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CNN International: Biden Urges House to Vote on Foreign Aid Bill; Blinken Speaks to Paul Whelan; Powerful Nor'easter Blankets Parts of Northern United States in Snow; Dow Falling More Than 500 Points on Tuesday; Hostage Talks in Cairo; Concerns Over Potential Rafah Ground Offensive; Modi Inaugurates First Hindu Temple in UAE; Indonesia General Election; Lloyd Austin Released from Hospital; Zelenskyy Welcoming the Passage of Aid Package by U.S. Senate; Paramount Global to Cut Around 800 Jobs; Trinidad and Tobago Oil Spill Mystery; World Aquatics Championship. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired February 14, 2024 - 04:30   ET

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

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[04:30:00]

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. If you're just joining us, here are some of today's top stories. A Ukrainian defense official says its drones sank a prominent Russian warship in the Black Sea. We're told that the drones damaged the large landing vessel beyond repair. And so far, there's been no word on casualties.

But this footage posted on Telegram follows an alleged missile as it approaches the warship. Then we see a fiery explosion. Now, CNN can't confirm the claims and there hasn't been a comment from the Kremlin yet, but we'll keep you updated.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is now out of the hospital and working from home. He was admitted for a bladder issue on Sunday and treated without surgery. So, he's expected to return to the Pentagon later this week.

And one person was killed and at least five others injured after a car slammed into the emergency room of a hospital in Austin, Texas. You can see people running to escape as smoke filled the room and tires continued to spin and screech. Police say it was not an intentional act.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcoming the passage of a $95 billion aid package by the U.S. Senate. But not all of the money would go to Ukraine. Some of it's for Israel's military, and other funding is for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. The bill still has to pass the House, where it's not clear if Speaker Mike Johnson will even bring it up for a vote. But Zelenskyy is urging U.S. lawmakers to do the right thing.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I thank each of the 70 senators who voted in the affirmative. Ukraine appreciates it very much. This was the first step. Next step is the House of Representatives and the vote of the congressmen there. We expect a positive decision. We hope for our principled support. And we believe that America will continue to be a leader.

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FOSTER: The U.S. Supreme Court wants to hear from Special Counsel Jack Smith regarding Donald Trump's claim that he's immune from criminal prosecution. Chief Justice John Roberts has asked Smith for a response by next week to Trump's appeal of a lower court ruling denying him immunity. The former president is hoping to delay his election subversion trial until after November's presidential vote.

NOBILO: Smith is eager to speed up the proceedings and will likely file his response before the February 20th deadline. The high court could decide to take up the immunity issue, let the lower court ruling stand, or send it back to the full appeals court.

[04:35:00]

Right now, votes are being counted in Indonesia in what's being billed as the world's biggest single day election. More than 200 million voters cast their ballots today to elect a new president, and more than 20,000 national provincial lawmakers.

FOSTER: The presidential race was a three-way battle between the current defense minister and two former governors. And according to state media, early unofficial results show one of them already leading by a wide margin. Anna Coren joining us with Hong Kong with more.

When we say a wide margin, we're talking tens of millions of people. It's an epic election, isn't it?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Overwhelming majority, Max. That would be Prabowo Subianto. According to Quick Count, which is unofficial votes, vote ruling, yes, he has won an overwhelming number of votes. More than 60 percent of votes counted, shows that he's won almost 60 percent of the vote.

Now, in the last hour, there were reports that Prabowo arrived at the presidential palace, and look, if he has, in fact, won more than 50 percent of the vote, he will be Indonesia's next president. Now, Prabowo is a former general who ruled under the Suharto dictatorship. He's accused of human rights abuses, and at one point wasn't allowed to enter the United States or Australia.

He's run in the past two elections and lost to President Joko Widodo. And at the time, falsely claimed that the vote had been stolen, or perhaps, you know, third time is a charm. 72-year-old Prabowo has -- had a dramatic image makeover, thanks in part to a slick PR and social media campaign.

And look, just as important to this perceived transformation is the endorsement by President Jokowi, whose eldest son, 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is Prabowo running mate. Now, Jokowi had a two-term limit and therefore cannot run again.

Prabowo's rivals, Anies Baswedan, he was the former governor of Jakarta, and Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java. Look, they're both credible candidates, but clearly not as popular.

The main issues of this election, the economy, jobs, education, and eradicating corruption. Look, half of Indonesia's voters, they're under the age of 40. So, this is a very young electorate. And conducting this election, as you mentioned before, a colossal and massive task. We have to remember Indonesia is an archipelago made up of 17,000 islands of which 7,000 are inhabited. So, officials had to go on horseback, helicopter, boats, you know, they even had to trek to some of the remote places to deliver ballots.

Now, this election was seen as a referendum on the legacy of Jokowi, whose popularity is very much based on the country's solid economic record under his 10-year reign. And Prabowo -- Prabowo, I should say, he has campaigned as a continuity candidate. But some analysts in Indonesia believe that a deal, in fact, has been done between Prabowo and Jokowi that would allow Jokowi to wield influence behind the scenes once his term ends in October. Maxi and Bianca.

FOSTER: Good stuff. Anna in Hong Kong, thank you so much.

Now, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is in the United Arab Emirates right now for the inauguration of Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple.

FOSTER: The prime minister was greeted with a hug by the UAE's president. Mr. Modi is hoping to boost his credentials as a global statesman months before he heads to the polls, where he's seeking a rare third term in power.

But back home, Muslims in India say they feel marginalized and threatened by the Hindu nationalist policies of his ruling party, the BJP. CNN's Vedika Sud joins us now live from New Delhi.

Vedika, why is the UAE embracing Modi right now? What do they both have to gain from this relationship?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Well, I think they've been warming up to him for a while now, Bianca. Remember, this is his seventh visit to the UAE since the year 2015. He was -- he came into power in the year 2014, and this is his third visit to the UAE in the last eight months itself. That too, in an election year.

In about two months from now, India is expected to hold its national elections. You see very few leaders moving around outside their country just ahead of a general election and Modi's doing that. That in itself should indicate how important the UAE is to Modi.

Now, coming to your point. In the year 2022, India and UAE signed the Free Trade Agreement, the bilateral ties and -- the bilateral trade ties rather between the two countries stand at about $90 billion. So, that in itself, again, goes to prove why they've been warming up to each other for a while. UAE is the fourth biggest investor in India as well.

And what's really important here to note also is of the 9 million people who live in the UAE, 3.5 million are Indian expats. They are the biggest group within the UAE, including the Emiratis. So, those are some stats that prove how important and significant this relationship between the two countries has been.

[04:40:00]

But you know, while Islam is the official religion in the UAE, back home, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has been heavily criticized for further marginalizing the minority community, the Muslim community, which constitute about 14 percent of India's 1.4 billion population through the Hindu nationalist policies that you were talking about.

In the last 16 days itself, two mosques have been demolished. And according to authorities, they've been demolished because these were illegal encroachments. But when you speak to the Muslims on the ground, they say they feel like second-class citizens.

So, while the Indian prime minister today will be inaugurating that temple, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, what's going to happen is also a lot of criticism back home will continue over why these incidents have been taking place. In fact, last Wednesday, Amnesty International also called on the Modi government to stop what it called, and I quote them here, "widespread unlawful demolitions of Muslims homes, businesses, places of worship through bulldozers and other machinery."

Now, coming back to the temple, that will be inaugurated in a couple of hours from now. It's built on a sprawling 27 acres of land. This is the first traditional Hindu temple that we're seeing in Abu Dhabi. Like you pointed out, it's made of pink stones -- pink sandstone rather, and columns topped by seven spires representing the number of shakes that rule each off the Emirates.

So, from -- in about two hours from now, we're going to see that temple being inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Like you said, he got a warm welcome in the UAE, a god of honor. And also, did address the summit, the world government summit some minutes back. Back to you.

NOBILO: Vedika Sud in New Delhi, thank you so much.

Extreme winds in Australia's Victoria State have knocked out power for some 22,000 customers. The powerful gusts have downed transmission lines and trees, smashing homes and cars as well. One man was killed in Southern Victoria by flying debris.

FOSTER: In the western part of the state, crews are struggling to contain three bushfires sparked by lightning on Tuesday. Five firefighters have been injured. Calmer weather is in the forecast, but authorities warn the risk -- the fire risk at least, isn't over yet.

More fallout for Boeing in the wake of that door plug blowing out of a 737 MAX 9 jet whilst it was in the air earlier this month. Now, the airplane manufacturer says one customer ordered three 737 MAX planes in January, but three other orders were cancelled, adding up to zero net orders for that period. That makes it the company's worst month for new plane orders since the height of the pandemic.

NOBILO: Meantime, citing the Boeing door plug issue, safety investigators are urging the Federal Aviation Administration to require all planes to expand the length of voice cockpit recorders from just two hours to 25 hours.

I hope at least this acts as an additional incentive to prioritize safety above all else, because it has such a devastating economic impact on all the companies involved.

FOSTER: Yes, I mean, the bolts weren't done up properly, effectively. It's a very simple issue. But one that should be obvious.

NOBILO: Just days after the Super Bowl broke ratings and advertising records, Paramount Global is announcing layoffs. The media giant owns the U.S. broadcast network, CBS, and the streaming service, Paramount Plus.

FOSTER: Sources say around 800 employees or 3 percent of the company's workforce will be impacted. Paramount joins a number of media companies making major staffing cuts this year, including the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, and Time as well.

Now, still to come, it's been a week since an oil spill in Trinidad and Tobago, and authorities still have no idea of who's responsible or whose ship it was. What we know about the investigation so far when we return.

NOBILO: Very mysterious.

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[04:45:00]

NOBILO: Crews from Trinidad and Tobago are working to clean up an oil spill that's affected much of the island nation's beaches. It's been a week since an overturned ship was discovered leaking oil into the ocean and surrounding area, in what Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister has classified as a national emergency.

Now, Max, you've been following this story. It is deeply mysterious because essentially, we don't know who the ship belonged to, we don't know where it came from, or what it contained completely. So, what do we know?

FOSTER: Also, we don't know -- you know, there was no alert signals. There's no signs of life on board. I mean, it's a difficult one for journalism because we're not getting the information. As a result, you know, online, you're seeing all of these theories blowing up about this ghost ship and what it might have contained and what it was doing, who's running it. I think it's a really unusual example. Obviously, we've got these images as well of the damage that was caused, but the government is now saying that's pretty much in control. But everyone really wondering what on earth happened. And, you know, because it's upside down, there's even less information.

NOBILO: And are we hearing anything from the government, any breadcrumbs of information, and who is doing this investigation?

FOSTER: So, the prime minister has done press conferences and saying, you know, focus on the cleanup, but admitting they just don't know who's responsible for the ship or, you know, what it was doing, which is extraordinary because it's relatively close to land.

NOBILO: Yes.

FOSTER: I think it is probably one of those situations where they've just been caught out. But, you know, there's a lot of suspicion out there. I mean, there's also, you know, this annoying accusation that comes up in these situations that mainstream media haven't been covering it and we've been covering it from the start and they actually found out from it from us. But apart from that it's, you know, who might be covering up if there is cover up. But we have just haven't found any evidence of one.

NOBILO: Yes, and that's always the difficulty, isn't it, with the absence of information, we can't go wall to wall on it because we actually have nothing verified to contribute. But we -- whenever we do get anything, we'll let you know.

FOSTER: We're working on it.

Now, an Iranian athlete, meanwhile, honored for a lifetime of dedication to his sport. And despite his age, he's not slowing down. Much like myself.

NOBILO: Yes.

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[04:50:00]

FOSTER: A big night for one of the biggest men in NBA history. It makes him sound really tall. I mean, he is tall.

NOBILO: Yes.

FOSTER: Shaquille O'Neil was on hand at the Kia Center at the Orlando Magic as the Orlando Magic retired hi number 32 Jersey. Shaq was drafted by the team in 1992. He played four seasons with the Magic averaging more than 27 points and 12 rebounds per game. Like me in my heyday. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat have already raised Shaq's jersey to their rafters.

NOBILO: You know, he is obviously a very imposing man. He's very tall. He's very big. And once I got amazing concert tickets, and I was in the second row from the front, and I was like, yes. FOSTER: And he sat in front of you, you couldn't see anything?

NOBILO: He was in front of me, that is true.

FOSTER: That's a good story.

NOBILO: They say age is nothing but a number, and they might be right, because take a look at this Iranian diver. He, unbelievably, is 100 years old. The oldest competitor in the World Aquatics Masters Championship in Doha, Qatar.

After his exhibition dive into the pool on Friday, he became a bit emotional as he was presented with a special medal. He's been diving since he was a teenager, winning silver and bronze medals at the first ever Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951. And he's won nine Iranian national titles overall, earning the last one when he was 41. That's so inspiring.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: DunKing.

BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: Don't, don't go away with my heart. Why you dunking me girl? Why you dunking me?

CROWD: Dunking.

AFFLECK: My heart.

[04:55:00]

MATT DAMON, ACTOR: How do you like them donuts? I'm so sorry.

AFFLECK: You had to see it, but I forgive you. Lay us on --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBILO: How do you like them tracksuits? You can now score the Boy Band look of the Dunkins, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Tom Brady from the Dunkin Super Bowl commercial.

The Boston based donut and coffee chain is selling the sweatpants and jacket for $60 each on shop dunkin.com. The pink fuzzy hat from the ad is also going for $40, but some of the items inexplicably have already sold out.

They say money can't buy love, but at least on Valentine's Day, a lot of people are still trying. A new survey finds that Americans plan to spend just over $14 billion on their spouse or significant other this Valentine's Day, which is a record high. Much of that spending will come from those in their 20s and 30s.

FOSTER: All right. Candy tops the list for Valentine's gifts, followed by greeting cards, flowers, and then evening out and jewelry. I have obviously had fail of the year today.

NOBILO: Yes, tell us.

FOSTER: I got everything, put it in my bag, went home with it, rediscovered it, still in my bag, on the way to work today.

NOBILO: So, this was your Valentine's card for your wife?

FOSTER: Yes.

NOBILO: That you just had in your work bag?

FOSTER: I sent her a photo prove -- provide evidence, and guess what I discovered?

NOBILO: What?

FOSTER: The card from her in my bag.

NOBILO: See? She's just a few steps ahead of you.

FOSTER: I failed miserably.

NOBILO: This is why you complete each other.

FOSTER: It's true.

NOBILO: Happy Valentine's Day, Hannah.

FOSTER: Thanks for joining us here on CNN Newsroom. I'm Max Foster.

NOBILO: And I'm Bianca Nobilo. "Early Start" is up next, right here on CNN.

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