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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Pope Francis in New York; Obama Meets with China's President; North Korea Presents Detained Student to Media. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired September 25, 2015 - 04:30   ET

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

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[04:30:20] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pope Francis wakes up in New York City just hours from now with a highly anticipated speech before the United Nations -- just the beginning of a packed day that takes him all over the city.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: How is this for conversation? Tensions high at the White House. Chinese president meeting with President Obama. On the agenda, from cyberattacks and military aggression. High stakes dinner conversation.

BERMAN: An evening stroll. How about two men like they're going to evening stroll together.

ROMANS: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Thirty minutes past the hour right now.

Pope Francis wakes up this morning in the city that never sleeps, New York, New York. In just a few hours, he delivers that highly anticipated address to the United Nations General Assembly. This a day after his historic appearance before a joint meeting of Congress, a speech yesterday touched on climate change and the death penalty.

Vatican officials say his speech today at the U.N. will also focus on climate change, in addition to poverty and social injustice. The pontiff's arrival in New York gripped the city. Look at him coming down in Fifth Avenue, right there in the Popemobile.

I was actually in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral as he arrives. I was right next to him. It was very moving. They threw open the 9,000 pound doors just renovated at St. Patrick's. The choir was singing. He got out of the Popemobile. It was very, very moving.

CNN's Alexandra Field was there. Also, she has more on the pope's day ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, thousands of people from all around the world lined Fifth Avenue, trying to catch a glimpse of the pope as he made his way to St. Patrick's Cathedral, for a prayer service and then left riding along Fifth Avenue. So many who turned out to see him will follow him through the city.

The day starts with the address in English before the United Nations, then it's on to Ground Zero. After that, the pope stops at a school in Harlem. From there, there's a procession through Central Park. Before he makes his way to Madison Square Garden for a mass before thousands of people who have been waiting for this moment. Many of them waiting to see the pope in person, many of them particularly wanting to hear Pope Francis as he makes his address and for Madison Square Garden.

The next leg of this trip will be a visit to Philadelphia -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Thanks, Alexandra. Thanks for that.

You know, the big event during the pope's first night in New York was an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, beautifully restored, the sanctuary, after $177 million renovation. Francis led prayers in English, though he delivered his homily in Spanish.

He begun the event with the prayer for the more than 700 victims of the Hajj stampede in Mecca, victims he called his Muslim brothers and sister.

More than 2,000 people, mostly clergy, saw the service inside St. Patrick's. Listen to that choir, beautiful, right? Thousands more stood outside the cathedral, hoping just a glimpse of the Holy Father.

Our Jason Carroll was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and John, this is what the faithful and dedicated looked like. These are some of the people who have been out here ever since very early on Thursday morning, waiting hours just to get a glimpse of the pope.

These are the folks who didn't have tickets, but they wanted to come out here to Fifth Avenue just to get a quick look.

One of those people, Heather Christopher. Her brother is actually a Jesuit priest. He was inside for the service.

You were here outside. You were saying you wanted to come out here, feel the energy. What was it like for you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was absolutely amazing. My heart was pounding. I didn't expect that I'm going to actually see him in the motorcade, but I got to be in the right place at the right time and see him wave. I got a great shot of it. It was -- I'm still shaking.

CARROLL: This is a pope that seemed to speak to so many people. Why do you think that is?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, it's not every day you see a man in this position and power that is just so humble and I really feel like that's what we need to take away. We need to stop judging each other and start embrace each other.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He brings something to this world that I think the world needs right now. There's so much controversy. Let's say gay marriage, what did this man say? He said, who am I to judge?

Let's say global warming is so controversial in this country. But he says we need to take care of our common home. We have to take care.

And this man, I heard him in Congress today on TV, he has this ability, unique ability to unite. I feel like -- I'm Catholic, but I feel he is transcending the religion. He is uniting people across ideological divides.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have been waiting a long time. Ever since the day it was announced that he was coming to New York, I've had it marked on my calendar.

I saw the pope in 2008 with my son, and I'm just happy and grateful to be here.

CARROLL: OK, very good.

[04:35:00] You know, I know that the pope came out and at one point, Christine and John, he was able to reach out and physically touch some folks who came out here to line up on Fifth Avenue. Again, there were thousands of people who came out here. Obviously, he wasn't able to touch them all. But he is touching them in other ways -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right, Jason. Thanks so much for that report.

Of course, every time the pope gets near children, he lights up.

Breaking overnight: word that China will unavailable a cap and trade program to limit carbon emissions. The official announcement will come today at the White House during a state visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Administration officials say this is a big step forward in the global battle against climate change. For the first time, Chinese companies will bear a cost for emitting carbons into the environment.

The Chinese and U.S. presidents are also expected to discuss a host of controversial topics, including Chinese military operations and advances in the South China Sea, also, cyber hacking.

Let's get the latest from the senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, it may not be on the same level the pomp and circumstance surrounding the visit of Pope Francis, but the White House is planning a warm welcome for Chinese President Xi. The White House will hold an official arrival ceremony for Xi later on the morning, complete with the 21-gun salute.

Later on in the evening, there will be a state dinner in Xi's honor. We hear lobster will be served.

But last night, President Obama and President Xi held a private dinner at the Blair House across the street from the White House.

But putting aside the social schedule, officials here at the White House have made clear they are very alarmed over what the Chinese are doing in cyber space. While the Obama administration has not publicly blamed Beijing for the hacking of data belonging to millions of federal employees, Chinese entities are privately considered prime suspects.

Now, the White House says it's holding off on any new sanctions until after Xi's visit is finished. But both President Obama and President Xi are expected to continue working on some sort of cyber agreement between the two countries, as well as discuss U.S. concerns about China's military build up in the South China Sea.

Now, President Obama has his hands full this week. In addition to the historic visit of Pope Francis, the president is gearing up for a historic visit on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, something they haven't had in a couple of years on the crises in both Syria and Ukraine -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, Jim. Thank you for that.

More major diplomatic news this morning. We learned that President Obama and Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face Monday at the United Nations. The two leaders have not seen each other in nearly a year. They have not met formally in two years. The White House says it was Putin who sought the meeting claiming he was, quote, "desperate" for a sit down -- interesting -- with the president.

The two sides disagree on Monday's agenda. The White House says the focus will be on the Russia's incursion into Eastern Ukraine. Russians insist the crisis in Syria will be the main topic.

BERMAN: It was interesting --

ROMANS: Even on the agenda.

BERMAN: Almost peculiar, though, how much the White House wanted to stress it was Putin who wanted the meeting. They went out of their way to say we didn't ask for this.

U.S. military officials are claiming Russian jets are now flying in Syrian air space and turning off their transponders to avoid detection. They say U.S. satellites are picking their activity and also detecting Russian surveillance drones. The White House says no ISIS targets in the area. There are questions about the motives behind this Russian military build up.

ROMANS: Thirty-eight minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money, Friday edition.

It looks like it could be a good end to the week, a tough week for stocks. European and Asian shares are mostly higher right now. U.S. stock futures are up a little bit, too.

Watching Volkswagen this morning. Stock up a bit. The company is expected to name a new CEO this morning.

Apple enthusiasts, it's official for you. IPhone 6S is here. People around the world lining up to get one. The 6S and 6S plus.

BERMAN: Splus.

ROMANS: John's had a very hard to say 6S Plus.

BERMAN: It is.

ROMANS: It features a different kind of touch screen that can sense how long and hard someone is pressing, plus a stronger aluminum body, faster processor, a better camera. Apple says pre-order numbers have been strong, on pace to beat last year's iPhone 6 opening weekend when Apple sold a record 10 million devices. If you live in Philly or New York, or any place closer, you may have gotten a note from Apple that your pre-order is not available because of the pope's visit.

BERMAN: I still don't know why it's not 6 Plus S. It would make more sense if it was the 6 Plus S. The 6 Plus.

ROMANS: So, you call Tim Cook and get that settled tomorrow.

BERMAN: We're going to get on this. We're going to get on this.

All right. Breaking news this morning. An NYU student detained in North Korea is speaking to the media with a new message for his family. We are live next.

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[04:43:05] ROMANS: A big moments for Republican candidates today at the value voters summit in Washington. Donald Trump and seven other GOP contenders are among the speakers. This as Trump continues to lead in the CNN New Hampshire poll.

Look at this -- Trump is on top with 26 percent. This is also news in the second tier. Carly Fiorina now in second place with 16 percent. She is followed by Marco Rubio and then Ben Carson who has been in second in other recent polls, but slips to fourth here.

The CNN/WMUR poll reflects Fiorina's post debate surge in the GOP race. She campaigns in Iowa after getting up close and personal with voters in South Carolina.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty was with the candidate.

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SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.

Well, Carly Fiorina has wrapped up her three-day tour in South Carolina where on Thursday, she visited a pregnancy center which advocates for finding alternatives to abortion. She watched an ultrasound being performed and really pushed her anti-abortion message that she has been highlighting since the last debate.

Now, meanwhile, as Donald Trump's feud and boycott with FOX News continues to swirl, Carly Fiorina trying to capitalize on that moment. Here's how she went out of her way to address the public spat here in South Carolina.

CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. Trump decided he would not appear on FOX News because a commentator said I had managed, and I believe I'm quoting here, to snip off his -- with precision during the debate.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, you know, if I quit talking to all the people who attack me, I would have crawled under a rock long ago. That's part of it, you know? It's part of what it takes to be in the arena. You have to be able to take criticism.

[04:45:04] SERFATY: Trump meanwhile has been really zoning in on Senator Marco Rubio, calling him a kid, characterizing him as someone who sits behind a desk, but doesn't get work done in Congress.

But Marco Rubio is now really hitting back, saying in a radio interview that he believes Trump is being exposed more and that's in his words a reason why he is becoming a lot more touchy these days.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): Well, first of all, he picks on anybody that gets close to him in terms of a poll. Anytime he hits a rough spot, that's what he does. He had a really bad performance last week. He's not well-informed on the issues. He really never talks about issues and can't have more than a ten-second sound bite on a key issue. And so, I think he's kind of exposed a little bit over the last seven days, and he is a touchy and insecure guy, and so that's how he react. Some people can see through it.

SERFATY: And this does follow a pattern that we are seeing from many of the Republican candidates, really much more aggressively now going after Donald Trump -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: OK. Sunlen for us, thank you for that.

On the Democratic side, they are feeling the Bern in New Hampshire. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton by 16 points in that CNN/WMUR poll. Joe Biden, who has not entered the race, has 14 percent.

Now, according to the poll, Biden supporters in New Hampshire favor Clinton over Sanders 2-1 if the vice president decides not to run.

BERMAN: All right. We have breaking news this morning. A student at New York University who was detained after entering North Korea was presented before the media, you might say paraded before the media this morning.

It happened in Pyongyang news conference. 21-year-old Joo Won- Moon says he wants his family to know he is healthy. You can see him being interviewed right there by our own Will Ripley some months ago.

I want to bring in Will Ripley who said he was allowed to talk to the young man. Will joins us on the phone.

Will, do you have a sense of what this means that we are seeing him in a news conference?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The timing, John, is interesting. We have been reporting here from Pyongyang, North Korea. The country is getting ready for a major national celebration on October 10th. The anniversary of their Workers Party, the ruling party led by Kim Jong-un.

And often around the time of national anniversary, North Korea has been known to grant amnesty to its own inmates. They did it earlier this year in August around another holiday. They let an inmate go.

Now, there has been no official statement saying amnesty will be granted to Won-Moon Joo. In fact, we don't even know for sure if he's facing criminal charges, because after we got the interview with him in May, it has been complete silence. I asked officials here a couple of days ago, they said they had no information. Just within the past few hours, this press conference surfaces.

Some of the things he said in the press conference, quote, "I had not had the opportunity to contact my family. But I do hope to be back home soon. I'd like to tell my family and loved ones I am well, I am very healthy and hope to be home soon."

John, he mentioned he has been taken around to speak to North Korean college students at two different locations here in Pyongyang. He says the college students told him he was no enemy to them. When you listen to that language and you listen to him saying he hopes to be home soon, his family in the United States, may be very hopeful this means release to him. In the past, prisoners paraded in front of the cameras mean they are about to go on trial. We will chase down details here in North Korea.

BERMAN: Deliberate actions by the North Korean regime, perhaps no accident Western reporters are in Pyongyang at that very time. Will Ripley on the phone, thanks so much, Will.

ROMANS: All right. A new investigation launched in the deadly stampede near Mecca. The death toll now more than 700 people. We are live with new details, next.

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[04:52:54] BERMAN: The death toll in Saudi Arabia is rising this morning. More than 700 people were killed in a stampede during the Hajj. Nearly 900 others injured in the crush. Saudi King Salman demanding a review of safety protocols after the deadliest incident during the Hajj in some 25 years.

I want to get the very latest from CNN international correspondent Arwa Damon.

Good morning, Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Now, here is what we know: apparently, this stampede took place when two smaller roads used by pilgrims meet at an intersection. And it seems, according to some eyewitnesses and survivors, that one group from one direction and the other group was coming from the other direction and pushing and shoving began, ensued in this mass, this build up of humanity that led to the tragic and horrific stampede.

Saudi officials now are trying to figure out exactly why this happened. Was it because the people leading the pilgrims took a wrong route? Was it some sort of failure on part of the security apparatus? Since the last stampede in 2006 that killed around 350 people, Saudi officials and the government have poured over $1.2 billion into expanding various different key areas to the rituals of Hajj, especially those that are around this particular area. The city of Mina and route leading to an area known as the ritual of the stoning of the devil takes place.

This is one of the last rituals of Hajj, and it is where pilgrims throw small rocks at three massive pillars symbolizing rejection of evil and in trying to put in measures to prevent these stampedes, this mass build up from taking place.

Saudi officials expanded this area. They built overpasses. They built multiple lanes to try to divert the human traffic as it does go through.

[04:55:03] A lot of questions being asked right now as to what will take place to prevent this from happening once again. Such a catastrophic tragedy for those who did lose their lives. For so many, John, this pilgrimage, it is the climax of the spiritual journey. Many people who did go would have saved their entire lives to be able to take place and take part in the Hajj.

BERMAN: It has a horrifying personal mention, political as well with Iran blaming the Saudi government with the lapse in security there.

Arwa Damon, for us, thank you so much.

ROMANS: Fifty-five minutes past the hour.

The pope putting controversial issues in the spotlight here in the U.S. In the process, he is also getting a lot of attention for a guy critical of capitalism.

BERMAN: It's a pretty good endorsement. It's a good endorsement.

ROMANS: Some marketing of some companies. We have that next.

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ROMANS: Hi there. Welcome back. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get an early start on your money this morning.

Pope Francis has been a critic of capitalism and greed. But this week, he is giving two brands a marketing boost. American Airlines and Fiat Chrysler are getting a lot of free duplicity by providing the pope's transportation. He has been getting around in a Fiat 500L and a modified Jeep Wrangler for parades.