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French Defense Minister Says France Launched New Air Strikes Against ISIS Inside Syria; Kevin McCarthy Bows Out of the Race for Speaker; Young Afghans Signing Up to Join Taliban. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 09, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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

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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: -- strikes on Syria as the U.S. questions whether Russian missiles are missing the mark and actually crashing in Iran. Plus, the Republican favored to be the next U.S. Speaker of the House bows out of the race. We will have the latest on the fallout for you. And later, why more and more young Afghan men are signing up to join the Taliban. Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. We are glad you are with us. This is CNN Newsroom live in Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.

We begin this hour with new reports from the French defense minister who said his country has launched new air strikes against an ISIS training camp in Syria. You may recall France announced last month they would expand their aerial campaign against ISIS in Iraq which began in 2014. Meantime, both Iran and Russia are slamming U.S. claims that four Russian cruise missiles never reached their intended targets in Syria but crashed instead in Iran. Iran's defense ministry calls the claims psychological warfare. Russia fired those missiles as part of its escalating campaign in Syria. This amateur video right here uploaded to social media purports to show Russian air strike and the aftermath in Syria's province. CNN is not able to confirm this. So much going on in the skies over Syria and with more, let's turn now to CNN's Matthew Chance. He is following the story from Moscow, Matthew, hello, first up what is the Russian reaction to the U.S. allegations that its missiles crashed in Iran?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They have been scornful in their reaction issuing that on the defense ministry Facebook page. That seems to be the preferred means of communication during this conflict, essentially saying that we unlike CNN because it was not the anonymous officials in Washington. Saying unlike CNN, we don't quote anonymous sources, we show the launches of our missiles and the targets they hit in real time. No matter how unpleasant and unexpected it is for our colleagues at the Pentagon, but yesterday's strike with precision guided weapons at ISIS infrastructure was a fact. Otherwise, the defense ministry -- they believe that the targets that were struck inside Syria detonated spontaneously. That was a scornful jab at these reports that have come out.

The fact that the reports were made by anonymous officials in the United States hasn't really done much to bolster the credibility of them -- in other countries as well. The propaganda campaign is under way -- trying to discredit the Russian military efforts in Syria, Natalie.

ALLEN: While they jabbed back, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, had a telephone call to speak about perhaps greater coordination in the region. Will that happen?

CHANCE: They definitely had the telephone call, Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, Lavrov is the Russian Foreign Minister. There is a huge divide that's opened between Washington and Moscow over the strategy in Syria. The two countries fanned themselves on different sides of the frontline. They're flying air missions in the skies over the country. But Russia is clearly backing the Assad government it its counter-offensive along with Iranian troops on the ground and the Hezbollah fighters. The United States is essentially backing elements of the anti-opposition which is what Russia has been striking.

There is a big divide in what should be achieved, they are in agreement on that and this is a good thing. This is the need to coordinate, they got so much military hardware in the area, and the United States is leading a coalition of 60 countries. They want to make sure there was not an unwanted confrontation in the skies over Syria so they are agreeing to coordinate that military to military effort.

ALLEN: Thank you, Matthew Chance, for us live from Moscow. For the people of Syria, the Russian air strikes add a new threat to the devastation they have already experienced from their ongoing civil war. CNN's Arwa Damon shares some of their stories with you -- and we want to warn you, their stories are difficult to hear. Some of The images you are about to see are extremely graphic and disturbing.

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ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Barely able to see through the thick dust, somehow members of the Syrian Civil Defense Team also known as the White Helmets pull out a little girl. Grab her, one orders, and turns around, miraculously the children appear unharmed. But then, another strike, frantic cries of god is great. Luckily this time it seems, everyone got out, but often not. The White Helmets and independent medical rescue team had been through this before, too many times for most to count. But now, it's just Assad's warplanes and barrel bombs.

Since Russia's bombing campaign began on September 30th, they said they have documented around 182 civilian deaths, including 2 of their own, which they say were caused by Russian strikes. The Kremlin boasts of its accuracy, insisting civilians are not being targeted or killed. Those on the ground say it's a lie. The strikes are indiscriminate and often land on areas far from the frontlines or rebel bases. A child treated for wounds. Two others appear shell shocked. Childhoods they will never know. We cannot independently verify the activist's claims of Russian responsibilities to these casualties, but perhaps what is most despicable is that it's happening at all, and has been for too long.

No matter who to blame, as the Russian, Syrian regime, Americans, NATO, and other key players talk of maneuvers and strategic gains, this is what that rhetoric looks like on the ground. These images are graphic and they are real. A child covered in blood screaming in pain and crying out for his mother. Arwa Damon, CNN Istanbul.

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ALLEN: Very difficult to watch but it is what is happening. Israel's prime minister said the Palestinian authority's incitement, libels, and lies are behind the latest violence. Three new stabbings were reported Thursday. Israeli police say and one was in Tel Aviv where they say a female Israeli soldier was stabbed with a screwdriver by a Palestinian who was then shot and killed. Mr. Netanyahu is urging political figures to stay away from one of Jerusalem's holiest sites where much of the violence has taken place. Jews call it the temple mount. Muslims call it the noble sanctuary. Joining me now is CNN's Erin McLaughlin, she is Jerusalem, and Erin, set the scene for us. What is the security like there ahead of Friday prayers?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think it's important to know that both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are blaming each other for the latest wave of violence. It has people here on edge. We are seeing behind me, thousands of additional police officers throughout Jerusalem here outside -- the mass escape to the old city. They have been checking people's ID's. The reason they are doing that is because of the restrictions in place on the holy site known to Muslims. Israeli police saying that Muslim men under the age of 45 not allowed inside praying today for security reasons. It's the kind of restrictions that have angered many Muslims. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asking members of the government, ministers, as well as members not to visit the site. In recent weeks, visits to the site for members of the far right have inflamed tensions and accusing Israelis to challenge the status quo. The prime minister tried to de-escalate the situation.

ALLEN: Erin, these attacks have been lone-wolf style attacks, haven't they? What are they saying about them?

MCLAUGHLIN: Most of the attacks and security officials say have been lone wolf attacks. They are very difficult to prevent. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blaming the Palestinian leadership as well as Hamas for inciting violence -- that's what he said in a press conference that he held yesterday.

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They're telling CNN that Mahmud Abbas has been trying to de-escalate the situation, calling for de-escalation, but he said that Palestinians want to know what happens after de-escalation. He said the only way to truly stop the violence is a two-state solution, and he said that he is very concerned about the possibility of violence today.

ALLEN: All right, Erin McLaughlin for us live there Jerusalem, Erin, thank you.

We have new information regarding the blockbuster suspension handed by FIFA Ethics Committee. Those suspensions will hit the top three executives. We think you know them at this point. CNN's Sports Correspondent Christina Macfarlane joins us live from London, and Christina, hello to you -- extraordinary day in FIFA's history, there have been some developments overnight as well. What can you tell us?

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Natalie. An unprecedented day in FIFA's history yesterday, three of their top officials suspended for 90 days, the most high profile of which of course was set -- he said yesterday that he was disappointed. He wasn't given the opportunity to present evidence on his behalf. And we understand that late last night he has now lodged an appeal against that suspension, and he said he was very hopeful that it will be overturned. Now what will happen is that this appeal will go to the court of appeal. If it gets thrown out for whatever reason which it very may well be, by then he then has the opportunity to takes it to the court of arbitration for the sport. We expect that this will be the same circumstance for the head of the U.S. -- in the next 24 hours, we expect him to appeal as well. He came out fighting against that suspension yesterday. He was driven by a profound feeling to clear his name. He was extremely angry and they decide the FIFA ethics committee by keeping them as president and coming out publicly yesterday and saying they will continue to back him.

We now that up until yesterday Michelle Platini was a front-runner for the FIFA candidacy in 2016, another candidate was also banned yesterday for six years that was South Koreas (Inaudible). So big questions remain to be asked today about where FIFA goes from here and the future of their presidency.

ALLEN: Right, because they are expected to have an election in early 2016. So how did they continue to manage all of this during this drama and can FIFA survive?

MACFARLANE: Unsurprisingly, Natalie, UEFA and FIRA are in disarray at the moment with all the suspensions. What we understand is that FIFA's extraordinary executive committee has called an emergency meeting, and UEFA has called their 54 nations together next month for an emergency summit to deal with what they call the current crisis. Yesterday, an interim president was appointed to the head of FIFA. His name was Issa Hayatu, he is the Head of African football, but he says that he did not want to continue to run as president after the elections in February. He does not want the controversial figure. He was back in 2011, but all of this begs the question when they had the leadership. They bit it just around two weeks from now. There were few viable candidates left to run for this. We are not sure if he is not sure he is eligible.

He is out which leaves the prince from Jordan who he ran against butter back in may. The Liberian president, I wouldn't be surprised if he saw other candidates coming forward after what has been an extraordinary few days of chaos at FIFA.

ALLEN: Whoever comes forward, they will have quite the job to have the integrity. We will see if they can continue on. There live in London.

A South African board is meeting to consider probation before Olympian Oscar Pistorius. He was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide in the 2013 killing of his girlfriend. The story has been trying to get out of prison since the parole hearing in August.

Just ahead in a shock, the man expected to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives says he is not going to do it. He steps away, leaving the Republican Party in limbo. We will break it down for you after this.

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ALLEN: Republicans in the U.S. Congress are searching for a new leader, after the man expected to claim that title suddenly withdrew from the race. Kevin McCarthy made the surprise announcement Thursday, and now the party's leadership in the House or Representatives is looking more like a house of cards. Chief Political Correspondent, Dana Bash reports.

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DANA BASH, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: There is congressional chaos and then this. Republican meeting to vote for a new speaker ending abruptly after the front-runner Kevin McCarthy shocked everyone, suddenly dropping out of the race.

PETER KING, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: We absolutely stunned.

BASH: You were behind him. Are you stunned?

KING: Totally stunned.

BASH: What happened?

DAVID JELLY, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: Kevin McCarthy just like John Boehner did put the country, and the congress, and the conference before his own interest. It was a very honorable thing to do. I think he recognized and shared with the conference that he was afraid his candidacy might further divide the caucus and further the divide the party across the country.

BASH: Behind closed doors, that's exactly what Kevin McCarthy told his colleagues, and what he repeated to reporters after the news got out.

KEVIN MCCARTHY, U.S. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: If we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help to do that, so nothing more than that. BASH: That and raw numbers. Despite McCarthy's public confidence,

only an hour earlier, sources close to McCarthy say he realized getting approval from the majority of the house, 218 votes was going to be tough. And CNN was told McCarthy decided the demand many members were making in exchange for their votes, those in the so- called freedom caucus would have made him too weak to be effective. Tim Huelskamp is one of some 40 Republicans in that house freedom caucus.

TIM HUELSKAMP, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: We are looking for a speaker who works with conservatives rather than against us. And we presumed that Kevin was going to reach out to us and say what we need to do, what changes we need to make.

BASH: Moderates like Charlie Dent worry it will be hard to find a Republican member who will appeal to the conservatives but still actually lead the entire house as the constitution requires the speaker to do.

CHARLIE DENT, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: The next speaker should not appease those who make unreasonable demands, there are a number of members of our conference who simply cannot get the yes on anything.

BASH: Daniel Webster and Jason Chaffetz, the two other Republicans in the race for speaker are a bit speechless.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did not see that coming.

BASH: But still in.

JASON CHAFFETZ, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: Because we need to find somebody that our whole body can unite behind and do what we were elected to do.

BASH: So the question now is who will be speaker? And the answer on everybody's lips is Paul Ryan. At least he is the one who can bring together all of the factions of the Republican Party in the house. The problem is Paul Ryan made clear he doesn't want the job. We are told that John Boehner, the current House Speaker is trying to get him to change his mind to put his hat in the ring, because this is a time where Republicans need the leadership and the respect that he actually does garner from so many parts of the Republican Party. His aides are saying he is not going to do it, but he is not closing the door fully. Dana Bash, CNN Washington.

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ALLEN: Joining me now to talk about this fascinating development. CNN Political Commentators Peter Beinhart and Ben Ferguson, thanks guys for being with me on this, want to first get your reaction. Here you have Kevin McCarthy, he had enough votes to get this job and he said I don't want it. Let's start with you, Peter.

PETER BEINHART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's really remarkable. You know -- once said I don't belong to an organized political party, I'm a Democrat. It was the Democrats who were considered more anarchic of the parties. But if you look at what's happening among Republicans in the house, it's really a sense of anarchy here. It's no respect for hierarchy. There is no willingness to compromise in order to make the party function. As a result, we have a remarkable situation, in which we have no idea who the speaker is going to be and not much prospect of having a speaker who's going to be strong enough to actually do things in the Republican Party's own interest, let alone the nation's interest.

ALLEN: And Ben, this disarray comes at a time when they are about to face important fiscal battles there. What do you make of this?

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I'm not near as excited or nervous as many others are acting. This is not chaos. This is the old guard and John Boehner's guys having a hard time staying around and surviving the same way that John Boehner did. This is exactly what many of these members were sent to do. Let's be candid. Under John Boehner and under the leadership and the senate, we have been a complete failure to take on Obama's policies. And so I think this is a good thing for the Republican Party. It doesn't make me nervous. In fact, if you talk to most conservatives, they are thrilled and they think this is a big victory, because this was not a back room deal that would be done once again by John Boehner or anyone around him to say I'm gone, but I will appoint my heir apparent.

So I think this actually going to turn out really well, and as for the government shut down and things like that, I also think that the Republicans learned from the last shut down. I don't see there being a shut down any time soon and they will work with a new face.

ALLEN: Well, Ben, who do you think that new face could be?

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FERGUSON: I would be lying if I told you I knew who it was tonight. I think that maybe the best part about this. In the past, we have always known who it was going to be. That's what we tried to have with a coronation with Boehner 2.0. I think there are a lot of people looking at this, even some of those that are saying early on they were not going to be involved, Paul Ryan is a name that his phone is ringing off the hook. You also have a decent shot at this as well. This will take another several days to figure out who everyone is willing to agree on. I think they will.

ALLEN: Peter Beinhart and Ben Ferguson, thank you.

BEINHART: Thank you.

ALLEN: More to come. You know it. CNN is hosting the first debate among the Democratic presidential candidates. Live coverage from Las Vegas starts Tuesday night at 8:30 in Eastern, 8:30 a.m. in Hong Kong right here on CNN.

Coming up in the next half hour, a CNN Newsroom in just a couple of minutes, the Taliban gains strength -- and with it, more fighters, we will tell you how economics are driving recruitment.

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ALLEN: And welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom live from Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen with our top stories.

France's Minister of Defense reports on his twitter page that France has launched a new air strike in Syria. It was aimed it's an ISIS training camp. This comes as Russia has recently escalated its campaign in Syria as well. The leading candidates will be the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has dropped out of the race. Republican Kevin McCarthy made the surprise announcement Thursday, he said his party needs to unite behind a new face. But no clear favorite has emerged.

German Councilor Angela Merkel is a strong favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her involvement in dealing with Europe's migrant crisis and Greece's economic collapse. Others include Pope Francis and the Iran nuclear deal. The winner will be announced shortly in a little more than one hour from now. We will bring that to you.

Afghanistan's President has named a high level team to investigate last Saturday's deadly air strike. It killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens more at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz. The death toll is expected to rise.

In Washington, Thursday, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan again took responsibility for the attack. General John Campbell promised in depth training to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Their recent success in Kunduz is evidence that the Taliban are regaining strength in Afghanistan. And CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson discovered recruitment is up, not so much for political or philosophical reasons, but because of simple economics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The man with the army jacket and gun is a Taliban fighter. He is recruiting the other two to join.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I them to come and join as they can make enough money to live with.

ROBERSTON: In this video shot first by a freelance cameraman, the would be recruits are easy prey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today in Afghanistan, finding a job is not an easy thing. Now I can have an income and make a living.

ROBERSTON: Easy prey for the fighter. He too was jobless. He won't say how much he earns, but it's more than an Afghan soldier.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I used to work for a foreign company. I lost my job when the contract finished. After being jobless, I had to join the Taliban.

ROBERSTON: Over the past few years, Afghanistan's economy has been grinding into the dust. The lubrication is drying up as the community heads for the exit. And corruption has been sopping up what little there was. Unemployment needless to say has been rocketing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am educated. I have my school and university degrees, but after a lot of struggles, I couldn't find a job and I had to come to the Taliban.

ROBERSTON: He shows us diplomas, he never thought he would see this day. He doesn't even like the Taliban.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have anything to do with their viewpoints. My only reason to join them is my economical problems and unemployment.

ROBERSTON: The Taliban's recent success in Kunduz is also something of a pull.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very much possible that the Taliban may get stronger and may capture more places, and if the situation may continue like this, they may get to the capital.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looking at the current situation in Afghanistan, to me it looks like the Taliban will take control in the near future.

ROBERSTON: But they are not all in. They say they will jump ship the moment the government offers them something better.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the government tries to create job opportunities for educated people like me, I will return to work with the government to continue my life.

ROBERSTON: As important as the battle is, the war won't be won on bullets alone. The economy is the new frontline, Nic Robertson, CNN Kabul, Afghanistan.

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ALLEN: A U.S. service member who was wounded while helping to stop a terror attack on a train in France is now in a California hospital recovering from another attack, a stabbing. U.S. Airman Spencer Stone seen here after the August incident is said to be in serious condition, but is expected to recover. In the wee hours Thursday morning, Stone became caught up in a bar fight that spilled into the street in Sacramento, California. The brawl was caught on surveillance video. Stone was stabbed three times. Police are trying to find his attackers.

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An American journalist accused of spying has now been detained in Iran longer than the 52 U.S. hostages who were held there 35 years ago. Becky Anderson looks at the 445 days since the Washington Post reporter has been held.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: June, 2009, protesters rocked Tehran after the disputed election saw the radical president returned to power. A young reporter, Jason Rezaian had just left Iran.

JASON REZAIAN, JOURNALIST: I wasn't so much fearful about being detained, but I was told last Wednesday I had to stop working. They revoked my press pass a couple of days before it was set to expire.

ANDERSON: But Rezaian went back and began working for the Washington Post. In the spring of 2014, he and his Iranian wife talked with CNN about the challenges of reporting from the country.

REZAIAN: The difficult part is convincing people on the other side of the world that what we are telling you and seeing in front of our eyes is actually there. When you walk down the street, you see a different side of things. People are proud and the culture is vibrant and people have a lot to say.

ANDERSON: There were frustrations.

REZAIAN: I miss my buddies and I miss burritos, but I love it. I love it and I hate it. Its home, it's become home.

ANDERSON: Six weeks later, Jason and his wife were detained and their home ransacked. He was released on bail and Jason remained in prison with a visit with the lawyer, and unable with his family for four months until since last Thanksgiving when he was suddenly allowed making a call home.

REZAIAN: We're talked about past Thanksgivings with people who are now departed and we choked up a number of times.

ANDERSON: His mother, Mary appearing on CNN in December 2014 worried about his health.

REZAIAN: His continued mental state is in question simply because I understand he has been in chronic pain.

ANDERSON: Rezaian was put on trial accused of espionage. The trial ended late this summer and the Washington Post again appealed for his release, saying Jason is a dedicated law-abiding journalist and a good man who has been targeted with insupportable and entirely faceless allegations of espionage and other offenses. Iran's judiciary services said his arrest has nothing to do with his being a journalist. On twitter, his family kept up the pressure to get him released.

REZAIAN: These delays are just completely inhumane and illegal by Iranian standards and by international standards.

ANDERSON: Months after the end of his trial, no verdict announced. From President Rouhani that Jason and other Americans in Iranian jails could be part of an exchange for Iranians convicted in the U.S. on charges related to nuclear technology.

HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT: If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held Iran as well.

ANDERSON: Jason's mother says all her son wanted to do was report.

REZAIAN: He loves Iran and he took it upon himself to try to show modern Iran to the rest of the world. To the western world who has been closed out for so many years.

ANDERSON: For 445 days now, Jason Rezaian has been unable to report. He wouldn't speak to the outside world, Becky Anderson, CNN Abu Dhabi.

BECKY ANDERSON

ALLEN: We will continue to follow that story for you.

Very few countries put on an elaborate military parade like North Korea. Just ahead, we will go live to Pyongyang for a look at what they are celebrating this week and how it is doing that.

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ALLEN: North Korea is focused on a very big anniversary this week that's gearing up for a massive military parade in celebration to mark 70 years since the worker's party of Korea was founded. CNN's Will Ripley is in Pyongyang for us, he joins us now live, and certainly, Will, these types of spectacles is quite important to the regime there.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, they haven't had a major parade like this in about two years. We were expecting Kim Jung Un to preside over the festivities here just like he did two years ago. This is bound to be a very lavish, extravagant demonstration that is designed to send two messages, one to the North Korean people showing their loyalty to their leader, and the second to the world that North Korea's military is to be reckoned with.

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RIPLEY: When it comes to massive displays, nobody does it quite like North Korea and no other nation has the Korean workers party let by three generations of the same family for seven decades. This weekend is supposed to be a showcase of loyalty to the party and the supreme leader. The citizens had been reversing day and night. We want to celebrate in the most significant way, said this student. Tens of thousands will fill the streets for a lavish celebration for them struggling economically. They have large group formations and way they celebrate major holidays, a monument to the worker's party, the symbol of North Korea's only ruling party that turns 70 on Saturday.

We are taken to the first headquarters, a place where the foreign media has never visited before. As many regimes collapsed, the system is practically unchanged. People are here learning about the history of the party.

From the earliest days at school through the adult working lives, every North Korean attends history studies and learn about the rise to power from teenage revolutionary to worker's party founder to supreme leader for 46 years. A title passed on to his son and grandson. The third generation leader Kim Jung Un rules a cold war throw back, but they developed nuclear weapons and missiles to defend the regime. They show of devotion and a defined show of force to the world.

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RIPLEY: New satellite images released and analyzed that indicate this could be one of the biggest military parades in North Korean history. There hundreds of pieces of military hardware. We expect that spectacular pictures tomorrow and a lot of watchers will be looking at the missile launchers that they will roll out. North Korea is rumored to be developing some very sophisticated missile technology. Of course, there was a lot of speculation in recent weeks that the north may actually try to launch a satellite into orbit during this celebratory weekend. The same analysis of different photos show that is unlikely to happen. They don't see activity happening at the launch site. However, people will be watching to see what military hardware the north has, and they do expect North Korea that a launch of a satellite could be imminent in the coming weeks, Natalie.

There is also speculation about a possible nuclear test. So this military parade could be the first message that North Korea sends to the world with regards to its military power, Natalie.

ALLEN: All right, thank you so much Will Ripley for -- live in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Just ahead, the pollution is lurking over Indonesia. We'll tell you how the country is battling this hazardous problem.

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ALLEN: Indonesia is seeking international help as it battles a hazardous regional haze, the air pollution has been an annual problem for years, but tens of thousands of Indonesians this year have fallen ill. CNN's Robin Curnow has our report.

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ROBIN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Smoke from Indonesia's burning land blankets the forest of the islands, and coats the lungs of the people who live there, with pollution readings and the highest dangerous level and cases of illness up since last month. Many families are bringing their young children to a shelter in a government office building.

NUL HABIBA ASHRAF, INDONESIAN MOTHER: It's safe here because this place is sterilized. The air is clean, unlike outside. My child was coughing before he came, but now he is fine.

CURNOW: While that's temporary for some, a haze is not going anywhere. In Indonesia, illegal forest fires are often set to clear land for agriculture. They are exacerbated by the effect since 1997 and sent the fires and the smoke blowing out of control. Engulfed in haze, the government is pleading for help, they can carry more water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have already asked for help from Singapore. The process is ongoing with Russia, Malaysia and Japan, 12 to 15 tons of water will help to cease the fires rather than using two to three tons which is not effective at all.

CURNOW: Until that help arrives, it's a race against time to predict the most vulnerable populations and the wildlife. Some 700 orangutans who live in the forest out of harm's way, Robin Curnow, CNN Atlanta.

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ALLEN: As part of our ongoing two degrees series in Paris this December, our meteorologists have been answering your questions about global warming. Two degrees is what experts say is the difference between stabilizing global warming. We have to hold it to that and total run away climate change in it increases more than that. Derek Van Dam is among our team of meteorologists taking your climate questions, here he is now.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right, Natalie, we will be answering these questions every week leading up to Cup 21 in Paris this December. This particular question comes from a viewer in Chicago. Have a listen.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is (Inaudible) and I am from Chicago, Illinois. My question is climate change associated with the natural disasters we have been experiencing?

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VAN DAM: One of the most frequent questions I get asked as meteorologist here at the CNN world weather center -- that behind -- will it rain on my wedding day and my kid's birthday party? Well, to actually correlate to climate changes, hugely irresponsible. There has to be tons of study and lots of conclusions made before we can draw those two things together. Besides, extreme weather events have been happening well before it had influence on the climate. However, there is a direct correlation with climate change, global warming and events like the frequency and intensity of heavy rain and coastal flooding. Take for instance what we experienced this week and last week in the Carolinas. Catastrophic record breaking 1 in 1,000 year rainfall events across South Carolina, and did you know that we had over 11 trillion gallons of water dumped from this particular rainfall event, that's enough to fill 16.5 million Olympic size swimming pools, and if that's not enough to put an end to the drought across the U.S. state of California. That's a lot of rainfall and a lot of precipitation. It did help with

the ongoing drought taking place in the midlands of the Carolinas. You can see the drought monitoring how much of an improvement that took place after the rains fell. The world weather patterns are definitely changing due to climate change and global warming. The fingerprint to climate change is seen across many aspects like the heavy rainfall in other parts of the world. In northern Japan, had record breaking rainfall and there is unfortunately more to come across that part of the world. I want to show you something quickly, Natalie, NASA and the recent probe came back with astonishing images. Did you know that if you were standing on the surface of Pluto, you would see blue skies overhead?

ALLEN: Beautiful.

VAN DAM: There it is.

ALLEN: OK, we have space travel news. Just in time for the holidays. Check this out. If you are looking for a present that is out of this world this year for Christmas, one high end retailer has just what you need, Neiman Marcus is going above and beyond the gift book. The catalogue for those who already have everything, a luxury trip floating to the edge of space like this will set you back a mere $90,000. I think Derek should do that one. Maybe you want to toast the holidays. The rare bourbons are $125,000. If you want adventure with the hot Hollywood star, how about a motorcycle ride with Keanu Reeves, sounds good, $150,000 buys two days with the actor cruising through California. Well, if you do splurge and you are one who can, the proceeds help support children's arts education.

James bond is never wants to mince words and the actor playing the British super spy is blunt about his time as 007. Daniel Craig admits he's burned out after four straight blockbusters. He told Time Out London he is tired of always having to look the part. When asked about doing another Bond movie, he said "I would rather break this glass and slash my wrists. I am over it at the moment. We are done. All I want to do is move on." Craig spent eight months filming the latest Bond epic, Specter and says he is looking forward to some sleep and a few drinks, probably not one of those shaken, not stirred martinis, sounds like he needs a pint or two.

Thanks for watching CNN, I'm Natalie Allen. Early Start is coming up for the viewers in the U.S., for viewers elsewhere stay with us for more of CNN Newsroom.

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