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Iowa Caucus Coverage; World Health Organization Calls Zika Virus An International Public Health Emergency; Clinton Declares Victory In Iowa Caucuses With Razor-Thin Lead Over Bernie Sanders; Marco Rubio Makes Strong Showing In Iowa; Five-Year-Old Afghan Boy Dreams Of Meeting Barcelona Team Captain Lionel Messi. Aired 8:22-8:45a ET
Aired February 02, 2016 - 08:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:22:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: And you've been watching CNN's coverage of the Iowa Causes. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. We're
also following other news around the world this hour on New Stream.
The World Health Organization is calling it a public health emergency of international concern. We'll have the latest on the Zika virus, and take
you to the forest where the virus was first discovered.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STOUT: The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the Zika virus and its suspected
link to a neurological birth defect.
This map, it shows the rapid spread of the mosquito-borne virus in the Americas. Countries in red have an active outbreak, while those in yellow
have reported cases of the virus. So largely, in travelers, returning from affected countries.
The WHO has called for a better understanding of Zika. And our David KcKenzie is in the place the virus was first discovered in Uganda's Zika
forest, and he joins us now live.
David, the virus, it was identified many decades ago there in that forest in Uganda. Are our scientists surprised to see it resurface and spread
rapidly in another part of the world, in the Americas?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, they're not surprised because these scientists understand how viruses work and that they're so
unpredictable. And there have been viruses before which have effectively bubbled under for years, sometimes decades until they potentially mutate or
reach populations that are naive.
[08:27:06]
In the scientific sense that they're not -- they don't have any immunity to a virus that hits their shores.
Here at the Zika forest area where they're first identified this virus. They say that things have changed though in recent decades, with the
climate change, with the proximity of humans to these virus hot zones, and because of the speed that an infected person can travel.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIUS LUTWAMA, LEAD RESEARCHER, UGANDA VIRUS RESERVOIR INSTITUTE: We have more than transport which is very efficient, very fast. One person can be
here today, gets bitten by a mosquito, and starts getting sick after his traveled thousands of miles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, one thing to clarify, the Zika virus here is not necessarily the same one that is in the Brazil area, the same strain of the
virus I should say because they say there's another strain, an Asian strain that has mutated potentially and that's why it's being so troubling to the
World Health Organization, and certainly to those who fear it might have these complications.
STOUT: All right, CNN's David McKenzie reporting live at the origin of the Zika virus there in Uganda. Thank you for your reporting.
You're watching New Stream.
And still to come, the voters in Iowa, they have spoken. We'll take another look at the caucus results and what they could mean as White House
hopefuls move on to the next contest in New Hampshire.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching New Stream and these are your world headlines.
A US democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, has declared victory in the Iowa caucuses but the state party has yet to give the final word on
whether she has won the first voting contest in the race for the White House.
Clinton has a razor-thin lead over Bernie Sanders. What the party says is the closest result in democratic caucus history. I mean, while Ted Cruz
has won the republican contest. He got 28 percent of votes in the Iowa caucuses, leaving Donald Trump by four points. Marco Rubio came in a close
third.
The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. The mosquito-borne virus is spreading
rapidly throughout Latin America. And authorities suspect that a rise in a birth defect is linked to infections in pregnant women. UNICEF has
launched a $9 million appeal to tackle the Zika outbreak.
In less than an hour, the European parliament is to open debate on the future of the passport free Schengen zone. European leaders are
considering suspending the system and instituting border controls in response to the refugee crisis.
[08:32:04]
The US State of Iowa has made the nation's first pick for presidential nominees. Republican Ted Cruz was the maverick of the night, bucking the
opinion polls to score a win. Another republican surprise, Marco Rubio, the Florida senator surged ahead to a solid third place snapping at the
heels of second place, Donald Trump.
And on the democratic side, it is a virtual tie between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Now, Clinton has claimed victory but we are still waiting
to hear from the Democratic Party, it has the final say.
Team Clinton may be claiming victory in the Iowa caucuses but CNN is not calling the race just yet. The margin between Bernie Sanders and Hillary
Clinton is razor-thin. It's a statistical dead heat.
CNN senior political correspondent, Brianna Keilar reports from Des Moines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (D): Wow, what a night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: The final votes are still not tallied.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDERS, PRESDENTIAL CANDIDATE (D): It looks like we are in a virtual tie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: But Hillary Clinton's camp is claiming victory in a tight race, the closest in Iowa democratic caucus history.
Secretary Clinton, optimistic early on that the final results will be in her favor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I stand here tonight breathing a big sigh of relief. Thank you Iowa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Delivering a fiery speech to supporters, conjuring the same ideals, fueling her rival, Bernie Sanders campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I am a progressive who gets things done for people. I know what we are capable of doing. I know we can create more good paying jobs and
raise incomes for hardworking Americans. Again, I know that we can finish the job of universal health care coverage for every single man, woman and
child.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Supporters listening over at the Sanders camp did not agree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: What Iowa has begun tonight is a political revolution. I think the people of Iowa have sent a very profound message to the political
establishment, to the economic establishment, and by the way, to the media establishment. That is given the enormous crisis facing our country; it is
just too late for establishment politics and establishment economics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Now, the democratic candidates setting their sites on the Granite State, hearing their momentum gain in this dead heat match up in the next
week's New Hampshire primary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: And we're going to be running all of these things and I look forward next week (ph) by having a great victory in New Hampshire. Thank
you all so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: Brianna Keilar reporting.
Now, it was certainly an interesting night for republicans. Donald Trump came in second while Marco Rubio beat expectations, landed a strong third,
and he is selling himself as the establishment's best hope against so- called grass roots candidates. And that group includes the Iowa winner, Ted Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED CRUZ, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (R): God bless the great state of Iowa.
Tonight is a victory for the grass roots. Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation.
MARCO RUBIO, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (R): Well, this is the moment they said would never happen. For months, for months they told us we had no
chance. They told me I needed to wait my turn, that I needed to wait in line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: Well candidates are now shifting their focus to the next contest, the primary New Hampshire is exactly one week from today. And our senior
political reporter Manu Raju is there.
Manu, welcome to the program. Last night was a very big night for Marco Rubio. I mean, how does he plan to win what he's casting here as a three-
man race?
MAJU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, what he's trying to do is make sure that he is also viewed by his party as the only person who could
win not just the primary but also general election against potentially Hillary Clinton.
Now, he, his victory or his third place finish yesterday was viewed by -- as a victory by his camp and his supporters because has beat expectations.
He was expected to probably get about 15 percent of the vote according to public polling, but he far exceeded that, and he almost beat Donald Trump
for that second place finish.
He drew support from conservatives and he drew support from moderate republicans. That's what the kind of coalition he needs to win the
republican nomination, and also to win in November. The big test frame here in New Hampshire is to separate himself from governors who are running
for president. People like former Governor Jeb Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Chritie, Ohio Governor John Kasick, those will be his primary
competitors.
[08:37:06]
They are fighting for the establishment, laying that moderate lane of the Republican Party. If he can outspeed them, beat them here in New
Hampshire, he'll have a very good chance in winning the Republican nomination.
STOUT: All right, Manu Raju reporting live for us from New Hampshire. Many things indeed for that. We'll be sure to talk again soon. Take care.
Now, one tiny footballer could quite possibly be Lionel Messi's biggest fan. After the break, we're going to introduce you to a five-year-old
Afghan boy whose improvised football jersey has pushed him to international stardom. We'll explain.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Break out the ski gears. It's Ski Watch time. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri here with you in watching the
weather across Europe where we have some cold air and cumulus clouds coming in. It's basically the sign here. The temperatures will begin to change a
little for the colder. And again, where we have the moisture in place, parts of Norway in particular, around Voss Ski Resort. It could pick up
almost 47 centimeters of additional snow inside the next 36 hours. Stirring just to the north there, it could pick up about 20 or so
centimeters of snow falling. Again, powdery conditions here, trail is doing pretty well. Again, no recent snow in the past 24 hours at least but
still could get in places that have seen already 200 plus centimeters on the ground. That is not bad news, whatsoever.
Look at this, in Austria, one of the more impressive 24 hour total we've seen there and some observations, picking up over 70 centimeters of recent
snow in the past 24 hours. And the temperatures across this region are going to really be too warm for heavy snow by afternoon. But I think in
the overnight hours, we could get a few flakes out of this, 1 to 4 degrees, the best we can do. And notice, just a few centimeters do come down. Some
areas could pick up upwards of 10 centimeters of fresh snow.
But in Switzerland, much the same, decent snow recently, the base step also very healthy with variable conditions to go around as well. Trails there,
generally 90 percent of them are open. Davos, looking at -1. Snow shower shoots the ground for much of the day, around Zurmat 9 or so centimeters in
the forecast across this region. And the conditions around the French Alps, looking such. Take care.
STOUT: Welcome back. Now, the British Prime Minister David Cameron says, a new proposal to reshape Britain's position in the EU shows real progress.
Now, the EU Council President released a draft of the plan in response to Cameron's demands for reform. Included is a provision that would give EU
nations the power to delay micro benefits for years.
EU ambassadors are to meet Friday to discuss the plan and the proposal comes after two days of talks as Britain prepares the hold to vote on
whether to stay in the EU.
The largest human migration on earth is just beginning and already the weather is causing trouble. Tens of thousands of people will have stranded
at a rail station in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. Snow and ice elsewhere in the country disrupted travel. This is the time of the year
where millions of Chinese workers head home for the lunar New Year. Billions of troops are expected to be made during the travel frenzy.
The five-year-old Afghan boy you see right here, he's been at the center of a worldwide search. If you look closely, you could see that he's wearing
this football jersey made out of a blue and white striped plastic bag bearing the name and number of his idol, Lionel Messi.
Now, CNN managed to track down the young sports fan who may be one step closer to meeting Messi himself.
Nima Elbagir has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the impoverished Afghan province of Ghazni, just surviving is tough enough. So, what do you
do when you want something so simple yet so out of reach? You improvise.
To five-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi, Barcelona team captain Lionel Messi is a hero.
MURTAZA AHMADI, FAN OF LIONEL MESSI (via translation): I love Messi. I love him very much.
ELBAGIR: More than anything, he wants to wear his idol's shirt. But those are hard to come by out here in rural Afghanistan. So, he and his older
brother came up with a plan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, those who don't have a Messi shirt should make it from a plastic bag.
ELBAGIR: While the Ahmadi brothers was celebrating their ingenuity, his hero was celebrating his fifth Ballon d'Or as world's best player.
LIONEL MESSI, FIFA PLAYER (via translation): This is much more than I would -- than anything I dreamed of as a kid.
ELBAGIR: Ahmadi's happy dance in his makeshift shirt was posted by his family online, and the picture went around the world, catching the
attention of Messi himself.
Afghanistan's Football Federation says Lionel Messi's charitable foundation is now working on setting up a meeting putting Messi and arguably his most
ardent fan.
For Ahmadi's father, Arif, who came of age under the Taliban, when football was rarely played and the Afghan national stadium was used as a venue for
public executions, it's almost too much to hope for.
[08:42:10]
ARIF, MURTAZA AHMADI'S FATHER (via translation): Well, my biggest hope is to have a football stadium in our district, which is Chogori district in
Ghazni province. This is my dream.
ELBAGIR: For now, the five-year-old says, he's making do with a functional ball and a hope that his dream of meeting his hero could finally come true.
Nima Elgabir, CNN London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: And pretty soon, his dream is going to come true.
And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. In CNN, we'll have you covered with all the latest from the U.S. Presidential campaign trail from
Iowa and now into New Hampshire. But for the time being, World Sport with Christina MacFarlane is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WORLD SPORTS)
END
