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Kim Jong-un Elected As Chairman of Worker Party; Duterte Leading As Filipinos Head to Polls; China's Rising Super League; Sufi Muslim Hacked to Death in Latest Bangladeshi Attack. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired May 9, 2016 - 08:00:00   ET

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


[08:00:15] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

Now, North Korea gives Kim Jong-un a new title. The country's leader shores up his power during a landmark political event.

Filipinos go to the polls to choose a new president with controversial frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte confident of victory.

And inside China's push to be a football superpower. We look at the rise of the Chinese Super League.

North Koreans call him the Supreme Leader, a Great Sun of the 21st Century. Now there is one more title to add. Kim Jong-un has been

elected chairman of the ruling Workers' Party. The announcement was made while a small group of foreign media, including CNN, was allowed into a

Pyongyang auditorium to watch the party congress.

Now, let's take you live to Pyongyang and CNN's Will Ripley joins us now.

And will, you were able to witness the closing events of the Workers' Party Congress there. Kim Jong-un was elected to this new title of

chairman. How do you interpret this move?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a clear sign that he has now organized a power structure in this country, Kristie, allowing him to

move forward with his agenda to grow both the economy and North Korea's nuclear arsenal simultaneously.

We went through a 90 minute security check, one of the most intense security checks I've even through before we were allowed to approach the

April 25th House of Culture where we walked in, we waited in a holding room to decide and then we had about ten minutes to go in and shoot, just the

opening few minutes of the ceremonies after these elections had occurred.

And so the thunderous applause when the leader Kim Jong-un walked into the room lasted a couple of minutes. People were shouting in unison. He

actually sat down and was encouraging people to stop applauding. They kept applauding. He seemed very relaxed. He seemed firmly in control. This

was not the picture of a man that has been portrayed in some reports as on the grip of perhaps losing his power. He seems very much in power, at

least according to the votes of those 3,400 delegates that were in the room and 1,500 party members there's to observe along

with the newly elected party leadership, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And, Will, another story you've been following today, the expelled BBC reporter, he is now in Beijing. But what more have you

learned about why North Korea kicked him out?

RIPLEY: So, we had a surprise press conference earlier today where it was announced that Rupert Winfield Hayes was detained. He came in with an

envoy of Nobel laureates. So, he wasn't here to cover the Workers' Party Congress. And his reports infuriated North Korean officials because of

some of the ways that he described the supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, in ways that North Korea felt were disrespectful. And so as he was at the airport

this morning getting ready to get on his plane. They detained him. The BBC says for eight hours they questioned him and his team.

I spoke with Rupert yesterday at the Ngakto (ph) hotel, and he said that he had a harsh talking to by the North Koreans and was hopeful to get

on a plane this morning. As it turned out his travel delayed and he was able to make a flight to Beijing this evening. And it certainly does

highlight the sensitivity that we as foreign journalists face when we are reporting in this country where they do take things, like any perceived

insult against their leader as one of the most serious offenses that a reporter can commit.

LU STOUT: Yeah, Will, the sensitivity and also the challenge of reporting inside North Korea, is that even greater now that a prominent

western journalist has been thrown out, expelled from the country?

RIPLEY: I always try to be transparent, and this is my tenth trip to North Korea, Kristie, about the conditions that we face when reporting

here. We can never move without a government escort. If we're unescorted we're at the hotel, otherwise we have government officials with us.

They are hands-on when it comes to the news gathering process, very mindful about where we are pointing our camera. They do not review my

scripts ahead of time. They never pre-screen video. We never deleted a piece of video at their

request when I've been here in the country.

And so while they have a hand in the news gathering process, no influence in the script writing process. There's no government minder

standing here while I'm standing to you. And i have been critical of North Korea in reports, in live shots, including reports about the leader.

However, if I have facts to back up the claims we make on the air, whether it be reports from government agencies, I have found North Koreaens

don't give us any trouble. However, again, I try to refer to the leader here like I would refer to the head of state in any other country using his

title, and being respectful, which is how we cover heads of state. And so that's been my, I guess -- I don't want to say secret, because it's not a

secret, it's the way I do my job and hopefully will allow us to continue to report and get a glimpse, and insight into this country.

[08:05:29] LU STOUT: It's the way you work. And we appreciate the transparency.

Will Ripley reporting live from Pyongyang. Thank you, will.

Now, in the Philippines, nationwide polls closed just a few hours ago. Millions cued up a polling station to cast ballots not only for the next

president, but to elect half the senate, the entire House of Representatives plus thousands of local posts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Tight security in the Philippines as tens of millions of voters elect a new government following a heated campaign. In the

presidential race, the mayor of Davao Rodrigo Duterte is expected to land a big victory.

Known as the Punisher, Duterte developed a fierce reputation for cracking down on crime, rising in popularity despite international

criticism for his comments making light of rape and proposing mass executions.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, MAYOR OF DAVAO: If I become president, there's no such thing as bloodless cleansing. I propose to get rid of the drugs

within three to six months.

Criminals, well, I go after them, as long as I do it in accordance with the rules of law. I will continue to kill criminals.

LU STOUT: Human rights groups are calling for investigations into his use of alleged death

squads and his controversial comments have divided the country into diehard supporters and outspoken critics.

The other candidates for the top job are Senator Grace Poe, interior minister Mar Roxas, the current vice president Jejomar Binay, and veteran

lawmakers Miriam Santiago.

In the battle for vice president, another controversial character has dominated the campaign -- Ferdinand Marcos Jr., known as Bangbang (ph).

He's the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose decades-long rule was tainted by widespread corruption and violence.

About half the country's 100 million strong population are eligible to vote in today's poll. Alongside the leadership vote, half the senate, the

entire house of representatives and thousands of local posts elected. Polls have now closed and voters already have a clear idea of the winners,

but the official result won't be revealed until early June.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now for more on the story I'm joined by CNN Philippines reporter J.C Gotinga. J.C., thank you for joining us.

Let's first talk about the front-runner, the controversial candidate Rodrigo Duterte. He has been criticized for his comments about rape, for

advocating mass executions. How did Duterte become the front-runner in this race?

J.C. GOTINGA, CNN PHILIPPINES CORRESPONDENT: Well, you see, Kristie, Duterte has packaged himself as an anti-establishment candidate. And

basically his popularity in a way reflects the disillusionment, the disappointment of a big portion of the population with the current government.

When the Aquino government began in 2010, there were also high hopes because Aquino is the son of basically a national hero. But during the six

years of his term, many of the poorest of the poor in country did not, according to them, they claim they did not feel any

advancement in their status of life.

So, now that Duterte is presenting an alternative kind of government, they kind of put up with this tough talking veneer that he puts on. In

fact, he's been called by some journalists here as the protest vote, and it reflects the public's disillusionment. They say they would rather -- his

supporters they say they would rather have someone who is brutally frank and says it like it is than others who will basically lie to them --

Kristie.

LU STOUT: So, Duterte is polarizing but he is popular, as you point out, for representing the protest vote.

Now, J.C., I understand that today's election has been marred by violence?

Five people were killed today? What happened?

GOTINGA: Well, basically that's always something that the government watches out for, and every time that the elections are approaching there

are certain parts of the country that are put under a watch list. And the government increases military and police presence in these areas.

The Philippines is an archipelago, 7,000-plus islands. Security is very porous as the further away you go from the capital. So these things

that are happening, while here in the capital, they aren't felt very well. These instances of violence happen in pockets in some of the remote areas

country.

Though, mind you, some of those incidents happen in cities or provinces just outside of the

capital -- Kristie.

[08:10:04] LU STOUT: And J.C., the issue of tackling extremism in The Philippines. You only know that a number of hostages, including foreign

nationals, are still being held by Abu Sayyaf, the militant group there in The Philippines. Has fighting extremism been a major campaign issue in the

election?

GOTINGA: Well, perhaps not the top of my topic, but definitely among those things voters are thinking about. In fact, one of the reasons

Duterte is the front-runner is because he's built his campaign on promises of ridding country of crime, corruption and illegal drugs.

Duterte comes from Davao City, which is a city near these areas where a lot of the kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf are happening. Mendanau, where

Davao, is definitely one of the poorer segments of the country. So, definitely there's a lot discontent coming from that area and that is why

Filipinos are willing to bet on him, maybe hoping that he can perhaps put an end to these recent instances of violence -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, J.C. Gotinga reporting for us live. Many thanks indeed for that.

Now, the father of a teenage girl who was brutally murdered in Pakistan last week has spoken.

He told reporters that he first found out his daughter had disappeared when his brother called to tell him a body had been found together with two

burned out cars. Now, police say a dozen suspects have been arrested including the mother of the victim.

Officials say the 15-year-old girl was injected with sedatives, strangled, tied up in a van and then burned to death. Now, the killing was

apparently ordered by a tribal council who accused the girl of helping a neighbor elope with her boyfriend.

Now, a Sufi Muslim spiritual leader was hacked to death in Bangladesh over the weekend., the latest victim in a string of brutal murders there.

Now, the 65-year-old was found dead in a mango orchard. His eldest son tells CNN his father always tried to help people and that he doesn't know

why anyone would kill him.

Now, Alexandra Field has just returned from Bangladesh. She joins me here in Hong Kong. And, Alex, why was this man, this spiritual leader

hacked to death in Bangladesh?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's the question that's being asked not only in the aftermath of this hacking death, but so many others

that we have seen recently, Kristie. And in this case, the family says that they have no idea why this man would have been targeted. His son has

told CNN that his father was a simple man, an ordinary person, a grocer. He is Sufi Muslim. It's important to point out that Bangladesh is a

majority Muslim country, but the majority of Muslims in that country are Sunni Muslim.

Sufis are regarded as mystics sometimes, but they are well respected in Southeast Asia. They're considered peaceful, a lot of the practice

having to do with music and other songs. So the family of this man, Mohammed Shahi Julasis (ph), it isn't clear to them why anyone would target

him.

Police say that they have not been able to make any arrests related to this case, and interestingly,

Kristie, there has been no public claim of responsibility for his murder. In the aftermath of some of

these other hacking deaths, you have had these extremist groups come out and take credit saying that

the victims had insulted Islam or promoted atheism, which were both regarded as sins and affronts.

LU STOUT: That's right, we've heard claims from ISIS, from al Qaeda, for previous hacking attacks in Bangladesh. Who could be responsible for

this latest killing?

FIELD: Yeah, it still needs to be determined whether or not this death is in fact directly related to some of those other killings, or if

this is a separate issue entirely. And police have said they are investigating whether or not there could have been some sort of personal

enmity involved here.

Not clear if this is, in fact, related to those other deaths, but it does look like it is, just on the face of it in terms of the style, the

manner of killing.

And we should also point out that this started as a seeming campaign against secular and

atheist bloggers very who were outspoken but it has expanded. We've now seen the victims including

university professors, religious minorities, and LGBT activists.

So, that is certainly contributing to a real climate and culture of fear on the ground in Bangladesh, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Alexandra Field reporting for us. Thank you, Alex.

Now, a major wildfire that has burning in Alberta it seems to be slowing, and is being contained.

Now, it has been raging for more than a week now. Now, cooler temperatures and higher

humidity are helping the fire crews. Nearly 90,000 people had to leave their homes. And authorities are looking at what caused the blaze.

You're watching News Stream and still to come, to stay, or to go? Now, the debate over whether

Britain should leave the EU is heating up, and we'll tell you why the prime minister says leaving could threaten peace, and why the former mayor of

London thinks the UK is better off on its own.

Also ahead, Donald Trump tries to win the support of a divided Republican Party and why he says he is a better candidate for women than

his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:18:45] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong you're back watching News

Stream.

Now UEFA's president plans to resign after losing a bid to have his ban from world football overturned.

The court of arbritration for sport refused to quash Michel Platini's suspension, but did reduce it

from six years to four.

The former French coach was punished over $2 million payment made to him from FIFA, but he denies any wrongdoing.

Now, this ban sinks any plan he had to run for president of FIFA.

Now, a short time ago we heard from the former mayor of London and the British prime minister on opposite sides of whether Britain should leave

the EU. Now, voters head to polls next month to decide.

Now, let's go straight to CNN's Phil Black. He joins us from 10 Downing Street.

And Phil, let's first talk about David Cameron. What did he say and was he effective in making his case to stay in the EU?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, six weeks until the vote now, Kristie, and yes, a big speech from David Cameron today in which he tried

to draw the argument purely away from economic matters, which we've heard about a lot in the campaign so far and

talked about much bigger picture issues, really -- quite literally, war and peace. It was all about strength and security.

His belief that Britain is stronger, safer, more secure and certainly more influential through its membership of the European Union, and more

than that, his belief that Britain is stronger, safer, more secure and certainly more influential through its membership of the European Union.

And more than that, it plays an active role through engagement and leadership in ensuring the continued peace and stability on the continent.

He said you can't take for granted the fact that wars on the continent are a thing of the past, therefore, Britain must stay involved, must

continue to lead and provide steel to European policy, because what happens in Europe effects Britain. That was the prime minister's argument. Take a

listen to a little more of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The dangerous international situation facing Britain today means that the closest possible cooperation

with our European neighbors isn't an optional extra, it's essential. We need to stand united. Now is the time for strength in numbers.

Keeping our people safe from modern terrorist networks like Daesh and from serious crime that increasingly crosses borders means that we simply

have to develop much closer means of security cooperation between countries within Europe. Britain needs to be fully engaged with that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACK: Now, David Cameron said this was his big, bold patriotic case for staying within the European Union and it's really a response to the

Brexit camp, which until now has had something of a strong hold on the whole idea of love of country being behind their reasoning for exiting the

European Union, they argue about sovereignty, about Britain giving up its powers and its autonomy to Brussels.

What David Cameron was talking about today a colorful, patriotic language, is that you can you proud of being British, you can take enormous

pride in Britain's independence, its influence, its authority on the world stage and still be a member of the European Union to achieve the best

possible result for the country and its national interests, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And after the prime minister's speech, we heard from London's former mayor, Boris Johnson. He argued his case for Britain to

leave the EU. What did he say?

BLACK: So what we heard, a lot from Boris Johnson about in his flamboyant, colorful style, was this belief argued very strongly on the

Brexit side, that the European Union has grown into a bit clumsy undemocratic bureaucratic super country almost, if you like

Boris Johnson spoke about British officials going to Brussels and speaking one way, then coming back to the UK and speaking to the domestic

audience in what he described as systemic subterfuge.

The idea that the British people aren't fully informed about just how big and all encumbassing Brussels's control over their daily lives has now

become.

He used a lot of colorful language, as I say. He said that talking -- or to keep insisting the EU is about economics is like saying the mafia is

interested in olive oil and real estate. What he means there is that it's true.

But it's not entirely accurate, or doesn't really tell the whole picture.

His belief is that Europe has become too big and that Britain is being drawn towards a big drawn towards a big, federal structure regardless of

how the British people feel.

One of the key issues in this debate, particularly from the British point of view is the idea of immigration, the free movement of people, the

idea that British people can't control who comes in to this country.

Now, the British government says that it is working to bring down immigration levels. Boris Johnson talked about this. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, MAYOR OF LONDON: It is deeply corrosive of popular trust in democracy, that every year UK politicians tell the public that

they can cut immigration to the tens of thousands, and then find that they missed their targets by hundreds of

thousands. So that we add a population the size of Newcastle every year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACK: So, what he's talking about there is the British government can in effect control immigration or make it harder for people to come

here if not they're members of the EU, but EU citizens still have an open invitation to come, live and work here. And as

a result, migration numbers go up beyond government control.

Boris Johnson spoke about the subjects that we heard from David Cameron on today, that is global security and in particular, Britain's

influence on the world stage. Not surprising, perhaps, that he disagreed very strongly with David Cameron on the idea that Britain is more

influential because of its EU membership. He talked about Britain's real influence coming from NATO and from the United Nation's security council.

If anything, he said that talking about the ability to control foreign policy on the continent is somewhat misleading, confusing, and if anything

risks undercutting NATO. So, the Boris Johnson theory is that NATO, the North Atlantic alliance, should be the key maintenance of influence on the

continent and when it comes to Britain's influence in security tight matters, Kristie.

[08:25:03] LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Phil Black reporting live for us from London on the Brexit debate. Thank you, Phil.

Now, Donald Trump is firing back against his critics. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke to CNN a short time ago. He says he

was blindsided when leading Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he's not yet ready to support a Trump nomination. Now, Trump says the

overwhelming number of votes he's received in the primary race proves voters want him to take the reigns of the party.

Now, Trump also defended his personal attacks against his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Over the weekend, he went after Clinton over her husband, former Ppresident Bill Clinton's alleged affairs, calling her an enabler. Now

Trump stood by the remarks saying that he would be the best candidate to address issues facing women.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, 2016 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He can't talk about me, because nobody respects women more than Donald Trump, and I'm

going to take -- I will -- I will be better for women by a -- by a big factor than Hillary Clinton, who, frankly, I don't even think will be good

to women.

You know, she went and she spoke -- it was very interesting -- she spoke a few weeks ago, and she said I'm going to put the miners and the

companies out of business. Then she went to West Virginia and she tried to pretend she didn't make the statement, and that's the way

it is with her, you know, the lies and the deception, it's horrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: That was Donald Trump on New Day earlier.

So what would a potential President Trump mean for the Asia-Pacific region? Now, the presumptive Republican nominee has spoken a lot about

America's trade deficit with China. And last week, he even went so far as to say China was, quote, raping the United States.

Now, earlier I spoke with former U.S. ambassador to Singapore Frank Levin about where each of the candidates stands on Asia starting with

Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK LEVIN, FRM. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE: Well, he's articulated his

thoughts in two areas of foreign policy. One is trade and the other is burden sharing, reliance relationship. On trade, I think according to his

own say-so we're going to see more trade friction we're going to see and a deterioration in trade relations.

Now, he views that as a positive. On the alliance relationships, he's pushed burden sharing even

to the point of saying he'd be comfortable with Japan developing its own nuclear capability and even South Korea going down that path. So, that's

what he said today. If he'll evolve a bit in the next six months we'll have to wait and see.

LU STOUT: And the Democratic front runner, Hillary Clinton, if she was to become the next

president of the United States, should we expect a continuation of President Obama's policy outlook in Asia, a continuation of the so-called

pivot to Asia?

LEVIN: We know a lot more about Hillary Clinton, because she served as secretary of state for

four years. So she ran that Asia policy. And I think I have to say, yes, we're likely to see a broad continuation.

I think the question mark with Hillary Clinton is, remember, she helped author the U.S.-Asia

free trade agreement TPP and then she disavowed it.

LU STOUT: That's right, she's back pedaled.

LEVIN: So, it raises questions about her consistency and where does she ultimately stand with regard to trade and improving trade relations in

Asia? And I think that's more of a question mark now than it was a year ago.

Now, I think waht her team will say is, look, Bernie Sanders in the primary campaign pulled her a bit, to the left. She's not entirely

comfortable there. But she's going to have to bridge the two Hillarys, right, the HIllary of from when she was secretary of state and the Hillary

when she was a primary candidate.

And there's also bridging the Donald Trump as a candidate and Donald Trump if he becomes the president of the United States. I mean, he's done

a lot of China on the campaign trail, those inflammatory comments about China trade, accusing China of raping the United States. We've heard that

before, not that choice of language, but China bashing on the campaign trail. If Donald Trump becomes president, what would happen to U.S.-China

trade?

Well, the biggest question mark with Donald Trump is -- is his -- are his policies are president going to be as severe, as categorical as some of

his rhetoric. Some of his rhetoric was pretty flamboyant, all right. And he might say, well, that's necessary to primary context. We simply don't

know if he would govern precisely the same as he acted when he was a candidate.

If so, I think we're in for a lot of friction. I think we're going to see a sharp deterioration in the trade relationship and an absolute drop in

trade and I think you're see a reaction from China as well. They're not going to sit still and be on the receiving end of what ever ill-will he

generates.

LU STOUT: When you talk to government officials in the region, are they nervous about the prospects of a prison term?

LEVIN: I think more sort of mystified or perplexed. I mean, they understand that the U.S. race has a lot of tos and fros to it. And people

sometimes pivot or make statements. they climb back. So, don't rush to judgment, I'd say, give it some time. Here's what I tell our friends in

the region.

Take a look at the national party conventions. The Republican convention and the Democrat convention are when these two candidate really

speak to the nation as presidential candidates. that's when they define themselves and present themselves. That's when we as Americans

appropriately look for them to act presidential and to speak to the entire country.

So, wait until that moment comes before drawing conclusions about what kind of president either of them would be.

LU STOUT: So, wait and see and watch, is that really giving them enough comfort?

LEVIN: Well -- but that's only two months until the Republicans as little bit more for the Democrats. You don't have to wait until the fellow

is sworn in, but give it time to see can they rise to the moment that's required?

[08:30:03] LU STOUT: Got you.

Now, we know that people in the Philippines, they went to the polls today. Just how critical is the strategic relationship between the U.S.

and the Philippines? How close are U.S. officials watching the returns from that election?

LEVIN: Oh, I think it's huge. Look, the Philippines in the United States are treaty allies. they have a formal mutual security pact where

they're committed to come to each other's support. So, the United States has enormous interest, not just historical legacy, there's a lot of

sentiment there and you know a lot of emotional connectivity as well.

But there's a formal treaty ally so that's the highest you can go in international relations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Frank Levin speaking to me earlier.

Now, reporting from inside the most reclusive state on the planet, as one network's reporter is expelled from the country, our correspondent on

the ground in Pyongyang shows us what it's like to be a visiting journalist inside North Korea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[11:34:06] LU STOUT: Meanwhile, a BBC correspondent expelled from North Korea is now

in Beijing. Rupert Winfield Hayes was urged to leave Pyongyang over his reporting, which officials there called disrespectful.

Now, before the expulsion, our Will Ripley filed this story on the restrictions he faced while reporting from inside the reclusive nation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's day three of the party congress and we've been waiting here in the parking lot at the Ngato (ph) hotel for

almost an hour. And we see a lot of the government officials on their phones, perhaps trying to figure out where exactly the group of press is

going to be going today.

We took a short drive through Pyongyang, a beautiful Sunday morning, didn't know where we were going. And we just arrived at the people's house

of culture. We don't know who is inside the building, but if you look at this row of shiny black Mercedes here, and

specifically look at the license plate numbers, that would indicate these are some of the highest level members of the Workers Party of

Korea.

We've been told to bring all our gear, including our backpacks, inside. We have been given our

passports as well for some kind of security check.

What happened? What happened?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Program has changed.

RIPLEY: Program changed? Where are we going?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back to the hotel, get lunch, and rest

RIPLEY: Well, there you go. We're headed back to the hotel. The program has changed.

After three hours of waiting at our hotel, we were all told to rush and gather in front of the television for this -- state TV broke in for a

special report, which turned out to be the leader's full speech that he gave Saturday to the Worker's Party Congress. It's been going on for well

over two hours.

Of course, we already read the full transcript. It's the first eight pages of the morning paper, coverage on the front and back pages.

If you're looking for any major policy changes or announcements, you won't find them in this

speech. The leader talked about North Korean history from 1980 until today. He did say this country

won't use its nuclear weapons unless provoked first. But we've heard that before.

So, in the end, even though we're inside this country, covering the Worker's Party Congress, the state controlled media continues to be our

best and only source of information.

Will Ripley, CNN, Pyongyang.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:36:14] LU STOUT: And there's one other way that Will is giving us a glimpseinside North Korea: Instagram. He has been posting pictures

showing snapshots of life in Pyongyang. And you can find that on his Instagram account, WilripleyCNN.

Still ahead on the program, China's next big investment could be football. Coming up next on News Stream, we will take you inside the rise

of the Chinese Super League.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now, we saw the crowning of a new championship in English football when Leicester city lifted the Premier League trophy after a fairy tale

season. Now, the English Premier League is the most popular in the sport watched by fans around the world and now China is making a push to become

a football power, pouring millions into attracting players from the rest of the world.

Matt Rivers has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a Friday night in Shanghai. Welcome to the Chinese Super League.

It's a home game for Shanghai SIPG against Yonbyon (ph). And it's a crazy scene when

Shanghai scores, celebrations that are happening time and again as the popularity of this 16-team league surges in China.

To find out why that's happening, we went to the club's practice the day before the noise of the match. Hard work in front of empty stands

means a better product on-field when they're full. And that's one reason for the league's growth, its teams have just gotten better.

Swei Guo Yong (ph) is the general manager of Shanghai SIPG.

He says talented foreign players have raised the bar joining Chinese clubs after playing in top

leagues around the world. Foreigners like Asamoah Gyan who played in the English Premier League and captains Ghana's national team. There's

Brazilian striker Elkeson who starred in Brazil's top league before heading here and then there is Argentina's DArio Conca who, at 32, has spent his

prime in China.

He says he's happy with his decision to play here, that playing in China was a new challenge. It's also been one big payday. Conca

reportedly earns over $11 million U.S. dollars per year, Gyan, reportedly over $300,000 per week.

So, if better players are reason 1A for the league's new found popularity, big money is reason 1B.

SVEN GORAN ERICKSON, SHANGHAI SIPG MANAGER: Last window, it was absolutely crazy.

RIVERS: That's Sven Goran Erickson, current Shanghai SIPG manager and former coach of England's national team talking about the last Chinese

league transfer window where nearly $300 million in total was spent on new players, mostly foreigners.

ERICKSON: They want to come to China, because curious to see what's happening. They know that will earn very good money.

RIVERS: But with only four foreigners allowed on the field at once, the best squads need to have quality local talent, and the Chinese

government is making a huge push to make that happen. Some 20,000 football schools will open here in the next couple of years and football is now a

mandatory part of school curriculum.

It's part of President Xi Jinping's push to make China a football powerhouse.

ERICKSON: You know, china, if they decide to do to something, they do it.

RIVERS: Big hurdles remain. China's national team has only qualified for the World Cup once. Its club teams amateurish when compared to the

Real Madrids of the world. But the fans inside that Shanghai SIPG match that doesn't matter.

There are eight different supporters groups for this team, and their numbers are growing with every match. Not as good at the best clubs in

England or in Spain, no, but are these fans just as passionate as any other group of fans in the world? Absolutely.

But the Chinese Super League as a world power -- unlikely sure, but then again, so was Leicester City winning the Premier League.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Shanghai, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now, Marvel's superhero showdown between Captain America and Iron Man hit U.S. theaters over the weekend. And from the looks of the

box office, Captain America won this fight. Captain America's Civil War knocked Iron Man III out of the top five domestic debuts. It grossed almost $182 million in three days, and

the movie has made over $670 million globally, a huge suction for the Disney/Marvel franchise.

In fact, Disney Films now make up four of the top five openings in box office history.

And finally, the most intense political fight of the century is on. Of course, I'm talking about the

hit HBO show Game of Thrones.

Now, millions of viewers have followed the story of people fighting to sit on the Iron Throne. And now our top political team is breaking down

the battle for Westeros. You could watch Jake Tapper, John King and of course John King's magic wall take on the Game of Thrones on our website.

You can find that at CNN Politics.com.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere. World Sport is next.

END