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Over 3,000 Dead After Powerful Earthquake Rocks Nepal; Governments Around The Globe Pitch In To Assist Nepal Post-Earthquake; Friends And Family Prepare To Lay Freddie Gray To Rest In Baltimore. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired April 27, 2015 - 4:00   ET

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

[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: A scene of devastation, more than 3,000 dead after a powerful earthquake rocks Nepal. Survivors living in terror of aftershocks and avalanches like this one.

We are live on the ground with the latest on the search and rescue efforts.

And laying Freddie Gray to rest in Baltimore, family and friends prepare to say goodbye as the city demands answers into what led to his death in police custody more than two weeks after his arrest.

Good morning, and welcome to Early Start. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman has this Monday morning off. It is April 27th, 4:00 a.m. in the East. Let's start in Nepal this morning where there's untold devastation from Saturday's huge magnitude, 7.8 earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks.

The latest government figures for the death toll now at 3,432, another 6,500 injured. But the number of casualties is sure to rise once those kills in the remote country side are counted.

And there are still rescues going on as we speak. The frequent aftershocks threaten to topple more buildings. Terrified residents are living in the streets. They are sleeping in the streets. They are intensity (ph) this morning.

Standing by live for us in Kathmandu, International Correspondent Sumnima Udas who is a native of Nepal, bring us up to speed.

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, behind me, the Nepali police, volunteers, local volunteers, foreign nationals, they're all jumping in really to help sift through this rubble. A lot of them is just using their bare hands. Some of them have spades, some of them are just using steel plates that they were able to find in the area.

We've been here for about three to four hours now. In the beginning, there were maybe about four to five people on that temple trying to sift through the rubble. Now, there's, you know, quite a few people. Everyone is just really jumping in. This is a -- this used to be a three-story Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. Next to this temple, there is at least six to seven other temples in a similar situation completely demolished. These are -- these dates from anywhere between the 12th century to the 18th century, really part of the culture heritage of this country.

This is Basantapur Durbar Square. This is where any tourist would first come as soon as they arrive to Kathmandu because of this national heritage. This is at the center of Kathmandu. And you can see more beyond this one temple but it's a large square and, you know, almost every single temple there is like what you see right now, it's just a mount of rubble.

ROMANS: And we can see they're still searching there, still digging through that rubble, still hope for rescues, right? How long might people live under this rubble?

UDAS: You know, miracles can happen. Right now, at least in this area, the police were telling us earlier that very unlikely that they will find anyone here. This is a major tourist site. When the temples fell, there were quite a few tourists in the area. But presumably, they had some time to run as the pagoda south structure fell, that's what the police were telling us.

They did find two dead bodies of two foreign nationals at the temple nearby. But here again, the police are telling us, it is very unlikely to find survivors perhaps in the more rural parts of Nepal where the police and the army are venturing into now. Perhaps, there are more chances to find survivors there because most of the homes there are just made out of mud and wood.

ROMANS: For many of us watching, we think of Nepal as a country, just 10 years now out of just a horrible sort of civil war situation. We think of it as Mount Everest. This is where rich and adventuresome people go to try to climb this mountain.

You grew up in Nepal, you know in a much different way than the rest of the world. Tell me a little bit how this earthquake is touching people who may be from Nepal who are now going back to cover that story or now trying to help aid organizations get in there with help.

UDAS: As you mentioned, I'm Nepali. I'm from Kathmandu. I was born here, our producer here is also Nepali. We're just talking about it when we were heading here. It hadn't really hit us what had happened with seeing the images. But until we actually came here, you know, I don't think it hadn't really hit us. These images are completely surreal.

[04:05:04] I mean, when you talk to Nepalis, they'll tell you -- everyone really expected an earthquake since the 1990s. Everyone has been talking about an impending earthquake so there's been, you know, huge. The UN, the government officials that have been going school to school, village to village telling people that a major earthquake is -- will strike at any point.

So people were aware for the past ten years. People were essentially prepared. But at the same time, now that it happened, I don't think people have actually processed this. So, you know, now that it's in front of our eyes all over the city, really, especially in the old parts of town.

ROMANS: All right, Sumnina, thank you so much for that. And we'll get back with you again very soon as those rescues still underway behind you.

Governments all over the world now leaping to meet Nepal's huge need for international assistance.

A Pentagon cargo plane now in the air with 70 disaster relief and rescue specialist, 45 tons of gear. The U.S. Embassy providing a million dollars and immediate assistance.

Poland, Belgium, the U.A.E., Israel, many other countries are sending personnel, equipment, relief supplies and financial aid packages.

The latest on the international relief effort, I want to bring to in CNN's Manisha Tank live in Hong Kong.

And we see these outpouring from other countries, but on the ground, people are still sleeping out in the open. They are terrified to go into their home. There are aftershocks that could continue for weeks.

Manisha, what do we know about the world response?

MANISHA TANK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the world response so far, Christine, has been quick. We've already had teams arriving on the ground, boots on the ground from places like China, from India. These are the big neighbors, the big powers in the region already deploying.

The U.S., as you said, a million dollars has already come on stream to be sent there to fund any aid and relief, and there will be ongoing assessment. So that million dollars that's already been pledge may be step top. You've got those 70 personnel, and crucially that team includes an urban search and rescue team.

So it's getting there, but some observations from our team on the ground have arrived -- one of the CNN teams arrived and witnessed that the airport piles, piles of the cargo from the aircraft that are landing on the one runway that exist with this national airport and it's all piling up now. And the questions going to be, how do you actually distribute that? How do you get the agencies to talk to one another and get it to the people who need it?

And let's just talk about where the epicenter is. It's outside the city. It's the outside the Kathmandu Valley.

Anyone who's familiar with Nepal and for those who are not, you can get a certain distance on a road. But in terms of infrastructure, ones you get into those mountains, you are trekking up the steep heights. And this is where eye-witness account say, 'Whole villages have been wiped out by avalanches," for example. So getting there is a challenge. You will need helicopters to do that. The Indians, for example, sending helicopters and saying that they will send more.

CHRISTINE: All right, Manisha Tank, thank you so much for that. Again, a really steep challenge here just a couple of days after this devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

I want to bring in Devendra Tak, the Director for Save the Children in India. He is in Kathmandu this morning and he's got more for us on the trouble space and groups like he is trying help people get back on their feet after the quake.

Thank you so much for your time. I know there's so much going on, you are the country Director for Save the Children in India.

And you heard Manisha talking about these entire villages that may be wiped out by avalanches. You have a crisis here, especially for orphans, for children who may have disabled parents at this point. What is the first thing that you try to do when you're going in to help somebody?

DEVENDRA TAK, DIRECTOR OF SAVE THE CHILDREN INDIA: Yeah, I'd still be right, and then out most one (inaudible) dealings of crisis and are under most neglected.

(Inaudible), I believe, they have gone to distribute may be box and tarpaulin sheets in Kathmandu. There in the box include, maybe jumper clothes, also a blanket and a hygiene kit.

So people began to distribute these, a lot of people (inaudible). Our teams are now racing into the interiors and going to the remote villages across road (ph) district to give what further needs are there. They are most important.

The fact is, that the children (ph) can't wait and they have to really, really reach out to them very, very fast. They are (inaudible) for nutrition and medical assistance and they (inaudible) protection (inaudible).

CHRISTINE: What are your folks reporting back as they race into the interior of the country, the other districts, the rural parts of the country are -- What are they finding?

DEVENDRA: Well we know that there are about one million children almost affected in these 12 districts that are most effected. And we are targeting to reaching about, at least 400,000 of these children's.

But actually, they are not really enable to reach all the points and on (inaudible) all the districts simultaneously. We then have to begin soon and find those areas (inaudible) which require the most assistance and then focus on them.

[04:10:03] And we'll have more relief materials coming in from outside Nepal, from Philippines and Dubai, (inaudible) and of course, global exports coming in. So it would take (inaudible) accepting, start to (inaudible) joining the Nepalis head. So we begin reprocess and (inaudible) relief. And it will be started with the repack and tarpaulin sheets which we had already people (inaudible).

ROMANS: So you're moving in very quickly, as quickly as you can for the very near term relief just to help this children survive. And then later on this week, you're hoping to have more, more material to get out there and to help this kid.

What longer-term after just securing the survival of the children, getting them fed, getting them warm, giving them medical care, then happens next?

TAK: And there is huge outside protection if their schools are closed (inaudible) have moved out (inaudible) to find employment as soon as to bought other materials for their home, (inaudible). And they urge you to sign protection that emerge and (inaudible) country like Nepal. So one we need to look out for those issues and be prepared.

And even children has future and we call it (inaudible) certain area has been very (inaudible). There was (inaudible) down but children have talk together and again because other children are not with the (inaudible) care giver, so that just as please keep your environment which are (inaudible) their psychosocial stress because (inaudible) a lot of children and they can understand that what they are experiencing is not something unique them and they can share their experiences and somehow (inaudible) recreation and learning experiences in this (inaudible), just to what we might it have to do in the near future.

ROMANS: Devendra Tak, the country Director Save the Children in India. Again his teams are on their way to try find these children and some of these remote villages, try to find and help these children, who he says are the most vulnerable in something like this. Thank you for your time, sir. And best of luck to you as you continue your hard work this week.

Saturday's earthquake also touches of terrifying avalanches across the mountain in this country.

The moment, the very moment an avalanche hit Everest base-camp, caught on camera by German climber Josh Kobusch, watch.

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ROMANS: All those climbers scrambling to get into their tents for some sorts of protection.

He, of course, survives the impact, tells those around him to stay together, but a terrifying few moments there.

Like Kobusch, many climbers and shifters (ph) survive the avalanches, but more than a dozen did not. That's an addition to the thousands who died in Nepal city.

National reporter Nick Valencia has more two Americans who were among the climbers who perished.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We wanted to try to give you meaning to those numbers and bring you some personal stories of some of the victims of the earthquake. We know that at least 17 people lost their lives as a result of an avalanche that was triggered by the earthquake when they were hiking on Mt. Everest.

Dan Fredinburg, an executive at Google was one of those victims. He was an avid adventurer and mountain climber and was on his trek through Mt. Everest when he was swept away by the avalanche.

Just the day after that avalanche took his life, his sister went on Instagram to deliver this message saying, "This is Dan's little sister, Megan. I regret to inform all who loved him that during the avalanche on Everest early this morning our Dan suffered from a major head injury and didn't make it. We appreciate all of the love that has been sent are way, thus far. I know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us."

Eve Girawong was another American on that trip on Mt. Everest. From New Jersey, she was also, as I mentioned, one of those ones that was swept away. Medicine was her passion, and she was actually in the process of getting a second master's degree in Mountain medicine.

Her employer posted this message on Facebook, "Our hearts are broken. Eve perished in the aftermath of the avalanche that struck the base- camp area, following the devastating Nepal earthquake earlier today."

So many victims still, survivors also that need help there on the ground in Nepal. And we encourage you, if you are looking to help and support those people affected by the devastating earthquake, do visit cnn.com/impact. Christine?

ROMANS: All right. Nick Valencia, thanks for that.

Now the country faces a daunting recovery. The total cost of reconstruction could top $5billion. Those were according to early figures from the research firm HIS. That's 20 percent of the country's economic output, and that's just an early estimate. It could go much, much higher.

One of the reasons the damage was so devastating the standard of housing construction quiet low with annual GDP per capita around just a thousands dollars.

[04:15:04] Many families live in poverty in Nepal.

Tourism, one of the few drivers in the economy. Foreign climbers pay up to a hundred thousand dollars to climb Mount Everest, that industry clearly at risk given the danger.

Experts say the country doesn't have the capacity to rebuild all of these on its own. It will need ongoing international assistance. All right, back at home.

A city preparing to lay Freddie Gray to rest after a weekend of volatile protest. Will today bring more tension as Gray's family and demonstrators wait answers about how he was injured while in police custody?

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ROMANS: Freddie Gray will be laid to rest in Baltimore today.

The family and friends turned out Sunday to pay respect at awake for the man who died after suffering a severe spinal injury, while in police custody.

Nearly three dozen people were arrested after violence broke out during a protest Saturday of -- violence -- a protest against police violence during (ph) the violence itself.

Freddie Gray's family has called for calm, as they prepared to say a final good bye.

We get more this morning from CNN, Athena Jones.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

The funeral for Freddie Gray will be held just a few hours from now at a church in West Baltimore.

A local pastor, who has been one of the leaders of some of the demonstrations we've seen in this city over the last several days, will be delivering the eulogy.

Gray's family attended church on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REVEREND JAMAL BRYANT: How many more of our sons and daughters must die before our black lives are treated as equal? I know I'm not the only one who has had it up to here with this country systematically slaughtering our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Now, Reverend Bryant was echoing the sentiments of many people in this community and in the cities across the country, who felt like they're under constant threat from law enforcement, simply because they're black.

We expect him to touch on this theme in his remarks today.

[04:20:01] We also understand that Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings will be among the speakers at the funeral services.

And we're told that the family of Eric Garner is planning to attend. Of course, Eric Garner is the Staten Island man who died after being put in chokehold by police there last summer.

And of course we are still waiting for any answers about just what happened to Freddie Gray in that police van.

The Baltimore Police Department says they're going to finish their investigation into that incident this week, hand over their information on Friday to the States Attorney's Office and they'll decide how to perceive whether to file charges.

So, we'll be watching for that. But of course, today is about honoring Freddie Gray and laying him to rest, Christine.

ROMANS: Indeed. Thanks for that, Athena Jones, this morning.

Two major trials take center stage today. One, the man accused of shooting up a Colorado movie theatre gets his day in court three years later. The other, a defense team trying to spare the Boston bombers life. What to expect in both of those cases? Ahead.

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ROMANS: Welcome back. Loretta Lynch is poised to make history today after a long delay of confirmation vote in the senate, Friday. Vice President Joe Biden will officially swear in Lynch as attorney general at the Department of Justice. Lynch will become the first African- American woman to serve as the country's top law enforcement official replacing Eric Holder as the first African-American at the helm.

This ceremony will be at 11:00 A.M. Eastern time.

The head of the Clinton Foundation admits the charity made mistakes, reporting government donations on its tax returns.

[04:25:06] The non-profit foundation is refilling now at least five years of return, acknowledging foreign government grants were mistakenly combined with other donations.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned 300 e-mails turned over to a house committee by the state department contained "No Smoking Gun," when it comes to Hillary Clinton's actions in the week, leading up to the 2012 Benghazi attack.

Former President George W. Bush with some pointed words about efforts to curve Iran's nuclear program speaking to Jewish donors in Las Vegas, Saturday. The former president argued against lifting sanctions against Tehran, his comments being viewed as a sharp critique of President Obama.

He says the U.S. risks losing leverage in the fight against ISIS if it doesn't hold the hard line on Iran.

The long awaited trial for Colorado movie theatre gunman James Holmes begins today, with opening statements. It's been nearly three years since 12 people are wounded, 70 or 12 people killed rather, 70 wounded inside in Aurora, Colorado theatre. The defense did not dispute that Holmes did the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty, though, by the reason of insanity to all 166 charges, including murder and attempted murder. If convicted up to the most serious charges, Holmes could face the death penalty.

In Boston, say, the defense takes its turn in the sentencing phase of the trial convicted marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The defense lawyers are expected to take about two weeks to present their case and call, more than two dozen witnesses. The jury will decide whether Tsarnaev gets the death penalty or life in prison.

I know it's an open season as it usually as the White House Correspondent Dinner. SNL Cecily Strong was the headliner of this year's "Nerd Prom" in Washington D.C., but it was President Obama who had the press corp politicians of Hollywood stars rolling. The president spared no one including himself here, talking about how

the job has aged him.

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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I look so old. John Boehner's already invited Netanyahu to speak in my funeral.

For many Americans, this is still a time of deep uncertainty. For example, I have one friend, just a few weeks ago, she was making millions of dollars a year. And she's now living out of a van in Iowa.

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ROMANS: That one was funny.

Strong delivers since singers (ph) of her own, but she admitted the president was a pretty tough act to follow.

Twenty-seven minutes back -- past the hour.

Back to our story. Now, the search for survivors in Nepal. I mean the aftershocks from that terrible 7.8 earthquake. We're alive on the ground in moments.

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[04:31:13] ROMANS: A desperate search for survivors. People living in fear of aftershocks after a powerful 7.8 earthquake hits Nepal. More than 3,000 people killed. That number will likely rise much, much higher.

We are live on the ground with very latest.

And the final goodbye today for Freddie Gray, the man who died days after he was taken into police custody. Will protesters heed his family's request and refrain from demonstrating during his funeral?

Welcome back to Early Start. I'm Christine Romans. For this Monday morning, John Berman has the morning off. Its 31 minutes pass the hour.

Untold devastation in Nepal this morning from Saturday's huge magnitude 7.8 earthquake and these ongoing aftershocks, the latest government figures put the death toll there at 3,432, another 6500 injured, but let's be clear here, the number of casualties is certain to rise once those killed in the remote countryside are counted. They are likely entire villages flattened.

The frequent aftershocks threatened to topple more buildings. Terrified residents are living in the streets intensities. They are sleeping outside.

Standing by live, reporting from Kathmandu International Correspondent Sumnina Udas, who is a native of Nepal.

This is still very early hours after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. What are you seeing around you? This is still of the desperate search to claw people out of rabble.

UDAS: That's right. We're in Basantapur Durbar Square, which is really the center of Kathmandu. This is where any tourist would first come once they arrive in Kathmandu, given the heritage in this one courtyard, a very large courtyard.

But behind me, you can probably see people, Nepali police, volunteers, foreign volunteers all jumping in to help assisting to the rabble using -- many of them using their bare hands, some of them just picking steel plates to go through every thing, some of them using spades.

And I just want to bring in Eric Carpenter who's been here since the early morning to help out. What -- you know, when we first arrive there about five to six people, now there are, you know, 20 to 30, why are people jumping in? What's happening here?

ERIC CARPENTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS WORKER: We're looking for bodies, or maybe even survivors. We don't know. And, you know, the building has come down, but now we want to bring some resuscitation (ph) maybe to some people lives and loved ones that are missing or not.

UDAS: You've been here since the early morning doing this. I mean what's driving everyone? I mean this is just in one area, but I've heard that this is happening in many parts in Kathmandu. What's driving people to do this? I mean is there not enough support? Otherwise, are the officials not doing enough?

CARPENTER: No. They're doing plenty. Its -- people are -- we don't have the machines, like in the U.S. or the big cities, and so it's very difficult.

And to be honest people are more concerned about their own families because of all the aftershocks.

And you never know when the next one is going to come. So, yeah. UDAS: That's right. And then most of the Nepalis are still very self-shock and just camped out over here and just sort of watching, you know, this national heritage really -- I mean, you've been here for quite a few months, so you know what this means in Nepalis.

CARPENTER: Yes, ma'am.

UDAS: Can you just explain a little bit any -- it's -- Kathmandu is known as living museum of sorts.

CAPRENTER: Yeah, yeah.

UDAS: When you see this, what goes through your mind?

CARPENTER: You see the people and this is their culture, but it's -- I've also seen, since I've been here, people love their Nepali people and they reach out to help one another, and I think that by -- others are jumping in. And -- yeah you can't replace a historic building like that and what to do with this building. But we hope for the best.

[04:35:24] UDES: Thank you very much Eric. So, you know, a lot of people jumping in we're getting several reports that I mean that again were just in the old part of Kathmandu that even outside of Kathmandu everyone just trying to jump in to help out right now.

ROMANS: Sumnima you grow up in Nepal now your covering a story there in your home country at your use to moving around the world and covering tragedies and big stories elsewhere in the world. Tell me how this earthquake is touching you in your producer (ph) who is also from Nepal?

I think we've lost her signal, you can see obviously that it's quite difficult to be able to bring that story to in real time. Well get back to Sumnima in the next hour.

Meantime governments all over the world are now leaping to meet this huge need for international assistance a Pentagon cargo plane now in the air with 70 disaster relief and rescue specialists, 45 tons of gear. The U.S. embassy providing $1 million and immediate assistance Poland, Belgium, Australia, of the U.A.E., many other countries are all steeping up they're sending personnel, equipment, relief supplies, financial aid packages, Israel is sending 260 IDF emergency responders to provide search and rescue and medical health.

CNN's Oren Liebermann is with them and has this report.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the Israelites seen here a team of 260 people personnel search and rescue of (inaudible) is getting ready to board the plain two jumbo jets that straight for Kathmandu, straight from the emergency area of disaster area to assists in anyway they can again they'll setup a field hospital there are search and rescue teams, you know, doctors, medical personnel, all they aiming to help in anyway they can, they bring with them nearly a 100 tons of medical aid and supplies. The advance team is already gone in a team of seven doctor went in a couple of days ago already to get some boots on the ground and help and start surveying the situation but like there went in and came back and brought back three pre-matured babies that's completely different part of this story.

Nepal is not a common place for Israeli truckers its very optimal its where the parents go for surrogate children, for surrogate mothers, and of course that situation there is in incredibly stressed and strain because of the medical situation there.

They're not only many new born there approximately only 25, there are also babies about to be born approximately 10 to 15 and that's from organizations we'd spoken with that arranged this surrogate children and surrogate mothers.

So again three have already come back on the first flight that three premature babies born to surrogate mothers in Nepal who need medical care, they've been flown back and expect the number of others perhaps as many as two dozen in the coming hours and days.

As part of the greater rescue effort of what's happening on the ground in Kathmandu again this is the Israel search and rescue team approximately 260 medical per personnel going in I'll be going with them and keep you updated on what they're doing and of course this premature children and those new born coming back fro surrogate mothers in Nepal. Christine.

ROMANS: Wow another angle of that tragedy. Saturday is the earthquake also touch of these terrifying avalanches across the mountainous country the moment the very moment those avalanche hit Everest base camps caught on camera by the German climber Jost Kobusch listen.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: You hear them struggling for breath even in the thin air of Everest as they're running into their tents for some shelter were told that many of this hikers are now sleeping in their tents with knife, so if they are struck by another avalanche they can claw their way out.

Kobusch the German hiker of course he survives, he survives that impact and tells us that telling all those people around him to stay together.

Nepal faces a daunting recovery the total cost of reconstruction could top 5 in billion dollars according to early numbers from the research firm IHS first in perspective that's about 20 percent of the country's economic output. And that's just an early estimate it is almost certain it will cost much and more than. One of the reasons the damage was so devastating the standard of housing construction quite low annual GDP per capita about a $1,000 that means many most families live in poverty.

Tourism one of the few bright spots in the economy, one of the only real drivers foreign climbers pay up to a $100,000 to climb Mount Everest.

[04:40:05] That climbing industry clearly t risks of given the danger to years in a row. Now devastation at Mount Everest. Our expert say that the country doesn't have the capacity to rebuild on its own and will need ongoing, international assistance. And again those teams are just starting to get into the country to assess what needs to be done for the very, very near term survival of Nepalis residents.

All right here in this country the community demanding answers. But Freddie Gray's family is demanding calm as they prepare to lay him to rest today. A report from Baltimore is next.

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ROMANS: Freddie Gray will be laid to rest in Baltimore today. Family and friends turned out on Sunday to pay respects at awake for the man who died after suffering the severe spinal injury of crushed voice box in police custody.

Freddie Gray's family now calling for call and after three dozen people were arrested when violence broke out during a protest this Saturday a protest against police violence turning violent itself.

We get more of this morning from CNN's Athena Jones.

JONES: Good morning Christine. The funeral for Freddie Gray will be held just a few hours from now at a church in west Baltimore. A local pastor who has been one of the leaders of some of the demonstrations we've seen in this city over the last several days we'll be delivering the eulogy. Gray's family attended church on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: How many more of our sons and daughters must die before our black lives are treated as equal. I know I'm not the only one who has had it up to here with this country systematically slaughtering our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:45:09] JONES: Now Reverend Bryant was at going to sentiments of many people in this community and in cities across the country, who feel that they're under constant threat from law enforcement simply because they're black.

We expect him to touch on this theme and his remarks today. We also understand that Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings will be among the speaker's at the funeral services.

And we're told that the family of Eric Garner is planning to attend. Of course Eric Garner is the Staten Island man who died after being put in a chokehold by police there last summer. And of course we're still waiting for answers about just what happened to Freddie Gray in that police van.

The Baltimore Police Department says they're going to finish their investigation into that incident this week, hand over their information on Friday to the State's Attorneys Office and they'll decide how to perceive whether to file charges.

So we'll be watching for that. But of course today is about honoring Freddie Gray and laying him to rest. Christine.

ROMANS: Absolutely. All right, Athena thank you for that.

46 minutes past the hour is an ISIS inspired terror plot in the works right now in the U.S. The FBI is now investigating after intercepted Intel racist suspicions.

One official saying the threat may focus on California. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty explains.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, it's not clear whether this is a real or aspirational threat. Law enforcement sources tell CNN the investigation started after the FBI intercepted some chatter indicating a potential possible plot could be in the works.

The Department of Homeland Security would not address the specifics of this potential threat but told CNN in a statement "The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the FBI and our intelligence partners will adjust security measures, as necessary, to protect the American people. Over the last few months, we have made a number of security adjustments. Many of those security enhancements remain in place today."

And another official say the possible threat is not necessarily aviation related but DHS says they have enhance screening at some airports abroad also increased random searches of passengers and carry-on bags on flights coming into the U.S.

TSA has alerted local enforcement agencies responsible for external security around the airport. They say that this is a precautionary measure we're told in some cities Christine happen increasing security.

ROMANS: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, thank you for that.

History are being made today in Washington, the landmark moment with an Ex-attorney general has sworn in.

And another powerful moment Bruce Jenner revealing he is transitioning to a woman, how the interview is being received, next.

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[04:51:32] ROMANS: All right welcome to CNN.

The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be talking security, trade and climate change with President Obama as his week long trip to the U.S. kicks off in Ernest today. He'll attend a state dinner at the White House tomorrow who make history Wednesday when he becomes the first Japanese Prime Minister to address the adjoin meeting of congress.

CNN's Will Ripley following the very latest for us this morning from Tokyo. Hi Will.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey Christine, yeah as a Prime Minister Abe and President Obama try to look towards the future of Japan's past continues to cast a shadow over this historic visit.

They're expected to be protesting Washington as the Prime Minister gives that historic speech before congress in English because a lot of people here in Asia specially South Korea and China want Abe to formally apologize for Japan's actions during World War II including the enslavement of an estimated 200,000 so called comfort women.

Many of them taken from their homes and forced to work in military brothels, there's been a lack of an apology that's a key issue of contention and friction here in this region.

But in addition Abe of course talking about trade and security with the president, he -- they're going to make an announcement about the progress of a major trade deal that the U.S. and Japan and other countries in this region are working on trying to open up for example the auto market here in Tokyo to see more American cars on the streets here just like they're japanese cars in the streets in the U.S.

And of course Japan's increasing role of its military and working with United States in this region as well. So a lot on his flight as he crisscrosses the country from the east coast to the west. Christine.

ROMANS: Clearly very important -- an important friendship all the way around.

All right thanks for that Will.

Fifty-three minutes past the hour.

Loretta Lynch plays to make history today after a long delayed confirmation vote in the senate Friday. Vice President Joe Biden will officially swear in Lynch as attorney general at the Department of Justice.

She will become the first African-American woman to serve as the country's top law enforcement official. She replaces Eric Holder as the first African-American at the helm. The ceremony will be at 11 A.M. Eastern Time.

Bruce Jenner's ABC interview wasn't just a raving sponanza for the network. He broke records on Twitter, more than 400,000 people twitted about Jenner revealing he is a transgender woman.

Those twits were viewed a record 139 million times. There's been a lot of support for the former Olympic gold medalist. Except daughters Kim and Khloe Kardashian saying they are proud of him.

Actress Debra Messing calling him an American hero, yet again CNN money analysis have all of that traffic on Twitter and social media founded overwhelming optimism and approval for the story and for him bringing it public.

54 minutes past the hour.

Airlines saving billions on fuel, they're saving so much money so why aren't ticket prices falling. I'll tell you why next.

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[04:57:45] ROMANS: Welcome back I'm Christine Romans. Let's get an early start on your money this morning. U.S. stock futures barely moving but, you know, stocks aren't record, both the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 ended last week at highs.

The first time that's happens since the peak of the Dot-com Bubble 15 years ago look at that and NASDAQ 15 year high.

A lot to consider today including Apple earnings, those are out after the close, a first look at the Apple watch numbers. Apple is the most valuable company in the world. The company will need to crash forecast to satisfy Wall Street.

Corinthian Colleges closing all of its campuses today before profit college network once had a 100 campuses across the country, today and the remaining 28 will be shuttered.

The Department of Education has forced the company to close or sell because it gave misleading information.

Corinthian is accused of praying in low income people with a very expensive loans. More than 100 students from the school are refusing to pay their loans claiming the degree they got on borrowed money from Corinthian is worthless.

All right fuel cheap. So why is that airfare in the first quarter the four major carriers saves $3.4 billion on fuel that allow them to post record profit but the average fare only fell 66 cents.

Fuel is the airlines largest expense. But demand for air travel is still strong so carriers have no reason to lower prices. The airline industry says its margins are still very low, very tight it's using the extra money for investment and improvements.

Early Start continues right now.

A scene of devastation with more than 3,000 dead after a powerful earthquake rocks Nepal. Survivors right now living in terror of aftershocks and living in terror of avalanches like this one.

We are live on the ground with the latest on the search and rescue efforts. And laying Freddie Gray to rest Baltimore, family and friends prepared to say goodbye as the city demands answers for what led to his death in police custody more than two weeks after his arrest.

Good morning welcome to Early Start. I'm Christine Romans.

A lot going on this Monday morning. John Berman has a morning off it is April 27th, 5 A.M. exactly in the east.

[05:00:01] Lets begin in Nepal this morning untold devastation there from Saturday's huge magnitude 7.8 earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks.