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US Election Examined; Working to Halt Spread of Zika Virus; Russia and Turkey Tensions Rising Again; Main Syrian Oppostion Group to Join Negotiations; Details of Needs of Syrian Citizens; Greek Help to Refugees Examined. Aired 3:55-5a ET
Aired January 31, 2016 - 03:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:55:14] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A new poll shows a tight race for both political parties as candidates pull out all the stops to become the next president of the United States.
Plus, no time for slowing down now. Researchers are trying to create a vaccine before the Zika virus spreads any further.
And Turkey versus Russia. Accusations that another Russian war plane entered Turkey's air space. What Russia has to say about that.
From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to viewers around the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell.
CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
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HOWELL: And a very good day to you.
It is getting down to the wire in Iowa, the first state who votes in the U.S. presidential nomination process are less than 48 hours away. And the contenders for the White House, they are taking full advantage of every remaining second. They fanned out across the state to win over undecided voters. And we're getting new numbers now from what could be the final major poll before Monday's critical caucuses.
The poll from Bloomberg Politics and "The Des Moines Register" now gives Republican Donald Trump a five-point lead over Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio is third with 15 percent, Ben Carson is fourth.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton holds a three-point edge over Bernie Sanders. That is within the margin of error, meaning they are statistically tied.
But keep this in mind: Iowa is not a state where it's enough to poll well or pack a rally with huge crowds. You actually have to get those voters out to the caucuses to vote on Monday. If candidates can't get their supporters to turn out, their chances of winning then plummet on Monday.
CNN political correspondent Sara Murray explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER (voice-over): Brian Gegner has lived in Iowa for more than two decades and he's never caucused.
BRIAN GEGNER, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: There's never been a candidate that's excited me enough to actually do it.
MURRAY (on camera): And you want to caucus for Trump this time.
GEGNER: Yes.
MURRAY (voice-over): Trump's odds Monday could hinge on first time caucusgoers like Gegner and people who have grown so disenfranchised they've stopped showing up.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You have to go out and caucus, or we're wasting time.
MURRAY: That's why Trump's team is inundating Gegner with e-mails and the occasional phone call to make sure he shows up on February 1st.
GEGNER: It seems hike they got their act together.
MURRAY (on camera): So you think he'll win in Iowa?
GEGNER: I hope so. I mean, who wants to back a loser?
MURRAY (voice-over): According to the polls, Trump is less likely to be a loser when you include people who stayed home last cycle.
Our latest CNN/ORC poll in Iowa shows Trump leading Ted Cruz 37 percent to 26 percent. But when you narrow the question to Republicans who participated in the 2012 caucuses, the race becomes a dead heat.
Cruz polled 30 percent and Trump 28 percent.
(on camera): Are you registered to caucus Monday?
(voice-over): Trump's strategy -- make the process as easy as possible.
JODI ROINDL, TRUMP CAUCUS CAPTAIN, CLARKE COUNTY, IOWA: I have never caucused before so I'm very excited about this, being the first time.
MURRAY: He's even relying on volunteers who have never caucused themselves to simplify it for others.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for coming.
MURRAY: Telling them where to go and when to arrive.
ROINDL: I've been pulling up on my cell phone a website and I've been telling them exactly where they need to go depending on their zip code and their address.
MURRAY: It's a strategy that has party leaders preparing for the chance that turn out on caucus night could double 2012, when 120,000 Republicans caucused.
JEFF KAUFMANN, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA: In the party, we're preparing for a doubling of that. Now, that's not to say that's going to happen. A lot depends on whether Donald Trump can convert the passion of his folks into showing up at a caucus.
MURRAY: For Trump, there's still work to do. Several voters told us they're undecided and haven't heard from the campaign.
(on camera): You're waving an awful lot of Trump swag for someone with an open mind.
JOSIAH SODERSTRUM, IOWA VOTER: Yes, you know, I'm going with the spirit of it. Kind of embracing it today. Having some fun with it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: And that was CNN political correspondent Sara Murray reporting for us.
The rookie caucus-goers include an Iowa high school student who says he's ready to cast his first vote for Donald Trump.
The Clinton and Sanders campaigns have agreed to at least one of four additional debates beginning next one week in New Hampshire. The Clinton campaign has asked for a Democratic debate in Flint, Michigan. The senior Sanders advisers tell CNN they'll do it if Clinton agrees to a debate in New York, adding, nothing is final until dates and cities are locked down.
A senior Clinton strategist says her campaign will rely heavily on women and older voters to win Monday's caucuses. He says the latest Iowa poll is leaning in their favor. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[04:00:02] JOEL BENENSON, SENIOR STRATEGIST FOR HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN: Ann Selzer has a great reputation in Iowa. We've always expected this to be close. You know, people say it's within the margin of error. Margin of error means that each number could be plus or minus four points. It's not like, you know, it was four point raise and it's all tie.
What you care about it's what's going on inside that you know our led among women overall particularly women over 45 are led generally with older voters. We believe we haven't seen all of these poll yet because it just came out but we believe it looks like that people who are most committed to caucus is saying seem to lean are way but look we've said since I think the spring this is going to be closed. We've got an organization around the state to get our voters to the caucuses because that what this is going to come down to on Monday night.
HOWELL: Now in Iowa's African American community. Many say candidates have mostly ignored their vote in the past few months.
CNN Victor Blackwell has this report. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless the great state of Iowa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so, so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, thank you very much.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the final hours before the Iowa caucuses, candidates are criss-crossing the Capitol City to built support.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iowa Democrats are you excited about the future?
BLACKWELL: But after scores of events in Des Moines over the last several months there is one community that is still waiting for candidates to ask for their votes.
REV.BOBBY YOUNG, MT. HEBRON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: They avoid this neighborhood like maybe there maybe Ebola around some place that they never come here.
BLACKWELL: In a state that's more than 90 percent white and covered in corn fields Reverend Bobby Young's neighborhood is mostly black and Latino in Des Moines inner city and the people here are poor. In their months of campaign across the state Reverend Young says the top tier candidates in both parties have largely ignored their votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my district
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Ako Addul-Samad represents this district in the state house.
AKO ADBUL SAMAD, IOWA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: We have two schools here that 100 percent free reduce lunch, you know, we are in the area where you wouldn't find any businesses like restaurants and that's everything here.
BLACKWELL: The disparity between White Iowans and Black Iowans is stark in statewide while Iowa's unemployment in 2014 was 4.4 percent for Black Iowans that number was 12 percent.
YOUNG: Do you think if candidates going to go anywhere and talk to any body. You talk to people that hurt the most.
BLACKWELL: The younger members resolve his congregation believe that candidates are not coming because their community can not afford to contribute.
YOUNG: If we were able to donate 100, 1,000, 2,000 then they will come back and shake our hands too but when you are going to have McDonald's and you pay a rent, if you won't $100,000 to give to a candidate.
ADBUL SAMAD: There's another side to that. The other side that is that we have to show our value, you know, where in my precincts which is the lowest voting turnout. Its not that we don't have the voters this they lack hope. You know, they don't see hope. So they don't come out to vote and when you even (inaudible) don't come out to vote what happens with candidates? They focus on the areas that do.
BLACKWELL: They say there is one exception.
Republican Senator Rand Paul his spent more than an hour at Platinum Kutz Barbershop talking about criminal justice reform. Blacks are just 3.4 percent of Iowa's population but they fill 25.5 percent of the state prison cells.
Have you made a decision?
ROBERT PRESSWOOD, OWNER OF PLATINUM KUTZ BARBERSHOP: He made me look at him different.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: How's that?
PRESSWOOD: Because he was want to come into my suburb and talk to us and like said a lot of candidate ain't going to do that.
BLACKWELL: Young and Adbul-Samad plan to caucus and are leading aggressive voter registration in caucuses training programs and they're encouraging young people here to participate too because they treasure their votes. Even if they believe the candidates for President do not.
YOUNG: I'm from the South where you know a cost us dog bites and fire hose and everything else just to get that to get out name on that paper and carry it a little bit of cut. We paid a deal price to put it vote I got to vote but maybe it be for him to pin on somebody. It maybe won't be for Republican or Democrat because they don't say any care.
HOWELL: From the United States and now on to Geneva Switzerland where there is a small sign of hope for Syrian peace talks now. Syria's main opposition group says it plans to now participate in negotiations with the U.N. special envoy. Earlier they had refused to join in insisting that government forces first stop attacking civilians.
Following all the details CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson live for us this hour in Geneva. Nic, good to have you with so look this has been clearly a delicate process of bringing all these sides together could you help our viewers understand where things stand now.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Good morning George, where things stand now the high negotiating committee that's the opposition of collaboration of opposition groups arrive in Geneva late last night the day before Staffan de Mistura of the U.N.'s Special Representative mediating him at for two hours with representatives of the Syrian government.
[04:05:16] I'm joined here now by a representative Salem al-Meslet spokesman for the high negotiating committee. What are the issues that have held you back from coming and are you ready to go into talks? SALEM AL-MESLET, HIGH NATIONAL COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN: You see we are here really to solve this political process and what a team to make this a success, you know, its just for not to - the main purpose is really to for our people, you know, to ended the suffer for our people there.
We came, you know, we were discussing many things but what we had guarantees that, you know, the issues the humanitarian issues that was, you know, the -- the Security Council resolution 2254. The implementation of resolution for us is important, you know, concentrating on the humanitarian issue.
ROBERTSON: This is access to humanitarian areas that are cut off from food, areas where bombardment continues release a prisons these issues.
AL-MESLET: Yeah, you know, it's important to see this because we discuss this with Mr. de Mistura and receive the letter from him reply. It's like an assurance to implement, you know, this one. And also we receive from Mr. Kerry another, you know, administers from different country European countries from Saudi Arabia. And we're here just, you know, to discuss this and this really would make things easier for us to go and start negotiation with the other group.
ROBERTSON: But to be very clear at the moment you're not ready to go into the meetings inside the U.N. you want to meet Mr. de Mistura to confirm these details before yo begin the talks proper that's what we understand at the moment.
AL-MESLET: Yeah, the meeting will be today outside the negotiation, you know, building there to discuss as you told, you know, these are important to us. It's very important for us, you know, to lift from, you know, what our people who's facing there in Syria. And also to prove to the world that this regime is not serious, you know, about what he's doing, you know, we've been, you know, we join the negotiation in Geneva, you know, Geneva too. And until now nothing has been done. There are many resolutions. Nothing has been implemented until this moment.
ROBERTSON: But if you don't get what you want which guarantees for these key issues for you. What's going to happen? Will you walk away from the talks and not going to them proper?
AL-MESLET: I cannot really, you know, say that we will walk away now until we see the answers from, you know, Mr. de Mistura and the countries that really promise that they will do something about it. But for us it's really important, you know, to see this, you know, on ground.
ROBERTSON: So specifically so we understand what precisely again you're looking for in that language and a firmness of guarantees that they can guarantee that the bombardments can stop that food can get through that the prisoners can be release?
AL-MESLET: These certain issues are very important to us. You know they can -- I believe they can do it too. That you know they're willing to do it they can do it.
ROBERTSON: But it means putting pressure on the Syrian government to make these concessions.
AL-MESLET: This has to be done it's the duty of the members of the Security Council really to implement their resolution that they sign. And this only takes a little but assure not only the regime but on Russia. Russia is a member there and I believe the key is there. They can put the pressure on Russia to stop this whenever. Russia stops, you know, killing our people our civilian find, you know, that their fighting. They actually then go fight that but beside the children and kill families, you know, without any reason.
ROBERTSON: Salem al-Meslet, thank you very much indeed.
AL-MESLET: Thank you very much.
ROBERTSON: So the talks a step closer but as of right now not up and running fully George.
HOWELL: Nick Robertson with a very important interview to share with our viewers. Simple fact though that a meeting will happen today an important step in the process for sure. Nic thank you so much for your reporting.
There is no question that these peace talks are desperately needed for those people who are dying in Syria. Doctors of that out border says 16 people have starved to death in Madaya since U.N. convoys delivered food and supplies earlier this month. It also says there still are 320 cases of malnutrition. 32 of which are severe. The U.N. estimates 400,000 Syrians are in dire need of food.
Our Nick Paton Walsh shows us the terrible situation that is playing out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ISIS has now gripped the town of Madaya, adding to the siege and starvation gnawing away of what's left of life here.
[04:10:01] Aid came briefly along with global attention but now it's gone and the weak here are still said to be dying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
WALSH: This is Dr. Mohammed (ph). He shows us Fawaz Saif Alden (ph), age 50, so malnourished he can't cope with food, only drip feeds.
Held here, almost a ghost, edging towards death. Like his granddaughter, Lama (ph), just 9 months old, she seems dazed.
"For more than seven months, we've not had electricity," explains the doctor, "we've nearly run out of wood."
Now plastic is often burned. The weakest, immobile, activist Abdullah (ph) shows us.
ABDULLAH (PH), ACTIVIST: This child here is very ill. He eats leaves, tree leaves, and he get sick and ill and his stomach, his stomach is really, really hurting. He needs immediately go to hospital outside in Madaya.
WALSH: The little food here probably won't save the acutely malnourished who need urgent medical help, but it is handed out slowly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And actually, if they don't bring food for people, the people here will die because of starvation.
WALSH: Here, in a makeshift hospital struggling to keep the lights on, is where they come, hoping to find help.
"In the past 10 days since the arrival of relief supplies," the doctor says, "there have been 10 deaths. Scores of people have arrived at the clinic unconscious. We have around 500 sick people in the town that need hospital treatment."
Syrian rebels have said they won't talk peace until sieges like these by the government are lifted. The rebels, too, are besieging other towns in the north. Hunger, a weapon of war, leaving 400,000 Syrians without the food they need, neither truly alive nor dead.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Beirut.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: You are watching "CNN News Room" and still to come, hidden cameras capture a rare view of endangered wildlife in Cambodia.
We show you with the sighting is a sign of success for conservation efforts.
Plus, the sigh of relief in the U.S. state of California now that these three escaped convicts are finally behind bars. Stay with us.
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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: Hi, there. I'm Patrick Snell with the World Sport Headlines.
Starting off on Australia where Angelique Kerber has shock Serena Williams to win the women's final in Melbourne. This is was the German's first time ever in a slam final. She'd lost five of her six matches to Williams in previous meetings, but on Saturday, it was Kerber's day winning at 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, becoming the first major champion from Germany since Steffi Graf in 1999.
It's been dream run for one of our British tennis star Jamie Murray, he was the doubles man and now Davis Cup trump last year. He's now the Australian open champion. Murray and his partner Bruno Soares came from behind to be beat Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek in Jamie's brother Andy within the stand to see.
Andy of course will play Novak Djokavic in Sundays Men's Final the Austrian Open. It's the four round of F.A. Cup in England this weekend. Arsenal were able to hold off championship team Burnley 2, 1 to advance to the fifth round.
Elsewhere, we're beginners (ph) North London rivals Tottenham making to trip to third (ph) Colchester and they got a way unscaved thanks to Nacer Chadli, Spurs of course the favorite their soaring in the premier league while Colchester, Baltimore there league without the win since October if the F.A. Cup, you never quite know a comfortable win in the end for Spurs, they win at 4-1, their into the fifth round from the first time in four years.
[04:15:12] Thanks for joining us. You're buying up to date to look at your World Sport Headlines.
I'm Patrick Snell.
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HOWELL: At a mass rally in Rome hundreds of people protested Saturday against proposed same-sex legislation. The Italian Senate is discussing the bill which would recognize same-sex civil unions. The most contentious issue is a proposal to provide limited adoption rights to same-sex couples. Italy is the last major country in the Western Europe without legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. The final approve in the senate is expected in mid February.
On to Greece now where people open their hearts and homes to migrants long before the international community did. And for their generosity a petition is now asking for the Nobel Peace Price nomination to go to the people of the Aegean Islands.
Our Arwa Damon has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For guest host on the clip 81 year old Despiona Zourzouvilis in her husband who just passed away. Notice the first votes in April of last year.
DESPIONA ZOURZOUVILIS, (Through Translation): My mind went back years because my mother came as a refugee from Turkey. I saw the people walking, drench.
It's a deep sorrow. I felt like my heart is breaking.
DAMON: She calls them the red folks. Despoina did what she could. Putting out water, sandwiches hosting people off to cool them down in the summer heat. Often she wanted to run down the cliff when she heard screams for help but her knees aren't strong enough.
ZOURZOUVILIS, (Through Translation): Do, you know, how many people drowned and were taken out of the see? What can I say I feel like I have seen everything? DAMON: Scattered graves lye in a plot in the Lesvos cemetery. Often marked with just a number in the date. Small toys are identifying those of the youngest victims. The Greek islanders found themselves the first responders in the months before the cost guard increase its numbers over the summer before Frontex and NGOS finally arrived. For their actions kindness and generosity their have been petitions to nominate the islanders for the Novel Peace prize.
Thomas Zourzouvilis is one of the many fishermen who time and time again and it certainly ended up on rescue missions when he was holing in his nets.
THOMAS ZOURZOUVILIS, FISHERMAN: Because that well it wasn't really nice. We give people when you take people out to scarification (ph) you have under this. When it his small children and woman there, you know, I think anyone will do it.
DAMON: The massive influx of migrants and refugees completely change the nature of this tourist destination. All islanders have fetched in drying cloths, providing food, blankets and even risking jail time. Before the government and NGOS provided official transport driving refugees was considered smuggling. But Maria Androulaki did not care, cramming as many peoples as could fit in her tiny car.
MARIA ANDROULAKI, TOUR GUIDE: Here I was taking the people that they were walking they had to walk 75 kilometers from here down to the town of Messalani then get registered.
DAMON: That is a one to two day walk.
You could have been arrested back then for this. What made you so strong?
[04:20:00] ANDROULAKI: Seeing kids at the age of my son, walking. Walking through to get to the next station I could seen in their eyes my son trying to get a life. Searching to get a life. I couldn't just pass by and drive my car.
DAMON: Is that type of compassion that may or in the islanders that Nobel node. But Maria says, it's wrong.
ANDROULAKI: Bit of monsters if we can't do this, why should we given a price for have been human beings? We are supposed to be human beings.
DAMON: In a world where humanity seems to be in increasing short supply, perhaps that is exactly why the islanders deserve to be recognized
Arwa Damon, CNN, Lesbvos, Greece.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Now, to the U.S. state of Colorado where a motorcycle show turns violence on Saturday. One person there died and seven more injured after shots were fired in the crowded auditorium. One of the injured was stabbed and three others suffered minor injuries insistent with a fist fight. Police said, they were able to respond to the situation in a timely fashion, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAQUEL LOPEZ, DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have officers that were working off duty here. And we have some other obscure security that where were working for the National Western Stock Show. So we were able to get officers here quickly and be able to get our victims to the hospital.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: No arrests have been made but several people are being questioned. After more a week on the run, all three inmates who escaped a jail in Southern California are now back behind bars. Two of the fugitives were arrested Saturday morning in the City of San Francisco, more than 600 kilometers or about 370 miles from the prison where they broke out.
SHERIFF SANDRA HUTCHENS, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: A Female citizen approached the officers and pointed out a white van. Officers approached the van has Hossein Nayeri fled the area on foot. A short foot pursuit in suite before Nayeri was taken into custody by officers. Officers immediately returned to the white van and discovered the other escapee Jonathan Tieu hiding in the van.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: The third inmate escapes and turned himself in rather. On Friday police say that the trio will be housed in the same jail. But this time in a more secured units.
Police have arrested two fugitive in Mafia Bosses in Southern Italy. The men were captured in under ground bunker on Friday. One of them had been on the run for nearly 20 years. There hide out had an array of weapons including rifles. They have pistols and machine guns. The mobsters are part of a criminal organization that is based in Calabria.
The Pentagon is challenging what it says are attempts to limit freedom of navigation by the U.S. and other nations in the South China Sea. A U.S. Navy Destroyer, the USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of the Paracel Islands on Friday. China calls the move "a serious provocation and a violation. China, Taiwan and Vietnam all claimed this archipelago.
You may remember a similar incident last year, the Chinese navy issued warnings eight times when the U.S. surveillance plane flew over disputed islands in the South China Sea.
A British helicopter pilot was shot and killed during an operation to fight poaching in Tanzania. Roger Gower was shot in mid air by poachers in the Maswa game reserve Friday night. He was able to land the chopper but died before help arrived. Gower was involved in tracking down and arresting elephant poachers. Those responsible for his death they are still at large.
The world's elephants are critically endangered. But in one corner of Cambodia, there has been an amazing find and a sign of success.
Here's my colleague Natalie Allen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Green as far as the eye can see and beyond, this is the Central Cardamom protected forest in Cambodia.
Fourteen years ago, the government along with conservation international set aside 400 hectares. The aim, give the endangered animals who call this land of chance and survival.
In 2015, wildlife officials set out to see if it worked. They installed camera traps on trees hoping to catch a glimpse of elusive wildlife especially the rare Asian elephant. They were rewarded with these 12 elephant came into view moving through the night grazing and interacting.
It is the largest group of wild Asian elephant seen here in a decade. Also important young elephants are in the herd. Peter Seligmann founder and CEO of Conservation International spoke with us from Cambodia.
[04:25:02] PETER SELIGMANN, FOUNDER AND CEO, CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: We think there are probably many more because we have buried few camera traps in the areas. So I'd be able to catch a herd of 12. Means that, that it indicates that the population is healthy. So that, just regarding elephants is really big news.
ALLEN: Asian elephants are more in danger than their African cousins both are routinely kill for their tusk or meat. Their habitats are over run by humans and the illegal logging. The Cardamom Mountains are one of the largest reservoirs of nature in Cambodia. Home one-third of the country endanger and rare species and critically important to people too.
SELIGMANN: These forests are the source of the fresh water that's require to keep the Tonle Sap which the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia productive. And the fish in that lake are enormously populace. And that there are more fish in Tonle Sap in this one lake that in all of the lakes in North America combine and this lake provides 75 percent of the protein that the people of Cambodia in Cardamom.
ALLEN: The forest preservation is a success story thing in part to its remoteness, 90 percent in an accessible. No roads in, no roads out giving the animals who live here more room to roam and hopefully survive.
Nathalie Allen, CNN, Atlanta.
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HOWELL: This is CNN Newsroom.
And still ahead Iran prepares for a major election and we'll show how the countries politics are now responding to warming relations with the west. Live from Atlanta and Broadcasting around the globe this hour.
You are watching CNN World Wide.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:30:04] HOWELL: A very warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. Great to have you with us this hour. I'm George Howell.
The headlines we're following in the race for U.S. President, candidates are making their final push in Iowa before Monday's caucuses Republican front runner Donald Trump is getting a boost from a new poll that gives him a five point edge over main rival Ted Cruz in that state. And also shows Democrat Hillary Clinton holding onto a very slim three point lead over Bernie Sanders.
A delegation of Syrian opposition group say it will met with the U.N. special envoy to Syria the high negotiations committee has previously refused to sit down with government representatives until the regime agrees to stop attacking civilian targets. At least 33 migrants drown on Saturday after their boat sank. The migrants in Syrian, Afghanistan, and Myanmar were trying to make their way from Turkey into Greece. At least five of those dead were children.
Many of these migrants are fleeing death and misery back home and as they migrate to the North asylum seekers often face dangerous routes. They also face indifference and even hostility from natives but that is not the case in one town in Austria that is being hailed as a model of integration and diversity.
Here's our Kelly Morgan with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY MORGAN, CNN CORRESPODENT: Neudorfl is bitterly cold this time of year. The town lake breeze is over. The ground is blanketed in snow but when you step forward in this small Austrian town the welcome is undoubtedly warm. Adele Ben Yankovic (ph) was a man the first migrants to feel it when he fled Bosnian War 23 years ago.
ADELE BEN YANKOVIC (PH): When we were here get common. We are now slowing down.
MORGAN: He explained how his family will immediately accepted by an doubtful (ph) residents and that he works as a lifeguard at the lake during summer protecting the community that he says has kept him safe.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
MORGAN: Now a new wave of migrants have funding century in this idyllic place population 4,500. This family of six from Afghanistan has only just arrived after a cold three months journey sleeping in tent. Boosting a numbers of refugees in town to 80. The parish church has given them a warm home to stay while they away to asylum. The family will have access to local schools including the kinder garden.
Here children sleep soundly but from the (inaudible) of war so many have fled. The most recent arrivals are mainly Kurdish but the pre- school takes in all nationalities.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (inaudible) Romanish, Turkish ...
MORGAN: The current town is 21 different languages. It is through play they learn to communicate, integrate.
So two these young migrants men who are living in a private house run by Karataf (ph) they're saying not for profit organization that help refugees from the Bosnian War. They all made their way to Austria alone and then now waiting asylum including 16 year old Akmek Takushi (ph) who is came to practice to German he is been learning since he arrive last night.
"I need to learn German so I can go to school and become a Carpenter" he says. It's the process Snodovel Hastel (ph) has being guarding migrants through for 26 years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are the people in living here in the house they. They're staying in (inaudible) so they have put job here that children that kids are going to university now they're really well integrated and its really works.
MORGAN: It is a model for integration made this (inaudible) Posch is sharing with other local leaders from countries dealing with the unprecedented flow of people. If calling for a change in a way migrants have to save.
DIETER PORCH, NEUDORFL: Migrants take on the first day from the community but for the second day if we make it possible they bring through the comminutes.
MORGAN: In a small town with a big heart migrants are not treated as a burden they are simply given a safe heaven and a new start.
Kelly Morgan, CNN, Neudorfl, Austria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE HOWELL: Most migrants are not so lucky even when they make it to Europe refugees and other migrants face more difficulties. Earlier we spoke with John Dalhuisen from Amnesty International and he describes oblique and uncertain time ahead for most migrants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN DALLSUISAN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: JOHN DALLSUISAN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: The last week has been a very catastrophic week for refugees across Europe and fairly grim for the prospects of Europe itself moving forward. The essence of the European's response the date has been being predicated on keeping refuges out and we've seen those moves accelerating. [04:35:00] Conversations talking going forward that effectively about transforming Greece into a pen for a holding pen for European refugees deals with Turkey that are going to involve returning migrants to Turkey.
And nationally, every single government now is you just describe Denmark in a raise to the bottom to make themselves as unattractive to refugees as possible. And I think as often in Europe and that the E.U. hit members' states will after exhausting every single opportunity to do the wrong thing may will have to find its way to doing the right thing if its going to stay together.
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HOWELL: On now to Iran which is adjusting to a new set of circumstances. After the country made a landmark agreement with the United States and other world powers on its nuclear program and now they're headed into a major election. Our Fred Pleitgen reports from Tehran.
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FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After the nuclear agreement, Iran is heading for key elections. Voters will elect a new parliament and also the body that elects the country's supreme leader.
This is a very important election for Iran because it's also seen as referendum of this country's current course. After the nuclear agreement have opening up towards the west and even slightly towards the U.S.
But there is controversy ahead of the vote. Battered supporters of President Hassan Rouhani say, many of their candidates have been disqualified. The head of the economic committee is one of them. Arsalan Fathipour says he will appeal.
"Whoever has been disqualified has the right to object about disqualification." he says. He can defend himself and see the documents against him.
Some claim the disqualifications are moved by hard liners to cement their power. Tearing the new deal and better relations with the west will drive voters to Rouhani's camp.
Even the grandson of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, Hassan Khomeini seen as a relative moderate has been blocked from running for a top clerical body.
The election for the assembly of experts is on the same day as Iran's parliamentary elections. All candidates are bedded by a body called "The Guardian Council". Half of its members are chosen by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Conservative as we spoke to deny that moderates are being singled out.
These disqualifications have all happened according to the law of this conservative and he says, "All those who've been disqualified did something against the law." Otherwise The Guardian Council would have not disqualified them.
The upcoming elections will do a lot to shape Iran's approach towards the west. As Tehran looks for foreign investment, some worry that politics could get in the way of the current reconciliation process.
Fred Plietgen, CNN, Tehran.
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HOWELL: The U.S. President Barack Obama will soon make his first visit to a U.S. mosque. He is set to visit the Islamic Society of Baltimore this week to celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans. Mr. Obama has been vocal in his support of Muslims especially since Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a temporary ban on Muslim's entry in the United States back in December.
Coming up, we will hear from SpaceX' CEO, Elon Musk and his advice to inventors and his plans with planet Mars.
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[04:41:41] HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell.
The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, is one of the visionaries of private space expeditions. While some see colonizing other planets as a pipe dream. The billionaire entrepreneur has a very different outlook on why space exploration is so important.
CNN's Kristie Lou Stout spoke with Musk about his plans for the planet Mars.
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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You are also the CEO of SpaceX. The ultimate goal is Mars. It is getting humankind to Mars. So, why does Mars make sense?
ELOM MUSK, CEO SPACEX: The goal of Tesla and Solar City is to minimize the existential threat of a delayed transition to a sustainable energy economy. The purpose of SpaceX is to help make life multiplanetary.
If life as we know it is multiplanetary, then the probable length of existence of human civilization is much greater.
So, I mean, think of like this but the unifying philosophy behind all three companies is trying to minimize existential threats, that kind of thing.
LU STOUT: And I see that. But Mars and ...
MUSK: Why Mars instead of something else?
LU STOUT: No, no, no. But how I see Mars being your destination as sort of a backup plan for humankind, right? MUSK: There are really I think there are two main motivations for Mars. I mean, one is, is the sort of defensive reason of saying, OK, if something were to happen to Earth, is life as we know it does it end? Or if it's on another planet, then it probably doesn't end. A multiplanet civilization is likely to last a lot longer than a single planet civilization.
The other part of it is it would just be an incredible adventure.
LU STOUT: Yeah.
MUSK: It would be a very exciting. And even if somebody never planned to go to Mars, just following the progress, I think vicariously, would be quite inspiring.
LU STOUT: Yeah.
MUSK: And I do think it's important that we have things to inspire us. It can't just be about solving, you know, miserable problems all the time, because why get up in the morning?
LU STOUT: What's your advice to encourage people to do the hard stuff and to invent the hard stuff for the betterment of humankind?
MUSK: I think the right way to think of things is like what is the most useful thing that you can think of to and that others are not doing?
If the problems are getting well solved by others, there isn't much point in going and then competing against them if they're going to solve it well anyway.
It is better to work on things that you think probably people -- enough smart people aren't working on.
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HOWELL: That was our Kristie Lou Stout reporting. So there is the question, is the landing humans on Mars a good idea? Earlier my colleague Jonathan Mann spoke to planetary evangelist Emily Lakdawalla, who says that, even though the prospect of mankind on Mars seems exciting, we should use caution.
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EMILY LAKDAWALLA, PLANETARY EVANGELIST, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY: There's a number of different reasons to explore Mars. And one of the reasons we're very excited about Mars is that there's a potential that there was life there once. And there could even be life there now. And that we'll make it much harder to search for life on Mars once humans have put their feet on there.
JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, fair enough but he's making another point which is that, Mars could be our fall back planet. Does that make sense to you? LAKDAWALLA: I think it does make sense in the very long term. But he is thinking very long term there. He is taking the necessary steps towards helping us become a multi-planet species by diverse find different kinds of ways that we can get off Earth with his Falcon 9 rocket. And other ways of -- of exploring the solar system but he is really thinking very, very long-term.
[04:45:12] We have a lot of stuffs we have to get to you before then, you know, space stations long duration, human space light, just landing heavy things on Mars. There's a lot more to do but he's working on solving some of those
HOWELL: From Mars and now back to this planet and talking about the weather that could impact the situation in Iowa and the caucuses.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Voters are focusing on Iowa in fact that Nations eyes are focusing on Iowa on Monday. Well, meteorologist are focusing on the Central part of the United States for Tuesday with the big snow storm that we've been talking about for the past several days now.
We're going to show this graphic as you can see exactly where we're anticipant this low pressure system to develop. It will instruct you form across the four corners and gather some steam before over spreading some blizzard conditions into places like Des Moines, Iowa. But again that is about 12 hours after the caucuses and here's a storm that evolved in. And you can start to see the heftier snowfall from Nebraska into the upper Great Lakes and we'll be able to time this out for you quite nicely so you can see exactly what to expect in terms of timing of the snow.
Here's the amount for the first part, so you can see big snow totals for the ski resort out into the Colorado Rockies. And as it move across the planes we could experience anywhere between 12 to upwards of locally 18 inches of snow. Get a load of this we've timed it out for you. We do believe it will hold off until after midnight when the caucuses end on Monday. But it's Tuesday when the heavy snowfall really starts to over spread the State. And it is possible again we experience anywhere between 12 to 15 inches of snowfall by the time the storm is all set and done by early Wednesday morning.
You can see the snowfall totals across this particular region. Interesting statistic that I just read about weather on presidential election dates. It affects voter turnout like this. If there is one inch of rain above the normal levels for that particular day. Republicans actually receive an uptick in their votes by 2.5 percent. If there is one inch or more of snow above the normal levels for that particular day. Republicans receive about 0.6 percent uptick in their voter percentages so interesting statistic for that.
Let's take a look at some visuals and a quick update on a cargo ship that I was discussing yesterday at this time. It is still floating adrift in the Bay of Biscay. This is of the west coast of France. This is the modern express cargo ship. It had a 50 degree tilt right now George and there are no individuals crew members on board the ship because they're currently trying to take it over so they can take control. Re upright the position of the ship and finally bring us into the safe harbor but they were unsuccessful because the weather was just too dangerous. And looks as if it's not going to get any better anytime soon either.
HOWELL: Derek, thank you so much.
VAN DAM: Thanks George.
HOWELL: You're watching CNN Newsroom.
Coming up the winners of the Screen Actors Guild Awards. What they might mean for Oscar predictions?
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SNELL: Hi there I'm Patrick Snell with you World Sport Headlines.
Starting in Australia where Angelique Kerber shocks Serena Williams earlier to win the Woman's final in Melbourne match was the Germans first time ever in a slam finals. She lost five out six matches to Williams in previous meetings. On Saturday though it was Kerber's day winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 becoming the first major champion from her country since Steffi Graf in 1999.
[04:50:04] From Australia to Spain where it was a top of the table clashed between Barcelona and Atletico. The two sides were level on points going into Saturday showdown at the Camp Nou. Atletico taking a lead but Barcelona leveling thanks to, you know, who (inaudible) Luis Suarez made it 2-1 before things fell apart from Madrid as they would get two red cartoons in the second half. Two-one on final score. The Catalans go at three points clear on top-the-table (inaudible) too.
Doing little while, Arsene Wenger Arsenals still on track when the oldest cup competition of them all for a third straight year. The Gunners are already the most successful team in F.A Cup history but they are surely hungry for more.
On Saturday at the Emirates (ph) Stadium in North London. Bengal (ph) looked on at his team took on Burnley Calum Chambers put the Gunners ahead before Burnley pull the goal back.
Alexis Sanchez, the (inaudible) restore the Gunner lead early in the second half, Arsenal win it too.
Thanks for joining us. You're buying up to date to look at your World Sport Headlines. I'm Patrick Snell.
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HOWELL: The Screen Actors Guild award or the SAGs are often seen as an indication of who might take home the academy awards. And this might be a in a year for Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio.
One Saturday, DiCaprio won the SAG for best lead actor for his role in "The Revenant." Another academy award nominee, Brie Larson, won the SAG for her performance in the film "Room" and the top SAG award went to the cast of "Spotlight" which is nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
Earlier my colleague Natalie Allen spoke with Kim Serafin. Kim is the senior editor for the magazine, "In Touch Weekly." And Natalie started by asking Kim just how unique the SAG awards are.
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KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": This is award season here in Los Angeles, here in Hollywood, all leading up of course to the Oscar's. But this is the Screen Actors Guild award. This is voted on by the actors.
So only awards are about actors, it's not about production design or sound or anything like that. It's all about the acting awards. But a lot of people look to the Screen Actors Guild awards because the actors are the largest voting branch for the academy, for the Oscars. So a lot of times, whoever wins the Screen Actors Guild, it really predicts who will win in Oscars.
ALLEN: So let's talk about the fact that the Oscars criticized for lack of diversity. But these awards -- the first award actually handed out, went to an African American woman.
SERAFIN: Yeah, very interesting because clearly if anyone is paying attention know that the Oscars have gotten a lot of attention because of the lack of diversity but in very start contrast at the SAG awards, it was a very diverse show.
In fact Idris Elba who won two SAG awards got up in at one point when he was introducing Beasts of No Nation, he said, "Welcome to diverse T.V", because you did have a lot of nominees, a lot of winners. Uzo Aduba for "Orange is the New Black", Viola Davis won for "How to Get Away with Murder", Idris Elba as I mentioned won two awards.
He won from Beasts of No Nation. A lot of people thought he should have been nominated for an Oscar for Beasts of No Nation he was not. And in fact his name is the one of the names that comes up when people say "Where was his name?" When we're looking at all of these 20 white actors that were nominated.
ALLEN: Right.
SERAFIN: So a very different story we're looking at when you look at the Screen Actors Guild awards.
ALLEN: Well let's talk about two of the big winners were for best actor and best actress.
SERAFIN: I think everyone was looking to see who would win best actor. It was Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant". I think this pretty much says that he is a luck for an Oscar. He did win the Golden Globe, he won the Critics Choice Award.
I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio I think clearly it is someone who deserves an Oscar. This is his ninth SAG award nomination but his first win. So it's kind of his time, it his year for sure.
ALLEN: Right. And it might as will be may be Brie Larson's year as well.
[04:55:05] SERAFIN: Yeah. Brie Larson who won for "Room" and now of course Jennifer Lawrence is probably her main competition when you come to the Oscar. But Jennifer Lawrence for Joy could not get a SAG nomination.
ALLEN: Yeah.
SERAFIN: So very interesting. Brie Larson I think still probably is the frontrunner for an Oscar but very interesting because Jennifer Lawrence was not nominated for SAG Awards so with her in the mix in the Oscar's that's going to throw everything into turmoil.
So we don't know for sure who will win. It's not as clear cut as Leonardo DiCaprio is for The Revenant.
ALLEN: Right. That we'll have a big -- a drum roll for a best actress when we get to the Oscar's perhaps.
And they almost hand down reward for Ensemble Casts for comedy and film and it's interesting that two films really were really good this year for Ensemble Cast but one about brave journalist one.
SERAFIN: Yes, Spotlight was the winner of the SAG Awards for Ensemble Cast that's what they vote in the Screen Actors Guild Awards but this is often a predictor of who will win best picture from the Oscar's.
ALLEN: A glowing night and a diverse night for Hollywood and of course beautiful dresses on the red carpet as well.
As always, Kim Serafin been watching it for us. Thank you so much Kim.
SERAFIN: Great thanks so much.
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HOWELL: We'll have to wait and see there and we thank you for watching this hour. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
I'll be back after the break with another hour of news from around the world. You're watching CNN, the world's news leader.
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HOWELL: Campaigning rights down to the wire. Candidates running for U.S. president have one more day to convince voters for the crucial Iowa caucuses, the sign of hope in Geneva.
[05:00:05] Syria'ss opposition signals a willingness to negotiate for peace after all.
Plus, the Zika virus, it continues to spread through the Americas, raising fears of a potential global --
