Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Two Inmates Escape From Maximum Security Prison in New York; Obama Says Russian Aggression In Ukraine Tops The Agenda; College Student Dies While Incarcerated; Iraqi Forces Now In Full Control Of City Of Baoji; Putin Scheduled To Meet With Pope Francis At Vatican on Wednesday; Four Million Federal Employees' Personal Information May Have Been Breached. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired June 07, 2015 - 15:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:01:20] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, welcome back. We are learning that New York state officials will be holding a press conference soon on the two state murderers from a prison in upstate New York.

Also, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state of New York is offering a $100,000 reward to information leading to the arrest of the two Richard Matt and David Sweat, the two inmates who escaped from the maximum security Clinton correctional facility in Dannemora, New York.

And in a conference call with the media earlier today, Cuomo said this is the first escape from this facility and his administration wants to make it the last. When that press conference gets under way, we'll bring it to you.

Now, how did all of this happen? Here now is CNN's Polo Sandoval.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred.

Two priorities for law enforcement in upstate New York at this hour, that's find these two extremely dangerous individual and try to find out how they were able to pull off some of an elaborate jail break.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL (voice-over): A massive manhunt is under way for two convicted killers on the run. The FBI, state and local police setting up road blocks searching house to house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Currently, we have over 200 law enforcement offers in the area with a variety of specialized unit and equipment at their disposal. No stone is being left unturned.

SANDOVAL: 48-year-old Richard Matt and David Sweat made a daring escape from the Clinton correctional facility in upstate New York near the Canadian border.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, NEW YORK: No doubt it was an extraordinary act. You have a facility that opened in 1865. Just think about it. This is the first escape from the maximum security portion of the institution ever.

SANDOVAL: The pair left make-shift dummies in their beds made out of hooded sweat shirts and carved a hole at the steel water at the rear of their cells.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This morning we noticed during standing count at 5:30 a.m. in this facility, the two, cells adjoining each other were empty.

SANDOVAL: Officials say the inmates crawled through tunnels and used power tools to cut through steel pipes, eventually escaping through a man hole outside the perimeter. Officials say the brazen pair even left a note for prison officials. It read, "have a nice day."

CUOMO: We went back and pieced together what they did. It was elaborate. It was sophisticated.

SANDOVAL: Sweat is serving a sentence of life without parole after he was convict of first degree murder. Matt is serving 25 years to life for kidnapping a man and beating him to death.

CUOMO: So these are dangerous people. They are not to be trifled with.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: I spoke with law enforcement. They tell me that they are confident they will eventually track down these two individuals. But the concern now is what would two desperate fugitives on the run be willing to do to stay beyond those prison walls? - Fred.

WHITFIELD: Polo Sandoval, thank you so much.

And of course, when that press conference gets under way there in Dannemora, New York, live pictures right now, of course, take that press conference live.

All right, meantime, overseas now. President Obama says Russian aggression in Ukraine tops the agenda as he and several world leaders meet in Germany. Mr. Obama and German chancellor Angela Merkel also say sanctions on Russia should stay in place until it fully complies with a cease-fire deal.

Meanwhile, thousands of people are demonstrating nearby and what are largely peaceful protests. However, police have been forced to crack down on some that turned violent.

Joining me right now, CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta and CNN international correspondent Karl Penhaul.

WHITFIELD: So Karl, let me begin with you and the protests, what's on tap today?

[15:05:01] KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, protesters, Fredricka, have been in this region now for many days. And they say that whatever the G-7 is selling, they are buying none of this. Because in the view of protesters here gathered from many different political viewpoint, they believe that the group of seven is simply a group of fat cat politicians who really don't represent the common people that they belong and come out solutions that a fair and democratic for the entire world.

Now, today, differently from the mass demonstrations over the last few days, they still demonstrated breakup into smaller group and play games of cat and mouse with riot police to try and get closer to the castle where G-7 leaders are meeting, to try and shut that meeting down. They got nowhere close, but they did at one stage as stages move peaceful seat in on a highway. Both protesters were dragged away by riot police; others tried to another highway, but again, were encircled by police.

It seems clear to me after several days of covering this demonstrations that the riot police are using a tactic that has been widely criticize here in Europe and that is called Ketling (ph) with effectively means hurting and crawling the demonstrators so tightly that they are restricting and movement. Some protesters here say that that is also affected their democratic right to protest.

So in general terms, the protests have remains peaceful. But as they say, protesters really not content with the way that the riot police have handled them, have heard them and crawled them. They do still hope that they have a chance to make their voices heard, though, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl Penhaul, thank you so much.

Meanwhile, President Obama not allowing that to distract from his mission. His focus, he says the focus there should be Russia. He wants leaders to keep the pressure on Moscow because of what he calls aggression towards Ukraine.

Let's go to our senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta now.

So Jim, what is the latest on that agenda.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. I think you said it perfectly. The president, the White House, their goal for this G-7 summit is not to increase sanctions on Russia and Vladimir Putin. We know that that probably a stretch.

The goal here is to maintain the current sanctions that are in place to make sure that Europe isn't tempted to loosen those sanctions. There is some talk in Europe that that might occur. And so, the president came to the Alps to convince German chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and other G-7 leaders who are gathered here to keep the pressure on Vladimir Putin. And it seems at this point, the president is getting some good indications that will be the case.

The readouts coming out of his bilateral discussions with both Angela Merkel and with David Cameron show that those leaders are really echoing what the president is saying and that the pressure has to be kept on Vladimir Putin. We should point out for his part, Vladimir Putin did an interview with

an Italian newspaper in which he said that the world has nothing to fear from his country, that it would be insane, in his words, somebody would have to be in a dream to imagine the Russian government would somehow go after NATO or NATO countries.

That is very interesting, Fredricka, because as you know, Russia was part of what was called the G-8 last year. And it is now the G-7. Russia was kicked out of the G-8 and became the G-7 because of that annexation of Crimea. And so, what the president is saying, we heard this from the White House earlier today, is that because of this continued aggression in eastern Ukraine, Russia is sending military trainers, Russia is sending military equipment into eastern Ukraine. That that is simply the case being made for continuing these sanctions, continuing that economic isolation of Russia. And so, I think we'll hear the president talk about that.

And you are also going to see, Fredricka, during these discussions here a big focus on ISIS, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, he is coming all the way from Baghdad to meet with the president tomorrow here in the Alps, here at G-7 summit. So that will be a big topic of conversation as well.

Haider al-Abadi, as you know, he wants to see the world do more to fight that battle against ISIS. The president has emphasized his national security team. He wants innovative ways to go after ISIS. And that's what the White House said to us earlier today here at the briefing in the Alps. So we'll be watching all of that play out (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: OK. And it's natural to wonder whether now that Great Britain is committing more military troops to be there in Iraq whether, in anyway, that will shape or reshape the conversation that will be expected. So bring us up to date on that when you get it.

Thanks so much, Jim Acosta. Appreciate that.

All right, still ahead, a college student dies while in jail. Nick Valencia is covering that for us.

We'll have much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:12:54] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. We'll take you to Dannemora in New York when a press conference gets under way. We know now that the governor of New York says $100,000 reward is being offered leading to the arrest of these two convicted murderers who escaped this upstate New York prison in a very inventive way, using dummies in their bed. Using power stools on a steel wall.

48-year-old Richard Matt and 40-year-old David Sweat still on the run. And of course, when this press conference gets under way, we'll take you there live.

All right, we also now know the cause of a mysterious death of a college student being held in jail in Georgia. The Chatham coroner's office in Savanna says the death of a 21-year-old young man is a homicide, but no one has been charged.

Nick Valencia is covering the story for us right now and he is with me with more details on this.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So nine people, nine deputies in the Chatham sheriff's office have been fired as a result of their involvement in Matthew Ajibade's death, that 21-year-old Nigerian college student.

Later this month, the district attorney there in Chatham County is expected to bring forth an indictment to the grand jury. We'll find out if there will be formal criminal charges.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA (voice-over): More than five months after his death, a death certificate. The Chatham county coroner says blunt force trauma killed 21-year-old Matthew Ajibade, the manner dead, homicide.

At a vigil in Savanna, friends and family frustrated by the county sheriff and what they call his lack of transparency about Ajibade's death. The college student died while in police custody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This guy still keeps his job. And I think that is dishonorable for Matthew's life and just for everyone that is supporting him right now.

VALENCIA: What happened to Matthew Ajibade on New Year's Day is not entirely clear. Seen on surveillance tape, Ajibade and his girlfriend struggle during what his family says was a medical episode. Ajibade is bipolar.

But Police report says his girlfriend's face was bruised and her nose was bleeding. Police say he fought them, too. He becomes, quote, "combative during the booking process," according to a police report, and injures three deputies, including a female sergeant who quote "suffered a concussion and broken nose."

[15:15:12] MARK O'MARA, AJIBADE FAMILY ATTORNEY: Matthew had documented bipolar disorder and he was on medications for it. But sometimes those medications don't work fully. And also acknowledge some people don't always take their medications when they should.

VALENCIA: Mark O'Mara is a CNN legal analyst. He's also been hired by the Ajibade family to help them find justice.

O'MARA: I want the people in Savanna to know that if they don't get transparency, this is going to continue to happen. I want the family of Matthew to know what happened. We just ask for transparency. We just ask for openness.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: Not only is Ajibade's family grieving, they are also quite furious with the whole process. Officially, they say they haven't been given much transparency. It took five months for that death certificate to be officially issued.

WHITFIELD: So manner of death, homicide. It doesn't explain the cause of death. How did he die?

VALENCIA: Blunt force trauma. It was a number of things. They sort of talked to the coroner earlier this week. And he said it was a number of things. They found small amount of blood in the skull. They also found some skin lacerations. The lawyer for the family, Mark O'Mara is convinced that this young was tased while he was (INAUDIBLE) that has not been confirmed.

It's been really a tough time to try to get information out from the Chatham County sheriff's office. And the family for that reason is very upset.

Another point is this death certificate wasn't sent to the family directly, Fred. They found it on social media. It was linked on Instagram. That's how the family's attorney found out about this. I asked the coroner well, if they were responsible for that leak, they denied that. They said they don't know where it came from. But the family is just very furious and frustrated.

WHITFIELD: Right. So the prosecutors or sheriff's office, any of them indicating how many officers, if it's an issue of officers, how many people might be facing charges as it relates to this homicide?

VALENCIA: Well, the GDI has looked into this department and into the sheriff's office. Investigation for excessive force, that they've been using their tasers too much? There is no indication how many other deputies may be involved, but nine already, three other have resigned and stepped down. But nine fired already. And that could just be the tip of the iceberg.

WHITFIELD: My goodness. Alright, Nick Valencia, keeps us posted on this. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

VALENCIA: You bet.

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham wants to be president. And says Caitlyn Jenner is welcome to help him win. More from our interview with the candidate after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:21:18] WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. We continue to monitor this podium right here in upstate New York. We are learning that New York state officials will be holding a press conference soon on the two escaped murderers from prison in that region.

Also, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state of New York is offering a $100,000 reward for info leading to the arrest of Richard Matt and David Swear, the two inmates who escaped from the maximum security Clinton correctional facility in Dannemora, New York. And in a conference call earlier with the media Governor Cuomo says

this is the first escape from the facility and the administration wants to make it the last.

Also check of our top stories right now. In China today, family members and officials gather in mourning to remember those who die on the eastern star cruise ship. The luxury boat capsized in bad weather last week in the Yemzi (ph) river. China state media says more than 400 bodies have been recovered and 11 remain missing. There have been only about a dozen survivors so far. But rescue workers continue to comb through the ship looking cabin by cabin.

And two teens who been called a modern day Bonnie and Clyde are behind bars today after a week on the land. Police say the pair stole a truck and shotgun shells in a multistate crime spree. Authorities in western Virginia caught them after the teens allegedly crashed a stolen car.

And the woman hit by a baseball bat during a Red Sox game is expected to survive. Tanya Carpenter is still in serious condition, but she is in better shape than the life-threatening prognosis on Friday. Carpenter was sitting along the third base line when an Oakland player's bat shattered and then hit her in the forehead causing a blunt trauma and blood loss.

And Kensington palace is sharing photos of Prince George with his 10 weeks old sister Princess Charlotte. He's even seen kissing her on the forehead in one of the pictures. Even cooler, Prince William's wife Catherine was the one who actually took those photos.

All right, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is considered a long shot in his run for president. But the Republican candidate got rather personal in a way most don't when he sat down with our chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash on "STATE OF THE UNION." - Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fred, the cultural phenomenon of the week was Caitlyn, formerly Bruce Jenner coming out on the cover of "Vanity Fair" as a woman.

Now, here on the presidential campaign trail, though, most Republicans were silent on the issue which is controversial amongst some in the conservative base. But new GOP White House candidate Lindsey Graham told me on "STATE OF THE UNION," this morning that he is running to expand the GOP and he told me that includes Caitlyn Jenner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be safe and have a prosperous economy, vote for me. I'm in to audition. I haven't walked in her shoes. I don't have all the answers to the mysteries of life. I can only imagine the torment Bruce Jenner went through. I hope she has found peace. I'm a pro- life traditional marriage kind of guy, but I'm running to be president of the United States. If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be a Republican, she is welcome in my party.

BASH: So the Republicans should reach out to people like her to transgender Americans.

[15:24:56] GRAHAM: Understanding what you are getting with Lindsey Graham. I'm pro-life. I believe in traditional marriage without animosity. Of course they are going to rule probably in June about traditional marriage. I will accept the court's decision. I will proudly defend the unborn, but if we can't agree on abortion, let's talk about taxes. We are literally all in this together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: In my interview with Graham, the long-shot presidential candidate also took on his party on the issue of climate change, telling me he, of course, believes global warming and manmade and that his own Republican party needs to come to terms with that and come up with a comprehensive plan to address the environment -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Alright, Dana Bash, thank you so much.

All right. Pope Francis meets with Vladimir Putin this week. We'll hear whether he is expected to make some headway with the Russian leader over the Ukraine crisis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:26:38] WHITFIELD: All right, straight to Dannemora in New York now on this press conference about this two escaped inmates.

MAJOR CHARLES GUESS, NEW YORK STATE POLICE: We are currently searching for 35-year-old David P. Sweat and 49-year-old Richard Matt, both incarcerated for murder. The state police in conjunction with the department of corrections and community services, docs, and the New York state department of environmental conservation, New York state forest rangers, U.S. marshals and federal bureau of investigation are facilitating great searches to ensure a thorough ground search is completed in this area.

At this point, an excess of 150 leads have been developed since the escape was first reported yesterday morning. The state police docs, federal investigative personnel as well as surrounding agencies are following up on each and every lead no matter where it takes us. Several aircraft from state and federal agencies are being utilized. The state police currently have roughly 100 personnel which includes uniform, investigative and specialized units on the ground actively searching and following leads.

State police continue to coordinate with several other local, state and federal agencies. At this time, I would like to stress that over 250 correction officers and law enforcement officers are involved in the region and additional investigative services are being applied statewide and nationally. All available assets and necessary assets are being brought to bear.

Docs acting commissioner (INAUDIBLE) wanted me to relay that everyone remains cooperative about the investigation and (INAUDIBLE), the commissioner, is passionate about finding these individuals, apprehending them and ensuring that something like this never occurs again.

These are very dangerous individuals. The state police ask of public, take no chances, make no efforts to apprehend them and report any suspicious activity. If you see something say something. Contact 911 or your local law enforcement agency or the New York state police to report any information related to this investigation.

Tips can also be sent by email to crime tip at troopers.ny.gov. Upon conclusion of this briefing, our public information officer we'll have additional set of photographs available of our fugitives posted on our news site and so you'll have the necessary social media addresses pertinent to this incident, in addition to the new tip line established by Governor Andrew Cuomo with $100,000 reward.

At this time, I'll take a few questions. Please remember that I cannot discuss specific leads or particular tactics techniques or procedures pertaining to this investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). How confident are you they could still be in this area? (INAUDIBLE). Where do you think they are now?

GUESS: We are leaving no stone unturned. It's been approximately 36 hours since these inmates escaped. They could be literally anywhere. Although we have notified our partners in Canada, the ports of entry across the northern border, and certainly every law enforcement agency in the northeast, they could be out of state. But they still could be holed up hear in Dannemora.

We had a rapid response. We are leaving no stone unturned. We have a high presence of ground personnel investigators and variety of specialized assets. Most importantly for the safety of the members of this community in Dannemora, they will be found and apprehended.

[15:30:25] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: I think the second part first. Yes, we have alerted Mexican authorities and agencies in the southwest. We do not know if they had access to a vehicle, but we presume that they may have access to a vehicle, as well as may have received assistance in their escape effort, if there are no other reasons, at least outside the secure perimeter of this facility. So we have to treat it as if they escape independently of any other assistance and are still on foot. That they have not separated or they could still be together. That they have assistants in or a vehicle which could put them out of state at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: There is limited surveillance tape with the facility. We have taken a look at. These are the ones are the first things we look at to see, you know, in some communities they have prevalent surveillance tape. Nothing has been fruitful at this time for our investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: It is limited. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Couple more - just a couple more questions.

(INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: That is the question probably better asked of the department of corrections if their tools and their inventory. However, our forensics investigation unit has recovered some limited cutting tools that would have assisted them in this elaborated escape attempt. We presume that perhaps more sophisticated tools may have been used. But we did not recover sophisticated cutting tools. We are still looking for those tools. And anything we find within the facility or external to the facility, we brought in to evidence and studied by our investigators.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: We can assume that we had a full forensic evaluation of evidence collection at this site and beyond their point of exit from the facility.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: The contract is as far as I know at this time are cooperating with our investigators and department of corrections.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

GUESS: That is open to speculation. And I cannot comment to the specific timeline.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE), thank you very much.

GUESS: When we have something new, we'll share it with you. Thank you very much for your time.

WHITFIELD: All right. You heard from New York state police Major Charles Guess say they are leaving no stone unturned as they continue to search for 48-year-old Richard mat, 34-year-old David Sweat, convicted murderers who escaped 36 hours ago according to Guess there from that maximum security state prison.

We are also hearing from the major, however, that they did not recover sophisticated cutting tools. Still perplexing as to how these inmates were able to cut through the steel wall earlier. Had been reported that some power tools may have been used for them to cut through the steel wall then leave dummies in their cuts, in their beds to throw off officials before discovery was made 36 hours ago, and that they had indeed fled of this maximum security upstate New York prison.

All right, let's bring is CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes.

So Tom, as you listen to the major here, what did you hear? Certainly a bit of frustration that here it is 36 hours after the fact and he says any kind of video surveillance from the town has not brought any fruitful results. He said there are limited video cameras within this area in nearby towns. So it looks as though they've got all resources on the ground and in the air. He says there are 150 leads but I sense a bit of frustration from the major there that they really are not sure where to turn for these two escapees.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Fredricka, I think the main problem here is that the lead time that these guys have to escape and be on their way before the police even heard about it is just so much they could have walked to Canada before police were notified that they were missing in the first place. So that is part of the problem.

Secondly, when you have fugitives that escape, they have a sudden opportunity, somebody leaves a door open or gate unlocked and they run out the door, they don't have a plan. They don't have access to money. They can't use credit cards and they get stranded. They have to go back to their parents or friends or neighbors to try to find somebody to help them. But in this case, it looks like the planning was so extensive in getting out. If the planning after they got out was anywhere close to that, they could be in any numbers of countries by now, much less any other state.

[15:35:36] WHITFIELD: So you are inferring the assistance they may have had on the inside in order to get these kinds of tools, and if there were indeed power tools used as first reported, you would presume that would make a whole lot of noise. How is it that noise was not heard? How were they able to slip through?

FUENTES: Well, as far as the noise goes, they could time it so that they were drilling when other construction was going on during the day. In a maximum security prison, the other inmates wouldn't be out - they wouldn't be having them out, you know, in the yard playing volleyball in the middle of the afternoon the way they might in a less secure prison. So therefore, they are not in position to be seen and to be noticed as missing during the day. And that might have given them the chance to use power tools when the contractors were also using their tools for whatever construction was going on. I don't think they were doing this at two in the morning.

WHITFIELD: You're right. And then you heard from the major infer that perhaps there may have been some assistance on the outside, whether be in the form of a vehicle, some way in which to execute being so elusive.

FUENTES: Right. They would be looking at their wives, girlfriends, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, to try to see if anybody is missing. Is anybody else missing now from their circle of acquaintances and friends that may be with them, that they may have all left together, maybe obtained clothing from them, money, weapons, since they're murderers, and that is the other side of this, is they are stone cold killers, and making them extremely dangerous if anybody approaches them.

So anything is possible with these guys. And that's, I think, the frustration of the police is they have so much of a head start. It's not like you are going to find them next door in the woods wandering around without food, water and anywhere to go.

WHITFIELD: You wouldn't think. So now, you've got federal, state, and municipality law enforcement all engaged here. If you were working on this case, would it be your presumption that these two would still be together or that they would have split up by now?

FUENTES: You wouldn't try to presume anything in a case like this. You know, you would probably think they probably split up to make it easier for them. But, you know, we don't know that for a fact. And you know, in the case of the FBI, they would be alerting their three offices in Canada and six offices in Mexico. And especially one of these prisoners escaped previously and went to Mexico. He was actually brought back from Mexico, put back in jail in the U.S. So, there at least one of the two is familiar with getting out of the country and running around that way. But they could be anywhere within the states, as well.

And again, you know, they were last seen Friday night. They were first noticed as missing Saturday morning. By that time, they could have driven to Chicago.

WHITFIELD: Right. And I guess there is also the preparation in law enforcement that perhaps they may have it anyway changed their appearances in that amount of time. Thirty six hours is a long time. A lot can happen.

FUENTES: Extremely long time.

WHITFIELD: All right. Tom Fuentes, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Of course, we'll get back with you as we learn more information.

And we will have much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:42:33] ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You may have heard the phrase "sitting is the new smoking," a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of all sorts of diseases. Parts of these, diabetes and even some cancers. Well now, health authorities of the United Kingdom have come up with recommendations. They say that office workers should be on their feet at least two hours a day, standing, a little light walking, just not sitting. And they hope people will actually get up to four hours a day.

So one of the things you can do is get a standing desk, elevate your computer and stand, move around a little while you work. And also just take breaks. A little can go a long way, 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there. Take a walk with a friend, have a walking meeting. It's amazing how much you can get done. But really, Mother Nature never intended us to sit for hours and hours at a time. So don't do it. Move around as much as you can.

WHITFIELD: All right, new developments today in the fight against ISIS. Iraqi forces along with U.S. support say they are now in full control of the city of Baoji. Sources tell CNN that soldiers regained control of the city's government buildings and main mosques. ISIS forces also came under, air attack, as they retreated back towards Mosul.

CNN's senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh explains its strategic value. NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Limited

good news for the Iraqi government, frankly, after weeks of the opposite. We are hearing from Iraqi defense specials. They now control the town of Baoji, that is the government complex key parts suburbs outskirts around it. Not, it's important to point out, the oil refinery. That is a key part of Iraq's energy infrastructure and still held by dozens of ISIS militants who threaten to blow it up for (INAUDIBLE). It would be a catastrophe if they do realize this unrealistic vision.

But the good news reverberates around video shown here. And it seems to show Iraqi pro-government militia in the buildings around that particular town, crucial to some degree showing the bodies of ISIS fighters they clearly killed.

They say very openly they are pleased with the coalition's assistance here. They are grateful for airstrikes which seemed to assist them retaking this particular area. Coalition press releases pointed to three airstrikes and two in the last 24 hours. So normally, not a high number but the Iraqi security forces clear they were to be grateful for the difference the airstrikes have made.

But still the refinery in ISIS hands. When we were there probably week ago, it was described to us as a complex task retaking that refinery. Same path they may choose simply surrounds what's happened today is going to make that very possible. And they want now potential to create a buffeted zone from the south of the key city of Mosul also held by ISIS in the event that they choose to launch (INAUDIBLE) attacks to retake that vital northern city.

But the good news today, the Iraqi government limited because it is still a vital refinery. Everybody was fighting intentionally over around Baoji even though it seems now that pro-government forces have more or taken hold of the areas all around it.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Baghdad.

[15:45:50] WHITFIELD: All right, Nick. Thank you so much.

All right, Russian president Vladimir Putin may not be welcome at this week's G-7 summit, but that doesn't mean he is not making headlines. Putin is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican Wednesday. This is a second meeting between the two since Francis became Pope. Concern over the conflict in Ukraine is expected to be a key topic of conversation.

Let's talk more about this with John Allen. He is our senior Vatican analyst and author of the book "the Francis Miracle." Also joining us via Skype, Cynthia Hooper. She is an associate professor at the College of the Holy Cross.

All right, so good to see both of you.

So there is obviously a fair bit of pressure on Pope Francis to get his message across to Vladimir Putin. So John, you first, I mean, who knew that Vladimir Putin is a man of

faith. Is that what this is about? I mean, how did this second meeting come about?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Well, Fred, you know, the truth of it is that Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin are a kind of geopolitical odd couple, you know. I mean, Francis is all about compassion and tenderness and so on. You know, Putin, on the other hand, is a kind of rough and tumble figure. And yet these two men have found common cause on a variety of issues.

Two years ago Pope Francis took the lead role opposing the idea of western strikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, a position that Vladimir Putin enthusiastically supported. They agree on the protection of Christians in the Middle East. They agree on the reintegration of Cuba into the international community and in a number of other things.

I think it is probably fair to say that from Putin's point of view, he wants to see himself as one of the major sort of movers and shakers on the global stage, and therefore, is interested in the idea of trying to pursue a partnership with Pope Francis.

The Pope on the other hand, is very committed to the idea of closer relationships between the Catholic Church and the orthodox world. And the Russian orthodox are the largest church by far in terms of orthodox Christianity. And so, he also perceives a kind of issue there.

However, at the end of the day, the key sort of fly in the ointment, so to speak, is the very different positions that the Russians and the Vatican would have on Ukraine. The Russians would like to slice off portions of eastern Ukraine for their own purposes, whereas the Vatican wants to support the catholic minority in the Ukraine that enthusiastically supports the idea of the unified country.

And so, I think the key bit of drama on Wednesday is going to be whether these broader geopolitical issues dominate or whether, instead, Ukraine becomes the issue that causes this budding partnership between Putin and the Pope to unravel.

WHITFIELD: So Cynthia, you know Ukraine is going to come up. It seems like this would to be a primary ambition for the Pope. But you have to wonder, you know, what the G-7 can't do as it pertains to Russia. Russia is not invited this year, you know, perhaps the Pope can do? I mean, is this merely coincidence that these two would be meeting on the very week the G-7 is meeting and talking about Ukraine and Russia overstepping its bound?

CYNTHIA HOOPER, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS: Not at all. I think this is an incredibly calculated public relations move on the part of the kremlin. I think it's designed to not only present Putin as a man of faith, but also to show the world and Russia's domestic audience that Russia is not alone. It does have allies. It doesn't actually have to be the G-7 countries that are meeting today. WHITFIELD: So are you saying he is manipulating -- successfully be

able to manipulate the Pope to his advantage?

[15:49:58] HOOPER: I think that Pope Francis is both very keen to promote a diplomatic solution and aware that Russia needs to be involved in any kind of successful long-term negotiation to settle the fighting in Ukraine. But at the same time, he is also determined not to become a tool of Russian propaganda. But it is very interesting how Russian media outlets are already playing this story and they are doing two things.

WHITFIELD: What?

HOOPER: They are emphasizing that Russia has other allies, like the Vatican. They are presenting Pope Francis as a friend to Russia but also say the emerging economies of BRICS, that's Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa.

And also very interestingly, especially for his domestic audience, Putin is really in recent months emphasizing the importance of religious values to Russian national identity. And in doing this, he is actually flipping terms that the United States used to use during the cold war to characterize this superpower struggle. So, it was traditionally presidents like Ronald Reagan who would sort of cast the cold war as pitting Judeo-Christian United States against an immoral, Godless, atheistic, communistic soviet union. And now, it is actually Putin who is trying, and I'm not staying is successful, but particularly in terms of his domestic audience, who is trying to argue that it is Russia that is now play some religious values and it is the United States that's representing morally corrupt materialism.

WHITFIELD: So John, everyone can see how this is advantageous for Putin to have this meeting with the Vatican, with the Pope. How might this bed advantageous for Pope Francis and his reach?

ALLEN: Well, I think the fundamental thing, Fred, is that Pope Francis has identified this kind of central, social and political concern these days, the protection of Christians in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria. And there simply is no doubt that however you slice and dice it, Russia is a major player in both of those arenas. It is the major patron of Syria.

In Iraq, it is seen by many Christians there as a more reliable protector than the west is. And I think, therefore, Francis believes that engaging the Russians and engaging Putin is absolutely central to that. You know, beyond that, you know, Pope Francis clearly wants to be an apostle of peace on the global stage and I think his belief would be that you can't promote peace in most global hotspots these days without at least bringing the Russians into consideration. I think truly interesting thing here, Fred, is that while Pope Francis wants a constructive partnership with Putin to promote his broader geopolitical objectives, there is a very important Greek catholic minority in the Ukraine that is feeling a little bit abandoned by the Vatican and by Pope Francis today. And they are going to be looking for Francis the hawk rather than Francis the dove to come out and may on Wednesday when he meets with the Russian president. WHITFIELD: So perhaps after this, that might make a difference.

All right, John Allen, Cynthia Hooper, thank you so much to both of you. Appreciate it.

All right, straight ahead, outrage from U.S. lawmakers over that massive data breach of federal employees. Our Sunlen Serfaty is following that story for us - Sunlen.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fred, lawmakers in Capitol Hill, they are calling this disturbing and pointing their fingers right at the White House for not doing more. The latest reaction from Washington, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:45] WHITFIELD: All right, now to the fallout over that massive hack of the U.S. government. Four million former and current federal employees' personal information may have been breached. Well today, lawmakers warned the hacking could really be about China laying the groundwork for an expanded cyber-attack against the United States.

Sunlen Serfaty joins us live now from Washington with more on this -- Sunlen.

SERFATY: Well Fred, cyber security experts who advise the government tell CNN it could actually be about building a massive database, an indication they say, that China is potentially preparing it use the data in some way in the future, having the ability to potentially impersonate, expose and blackmail U.S. government officials. This is such a massive breach, one of the largest attacks on federal government, taking information of about four million current and former federal employees. And there's been big warnings of this same extent also coming from lawmakers today, really sounding the alarms, how this information could actually be leveraged.

Here's the chairman on the house homeland security committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R), TEXAS: It was not done to steal credit card information and that kind of theft. It was done to get personal information on political appointees in the federal government and federal employees to exploit them so that later down the road, they can use those for espionage, to either recruit spies or compromise individuals in the federal government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And the president is attending the G-7 summit in Germany. And today, his press secretary indicated how the U.S. may respond potentially even using economic sanctions as punishment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Our investigators are still looking into who precisely carried out these intrusions, but the option that that -- that the president put on the table for responding to these kinds of activities in the form of financial sanctions certainly is one that continues to be available to him and the administration with regard to this particular activity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: The White House is not officially laying blame on who is behind in the attack but sources say U.S. investigators do believe they can track the bridge to the Chinese government. Chinese officials, Fred, have denied that they are behind this.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much from Washington.

And we have so much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM and it all starts right now.