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Latest on Missing Indonesian Aircraft; Rain Possible Problem in Tianjin; Jason Day Wins PGA Championship; Trump Talks Immigration Specifics; Oscar Pistorius Released, But May Face More Jail Time. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired August 16, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: A possible breakthrough in the search for a passenger plane that went missing over the weekend. Plus, fears that rain could trigger a chemical reaction at the scene of a deadly warehouse explosion in China.

And Australian golfer Jason Day wins his first major in record- breaking fashion.

Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. This is "CNN Newsroom."

And we begin with new developments out of Indonesia. Search and recovery efforts for a missing passenger plane have been suspended because of bad weather. Earlier today, two aerial search teams were said to have spotted debris believed to be from the Trigana air service flight.

The plane lost contact with air traffic control in the Papua region on Sunday. We want to go to straight to CNN's Anna Coren who is following the story from Hong Kong and joins us now with more. So Anna, as we just reported the search and recovery efforts have been suspended due to bad weather but there are also other challenges including the rough terrain. When might the recovery effort continue and how tough will it likely be when it does?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, it looks like the search crews on the ground are going to have to stay where they are for now. Apparently thick fog, poor visibility and storms is hampering them from proceeding any further. They are 3,500 meters up these mountain and had been hiking for an hour when the bad weather rolled in. They will have to camp there overnight. They believe they are six kilometers away from the debris scene. Six kilometers in such challenging terrain is quite a long way.

Remember, we are talking about mountains between 10 and 12,000 feet high, really quite extraordinary and rugged. They were planning to hike to this area, obviously not just to assess the debris but to build a helipad so that helicopters could fly in and help with the recovery efforts. It's looking more and more like a recovery effort and they will have to take away bodies, evidence and find the black boxes to work out what went so terribly wrong. But for now, Rosemary they will be staying put and they are hoping

that tomorrow morning the weather will clear and they will be able to continue with that hike.

CHURCH: And we are also learning that the Trigana air service does not have a particularly good safety record. Talk to us about that and whether authorities have any idea what possibly caused this crash.

COREN: Look, as for the cause, Rosemary it's too early to say. But they are looking at mechanical problems, at pilot error and also weather but it's we know that the plane took off yesterday afternoon with clear weather, that it may have encountered some clouds on the top of the Bintang mountain range that it was flying over when it had this accident but apart from that, it just doesn't - we just don't know as to what went so terribly wrong.

As for the safety record of Trigana, it's been described by experts as being appalling. Something like 14 incidents since 1992 of which five have been fatal. But sadly, it's not just this particular airline. The Indonesian aviation industry does not have a good record. And we only have to look back at what happened in December of last year, with that Air Asia flight to Singapore which crashed into the java sea. All 162 people were killed and in June of this year the C-130 aircraft that crashed shortly after it took off, killing 143 people, 22 of those on the ground.

[03:05:00] Aviation experts that we've spoken to this morning say every two to three months, Indonesia seems to have some sort of aviation accident and that simply, this is not good enough. Obviously, the industry needs an overhaul. Yes, it's expanding extremely quickly. More airlines coming on and they are having to train many more pilots and they are not trained to adequate standards and the planes are old equipment. The aviation industry in Indonesia is going to have to have a massive overall and upgrade.

CHURCH: Certainly a real concern. Anna Coren reporting live from Hong Kong. Many thanks to you as always.

Let's get more on the weather conditions facing the recovery teams. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now from the international weather center there. And as we heard from Anna, due to weather conditions, this search and recovery effort has been us suspended. Can you get an idea how long they will have to wait before they can resume efforts?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's a great question. The visibility is a major issue. Down to 10 meters at this point. You take a look at where the plane took off from. The closest storm I could find when the plane went missing is 300 kilometers away. But the clouds bank up right around the Bintang mountains. That is a concern. The fog will remain in place for a couple of days. Thunderstorms popped up early on Monday when the sun began to rise. By the afternoon hours the clouds return. This is a pattern we'll follow the next couple days. This is the dry time of year.

July and August is the peak of dry season. And the mountains still get tremendous rainfall. 100 millimeters is a possibility over the area where the plane went down. That is 4 inches in the coming days. And the forecast keeps thunderstorms in there for Tuesday, brings in a few clouds and more thunderstorms could return by the latter portion of the week. I want to show you the landscape here. We heard about what is going on over this region. You bring up the Bintang mountains.

This is the second largest island in the world. One of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in the world as well. In these mountains you will find 21,000 varieties of plants and 800 variety of birds and 250 different mammals. Tremendously steep in this region. And the wind was southerly. You get these eddies that form and translate to clear-air turbulence. We see this in the Rockies and alps and Andes as well.

This is conducive for rough weather especially if the pilots are not trained for it or the aircraft is not equipped to handle it. And it doesn't have visual cues. You're not going to see a cloud formation and radar is capable but conventional radar you don't have access to spot this ahead of it. It's something that I'm sure authorities are looking at carefully. The weather pattern here is notorious for the eddies that form.

CHURCH: Aviation accidents always unsettling to cover and we've had to report on far too many of late. Many thanks to you for explaining the situation on the ground there. Appreciate it.

Well, thousands of Chinese troops are searching for chemicals at the site of last week's massive explosions in Tianjin. The blast killed at least 114 people. 70 are still missing. New video shows the explosions from a neighbor apartment. More than 50 people were rescued from the rubble, including one firefighter who described the scene.

More than 50 people were rescued from the rumbling including one firefighter who described the scene.

XIAO XU, FIREFIGHTER: We hid ourselves behind containers which were deformed by the blast wave. We walked through the containers but couldn't find a way out. Smoke and fire were everywhere. I found it hard to believe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were you afraid?

XU: A little bit but I focused on how to get there.

CHURCH: Steven Jiang is there and joins us with the latest. We learned that 700 tons of sodium cyanide was in the blast site. Why would there be such a large quantity of the substance. Talk about just how toxic it is.

[03:10:00] STEVEN JIANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That site was a large chemical warehouse containing all sorts of toxic material. Sodium cyanide is a chemical used in chemical manufacturing and in the Ming industry. It's stuff that is easy to inhale. And if inhaled or ingested it can be lethal to humans quickly. We are talking about 700 tons of it lying around in the blast zone. That's why the military officer in charge are saying they are doing everything they can to handle this with the utmost care and methodically.

If the material has leaked into the ground they have been building walls around it to contain it. If they have found the barrels ripped open by a blast forces they are trying to neutralize the chemical with hydrogen peroxide. Now if the barrels happen to be intact they are shipped away immediately. It's that precaution they are taking. But still they are searching a wider area within a three kilometer radius, have 2,000 soldiers trying to find other chemicals that may have been launched into the air by the blast forces and fallen to the ground. They are looking for it and cleaning it up.

Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes, Steven, that's the big concern, isn't it? The air and water quality. Apparently they have measured this but a lot of people are suspicious about the outcome and the results. Talk to us about that and what people nearby are going to do as far as where they're going to live if they lost homes and the fear some have solve going back to their homes that still remain in that area.

JIANG: That's right Rosemary, despite the shocking finding in the blast zone of the 700 tons of material. The environmental protection agency officials say it is safe to live here. The air quality and water quality, they have been measuring since the day after the blast, the readings have come back to normal levels, they say. And that's what they are telling people. It's safe to drink the water here. It's safe to breathe in the air here. But this line of argument has not convinced a lot of residents especially those who lived nearby. Some are staging protests outside a government press center two days in a row. They want answers and cauterization from the authorities.

They say when they bought the apartments no one told them they would be living next to a ticking time bomb. They said how can such a project with so much dangerous chemical material be stored so close to residential areas with thousands of residents. They want the government to buy back their apartments and give them answers to questions that have not been answered by the authorities so far.

Rosemary?

CHURCH: Let's hope they get answers and get them soon. Steven Jiang reporting live from Tianjin, many thanks to you. Tens of thousands of protesters are keeping up the pressure on the Brazilian president. They filled the streets, calling for her impeachment. President Rousseff has seen her approval rating sink to single digits with brazil's economy mired in recession. Prices are climbing while the currency is hitting a 12-year low. A government spokesman calls the protest a part of democracy.

Sri Lankans are voting for a new parliament and it's a referendum on the comeback of the former president. The so-called warrior king is hoping his party can win enough seats to put him on the path to becoming prime minister. But his former ally, the current president and leader of the party, is ruling that out. Rajapanksa narrowly lost the election.

Let's turn now to the U.S. presidential race. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has released his long awaited policy on immigration. It's a cornerstone of his campaign. In the plan the billionaire outlines how he will force Mexico to pay for a wall along its border with the United States. Andy Rose has more on that.

ANDY ROSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Getting specific on immigration policy in an interview aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" Republican candidate, Donald Trump says the U.S. must deport all Mexican immigrant also are in the country illegally. Trump says the U.S. must build a wall along the border with Mexico and have Mexico pay for it or face possible tariffs or fees. He says any plan should improve jobs, wages and security for Americans.

[03:15:00] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It will work out so well and You will be so happy. In four years you're going to be Interviewing me and saying what A great job you've done President Trump.

ROSE: Trump has faced criticism from his own party for his sometimes controversial stands on issues and the media's coverage of them.

MIKE HUCKABEE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's getting ten times the press coverage than any other candidate. You give me ten times the coverage that any other candidate gets I'll be leading in the polls.

ROSE: Structure's support is at 25 percent nationwide eclipsing Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz. Ben Carson is in second place. When asked if Trump's campaign was part of a reality show, the candidate replied.

BEN CARSON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the real deal.

CHURCH: Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton continues to be dogged by questions regarding her e-mail use as secretary of state. On Saturday, the democratic front runner dismissed suggestions she was taking the issue to lightly and said partisan politics is fueling the controversy that has plagued her campaign. Carly Fiorina appeared on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday and had blunt words for her political rival.

CARLY FIORINA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, in the debate last week I made the statement that Hillary Clinton has lied. She's lied about Benghazi, she's lied about her server and she's lied about her e-mails. And some in the media found that language harsh although the majority of Americans agree with me. The more the story goes on the more it becomes clear that she has lied.

CHURCH: Clinton says that people coming to her campaign events have not brought the controversy up.

All right. Let's turn to golf and the PGA championship ended with a history-making performance by Australian golfer Jason Day as he set a new record with a score that no one in the history of the game as ever achieved. He finished the 72-hole tournament at 20 under par, the lowest score ever in a major championship. He has had several close calls in other major tournaments but was able to put out his first career major win.

JASON DAY, 2015 PGA CHAMPION: I knew today was going to be tough but I didn't realize how tough it was going to be. I learned a lot about myself, again. Being able to finish the way I did. The experiences I've had in the past with previous major finishes has definitely helped me prepare myself for, you know, a moment like this. And - to be able to walk up the 18th hole and finish the way I did, I mean there was just a lot of emotion that came out of me. I haven't had really much time to think about what I just accomplished. And I guess you can take me off the best players without a major now. So, I mean, it's good the be a major champion.

CHURCH: Jason Day sat down with world sport's Don Riddell after his big win and you can see that in our next half hour on "CNN Newsroom."

First, migrants hoping to escape their homeland are faced with a new reality and it's not at all what they expected. We will take a closer look at what life is like for migrants in Greece. And Oscar Pistorius could be released from prison after serving a fraction of his sentence. We're back with that in a moment.

[03:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Syrian watchdog and aid groups say the government has carried out a series of deadly air strikes on a rebel-held town. At least 82 people were reported killed and 250 wounded in the blast in Douma northeast of Damascus. This shows the aftermath of the attacks. Ambulances were on alert before the shelling and the number of wounded overwhelmed the field hospitals.

For thousands of migrants, starting a new life in Greece was supposed to be a dream come true. Instead many are facing a nightmare. The U.N. says nearly all the migrants are fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq, and in Afghanistan but it's only those from Syria were allowed to board this refugee ship on the Greek island of Kos on Sunday. They will be allowed to seek asylum. Others aren't so lucky and their desperation is growing. Members of the group doctors without borders gave CNN an inside look into their work on Kos.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have our medical team here. We are treating the people. There are many women and children. The main medical problems are related to the heat and to the fact that all these people have to stay out in the park without any proper shelter and no proper conditions and no toilet, no food, no water, no milk for the babies. With you see skin diseases and gastro intestinal problems. There are all these refugees coming and no authority to watch and take care of them. There is a clear lack of political willingness to deal with this issue.

[00:25:00] So this is the main beach front road of Kos. A very touristic island, and this is not very much of a touristic island. This is not a camp. This is a public square. You know, people have to stay here because there is no official reception center for them to stay. They don't want to stay here. They are completely shocked by these conditions, you know, the fact that they have to stay here for so many days without even knowing when they will get their paper. They have been fleeing their country because of the war and the bombs. And now they cannot have even a proper toilet. So you know, they are saying that maybe the bombs have been better than to be saying in these condition.

CHURCH: Going to bring in Leonard Doyle, a spokesman for the international organization for migration. He joins us via Skype from Geneva, Switzerland. We are seeing conditions so bad that many of the migrants are wishing they stayed home and face the hardships that face them there rather than come to Kos.

LEONARD DOYLE, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION: Well, at the end of the day they are safer an happier where they are albeit it's not an ideal situation, anything but. There is a lot of pressure on the Greek government. As everybody knows and they have moved a cruise liner in to accommodate migrants. But it's difficult. And the numbers are unprecedented. 149,000 so far this year. For a small island, for these small islands off turkey it's overwhelming the infrastructure. So it's clear there is an issue here that the entire European Union needs to rally behind.

CHURCH: So I mean, understood there this is putting Greece under incredible pressure. But what needs to be done to improve the situation for these migrants and to find a solution to this problem of tens of thousands of migrants trying to flee their homes for a better life and ending up in worse conditions in some instances than they found at home?

DOYLE: I think if there is a view that by not providing aid you dissuade people from coming that is unfounded and silly. I think the first thing is there needs to be protection for these people with shelter and food and be looked after and get their papers and get registered and validated if they are asylum seekers or not. That's the first level. That's where we are missing something here. And the numbers coming are increasing. We had an awful tragedy this weekend off Libya in which people were found asphyxiated in the hold of a ship. The smugglers don't treat people well and the European Union needs to step it up a little bit.

CHURCH: All right. Leonard Doyle, many thanks to you for joining us and explaining the situation there on the ground. We do appreciate it.

And next here on "CNN Newsroom," just 10 months after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius will soon be a free man but his legal troubles are not over yet.

Legalizing gay marriage is getting support in Australia but it is hitting a road block with the country's prime minister. We'll explain when we come back.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: You are watching "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. We want to bring you up to date on the main headlines this hour. Indonesian officials have suspended the search for a missing passenger plane because of bad weather. Earlier in the day two aerial search teams were said to have spotted debris believed to be from the Trigana air service flight. The plane lost contact with air traffic control in the country's remote Papua region on Sunday.

Chinese troops are searching for toxic chemicals at the site of the warehouse explosions in Tianjin. 114 people were killed and 70 are still missing. Workers are trying to neutralize chemicals before rainfalls which could create toxic gas.

Multiple air strikes by Syrian government forces have killed at least 82 people in the rebel held town of Douma according to reports from aid groups and the Syrian observatory for human rights. This video shows the aftermath of the blast that activists say wounded 250 people.

An Iranian court could announce a verdict in a case against an imprisoned reporter this week. That is according to the Iranian judiciary's news service. For the past year Jason Rezaian and his employer the "Washington Post" deny the charges. A ruling could come in the next few days.

A South African parole board decided to release Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius from prison on Friday. But that won't be the end of his legal troubles. David McKenzie has more live from Johannesburg. What do you believe the appeal could hinge around and could he go back to jail?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, legal experts say yes, there is a potential that Oscar Pistorius could go back to jail or prison for a very long time in fact. The appeal hinges around the verdict and the sentencing given by the judge in that case. You know, the world was glued to their television sets for more than 50 days of trial that stretched over months in South Africa of the blade runner who was accused and convicted of killing his girlfriend, we believe the national prosecuting authority will hinge the argument on a point of law.

They believe the judge in this case incorrectly interrupted the charge and they are lodging their documents today in the Supreme Court. In November that appeal goes through behind closed doors. But this week it will be Pistorius walking out of jail on Friday after serving just, you know, ten months of a five-year sentence.

[03:35:00] CHURCH: And it's that point, a lot of people critical asking why is Oscar Pistorius being released so early?

MCKENZIE: Well, they are critical because they feel maybe he's getting preferential treatment. This is a famous South African athlete in relationship with an up and coming model and the trial garnered all this attention. There is grumbling from the ANC women's league who say he should get a harsher punishment for killing his girlfriend.

However, the legal experts we've spoken to say this is, you know, a pretty much roughly where South African law and the justice system works. You can be released after 1/6 your term if the parole board believes you are not a danger to society and won't be released freely. He will be under house arrest in his uncle's mansion but he will continue to serve his sentence under strict conditions but he won't be in prison. It is along the lines of the law here but some will ask why so soon?

CHURCH: A lot of criticism there in South Africa and across the globe. David McKenzie bringing us up to day there. Thanks to you.

A political showdown over marriage equality is taking place in Australia. Tony Abbott is against legalizing same-sex marriage in his term. But many others, including his sister hope that will change soon. Anna Coren, reports.

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's an issue that has been rapidly gaining momentum and support throughout Australia. Even more so with the recent developments in Ireland and the United States. Now part of the 22 countries around the world that have legalized same-sex marriage. But while recent polls show a clear majority of Australians support marriage equality, the government seems hell bent on stopping what many believe is inevitable.

Among the wave of supporters who claim the tide cannot be turned back is the prime minister's sister, Christine Foster, proudly gay and a vocal advocate for marriage equality.

CHRISTINE FORSTER, TONY ABBOTT'S SISTER: I'm engaged to get married to my partner and I would like to be able to do that in Australia.

COREN: As a member of her brother's party she says this has been a tough and emotional Journey.

FORSTER: If I could influence him I would. But you know, as I've said we have a respectful disagreement and difference of opinion. He is a man of great conviction.

COREN: Pressure has been building on the prime minister who strongly opposes same-sex marriage, to allow his members of parliament to vote freely on the issue. Last week that was denied. Instead Mr. Abbott said it is no longer up to parliament but rather the people announcing the vote will be held after the next election next year.

TONY ABBOTT, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: If the people want to change, fine. If the people decide to support the existing definition of marriage between a man and a woman, obviously, I'd be pleased. And I think everyone else should accept that.

COREN: But critics say it's a delay tactic and the opposing labor party has declared this will be an election issue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You either have Mr. Abbott or you have marriage equality but you can't have both.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A man willing to tear his party apart to get his way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It will be one of the things that people weigh up when they decide who to cast a vote for. And it's just not something that's going to go away. It can't be swept under the carpet any more.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marriage is a beautiful thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is my son not equal?

COREN: While the government drags its heels, supporters for same-sex marriage say they won't stop fighting until their love and commitment can also be recognized under the law. Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.

CHURCH: And still to come here on "CNN Newsroom," a history-making performance at this year's PGA tournament. After the break, Australian golfer Jason Day sits down with CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have been so close so many times. You've seen so many other guys win the major titles. Can you put in words how it feels to finally do it yourself?

[03:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Devastating wildfires across the western U.S. are burning thousands of hectares in four states. Fires in Washington have prompted multiple evacuation orders for thousands of people. In Idaho, California, and Oregon, scores of homes have been lost as fires spread and threaten even more buildings. So far, no deaths have been reported. We want to turn to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri who is here with a closer look at the conditions in the western United States. It is a relief to hear no lives lost at this point but homes have been lost and lives turned upside down. How is it looks now?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It looks like a lot more heat and dry conditions still left. If so many people and not just in the lower 48 but in portions of Alaska, 300 wildfires have scorched 5 million acres of land in Alaska and some of the permafrost is melting there. I want to show you the western United States.

We know over 106 large fires that are active in the Western U.S. scattered about. 6.5 million acres of land have been charred. 4.5 million is what is normal. And we look at the drought. Over 8 percent of the west is in exceptional drought. Half of the united states dealing with severe drought. Much in California and then work your way to the north into Washington state as well.

But the terrain the firefighters have to deal with in the western United States much like this. A lot of mountains and canyons and you get the fires that develop in these mountainous areas. You have these funnel through the canyon and you create embers that are brought down and more fires develop downstream.

[03:45:00] The firefighters have a lot on their hand with the terrain and additional fires starting off downstream. But here's what it looks like. 6 million plus acres have burned. That is over 3 million hectares. That is equivalent to the size of the U.S. state of New Hampshire or the country of Israel. That is how much has been scorched in the last seven to eight months.

And the high temperatures 10 to 15 above average. High pressure which is back off to the west we get the wind that picks up in the next coming couple days. The wind's not going to help out when it comes to the scenario in the forecast. This is the pattern the western U.S. has had to deal with. The snow pack is well above average.

And look at the amount of fires. The total number of fires as tracked here is 40,000 fires. That is below the amount of fire as far as the sheer number of fires. But the number of acres burned is higher. We usually have more wildfires in the U.S. but they don't burn as much as they are in 2015.

CHURCH: Thanks so much for tracking that. We do appreciate it, Pedram Javaheri.

History was made at this year's PGA championship. Australian golfer Jason Day set a new record with a score no one in the history of the game has ever achieved. 20 under par. The lowest score ever in a major championship. Golf's newest champion sat down with world sport's Don Ridell after winning his first career major.

DON RIDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Many congratulations. You have been so close so many times and seen so many other guys win the major titles. Can you put into words how it feels to finally do it yourself?

JASON DAY, PGA CHAMPION: No. Like you said, I mean, I've been close so many times before and been frustratingly close. To be able to go through those heart aches and then finish the way I did today and really kind of, you know, step my foot on the ground and say I've had enough of it and to be able to win the PGA championship it's great to be a major champion. Couldn't be more thrilled.

RIDELL: You were so overcome with emotion at the end. You had one more putt to go. That must have been bubbling for some time. How did you keep it together a down the stretch?

DAY: When I was coming up to the green and reading my first putt I started shedding some tears because I started thinking about, you know, where I was when I was a 12-year-old kid. And to be able to go through a lot at a young age and go through some hard times, I started - I thought of my mom, I thought of my sisters, I thought of my family. And you know, after the - the first putt went to about half a foot then I really started crying. And I felt like a baby but I didn't expect that much emotion would come out of me.

RIDELL: It has been just an incredible journey for you beginning when your father found a golf club for you in a dump and that's how you got started. Where were you when you were a 12-year-old kid?

DAY: When I lost my dad, I was - you know, me and my sister were in and out of different schools. I was getting in fights in schools. And I was drinking at a young age. You know, we kind of ran amuck and finally my mom made the sacrifice to get another mortgage on the house. And borrow money from my aunt and uncle and really kind of sacrifice and give me an opportunity.

RIDELL: Just one final question. I want to end on a positive note. How are you going to celebrate a purse prize of $1.8 million?

DAY: To me, you know what, the money is fantastic. But I - I've ready learned to love winning again.

CHURCH: Such an emotional win for him. Great. Congratulations.

Disney makes a big announcement that has "Star Wars" fans celebrating. Up next, the news that is causing a happy disturbance in the force. Back in a moment.

[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. A surprise at the top of the weekend box office. Earlier I spoke with Kim Serafin, the senior editor of "In Touch" weekly. Thanks for joining us. So let's start with the music "Straight Outta Compton" doubling expectations at the weekend box office coming in at number one with $56 million. That's a record- breaker.

KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: This is huge. And if anyone was on Twitter or Instagram or Facebook in the last week you knew it was going to be big. And everyone was using their own hash tags and making pictures out of the poster. They initially predicted the high 20s and then 40 million and yes, 56 million debut. This is setting a record for musical biopics and the highest opening for an "R" rated movie in August. And it got great, great reviews. I think it's not a huge surprise it did so well. And there is Oscar Buzz.

CHURCH: Wow, very interesting. I want to go to Sharon Stone on the cover after a recovery from an aneurysm. How is she doing?

[03:55:00] SERAFIN: It's amazing. She is open and outspoken about what she has gone through talking about this brain hemorrhage from 2001 fearing she would never be able to read or speak again and looking fantastic baring all physically and emotionally and she has a quote in there about if I believe being sexy is who I was trying to be in "basic instinct" we all would be having a hard day.

So many people talk about that. Miley Cyrus made comments about Hannah Montana and her body issues. No matter what age you are you can relate to what she is saying.

CHURCH: A lot of messages there. Finally, Disney announced some "Star Wars" attractions. What's going on?

SERAFIN: Big news coming out of the Disney expo and news about Finding Nemo. Can't wait to see that movie. New information about Toy Story 4. But the big news is about "Star Wars" a new "Star Wars land" we have a new movie in December. But there will be "Star Wars" lands where you can pilot the Falcon and expect these to be enormous and bring this to a new generation.

CHURCH: "Star Wars" fans will be beside themselves. Thank you for joining us appreciate it.

SERAFIN: Thanks so much.

CHURCH: I'm Rosemary Church. Do stay with us. "Early Start" is next in the United States and for the rest of you, another edition of "CNN Newsroom" begins after the break. Have a great day.

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