathizers -- and they say these are the

majority of those in the country -- have been detained. And they say they are paying close attention to that city of Ma'an.

WALKER: All right, Jomana Karadsheh there in Amman with that report. Jomana, many thanks to you on that.

Well, the U.S. Secret Service is under fire as new details emerge about the man who jumped the White House fence earlier this month.

Previously, it was believed that Omar Gonzalez was just stopped just inside the front door of the north portico, but now we are learning he got much

deeper into the White House, even running past a stairway that leads to the first family's residence. Gonzalez had a knife in his pocket.

In the coming hours, the Secret Service director is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee about that security breach.

To Asia now. And air pollution is a persistent problem in parts of China, we know that. But South Korea says that smog is now crossing its

borders. Paula Hancocks has more on that from Seoul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A dull haze darkens the Seoul skyline, smog envelopes the top floors of the city's skyscrapers

and convinces residents their face masks, not the norm in South Korea, are necessary.

Some officials in the capital point a finger of blame at gas guzzling neighbor China.

Measuring fine dust particles in the air on a daily basis, this facility in Seoul decides when to issue a public health warning, advising

certain sections of the population to stay indoors.

"Yellow dust is completely from the deserts of China," says the head of the institute. "Fine dust is from both China and Korea, about 50/50."

Seoul City says it is almost finished replacing thousands of diesel buses with natural gas, saying it will cut emissions by 30 percent. A

carbon emissions trading scheme kicks off next year, but the government has postponed implementing low emission vehicle standards until 2020 saying it

was concerned it would put automakers, a powerful voice in this country, under too much pressure.

Despite this, there's only so much that can be done domestically, which is why Seoul's mayor Park Won-soon met his Chinese counterpart in

Beijing earlier this year. The pair signed a cooperation agreement to tackle air pollution.

Planting trees in Seoul may only be one tiny part of the fight against pollution, but this environmental group says it's simple, trees counter the

increasing carbon emission, necessary when you have a neighbor like China.

"Last winter," says the group head, "there were serious warnings about fine dust and the sky was almost black. This is because of the dramatic

increase in the number of cars in China and thermoelectric power plants for its rapid industrialization. The dust is then carried to Korea by the

wind."

This group plants an average of 1,000 trees a year. But this year they're planning on 10,000 trees.

Now the group organizer says that is because there is a growing awareness of the pollution in this country.

And a growing concern the answer to the problem is only partially in Korea's hands.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: You're watching News Stream. And coming up this hour, we'll have more on the rally that's happening right now in Hong Kong. What do

the protesters want? We talk to some of them.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Welcome back.

As the CEO of the American retailer Sam's Club Rosalind Brewer is the first woman to lead a Wal-Mart division. CNN's Poppy Harlow sat down with

Brewer to ask her about being a mentor to women in business and how she pulls off managing more than 100,000 employees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSALIND BREWER, CEO, SAM'S CLUB: I really think the chance to lead people is a true privilege. You have to earn it every day.

So what's going on folks? Morning meeting?

I have 107,000 associates at Sam's Club. I think about them every morning that I wake up, because I owe them.

I'm Rosalind Brewer. I'm a CEO. I'm a mom. I'm a mentor. I'm an educator. And I'm a leader.

But that's the exciting part about shopping a warehouse club.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosalind Brewer is also a rarity, but she'll tell you she shouldn't be.

BREWER: This is one of our most prominent walkways.

HARLOW: She's the CEO of Sam's Club, the American retail warehouse chain owned by Wal-Mart. And when she took the job in 2012 she became the

first woman and first African-American to lead a Wal-Mart division.

You have said that throughout your career you have had to prove yourself.

BREWER: Because I have a visible difference African-America female. I think they just have this initial response that what is she made of? How

did she get here?

HARLOW: Even now?

BREWER: Even now. Even now. It's amazing.

HARLOW: You have said that you want to see more women, quote, "get closer to the money."

BREWER: Absolutely. But I think the closer you are to the customer, or the closer you are to managing the money for the company, you're able to

influence decisions, you're able to influence growth. And I really want to see more women do that.

HARLOW: She's leading by example. During Brewer's tenure as CEO, the number of Sam's Club locations has grown from 610 to 643 across the U.S.

and Puerto Rico.

BREWER: That looks really delicious. I didn't even see this was coming in.

HARLOW: People now say you're as candid as they come.

BREWER: I am. I think that has been my personal goal for myself is to just be as frank as I can and honest as I can.

HARLOW: What is the best advice that you received throughout your career?

BREWER: The importance of having honesty and integrity, because it helped me build who I am as a person, a female leader that will fight the

odds, that will stay above the fray and lead people in the right direction.

HARLOW: Which is why she says doing what may be best for business is not easy.

You recently had to lead a very significant layoff, about 2,300 workers.

BREWER: I did.

HARLOW: What was that like?

BREWER: I take those moments really, really personal. And we did a lot of work to make sure that we were doing the right thing. It has been

my hardest move.

HARLOW: You've got a big job now.

BREWER: I do.

HARLOW: Do you want to be CEO of Wal-Mart one day?

BREWER: Oh, boy.

HARLOW: It's like I'm not going to ask?

BREWER: That is a good question. It's a wonderful company. I love serving these associates every day. So I would do it if ever given the

opportunity.

That's the way to get the day started.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: And you're watching News Stream.

Still to come, as China prepares to celebrate its National Day, the protest in Hong Kong casts a shadow. We'll get the view from Beijing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: I'm Amara Walker at CNN Center, you're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Heavy rain in Hong Kong did not deter thousands of protesters who are blocking a main downtown highway. Demonstrators are demanding the

resignation of Hong Kong's top official and they want Beijing to give up its veto power over candidates in the next election. Hong Kong's chief

executive says the protest will not change Beijing's position.

Police in Baghdad say ISIS fighters attacked Iraqi army patrols and checkpoints just 12 kilometers south of the capital. At least eight Iraqi

soldiers were killed. Now east of Baghdad, however, Iraq's defense ministry says Iraqi forces have ousted ISIS from 16 villages in Diyala

Province.

Afghanistan's new government has signed a long delayed agreement on a U.S. troop presence. The bilateral security agreement allows foreign

soldiers to stay behind the end of 2014 when the international mission officially ends. Former President Hamid Karzai had rejected the deal.

Let's get more now on the Hong Kong protest. Kristie Lu Stout joins me now live from the city's famous Harbor Front.

And Kristie, I know we were saying that the rain did not deter the protesters. Your live shot, it got a bit hampered. It's good to have you

back.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CN N INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Thank you very much indeed for that.

The rain is not hampering the protesters here. In fact, scores of pro-democracy protesters are spending another night on the streets of Hong

Kong. They are not deterred. They are braving the elements. There was a sudden downpour about half an hour ago. They were also braving the ire of

Chinese authorities.

Now the protests are taking place in multiple locations across the territory here across the harbor there in Admiral T (ph), that's where Ivan

Watson has been reporting, that is where he experienced being tear gassed over the weekend.

Now the protests are also taking place here in Kowloon in Mong Kok, not far from my position. In fact, Nathan Row, the famous shopping

district, is effectively closed off in certain parts because of the amount of protest activity there.

Now you heard it time and time again what they want. The protesters, they want full universal suffrage. They also want the embattled leader of

Hong Kong CY Leung to step down.

Now earlier today CY Leung said that China will not compromise, China will not back down, and in fact Chinese authorities called these protests

illegal. But if you talk to the demonstrators, they're not going away any time soon as Andrew Stevens found out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely I think the main target is to have democracy, a true democracy. And for more detail, this is a very important

time for Hong Kongers to have a really true democracy system like we should not accept a political reform that has a selective system.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: OK, so you want full universal suffrage for the nomination of the candidates and the election.

We've seen the police response with pepper spray and tear gas once. Does it worry you that it could happen again, or it will happen again?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course I'm afraid that it will happen again. And I'm not sure (inaudible) prepared. And I have no fear, because the

people have already experienced that and I have no fear. I am with them.

STEVENS: Have you seen anything like this, this sort of movement among the students of Hong Kong before? Have you seen them this united?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never seen some -- this scene in Hong Kong before. But it's -- it is similar to the student movement in China 25

years ago.

STEVENS: You're talking about Tiananmen Square.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. Yeah. I'm talking about in Tiananmen Square.

STEVENS: Do you really think that you can change Beijing's mind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think at least we can change Hong Kong people's mind, because some people still think that this movement is

letting Hong Kong to move on or damaging the economics. And I think this movement shows our determination and I hope we can touch them and let more

Hong Kongers to come out and fight for true democracy.

STEVENS: Were you surprised by the Hong Kong police action with the pepper spray, the tear gas? Did that surprise you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, really, because this is not -- this is not fair decision for them to use such weapon, because we are just sitting

here. We are peaceful. We didn't do any--

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, actually, i'm not surprised, because I know what they should do. They should -- they are ordered to have this

action. So I'm not surprised.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I've never seen this before. So I am surprised.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: That was Andrew Stevens reporting there.

Now again CY Leung, the chief executive of Hong Kong earlier today called these mass pro-Democracy protests illegal. He also said that China

will not back down.

So let's get the view from Beijing and cross directly to CNN's David McKenzie. He joins us live from the Chinese capital.

And David, is there any hope for a compromise between Beijing and the scores of pro-Democracy protesters here in Hong Kong?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, frankly, it's too early to tell, Kristie. And certainly if you look at the place the two

sides are coming from, it would seem very difficult, because the protesters want to chose who they can vote for in 2017 and the Communist Party

officials are saying that that's already been decided and that they are engaging in illegal protests.

So, unless one or the other side budges or gives up, then really there isn't much hope.

And few see Xi Jinping who has been very strong leader here in China and in -- who has really tightened the screws on many issues from a human

rights perspective here in the Mainland as someone who would really look to buckle on what they've said.

LU STOUT: And David, China's censorship regime -- are censors there more actively screening and blocking content about the Hong Kong protests?

MCKENZIE: Yes, they are. And it's quite sophisticated, in fact. You know, more so than usual, it seems.

CNN's air, while it was being broadcasted in China consistently through the weekend and into this morning, subsequently it's been blacked

out any time any coverage of the protests happen. I'm sure Andrew's discussion with those students was those protesters was blacked out.

But then the signal comes back on when someone like CY Leung comes up or anybody criticizes the protests. So it appears that someone

metaphorically at least has their finger on the button on our signal here.

And certainly with Instagram cut and Facebook, Twitter, Google and all major global social media sites already unable to be accessed here in

China.

There is definitely a real effort by the Chinese authorities to cut any mention of this here on the Mainland.

LU STOUT: Not only reflects China's concern about what's happening, events on the ground here. David McKenzie joining us live from Beijing.

Many thanks indeed for that.

Now let's cross live to a true champion and defender of democracy here in Hong Kong. He's the pro-democracy legislator Albert Ho. And he joins

me live on the line.

And Albert, as we've been reporting China will not back down. Chinese authorities will not compromise. So what do the protesters who are

rallying for democracy in Hong Kong, what do they realistically hope to achieve?

ALBERT HO, HONG KONG LEGISLATOR: I think first of all the people of Hong Kong should exercise this opportunity to make their voice once again

clearly heard. And then express determination clearly to the Beijing authorities that this is what Hong Kong people want. They would not be

content without seeing Beijing delivering this promise to Hong Kong according to the plan they pronounced in 2007 about implementing individual

suffrage to elect a chief executive in 2017.

So, if Beijing still refuses to own this promise, there would be ongoing protest. There will be ongoing movement of non-cooperation. And

until the goal is achieved.

LU STOUT: You're saying the protesters won't move until there is true universal suffrage.

There is also another demand of the protesters, they want the chief executive, the top leader here in Hong Kong CY Leung to step down.

Now if he steps down, would that diffuse the tension here?

HO: I think this is at least a side of a good gesture showing the Beijing is willing to reconsider its position. But however the simple

resignation of CY Leung would not be good enough. What Hong Kong people do want is true democracy as we have been promised.

So, maybe, you know, the resignation would cool down the atmosphere to a certain extent, but still the people would continue to insist that the

honor -- that the promise must be honored.

LU STOUT: But skeptics abroad can look at this and say can Hong Kong really have a chief executive who is truly independent of Beijing? What

Hong Kong afterall is Chinese territory, is a special administrative region of China.

HO: Yeah. I think the Hong Kong people are now making a best endeavor to press for a change, a change for better, a change for a more

just and better society, that is what we deserve.

So, I think certainly this is not only a change for Hong Kong, but it might be a change for the whole, you know, a change as a starting point for

the whole country. It would be very significant.

But, however, I think China in fact must think carefully to allow Hong Kong to have this change first, you know, and then it set a model hopefully

on the whole country, maybe take a long time, you know, to achieve what we can achieve, but still we know we deserve what we are promised.

LU STOUT: Now, you and your fellow pro-democracy lawmakers and protesters sound very resolute, very determined. You plan to continue your

protest until you get what you want, including electoral reform, full universal suffrage, one man, one vote, the ability to choose a candidate

independent of Beijing.

Now, do you also calculate how Chinese authorities, how Beijing could react?

HO: Well, it is difficult for us to anticipate how they will react. They are of course very resistant to change, since they have just made the

decision. But however they have seen how the Hong Kong people have reacted to it with resolution, with strong determination and with all the

preparation for sacrifice, including sacrifice for freedom.

And now you see you can see tens of thousands of people overwhelmingly young people behaving in a very restrained and a very calm manner, now

blocking all -- some of the major streets in the territory. And you can see, you know, that is really something that they didn't anticipate either.

So it is time that they have to rethink over this matter, you know, otherwise Hong Kong will be ungovernable. That would be a very serious

repercussion not only for Hong Kong, but for the whole country.

LU STOUT: All right, Albert Ho, Hong Kong democrat, pro-democracy legislator joining me live on the line. Thank you very much indeed for

joining us here on News Stream.

Now Amara, as you heard just then, he said that people here are willing to make the sacrifice for freedom. And we are nearing October 1

here in Hong Kong and across China, which is National Day in China. It is the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is a day

that celebrates the sovereignty of China. And yet, on this day, we are anticipating more pro-democracy protesters here in Hong Kong, because

tomorrow there will be no school, businesses will be closed, and its highly likely that more protesters will be joining the protest movement there

across the harbor in Admiral T (ph) and Central as well as here in Kowloon.

WALKER: Yeah, we are continuing to hear that unwavering stance from the protesters to push for full universal suffrage.

Kristie Lu Stout, thank you.

And still to come, more from Hong Kong. It is gridlock and the crowds just keep pouring in. But will Beijing buckle? That is the big question.

That's what the protesters are banking on. Our live coverage continues ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: All this week, CNN's On the Road series will bring you greater insight into the customs and culture of South Korea.

From their innovation and technology, to their sporting power in baseball, we explore how this country is rebranding itself.

Today, Paula Newton takes a look at the country's tech giants.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Simon, you need to tell me how this works? How does your app work?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this is like a translation service. So this is Korean.

NEWTON: CNN I can read.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

NEWTON: You know (inaudible) ingenious when you instantly say to yourself why didn't I think of that? It's called Flito (ph). Just snap

and translate.

VOICE: CNN, welcome to Korea. We are the best translation platform -- Flitto.

NEWTON: Nearly instant translation crowd-sourced and accurate. You pay a few cents, the online amateur translator makes a few pennies. Flitto

takes a small cut every time.

So you're making real money from this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, you are making real money. You can cash out into real money using PayPal.

NEWTON: A question to you, are you making real money from this yet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, all the employees.

NEWTON: After just 18 months, Flitto is profitable with 3.6 million users in 170 countries, just one of dozens of South Korean tech startups

gaining traction globally. And here's why. Wired to the max, South Korea has become a strong springboard in tech. Densely populated, four of five

people here have a smartphone and internet speeds ranked among the highest in the world.

Successful internet ventures like Naver, a search company, have taken on tech giants like Yahoo, or more recently Google in Korea.

And one, with it's messenger service line, it is now set to go global. This top Naver executive says startups won't survive if they concentrate on

South Korea alone.

HWANG INJOON, CFO/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT NAVER: I think the startup should think about the global market and also many other big players or

government should assist that kind of support for the globalization.

NEWTON: It's quite a space here, though.

JOHN LEE, COUNTRY DIRECTOR, GOOGLE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is a really incredible space.

NEWTON: This is Google's field of dreams in Seoul, empty now, it will become Google's next global tech hub. Campus Seoul has been chosen as one

of only a handful of global tech incubators. Why?

LEE: Time and time again the passion of the people here in the country has proven that we can overcome just incredible obstacles in order

to achieve the dreams. And I think though the element that Google can provide is we can provide the support.

NEWTON: Support that's needed if this is to be more than just hype. Obstacles include a lack of access to capital and a culture that doesn't

exactly celebrate risk-taking.

And the Korean culture is not about the startup, is it?

SIMON LEE: Right. But it's changing really fast, you know. Well, actually Korean government is exporting startups like so much, you know,

they're spending like several billion dollars.

NEWTON: South Korea is already ranked a global leader in innovation thanks to its large companies. But many now are betting that entrepreneurs

and startups will build the world's next global tech winners.

Paula Newton, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Welcome back.

And a live look at the demonstrations in Hong Kong. Thousands of pro- democracy protesters are out on the streets there for yet another night. They're demanding that Beijing stay out of local affairs. But Hong Kong's

chief executive says China will not compromise.

The demonstration has forced more than 150 schools to close on Tuesday, some businesses and banks were also shut down.

Let's go back live to Hong Kong. Kristie Lu Stout joins me live again. Hi there, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Hi there, Amara.

About an hour a go, the heavens opened above the skies here in Hong Kong. And there was this huge, massive, sudden downpour. It did not deter

the thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators who were out on the streets of Hong Kong for another night.

It affected us here at our live shot position, it affected our equipment. Of course, it affected Team Ivan Watson on the other side of

the harbor.

And Ivan Watson earlier he filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: As the crowd here swelled to its peak size, an enormous rain and thunder and lightning storm has moved in to the area. And you can see

the thousands of demonstrators here just soaked right now.

Fortunately, everybody in this protest movement seems to have an umbrella. And that may be in part because the umbrella has become a symbol

of this uprising, a symbol because it was used to protect demonstrators over the weekend from pepper spray fired by riot police against them.

So the crowd here, their enthusiasm does not seem to be diminished by this torrential downpour. We're hearing them singing sometimes. We're

hearing them cheering even as they're soaked here out in the open.

The response to the statements coming from the top official here in Hong Kong CY Leung, who has dug in his heels in response to this

unprecedented protest movement, he has basically said that China will not compromise to what he describes as illegal acts. That, too, doesn't seem

to have diminished the enthusiasm or reduced the morale of these demonstrators who are holding their ground in this space, in this stretch

of highway from downtown Hong Kong that they're occupying. They, too, seem to be digging in their heels and neither warnings coming from the Hong Kong

or Chinese government nor torrential rain seems to be dissuading them from their demands for their democratic rights.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Pro-democracy protesters here in Hong Kong putting those umbrellas that they've been wielding, the symbols of the protests, to very

good use.

As you can see in these live pictures we'll bring up for you from the main protest site in the Admiral T Central District on Hong Kong Island,

that's the other side of the harbor from where I am now, the weather has cleared. It is clear for now.

But what is the forecast for the days ahead? Now for that, let's go straight to my colleague, CNN's Mari Ramos. She joins us live from the

world weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, that was some rain storm that really did catch many by surprise. Those umbrellas, as you

said, coming in handy yet again here.

This is the latest radar from the Hong Kong Observatory. And you can see some of that moisture continuing to just make its way across the

region.

Now this is going to be a sign of things to come. Over the next couple of days, particularly overnight tonight and in through tomorrow, the

southwest monsoon gets -- kicks up yet again and we begin to see a bit more in the way of rain across this area.

Now for Wednesday, about a 90 percent chance. But these aren't going to be -- it's not going to rain all day and it's not going to rain

everywhere, but in many cases we could see these very heavy downpours like what happened today, those are going to be commonplace as we head through

the day on Wednesday. Then you'll get a little bit of a break and then the rain could -- it's very likely to return again.

A similar situation as we head into Thursday and then the rain chance begins to lessen somewhat to about 50 percent as we head through the day on

Friday.

So as you can see, very unstable weather pattern here as we head though the next two to three days, particularly on Wednesday. I know it is

a public holiday. So I think that's really going to maybe make people think, you know, what to do.

We're really looking at some rain and thunderstorms moving across this area, not just Hong Kong, but notice along the coastline here with the

monsoon in full swing all the way up even as we head over into other parts of eastern China.

A couple of things I want to tell you about, we do have a tropical cyclone here that is offshore. This is pretty significant, because it is

expected to intensify.

The name is Phanfone. And the problem with this storm is, I don't think it's going to impact eastern China, so that's definitely some good

news, but we'll have to see the timing of this. There are two potential tracks, one that takes it into western Japan, another one that keeps it out

to sea, maybe getting a little bit too close for comfort here in Honshu. This could be a major storm that could be affecting these areas.

Right now, it is a tropical storm with winds sustained at about 75 kilometers per hour. But it is expected to become a typhoon probably by

this time tomorrow and then that forecast track that takes it right smack into Japan. We'll have to see exactly what happens with this storm.

Remember that not only areas of Japan have already been drenched with some very heavy rain. Right now, they're having to deal with the aftermath

of the eruption of Mount Ontake.

And here's a picture from earlier when the rescue personnel was still going up the mountain and that long, hard climb in that area that's covered

with ash to try to find the missing.

Well, they're not going that anymore, Kristie, because of the potential for not only other eruptions, but because the increased tremors

that are having over the mountain and also because of the noxious gases, the fumes that are emanating from the mountain.

So definitely something we'll continue to monitor.

Back to you.

LU STOUT: All right, Mari Ramos there. Thank you.

And here in Hong Kong, huge pro-democracy demonstrations continue. Chinese authorities called them illegal. China says it won't compromise,

it won't back down, and yet moments ago on this broadcast you heard the pro-democracy legislator Albert Ho say that this is a sacrifice that people

are willing to make for democracy here in Hong Kong.

Amara, back to you.

WALKER: And we will see how things develop on Wednesday on the national holiday. Kristie, thank you.

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

END