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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Three Americans Held in North Korea Urge U.S. Help; U.K. Anti- Terror Measures; Separatist Rebels Advance in Ukraine

Aired September 02, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning: the U.S. going after terrorists in Somalia. What we are learning about the new operation and who the U.S. government is targeting.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now. The United States calling for North Korea to release three imprisoned Americans. The prisoners calling for help in an exclusive television interview with CNN. Could this lead to direct negotiations now with North Korea? We are live with the very latest this morning.

ROMANS: The FBI now investigating a massive photo celebrity hack. Several stars admitting their private nude pictures have been leaked online, raising new concerns about the security and safety of iCloud.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: Great to see you today. I'm John Berman. Thirty minutes past the hour. We do have breaking news this morning from Somalia.

Word of the United States military operation targeting the al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia. The Pentagon has acknowledged launching this operation, says it is assessing the results right now of the mission.

According to Somalia officials, the attack appeared to target an al- Shabaab camp where leaders were meeting. They say at least four missiles were fired on a convoy. Now it is not known how many of that military group's leaders may have been killed in this strike or if the head of the militant, Ahmed Godane, was injured or not.

The United States designated al-Shabaab as foreign terrorist organization back in 2008. It was the group that claimed responsibility for the siege of the mall in Nairobi and Kenya last September which 67 people were killed.

The families of three Americans detained in North Korea are hoping the attention generated by their CNN interviews will trigger action by the Obama administration to secure their release. Kenneth Bae, Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle all being held for alleged crimes by the repressive and very secretive regime.

CNN had unprecedented access to the three Americans who spoke to our Will Ripley in closely monitored interviews in which they pleaded with the government to help bring them home. Even calling for a high- profile U.S. envoy to visit North Korea and negotiate their release.

Our Will Ripley just left North Korea, just arrived in Beijing this morning where I think, Will, you can speak a little more openly about this interview.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, it really was remarkable that we were given access to all three of these -- of these American detainees. They have had no contact with each other. Don't -- didn't even really know of each other's existence. They obviously -- both of them knew about Kenneth Bae. He's been in the news for nearly two years now. That he's been in North Korea.

But Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle, they had heard that possibly other Americans were being held. They didn't know the details. And yet they were in rooms, just a matter of feet from each other inside this hotel.

You talked about the North Korean government's motivations here making these men available for an interview with CNN. To open up a line of communication with the United States. But there's another issue here at play that's very important to the North Korean government. And that is their image around the world. They are politically untouchable by a lot of different countries, in part because of their military activities, but also because of a record of alleged human rights abuses.

So one of the messages that all three of these men put forth to us is that they are being treated humanely. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY FOWLE, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: This is an opportunity for maybe Bill Clinton to come back. And he had secured the release a couple of journalists a few years back. Maybe George Bush, it's his turn, now a statesman, to try his hand with that. I would appreciate any help that they could lend. To resolve our cases and bring us home.

KENNETH BAE, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I do believe a special envoy needs to come in order to resolve the situation that I am in right now.

MATTHEW MILLER, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I have been requesting help for a long time and there's been no movement from my government. The American government is known for having a strong policy of protecting its citizens. For my case, there's still no movement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: All three of them giving a similar message that they want someone from the United States government to come and help them. But also in the interview, they spoke about the fact that they are well fed, that they are receiving medical care. North Korea, even the "Pyongyang Times," which I was reading on the

plane flight here to Beijing, there was an article here where they basically accused the United States of lying about human rights abuses in North Korea. And so by showing these three Americans in good condition, this was another opportunity for the North Korean government to, on a wide platform, try to prove that people's rights in that country are not being violated.

But then you have reports from the United Nations saying that millions are going hungry and you have other reports from Amnesty International saying that more than 200,000 people are in prison camps right now being severely abused and people are dying as a result.

BERMAN: No. And it is a mixed message. They are obviously showing these men are healthy and well, despite the fact that they are being detained on charges that seem odd here in the United States, including leaving a bible in a hotel room.

But nevertheless, Will Ripley, it's an important message to get out so people here in the United States can see they are well and see what the United States government will do now, perhaps to negotiate their safe return.

Will Ripley for us in Beijing, thank you so much.

ROMANS: After watching her brother's CNN interview, Kenneth Bae's sister is again calling for U.S. government officials to help secure his release. Terri Chung says she was surprised CNN was allowed to speak to her brother. But she knows the North Korean regime does things for a reason. So it was hard for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRI CHUNG, KENNETH BAE'S SISTER: It's painful to just watch him time after time being put on camera by the DPRK officials to make the same plea to our government. We are thankful for the ongoing efforts they have been making. We know that they have been working hard behind the scenes. The fact remains, he's still there after two years.

So, you know, I think we reiterate our plea in saying, you know, at times -- if there was ever a time to step up the efforts it's now. You know, they're signaling a window. Please respond. Please bring him home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Terri Chung is also asking the government in Pyongyang to have mercy on her brother who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor and is now serving that prison term.

BERMAN: The threat from ISIS will be among the issues at the top of the agenda when President Obama and NATO leaders meet later this week at a summit. British Prime Minister -- the British prime minister is taking steps to diminish the terror threat inside that country. David Cameron unveiling a wrath of measures to restrict the movement of would-be jihadists and slap penalties on airlines if they do not comply.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is following developments for us. He is live in London this morning.

Good morning, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Certainly the fight against radical Islam are part of -- a major part of David Cameron's battle plan as he was unveiling it yesterday. Among the measures he's putting forward increased police powers so that they can seize passports at airports and question people, to stop them heading off to conflict zones in the first place.

He's also calling for tighter no-fly lists, much as already operated in the United States to stop people boarding planes if there is any suspicion they might be up to no good. Perhaps one of the most radical new proposals is the idea that once Britons do head out of the country and go and join ISIS or other jihadi groups, that they will simply be excluded from every returning back to Britain. A kind of modern day banishment.

Added to that as well, so-called control orders or terrorist prevention measures in the U.K. which instead of taking somebody to court, trying them, convicting them and jailing them, simply these orders could be put in place on suspicion to stop people associating with colleagues to stop them plotting at terror plots but just on the suspicion rather than hard evidence.

Now of course a lot of these measures now have to be debated by parliament, by all lawmakers. And there are certainly concerns that perhaps some of the measures that David Cameron has put forward may be not legally -- legal either in domestic terms or in international terms. And also, parliamentarian says there's going to be a robust debate to make sure civil liberties are not sacrificed in this attempt to crack down on radical Islam -- John.

BERMAN: All right, Karl Penhaul for us in London. Thank you so much.

These ISIS terrorists now accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in Iraq. U.N. officials say more than 1400 Iraqis were killed and another 1300 wounded just last month in acts of terrorism and violence. And that most of the casualties were civilians. U.S. airstrikes keep pounding away at ISIS targets in Iraq including several near that strategic dam in Mosul.

ROMANS: Dozens of U.N. peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights. Officials say the -- excuse me, the al Qaeda-linked group al-Nusra Front has issued a set of demands for their release. Over the weekend, a group of trapped Filipino peacekeepers managed to escape those rebels.

BERMAN: The legality of the NSA's bulk collection of phone records faces a test in federal court today in New York. The panel of judges will be the first appeals court to address the controversial surveillance program. Today's hearing stems from a suit filed by the ACLU that says the bulk collection of phone metadata is a violation of privacy and federal law.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an EARLY START on your money this Tuesday morning. European shares are up. Asian shares ended the day higher. U.S. -- the U.S. market is back from the Labor Day holiday today and futures are higher on the first day of trading in September.

Historically, September has been the worst month for the stock market. The S&P 500 has dropped an average of half a percent in September since 1950. But even the September slump hasn't kept this bull market down in the past five years, talk about solid gains every year except 2011.

BERMAN: Pesky 2011.

ROMANS: 2011. And the U.S. economy looks healthy right now. Strong economic growth, corporate earnings, really, really strong corporate profits and job growth.

BERMAN: The FBI and Apple have launched investigations in the apparent hacking of iCloud accounts that led to alleged photos of Jennifer Lawrence and other female celebrities to be posted online. A spokesperson for Lawrence called the incident a flagrant violation of privacy and said authorities will prosecute whoever is responsible for posting these stolen photos.

So many questions about how they got access to those photos to begin with.

Millions facing a severe storm threat this morning after tornadoes tore through communities. Our Indra Petersons is tracking what you need to -- need to know for this unusual weather. That's coming up right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Parts of northern Michigan getting pounded by rough weather on Labor Day including two reported tornadoes. These storms uprooted hundreds of trees in one county and sent some of them crashing right into homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just sitting by the window. And it got real dark. And then all of a sudden, I heard a roar and just trees started falling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Thankfully no injuries were reported.

ROMANS: Our Indra Petersons has a look at your forecast.

Will we see that kind of weather again today?

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, when you take a look at the radar right now, pretty easy to see. Look at all the lightning that is out there. This line of storms continues to push off to the east. Many reports this morning of many without power even through St. Louis, thanks to that line of storms through these overnight hours.

Pretty easy to see. It's really just ahead of the cold front. They were looking at the better chance for that severe weather. If we isolate it a little bit further you'll notice it's kind of Binghamton all the way back down through looks like Cincinnati where we have the highest threat for more of that severe weather.

So that's one of the stories, the heavy rain and those thunderstorms. But how about the heat? Everyone is complaining summer is over, it's September. Not really when you talk about the feels like temperature. It feels like even July and August when you talk about the temperatures down into the south today. All really thanks to the fact that jet stream is well to the north, so all that heat really expanding.

Meanwhile, look at these temperatures. They're actually 10 to 12 degrees above normal, 92 degrees in towards New York City today. How about 98 in Dallas? And we don't stop there. Because of course we haven't added in the humidity, right? You add that and you factor it in, you got temperatures that feel like 100 degrees even out towards D.C.

No one is happy about this today. So you can't complaint September. I'm not going to say summer is over just yet.

ROMANS: Yes.

BERMAN: I can complain.

PETERSONS: I guess you can.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: I can complain. It's too hot today.

PETERSONS: You can't complain it's too cold.

ROMANS: Thanks, Indra.

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: Thank you, Indra.

Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY."

Is it true? Is he back? Chris Cuomo? Yes, it's him.

Hi, Chris. Welcome back.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: It's me.

ROMANS: You look good. Clean shaven.

CUOMO: Good to be here. Good to see you both.

ROMANS: Rested.

CUOMO: Yes. Had to shave.

BERMAN: Yes. I have to say goodness.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: That stinks. That stinks, John. Cuts deep. It will grow back in another five years.

All right, so this morning, we're going to be following breaking details about a U.S. military operation carried out in Somalia against the terror group al-Shabaab. The group's leader apparently targeted by these strikes. We're going to have a full live report with all the details and we'll get insight from terror experts about it.

We also have the latest on those three American captives in North Korea. They were given interviews. Obviously the government set it up. We're getting some White House reaction. Obviously the families, what they think about this. Now our correspondent who met with them is out of that secretive country so he can tell us what really happened and what this may be about.

Now obviously, John and Christine, this is orchestrated by the government. So they want something out of it. The question is, what is the U.S. willing to give to get these people back? The U.S. State Department says safety of U.S. citizens abroad is their top priority. How top? Is what we're going to ask today.

BERMAN: Exactly. Careful choreography from the North Koreans. Interesting to see how the U.S. will respond.

Chris Cuomo, great to have you back this morning.

ROMANS: Nice to see you, Chris.

CUOMO: OK.

BERMAN: Happening right now, what will NATO do in its response to the crisis in Ukraine. This after Ukraine's government accuses Russia of launching a great war. We are live in Ukraine with -- on what NATO plans to do, right after the break.

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ROMANS: In just a few hours, President Obama will depart for Europe. His first stop ahead of the NATO summit will be Estonia, trying to reassure our Russian neighbor concerned about its presence in Ukraine.

The Ukraine crisis will be a major focus of the summit. President Poroshenko looking to NATO leaders for help as pro-Russian separatists keep advancing in eastern Ukraine.

CNN's Reza Sayah live for us in Kiev and it's been, you say, a devastating few days, really, for the Ukrainian forces in that region.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christine. Over the past several days, Ukrainian forces taking a beating on the battlefield. Hundreds of Ukrainian forces either stopped fighting or they've retreated. Many of them trapped or encircled. And many others injured or killed. And they are losing significant ground in territory.

One of the latest losses came yesterday. A critical airfield in the rebel stronghold of Luhansk. Up until yesterday, this airfield was under complete control of Ukrainian forces. But they swiftly retreated after a fierce attack by pro-Russian rebels, who were allegedly backed by Russian tanks and troops. Of course Moscow still denies that they have troops and tanks on Ukrainian territory.

But that airfield now under the control of the rebels. The rebels also poised, seemingly for an attack on the critical port city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine. They haven't attacked yet. Whether they do or not perhaps has a lot to do with what happens on the negotiating table where seemingly pro-Russian rebels have eased off their position and their demand for an independent state in -- state in southeastern Ukraine.

Yesterday in Belarus where all sides of the conflict met, the rebels said that they'd be satisfied with some sort of guarantee for autonomy, self-determination. In return, they would accept a united and sovereign Ukraine. It seems to be a position that matches what Moscow wants, the rebels wanted. But still no response from Kiev and western capitals. No indication yet that they are close to a negotiated solution -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Reza Sayah in Kiev for us. Thanks, Reza.

BERMAN: There's more criticism this morning of Israel's claim close to 1,000 acres of land in the West Bank. This would clear the way for development of a new Israeli settlement there. Palestinians say this land grab destroys the prospect for peace. Britain has now joined the United States in asking Israel to reverse this decision.

ROMANS: Testing of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health. Researches were given the go ahead after an expedited review by the Food and Drug Administration. This will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccine in humans. It comes amid growing concern about this outbreak in West Africa. More than 3,000 people have been infected, about half of them have died.

A British patient is said to be recovering well after contracting this disease while working as a nurse in Africa. Will Pooley's parents say his appetite is improving. He remains in isolation at a London hospital.

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lands on his feet, on the street. We're going to tell you about his new job, with an EARLY START of your money, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Tuesday morning. European shares are up, Asian shares ended the day mostly higher. The U.S. market back from the Labor Day holiday today. Futures pointing up for the first day of trading in September. Now historically, September is the worst month for the market -- for the stock market but the September slump hasn't kept this bull market down over the past five years. Stocks had solid gains every year except 2011.

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has a new job on Wall Street. He recently left Congress after a shocking defeat in the Republican primary. Now he's joining the investment bank Moelis & Co as vice chairman and managing director. Cantor will have an office at the firm's New York headquarters and will open a new office for the company in Washington.

The fast food wage wars heating up again this week. Protest organizers say workers are going to walk off the job on Thursday in 150 different cities. That's going to affect McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, others. It's part of an ongoing fight for $15 an hour per pay. What protesters call a living wage. Currently the median pay in fast food work is about $9 an hour or $18,500 a year.

So I think you're going to see this talk about raising the wage and a livable wage. That's talk is going to heat up.

BERMAN: And that actually could come on Thursday.

All right. "NEW DAY" starts right now.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. U.S. terror attack. Military action in eastern Africa. A drone strike in Somalia. Who are they going after and why now? We have the breaking details.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Desperate pleas. CNN face-to-face with the three Americans held prisoner in North Korea. Their families and the U.S. government now reacting. Plus, our reporter is now out of the country. What really happened inside the interview rooms?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Air scare. Check out this video. A flight heading to Orlando suddenly has cabin pressure issues. Passengers forced to breathe through oxygen masks. You'll hear from those on board.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY, with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.