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North Korean Christmas Gift To Donald Trump; Protests in Hong Kong Raging For More Than Six Months Now; Emergency Teams Are Trying To Contain An Oil Spill On The Galapagos Islands; Firefighters, Volunteers Battle Dozens Of Wildfires; Senators Trying To Reach Deal On Trial Rules; Opposition Objects To Preliminary Count That Shows President Ashraf Ghani Leads; U.K. Workers Put New Spin On Secret Santa Tradition; Tesco Suspends Production At Chinese Factory. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired December 23, 2019 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for your company. Coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM. As bushfires rage across Australia, the Prime Minister doubles down on his government's controversial climate change policy.

A twist in the battle over the upcoming impeachment trial, newly released e-mails shed light on exactly when aid to Ukraine was frozen. One top Democrat calling that explosive. And a familiar face declares victory in Afghanistan's presidential election. What another term for Ashraf Ghani could mean for the war and peace talks with the Taliban.

Welcome, everybody. Firefighters in Australia hoping for relief as they continue to battle dozens of deadly bush fires across the state. This comes as the Prime Minister is defending his government's response to the catastrophic fires. As you can see there, that smoky haze in one of these fires in New South Wales. Right now, nearly 100 fires are burning in the country's most populous state.

As the death toll climbs to nine, it has led to growing goals for increased action on climate change. Speaking on several morning shows, Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, rejected those calls to change Australia's carbon emission targets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MORRISON, PRIME MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: Australia is taking action on climate change. What we won't do is engaged in reckless and job- destroying and economy crunching targets which is being -- seeking to be posted to us at the moment, taking advantage of natural disasters, because now Australia would think that the direct policies of any single government in the world is directly linked to any fire. That's not true.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Cooler temperatures on Sunday have helped keep the flames from intensifying. But the battle against these deadly fires is far from over. And as they rage on, hundreds of people are left without a home this holiday season. Mylee Hogan with affiliate 7News is in Blackheath, that's just to the west of Sydney, and shows us the latest efforts to try to put out the infernos.

MYLEE HOGAN, SEVEN NEWS REPORTER: This is what firefighters faced in Blackheath last night, staring down a wall of flames as it explodes from the grass valley. Crews forced to retreat as the inferno quickly reaches the house. In (INAUDIBLE), similar scenes. A whirlwind of flames and thick smoke making visibility so poor a firefighter was hit by a car. He was rushed back to his truck by colleagues.

The gulf mountain mega blaze showing no mercy taking Bilpin's Tutti Fruitti Cafe. By morning, it was a smoldering mess. Cruise on the ground cooling this, the black mountains, fears 20 homes are lost. This is one home that did not stand a chance against yesterday's flames. Recovery crews are now moving through the fire affected communities. But it could still be days before they know the full extent of the damage. But many more are still standing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The road coming over the hill just like a fried trunk, and the (INAUDIBLE). Flames and the smog, you just couldn't see a thing. I just can't thank them enough, you know.

HOGAN: Others defended their own homes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The smoke was horrific. My eyes were burning. My sons were just wetting the house down.

HOGAN: In (INAUDIBLE) overnight, rows of homes burnt to the ground. One man was feared dead. But this morning, he was found to live in an evacuation center. Experienced crews still shocked by the conditions they faced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty horrendous, actually. I had 39 years' experience in bush fighting, and that would probably go down as the worst I've ever seen.

HOGAN: Now communities throughout the mountains face a rebuilding operation from homes to infrastructure. But the threat is far from over as the blaze continues to rage. Blackheath once again in the firing line today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have crown fire behind the houses, the situation is critical, serious concerns for property loss over.

HOGAN: A reality the community will have to deal with for months. In Blackheath, Mylee Hogan, Seven News.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: Well, how much longer will these cooler temperatures last. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins me now. Bring us up to date on what they can expect down under.

[01:05:00]

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Michael, you know, right on the immediate coast across New South Wales, of course, where the threat is the highest, that's the forecast here where we think cooler temperatures will be in place for at least the next four to five days.

That's the best run of weather we've seen in several weeks' time. But of course, go into western areas of Queensland in the portions of South Australia, temperatures still near 50 degrees in a few spots even at this hour. But you kind of see the images that have come in from this particular region where we've had significant fires in place, certainly encroaching on certain built buildings and encompassing some buildings as well, but kind of breaking down how much land has been consumed.

This year in 2019, we've talked about a million hectares of land that were consumed in the Amazon fires, the California fires pushed up to close to two million. You notice the New South Wales fires up to nearly 3 million hectares of land consumed, and still growing, of course, across this region.

So the images as such, officials in Australia telling us in New South Wales in particular, they've actually saved upwards of 14,000 homes or properties. So certainly, a lot of efforts have been put in place by a lot of people here to try to keep this at bay. But of course, Mother Nature always has the upper hand.

But over the next couple of days, we do get a little bit of a break. Disturbance on approach. You noticed the cloud cover on the horizon here and we'll get some showers out of this potentially. Into northern areas of New South Wales, southern areas of Queensland, this is the region where the heaviest rainfall is slated, kind of highlighting the area where some of the biggest fires are right here, just west of Sydney into also Northern Queensland.

So some of the region does get some beneficial rainfall inside the next couple of days. But the totals here really kind of really favor the northern tier of say, Queensland and you notice, into New South Wales. It kind of limits a little bit. This is where we need it most. So certainly, beneficial rainfall, but we want some of that energy to shift to the south. There's still time for that to happen. But at this point, it looks like well, at least -- at least get some rainfall, Michael.

HOLMES: All right, Pedram, thanks for that. I appreciate it. Pedram Javaheri there. And we are learning new details about White House efforts to freeze aid to Ukraine. Newly released documents show those efforts actually began about 19 minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart back in July. Shortly after the call, White House official Mike Duffy sent an e-mail

telling other officials to "hold off sending the aid." Now the U.S. Senate top Democrat is again pushing for Duffy and other White House officials to testify in the Senate impeachment trial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Until we hear from the witnesses, until we get the documents, the American people will correctly assume that those blocking their testimony were aiding and abetting a cover-up, plain and simple. So I'll close by saying this. President Trump released the e-mails. Let the witnesses testify. What are you afraid of?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: While all this was happening, Mr. Trump was spotted at his Florida resort with Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. You see there in the picture there. The President is expected to spend the holidays there, but he will also be of course focusing attention on his impeachment and he does continue to tweet.

CNN Kristen Holmes is in West Palm Beach, Florida. She has more now on how the administration is preparing for that trial when it comes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know White House aides have begun their preparation for this Senate impeachment trial, and they're hoping that President Trump will turn his focus to this impending trial while he spent the next two weeks here at Mara Lago.

But when it comes to what exactly is going to happen in the Senate trial, when it comes to those proceedings, they are still in a stalemate. And we know that Democrats do we got some energy over the release of those new e-mails and here's why. The e-mails were penned by a man named Michael Duffy who is a President Trump political appointee, a man who works with the Office of Management and Budget, and one of the four witnesses the Democrats asked to testify during this impeachment trial.

So both parties here really seem to have dug in their heels now. Now, neither of them seemed to be moving at all. However, the Vice President's chief of staff Marc Short today said he's convinced a deal could be reached.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC SHORT, CHIEF OF STAFF TO MIKE PENCE: I'm quite confident that this position is untenable. She's going to move it along and that Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell reach a deal and the House is going to proceed in the Senate.

CHRIS WALLACE, ANCHOR, FOX NEWS CHANNEL: So do you think that she'll eventually give in? SHORT: She will be (INAUDIBLE). There's no way she can hold this position.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

K. HOLMES: Now, how and what that deal would look like is really unknown. And there are a lot of questions as we enter this uncharted territory. But one thing is certain, Congress is not back in session until early January.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Kristen Holmes reporting there. All right, Afghanistan's main opposition leader rejecting the preliminary results of the latest presidential election there. The count by the country's independent Election Commission puts President Ashraf Ghani on a track to win a second term with almost 51 percent of the vote. That would be enough for him to avoid a runoff.

The party's top challenger Abdullah Abdullah not for the first election says he's going to be contesting these results, claiming widespread and systemic fraud. Officials say the numbers could still change before the final tally.

Well, Craig Nelson is the Kabul Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal and joins us now via Skype from Kabul, Afghanistan. And thanks so much for doing so. So, you got Ghani winning the majority, but not for the first time the results disputed. Abdullah Abdullah says irregularities. Where does that leave things?

[01:10:25]

CRAIG NELSON, KABUL BUREAU CHIEF, WALL STREET JOURNAL: Well, it's good news for Ashraf Ghani because he comes out ahead in a very narrow fraction. The bad news for Ashraf Ghani is that the difference between him and a runoff is only about 11,000 votes. So, as you know, Michael, from having reported here that 11,000 votes and an Afghan election isn't much given the history of fraud and other voter irregularities.

So Abdullah Abdullah, who is a partner in the government is going to be challenging appealing the results. That's going to take considerably another weeks, if not more. And so, this whole political crisis, the kind of limbo that Afghanistan it is going to continue well into the winter.

HOLMES: You make a good point that, you know, it's not that many votes that would bring about a runoff. And it's interesting because turnout was so low, I think the lowest since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. You got a country of 37 million, 9.6 million registered voters, and just 1.8 million votes were counted.

Obviously, there's security concerns, but was there apathy to a lack of faith in the process? Was their enthusiasm for this?

NELSON: No. There was actually -- obviously the Talabani did threaten to disrupt the elections. But another big problem as you point out was apathy. We were at polling places north of Kabul where you know, by four hours into the voting, only four or five people have voted. And the reason they stayed away was because they didn't think it made any difference.

And the other reason is that most Afghans will say that what's most important for the country is to get -- is the peace process and getting a peace deal. So they didn't see the elections as necessarily affecting that aspiration at all.

HOLMES: Yes, another good point you make. I mean, what does this all mean for those possible talks with the Taliban, whatever stage they're at, at the moment, Donald Trump touting them back on again? The Taliban, of course, refused to negotiate with the Afghan government saying it's illegitimate.

I mean, that seems to be when you look at the big picture, and you know, the country well, I mean, not having the government even involved in the talk sort of makes you wonder about how that plays in.

NELSON: Yes. Here's where we're going with that. I think that -- I think they'll probably be -- President Trump is interested in at least a partial troop withdrawal. I think we'll probably see an announcement in the next few weeks. And that -- a stipulation of that troop withdrawal is going to be that the Taliban enter talks with the Afghan government and other Afghan -- prominent Afghan officials.

Now, Ashraf Ghani's problem is that if he goes -- if he wins with such a small portion of the vote, he's going to have problems with the legitimacy as he enters those talks, because the Taliban are going to simply say, well, look, look at the low board turnout. Your victory represents such a tiny fraction of the overall population of the country. So take heed when we -- as we enter these negotiations about the future shape of the government.

So it's a good victory. It's important milestone for Ashraf Ghani, but his problems, he may not yet win this thing. And even if he does, his problems are far from over.

HOLMES: And again, broadening the discussion now because you know, the place well. You know, the Taliban have such a big footprint there militarily. You know, in many ways, they're more trusted in some areas than the government, because at least they had a rule of law in many ways. Do you see the Taliban ever saying, OK, we'll share power with the central government, or is your sense that the Taliban just wants to go back to running the place like they used to?

NELSON: I think it's very hard to tell. And the only way to be able to tell is to test a little bit. The Taliban in Doha tell you that, you know, they're really not interested in taking over the government. I think militarily, they really couldn't take over Kabul. I think they want some ministries. I think they want a voice in the government. I think there will be a power-sharing government.

And I think they realized the only way they can go forward as a movement is to be part of a coalition government because the European -- all the donors including Europe, the United States -- European countries, and the United States have said, if you don't -- if you try to -- if you try to take over this whole thing, you won't see any money from us.

[01:15:11]

And that's been a big lever for them. For their foreign -- for the international community.

HOLMES: And important moment in Afghanistan. We're lucky to get you onto talk about it. Craig Nelson with the Wall Street Journal.

Thanks so much. Thank you, appreciate it.

NELSON: Thanks for having me.

HOLMES: Difficult times in Afghanistan. All right, we're going to take a break when we come back. Young protesters in Hong Kong face the possibility of years behind bars but they say it's a sacrifice they're willing to make for a greater cause.

Also, when we come back, at this time of year, it can look like just about everyone is feasting and celebrating Christmas. But what about families going hungry this festive season? In Britain, some Secret Santa's coming to the rescue.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JAVAHERI: CNN "WEATHER WATCH". I'm meteorologist Pedram Javaheri on a soggy pattern that has shaped up over the past several days into the southern and southeastern United States.

Stays there for one more day and a dramatic change for the better here, and you'll notice high pressure that's kind of encompassing a large area of the central United States begins shifting farther towards the east.

And if that happens, and as that happens, we get conditions to improve that rather nicely. But showers are expected across portions of the Carolinas, very slow-moving system here. So much of Monday remains unsettled, especially around the coastal region of the Carolinas there were tremendous rainfall.

Charleston, in particular, well known for flooding events and this could be the case again as we approach Christmas Eve, at least, with some heavy rainfall before the system exits. But beyond that, we do get a rapid warming trend in store here over the southern United States.

To the north temps also warming up. In New York City, from a high of about eight degrees on Sunday to Monday, we expect about 11. Boston goes from seven to 12 degrees.

You'll notice all of that is above the freezing mark, so, wintry weather, not the case there, but it is the case across portions of the higher elevations of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and even California.

Speaking of California, look at this. You're heading head towards portions of California. This is the wettest place -- one of the wettest places in the country over the next couple of days here as we get multiple rounds of energy that work their way into the region.

We leave you with temps across Chicago, warming up to about 11 degrees.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:19:51]

HOLMES: A dangerous chain reaction, at least, 50 people injured in this massive pile-up in the U.S. state of Virginia on Sunday. State police say nearly 70 cars crashing on the Interstate. Both sides of the highway closed for hours.

Some cars was so mangled and you can see it there, authorities literally had to step on cars to other cars to pull people out. Police, say the cause of the crash is under investigation. There was heavy fog and icy road conditions.

Some workers in Britain are putting a new spin on the Secret Santa tradition. Instead of giving gifts to colleagues, they are making sure vulnerable families aren't left with nothing on their Christmas table.

CNN Scott McLean with more from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It all started with a letter to Santa from a 7-year-old girl in England, who wish for a house, a doll, and something to eat. A heartbreaking message went viral.

ALEX ALDER, MANAGEMENT TRAINER, GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY: She wasn't asking for much, and you know, a bit of food on the table.

MCLEAN: Alex Alder, reposted the letter on a social media page for his company, Great Western Railway.

His Christmas wish, instead of Secret Santa were giving gifts to colleagues, he asked rail workers to donate to food banks.

ALDER: The response has been amazing, overwhelming. What started off is a small thing in one office, as nice went across the network.

MCLEAN: Now, thousands of workers in 30 depots along these tracks have donated to help children facing hunger.

ABBY JITENDRA, POLICY AND RESEARCH MANAGER, TRUSSELL TRUST: We see that around -- a third of people refer to food banks are children. So, it's a huge number of families and children that are having to live in what -- you know, we would all consider to be unacceptable, destitution, and poverty.

So, it's something which becomes even more clear at Christmas time, because that's really the time we expect families to be -- you know, happy and being a tough presence, but often, that's exactly the time when families feel the pinch the most.

MCLEAN: The Trussell Trust, an organization that aims to end hunger in the U.K., says most people who need food banks survive on an income of just 50 pounds or $65 a week after paying for housing.

The need increases in winter when family struggle to pay higher heating bills and children stop receiving free school lunches over the holidays.

JITENDRA: It's so important to be able to give people more than just- food. It's really important to be able to give people the hope and support during this time, and help get them back on their feet.

MCLEAN: The organization recommends calling your local food bank, to see what items they need most this Christmas, or donating money to pay for food deliveries and support services.

ALDER: (INAUDIBLE) -- you know, a bag of fancy flavored crisps, who knows what it will make a small difference in a way you are still secret Santa. You just won't know the person who you're giving if the food too.

MCLEAN: Scott McLean, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: CNN did ask the U.K. government why thousands of families are relying on food banks this Christmas and a government spokesman did send us a statement: "The reasons for people using food banks are complex. We spend over 95 billion pounds." That's $123 billion "a year on welfare and have simplified the benefits system through Universal Credit. People can get paid urgently if they need it and 95 percent of payments are made in full and on time."

Meanwhile, a bizarre story, the British supermarket Tesco, says it suspended working with a Chinese factory following allegations that prisoners were forced to pack charity Christmas cards.

The Sunday Times newspaper reporting a 6-year-old who lives in South London opened a box of Tesco charity Christmas cards and discovered a message handwritten, desperate inside one of those boxes.

The message said they are foreign prisoners in Shanghai and they are being forced to work against their will.

Tesco said in a statement they shocked by the allegations and have withdrawn the cards from sale while they investigate. CNN has tried to contact Chinese authorities for comment on the allegations of forced labor at the company's called Qingpu, but have yet to receive any comment back. Now the artist Banksy is turning heads again with his latest work of art. It's called not star of Bethlehem, but Scar of Bethlehem, and features the nativity scene. You got baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, but behind them, concrete barriers with a bullet hole representing the star -- the Christmas star.

Now, those barriers represent the one separating Israel and the West Bank. The art on display at the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. We see it there, which itself overlooks the barrier. An extraordinary hotel too.

[01:24:37]

HOLMES: North Korea has promised the U.S. a Christmas gift. A source familiar with Kim Jong-un's mindset shares how the North Korean leader could soon handle relations with Washington. That's when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. Let's update you on the top news this hour. The U.S. Senate minority leader is again calling for White House official Mike Duffy to testify in the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump.

Democrat Chuck Schumer, citing newly released documents that show efforts to freeze aid to Ukraine began 90 minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart back in July. Shortly, after that call, Duffy sent an e-mail telling officials to hold off sending aid.

Australia's firefighters struggling to battle dozens of deadly bushfires. This as the prime minister pushes back at growing goals for increased government action against climate change.

He says his government is taking appropriate response to the fire. Saying it would be "Reckless to lower Australia's targets for carbon emissions."

Afghanistan's main opposition leader rejecting the preliminary results of the latest presidential election there. The count by the country's independent Election Commission puts President Ashraf Ghani on a track to win a second term.

But his top challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, says he will contest the results. Claiming widespread and systemic fraud.

The U.S. is on alert this holiday season over concerns that North Korea could soon conduct a new round of weapons testing to deliver a promised Christmas gift to Washington.

This coming as CNN obtain satellite images that show new work at buildings associated with the production of long-range missile launchers. But as Will Ripley reports, Pyongyang might have something else in mind. WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Despite all the activity we've seen as of late, my sources telling me the chances of a North Korean missile launch around Christmas are actually very law. And that the Christmas gift is more likely to be Kim Jong-un, announcing a new hardline stance when dealing with the United States and his intention to consolidate North Korea's position as a nuclear state.

[01:30:00]

So why do we see things like the engine tests and this uptick in activity at a known missile production facility or at least a facility tied to the missile program? And then of course meetings over the weekend with North Korean military leaders?

Well, it's all designed to get us, the Western media talking and to continue to put pressure on the United States as we approach the end of the year that began much differently.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY (voice over): 2019 began with so much promise, U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nothing like having a nice private dinner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over): Brimming with confidence in February, their second face-to-face meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Their first Summit in Singapore eight months earlier ended with a vaguely worded pledge and zero progress on two key issues: Denuclearization and sanctions.

The collapse of working level talks did not seem to faze President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think we'll have a very tremendous Summit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over): Or Chairman Kim.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM JONG-UN, NORTH KOREA SUPREME LEADER (through translator): If I am not willing to do that, I would not be here right now.

TRUMP: It is true. That might be the best answer you've ever heard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over): The White House even promised a joint agreement. But instead of walking away with a deal, Trump walked out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: This wasn't a walk away like you get up and walk out. No, this was very friendly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over): The North Koreans didn't think it was friendly. A source told CNN Kim was blindsided.

Spring began with a flurry of weapons tests. The U.S. and South Korea assessed them to be short range launches and as he did throughout the year, President Trump seemed to shrug them off.

Tensions temporarily eased in June. Trump and Kim called this historic. They claimed impromptu meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Their pledge to begin working level talks within weeks, yet another broken vow.

Nearly six months after that DMZ photo op, another launch and the return of this infamous insult.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They are like sending rockets up, isn't he? That's why I call him Rocket Man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over): North Korea returned the rhetorical fire, calling Trump's comments, "the dotage of a dotard," which means old senile lunatic. That kicked off a busy December.

North Korea cryptically promised a Christmas gift for the U.S. if the year ended without a diplomatic breakthrough. They published photos of Kim riding a white horse on Mount Paektu, the place he's known to visit before making big decisions.

Not one, but two apparent engine tests at this known launch site, sparking speculation of a bigger test to come.

On the week before Christmas, this appeal to Pyongyang from President Trump's point man on North Korea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN BIEGUN, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KOREA: Let's get this done. We are here and you know how to reach us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY (voice over); Last ditch diplomacy, hitting an all too familiar, dead end.

RIPLEY (on camera): A source also telling me that denuclearization is off the table for now and the North Koreans say the bar is much higher to return to talks with the United States.

As for dealing directly with the Trump administration, I'm told that Kim is taking a wait and see approach given the impeachment and given the fact that President Trump is moving into a very sensitive and complex election year and the North Koreans feel he may not even have the political capital right now to implement any agreement that they might reach.

Will Ripley, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And staying in Hong Kong, protests there have been raging for more than six months now.

Ever since the unrest began back in June, more than 6,000 demonstrators have been arrested and many of them are students who have risked everything for democracy including their freedom and in many cases, their future.

CNN's Anna Coren looks at how their arrests are impacting the city's overburdened judicial system.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): On a Sunday afternoon back in October, thousands of Hong Kong protesters take to the streets shouting their demands in the pouring rain.

Among the crowd is Matthew. It's not his real name. He's asked us to hide his identity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW, FRONTLINE PROTESTER: We are now here to fight for our freedom, and most importantly, to fight for our future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (voice over): It's the sense of duty that's driving the protest movement. And for months, he's been on the front line clashing with police.

Are you scared about getting arrested?

MATTHEW: Yes. Of course. I don't want violence to happen, but the government just don't listen to us. So what are we supposed to do? There is only one single option for us and that is a revolution.

COREN (voice over): But a week later, Matthew's fight comes to an abrupt end. Undercover police dressed as protesters arrest him. He is charged with possession of offensive weapons, a crime that carries a three-year prison sentence.

[01:35:10]

COREN (voice over): Out on bail, Matthew agrees to talk to us again. We meet at his friend's cramped apartment. Protest posters cover the walls. The enormity of the situation has sunk in. But he has no regrets about his involvement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW: No, not at all. The only regret I have is not being careful though.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (voice over): For this soft spoken career professional, he knows the seriousness of his alleged crime means he may end up with a criminal record. But he says that's a sacrifice he is willing to make for what he believes is a greater cause.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW: I believe Hong Kong will have fundamental change. And my future is becoming insignificant compared to what will happen in Hong Kong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (on camera): Over the past six months, more than 6,000 protesters have been arrested of which more than 40 percent of them are students. And while only a small proportion of them have actually been charged, pro-democracy lawmakers and activists fear that Hong Kong will lose a generation of future leaders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED HUI, LEGISLATIVE AND DISTRICT COUNCILOR, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: When people with the heart or with the ideals and really values what they believe, these are people with quality. They are the future of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong government is treating them, damaging them, and put them into ruins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (voice over): Almost a thousand protesters have been charged with offenses ranging from unlawful assembly, to the most serious crimes of rioting, assault and arson. A third of them are students.

Legal experts believe the court system is not equipped to handle the sheer volume of trials. The first scheduled to start early next year. And if the majority of protesters are convicted, there is concern the prison system will be overloaded.

The Hong Kong Police tell CNN they want to see further prosecutions and say the only thing holding them up is the slow speed of the courts. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHANNES CHAN, CHAIR PROFESSOR AT LAW, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: At the moment, we don't know how many more will be charged and/or what offenses they will be charged. This is not just the court, but even the police and the prosecutions are not ready.

But it just shows this is not only the strains on this judiciary, but the prosecution and the police are not even prepared to handle all this mess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (voice over): We catch up with Matthew just before his court appearance. He is feeling nervous. But while he, and hundreds of frontliners like him that may end up behind bars. He is confident the fight for Hong Kong will continue in his absence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW: After six months, we have already given so much on the protests. So many people got arrested, so many people got beaten up and lives have been sacrificed. We just cannot stop right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (voice over): Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Heavy rain and floods have been devastating people in East Africa this year, but the rainfall has been a blessing for many animals. We'll have that story for you when we come back.

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[01:40:13]

HOLMES: Emergency teams are trying to contain an oil spill on the Galapagos Islands. Officials there say this disaster happened on Sunday, a cargo vessel overturning in San Cristobal.

Local media report no one was injured. Crew members did jump off the ship as it started to capsize. But the oil could be a problem.

The Galapagos Islands are about a thousand kilometers west of Ecuador, regarded as one of the most ecologically important places on the planet. Efforts are being made to contain it, but a lot of people are very worried about this.

East Africa has had a turbulent year of heavy rains. It's killed hundreds of people actually, but the wet weather has had the opposite effect for many animals.

CNN's Farai Sevenzo shows us how wildlife at one park in Kenya are thriving. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For months now, East Africa has had heavy rainfall. Hundreds died across the region in landslides and flash floods.

But what did the heavy rains do to the region's animals? This park we are told by the rangers here had 1,930 elephants at last count. The heavy rains fell here, too, sending water down from the mountains.

This park is looked after by Kenya's Wildlife Services.

SEVENZO (on camera): The rains which have been falling so heavily all through Kenya and East Africa have affected this area, too, Amboseli National Park up near the border with Tanzania. These rains have been a huge blessing. You can see the animals grazing, the flamingos are back and of course, the tribesmen and villages who live around this area are coexisting with the animals.

SEVENZO (voice over): The rains have led to new grass and fresh foraging for the beasts here.

SEVENZO (on camera): Were the animal is adversely affected by this?

JOSEPH KABERERE, KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICES: Not at all. Not at all, because as you can see, you have seen a lot of elephants. We have had the hippos. Amboseli is a dry area, a hot area.

So because of the rains we had, you can see the areas is green.

SEVENZO: When the East Africa rains first came cascading down mountains like Mount Kilimanjaro, they caused a lot of flash floods and the rumors abounded that animals are being swept away, but of course, they are very instinctive creatures.

These beasts, they know when to move away from earthquakes, from volcanoes and indeed from floods. What was a very dry region and area is now lush with green vegetation just before Christmas. It is a wonderful site, which is of course completely the opposite of what happened to people in East Africa.

SEVENZO (voice over): In this age of climate change debates, the rains are seen as another standoff between people and nature.

But here in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, a delicate balance between man and beast seems to have been struck for now.

Farai Sevenzo, CNN, Amboseli, Kenya.

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HOLMES: And thanks for your company over the last 45 minutes or so. This has been CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Michael Holmes. "World Sport" is coming up next.

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