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Scott Walkers Drops Out of Presidential Race; Ben Carson Clarifies Statement on a Muslim as President; Bernie Sanders Losing Support to Hillary Clinton; White House Denies Pope's Visit about Politics; U.N. Commission: "Crimes Against Humanity" in North Korea; Chinese President's Controversial U.S. Visit; Baby Doe's Mother, Mom's Boyfriend Arrested for Murder. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 22, 2015 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:00:14] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Governor Scott Walker has dropped out of the race for U.S. president. And he has some advice for the remaining candidates.
Plus, a rock star's reception in Cuba for Pope Francis as he wraps up his visit there and heads to the U.S.
And later, thousands of people have fled North Korea over the years. But many families refuse to believe their loved ones defected. CNN is live inside the isolated country.
Hello. Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
We start with a shakeup in the U.S. presidential race. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is dropping out. And he is encouraging other Republicans to do the same. Walker has been hurt in the polls by Donald Trump's surging popularity and a couple of lackluster debate performances. He said that voters should focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive conservative alternative to the front-runner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT WALKER, (R), WISCONSIN GOVERNOR & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ronald Reagan was an optimist. The debate today is not focused on the optimistic view of America. Instead, it has drifted into personal attacks. Instead, I believe that the voters want to be for something, and not against someone. Instead of talking about how bad things are, we want to hear how we can make them better for everyone. We need to get back to the basics of our party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And Jeb Bush was campaigning in Iowa on Monday when he got word of Walker's announcements.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEB BUSH, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: There's been, in the last couple weeks, surprises in the campaign. I'm not talking about Donald Trump for a change. In fact, I probably won't talk about him tonight, if you don't mind. I'm talking about two principle-center, effective governors who are no longer running for president. I want to make note of the fact, that Rick Perry and Scott Walker, who announced he is getting out of the race, both were great. And Scott is going to serve and continue to do great work in Wisconsin. Are great public servants.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And Walker was considered a top-tier candidate a few months ago, but his support fell steadily over the last few months.
And here's our chief U.S. correspondent, John King, with more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Look, he had bad debate performances. He was inconsistent in his answers. He didn't impress conservatives early on. There were a number of reasons. He peaked in March, 16 percent. That's not a ton. But in a crowded Republican field, he was a contender. He was a contender for a bit. But look at the slide going down. This is what killed him, Anderson. After that CNN debate, he went to an asterisk. 16 percent in March to barely registering in our poll. This is his peak in March. When he was considered the alternative -- this is pre Trump. He was considered the alternative to Jeb Bush. Leading in Iowa. 20 percent among men, 1 percent now. 12 percent of Republican women, doesn't register anymore. 26 percent of the Tea Party in March, doesn't register. Conservatives thought he was the guy, fighting unions in Wisconsin. He was a conservative here. Doesn't register anymore. Fell through the floor, in part, because of Trump, but in part, also because of poor performance.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, A.C. 360: Let's look at the rest of the GOP field.
KING: This is what is remarkable. You hear him calling on other candidates to get out. It's not only Walker. Trump down. He was at 32 percent, down to 24 percent. Carly Fiorina, barely registering, up to 15 percent now. Dr. Carson, down a bit. Marco Rubio, up a bit. Jeb Bush static line. Why did Trump go down? He is being tested now. This drop is being made by Republican women. Small declines among evangelicals. We'll see if he can recover from that. The beneficiary, Anderson, clearly Carly Fiorina, taking support from Trump and Carson. You see women, Tea Party support, she went from nowhere to somewhere. Her challenge is to capitalize. Mr. Trump's challenge, to deal with his first test of adversity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And Ben Carson is clarifying his statement that he would not support a Muslim for president. On Facebook, Carson he could support a Muslim for president, as long as they denounce Sharia Law. CNN chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, has more on the
controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CHEERING)
[02:05:18] DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Even in a campaign full of explosive comments, this comment immediately stood out.
BEN CARSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & RETIRED NEUROSURGEON: I would not advocate we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I would not agree with that.
BASH: Ben Carson said that, he wouldn't want a Muslim as president, in an answer to a question about whether the Islamic religious is consistent with the Constitution.
Some of Carson's competitors distanced themselves.
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, the Constitution provides that there should be no religious tests. And I'm a constitutionalist.
BASH: There are two Muslim members of Congress. Both lashed out at Carson.
REP. ANDRE CARSON, (D), INDIANA: That's asinine. That's like saying a neurosurgeon couldn't be president of America.
BASH: The Democratic front-runner was quick to chime in, saying, in a tweet, "Can a Muslim be president of America? In a word, yes. Now, let's move on."
The conversation began at a Donald Trump town hall last week, when he failed to correct a voter who falsely said President Obama is a Muslim, even though he is a Christian.
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: We need this question.
BASH: On Sunday, when asked what he thinks about the idea of a Muslim president, Trump stirred the pot, making this not-so-subtle suggestion about President Obama.
TRUMP: Some people have already said it happened, frankly. But of course, you wouldn't agree with that.
BASH: This, as Trump's status as the Republican front-runner is starting to slip. He's still on top, but losing ground, down eight points in a new CNN/ORC poll since early this month.
(APPLAUSE)
BASH: And Carly Fiorina is on the rise, in second place, at 15 percent, after a standout debate performance.
(on camera): When it comes to the name of the game, which is winning the Republican nomination, it's hard to see the comments not having an effect. I was talking to a smart Republican, who said there are two kinds of GOP voters. Those that like to have their ideology validated. They're energized by politically incorrect remarks. And another kind, the vast majority, who want to win the White House and are concerned about what is perceived to be an intolerant remark or remarks that might preclude them from victory over Democrats in 2016.
Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Joining me now to talk about it is Dean Obedallah. He is a Muslim-American political comedian and host of his own radio program.
Thank you for talking with us.
DEAN OBEDALLAH, MUSLIM-AMERICAN POLITICAL COMEDIAN & RADIO SHOW HOST: Sure. Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: Let's start with your take on what Ben Carson and Donald Trump are saying about Muslims in America. And why you think the GOP is not saying more of this level of Islam-phobia in their own party?
OBEDALLAH: I think they're telling different tales with the same end result, which is stoking the flames of hate and fear of Muslims. Ben Carson, very straightforward. Muslim can't be president because incompatible with American values. Point-blank. Donald Trump is much more subtle. He didn't stand up to a bigot in New Hampshire. And he said things, maybe Obama is a Muslim, that type of thing. It wasn't Swedes who attacked us on 9/11. But Donald Trump will say, I love Muslims. Muslims are my best friend. You have Donald Trump being more coded. Ben Carson, straightforward. And it plays with the Republican base. Poll after poll, shows Republicans, majority think that President Obama is a Muslim. And Republicans have a much more negative view of Islam than the rest of America. Not just that Mr. Obama is a Muslim. They hate Obama and don't like Muslims, either think they it will play in their base. Thankfully, a few people in this race, Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz said it was wrong. Chris Christie said it was wrong, what Ben Carson was saying. I think they're getting a little push and pull. We'll see who the GOP nominates. If they want espousing intolerant views or reject those intolerant views and nominate someone who is embracing the diversity of this country.
CHURCH: You mentioned the polls. How surprised are you that a recent CNN poll says 29 percent of Americans think that President Obama is a Muslim. And more than 50 percent of Trump supporters think the same thing. What does that tell you?
[02:09:53] OBEDALLAH: It tells you that, through years of demonization of Muslims, and FOX News and other media outlets, have taken hold and gotten traction. There's is and al Qaeda, which are allowing, make their demonization resonate with people because they do see scary images of is. And they see scary al Qaeda and al Shabaab. They're out there. Not all Republicans have gotten the hate of Muslim-Americans where it's really scary. And the goal of the Muslim community is to reach out to our fellow Americans, as many as we can, to make it clear what we're about. The reality is polls show about 25 percent of Americans have a Muslim friend. I tell people, I will be your Muslim friend. People need to have that counterbalance.
CHURCH: Yeah. Interesting. We did see the first tweet from Hillary Clinton's aide, Huma Abedin, where she said -- I do want to read it out --
OBEDALLAH: Sure.
CHURCH: "You can be a proud American, a proud Muslim, and proudly serve this great country. Pride versus prejudice."
Now, is it about time that this issue got discussed at this level? And what might the result be?
OBEDALLAH: I re-tweeted Huma's tweet. It was great sentiment. She's been attacked a few years ago, by elected officials, like Michele Bachmann, who was a Congresswoman at the time. Others saying she is in the Muslim Brotherhood. That's what we've heard, that we're going to impose Islamic law. I think we should have an honest discussion.
CHURCH: Let's keep the conversation going.
OBEDALLAH: I want to.
CHURCH: Dean Obedallah, thank you very being with us.
OBEDALLAH: Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: It's a pleasure.
A new poll of Democratic voters shows that Hillary Clinton appears to be winning back some of her supporters from rival, Bernie Sanders.
Senior political correspondent, Brianna Keilar, reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today, in Louisiana and Arkansas, Hillary Clinton hit the complain trial, buoyed by a new CNN/ORC poll, showing she is opening her lead in the Democratic field.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We're not going to let our country be taken backwards by people who are out of touch and out of date.
(APPLAUSE)
KEILAR: Clinton stands at 42 percent nationally, Bernie Sanders at 24 percent and Joe Biden, still mulling a run, at 22 percent. It's good news for Clinton after months of sliding poll numbers. A
10-point drop last month alone. As Sanders and his passionate following have sapped away support.
Clinton told CBS, she does not intend to run a negative campaign against Sanders.
CLINTON: I know Bernie. I respect his enthusiastic and intense advocacy of his ideas. That's what I want this campaign to be about.
KEILAR: But a major unknown for her campaign, will Biden run? If he stays out, a new poll shows most of his support goes to Clinton, putting her almost 30 points ahead of Sanders.
In an interview with the Catholic magazine, "America," Biden, who just lost his son, Beau, to brain cancer three months ago, made clear he is not ready to make a decision.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not quite there yet. And it may not get there in time to make it feasible to be able to run and succeed because there's certain windows that will close. But if that's it, that's it.
KEILAR: One person close to Biden, thought to be resistant to a run, his wife, Jill.
BIDEN: You'll have to talk to my wife about that.
(LAUGHTER)
I have to talk to my wife about that.
(LAUGHTER)
KEILAR: After reports, he is supportive for a run. A spokesman for the second lady issued this statement, "Of course, Dr. Biden would be onboard if her husband decides to run for president, but they haven't made that decision yet."
A possibly Biden candidacy comes as the Clinton campaign tries to make her seem more spontaneous and accessible. She's giving more interviews and making appearances on late-night TV.
CLINTON: Let me grab my pen.
(LAUGHTER)
KEILAR: But asked on CBS to give three words to describe the real Hillary Clinton, she struggled.
CLINTON: I mean, look, I am a real person, with all of the pluses and minuses that go along with being that.
KEILAR (on camera): On her swing through the south, Hillary Clinton talked many more general terms in the changes she would like to make to Obamacare. This coming ahead of a specific policy rollout in Iowa on Tuesday.
Brianna Keilar, CNN, Little Rock.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Anticipation is building in the U.S. with Pope Francis set to arrive in Washington later today. He will be greeted by President Obama and the first lady, among others. The White House is going to great lengths to take politics out of the pope's visit. That may be nearly impossible.
As CNN's Jim Acosta reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[02:15:05] JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): When Pope Francis arrives in Washington for his first visit to the U.S., President Obama will be welcoming a powerful political partner. But with the next presidential election heating up, the White House is rejecting the notion the pope's trip is all about politics.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There's no plan or strategy that's been put in place to try to stage an event that will advance anybody's political agenda.
ACOSTA: That's a tough claim to make, considering the pope's positions. As the White House led the charge for same-sex marriage, Pope Francis has softened his own stance on gay priests.
POPE FRANCIS (through translation): If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?
ACOSTA: On climate change, the pope says it's a problem with great implications. "The earth, our home is beginning to look more and more like a pile of filth."
And he slammed trickle-down economics, saying, "This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power."
And there's the president's policy on Cuba, a change the pope helped broker in secret.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to thank his holiness Pope Francis.
ACOSTA: Conservatives have dubbed it the Obamafication of Pope Francis. GOP presidential candidates have had enough.
CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R), NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think the pope was wrong. The fact is his infallibility is on religious matters, not on political ones.
ACOSTA: It's not the first time a pope and a U.S. president have joined forces. Ronald Reagan and John Paul II were close allies in the fight against Communism in the Cold War.
FATHER EDWARD BECK, CNN FAITH & RELIGION COMMENTATOR: When John Paul II went against Polish Communism, and allied himself with the solidarity movement, I didn't hear a lot of uproar. He was lauded for that kind of advancement. I think it's interesting that this pope, when he wades into those waters, seems to get criticized, stay out of politics.
ACOSTA: Some Republicans are also steamed that the White House is inviting pro-choice and pro-gay rights advocates to the pope's arrival ceremony.
Mike Huckabee dubbed that a new low for an administration that will go down as the most anti-Christian in American history.
The White House insists the pope deserves a diverse audience.
EARNEST: There's no theological test that was administered prior to giving out tickets to the South Lawn Wednesday morning.
ACOSTA (on camera): Even with these two leaders on the same page on so many issues, White House officials can see there could be moments when the pope publicly disagrees with the president, for example, on the subject of abortion. Aides of the president say they have some clue on what the pope plans to say this week. But they're also bracing for plenty of surprises.
Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, the mysterious disappearance of a North Korean woman has many wondering if she ran away or was abducted. That story, just ahead.
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[02:20:10] PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's time to talk weather. Pedram Javaheri, CNN "Weather Watch."
(WEATHER FORECAST)
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CHURCH: Protesters in a central Brazilian town are demanding better transportation services. They displayed their frustrations dramatically by destroying some of the very buses they need during protests on Monday. The city's Metro Bus Company reported that six buses were burned out and nine were destroyed during the demonstrations. Damage is estimated at $2 million.
A U.N. commission says it has found evidence of numerous crimes against humanity in North Korea. The head of that commission is urging the international community to investigate the cases properly and prosecute if necessary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL KIRBY, CHAIR, U.N. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREAN: Claims against humanity have been found. It's not the duty of the world community to turn away. It's the duty of the world community, when there's been findings that there's a reasonable case for crimes against humanity, it is the obligation of the community to respond and have the matters properly investigated and, if warrant prosecution, brought before an appropriate court or tribunal. That is an obligation of international law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And our Will Ripley is in Pyongyang, North Korea, and joins us now.
Will, what are the specific crimes against humanity that the U.N. is referring to in the report?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United Nations has long accused North Korea of running prison camps. There have been hundreds of defectors who have left the country, claiming everything from forced abortion and rape, to starvation and other forms of abuse and torture. North Korea disputes these claims, saying they are criminals trying to cover up their own criminal past.
The U.N., though, also accusing North Korea -- this was discussed by the United Nations today -- of international kidnappings, of taking people from other countries and forcing them to come here. Another claim, that North Korea, while acknowledging some kidnappings, for the most part, has had no comments about these cases, some of which date back all the way to the Cold War.
And in fact, now, here, the North Korean government is giving us their own perspective on the kidnapping issues, saying their own citizens are becoming victims.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(on camera): Sightseeing, yes.
RIPLEY (voice-over): This room could belong to any young girl. Full of stuffed animals, figurines.
(on camera): She loves Snow White, obviously.
(voice-over): Memories most would share on Facebook today, kept the old-fashioned way here in North Korea, a nation mostly without Internet, where kids still write letters home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) RIPLEY: Like this one Moon Su Keung (ph), a young waitress at this state-owned restaurant in Cambodia, now closed, telling her parents in Pyongyang, she was just weeks from coming home, her last letter before she disappeared.
"I couldn't believe it," her mother says. "I wouldn't believe it when I first got the news because I strongly trusted and still trust her."
[02:25:14] Only the most loyal North Koreans are selected to work abroad at state-owned businesses, often for three or four years, without coming home.
Co-workers say Moon was kidnapped by regular customers who befriended her, South Korean spies, who forced her into a car and drove away. CNN can't independently verify the claims, which a South Korean government official called completely groundless.
(on camera): Does it cross your mind that she may have left willingly? (voice-over): "Absolutely not," her father says. "She was only 20
when she disappeared. She wasn't fully independent."
Moon's parents say she must have been abducted or deceived, a claim we often here from families of North Koreans that disappear. Tens of thousands of defectors have fled south since the late 1990s, many telling horror stories of persecution and abuse in the North.
The North Korean regime says they're criminals covering up their past or victims forced to lie about their homeland to survive.
But those claims are at odds with the findings of the United Nations, which cites hundreds of deflectors in a scathing report on human rights abuses in North Korea.
(on camera): How often do you come to your daughter's room?
(voice-over): "Every day I come home from work and I go to her room to see if anything has changed, if she's come home."
Moon's parents haven't heard from her in four years. They still keep her university uniforms pressed and ready, just in case.
"I strongly believe you were deceived into going down there. I trust you," she tells her daughter. "Your parents will be here, waiting for you, until the end of our lives."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: The grief of those parents, very authentic, Rosemary. You can see the pain in their eyes. And there's thousands of families that are divided as a result of the divided Korean Peninsula. The North and the South, still enemies after the armistice that ended the Korean War.
But what is interesting about this particular case is that this young woman comes from a family that's considered well-to-do by North Korean standards. They live in a fairly large flat in Pyongyang. Her father's a police officer. Her mother, an artist. She's not running away from these allegations of abuse and torture that we hear from so many other defectors -- Rosemary?
CHURCH: Still so many questions to be answered there.
Will Ripley, reporting live from Pyongyang. Many thanks to you.
This just in to CNN. The Israeli army says a Palestinian was shot and wounded after allegedly trying to stab Israeli soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces say it happened at a checkpoint in Hebron in the West Bank. The statement says the attacker is being treated at the scene. We'll continue to watch that story.
"China does not hack" -- that's the official word from Chinese's President Xi Jinping, ahead of his state visit to the U.S. More on what he said in a wide-ranging interview when we come back.
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[02:01:46] CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to all here in the United States and, of course, all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Want to get you up to date on the main stories we've been following this hour.
A few hours from now, Pope Francis will lead a mass at a shrine in Santiago, Cuba. The pope was warmly received in the island nation. The Vatican says 200,000 people attended his mass in Havana. President Obama and the first lady will greet the pope when he lands later Tuesday near Washington.
Two minimum-security inmates are on the run after escaping from a constructional facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Police say Christopher Cornelius and Matthew Johnson were on a work detail Monday when they tied bed sheets together from the roof of the facility and escaped. They now face felony escape charges.
E.U. ministers will be in Brussels to discuss how to relocate about 20,000 migrants in Europe. The countries disagree on how to respond to the crisis. And some are rejecting calls for mandatory migrant quotas. Government leaders will also meet on the issue on Wednesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on his way to the United States in what is shaping up to be a controversial state visit. Many critics have said the White House should not host Mr. Xi amid accusations China sponsored cyber espionage against American companies. And in a "Wall Street Journal" interview published today, Mr. Xi says his government does not hack. This is his first interview with media outside of China since this summer's stock collapse. The leader also said he wants to work with Washington to address world challenges.
And for more on this controversial visit, let's go to our Saima Mohsin, who is in Beijing.
Hi, there, Saima. What stood out in the interview? What are the main issues that Xi Jinping will face on this U.S. trip? SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a lot of issues and a lot of
talking to be done, Rosemary. Not least, of course, cyber security. Including the fact that the U.S. has been ramping up the rhetoric, saying that China really needs to address this. And in the article you mention, "the Wall Street Journal" article, he really does address a lot of issues head-on, including the economy, the concerns around that and in particular, the cyber security. What he says is the Chinese government doesn't engage in attacks on property. It's not state-sponsored. But the flipside is that the United States also engages in cyber espionage. But the United States is focused on China's side of that. Just to clarify, China conducts cyber espionage to contribute to its own economic growth. The United States says it does it, purely and simply for national security, as we saw with the Edward Snowden issues. That really is top of the bill. But China really does want also to focus on the other issues that it wants to talk about, trade and investment, it wants certain fugitives it wants returned to China from the United States, to be discussed. And the fact you mentioned that Xi Jinping says they want to work together on world issues, is really China saying, hang on, we're not just a developing nation, we're catching up with you, to the United States -- Rosemary?
[02:35:35] CHURCH: Yeah, indeed. And, Saima, how important and significant is this trip to Seattle by the leader?
MOHSIN: This is an interesting addition to his visit. He's kicking it off to Seattle. That's how important China sees tech collaboration and working together with U.S. companies. That's why they're focusing on that over the next few days. There's going to be Internet forums, roundtables between 15 CEOs from the United States, 15 from China. There's a lot of collaboration going on. Last week, Dell, and local software maker, King Soft, have signed a collaboration deal. China wants to bring U.S. companies in to work with Chinese companies. Not least because it's Beneficial to U.S. companies to access the billions of people in China, millions of people in China, that can be their customers. But also, to teach Chinese companies about software development and innovation. And then, China can tap into the U.S. market.
And one point to add to that around the cyber security issue. I met with a CEO yesterday that said the more China gets access to U.S. companies and starts innovating, it will want to itself protect its intellectual property. That's a way to bring China to the regulation table -- Rosemary?
CHURCH: Yeah. A lot of people watching this closely. Saying, some of them this, is not going to be smooth sailing for China's president. We'll be watching closely.
Saima, reporting live from Beijing, many thanks to you.
Syria's regime is reportedly escalating the number of air strikes throughout the country. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the government has carried out more than 38,000 air strikes since October of last year. The group's report says helicopters dropped 20,000 barrel bombs. 6,000 civilians were killed, including 2,000 women and children. The air strikes also killed 3,200 fighters from the al Nusra front, ISIS and other rebel groups.
Meantime, Russia's military buildup in Syria is leading to concerns. Satellite images from the geo intelligence and advisor firm, Stratfor, appears to show 12 new Russian combat aircraft at the air base near Latikia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday in Moscow. Mr. Netanyahu wants to make sure advanced weaponry doesn't fall into Hezbollah's hands, and that Israeli and Russian forces don't accidentally fire on each other.
Still to come, chilling details revealed about the final hours of a little girl found dead in Boston. Prosecutors claim she was murdered by her mother's boyfriend, who thought she was a demon. The details, just ahead.
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[02:41:58] Volkswagen's U.S. unit CEO says the company -- and I'm quoting here -- "totally screwed up." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accuses the automaker of cheating to pass clean air standards. The "Wall Street Journal" and others report Volkswagen could be facing a criminal probe. Officials say Volkswagen programmed some diesel fuel cars to report lower emissions when tested. The software was installed in close to 500,000 cars on U.S. roads, including its Audi luxury vehicles. The CEO has apologized, saying Volkswagen has broken the trust of its customers and the public. The automaker may face up to $18 billion U.S. fines.
A corporate executive has been given the toughest penalty to date for a food poisoning outbreak. 61-year-old Stuart Parnell was sentenced to a 28-year prison sentence for knowingly shipping out contaminated food. Tainted peanut butter paste linked to Parnell's company led to a deadly salmonella outbreak in 2008 that killed nine people and made more than 700 people sick.
On June 25, the body of a little girl was discovered on Deer Island in Boston's Harbor. On Monday, a vigil was held in the same spot to honor her. Her name was Bella Bond. For months after her body was discovered, she was known as Baby Doe. Now, the 2-year-old's mother and the mother's boyfriend are facing charges in her death.
CNN's Randi Kaye reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man prosecutors say killed Bella Bond, in court for the first time, behind glass and just feet away from girlfriend, Rachelle Bond, Bella's mother. The couple exposed by a long-time friend of Michael McCarthy, Michael Sprinski (ph), who lived with them earlier this year.
McCarthy told him that Bella had been taken away by the Department of Children and Families. But suddenly, last week, Sprinski (ph) heard a different story when he asked the girl's mother about getting her back.
MICHAEL SPRINSKI (ph), WITNESS: She responded, "Michael McCarthy killed her and I'm accessory after the fact because I helped him get rid of her body."
KAYE: Stunned, Sprinski (ph) called his sister, who shared this computer image, created to identify the little girl. Court records say he also recognized the zebra blanket found with her body from Bella's stroller. Both hand his sister contacted authorities, giving them the break they needed.
(on camera): It happened in late May, when prosecutors say Bella was unwilling to go to bed at her Dorchester, Massachusetts, apartment. That's when prosecutors say Michael McCarthy went to try and calm her down in the back bedroom. When things got quiet, Rachelle Bond went to check on them. According to the criminal complaint, that's when Bond witnessed McCarthy striking Bella in the abdomen. She says when Bella stopped breathing, McCarthy told her, "It was her time to die."
(voice-over): McCarthy allegedly believed Bella was possessed by demons. Court documents show Rachelle Bond told investigators that McCarthy threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Also, that McCarthy put her daughter's body in a garbage bag, then inside the kitchen refrigerator.
Authorities say McCarthy sedated Bond for days by injecting heroin into her neck.
[02:45:32] UNIDENTIFIED ATTORNEY FOR RACHELLE BOND: She was not free to leave and she was not free to use the phone.
KAYE: Days later, prosecutors say Rachelle Bond helped McCarthy take the bag with Bella's body in it, put weights inside, and dumped it in Boston Harbor. It was discovered by a woman on the shores of Deer Island on June 25th.
(on camera): When investigators came to search Bella Bond's home, they found a child's clothing but no sign of any child. They also found books about demons and ghosts. Prosecutors say Michael McCarthy told others he could see demons and ghosts and even knew how to exorcise them.
(voice-over): Sprinski (ph), the tipster, had told investigators before he moved out, he witnessed Bella being called a demon and her mother and boyfriend locking her in a closet for up to an hour at a time.
Meanwhile, McCarthy's defense lawyer says his client is deeply saddened by Bella's death and had nothing to do with it.
JONATHAN SHAPIRO, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL MCCARTHY: He believed that DCF had taken her. That's what he was told by Rachelle Bond, and he believed it.
KAYE: Bella's biological father, who never met his daughter, said he recently returned here to get back in her life but he was too late. Rachelle Bond came to him last week when McCarthy finally left the apartment and told him their daughter was dead.
(on camera): What did she tell you? JOSEPH AMOROSO, BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF BELLA BOND: She told me all the
horrific details of what happened to our daughter.
KAYE: How hard was that to hear?
AMOROSO: It was tremendously hard. It's probably one of the hardest things I've had to sit through ever in my life and listen to.
KAYE (voice-over): Randi Kaye, CNN, Dorchester, Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: It is a horrifying and heartbreaking story there.
Well, firefighters in northern California had a brush fire of five acres, about two hectors, on their hands Monday that threatened to spread to homes and businesses. The fast-moving fire was in Martinez, California, at the edge of a regional park. At one point, construction crews used a garden hose to beat back the flames.
Finally, much-needed rain on its way to southern California and Arizona.
Our Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now to report on that.
That is a relief.
JAVAHERI: That's a relief. It's not a relief for northern California where the most recent wildfires are occurring. But any rainfall is good news. And we're going into a potent El Nino season. We're hoping to report more and more consistency with the rainstorms. Show you a remnant of a tropical depression. The storm system will push towards eastern Arizona. We've seen one inch, from Tucson, towards Nogales. But flash flood watches in effect for about six million people.
To the north you go, the Lake County Fire. 75,000 acres consumed by this particular fire. That number, the structures destroyed. That puts this particular fire into California state history record books, when it comes to the amount of structures consumed by one fire. The tunnel fire from '91, took a tremendous number of structures. It shows you the severity of what's going on there.
Other big story is the tremendous heat. You're on the final day of the summer season in 2015. Above-average temperatures projected for the middle portion of the United States. We put the fires across portions of Indonesia in recent days. Tremendous smoke in place. We know of 70,000 respiratory infections in this region. And you see very little visibility in place across here, Rosemary. And this has been the pattern across this part of the world, with thousands and thousands of fires being set intentionally. It doesn't look like it's improving, not right now. A brief break, and then it goes right back downhill, as well.
CHURCH: Yeah, the arson does not help in a situation like this.
JAVAHERI: No, it' doesn't.
CHURCH: Thanks so much, Pedram.
JAVAHERI: Thanks, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Appreciate it.
Many people are thrilled just to meet Pope Francis. But a few lucky ones may even get to swap hats with him. We'll look at that tradition just ahead.
Stay with us.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[02:51:25] DON RIDDEL, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Hey, I'm Don Riddel with you CNN "World Sport" headlines.
Chelsea Striker Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association, after his team's win against arsenal on Saturday. Costa was seen to put his hands into the face of the gunner's defender, before clashing with Gabrielle. Ends 2-0 to the champion's Chelsea. The F.A. charged him with improper conduct and both teams from failing to control their players. Costa has until 6:00 p.m. British summertime on Tuesday to respond to the charge.
Trinidad's attorney general has approved the U.S. extradition proceedings against former FIFA vice president, Jack Warner. U.S. authorities want to try the 72-year-old on charges of accepting millions of dollars in bribes. Warner has denied the charges and has been fighting extradition.
The Rugby World Cup is taking a little breather. There's no doubt about the biggest story so far. The greatest upset in the history of the sport, as Japan beat the mighty South Africa. And Japan's coach, Eddie Jones, has warned their next opponent, Scotland, that Japan wants to be more than one-hit wonders. Japan was given a guard of honor as their Briton hotel. The Cherry Blossoms take on the Scots on Wednesday.
And that's a quick look at sports headlines. I'm Don Riddel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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CHURCH: Pope Francis will be heading to the U.S. later today. And some lucky people may have the chance to trade hats with him. Swapping head gear is becoming something of a tradition with the pope.
CNN's Jeanne Moos reports on who has done it and how.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We tend to notice the pope's skull cap --
(MUSIC)
MOOS: -- only even when it flies off.
It often appears ready for liftoff.
POPE FRANCIS: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
MOOS: Usually, when he's getting off a plane.
But Pope Francis never loses faith when a holy gust gets him. He's so humble. He lets kids play with the cap.
But did you know you can trade caps with the pope?
DAVID O'REILLY, RELIGION REPORTER, PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER: I thought, I'm going to be on the plane with the pope. Wouldn't it be cool if I swapped with him?
MOOS: Before "Philadelphia Enquirer" religion reporter, David O'Reilly, boarded the pope's plane for Cuba, he went to the pope's tailor shop and bought a new cap for 68 bucks.
When the pope came to the back of the plane, O'Reilly handed him the new cap, which the pope tried on for size. And then, said --
[02:55:03] O'REILLY: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) -- which means "a little big."
MOOS: And with the essence of pope upon it, Francis gave the cap back to the reporter.
(on camera): For the pope, this is old hat. He does it all the time.
(CROSSTALK)
MOOS (voice-over): Fans wave a cap at him. The pope-mobile stops. If the cap fits, he keeps it and gives away the old one. To these two Boston College students, for instance.
(SHOUTING)
MOOS: And if it doesn't fit, Francis at least puts it on his head, so when he returns it, it's been warn by a pope.
For papal cap-swappers, it's a thrill.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm still shaking. It's been 10 minutes.
MOOS: For others, the thrill is making a buck on eBay. Caps said to be worn by the pope are for sale for more than $900.
But David O'Reilly isn't selling his.
O'REILLY: It's in a Ziploc bag in my backpack.
MOOS: When the plane landed in Cuba, the wind stole the pope's old cap.
Here's a man who doesn't just preach to you about giving the clothes off your back.
(SHOUTING)
MOOS: He gives you the hat off his head.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: A great story.
And thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be right back with my friend and colleague, Errol Barnett, with another hour of the latest news from all around the globe. Do stay with us.
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