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Aleppo Activists Demand Action from International Community; Rohingya Minority Fleeing Myanmar; Donald Trump Makes Two More Picks for Cabinet; Power Plant Collapses in China
Aired November 24, 2016 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:22] ANDREW STEVENS, HOST: I'm Andrew Stevens in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.
Construction catastrophe in China: dozens are killed when a platform collapses. We'll have a live report from Beijing as the rescue operation
continues.
Donald Trump locks in two key administration picks before Thanksgiving, and both are
former rivals.
And a brutal crackdown in Myanmar. Hundreds of Muslim minorities are fleeing. We'll bring you the story of families who escaped the military
violence.
Now, we begin in China where almost everyone working on a platform at a power plant was
killed when it collapsed. Dozens of people were sent crashing to the ground. The structure had been built around a cooling tower that was being
repaired, and just minutes ago the last person was freed from the wreckage.
Well, it's been a huge rescue effort. CNN's Matt Rivers is following developments from the Chinese capital and joins us now from Beijing.
And Matt, that person is believed to have been the last person trapped. Is that right?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's correct, Andrew. This rescue operation has been going on for over 12 hours now, and
that last person, as you mentioned, discovered in the wreckage, pulled out of the wreckage within the last half an hour or hour or so.
Now, Chinese state media reporting this, but they are not reporting the man's medical condition as of yet. They say he is only under medical
supervision.
We know that earlier in the day five people were rescued from the wreckage only to later die
at the hospital. So really, we're not sure yet on this condition of this last person who was pulled out, but given the extent of the damage that
we've seen at this accident site, the fact that anyone could survive is pretty remarkable. So here's hoping that person might pull through.
But this accident happened around 7:00 a.m., as I mentioned, when a crane, according to Chinese officials, collapsed on to this platform and it
crushed the platform underneath it, sending, as you mentioned, dozens of people crashing down. We know that 67 people have died so far. And
hopefully that one person might be able to survive, although again, we're not sure of his condition.
STEVENS: And sadly, this is not an uncommon story. Construction collapses, construction tragedies in China. Why is it the case that this
does happen, apparently so frequently? Is it bad training? Is it bad materials? Do we know?
RIVERS: Well, I think it's a combination of a lot of things, but i think the culprit that you could point to the most, Andrew, is that workplace
safety is just not given top billing by the Chinese government or frankly by construction firms here in China. And I say that using evidence from
the Chinese government itself to back that up.
So consider this year alone, the first half of 2016, January to June, only six months, 14,136
people have died in workplace-related accidents. That is a staggering number and one we see year after year. In fact, that number is a actually
an improvement slightly from last year. It's down 5.3 percent. And yet, there is still that many people dying at work sites.
And you know, you've traveled extensively to factories in China. We've seen it ourselves where you walk into these factories and see people
consistently working heavy machinery with absolutely no safety gear on. You see people welding without any masks. You see people working on high
rises without any safety harnesses. So the fact that these accidents keep happening is a direct result of the fact that workplace safety is just not
given a very high priority by either the government or the firms responsible for these kind of construction sites around China.
And today's activity is just the latest example of that.
STEVENS: You sort of wonder what it's going to take to make things change there.
Matt, thanks very much for that. Matt Rivers joining us live from Beijing.
Now to the U.S. And families are getting ready to share Thanksgiving meals together. The president-elect is now offering a message of unity. Donald
Trump appeared in an online video, making a holiday appeal for unity.
Perhaps that message also extends to his recent cabinet picks, which seem to put political differences aside.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[08:05:06] JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President-elect Donald Trump diversifying his administration, picking two women to fill key positions,
tapping former critic Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
GOV. NIKKI HALEY, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: I will not stop until we fight a man that chooses not to disavow the KKK. That is not a part of our party. That
is not who we want as president.
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT-ELECT: She is very, very weak on illegal immigration. You can't have that.
CARROLL: Trump now touting the South Carolina governor as a proven dealmaker with a proven track record of bringing people together. Haley has
accepted the position, she says, out of a sense of duty. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, is the first woman and first person of color
to be elected as governor in South Carolina. But some are questioning if she has enough foreign policy experience for her new diplomatic post at the
U.N. Trump also naming a top billionaire GOP donor, Betsy DeVos, as secretary of education. The president-elect calling the school choice
activist a brilliant and passionate education advocate, even though she also heavily criticized him throughout his candidacy, raising money for
other Republicans on the ballot. And DeVos previously served on the board of an education group led by Jeb Bush that supports Common Core standards.
TRUMP: We are going to provide school choice and put an end to Common Core, bring our education locally.
CARROLL: DeVos setting the record straight on Common Core in a statement saying, "I am not a supporter, period."
Trump also announcing on Twitter that he's seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as head of Housing and Urban Development.
BEN CARSON, (R) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are a lot of things that were put on the table, and I'm thinking about them.
CARROLL: All as Trump channels the spirit of Thanksgiving, releasing this holiday message on YouTube after what he calls a long and bruising
campaign.
TRUMP: It's my prayer that on this Thanksgiving we begin to heal our divisions and move forward as one country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: That was CNN's Jason Carroll reporting. Trump is spending the Tthanksgiving holiday at his Florida resort, Mar-a-lago. Jason is also
there, standing outside, waiting to see what's going to happen. I'm wondering, Jason, are we expecting any other
announcements imminently? We heard in your report about Ben Carson being considered, but obviously secretary of state is one of the big ones. Any
word on that?
CARROLL: Wwell, yeah, Andrew, a lot of folks are waiting to see what's going to happen with
the secretary of state position. I can tell you this, the transition team says that we're not expecting any
announcements today.
But you listen to what Ben Carson has been saying, I mean, he just said last night that he says basically the offer is on the table. So -- and
that an announcement could be forthcoming.
So you know, perhaps we'll hear something when it comes to HUD secretary tomorrow, when
it comes to secretary of state, Mitt Romney is said to be the front runner. He has said to be mulling things over with his advisers, not expecting to
hear anything on that front until sometime after the holiday weekend.
STEVENS: What sort of reaction are we getting to this message of unity from the president-elect and his two latest appointments?
CARROLL: Well, Andrew, as you know, Donald Trump, his critics say he ran a divisive, some say racist campaign. So you've got his critics who are out
there now looking at this message and they are saying -- what they're basically saying is, look, yes, the words are nice, the words could be
healing, but what people -- and specifically his critics are looking for are his policies. And they say that will really tell what this president-
elect and eventually the president, what he will really be like for the country.
STEVENS: All right. Jason, thanks very much for that. Jason Carroll joining us from
Florida.
Now, the U.S. election may be over, but the vote is still, would you believe, being counted. The latest figures show that Hillary Clinton's
lead is actually growing. Clinton has almost 64 million votes compared to just more than 62 million for Trump. So that 2 million vote difference
comes to about a 1.5 percent of the votes cast.
The new tallies do not change the fact that Trump won the electoral college and therefore the election. The 538 members of the electoral college will
cast their vote for president on December the 19.
Now, while the final vote count is being tallied, some computer experts reportedly have told the Clinton campaign that the totals may have been
wrong in some states. Green Party nominee Jill Stein has launched a bid for a recount in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The campaign says it's raised more than $2.6 million to pay for it.
There are worries about the possibility of computer hacks in those states.
Now to the Syrian city of Aleppo now. And the epicenter of the country's civil war, where activists have made a desperate plea for help.
Speaking in English, they released a video calling for the delivery of aid. And they say the international community bears responsibility for what
happens next.
Jomana Karadsheh has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[08:10:22] JOMANA KARADHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: With no end in sight to the plight of the more than a quarter of a million residents of
eastern Aleppo who have been living under constant bombardment, who barely have any functioning hospitals left, and who according to the United
Nations are facing that real possibility of mass starvation because of the month-long siege.
The people of eastern Aleppo have been trying to get the world's attention. They're desperate for any kind of help to end what so many people there
describe as this living nightmare.
On Wednesday, a group that includes civil society members, activists, and medical workers
released a video statement with a message to the international community.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: we wonder why we have the United Nations, why do we have human rights laws? This has been a slow-motion train wreck. And this
message is from the people who lasted in Aleppo to the world. Don't look back years from now and wish that you can do
something you can still do.
We ask you to ground Assad air force that's killing us, or at least have some diplomatic leverage to force the Syrian regime and Russia's
bombardment of the city of Aleppo to be stopped.
The international community holds responsibility for any future consequences of Aleppo besiegement, hoping that our voices will be heard
and Aleppo will be saved.
KARADSHEH: The group also called for demilitarized humanitarian corridors that would
be under the observation of the United Nations. And with eastern Aleppo running out of just about everything, including food. They also called for
humanitarian aid drops.
Over the past week of this renewed military assault on eastern Aleppo, more than 300 people have been killed, according to activists in what they say
has been some of the most intense, unprecedented bombardment of this conflict.
The Syrian regime says that this is all part of its country wide operation against what it describes as terrorist groups. Russia says it is not
taking part in air strikes on eastern Aleppo this time.
The United Nations says it has a humanitarian plan for eastern Aleppo. It's trying to get the approval of the different parties in this conflict
to the plan, but with this recent military escalation, that is looking unlikely to happen any time soon, and the people of eastern Aleppo, the
civilians, are terrified that the worst is yet to come.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: Across the border, Iraqi forces say they've completely surrounded the ISIS-held city of Mosul. The breakthrough marks the tightest choke
hold the Iraqi-led coalition has had on the city so far. Paramilitary groups say a key ISIS supply route has been shut down, and to the west Iraq
says it's nearing another ISIS stronghold that is the city of Tal Afar.
Meanwhile, CNN has been given exclusive access to an air force team fighting ISIS from
the sky. The refueling jets serve all members of the U.S.-led coalition, but for all the challenges they face, sometimes being away from home can be
the hardest thing for this time of the year.
Fred Pleitgen has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): This Thanksgiving, Americans are in harm's way, fighting ISIS. On the
ground, and in the air. We're on board a KC-10 Extender refueling jet flying over Iraq and Syria. Captain Clark Palicka commanding the massive
airborne gas station.
CAPT. CLARK PALICKA, U.S. AIR FORCE: UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dynamic air space, challenging environment. But it's very rewarding.
PLEITGEN: The first batch of planes, two F-15 Eagle Strike aircraft. Getting them hooked up to the tanker at around 400 miles per hour, a
challenge for the crews of both planes, Boom operator Uriel Escamilla says.
STAFF SGT. URIEL ESCAMILLA, U.S. AIR FORCE: It is two moving aircraft but they are moving at around the same speed, so at the end it's just the rate
of closure that the aircraft has towards you when they stop and you are actually able to give them that contact.
PLEITGEN: The KC-10 refuels planes from all members of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. Including C-130 Hercules transporters and the
mighty A-10 warthog with its massive cannon and many bombs clearly visible through our window.
(On camera): Without the help of these tankers the planes that are flying missions against ISIS could only stay in the area of operations for about
an hour, maybe an hour and a half. But thanks to the tanker airplane, they can get fuel in the sky and stay in the area to fight ISIS for up to seven
hours. (Voice-over): So instead of turkey and football, for the KC-10 crews it's eight to 10-hour missions hovering over this key battlefield. The pain
of being away from their loved ones mitigated by the contribution they are making to the war against terror.
[08:15:13] FIRST LT. TYLER JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: I love flying. I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. It is hard being away from family
but I love this job. And I enjoy supporting our country. STAFF. SGT. JOHN LEORA, U.S. AIR FORCE: So I'm actually honored to be here.
You know, being away from family, they understand it. We were doing it at home. But right now it's my time to be out here and I'm just happy to be
serving.
PLEITGEN: Around Mosul, we see the billowing smoke of oil fires ISIS has started to try and distract coalition planes. But thanks to the tanker jet,
U.S.-led aircraft can stay airborne as long as it takes to find their targets and take them out.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, with the U.S. Air Force over Iraq and Syria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: Still to come here on News Stream, members of the Muslim Rohingya minority group are fleeing Myanmar's Rakine state. The UN aid agency for
refugees calls it ethnic cleansing.
A warning from one president to the next: what Donald Trump was told about North Korea.
Plus, an early dose of winter. This major city has been hit by a rare November snow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STEVENS: Welcome back to News Stream.
Now Bangladesh is calling on neighboring Myanmar to take urgent measures to stop the
flood of Rohingya refugees pouring across its border. Thousands of people from the Muslim minority are fleeing after a violent crackdown by security
forces. Myanmar denies reports of human rights abuses. Now, CNN can't verify the situation on the ground, but has met two families who fled that
violence. Saima Mohsin has their stories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He doesn't know it yet, but he was born into one of the most persecuted minorities on Earth, the
stateless ethnic minority Rohingya. They're facing yet another crackdown by Myanmar's authorities, and their accounts are harrowing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They raped women. Some women died after being tortured. They even killed a newborn baby. After seeing
this, I got scared and fled from my home. The same thing could have happened to us.
MOHSIN: Abu's (ph) mother Rashada (ph) carried him for four days, trekking day and night from their home in Mungdor (ph) in a desperate attempt to
reach the Naf (ph) River and cross into neighboring Bangladesh.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The Myanmar military was shooting heavily. When they fired shots, we laid flat on the ground. We kept
moving from one village to another. After that, we had to cross the river in the middle of the night.
[08:20:01] MOHSIN: Rashada (ph) she made it across with her loved ones. Her friend, Nasima's (ph) family was torn apart on the way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): When we started our journey, there were six of us. We lost three members of our family. My husband and
my son were killed. And my other son has gone missing.
MOHSIN: CNN can't independently verify these reports. All these disturbing videos posted on social media from inside Rakine State. The
Rohingya area is in lockdown with access to media and aid agencies blocked.
JOHN MCKISSICK, UNHCR BANGLADESH: It seems to be the aid of the Myanmar military to ethnically cleanse this population.
MOHSIN: Myanmar's government denies reports of human rights abuses, claiming they're only targeting violent attackers who killed nine border
guards on October 9th. Since then, more than a hundred people have been killed and around 600 others arrested.
Human Rights Watch also published NASA satellite images which they say shows more than
1,200 Rohingya homes that were burned down by the authorities, which the government denies, saying that attackers carried out the arson.
For the few who manage to flee the violence, they end up here, a squalid refugee camp in
Koksis Bazaar (ph) southern Bangladesh, which is struggling to cope with the influx of thousands of Rohingya.
Bangladesh has tightened security to push them back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We left everything back there to save our lives. Now how can we go back? They will kill us.
MOHSIN: Now the families here will wait and hope for a chance to live without fear of persecution.
Saima Mohsin, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: As you can see there, clearly a crisis for that Rohingya minority. In that report, you saw that brief comment from John McKissick
of the UN Refugee Agency. He made that disturbing observation on the conflict, telling CNN that it does appear to be ethnic cleansing. Quoted,
"it seems to be the aim of the Myanmar military to ethnically cleanse this population who are the most oppressed people, actually, in the world."
He goes on to say that the government isn't in control of the military. "Myanmar needs to follow international law and respect human rights," he
says, "and they're not doing that right now. And it seems that the democratically elected government does not have control over the military."
In the United States, the Obama administration has warned Donald Trump about North Korea. Officials say the incoming president was told Pyongyang
should be a top national security concern. Now Brian Todd has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New information tonight that Donald Trump got a dire warning about a major national security threat
he'll face when he enters the Oval Office, a threat that comes from a young, impetuous dictator who executed his own uncle. U.S. intelligence
officials tell CNN the White House is conveying that North Korea is a grave near-term threat to America.
"The Wall Street Journal" says the Obama team viewed North Korea as Trump's top national security priority and warned the Trump transition team about
the threat.
MICHAEL GREEN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ASIA AND JAPAN CHAIR, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Once the President-elect got the
detailed briefings on the state of the North Korea nuclear and missile programs, I imagine it was new information and rather jarring.
TODD (voice-over): U.S. officials and weapons experts say Kim Jong- un's regime probably has the ability already to put nuclear weapons on medium
range missiles which could hit Japan and South Korea. And their improving their longer range intercontinental ballistic missiles. One is called the
KN-14.
RICHARD FISHER, SENIOR FELLOW ON ASIAN MILITARY AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY CENTER: They've tested the ICBM engine. It may have
new fuels that give it far greater energy and range. And with that range, the KN-14 can possibly reach Washington, D.C.
TODD (voice-over): Those missiles haven't yet been tested to be able to reenter the atmosphere, but experts say the North Koreans could be able to
fire those missiles at the U.S. during Trump's administration. There are also new concerns tonight about Kim's violent tendencies and how President
Trump will deal with him personally.
(on camera): What should Donald Trump know about Kim Jung-un as an adversary?
GREEN: Kim Jong-un is a dangerous man. He has grown up around violence. He seems to even enjoy violence. He has brutally killed dozens of his
generals, and he is a leader without legitimacy. He needs to prove to the Korean People's Army that he is a tough guy.
TODD (voice-over): On the campaign trail, Trump alternated between saying it's possible he could meet with Kim and saying he wanted to push him out
of power.
TRUMP: He's like a maniac. OK? And you got to give him credit. How many young guys -- he was like 26 or 25 when his father died -- take over these
tough generals?
TODD: Now, analysts have a serious question: are these two leaders who will act rationally toward each other, or impulsively?
[08:25:00] BRUCE KLINGNER, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Kim takes any insult very personally. We've seen that threats of 9/11 style attacks after the
movie The Interview was released, and perhaps Mr. Trump is very amenable to responding to strongly to any kind of criticism.
TODD: We've pressed the Trump transition team for a response to that and for specifics on how they will handle Kim Jong-un. We haven't gotten a
response.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: Now to an unusual sight. This isn't a winter wonderland from years ago, but it's Tokyo today. The Japanese capital was hit by its first
November snow in 54 years. It blanketed the city, slowing rush hour trains and forcing people to dust off their winter boots.
Well, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins us now. Chad, 54 years last time we saw these sorts of scenes. What's going on?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEROLOGIST: Well, there has been a violently cold air mass that came off the polar vortex, came off the polar regions of the
world, the North Pole, came down across Siberia, and has -- the temperatures there had been 40 degrees below zero for a couple weeks,
brutally cold air.
Now that cold air has leaked across and is getting into Tokyo. So, Tokyo does get snow. They get about 10 centimeters of snow a year in five
different storms, but this was a pretty early one, obviously early November standards here.
70 percent, though, of Japan is terrain. Very, very rugged areas. And there are 400 ski resorts across Japan. So it does get cold. It does
snow. It just doesn't snow in November in Tokyo, at least not in 54 years.
Now, this is all part of that same cold air mass that came across -- even across China, brutally chilled there. Even many car accidents heard about
here across parts when it was snowing across parts of China and Siberia. And these are just -- the coldest temperatures that we have seen.
This is the air that should be making sea ice up in the North Pole, but it's not over the North
Pole. The North Pole is like -- it's like 2 degrees below zero. It was minus 2 fro awhile. So, there was some freezing. But we should have minus
30, minus 40 over the poles. Just right know it's not there, it's over Tokyo.
Now, eventually this storm does move across the Bering Sea and up toward Alaska, maybe toward the Yukon. But for now, a cool, cute event to see
snow in Tokyo. I'm sure they were maybe in the Christmas spirit or in the winter spirit early, maybe you can go buy some gloves and get the economy
going there again, because that's what we do in America.
When it's really cold, then we actually buy coats. If it's not cold in the winter, then the coat makers go out of business because we don't buy them.
So maybe the coat salesmen are happy.
STEVENS: I reckon the Japanese leadership will take anything they can get if it's going to
boost retail sales in Japan at the moment. I can just see millions of Japanese frolicking happy in
Tokyo in their new coats. Chad, thanks.
MYERS: All right. You're welcome.
STEVENS: Still ahead here on the show, a new chance at peace. Why a planned deal between the government and rebels in Colombia is bypassing the
public.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[08:31:45] STEVENS: Now, there's hope in Colombia for a new peace deal, one which could officially end decades of violence. The government is
preparing to sign an agreement with the rebel group FARC, a pact that will then go to congress. And as Patrick Oppmann reports, Colombia's president is hoping that will have a better outcome
than a referendum earlier this year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After more than five decades of bloodshed, there may be a chance for peace in Colombia again. The Colombian
government and the Marxist (ph) guerillas known as FARC are due to sign a revised peace deal Thursday to end the conflict that has killed more than
200,000 people and forced millions more Colombians from their homes.
Colombia's president, Juan Manuel Santos has bet his legacy on the agreement to end the war that he said could not be won militarily.
JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, PRESIDENT, COLOMBIA: In our constitution, one of the obligations of every citizen starting with the president is to seek peace.
And some people think that the peace can be achieved by killing the last member of the FARC.
And that is not possible and this is not the way.
OPPMANN: At a peace agreement signing in September, where government officials and rebels shared the stage for the first time in Colombia,
military planes flew over the crowd. And Santos declared that the war was over.
But voters had other ideas, many apparently harboring a deep hatred for the FARC rebels. Numerous Colombians said they could not stomach seeing
guerilla leaders go free after kidnapping and murdering so many thousands of their fellow citizens.
From the negotiating table in Cuba, FARC leaders said they would not accept prison time.
"We aren't considering going to jail," this FARC commander told me. He who fights for justice doesn't deserve that.
We don't act like a criminal terrorist group. We have a sacred fight.
Despite polls that showed the peace deal would be approved, voters rejected the agreement by a narrow margin, shocking much of Colombia and the
international community that supported peace. Dealt a crushing defeat, Santos and the peace deal were revived in October after the Colombian
president was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos.
OPPMANN: Negotiators restarted talks again in Cuba, and struck a modified deal that include provisions for tighter sanctions on FARC members accused
of war crimes. Critics of the new deal like former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, say the government is still (ph) giving away too much to the
rebels.
This time, though, the Colombian people will not vote on the deal. Perhaps still stinging from the first defeat, Santos will send the updated
agreement directly to Congress, saying another referendum would be quote, "too divisive for Colombia."
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: Now to the site of a standoff in the U.S. In North Dakota, police and protesters are blaming each other for violent clashes over an
oil pipeline. Hundreds have been protesting the planned pipeline, claiming it will ruin the sacred Native American land and contaminate the
environment. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters on Sunday, and a woman almost lost her arm in some type of explosion.
Well, the protests are an effort to halt a multi-billion dollar pipeline. It would carry almost half a million barrels of crude oil a day through
four U.S. states, including North and South Dakota.
Still ahead on the show, a recipe for Thanksgiving delight. Now, the holiday spirit is truly transcending borders.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STEVENS: After all the election turmoil, the U.S. has finally had a chance to take a break
from politics, at least for a few hours. In just minutes now, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is set
to start in New York. The balloons are lined up, ready to make their way through the city.
CNN's Boris Sanchez is along the parade route in Manhattan, and he joins us now.
Just set the scene for us. What's it looking like, Boris?
BORIS JOHNSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Andrew. As you said, we're about a half hour or so, maybe less than a half hour away from the
start of the parade. Things are getting ready.
What you hear behind me is the West Virginia marching band preparing, rehearsing. In the background, you see Charlie Brown, a brand new float
for this year's parade, the 90th annual installment of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and right up to a right an important thing to see,
police officers. There's about 3,000 New York City police officers along this parade route that goes from 76th Street all the way down to 34th
Street, where the parade will end at the Macy's there.
There's also about a thousand clowns with confetti and roller blades getting ready to walk the route of this event. A lot of excitement here.
People of all ages in the crowd as we take a look. You see very, very young children.
Hey, you guys excited? You guys excited?
Yeah, there we go.
Crowds coming from far and wide, Andrew, from as far as Hawaii and California, all to be in New York for this special, special moment.
I should tell you, getting back to the police officers, I spoke to the commissioner of New York
City Police. He told me this is one of the most important days of the year for the New York City Police
Department. It's something that they've been preparing for, for a long time. Aand they're very, very cautious and prepared but also hopeful that
the crowd has a good time -- Andrew.
STEVENS: And also a big day generally for New York and New York retailers, Boris. This must be very important for the economy of New York.
JOHNSON: Oh, without question. As I said, people from far and wide, more than 3 million people lining the streets of this parade. You've got people
spending money on hotels, on concessions, on balloons, on signs, on shirts, all types of merchandise. And on top of
that, you have another 50 million people watching this parade at home.
So, of course commerce is a big part of this day. What I can tell you, getting back to the important things, as far as the crowd goes, while they
are cautious about security, something that's been top of mind lately specifically because of threats made by ISIS, they're
also thankful for the uniformed men and women out here making sure today goes off without a hitch.
STEVENS: And keeping those clowns in order I hope after the recent round of stories we've been hearing about clowns.
Boris, thank you for that. Boris Sanchez joining us live as the Macy's Day parade just gets ready to kick off.
Now, Thanksgiving may have its roots in the United States, but the holiday spirit has flourished beyond America's borders. In China, one bakery is
drawing on the message of giving to offer some of their employees a whole new beginning.
Grace Yang is one of those employees. And here is her story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRACE YANG: My name is Grace Yang. I've been working at the bakery for five years. I have polio and cannot walk.
When I was little I couldn't understand. why my parents would abandon me. Perhaps they were facing tough choices.
Before I came here, I was lost and confused. I didn't know what to expect for the future. In the bakery, I learned to be independent. I grew up
without parents so I want to give my future children the love that I never had.
As long as you have hope for the future, you will have the courage to kep moving forward.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEVENS: A poignant story for this Thanksgiving Day celebration.
And finally, just before we go, the U.S. President Barack Obama has performed his last presidential turkey pardon. Take a look at these two.
These are the lucky ones. They are Tater and Tot. And they won't be served up at thanksgiving dinner this year.
The president cooked up some great Thanksgiving puns, too, for his final ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to take a moment to recognize the brave turkeys who weren't so lucky, who didn't get to ride
the gravy train to freedom, who met their faith with courage and sacrifice and proved that they weren't chicken.
It's not that bad now. Come on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEVENS: Well, he's going to be looking for another job pretty soon.
Now, Tater and Tot will soon move into their permanent home at Virginia Tech University to live out their days under the care of students and
veterinarians in what's known as Gobbler's Rest.
And that is News Stream. I'm Andrew Stevens. Thanks for joining me.
END
