Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Huge Crowds March Unauthorized in Hong Kong Tourist District; Trump: G7 Won't Be Held at Doral; Investigators Examine Giuliani's Ties with Ukraine; New Brexit Deal Stymied by Letwin Amendment; Turkey and Kurds Trade Blame on Cease-Fire Violations; Fresh Anti-Government Protests in Lebanon; Trudeau Facing List of Scandals ahead of Vote; North Korean Leader's Propaganda; How Ethical Hacking Can Reveal Data Insecurity; Former Pro Footballer Disarms Student with Shotgun; Acoustic Demo of Prince's "I Feel for You". Aired 5-6a ET

Aired October 20, 2019 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): At 5:01 on the U.S. East Coast, we continue following the breaking news on the streets of Hong Kong, where it is 5:01 pm there in the afternoon. Protests continue to play out on the streets there.

Welcome to viewers here in the United States and around the world, I'm George Howell at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

Again, these live images you see there in Hong Kong, these unauthorized rallies that have grown tense and hostile here in the last hour, huge crowds of protesters are on the streets for the 20th straight weekend. Some of them vandalizing shops and subway stations, even setting fires and putting up barricades in the streets.

Police there are responding with tear gas and water cannon. Again, we're watching this. Anna Coren is in the middle of it all. She told us last hour that, when the protesters start moving, that's when police are moving in. Anna Coren live on the story.

What are you seeing, Anna?

ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: George, we have now moved down to where the protesters are. Earlier I spoke to you we were with the riot police. We have run down to where the protesters are.

As you can see, they have set up a makeshift barricade. This is what they do. They have their umbrellas. No doubt they have their petrol bombs ready to throw at police. The water cannon is also positioned about 200 --

HOWELL: We lost Anna's shot. In the Anna in the middle of all this. Again, this is a live picture, the 20th straight weekend that we've seen these protests; 20 weekends ago, it all started because protesters there, people were upset over an extradition bill. That bill has been withdrawn.

But again, that extradition bill would have allowed Mainland China the ability to extradite people from the streets of Hong Kong. It sparked concerns among people there that they were losing their civil liberties.

Now people are on the streets speaking up and demanding that those civil liberties be protected. Again, keeping in mind -- I believe that we may be able to bring Anna Coren back in. OK. We're not able to bring her in yet but again she's there on the streets. As we reconnect with her and events play out, we'll bring her back live.

Here stateside, the U.S. president, after a late night, a series of tweets, we have a very rare instance of Donald Trump admitting that he is bowing to outside pressure. Our Jeremy Diamond reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump will not host next year's G7 at his resort near Miami, Florida, after all. Just two days after he trotted out his chief of staff to defend the decision to host the global gathering of world leaders at one of his own properties.

In the face of some blistering criticism from Democrats as well as some Republicans, the president reversed course. In a tweet late Saturday night, the president acknowledged the criticism, tweeting that while he thought he was, quote, "doing something very good for our country," Democrats and the media, quote, "went crazy."

[05:05:00]

DIAMOND: The president tweeting, "Therefore, based on both media and Democrat crazed and irrational hostility, we will no longer consider Trump National Doral, Miami, as the host site for the G7 in 2020. We will begin the search for another site, including the possibility of Camp David, immediately. Thank you."

It was a rare reversal for the president who is known for his trademark defiance. And it all came after the president was accused of once again attempting to profit from his presidency.

But what went unsaid in the president's tweet was the criticism that he faced from members of his own party as well, who, at a minimum, worried about the appearance of impropriety of a president hosting a major world forum at his own for-profit property.

The president's reversal came after his chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Thursday defended the choice, insisting that the government officials had concluded that the Doral property, which is owned by the president, was somehow the best option in the entire country.

And while Mulvaney said during that briefing that Camp David that had previously been a, quote, "miserable place" to have the G7, the president on Saturday night indicating it was back on the table -- Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: And now live to Inderjeet Parmar at our London bureau with perspective, Inderjeet a professor of international politics at City University in London.

Good to be with you.

INDERJEET PARMAR, CITY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: Good be with you, George.

HOWELL: Again, we're seeing the U.S. president, a rare instance here where he is reversing course. Typically we see the Donald Trump double down. There's also the triple down from Mr. Trump. But rarely an about face, where he is saying that the G7 summit will not be hosted at his private Doral resort.

This is not the first time questions have come up how Mr. Trump might profit during his time in office. This decision seems to have come under a great deal of pressure for him to reconsider.

PARMAR: Well, exactly. And I think, as your correspondent said, the pressure is coming from both sides. President Trump is not getting the ringing endorsements from GOP members in the Senate and the Congress as much as he used to.

He's getting a little more criticism and that is adding to the broader public worry about how the president is handling his own presidency.

It's interesting that, in his tweet, he still remains committed to the idea that what he was doing was good for America. And I think that goes to the core of the way in which he sees the American government, the White House and so on.

It's a bit like an extension of a private government, of a Trump Organization kind of government. And he still sees that that was the right thing. But under the pressure, mounting on a number of different fronts, he's now forced to reverse course. The Syria, the pressure is building because of the Syria decision as well.

HOWELL: As we follow the impeachment inquiry as it carries on, we're learning more about shadow diplomacy, centered around the president's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.

As a journalist, I always want to look at these varying perspectives on this. Again, it seems that one perspective, the supporters of the president, who say Rudy Giuliani did nothing wrong, critics would say this is a clear example of a quid pro quo.

Given all of the evidence that we've seen so far, have we reached that point where there's some aspect of this investigation that is strong enough to sway hardened opinions one way or the other?

PARMAR: I think it is reaching that point. And it's interesting, I was reading a University of Maryland poll just released a day or two ago.

And what it shows is not only has there been very large movement right across the spectrum of politics towards an impeachment inquiry and possible impeachment, what it shows is that those voters from any party, any party at all, who are paying very close attention to the facts of the telephone call and the facts of all the other inquiries which are going on, have shifted position more than those who just follow it on the news.

So those who've read the memo about the phone call are beginning to pay more and more attention, including Republican voters, who are more prone to a position which says this is a problem for the president and this could lead to a successful impeachment. So I think that's what we need to do. I think in that regard what we've had up until now and the next week or so is a lot of testimonies. But the president has withheld a very large number of documents.

So I think there's two things.

One is, what do those documents say?

The second is, which outlets are people trusting to put forward a factual, if you like, objective as possible picture of what the facts actually were?

And I think on that bases, opinion is likely to shift defending on what is a lot of those contents of those particular documents.

[05:10:00]

HOWELL: That is a very interesting point. And you know, the other part of this, so, looking at the president's own party, there are members in the GOP, few of them who will criticize President Trump.

But we are seeing more and more of that happening, cracks in the wall so to speak, with Mitch McConnell, for instance, speaking out in an op-ed about what the president's decision in Syria.

The question here, do Republicans start to voice their concerns more and more?

Or do they continue to compartmentalize any frustrations they have with their standard bearer?

PARMAR: I think they want to see which way the wind blows. It goes back to the point I just made, which is more and more people are paying closer and closer attention. As more facts come out, I think opinion is going to shift.

I think Republicans in Senate and the House, if you like, are watching and waiting. Those speaking out feel strong enough to be able to voice their concerns. But there are very few.

The other side of it is, very few are coming out and saying, President Trump is absolutely right, defending him. In a way, they're waiting, watching to see which way the wind blows. But I think the wind is blowing more and more strongly in the

direction of people questioning President Trump. But the GOP members will probably wait a while, I would think. They have another year or so until the elections. And I think there's no interest that they have in coming out and voicing too many concerns because even Mitt Romney and so on, people who have criticized President Trump, have still been attacked from the Right.

But things are changing. But it's going to change very slowly and there's historical precedent from the 1970s on that question anyway.

HOWELL: It is an interesting wind to follow there. Inderjeet Parmar, live for us in London with perspective. Thank you.

PARMAR: Thank you.

HOWELL: Also in the United Kingdom, the issue of Brexit. The European kingdom saying they need a few more days to figure out if the U.K. is asking for a Brexit extension or not.

Boris Johnson's government has sent several contradictory letters to Brussels after he failed to get the votes needed in Parliament to pass his Brexit bill. One was boilerplate language with a cover letter, saying it was set to fulfill the legal requirement.

But then Mr. Johnson followed that with another letter, asking the E.U. to turn down the request. And that could land him in hot water with the courts. On this story live in London as well, our Anna Stewart.

Anna, it gets a bit confusing. The prime minister sending one letter to the E.U., some point out, without his signature, then another contradicting the first.

It leaves a lot of people saying, what?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of scratching of heads, I would say, George, this morning. Yes. We have this letter from Boris Johnson. This appears to comply with the law. It requests a Brexit extension to the end of January.

Then we have this one, the previous letter is unsigned. This one is. This is much more substantial. It goes many paragraphs long. I'll read you the bit that's really controversial here because, having asked the extension, this letter says, "While it is open to the European Council to accede to the request mandated by Parliament or to offer an alternative extension period, I have made clear since becoming prime minister and made clear to Parliament again today my view and the government's position that a further extension would damage the interests of the U.K. and our E.U. partners and the relationship between us."

I.e., maybe the E.U. should not grant an extension. Now there are so many things we can talk about here. First, the E.U., it's within their power to grant this extension. They don't have to do so immediately. And it may be wise if they want Boris Johnson to try to get this deal through and get Brexit done to withhold that decision a few days so the prime minister can try to get his deal through Parliament.

We're expecting that to happen either Monday or Tuesday this week. You also mention the courts. This is something that I'm sure we'll be coming back to. There's a court sitting in Scotland tomorrow. Many people believe that although the prime minister did request a Brexit extension in one letter, the second one perhaps, and this is a perhaps, perhaps it means that he is not complying with the law after all.

That is a big legal question. So plenty more happening in Parliament. Probably plenty more happening in the courts and plenty more protests as welcoming up, George.

HOWELL: Anna Stewart with the story live in London. We'll stay with it. Thank you.

The ongoing stalemate has energized calls now for a second referendum. And that is exactly what attracted a big crowd of people to central London on Saturday. Take a look at the massive crowds that took over the streets there.

Organizers believe up to 1 million people were present. But for some conservative members of Parliament, leaving Westminster was like running a gantlet.

[05:15:00]

HOWELL: There you have it. Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom, several people, getting an earful there. CNN's Hadas Gold has more now on what the protesters say that they want.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This started up near Hyde Park, worked its way through central London, down Whitehall, past 10 Downing Street, to end here in Parliament Square, just outside Westminster Palace, where members of Parliament were meeting and voting on what would happen with Brexit in that extraordinary Saturday sitting.

Now organizers say they think about 1 million people came out to march. Now the police have not confirmed those numbers. They don't give crowd estimates anymore. But the streets of London were completely packed.

It was a generally happy, crowd, lots of can (ph), lots of dogs (ph), lots of silly signs with some serious messages. The people here want a people's vote, they want a second referendum, they want what they say would be a final say on Brexit, whether in or, out with a deal, without a, deal they say it is time to bring it up once again.

Now the weather started out nicely and then the rain came in but it did not deter the crowds here, who came to hear speakers like Sir Patrick Stewart, like Mayor Sadiq Khan, to hear what they say about Brexit and, at one point, they were even airing what was happening inside Parliament on the large screens on the square.

And when (INAUDIBLE) passed that potentially would delay Brexit that got huge cheers here. But even if the Brexit deal were to pass and even if the U.K. were to leave on October 31st, the protesters I spoke to say it would not be the end, they say this is just the beginning of a new campaign.

They say that their, kids, that their grandkids will continue to campaign for the United Kingdom to be part of the E.U. -- Hadas Gold, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Thank you.

We've also been following the demonstrations in Lebanon. Protesters there now get a break on taxes as cracks start to appear in the governing coalition. CNN is live in Beirut as NEWSROOM continues.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOWELL: Turkey says that one of its soldiers has been killed by Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. It's the latest sign that a U.S. brokered cease-fire is now on shaky ground. The Turks blame the Kurds. The Kurds blame the Turks for violating that deal.

But despite that, the U.S. Defense Secretary says that the pause in fighting, as the U.S. calls it, is working.

[05:20:00]

HOWELL: Here was Mark Esper speaking to reporters on Saturday about it. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK ESPER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I think overall the cease-fire generally seems to be holding. We see a stabilization of the lines, if you will, on the ground. And we do get reports of intermittent fire, this and that. That doesn't surprise me necessarily but that's what we're picking up. That's what we're seeing so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Esper qualifying it, saying the cease-fire appears to be holding. Jomana Karadsheh on the Turkish-Syrian border. Her eyes on the situation.

It comes down to the question generally, is this thing effective?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, see, George, this is the situation with these cease-fires in Syria. It's very difficult to monitor, very difficult to enforce. We have seen that historically with cease-fires in that country.

And in this case specifically, you don't have a neutral force on the ground that's observing it. You have the Secretary of Defense there, saying it's holding for the most part. We've heard this also from Turkey.

But at the same time, you've got both sides accusing each other of violating the cease-fire. Now to set the scene, in the background behind us is the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain. Now this is where a lot of fighting during that offensive was focused.

And that is where we heard these reports coming from both sides of breaches in this cease-fire. For the most part here, we haven't heard much today, with some bursts of gunfire intermittently and some thuds here and there.

But it seems overall, as we're hearing from people on the ground, as we are also hearing from the Secretary of Defense, it is holding. It's not at that point where you can say that this cease-fire is collapsing.

Turkey is accusing the Kurds of breaching the ceasefire. They said they have a surveillance patrol that came under attack, killing one Turkish soldier and wounding another one.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, that mostly Syrian Kurdish fighting force, is accusing Turkey and calling on the United States to push them to enforce the cease-fire.

Now you know, the cease-fire or the pause in the fighting as Turkey calls it, was put in place, George, to facilitate the withdrawal of the Syrian Kurdish fighters from the designated safe zone.

Turkey says they have until Tuesday evening, based on the agreement with the United States, to withdraw from these areas. Otherwise, take a listen to what President Erdogan had to say would happen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): If it works, it works. If it doesn't, the minute 120 hours expire, we will continue from where we left and keep crushing the heads of the terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARADSHEH: So the message is very clear from the Turkish government, George, saying Tuesday evening, if the United States does not deliver on that agreement and the Syrian Kurdish fighters do not withdraw, their operation will resume at that point.

HOWELL: Jomana, we will continue to stay on the story. Thank you.

We also continue to follow the protests playing out across Lebanon. Take a look. Thousands of people, tens of thousands, in fact, demonstrating they want the current government to resign over the country's economic crisis.

On Saturday evening, the finance minister declared that no new taxes would be imposed upon citizens. But overnight, four ministers resigned from the government. Let's talk more about that with our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman live in Beirut.

Ben, clearly the pressure is on when it comes to the coalition government.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Clearly, George, that pressure is actually working because we've already seen that that original 20 cents per call WhatsApp tax was rescinded.

Four ministers have resigned from the government and now the Lebanese government, which just a few months ago, declared an economic state of emergency and was in the process of formulating an austerity government, has scrapped all of those plans even though, of course, the Lebanese economy is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Lebanon has a foreign debt of more than $80 billion and one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios on Earth. But what we've seen is that most of these people here in the street, who represent all sort of the entire sectarian spectrum of Lebanon, is that they blame the ruling elite, which, of course, is what makes -- excuse me -- they make up the government.

So they blame the ruling elite, which they say is corrupt, incompetent and self-serving.

[05:25:00]

WEDEMAN: If you speak to most people here on the streets, they will tell you that the rulers here have stashed away billions of dollars in Switzerland. And they say that they could solve this country's economic problems if all of that money was brought back to Lebanon -- George.

HOWELL: Ben Wedeman covering events all over the world, some of the hardest, most dangerous places in the middle of a protest now, but again getting a hug, Ben, that you definitely deserve. Good to have you with us to report this, Ben. Thank you.

The ongoing protests in Chile have turned deadly. Authorities there say three people were killed when a vandalized supermarket went up in flames. Chile's capital city under a military imposed curfew after six days of violent protests rocked Santiago.

Hundreds of troops are patrolling the streets there and the government declared a state of emergency. The president says he will suspend plans to increase metro ticket prices, which sparked the violence.

We continue following events in Hong Kong. The latest on the protests there; 20 weeks on, this live image at 5:25 pm there, police out in full effect. So are the protesters. CNN also in the middle of it all bringing you the journalism, the reporting. Stand by for that. The Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau cruised to victory in the last general election. But Monday's vote may not be so easy. What they're saying in Montreal. Still ahead.

And why a lousy view in a luxury high-rise might give a window into Pyongyang's need for secrecy. CNN NEWSROOM live in the United States and around the world continues on the other side of this break.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOWELL: Welcome back to viewers here in the United States around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from the ATL, I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.

(HEADLINES)

HOWELL: Following events in Canada -- and Monday will be telling -- a major test for the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. His country is holding a general election and Trudeau could lose his liberal majority. CNN's Paula Newton has this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Justin Trudeau, this is new political ground, shaky ground, where he now needs to tiptoe around his own tainted image.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: The election isn't about me. This election is about you.

NEWTON (voice-over): These are the images that had jaws dropping around the world.

TRUDEAU: Disappointed in myself and I'm apologizing to Canadians.

NEWTON (voice-over): Trudeau wore blackface on at least three occasions decades ago but he admitted he couldn't even remember how many times he had done it. All the more surprising that, in his hometown of Montreal, where they take their food and their politics seriously, the forgiveness came almost as quickly.

NEWTON: You don't believe he's a racist?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't. I think being able to stand up in front of your country, saying that this was a past time, that you're ashamed of what you've done.

NEWTON: The fact is just outside of the Trudeau stronghold, the island of Montreal, you don't have to go far, just over to the other shore, and you can already hear the skepticism. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I believe the party already needs another leader, another face because we are not represented well internationally.

NEWTON (voice-over): So where do those opinions leave voters this time around?

Deadlocked. Polls are proving little better than a coin toss if predicting Trudeau or his conservative challenger will be Canada's next prime minister. But if he wins, Trudeau is now a diminished politician both at home and abroad.

BERYL WAJSMAN, THE SUBURBAN NEWSPAPER GROUP: We're looking silly.

NEWTON (voice-over): Beryl Wajsman, a Montreal newspaper editor, has known Trudeau for years although they don't see eye to eye politically anymore. He repeats, Trudeau is no racist. But the optics of him humiliating himself on a trip to India last year, a scandal within his own cabinet and then the blackface incident is more than many Canadians can bear.

WAJSMAN: Everywhere I go, people are talking about the fact that we look like a silly country. That's a hidden issue. It hasn't been polled on. Not to any great degree but it's in people's heads.

NEWTON (voice-over): And yet Scheer, both physically and socially conservative, has been unable to capitalize on any of that sentiment. New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh has done marginally better and may end up propping up a weekend minority Trudeau government. That's even if Scheer wins the popular vote.

NICK NANOS, NANOS RESEARCH: So buckle up. It's possible for the winner to be the loser and the loser to be the winner in the Canadian election.

NEWTON (voice-over): No wonder many voters are turned off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For some people I imagine it's going to be a choice between the best of the worst in a way.

NEWTON (voice-over): In some ways Trudeau has helped make this campaign something many Canadians have in no way enjoyed but instead endured -- Paula Newton, CNN, Montreal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[05:35:00]

HOWELL: Voters in Bolivia will be heading to the polls. The current president there hopes to be reelected. The former farmer has been meeting his supporters in the Andes. He swept into power in 2006 and now he has controversial policies for defying term limits.

In 2016, Bolivians voted not to have Morales run again this year; however, he managed to convince the country's constitutional court to let him stand anyway, saying that term limits violated his human rights.

North Korea appears to be going to new extremes to protect its secrets from the potential spies out there. The reclusive nation is now blocking the view of some of its key state facilities from residents in high-rise apartment buildings. Our Brian Todd takes a look at what's behind it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kim Jong-un's paranoia and obsessions with secrecy and security appear to be playing out across Pyongyang's most exclusive neighborhoods. Chad O'Carroll, a correspondent for the South Korea-based news Web site, N.K. News, was recently checking a lead on a construction project in the North Korean capital when his sources noticed something strange. Near an important section of Pyongyang, O'Carroll's sources saw many

upper floor windows in some luxurious high-rise apartment buildings mysteriously covered. And at great risk, they started to take pictures.

CHAD O'CARROLL, CEO, KOREA RISK GROUP: These window bars are made of concrete. They are immovable and they are basically either fully opaque or they are kind of slats that just allow you to look in one way.

TODD (voice-over): Look at O'Carroll's comparison for N.K. News of a tower block in the Changchun apartment complex about a year ago and now.

O'Carroll says his sources observed what they believe are hundreds of apartments and hotel rooms with windows covered and, in some cases, only on upper floors. Windows at the Koryo Hotel, a famous destination for tourists, were replaced with translucent covers, so guests can't make out detail of anything outside.

O'CARROLL: And the overarching goal of all of this is, as far as we understand, to prevent people being able to look into what's known as North Korea's forbidden city.

TODD (voice-over): The forbidden city, analysts say, is a nickname for a section of Pyongyang where important government buildings are located, the headquarters of the Korean Workers Party and other offices where Kim and the elites from his inner circle conduct business. The position and height of many of these now blocked windows, analysts say, seems to be fueling the regime's paranoia.

DEAN CHENG, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: If you are an assassin, you'd probably love to be someplace higher up. If you wanted to try and eavesdrop, if you wanted to observe who is coming and who is going, if you wanted to try and establish somebody's schedule, these would all be apartments that would give you a great view of who is in which office.

TODD (voice-over): But by closing off these windows in what's known as Pyonghattan, Kim's regime is also likely taking away the views of some people who are very powerful -- top North Korean officials who have been given those exclusive apartments, those elite who, analysts say, the dictator bribes with luxury goods and cash to keep him in power.

O'CARROLL: When you get to the stage that you're blocking the view of your -- your apparently trusted elite families in North Korea, I think it -- it's something that is potentially going to breed some discontent.

TODD (voice-over): Others say those who have been elevated to power by the Supreme Leader likely understand this is something they may just have to swallow.

CHENG: This is a regime that maintains its authority through open execution with mortar rounds and anti-aircraft cannon. Compared to that, having your, you know, nice window barricaded is not exactly, you know, something worth dying for.

TODD: Analysts say this could also be another sign of impending crackdown by Kim Jong-un, a stepped-up pace of roundups, arrests, possible executions of those who the dictator suspects are being disloyal.

We got no response to our inquiries about the coverings of the high- rise buildings in Pyongyang from South Korean intelligence or from North Korea's mission to the U.N. U.S. intelligence would not comment -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: You have stolen about $25,000 hotel points and worst of all, you have put me in a middle seat.

RACHEL TOBAC, ETHICAL HACKER: On a five-hour flight.

O'SULLIVAN: Oh, my God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: We show you still ahead how ethical hacking can reveal just how vulnerable we are online.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:40:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOWELL: The Internet creates a rich environment for hackers to access very sensitive data. So CNN Tech reporter Donie O'Sullivan allowed him to be hacked to show how vulnerable we all can be online. Here is how an ethical hacker was able to disrupt his life by simply using information he posted on social media. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): You have stolen about $25,000 worth of hotel points and worst of all, you have put me in a middle seat.

TOBAC: On a five-hour flight.

O'SULLIVAN: Oh, my God. And they just let you do it.

TOBAC: Yes.

O'SULLIVAN: Damn.

So I am here in Las Vegas for two of the world's biggest hacking conferences and, for some reason, I have agreed to be hacked. I'm meeting Rachel Tobac, who specializes in a special form of hacking called social engineering. And I'm very nervous.

TOBAC: I feel like I know pretty much everything about you.

O'SULLIVAN: I instantly don't trust you.

So am I going to be safer today thanks to you?

TOBAC: You and every other customer will be safer today thanks to what you're willing to let me do.

O'SULLIVAN: Well, let's get started, I guess.

TOBAC: OK. So you want to assume that everything you put on social media is public. Information that can be found in places like this can be used to authenticate you with different companies.

Do you remember this tweet?

O'SULLIVAN: Yes.

TOBAC: I used this to gain access to your current address.

O'SULLIVAN: What?

TOBAC: So what I did, is I called up this furniture company right here and I basically said, hey, we're going to buy another one of these pieces of furniture but I need to make sure that I don't accidentally have the wrong information on the account.

And, I said, no, you ordered something a while ago but the thing that you ordered we shipped to this address. And yes, I think I got this updated address, which is pretty scary because that happened in 30 seconds.

[05:45:00]

TOBAC: I got your current address. I got your birthday from Twitter. I called like pretty much every business that he ever listed that he

used on his Twitter, Instagram. What you have to understand is when you do that, I now know which companies you use and I know which companies to call as you.

O'SULLIVAN: What did you get from the boutique hotel?

TOBAC: Your phone number and email address.

O'SULLIVAN: They gave you my phone number?

TOBAC: Yes.

So I'll do these phone calls. I'll be actually live hacking, so when I call, your phone number is going to display on their caller ID.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Donie O'Sullivan.

O'SULLIVAN: Who are you really?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, this is Donie O'Sullivan. I can tell you my address, phone number, date of birth, whatever you need to know to verify that's really me.

O'SULLIVAN: That's wild.

TOBAC: I am on the road right now and I'm having trouble getting access to my Internet but I need to transfer points to my friend for a bridal shower. Hopefully you can help me out over the phone. I have all the information.

I have 90,000, is that correct?

So the first and last name is Rachel Tobac.

Oh, they've been transferred?

OK, fantastic.

O'SULLIVAN: They're gone.

TOBAC: Thank you. Have a great day. Bye-bye.

Are your points gone?

O'SULLIVAN: They're gone. That is crazy.

When you call this airline, it's going to be coming from my number?

TOBAC: Yes.

O'SULLIVAN: As you know, my flight leaves in Vegas.

TOBAC: I'll put you in the middle.

I try to do this personal essay thing. So can you move me to a middle seat in the back of the plane?

I know you probably don't get that request a lot.

Oh, perfect. It's a row right before the last row and it's in the middle seat.

You're in the back of the plane, middle seat.

O'SULLIVAN: I had an exit, aisle.

TOBAC: I know. He picked it up, saying, Mr. O'Sullivan, how can I help you?

O'SULLIVAN: If I was not sitting here with you and didn't know, they said, well, sir, you called up and requested this, I would flip the (INAUDIBLE) out.

(LAUGHTER)

TOBAC: Think about how much you have to do to get into your accounts online. You have to have a password. Two factor. We're basically living in the Dark Ages on the phone compared to how hard it is to break into accounts online.

Until these companies learn to change their authentication protocols, there are certain things you can do to help protect yourself. Remove your geolocation tagging. When you're on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, there's just no need to know exactly where you're staying at those places.

After that, I would say, products that you buy, services that you've purchased, help that you try to get online like on Twitter, that you're probably going to want to do privately, in DMs. I'm going to call them up as you and try to get your information.

The most important thing is that I'm not going to victim blame you. Yes, sure, there are things you can do to make my job a little harder. Ultimately, it is the company's responsibility to keep their customers data safe and updating their authentication protocols over the phone is a very good way to start.

Sorry about that.

TOBAC: I'm so glad I agreed to do this, Rachel.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

[05:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING) HOWELL: Welcome back. This story we will tell you about next is just

incredible. An act of compassion in action. You'll remember back in May the former pro footballer Keanon Lowe managed to disarm a teenage gunman at a U.S. high school in Oregon. Well, now, months later, we're getting to see video of a man whose superpower helped to save a life. Our Polo Sandoval explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Angel Granados Diaz walked into his northeast Portland, Oregon, high school campus back in May, armed with a shotgun and loaded with a single shell. This newly released surveillance video shows us what happened next.

That's campus coach and security guard Keanon Lowe, encountering Diaz at the entrance to a classroom. He grabs the gun with one hand and reaches for the crisis-stricken 19-year old with the other. What follows was a consoling hug and a conversation, allowing police time to respond and take control.

Coach Lowe has kept a relatively low profile for the last five months, only discussing that moment publicly a few times, including this interview with "GMA" after it happened.

KEANON LOWE, CAMPUS COACH AND SECURITY GUARD: I feel like I was put in that room in that very moment for a reason, to protect those kids. I end up getting the gun from him, you know, getting the gun with my right hand and holding him off with my left hand and calling for a teacher to come grab the gun from me.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): The surveillance video confirms accounts from witnesses and likely reassures parents, who had feared the worst on that summer day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By the grace of God nobody was hurt in this one. So I'm very thankful for that.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Earlier this month, Diaz pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and was sentenced to three years' probation. As part of the deal, he'll get mental health and substance abuse treatment.

In a statement the deputy district attorney confirmed Diaz never intended to hurt anyone other than himself. The D.A.'s office also determined the weapon did not fire when Diaz pulled the trigger, giving a consoling coach time to act -- Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Polo, thank you.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is getting emotional, in a new interview, revealing that being a new mom in the public eye isn't very easy. Markle gave a rare look into her life for the British TV documentary, "Harry and Meghan: An African Journey." With tears in her eyes, she answered this question, "How are you doing?" (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Look, any woman, especially when they're pregnant, you're really vulnerable. And so that was made really challenging. And then when you have a newborn, you know --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a long time ago, but I remember, yes.

MARKLE: And especially as a woman, it's a lot. So, you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed it's -- yes, well, also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK.

[05:55:00]

MARKLE: But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: When that video was made public, the hashtag #weloveyoumeghan began to trend on Twitter, with hundreds of thousands of people sending their support to the duchess.

A group of archaeologists say they discovered the biggest cache of Egyptian remains in more than a century. On Saturday, authorities revealed the contents of 30 wooden coffins excavated in the city of Luxor.

They contained the mummified bodies of men, women and children dating back to 10th century B.C., some 3,000 years ago. Experts say the coffins are exceptionally well preserved and highly detailed in color and markings.

And finally this hour, the artist Prince, his song, "I Feel for You," the song that won two Grammys back in 1984, well, now an earlier acoustic demo of the song has been released. If you haven't heard it, we have a sample but first here is the Grammy-winning cover by Chaka Khan. Listen.

(AUDIO CLIP, "I FEEL FOR YOU," CHAKA KHAN)

HOWELL: That takes me back. I remember that stuff. Great stuff. Now here is the original; as a 20-year-old Prince recorded it in the late '70s. Listen to this.

(AUDIO CLIP, "I FEEL FOR YOU," PRINCE)

HOWELL: That dude was incredible. Just incredible. The release of its timing to the 40th anniversary of Prince's second album, where the studio version of the song first appeared. Amazing.

Thank you for being with us for this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. For our viewers in the United States, "NEW DAY" is next. For our viewers around the world on CNN International, "TALK ASIA" is ahead. Thank you for watching CNN, the world news leader.