Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Latest Developments Out of the Middle East; John Kerry, Benjamin Netanyahu to Meet; El Chapo Still at Large. Aired 3-4a ET.
Aired October 22, 2015 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERROL BARNETT, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: Under fire. The Israeli Prime Minister defends his controversial remarks on the Holocaust just hours before crisis talks with the U.S. Secretary of State.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: Hillary Clinton set to face off with House republicans investigating the death of the U.S. Ambassador in Libya. We will look at the stakes for her presidential bid.
BARNETT: Also coming up. Too many cars, too much pollution. How some cities are trying to reclaim their air.
CHURCH: Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
BARNETT: And I'm Errol Barnett. This is the second hour of CNN Newsroom.
We begin with the latest developments out of the Middle East. High level talks are getting underway in the coming hours in Berlin as more violence breaks out in Jerusalem. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting in hopes of making some head way to ease tensions.
CHURCH: A wave of deadly stabbing attacks have swept through Jerusalem and the West Bank in recent weeks. Just within the past couple of hours, Israeli police shot and wounded two attackers who stabbed an Israeli man at a bus shop.
BARNETT: We turn now to our Senior International Correspondent Atika Shubert, who joins us live from Berlin this morning. Atika, high level meetings like this. They're a positive step. But, what agreement or document could be outlined here that might help diffuse things in some small way?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, from Secretary Kerry's point of view, the main objective at this point is to dial down the rhetoric and try and ease tensions in some way. And to sort of return all of the anger to finding some concrete solution. Or, at least, temporary solution at this point to calming those tensions down. Specifically, looking at the status quo agreement. That is, of course, the agreement surrounding the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem and the old city.
And that status quo agreement was agreed, you know, between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the Jordanian authorities to maintain the area as a place where Muslims would pray at the al-Aqsa mosque. And while many Jewish Israelis would have access to go to that disputed area, they wouldn't have the right to pray there. And the reason we have seen this uptick of violence recently, is fear, as it seems, that the status quo was going to be changed. And so, what Secretary Kerry may be doing on the trip is trying to agree. Maybe possibly to get a document for example, putting that status quo agreement in writing to try and bring the tensions down.
But, any sort of agreement like this is still going to be a while away. Today is really just the meeting between Kerry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It's just gotten under way. We're not sure if we're going to get a statement later on. But, we'll certainly bring that to you as we get it. Errol.
BARNETT: Alright. We'll certainly watch that closely and see if anything comes from it. But, Atika, what about yesterday's meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. We know about the controversy that erupted. We'll cover that in our next story. But, did anything productive come from that meeting?
SHUBERT: Well, I think again, Germany was calling for a calm, asking again to dial down the rhetoric, saying these sort of emotional statements aren't helping. Perhaps, most importantly, standing right next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chancellor Angela Merkel essentially refuted his comments about the Holocaust. She said Germany maintains its responsibility for what happened during the Holocaust and there is no need to change history. No need to revise it. So really, a criticism of his comments before he was arriving here in Berlin. Echoing what many historians and his own critics within Israel have been saying.
BARNETT: Alright. Atika Shubert live for us in Berlin this morning. Atika, thank you.
Now, another big story we are tracking here. While Joaquin El Chapo is still at large, his brother-in-law wasn't so lucky. Mexican authorities say they detained him and several others who they believe organized the drug lord's daring escape from prison in July.
CHURCH: He narrowly escaped again earlier this month after police tracked him down. Officials believe he broke his leg and injured his face when he fell off a small cliff. But, he still managed to evade the Special Forces chasing him.
BARNETT: Now, the CIA condemns this as quote, a crime of malicious intent. The website Wikileaks published information it says came from the personal e-mail of CIA Director John Brennan. It includes sensitive data about Brennan's security clearances. A statement from the Spy Agency says in part, quote, this attack is something that could happen to anyone and should be condemned, not promoted. There is no indication that any of the documents released so far are classified. Wikileaks says it plans to release more documents on Thursday.
BARNETT: Police say a man in the U.S. has confessed to killing a 4- year-old girl in a road rage incident in New Mexico.
CHURCH: They say an anonymous tip led them to this man, 32-year-old Tony Torres. He now faces murder and weapons charges. CNN's Ana Cabrera has more on what is being called a senseless murder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A community seeking justice for Lily. Four year-old Lily Garcia. A girl shot and killed riding in the back seat of her family's red pickup. A crime that left even veteran law enforcement in shock.
GORDON EDEN, ALBUQUERQUE CHIEF OF POLICE: To me, this is one of those crimes which is unexplainable. I have never seen it before.
CABRERA: New Mexico investigators are calling it a classic case of road rage.
EDEN: This should have never happened. This is a complete disrespect of human life.
CABRERA: It happened around 3:00, Tuesday afternoon, on westbound Interstate 40. Albuquerque police say two vehicles cut each other off. A short time later, shots rang out.
911 OPERATOR: Please be advised that the daughter is not conscious. And is four years of age.
CABRERA: The deadly incident, unfolding over the course of about two miles, police estimate. They believe the suspect pulled up alongside the pickup and fired multiple shots. At least one bullet striking Lily. Her 7-year-old brother was also in the truck, but was not injured.
911 OPERATOR: The caller is advising that his daughter is breathing.
DEPUTY OFFICER: 10-4. And that was the one with the head injury?
911 OPERATOR: Yes, 10-4.
CABRERA: A passing Sheriff's deputy just happened to spot the red truck, pulled over on the side of the road and stopped to help. Others driving by, called 911.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks like some sort of medical emergency. It's not an accident. But, there is an adult holding what looks like an unresponsive child.
CABRERA: Quickly, police shut down the interstate to search for the shooter. An ambulance rushed to the hospital trying to save the little girl. But, tragically, it was too late.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: And this just in to CNN. South African President Jacob Zuma says he will meet tomorrow with students protesting a proposed university tuition hike. On Wednesday, students stormed the gates of parliament in Cape Town. Riot police responded with stun grenades. CNN's David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg.
So, David, give us an idea of just the significance of this is. The leader of the country willing to talk with students. Could it possibly signal that he may ease back on this, this fee hike?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's possible. The government has already proposed reducing the fee hike by several percentage points. But, the students have said it is not enough. They want free total education here in South Africa. It is unclear, yet, what will come out of these meetings. And it is significant that South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has, in fact, acknowledged the protest, firstly. And secondly, has agreed to meet with student leaders and academics on Friday at the union buildings. The seat of government here in South Africa.
I think it's all because of these dramatic scenes played out in Cape Town on Wednesday. The culmination of a series of protests throughout the country by South African university students. They started here in Johannesburg last week. Spread to a dozen universities. On the face of it, about the fee increases the government and institution proposed. But, there are certainly deep-seated frustrations within South Africa's youth about the incoming equality in the country. And just the general lack of response they see from the government and others. Rosemary.
CHURCH: So, talk to us about the situation here. So, in the past the tuition has been free, I take it. So, what sort of amounts is the government hoping to increase this by at this point?
MCKENZIE: Well, actually, the free education promise came from the ANC when they came into power more than 20 years ago at the advent of democracy in South Africa. So, that's sort of a campaign promise that students are calling them out now on.
The proposed increase was 10 percent to 12 percent. And many students have said it would make it hard for them to afford the education. These are the leaders of South Africa of tomorrow. And the fact that they are organizing, effectively, banding together. And the anger has shifted somewhat from the academic institutions directly to the government means this is an issue for the South African government.
The ANC, the ruling party, has called for calm. It has now, of course, said it will meet at the highest level with the students. Whether it can placate the students or not is the key question. Because there are major grievances from the students and some academics about the way that education is handled in this country. That is a gripe that you hear all the time in this country. From across the board. Not just with university level.
CHURCH: David McKenzie, keeping a close eye on this situation in South Africa. Many thanks to you. BARNETT: On the news agenda. Hillary Clinton is preparing for a very
long day in Washington. She will testify, yet again, on Benghazi. How she handles being in the hot seat. Next.
CHURCH: A major shakeup in the 2016 presidential race by someone who wasn't even a candidate. That story just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: 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 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 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 to take any action against him. And the countdown to the World Cup semi- finals is well and truly on. The first rugby semifinal takes place on Saturday with South Africa facing New Zealand, before Argentina play 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.
CHURCH: Hillary Clinton is expected to testify for hours in the coming day before the House of Representatives committee on Benghazi. Some politicians have hinted it could be brutal. The former Secretary of State is being questioned over how she handled the attack in 2012 when four American diplomatic staff members, including the ambassador, were killed in the Libyan city.
BARNETT: Now, the committee is interested to know why Clinton wasn't aware of requests for extra security there in Benghazi and wonder if, security improvements could have been made before the attacks.
CHURCH: CNN correspondent Elise Labott takes a look back at the violence that day in 2012 and how it led to one of the most highly- politicized stories in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: September 11th. The date that forever changed America would once again turn deadly. The year, 2012. Extremists overrun the U.S. diplomatic mission. Setting it ablaze before moving to a nearby CIA annex to continue their assault. Taking the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Four patriots. They loved this country. And they chose to serve it and served it well. They didn't simply embrace the American ideal. They lived it. LABOTT: An independent investigation commissioned by then Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, found grossly inadequate security at the U.S. facility. Four employees lost their jobs, but the report said Clinton was not responsible. Seven congressional committees arrived at similar conclusions. Among the most scathing, a senate intelligence report blasting state for failing to connect the dots and increase security after numerous intelligence reports warned of a potential attack.
Like the State Department Accountability Review Board, the center report gives Clinton a pass. But, an annex written solely by committee republicans placed the blame squarely at her feet, saying quote, final responsibility for security at diplomatic facilities lies with the former Secretary of State. The Pentagon was faulted for not having military assets in the region to respond that night. And the intelligence community took heat for talking points used on Sunday talk shows by then Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, which created the false impression the attack was prompted by an anti-Muslim video that sparked violent American protests at U.S. embassies across the Middle East.
SUSAN RICE, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: What our assessment is of the present, is in fact what it began spontaneously in Benghazi, as a reaction to what transpired hours earlier in Cairo. Where, of course, as you know there was a violent protest outside of our embassy sparked by this hateful video.
LABOTT: The G.O.P. charged the Obama administration was trying to cover up a terrorist threat. And predicted Clinton's own legacy on Benghazi would stop her presidential ambitions.
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night and decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make?
LABOTT: House Speaker John Boehner created the select committee on Benghazi last year. It has seized on Clinton's use of her private e- mail server which has dogged her in the presidential campaign. Democrats have accused the G.O.P. of turning a tragedy into a political side show to take Clinton down.
KEVIN MCCARTHY, U.S. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable. Right. But, we put together a Benghazi special committee. A Select Committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping.
RICHARD HANNA, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: This may not be politically correct, but I think there was a big part of this investigation that was designed to go after people and an individual. Hillary Clinton.
LABOTT: After of a string of republicans labeled the committee a political vendetta, Clinton pounced.
CLINTON: This committee is basically an arm of the Republican National committee. It is a partisan vehicle, as admitted by the House Republican Majority Leader, Mr. McCarthy to drive down my poll numbers. Big surprise.
LABOTT: The committee chair, Congressman Trey Gowdy, strongly denies he is playing politics.
TREY GOWDY, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON BENGHAZI: I have told my own republican colleagues and friends shut up talking about things that you don't know anything about. The seven members of my committee are much more focused on the four dead Americans than we are in anyone's presidential aspirations.
LABOTT: On Thursday, both sides will face off in what could be a defining moment for Clinton's presidential campaign and the future of the G.O.P. led probe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And CNN Political commentator Ryan Lizza joins me now to talk more about this. Also, the Washington correspondent for the New Yorker. Thank you so much for joining us.
RYAN LIZZA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thank you so much.
CHURCH: So, Thursday. It's shaping up to be a decisive moment for Hillary Clinton. How bad are the optics here? How much is at stake? And how damaging might this Benghazi hearing be for Clinton?
LIZZA: Well, you know, if you had asked me that question a month ago, I would've said potentially very damaging. But, as Elise's report makes clear, what's happened over these last few weeks, is the republicans running the committee have really stepped in it. They have said on the record that this committee essentially was set up to damage her. And it's really damaged the credibility of the committee itself. It is no longer seen as a nonpartisan search for the truth.
It's seen as a get Hillary endeavor. And so, I think that Republicans will be on their best behavior to try and return this to a search for the truth. To push back against those accusations. And Hillary Clinton will be on the offensive in arguing that this is just an effort to derail her presidential campaign.
CHURCH: Yeah, interesting. Also, a lot of republicans are saying that the Benghazi incident is worse than Watergate. Is that the case or is it more a case of politics at play as Clinton supporters suggest?
LIZZA: Oh boy. Watergate involved high crimes and misdemeanors. Certainly, high crimes by the President of the United States who lied and probably broke the law and resigned in disgrace. I have not seen anything in the Benghazi investigation that comes close to what happened in Watergate. I think, Rosemary, one of the problems with this committee is that it is so focused on the every little detail of what happened that night in Benghazi that it has missed the bigger picture of what happened in Libya with large.
I think that if republicans had focused on the fact that the Obama administration, and pushed by Hillary Clinton, who supported the policy, intervened in Libya without a plan for the aftermath. If they had just gone and looked at broad brush policy, which let's all admit was and is a failure given the state of Libya today, they might have had a little more success. I mean, that is a legitimate criticism of Hillary Clinton.
Instead, they tried to pin the murders of these four Americans on Hillary Clinton. And they just, went off into the direction of frankly, what looks like, chasing conspiracy theories. And the broader policy failure in American politics has gone uninvestigated. I think that was a big mistake from the beginning that republicans had.
CHURCH: And we will all be watching very closely. Ryan Lizza, always a pleasure to talk with you. Many thanks.
LIZZA: Thank you, Rosemary.
CHURCH: And CNN will cover the hearing live on Thursday. That's at 10:00 a.m. in Washington, 3:00 p.m. London time.
BARNETT: I don't know if you saw this coming, but U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has decided not to enter the 2016 presidential race. Biden says the window to launch of a successful campaign closed as he was mourning the death of his son, Beau.
CHURCH: This move impacts the democratic presidential field giving Hillary Clinton a likely bump in upcoming polls. And Republican front-runner Donald Trump says he's glad Biden is not running.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE-REPUBLICAN: So, we had some news today that Biden is not running. And I think he did the smart thing because frankly, I don't know that he would have won. He wouldn't have gotten the nomination. I don't think he probably would have. And frankly, I really want to run against Hillary. I really do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: And he just might. The latest ABC news, Washington post poll of republican voters shows here, Donald Trump rising to his biggest lead in weeks. The 32 percent support. Rival Ben Carson is close behind with 22 percent. Marco Rubio has 10. Jeb Bush comes in there with 7 percent.
CHURCH: There was a time then when people didn't think Trump had a chance. They saw him as a joke. But now, he appears to be a viable possibility.
Well, Congressman Paul Ryan has cleared a key hurdle as he considers a bid to be the next Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. More than 70 percent of a group of conservative law makers, the house freedom caucus, voted Wednesday for Ryan's candidacy.
BARNETT: Now, Ryan has said he wants to help unite house republicans. He is now waiting to hear whether he has the support of two other key republican caucuses before officially jumping into the speakers race. There is expected to get that early in the morning. One freedom caucus member says Ryan appears to have enough support to become the next speaker.
CHURCH: The impact of a secret meeting. Just ahead. Reaction to the face to face discussion between the Syrian and Russian presidents about Syria's civil war.
BARNETT: Plus environmentalists call New Delhi, the most polluted city in the world. Next, we'll see what the Indian capital is doing to try and clear the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
BARNETT: And I'm Errol Barnett. It's the last half-hour of the day with us. Let's make it count. Top stories. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are holding talks in Berlin at this moment, hoping to make head way on easing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. In the past few hours, Israeli police shot and wounded two attackers who stabbed an Israeli man at a bus stop.
CHURCH: In about six hours, Hillary Clinton will testify before the House of Representatives committee on Benghazi. Clinton is being questioned over how she handled the attack in 2012 when four American diplomatic staff members were killed in the Libyan city. Critics of the committee say it is unfairly targeting Clinton. Committee members say they just want answers.
BARNETT: Families from North and South Korea are saying emotional good-byes to each other after a three day reunion. About 400 South Koreans crossed the border to see family members who have been separated since the Korean War in the 1950s. Many of the elderly tried to reassure relatives they would see each other again.
Students protesting a planned tuition hike clashed with riot police on Wednesday outside South Africa's parliament. Police fired stun grenades at them. President Jacob Zuma says he will meet with student and university leaders on Friday to discuss the stalemate. In a statement. He said, he quote, fully understands the pressures on poor students.
Well, the White House is criticizing Russia for what it calls the red carpet treatment for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Tuesday's surprise meeting.
BARNETT: That's right. Washington says Russian President Vladamir Putin's meeting with Mr. Assad is at odds with Moscow's stated goal of a political transition in Syria.
CHURCH: And our Matthew Chance joins us now from Moscow with more on this. So, Matthew, Mr. Assad's surprise visit to Moscow was breaking news in our shows, in fact, 24 hours ago. What has President Putin been saying and doing since then?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, since the meeting ended yesterday morning and the first news of that was broadcast by state television. Vladamir Putin, the Russian president, has been on something of a diplomat offensive, making phone calls to various players in the Syrian conflict; Calling the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. And the presidents of Egypt and Turkey as well, to discuss the crisis in Syria.
The Anti-terrorism campaign as the Kremlin frames it. But also, to inform the Kremlin's partners on the outcomes of the meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. They also agreed to, apparently, remain in contact in different formats regarding the Syrian problem. So, what Russia is doing is using this meeting to reaffirm this idea that is central to any future political settlements when it comes to the Syrian crisis. And it is also showing that it wholeheartedly backs President Assad to have some kind of role in any future interim government there. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Matthew, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will, of course, meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. How will the meeting with President Assad likely impact that meeting between those two gentlemen?
CHANCE: I think it will be another opportunity for Moscow to reaffirm its stance on Syria. The meeting is going to be taking place in Vienna, the capital of Austria. It's going to also include delegations from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. And so it is a meeting specifically to discuss the situation in Syria. And again, at that meeting, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister will be able to reaffirm to his U.S. counterparts that Russia stands firmly behind President Assad and any diplomatic solution to the crisis in Syria has got to go through Moscow.
Russia has been immensely successful at positioning itself in this way. Moved in to support its Syrian ally. To protect its own assets there. Its military assets. Economic assets as well. But, the other effect it has been made it central to any negotiated settlement in the Middle East. It's enabled Russia to play the role of a great power once again.
CHURCH: And as we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words. And the optics from this meeting between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Syria's Bashar al-Assad seem clear. Russia is in the driver's seat. How is the international community reading it?
CHANCE: Well, I think that is indeed the message. I think that will be, undoubtedly, taken on board. You mention that the United States has been very critical of the fact this meeting took place. Criticizing the red carpet treatment, as they called it, of Bashar al- Assad, an individual who has used chemical weapons against his own people. The United States also saying that it ran counter to the Russian stance of trying to find a political settlement in Syria. Basically, they're saying that as long as Russia supports al-Assad, the rebel movement in the country will continue unabated and it will bolster opposition forces to the government in Damascus. So, there's lot of concern in the international community about this.
CHURCH: Alright. Our Matthew Chance keeping us up to date there live from Moscow. Thanks to you.
BARNETT: And the Moscow meeting comes as Russia supports a major offensive for control of Aleppo. That fighting has sent tens of thousands of civilians fleeing. Our Senior International correspondent Nick Paton Walsh is tracking those developments and joins us now from Turkey. Nick, we heard yesterday from an aid worker and a doctor who came to tears live on air just describing what he is seeing in Aleppo. The average resident, it must be just unbearable.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're not talking about onslaught against Aleppo city itself. There's been a stale mate there and violence for years. But, we are talking about substantial moves by regime forces. That is Iranian militia. Perhaps, even Iranian guard troops. Hezbollah out of Lebanon. And regime forces moving towards the southern Aleppo countryside. Now, that has, according to the U.N., 50,000 people displaced. They have no idea where they're going to go. They can't go north because that's towards the goal of the offensive in Aleppo City. They can't go west, east or south. There is fighting near ISIS in those directions.
But we got yesterday, some footage from the front line from moderate rebel fighters. Some of whom are backed up by the United States with weaponry. About what it's like for them facing this regime onslaught with Russian air power.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: This is what it is like on the receiving end of the Russian- backed offensive, south of Aleppo. The moderate rebel fighter now lying flat, sensing these pictures, saying it was the worst assault he had ever seen. Aided by drones that they also target.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Russian strikes seem to hit civilians most. Not us rebels, says this fighter before listing the several villages they have lost in recent days. These eyes in the sky seem to be speeding the regime advance. The fables tow missile, an anti-tank rocket, supplied by rebels, often by the U.S. hitting regime armor here. It helped rebels take ground fast recently. But, many more are needed for them to hold it now.
We are here to block the Russian and Iranian occupation, vows this commander, with the army of Islam. But, be it no doubt, this rallying call may be drowned out by the noise of Russian jets. And the noise of rumbling armor. Syrian state TV showing while their president briefly visited Moscow how they were advancing. Ramming it home, where in the south is now theirs. These images helping suggest why 50,000 civilians may now be on the move. One rebel caught this front line volley on a body camera. Such high
tech intimacy in a fight that can seem so brutally medieval. Where a new power is changing the balance, but not lessening the old threat to those helpless caught in the middle. Now, if there is a move towards the city of Aleppo, it could involve cutting off rebel held areas. That's the plan the regime tried last year, but failed to pull off. That would be an unbelievable humanitarian catastrophe, really.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Hundreds of thousands, potentially, would have to flee there. Now, this is really Russia assisting the Syrian regime in creating a reality on the ground. Can they succeed? Perhaps, in creating a reality diplomatically as that would be in the meeting on Friday is actually something we will have to see. But, as we have seen is the past, when Putin tries to put forward a plan, for any particular side in this war, tries to put forward a plan for a peace settlement. Those suggesting it, too often, reject it out of hand. These sides so far apart than what is happening on the ground. Such a seismic change in the tempo on the battlefield. Errol.
BARNETT: Nick Paton Walsh live for us this morning in Turkey. Nick, thank you. Cities in ruins. Thousands of people dead. Hundreds of them, children. We turn at this point to Yemen's forgotten war. And a wounded child's cry, don't bury me.
CHURCH: This is a hard story to tell. His death and his simple plea bring a human catastrophe into sharp focus around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: We have known for some time now that our planet has been warming. On Wednesday, scientists announced no other month has ever been as warm as September 2015.
CHURCH: And our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now. Is this reason to be concerned? With this September maybe we'll get warmer months that follow from there?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It potentially could be. Yes. This trend of warm months. This is the fifth consecutive warmest month on record. You think about this. Weather records have been kept since January of 1800. You do the math on that. That's 1,629 months worth of weather data. September 2015 is the very top. Ones before, two, three, four, five, all the way down out of 1600 months of observed weather record. And there is some evidence suggesting this is the warmest month as far as September 2015 in 1600 years. And they're using ice core data, ocean sediments, tree rings all of them very reliable when it comes to being able to dissect what is happening in the atmosphere.
We'll break all of this down here because it is a fascinating study. You take a look at the global observation from January 2015 to September of 2015. The predominant color very easy to see, with the color red dominating the picture. Notice a couple of spots the (inaudible) region and across parts of Canada. Northern tip. Southern tip of South Africa there. South America there. Then of course, northern areas of the Atlantic Ocean. We have the lone spots with temperatures below normal. Everybody else, a warming trend in place.
Take a look at the 1984 to 2010. The warming trend. Planetary wide. Northern hemisphere wide. Southern hemisphere wide. It is certainly in place. Evidence suggesting you can go back as far as the year 600 as before the Mayan civilization. The last time the temperatures were this warm on the planet. They take ice core, for example. They go down, topping the modern times every several hundred meters down you go back further back in time. And within it, they are trapped air bubbles. They can actually analyze the CO2 concentration. Very powerful green house gas. You can see the temperature melting down some ice. And also, looking at the molecular breakdown. And fascinating to think the months living now could be warmest since the year 600 based on again reliable data when it comes to ice core, tree rings, sediment, and as such across the planet.
We'll leave you with this since we're running out of time. We have a close call with an asteroid I want to tell you about. Incredible story. This particular asteroid going to be the largest asteroid to be coming this close to our planet on Halloween. It will come within about 300,000 miles. The distance of the earth to the moon. Comes with close proximity of that. Only discovered two weeks ago. It is sobering to think. Very close. It will not hit. But very close.
BARNETT: Interesting. Thank you for that.
(CROSSTALK)
JAVAHERI: I appreciate it.
BARNETT: Now, the pollution-causing climate change. The pollution- causing climate change. Poisoning our air in places like New Delhi, which has been labeled the most polluted city on earth.
CHURCH: Yeah. According to the World Health organization, air pollution is more than 15 times what's considered safe to breathe. New Delhi making an effort declaring Thursday a car free day. CNN's Bureau Chief Ravi Agrawal joins us with more. Ravi, really a car free morning there. Along the road behind you. Also, a holiday as well. Still though how did it go?
RAVI AGRAWAL, CNN BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Errol, you know, so-so is what I would say. You can see a number of rickshaws and other cars already around me. This is one of the quietest streets in Delhi, this stretch between India gate and the president's house is where the cycle rally in the morning was to end. It was the state chief minister on a bicycle bringing other people along with him. Now, when I was traveling around in the morning, I was chatting with people and drove around for a bit as well. Very few people actually knew that today was meant to be about car-free day awareness. There is a very long way to go. Errol. BARNETT: Well, at least it's a very first step. Ravi Agrawal live
for us this morning in, this afternoon in New Delhi. Thank you.
CHURCH: Of course, major cities around the world are struggling with pollution.
BARNETT: And many correspondents are living in those cities. Let's begin in Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As beautiful as Paris may bet 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 trucks and buses in the streets of Paris. Something that will be expanded in the coming years to include newer models and eventually will include diesel powered vehicles banned from streets of Paris by 2020.
All of this does not have to do with health concerns. 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 environmentalists who are expected to attend. Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tokyo, one of the largest metropolitan areas, with millions of people, cars, and industry to go with it. And yet, pollution here, not a very big problem. In fact, compared to large Asian cities, Tokyo consistently ranks near or at the top of most air quality lists. It hasn't always been this way. Take the Sumida River now. Clean now. It was dark with pollution in the industrial booms of the 50s and 60s. It took decades of environmental reforms before the problem was largely solved by the mid-1990s. Moving forward with a commitment to renewable energy, Japan's policies, perhaps, now a model for other Asian countries dealing with pollution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Got a bit of a snapshot there. Next, Marty McFly himself appeared on late night TV to show off a brand new gadget straight from Back to the Future. We'll show you what it was. That's coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JAVAHERI: Starting off your Thursday. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for CNN Weather Watch. And a wet weather pattern shaping up around parts of the southern U.S. Especially, back out towards the southwest and south central region of the U.S. as we're watching a storm system more gets way in this direction. Also, some tropical moisture coming up towards the latter portion of the week. Put it together, it could potentially be a drought buster for parts of Texas. In fact, the models really light up. Rainfall amounts. Potential,
extremely high for rainfall on the order of 300 millimeters, around the Dallas Metroplex region. You're talking about a major city. A concrete jungle. Resulting in tremendous run-off. And flash flood potential across the region. Look at your forecast to be in the upper 20s. The area. Atlanta, 23. A mild day around New York City. Chicago in on a few showers. We advance here over the next couple days. Temperatures cooling off much more rapidly Friday into Saturday. Also, watching tropical storm Patricia, poised to become hurricane Patricia. Impact the next couple hours. Wouldn't be surprised. Rapidly developing. The tract takes it later this week. We think sometime around Friday into Saturday. Manzanita, Puerto Vallarta, some of these resort communities certainly could be impacted by a strong category 2 hurricane over that region. Take you out to Havana, temperatures around 30 with partly cloudy skies.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Okay. Everyone is remembering the predictions made famous in 1989 by the iconic sci-fi movie Back to the Future 2. One of them is that the Chicago Cubs would win the World Series in 2015.
BARNETT: But, sadly for Cubs' fans that will not come true. Chicago was swept out of the baseball playoffs Wednesday night by the New York Mets. So, as they say in Chicago, as they have been saying for 108 years, there is always next time.
CHURCH: Well, you never know. So, the movie didn't get everything right. But, a few of those predictions are closer to reality.
BARNETT: That's right. And if we are lucky, we may see within of the gadgets on our feet someday. Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Cars.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nice shoes!
MOOS: And self-lacing shoes. And toys for grownups from Back to the Future.
CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, ACTOR: Great scot.
MOOS: Though none of them flew. There was a deluge of deloreans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Delorean.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Delorean is still cool.
MOOS: Parked outside New York TV studios.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The flux capacitor is in full effect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help him get out of the car.
MOOS: It even parked inside the studio.
KELLY RIPA, KELLY AND MICHAEL HOST: Is that your car?
MICHAEL J. FOX, ACTOR: No. That's not my car.
MOOS: But, it was Michael J. Fox's self-lacing shoes that would become the breaking news. For all the years, Back to the Future provided hope for those who think that this is too much trouble. Even Marty McFly was impressed.
FOX: No more laces. Alright.
MOOS: The shoes designed by Nike didn't actually lace themselves. It was low-tech movie magic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was guys under the floor that pulled the laces to make them actually tighten up.
MOOS: Twenty-six years later, the dream shoe has come true.
JIMMY KIMMEL, TALK SHOW HOST: Are those the shoes?
FOX: These are the Air Mag.
MOOS: Nike designer and Vice President Tinker Hatfield, sent Michael J. Fox a letter saying though the projected started as science fiction, we are now proud to turn the fiction into fact. We wanted you to be the first to receive a living pair. They sure sound like they're alive.
KIMMEL: They lace up on their own?
FOX: Yeah. See the thing?
MOOS: Nike says the new system senses the wearer's motion. A limited release of Nike Mags will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson's research. Nike says there will be further testing. No word on when they might be sold to the general public. Talk about shoes that breathe. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: That's just a little annoying.
CHURCH: Great advertising for Nike. The hover board that everyone wants though.
BARNETT: This is the thing though. As a millennial, watching these movies in the 80s, you think, wow, the future will be exciting and encourages people to invent those things in real life. Someone need to get on the hover board. We're still waiting.
CHURCH: Well, they have tried, but people just keep falling off them.
BARNETT: Thanks for joining us, everyone. Our two hours are up. I'm Errol Barnett.
CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. Early start is coming up for our viewers in the U.S.
BARNETT: And for everyone else, stay tuned to another edition of CNN Newsroom.
CHURCH: And before we go. Just a quick reminder. You can always follow us on social media. See you back here soon. We want to hear from you.
BARNETT: Have a great day, guys.
CHURCH: Have a great day.
