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Despite Reporting Fever, CDC Gave Nurse OK To Fly On Plane; Transforming Tomorrow: Automated Translation; Interview With Former Pyongyang Bureau Chief Jean Lee; Snow Storm Hits Nepal, Traps Trekkers; The Chinese City Propping Up North Korea's Regime

Aired October 16, 2014 - 8:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

Now new details about the second U.S. nurse diagnosed with Ebola. Now her case could change the way health officials classify the symptoms of the

deadly virus.

Plus, Hong Kong student protesters may soon get their chance to speak with the government, but the not neglecting their studies while they wait.

And insight into North Korea. We'll speak to one of the few western journalists who have worked in Pyongyang.

Now countries are scaling up their response to the Ebola epidemic both at home and in West Africa. Now EU health ministers held talks in Brussels

today to discuss better screening of airline passengers as a way to limit the spread of the virus.

And in the U.S., health officials are considering new travel restrictions after a second nurse in Texas tested positive for Ebola.

Now Amber Vinson notified the CDC of a low-grade fever before she boarded her flight from Cleveland to Dallas, but was not told to stay off

the plane.

Now the carrier, Frontier Airlines, says it has grounded six crew members from the flight as precaution.

But the ripple effect of Vinson's travel it goes way beyond that. And some schools in Texas and Ohio are closing temporarily because of concerns

that some students or staffers were on the same plane as the infected nurse.

Now CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on this latest American Ebola case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This morning, the second person to contract Ebola in the United States now being

treated here at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Transferred from Dallas late last night, Amber Vinson, a 29-year-old nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian, is now the second nurse to contract the

disease in the country, after caring for the now deceased Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan. Her home, cleaned by hazmat crews on Wednesday, and

many now asking how did this happen?

According to the CDC, Vinson had, quote, "extensive contact with Duncan from September 28th to the 30th." That's the highest risk period,

when he had extensive production of bodily fluids. Just 10 days later, within the 21-day period when symptoms manifest, Vinson flew on a Frontier

Airlines flight from Dallas to Cleveland, Ohio, to plan her wedding and visit her mom.

Three days after that, this past Monday, she had an elevated fever. Her 99.5-degree temperature prompted her to call the CDC before boarding

her return flight to Dallas. According to a federal official, the agency did not tell her not to board that plane.

99.5 degrees does not meet the CDC's criteria for possible signs of Ebola, so, Vinson continued her travels, flying with a cabin full of 132

other passengers. Then, just one day later, she went to the hospital exhibiting Ebola symptoms. On Tuesday, morning within 90 minutes of taking

her temperature she was put into isolation, according to officials, and then, early yesterday morning, Vinson is diagnosed with Ebola. Though the

CDC says the risk is extremely low for the other passengers, the agency is reaching out as part of, quote, "extra margins of safety."

DR. TOM FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: In the isolation--

GUPTA: CDC director, Dr. Tom Frieden, says this should not have happened.

FRIEDEN: She was in a group of individuals known to have exposure to Ebola. She should not have traveled on a commercial airline.

GUPTA: An official now tells CNN the CDC is considering putting the 76 health care workers from the Dallas hospital on the TSA's no fly list.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now this is the worst Ebola outbreak on record. The World Health Organization expects the number of cases to top 9,000 this week.

Now the virus has claimed 4,493 lives in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Now keep in mind, these numbers are likely underreported. And they've only continued to climb since the outbreak began.

In less than 8 months, the numbers have risen at this exponential rate. And the WHO has warned that there could be up to 10,000 new cases of

the virus per week in West Africa by December.

Now health ministers from across Europe, they are meeting to consider a combined response to the Ebola threat. One measure could be constant

wide screening for people arriving from affected countries.

Now we're also looking ahead to a briefing, it's expected shortly from the World Health Organization, on the spread of the disease and how

countries should prepare to deal with it.

Now for the very latest, let's go straight to Nic Robertson. He joins us live in Geneva. And Nic, I mean, the world right now is debating what

is the proper protocol when dealing with Ebola. So what will the World Health Organization say on that? What will it announce today?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's not clear precisely what it will announce and if it will be a further restating of

the numbers of deaths and the numbers of new cases that exist for -- that we're seeing in Ebola at the moment.

What we're hearing from the European commission today is that 21 ministerial level health officials have gathered there at three days

notice. They're saying that's quite some accomplishment.

But again this has to be stressed that the body itself does not have the powers to enforce measures, screening measures or any other types of

measures on any nations, it's up to nations to pick and choose what they want to do. They also say that this meeting is not to agree to any or put

into effect any conclusions that are discussed here, merely it is to exchange information, because there's a certain recognition in the European

Union that it is in their own interest, the country's own interest to share information about cross-border health issues.

So, while on one hand you have countries like Britain that are already imposing some levels of screening on passengers arriving at some airports

in the UK, there are other European nations who believe a better approach is to educate people, perhaps educate air crews, educate people traveling

from affected areas what to do, where to go, who to contact if they show Ebola-like symptoms while they're in Europe.

So there's a divergence within Europe on the ways to tackle this when it comes to screening at airports. Very likely, the discussion at WHO at a

more global level will again be like this, but more complex. It takes into account many more countries, many more points of view, but the key that

we're hearing across the spectrum here is the importance of coordinating and communicating how different countries -- different countries are going

to manage this situation right now, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, coordination is very key here. You're monitoring a number of meetings taking place today. The World Health Organization to

give a press conference shortly, also EU health ministers discussing, as you mentioned just then whether or not continent-wide screening of

passengers is necessary.

Just a moment ago, we reported on that dire warning from the World Health Organization about the number of new cases. It could be up to

10,000 new cases a week by December as the outbreak spreads. Is all that turning into a sense of urgency that nations must get together and act now?

ROBERTSON: Well, certainly that's how the European commissioner for health put it today. He said that this is out of a sense of urgency,

because of the public concerns that the public -- and this is how he worded it, that the public want more to be done. And it's also on national

interests. There certainly does seem to be a recognition that not enough is being done, that opportunities have been missed, that no more

opportunities can be missed like this, a redoubling of efforts is how the European commissioner for health put it to support NGOs, to support who are

working in those affected areas to support people in those affected areas.

And what we understand is that the rate of growth -- so when we talk about perhaps 10,000 new cases a week by December, the rate of growth is

estimated to be a doubling of cases every three to four weeks, so while in December you may have 10,000 cases a week, by January it will be many, many

more times that.

And the realization of these figures, what it means, public concerns, national concerns, this is all beginning to mount -- the economic toll, the

impact to business, the impact or the strength and security of -- future strength and security of countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, are going to

be impacted by how quickly that this is tackled -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Further action is desperately needed. Nic Robertson reporting live from Geneva. Thank you, Nic.

Now more world attention is focusing on West Africa as the Ebola crisis worsens and the threat to other nations grows. And the African

continent has seen many disasters before, famine and drought among them.

Now long-time Africa activist and musician Sir Bob Geldof told CNN in his view those problems and Ebola share one root cause: poverty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB GELDOF, MUSICIAN/ACTIVIST: My concern, as you say, is with regard to West Africa -- Medecins sans Frontieres said exactly six months ago that

this would happen and roll out as it has. And we should have put a stop to it then. And again, you refer back to, you know, when I first became

engaged with these sort of issues in the 80s. And it was to do with famine. And people were, of course, dying because they had nothing to eat,

but they were dying because they couldn't grow food, of course, but also they couldn't afford to buy any and the state had no money either, so there

were no systems in place. So in effect they died of poverty.

The same is happening now in West Africa. They don't have the doctors, nurses, hospitals state systems that they have in Texas or Madrid.

And so once against through no fault of their own this virus is out of control in states where there are no systems because there's no money.

And it is particularly tragic, because Sierra Leone was just, just, just getting off its knees, beginning to breathe, the economy was beginning

to have traction, people were beginning to get well educated, hospitals were being built. I know this, because I was about to participate in a

company that was going to build a power station there and had the licenses for 4G telephones and that's all now been put aside.

So you could be looking at some people think as some sort of state collapse, which would be utterly unthinkable, because the disease itself

should that happen would then spiral away by itself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Sir Bob Geldof there.

If you want to help battle Ebola, you could start by going here, this website. We have more information about the groups working on the ground

in the hot zone in West Africa. You can find that and more, CNN.com/impact.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come on the program, the family of Reeva Steenkamp pleads for justice at the sentencing hearing for Oscar

Pistorius.

Also ahead, Hong Kong student protesters maybe sleeping out on the streets, but they're still putting in study time as well.

And as North Korea's leader reappears after that mysterious disappearance, we'll take you to the Chinese city that's propping up his

regime.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now there has been some emotional testimony on day four of the sentencing hearing for Oscar Pistorius.

Now the Olympian, he was found guilty of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But whether he goes to jail, that is up to the judge alone.

Now Steenkamp's cousin has testified about the devastating impact her death has had on the family. And today, there's also been discussion about

South Africa's prison system.

Now for the latest on the hearing, let's go live to Pretoria where Diana Magnay is standing by. And Diana, more emotional scenes in the

courtroom today, especially the testimony of Reeva's cousin Kim Martin. What did she say?

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she basically for the first time brought the picture and the person of Reeva very clearly

into the center of the court discussion. And Reeva has always been portrayed all the way through as a victim and it's been very difficult to

get a real sense of her as a person. And I think that's what Kim Marin, the cousin did when she testified yesterday.

And you had Oscar Pistorius just sobbing with his head in his hands in the aisle.

And it was the fist time, too, that June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, actually broke down and lost her composure for the first time in this long

trial.

Today has been very much more focused on as you said the South African defense system -- prison system -- and whether it can cope with disabled

prisoners, disabled prisoners like Oscar Pistorius. The defense had brought up witnesses earlier in this week who said that they thought he

should just have three years correctional services and be under house arrest, because prison would do him no good and could in fact be dangerous

for a man such as him, a double amputee, and you have now the prosecution arguing that, of course, there -- the prison system caters for disabled

prisoners and that he should -- he would be perfectly well looked after.

I think the point that the defense is now trying to make is that there is a very real difference, Kristie, between what the letter of the law says

should happen in South Africa's prisons and what actually does happen -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Diana Magnay on the line for us from Pretoria. Thank you.

Now time now for your global weather forecast and the death toll is rising in Nepal after a heavy snowfall there killed mountain trekkers.

Let's get the latest on this tragic story. Mari Ramos joins us from the world weather center -- Mari.

OK, I'm hearing that Mari Ramos is going to grab her microphone right now, just give her a beat. She'll be back there.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: I'm here. I'm here.

LU STOUT: You go, girl.

RAMOS: The battery fell out.

OK--

LU STOUT: It happens.

RAMOS: Yeah.

So, let's go ahead and take a look at this. This is a pretty serious situation.

This is in the mountains of Nepal. And unfortunately here the death toll may rise, that's what authorities are saying right now.

Let's go ahead and roll the pictures for you so you can see what's going on.

They have been able to rescue more people. And that's really important. Authorities saying that with the improvement in the weather,

they have been able to get to the mountain. There were more bodies that were recovered on -- in the last 24 hours across this area.

We're talking about a very popular area with trekkers this time of year, high in the mountains of Nepal. What happens this time of year,

October is the best month to go. They have the best weather. The monsoon has ended. And last year, 6,000 people crossed this area alone, that's

pretty significant.

But what happened this time, well, there was a tropical cyclone that hit India and that brought heavy rain into parts of India. And then as it

got into the mountains, they had extremely heavy snowfall.

How does that happen? Come back over to the weather map. Let me explain that to you.

When you look at these areas, these beautiful mountain passes, far away from where the cyclone made landfall way down here into parts of India

you can see the storm just kind of push through right there. Well, it ended up bringing into this area 200 to 300 percent of what they normally

get the entire month, catching many people be surprise, especially those trekkers that were on their own, that's the concern.

Already about 500 people have checked in said that they're OK. That's how many people were on the mountain at the time that this happened.

So, what happens is, you get all of this moisture that comes in off the water, right. It moves across this area. As the terrain rises,

especially when you have the terrain rising very, very quickly, the air gets forced to rise. As it rises, it cools. And it almost -- it condenses

very quickly. It's almost like wringing out the water that's in the clouds at that time.

And then you get some very heavy rain that starts coming down.

But that's not the only thing, the rain usually happens on that side of the mountain, on the windward side, but as it encounters colder air, you

get some very heavy snowfall as you can see here, and that's what happened into that area.

We're not expecting any more significant snow, the weather returning back to normal now that the storm has moved away, some scattered rain

showers as we head to areas farther to the south, including the areas hit by the cyclone originally. But those areas involved in this trek, in this

disaster in central Nepal looking much better.

My last thing, a quick update on Hurricane Gonzalo. It is a major hurricane, category 4, 220 kilometer per hour winds. This is in the

Atlantic. And there is a hurricane warning for the island of Bermuda.

You know, you've really got to be in that bull's eye to be able to get -- to hit a small island like this in such a vast area like the Atlantic.

Back to you.

LU STOUT: All right. Mari Ramos there, thank you so much for that. And we definitely need a better battery for a lot of devices out there,

including our microphone packs. Take care.

Now the secret is out about Apple's latest product launch. And the company has only itself to blame. Now rumor had it that Apple was going to

unveil a new line of iPads at its California headquarters. Now the gossip was all but confirmed when Apple accidentally leaked images of the new

iPads on iTunes on Wednesday.

Now the official announcement from its CEO Tim Cook is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, that is roughly five hours from now.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come, as accusations of police brutality go viral, the Hong Kong government says it is ready and willing

to return to the negotiating table. We've got the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Now Hong Kong's top leader says the government is eager to resume talks with pro-democracy protesters.

Now CY Leung says dialogue with the main student protest group could kick off as early as next week. Now this concession comes after a second

straight day of violent clashes pitting police against protesters.

Also telling in today's news conference, what was not said. There was no mention of the video that's gone viral alleging to show police brutality

against the protesters.

And even though crowds are now waning at the heart of the Hong Kong protest site, the movement continues to leave its mark on the city. From

the democracy wall to umbrella art, our Manisha Tank walks us through the kinds of installations that are popping up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANISHA TANK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hong Kong's so-called umbrella movement has been going on now for almost three weeks. And one of

the really interesting things that we've observed is a spontaneous initiatives that just keep springing up. It could be the democracy wall,

it could be umbrella art as it's known, but the more recent one that we've seen are the student desks.

And here we have an array of them. And they really have come out of nowhere, volunteers just came along and set them up.

They're free for students to use and students get priority. In fact, there's a sign here saying student first. But it does say welcome to use.

And people have come. They're sitting here doing their work.

This gentleman here, for example, his name is Chris. He's a chemistry student. He's been coming here off and on now for more than two weeks.

And he gets his work done here. And I asked him do your professors support what you're doing. They said, yes, absolutely, they give me the work. I

come down here. I get it done.

In fact, just today a PhD student came along and offered him one-to- one tuition (sic), which he's very grateful for.

I did ask him what he would do if the police came along and said, OK, it's time to move on now. And he said unless our demands are met -- this

demand for universal suffrage -- we're not going anywhere. And we are not organized. He doesn't seem himself as being led by any one student

movement.

Someone here is reading a recipe book, but people are hearing doing different things, catching up on different aspects of their work.

But what's really interesting about this is this area is really in the heart of what's left of the protest zone in Hong Kong's Admiralty. It's on

Hong Kong Island. It's part of the Central Business District. It's very calm. People feel safe here. And it really is a real change and an irony

if you look at the scuffles that are going on on the periphery. When you see this atmosphere juxtaposed against that, you wonder how long the police

can maintain that fine balance between the two.

Manisha Tank, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And this is the video that has enflamed tensions here. Now we've heard that our report on it was blacked out in Mainland China. And

CNN is not alone, other news outlets are also seeing that they are being censored. Even Chinese netizens are complaining that their posts are being

blocked.

Now journalist George Chan (ph) says that on Weibo, Sino Weibo, China's version of Twitter, posts are automatically hidden if they pair the

words Hong Kong with police.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come on the program, Kim Jong un had reappeared in the form of pictures, but that's not enough to stop

the world from speculating. After the break, an in depth look at the absence of the supreme leader and his relationship with China.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now U.S. officials may ad 76 health workers to the country's no-fly list after a second nurse contracted Ebola. Amber Vinson got permission to

take a commercial flight even though she reported a low-grade fever. Some schools in Texas and Ohio are closing temporarily because of concerns that

some students or staff members were on the same plane as Vinson.

Now it has been a tough week for global markets. The U.S. saw yet another day of volatility on Wednesday and futures, well, they point to

another day of losses. All major indexes are well in the red right now. And worry over the Ebola spread has been weighing down travel and airline

stocks in particular.

Now U.S.-led airstrikes have been pounding the Syrian border town of Kobani in an effort to drive out ISIS militants. Now Washington claims

hundreds of fighters have been killed in the past few days. It also says while the situation is still fluid, it appears Kurdish militias still

control most of the town.

Now three days have passed since photos of the North Korean leader Kim Jong un emerged. And it came out after a conspicuously long absence. And

according to state media, his people were missing their Supreme Leader very much. A news article was published on Thursday, said this, quote, "we

missed you, dear respected commander who devotes himself to the country and people. Unable to see you, we could not sleep. We all wished for the well

being of the one who is our destiny."

And while the article does acknowledge Kim's absence, it tactfully leaves out any details on his health.

Now Kim's temporary disappearance and the reaction of his people has been closely watched by China, North Korea's biggest global ally. Now

their trade the key to his hold on power. And for a look at that, David McKenzie is reporting from the Chinese town of Dandong, a bustling trading

hub right on the border.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, I'm here in Dandong in China, which is an extraordinary city, because over here you see

the bustling nature of any Chinese city, shops are open, restaurants are ready and taking customers, but just over here across the Yalu River it's

almost total blackness, just a handful of light bulbs shining, because over there it's North Korea, a completely different economic standpoint than you

have here in China.

But Dandong, in fact, many believe, is what is keeping the regime in North Korea alive.

Up to 70 percent of the trade that comes out of North Korea into China flows through this Chinese city, many of it -- much of it is legitimate

trade -- iron ore and other products coming in and food stuff going back. But they say it's propping up the regime of Kim Jong un. And there are

critics of that.

We've also met today smugglers who take food across on small boats to soldiers on the other side of the river, soldiers who would be shooting

dead anyone who tried to defect here into China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKENZIE: And at this time of heightened interest in North Korea, it's clear that China is taking the stance that more trade is better,

because it helps stability on their border, because they want to avoid any situation of chaos that could lead to thousands streaming across and

causing problems for China -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: David McKenzie, thank you.

Now China is not the only country keeping a close eye on North Korea, the world is fascinated by what goes on inside the so-called hermit

kingdom. And the difficulty of getting reliable information, it just only adds to the mystery.

Now joining me now is a journalist who has had extraordinary access to the country. Jean Lee is the former Pyongyang bureau chief for the

Associated Press. Now that's the only western news outlet that's maintaining a fully staffed bureau inside North Korea.

Now she joins me now live in Preston, England. Jeanne, thank you for joining us here on CNN.

And as the world speculates about what's been going on, the long public absence, the health of Kim Jong un, what are North Koreans thinking,

what is the view inside North Korea about its leader?

JEAN LEE, FRM. PYONGYANG BUREAU CHIEF ASSOCIATED PRESS: Well, he certainly does enjoying being the international man of mystery, Kim Jong

un, and it is clear, we know now, that he's suffering some sort of ailment or he's suffering some sort of injury, and that he's chosen to stay out of

the public eye for a number of weeks while recuperating.

This is a system, obviously in North Korean that likes to deify its leaders. They are not so transparent when their leaders are in ill health.

However, this type of injury, this physical injury, is not necessarily one that is going to do harm to his image at home.

North Korea has always been extremely comfortable showing off his physicality, his vitality. In the early years, a couple of years ago when

he first started appearing publicly, it was seen as a reassurance of his youth. And that was a very reassuring thing, because as you know in his

later years, his father Kim Jong-il was deteriorating in health.

So, Kim Jong un was often shown bending down, crouching down, demonstrating military technics, hugging children.

And this is a man who loves getting on rollercoaster rides. I was told at the amusement park that he got on twice in a row on the

rollercoaster at the new park.

He likes to ride horses. So this is something that is characterized as the injury of an active man.

So, you know, I don't think we should jump to conclusions about it, what it means for the North Koreans to show him with an injury or an

ailment.

And the cane, I think, is very interesting. It -- you know, that's a surprising element as well. But think about it, he's a young man. He's in

his early-30s, quite possibly the youngest leader running a nation in the world today, a cane is something that could add a couple of years to his

image, give him a little bit of a distinguished air along with the glasses, so not something that's necessarily going to harm his image at home.

LU STOUT: You know, it must not be a reassuring sign for North Koreans to see their supreme leader with the cane, not the sign of vitality

or youth that is expected of him.

Now for weeks, Kim Jong un's absence, it was the source of wild theories out there from broken ankles from eating to much cheese, to gout,

to being ousted in a political coup, all that's been floated out there. As a journalist and a North Korea watcher, who do you sort rumor from fact

when reporting on North Korea?

LEE: You know, in a void of information it's often easy to let your imagination run wild. But we really need to deal with facts and for those

of us who are looking at North Korea and have the on the ground access, or talking to people on the ground, one of the things you look at is there a

sense of panic on the ground.

Are they turning visitors away. In fact, we haven't really seen any overt signs that anything as amiss. I think if he were ill-health, for

example, or there was some sort of political turmoil, he would not have sent his top deputies to South Korea on October 4, tourists would not have

been allowed to come into the country. They certainly would have ask them to reschedule or postpone their trip.

So that is the type of thing that you look for on the ground, any sense of massive change or kind of shutting down. And that wasn't really -

- we weren't seeing that happen.

LU STOUT: All right, Jean Lee, former Pyongyang bureau chief of the AP, thank you very much indeed for that.

You're watching News Stream. We'll be back right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now in our special series Tomorrow Transformed, we look at how technology is changing the way we do business. And this week, Richard

Quest shows us how Skype is looking to break the language barrier for good.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It wasn't long ago if you wanted to talk to someone who spoke another language it required a lot

of patience. You painfully looked at those words you couldn't pronounce or didn't understand in multi-language dictionaries like this. Today, it is

au revoir, auf wierdesen, adios to the book, because there are computer programs and mobile apps they'll do all the tricky translation for us.

Good evening, Chris, this is Richard in Madrid. How are you tonight?

I'm having a conversation with Chris Went (ph). He works on translation technology for Miscrosoft. Chris speaks German, I speak

English, Skype, a division of Microsoft, is doing the translation.

GURDEEP PALL, CORPORATE VP, SKYPE: 300 million people use Skype to talk to each other, connecting hearts and minds and, you know, connecting

the other people. And translators (inaudible) connecting people. It's about bridging gaps that exist between people and bring them together

(inaudible) match for a match.

QUEST: This is the future. Let's see how we got here.

Machine translation research began decades ago. Only in the past 10 years has it become mainstream.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I do is just point it at that sign and it translates the sign.

QUEST: With mobile apps and websites, you enter text such as where's the kitchen and it's translated instantly. But Microsoft research, this is

what translation research looks like today: robots offering directions, and an audio lab to study how human hearing works.

VIKRAM DENDI, MICROSOFT RESEARCHER: That's very important, because when you try to recognize speech, you really need to understand how

microphones work and how you can actually focus on the right places.

QUEST: The Skype translator also has social media in its database to make the translations less literal, more colloquial.

This isn't available to the public yet. I had an opportunity to demo the new device.

The prospect of being able to sit and have a conversation like this is really quite a remarkable advancement.

PALL: From this technology, you can go anywhere and you know that you'd be able to understand what other people are saying and express

yourself and you have that confidence.

QUEST: The Skype translator is scheduled to be out in beta at the end of the year with just a few languages and more to be added later.

It's not just family, or friends, this could be used for serious business negotiation.

Just imagine the impact this could have on the way we conduct business across borders.

PALL: The idea that people don't understand each other and it's just -- it's going to be a thing of the past in the same way it's hard to

imagine a world before you were able to travel to different places and quickly whether it be in a car or a plane, we never think about, wow, those

are the dark ages where people couldn't understand each other. That's where we're headed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. World Sport is up next as the Ebola crisis raises questions

for next year's Africa Cup of Nations.

END