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Joe Biden Won't Seek U.S. Presidency; Hillary Clinton Prepares for Benghazi Hearing; Netanyahu Blames Muslim Leader for Holocaust; Syria's Assad Meets Putin in Moscow; Car-Free Day in Most-Polluted City New Delhi; Cities Struggle with Pollution. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired October 22, 2015 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:10] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead this hour, Joe Biden backs off the VP decision not to run for president. And what it means for his would-be rival, Hillary Clinton.
SESAY: Speaking of Secretary Clinton she heads to Capitol Hill on Thursday where she is expected to face another grilling on the Benghazi attack.
VAUSE: And we'll have reaction to controversial comments made by Israel's prime minister about Adolph Hitler and the holocaust.
SESAY: Hello, and welcome to our viewers in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. NEWSROOM L.A. begins now.
SESAY: We begin with a shake-up in the U.S. presidential race. And the man who wasn't even running.
VAUSE: That's right. Vice President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday he will not seek the presidency giving up a lifelong dream.
CNN's senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joe Biden walked into the Rose Garden to extinguish a dream.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unfortunately, I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination.
ZELENY: With those words today, the vice president closed the door to weeks of self-induced speculation about joining the 2016 presidential race. It turns out he wasn't firing a warning shot this week at Hillary Clinton over her suggestion that Republicans are the enemy.
BIDEN: I don't believe, like some do, that it's naive to talk to Republicans.
ZELENY: He was offering an optimistic lesson to fix a broken Washington.
BIDEN: I believe we have to end the divisive partisan politics that is ripping this country apart.
ZELENY: Of all the places to make his announcement --
BIDEN: Mr. President, thank you for lending me the Rose Garden for a minute.
ZELENY: The vice president picked a spot he strived to reach since arriving to Washington more than four decades ago with presidential aspirations.
Biden may never win the White House, but he's an elder statesman now. He made clear that's a role he intends to play.
BIDEN: But while I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent. I intend to speak out clearly and forcefully to influence as much as I can where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation.
ZELENY: He offered no endorsements, but said Democrats should embrace President Obama.
BIDEN: This party, our nation, will be making a tragic mistake if we walk away or attempt to undo the Obama legacy.
ZELENY: Another unspoken message to Clinton, the party's frontrunner, who's broken with the president on a few key issues.
BIDEN: Democrats should not only defend this record and protect this record. They should run on the record.
ZELENY: After the announcement, Clinton praised the vice president, saying in a statement, "I am confident that history isn't finished with Joe Biden. As he said today, there is more work to do. And if I know Joe, he will always be on the front lines always fighting for all of us."
This week, our CNN-ORC poll found, with Biden on the sidelines, Clinton's lead grew to 23 points over Bernie Sanders. She's the biggest beneficiary of his decision.
(On camera): Hillary Clinton was one of first people who called the vice president after he left the Rose Garden. She didn't directly ask him for an endorsement, I'm told. And he didn't offer one for now at least. Most Democrats are giving him his space but they privately worry that all of his swipes against Clinton are unhelpful. Yet with Biden out of the race, the Clinton campaign is breathing a sigh of relief that one of the biggest roadblocks to the nomination has been removed.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Let's bring in CNN presidential historian, Douglas Brinkley, he joins us now from Houston, Texas.
Douglas, it's great to have you with us. Now back in 2013, you interviewed Joe Biden for "Rolling Stone" magazine and you wrote this about the vice president. Let's put up the quote for our viewers. "It could be a mistake to underestimate his populist appeal and it's hard to imagine that this highly ambitious man will choose not to pursue the office he has wanted all of his life.
So with that said I've got to ask you how surprised were you by Joe Biden's announcement today?
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, I did that "Rolling Stone" piece before Beau died. And so it was a little bit of a different Joe Biden. But he's always wanted to be president. If he ran, it would have been his third time. But it was a stunner today. I think many people thought that he was going to get his hat in the ring. There were a lot of indicators to it. But he decided again because of the death of Beau and the fact that the family is still healing that he needed to remain as vice president and not get entangled in what would have been a grueling campaign against Hillary Clinton, and then the Republican nominee come the summer and fall.
[01:05:08] SESAY: And Douglas, you also made the point in that same quote, you said it would be a mistake or it could be a mistake to underestimate his populist appeal. That populist appeal didn't manifest itself in the polling as of late. Why do you think that was?
BRINKLEY: Oh, well, he hasn't run. You know, if he ran, it could have been a very different story. But he did that -- you know, the vice president of the United States I think could have given Hillary Clinton a bit of a run for her money, or at least it would have been competitive. The real news story today with Biden getting out is that Hillary Clinton now has got a pretty much free run to get the nomination.
This is a day for the Clinton camp to really celebrate. Their only other rival, Bernie Sanders, says it seems very unlikely he could get the nomination. So it's all Hillary Clinton from this point on. The fact that Biden might enter was always there. But I think Secretary Clinton's performance in Las Vegas, she did a stellar job in the debate, may have also played in the fact that Joe Biden recognized that she wasn't hemorrhaging with the e-mail situation and the Benghazi problems. So I think that may have been a factor, too.
VAUSE: And Douglas, talking about Secretary Clinton, it was interesting that during Biden's announcement, he really went after Hillary. He didn't mention her by name, but it was clear who he was talking about, my Republican colleagues are not my enemies, they're my friends. And he didn't say he didn't want to be president. He didn't say he didn't have the energy to be president. He just said his time for running for the nomination had passed. It seems to me he's left the door open just a little should Hillary implode, that he wants to be drafted, and that's what he wanted all along. BRINKLEY: No, I don't think that's what he wanted all along. I
really think we have to take the death of his son in a serious fashion and what that does to somebody. He went on the "Colbert Report" TV show and, you know, kind of spilled his heart of just how much agony he was in. So the timing just didn't quite work for him. He couldn't get -- you had to announce you're running soon because you would miss key dates to get -- be able to run in the primaries of Texas and Georgia very soon. And Alabama. Hence it was either this week or next week he would have had to decide. And this is the decision that he made.
VAUSE: But you're watching that announcement in the Rose Garden? Did you get a little emotional? Because regardless of your politics, Biden is a very likable guy and to think that really this is the end of 43 years in public office. It seemed to be quite a sad moment.
BRINKLEY: Yes. I mean I think it was a poignant moment. And there he was with Barack Obama on his side. And basically, Joe Biden was saying we need a third Obama term. And, you know, that's one of the closest friendships between a president and a vice president we've had in American history. They are, you know, major league personal friends. And so, yes, it was bittersweet I would say.
But look, when you have a career as long as Joe Biden's, and the fact of the matter is he still has over a year, well over a year as a sitting vice president, and the fact he says, I'm going to be an elder states person. I'm going to stay involved with political issues, doesn't mean he is disappearing from the scene. But we aren't going to be hearing as much about him in the coming months. It's all going to be Hillary Clinton and who is her opponent.
VAUSE: And of course Donald Trump, Hillary, Donald --
SESAY: Yes.
VAUSE: There is a lot of politics in the coming months. And we're very lucky to have you with us, Douglas.
Douglas Brinkley there, our presidential historian. Thank you so much.
SESAY: Thank you, Douglas.
BRINKLEY: Thank you. Appreciate it.
VAUSE: And Hillary Clinton will appear before the U.S. House Committee on Benghazi on Thursday. It's expected to be a grueling hearing about the deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya in 2012 when Clinton was secretary of state.
SESAY: Republicans call it a fact-finding effort. Democrats believe it's a political witch-hunt. Either way, Clinton has plenty of experience testifying on Capitol Hill as our own Tom Foreman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Since the killing of four Americans in Benghazi in 2012, in all the congressional grilling, Hillary Clinton has let her frustration show in a big way only once.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Was it because of a protest, was it because of guys out for a walk were now to decide they'd go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make?
FOREMAN: Aside from that her testimony has historically been marked by steady nerves even amid withering attacks.
REP. JEFF DUNCAN (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Madam Secretary, you let the consulate become a death trap. And that's national security malpractice.
FOREMAN: Malpractice, health care insurance what led her first to the witness chair.
JUDY WOODRUFF, FORMER CNN ANCHOR: In a starring role on Capitol Hill for the second straight day, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
FOREMAN: In 1993, she was the first first lady to ever face Congress over massive pending legislation making the case for her husband's failed care reform plan.
[01:10:07] CLINTON: The benefits package is a fair one, particularly because it emphasizes primary and preventive health care, which is not --
FOREMAN: Her composure and command of the facts drew rave reviews even if the legislation did not.
REP. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI (D), ILLINOIS: I think in the very near future, the president will be known as your husband. Who is that fellow? That's Hillary's husband.
FOREMAN: Since then she has been in congressional hearings dozens of times, often fielding the questions, sometimes as a senator asking them.
CLINTON: If 9/11 was a failure of imagination and Katrina was a failure of initiative, this process is a failure of judgment.
FOREMAN: In the Benghazi inquiry, even when sharply challenged, she has rarely been pushed off of her talking points.
CLINTON: With specific security requests, they didn't come to me. I had no knowledge of them.
FOREMAN (on camera): It all comes done to a simple fact. When Hillary Clinton walks into that room she will have more experience with congressional hearings than most of the people there. And that can make even a hot seat if not comfortable, at least cooler.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: The Benghazi hearing is the last of three big hurdles facing Hillary Clinton over the past few months. The first was the Democratic debate. A strong performance in Vegas has given her a significant lift in the polls and renewed energy to her campaign. Then there was Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday. He announced he would not be running for president. Again another boost for Mrs. Clinton.
And now comes the Benghazi committee. And for more for what's at stake for Hillary Clinton, Josh Rogin, a CNN political analyst and columnist at "Bloomberg News," joins us now from Washington.
Josh, thanks for being here. It seems Mrs. Clinton is on a roll. She heads into this committee with the admission from senior Republican it's politically motivated. So with that in mind, does she go on the offensive here?
JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you're right. She has the momentum. Benghazi committee is on its heels and has one final chance to prove that it's relevant, substantial, and not just a political hit job against the Clinton campaign.
What Hillary Clinton's attitude is likely to be as indignant. She will make the point that this investigation is the eighth investigation into the event of the fateful night. She will largely stick to her previous testimony that she gave to the Senate in 2013, and she will try her best not to make a gaffe.
There will be eight hours of questioning. Four rounds. Ten minutes for each member for each round. It is a long time to be under the hot lights. And for Hillary Clinton, her main effort will be to not make a mistake.
VAUSE: Yes. And this is where scandals collide in a way. The new fresh meat for the committee is Clinton's use of her private e-mail server and the potential that classified information may have been exposed.
ROGIN: Right. Well, the e-mails that were revealed since the Benghazi committee discovered that she was using a personal e-mail server are really the only new pieces of evidence that this committee can bring to the table. Almost all of the rest of the evidence has been hashed out in public and private and multiple occasions.
So on the one hand, the committee can't look like it's focusing on the e-mail issue because that looks like a political hit job. On the other hand they have to focus on the substance of what was in the e- mails and that relates to her conversations with outside experts including her friend Sydney Blumenthal about the situation in Benghazi, relates to the advice that she was given. And relates to her overall frame of mind on Libya, before the attack on Libya, after the attack and ever since.
VAUSE: You know, Trey Gowdy who is the chair of the committee, he wrote in the "Washington Post" that Clinton is just one witness. He said even after she testifies the investigation will continue. But if Clinton does have a strong performance on Thursday she effectively shuts it down. Is this now over at least for her and her political campaign?
ROGIN: It will be hard for the Benghazi committee to continue its inquiry into the Clintons and their -- and her staffers if this testimony, if tomorrow's events don't produce any real revelations. The bottom line here is that Benghazi committee did have a very wide scope. They interviewed lots of witnesses from lots of different parts of the government. But recently they have narrowed on Clinton and her staff.
And after -- since the e-mail revelations there's been a focus on the actions of the secretary and her staff on that fateful night. And they can't go back to their previous stance. So they're committed to this effort to find new information on the attacks from the secretary. They'll be hard pressed to do that. But we'll have to wait and see.
VAUSE: Josh, thanks for coming in. Good to speak with you.
ROGIN: Anytime.
VAUSE: Josh Rogin in Washington.
And we'll cover the hearing live on Thursday. Get your popcorn, the most comfortable chair, put your feet up. It all begins less than nine hours from now. 10:00 a.m. in Washington, that's 3:00 p.m. in London.
SESAY: You know, it's guaranteed to be quite a show.
VAUSE: Yes. Absolutely.
[01:15:02] SESAY: Congressman Paul Ryan has cleared a hurdle in his bid to be the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. More than 70 percent of a group of conservative lawmakers and the House Freedom Caucus voted Wednesday for Ryan's candidacy.
VAUSE: Ryan has said he wants to unite Republicans and is now waiting to hear if he has support from two other key Republican factions before officially declaring he will run for the position of speaker. One Freedom Caucus member says Ryan appears to have the backing he needs to win.
SESAY: Well, a stunning accusation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His charge that an Arab leader, not Hitler, set the holocaust in motion. Triggers a firestorm of criticism.
VAUSE: Also ahead, the leaders of Russia and Syria underscore their close ties. The surprising one-on-one in Moscow.
SESAY: And later, the Chicago Cubs strike out on what feels like an endless quest for World Series. We'll take you right outside Wrigley Field. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley, with your CNN WORLD SPORT headlines.
Well, the most eagerly anticipated Champions League game of the night between PSG and Real Madrid ended goalless. There was drama in Manchester. Man City were behind Seville, but fought back in style to turn around their group D game. The Blues equalized thanks to an own goal from Adil Rami. And then, in the very last minute found a winner through Kevin De Bruyne. The victory put City three points ahead of Seville.
One of the greatest names in football has been investigated by a committee at FIFA. The German Franz Beckenbauer was provisionally banned. The world governing body said the suspension was over failing to cooperate with its inquiry into the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. FIFA's adjudication committee will now decide whether to take any action against him.
And the countdown to the World Cup semi-finals is well and truly on. Well, the first rugby semifinal takes place on Saturday with South Africa facing New Zealand before Argentina play off Australia on Sunday. And ahead of Saturday, the Springboks says they weren't making any changes to their starting 15 when they face the All Blacks since the first time since 2007. South Africa has not changed their starting style between successive World Cup matches.
And that's a look at your sports headlines. I'm Kate Riley.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: We have this just into CNN. U.S. police say they have a confession in the case of a killing of a 4-year-old girl. This was a road rage incident in New Mexico. They say an anonymous tip led them to 32-year-old Tony Torres.
[01:20:08] SESAY: The young victim is Lilly Garcia, her father had just picked her up from school on Tuesday when this happened. Police say her dad and Torres had cut each other off on a highway and that's when Torres pulled up and opened fire. Albuquerque's mayor calls it a senseless murder.
VAUSE: During weeks of violence, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders have been hurling accusations and insults and now the Israeli prime minister is being roundly criticized for blaming the holocaust on a Palestinian Muslim leader.
SESAY: Israeli historians and politicians have condemned Mr. Netanyahu's remarks. And now that he is in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that Germany was responsible for what happened in the Nazi years. Details from Phil Black.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When most people think of the holocaust, the final solution, the extermination of millions of Jews, they think of this man.
But the Israeli prime minister says it wasn't a Nazi idea. He says it came from a Palestinian Muslim. Hitler's companion in this photo, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who he says passed on the suggestion when they met in 1941.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Hitler didn't want to exterminate the Jews at the time. He wanted to expel the Jews. And Haj Amin al-Husseini went to Hitler and said, if you expel them, they'll all come here. So what should I do with them, he asked. He said, burn them.
COLETTE AVITAL, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: Well, at first I didn't believe what I heard.
BLACK: Colette Avital was once Netanyahu's opponent in Israel's parliament. She's also a holocaust survivor.
AVITAL: It's belittling the role of the Nazi party of Hitler himself and of all his associates for the final solution.
BLACK: Some historians have also piled on the prime minister.
MOSHE ZIMMERMAN, HISTORIAN, HEBREW UNIVERSITY: The killing of the Jews was already a fact.
BLACK: They view Netanyahu got his facts wrong, absolved Hitler and gave support to those who denied the holocaust ever happened.
ZIMMERMAN: Hitler didn't need any kind of advice from somebody. And of course not the advice of some small fry like the mufti of Jerusalem. So the whole dialogue that Netanyahu mentioned was invented.
BLACK: This is a violent time between Jews and Palestinians, which Netanyahu has repeatedly blamed on what he calls Palestinian incitement. He said it again in the same speech.
NETANYAHU: Stop lying. Stop inciting.
BLACK: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says the Israeli prime minister is inciting hatred at Palestinians by rewriting history. And some Israelis agree.
AVITAL: What exactly was Netanyahu saying? Hitler didn't do that much. It's really the Arabs.
BLACK: But some believe there is more than a colonel of truth to Netanyahu's history lesson.
Eddy Cohen is a researcher from the Bar-Ilan University who says there is no doubt Hitler and the mufti shared great motivation to kill and destroy Jews. Netanyahu insists he is not trying to absolve Hitler.
NETANYAHU: These plans of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. BLACK: As he's shown before, he's not afraid to use the holocaust to
make a point. Once again, this historian's son is using that extraordinarily defining, painful event to defend his people's interests. This time many of his people are offended by his methods.
Phil Black, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Well, the United Nations chief is calling for Israelis and Palestinians to come to a resolution after weeks of violence. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon met with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah Wednesday. Ban says both sides need to move toward negotiations and away from violence.
VAUSE: But all this comes as Israeli forces shot and killed a man in Jerusalem. Police say he, the suspect, tried to grab a soldier's gun. The soldier and a security guard opened fire killing the suspect.
SESAY: Well, we turn now to CNN international correspondent Ben Wedeman in Jerusalem.
Ben, there's news of another stabbing attack west of Jerusalem. What more do we know?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we understand from the police that this incident took place at (INAUDIBLE), west of Jerusalem. In that incident, two attackers presumed to be Palestinian have been shot. We don't know their condition. One Israeli lightly injured in that incident.
Now referring to the attack John was talking about, it turns out that in that attack it wasn't in -- it doesn't appear to have been an attack at all. But rather a case of mistaken that the man was in fact an Israeli Jew who was shot by these two soldiers on a bus.
[01:25:07] And it's important to keep in mind that sort of in the heat of the moment oftentimes the information that comes out is simply wrong. Day before yesterday, a Palestinian truck driver killed an Israeli south of Hebron it turns out according to the Israeli media that it was indeed a traffic accident. So one must be very careful when these reports come out. Because oftentimes, when the dust settles, it seems to be something quite to the contrary -- Isha.
SESAY: Yes. A very, very important point to note there. Ben, the U.N. secretary-general quoted as saying Wednesday that he's not optimistic following talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an attempt to diffuse these tensions.
At this stage, can anyone see a diplomatic path to ending this violence?
WEDEMAN: Well, we know, first, you have the U.N. secretary-general. He came here. It was a surprise visit. But nobody surprised if what comes out of his visit is very little. I think we need to be keeping our eyes on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who today meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Germany. And later in the week be meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.
What he's trying to do is work out some sort of arrangement whereby the status quo which is the informal, unwritten, arrangements on the Temple Mount or the Haram al-Sharif, as it's known to Muslims, he wants to put it in writing. He wants to get the three parties involved. We're talking about Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, which has custodianship over the Temple Mount. He wants to put those -- that status quo arrangement in writing so that everybody has a clear understanding of the situation there to avoid the kind of tensions that have boiled over in recent weeks and to which are attributed these tensions -- Isha.
SESAY: Senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman joining us there from Jerusalem.
Ben, always appreciated. Thank you.
VAUSE: Still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, a surprise meeting between the leaders of Russia and Syria. Syria's dictator heads abroad for the first time since the civil war began. And he went to Moscow and said thank you.
SESAY: Plus, covered in smog and struggling to breathe. Cities around the globe are struggling with pollution. We'll see how some have found effective ways to fight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:31:11] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles where it is 10:31 on a Wednesday night. I'm John Vause.
SESAY: I'm Isha Sesay. The headlines this hour.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has put an end to months of speculation. He announced he will not run for president. Biden says the window to launch a successful campaign closed as he continues to grieve his son's untimely passing.
VAUSE: Congressman Paul Ryan is moving forward in a bid to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives. 70 percent of ultraconservative lawmakers, the House Freedom Caucus, voted Wednesday for Ryan's candidacy. One member says Ryan appears to have the backing he needs to win.
SESAY: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is asking Israeli and Palestinians to show, quote, "courage and move towards peace." This comes amid weeks of killings and retaliation from both sides. Ban met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week.
VAUSE: Russian jets are bombarding a western Syria town which is on a strategic north-south route. Video posted online purports to show air strikes. Activists say Russia jets have been targeting the town now for the past two weeks.
SESAY: This comes after Syrian President Bashar al Assad thanked his Russian counterpart for support. Mr. Assad had a surprise one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow Tuesday.
Live to Moscow, Matthew Chance standing by live.
Matthew, it seems that Assad must be feeling pretty good right now. Good enough to travel to Moscow.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Quite stunning this meeting took place. It was of course kept secret and under wraps. It wasn't until the morning that state media broadcast activities of the meeting taking place. It's been criticized by the White House, condemning it for laying out the red carpet as they said for a leader who has used chemical weapons against his own people. But it does underline this alliance forged between Russia and Syria and between Assad and Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said discussions focused on the continuation of Russia's military campaign in Syria and plans for Syrian government troops. But the real surprise is this meeting took place at all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE (voice-over): The unannounced overnight visit was kept secret until it was all over. Only in the morning did the Kremlin reveal what is believed to be President Assad's first trip abroad since the Syrian crisis began.
With Russian war planes pounding his enemies this was a grateful confident and grateful Kremlin ally.
BASHAR AL ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): I thank you for standing up for Syria's unity and independence. And more important than that, this is being done within the framework of international law. I have to say that the start of the political steps that you have been undertaking since the beginning of the crisis, may have prevented the situation fro developing into a more tragic scenario.
CHANCE: For three weeks now, Russia has bombarded ISIS and other rebel groups opposed to Assad, affected air support for a Syria army- led offensive to recapture lost territory. Reports from the ground suggest significant advances have been made.
But the face-to-face meeting in the Kremlin also sends a message about Vladimir Putin's diplomatic intentions.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): Syria is a friendly country to us. We are prepared to do whatever we can not only in the course of military efforts to fight terrorism, but also in the course of the political process with participation of all political forces and ethnic and religious groups. In the end, the final decision should be left to the Syrian people.
(GUNFIRE) [01:35:00] CHANCE: Since the Syrian crisis began, Russia has pushed for a political solution, which includes Assad in any interim government, something that has been objected to by opposition groups and Western government.
But the Kremlin appears to be digging in its heels. Assad, it seems, remains Russia's man.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: As a further attempt to underscore that, shortly after the meeting between Putin and Assad ended, Russia launched I suppose a diplomatic offensive, calling the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, discussing with them, Vladimir Putin, the outcome of that meeting with Bashar al Assad. Russia positioning itself as the key negotiating point in any end to the Syrian crisis.
VAUSE: Matthew Chance live there. 8:35 Thursday morning in Moscow. Thank you, Matthew.
SESAY: Environmentalists call New Delhi the most polluted city in the word. Ahead, we'll see what the Indian capital is doing to clear the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Two Degrees Celsius is what climate experts say is the difference between stabilizing global warming and runaway clime change as they're looking at air pollution and how cities are trying to fight it.
SESAY: Start in Norway where Oslo may become the first major European city with a permanent ban on cars in the city center. The newly elected city council says it wants the plan in effect by 2019. The city would also build new bike lanes and allow buses and trams. Some shop owners are already protesting the plan saying it will hurt business.
[01:40:02] VAUSE: New Delhi trying a car-free zone for just one day as part of a plan to curb pollution in what experts now say is the world's most polluted city.
SESAY: Joining us now is CNN's New Delhi bureau chief, Ravi Agrawal.
Ravi, just one day. But I have to believe you are breathing a little more easily today.
RAVI AGRAWAL, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Isha. It feels a bit easier to take in the air today. This is the first car- free day in New Delhi started by the Delhi government. As you can see behind me, there are fewer cars on the streets. And cars produce, they account for 60 percent of the total pollutants. As I have been learning, that's part of the problem. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) AGRAWAL (voice-over): If it is night time, it is time for the trucks to roll. While most of Delhi sleeps, more than 50,000 of the great heaving beasts ply the city's roads carrying goods. But just look at them. Most tend to be many years old. The result, exhaust fumes, a lot of it.
After a night full of that, a typical Delhi morning looks like this. You can barely see more than a dozen feet ahead of you.
(on camera): It is afternoon here in New Delhi, and things are clearer than they were in the morning. Now trucks aren't allowed to fly these roads during the day. But cars are. And the sheer number of cars is a problem. Every day, 1400 new cars join the 8.5 million already on the streets here.
(voice-over): The World Health Organization labeled India's capital the most polluted city on the planet. Policymakers are beginning to react. With New Delhi's government trying out a car-free day. Delhi- ites encouraged to leave their cars at home and instead take public transport.
The Center for Science and Environment says a car-free day is a step in the right direction.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT: Clearly, in terms of impact it will not make that big impact. But it is to make people aware. So really in terms of hard decisions that are needed today to control the numbers of vehicles. We would really have to do a lot more.
AGRAWAL: One thing the government has been trying to do is boost renewable energy. In a plan submitted to the U.N. last month, India said that by 2030 40 percent of all of its energy would come from non- fossil sources. What about the smoke-belching trucks? Starting November 1, the
Supreme Court will impose a steep tax on trucks entering the city, likely discouraging the ones used in New Delhi as a thoroughfare. Small steps many say just a start on a very long road ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AGRAWAL: So, as you heard there, long steps ahead. Many steps ahead for India and for New Delhi.
To give you a sense of what happened today here, one stretch, one major stretch of the road here in New Delhi was made a car-free area. It is only for about five hours. The key here is that today is a national holiday. So in any case there wouldn't have been that many cars on the road. So a step in the right direction, but really to make any kind of difference you are going to have to see many, many more of days like this, and a lot more action by the government.
VAUSE: Ravi, it all seems like a bit of a P.R. stunt to call for a car-free day on a public holiday. Most don't want to die it. They find it a hassle. The experts say it won't make an impact on pollution. Comes back to what's the point? AGRAWAL: Well, so this is a new government here in New Delhi. One of
the things they're trying to do is raise awareness about the sheer scope and scale of pollution in New Delhi.
I have to say, John, having lived in India for many years, people haven't always talked about pollution. In the last few months, couple years with emergency of studies showing that, that, Delhi, it's the most polluted city in the world. Many, many Indian cities are polluted. Given all the data, that's starting a national discussion. Politicians are trying to get on board with that. And, and try and, sort of create more of a national movement to make this a priority. I get as I speak, you can see a couple noisy polluting cars behind me. So, there are some ways to go -- John?
VAUSE: OK, Ravi, thank you for being out there. Don't get hit by a car. Thanks, Ravi.
SESAY: Ravi, appreciate it. Thank you.
[01:45:00] VAUSE: Many cities around the world are struggling with pollution.
SESAY: Many CNN's correspondents are living in the cities.
We start first in Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN ASIA-PACIFIC EDITOR: I'm Andrew Stevens in Beijing. If there is one thing that unites Beijing in anger, it is this, air pollution. No hiding the fact that pollution is a major political issue. And it is forcing the government to listen and to act. They're phasing out coal-burning power stations, introducing energy efficient cars, and China just announced sweeping emissions plans, including a carbon cap-and-trade scheme. All a good start, but for Beijingers, any improvement can't come soon enough.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As beautiful as Paris might be, there are some days you can barely see the Eiffel Tower through the pollution. That's something the mayor of Paris has been intent on changing almost since the day she was elected. The city has taken a number of anti-pollution measures, including last July a ban on older diesel-powered cars and buses from the streets of Paris, something that will be expanded over coming years to include newer models and eventually all diesel-powered vehicles banned from the streets of Paris by 2020. But all this is not just having to do with health concerns. The world climate change conference begins here in late November, and a polluted Paris would not be the best image to present to the thousands of environmentalist who are expected to attend.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris. (END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sara Sidner, in Los Angeles, where bumper-to-bumper traffic and congested freeways are unavoidable. At one time, pollution from vehicles and industry here forced Angelinos to breathe some of the dirtiest air in the world. The smog blanketing the Los Angeles basin has dramatically reduced over the years. The city's air improved considerably. How did that happen? For starters, California laid down strict environmental laws and regulations. For 30 years, as example, the state has required owners to test their vehicles for harmful emissions. Also, hybrids and electric cars are popular here. Some might say that California is actually leading the way in the fight against air pollution, but with its population and geography, it's still having a hard time because this is still some of the worst air quality in the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: It is getting better.
SESAY: It is getting better.
VAUSE: I did notice a big change from the 15 years ago until I was now, big improvement.
SESAY: Homesick for Beijing when you saw the pictures of the smog.
VAUSE: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
A short break. When we come back, bad news for Chicago Cub fans. We'll take you to the Windy City and see how supporters there are taking yet another loss in the playoffs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Starting off your Thursday, Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri, for CNN "Weather Watch."
(WEATHER REPORT)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:51:58] VAUSE: Chris Rock is back to host the Oscars. He will be the Academy Awards host for a second time. And, in 2005, you may remember remarks on race and politics came with controversy.
SESAY: TV ratings, however, for this year's broadcast with Neil Patrick Harris hit a six-year low. Rock may help change that. He tweeted saying, "Look who's back."
VAUSE: Think he will keep his clothes on. Remember, Neil Patrick Harris got undressed.
SESAY: I am a big Chris Rock fan. I'm excited. See what he does next.
VAUSE: No more excitement for Chicago Cubs fans. They can't get a break. They were trying for the first World Series in 107 years. But yet again, they cam up short. This time, against the Mets.
SESAY: The New Yorkers swept Chicago in four straight games. Breaking the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. This year was the first time in years the championship was within the little Cubbies reach. The last time they got this far was back in 2003.
VAUSE: But the century long drought isn't the only reason why so many people have been watching the series. The movie, "Back to the Future, 2," the sequel predicted a Cubs win in 2015.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL J. FOX, ACTOR: Wait a minute. Cubs win World Series.
CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, ACTOR: Something, huh, who would have thought. Wish I could go back to the beginning of the season, put money on the Cubbies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: So the movie didn't get everything right. And you do have to feel for the poor Cubbies. As they say, there's always next year.
VAUSE: They said that 107 times.
SESAY: Keep on going with it.
VAUSE: OK. But what about now?
Our Ryan Young was outside Wrigley Field where the disaster happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John and Isha, this wasn't the day that Cubs' fans wanted. Obviously, lost 8-3. Playing the video. People talking about "Back to the Future," hoping this would be the year the Cubs would break the curse and go back to the World Series. Didn't happen. Cubs fans mulling around since the loss.
We talked before. You said this was crushing in terms of them losing. Talk about the season and how you felt about your team?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the 2003 heartbreaking loss, I thought the stars were lined up for this year. We had -- we beat the cardinals. First time we played. First playoff game 107 years ago. We won. I've got to commend the Cubs. Played great just fell short. We'll have to wait until next year.
YOUNG: You guys were obviously here, too. How did you feel walking outing into you had lost?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was really bummed. Moved here just to watch this. And, I brought some good luck here. Unfortunately, not this year.
YOUNG: We talked to fans who came from as far as California, from Texas, who said they who said they would never miss the game. This is a passionate city when it comes to the sports. They won in every other realm, football, basketball. But the Cubs have not been able to win a championship. A lot of people say they can't wait until next year. They believe the team is young and prime for a championship.
Guys, back to you.
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Oh, yeah. OK. Next year, yeah, right.
SESAY: No, no. I am touched by how optimistic Cubs fans are, considering the history.
VAUSE: They don't have much choice, have they?
SESAY: Yes, they have a choice. They can give of on the team but they don't. That's what's awesome about Cubs fans. Yeah.
[01:55:13] VAUSE: Sure. That's great. OK.
(LAUGHTER)
SESAY: OK. Michael J. FOX and Christopher Lloyd -- going to send me hate tweets -- reunited as characters Marty McFly and Doc Brown from "Back to the Future."
VAUSE: "Back to the Future" day, October 21, 2015, is when the pair travel in the DeLorean time machine. And to mark the occasion, FOX and Lloyd appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LLOYD: Have you invented flying cars yet?
FOX: No, we have not, no.
LLOYD: At least have hover boards?
FOX: They call them hover boards, but they're not really hover boards.
(LAUGHTER)
Did you achieve peace in the Middle East?
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: Oh, no, no, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: Very, very cool. In real life, FOX suffers from Parkinson's disease. On the Jimmy Kimmel show, he wore the sneakers from the movie that lace on their own. Nike will auction the shoes and donate the proceeds to FOX's charity.
VAUSE: That's pretty cool.
SESAY: That's very, very cool.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: I'm John Vause.
Stay with us. The news will continue with Rosemary Church and Errol Barnett after the break.
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