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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Tracing Ebola in the U.S.; Turkey's Tanks Line Up Facing Kobani; Militants Strike at Lebanese Border

Aired October 06, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So what's happening with these contacts is they get visits twice a day from a health care worker and their temperature is taken and the health care worker will ask them how they're feeling, will run down the list of the symptoms of Ebola to make sure that they're not experiencing any of them.

Now this helps explain how they're trying to keep Ebola from spreading within the United States, but authorities also want to keep it from arriving in the U.S. a second time. So I know when I came back from Liberia, it was just about the same time that Thomas Eric Duncan arrived and what I found was basically no screening.

Now they took my temperature in Liberia at the airport there, but they didn't take my temperature in the United States. In fact they basically had no screening for myself and my two colleagues who arrived, even though we said we were journalists arriving from Liberia who have been covering Ebola. So now federal officials say that they may start having more stringent measures which may include taking temperatures from people who've been visiting Ebola-affected countries -- John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Our thanks to Elizabeth Cohen for that report.

We also have breaking news from the Turkish border of Syria this morning. The city of Kobani is in imminent danger of falling into the ISIS fighters. The Kurdish city has been under siege for weeks. We just saw a new round of explosions from that city moments ago. But while that's going on, Turkey does seem to be preparing for the possibility that the city may fall to ISIS.

CNN producers on the scene are reportedly seeing a markedly larger Turkish military presence right on the border there with tanks and armored vehicles lining up, muzzles pointed toward Kobani.

We have to watch very carefully to see what those Turkish troops do. Meanwhile, Islamist fighters possibly with the al-Nusra Front attacked the Hezbollah checkpoint on Syria's border with Lebanon.

Let's check in now with our senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh live now with us from Beirut.

Good morning, Nick. NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, this

happened in a village near the mountains. The mountainous border area between Lebanon and Syria known as Brital yesterday. A checkpoint said to be run by Hezbollah, a key militant and political group here in Lebanon, was attacked by a large number it seems of Syrian-based militants. Some said to be aligned with the al-Nusra Front now linked to al Qaeda and the target of U.S. airstrikes in the north.

But militants increasingly have finding radicals in their ranks, they try and build up a presence in that vital border stretch. Now according to local media reports, over a dozen of those Syria-based militants were killed in this attack, brazen but also successfully repelled and some reports suggest maybe Hezbollah and militants suffered two casualties as well.

But this plays into a much wider fear here inside Lebanon. Yes, it's a stronghold for Hezbollah, but many ways that makes it a target of those radical Syrian militants. It's seen some flare-ups and violence but many think avoided the larger issues that have beset even southern Turkey and of course Iraq as well, Syria's neighbors.

The fear is could this mark something new? Many are warning of a flourishing attacks by Syrian radical militants along that border area to try and gain territory before the winter snows set in in those mountains and many, too, saying that a lot of these attacks play into the hands of those trying to use the political deadlock here to get a strong man in charge as the new president of Lebanon. We have to see, though, if we see more such attacks. We've got a lot of people concerned right now -- John.

BERMAN: You see how wide and complicated this fighting has become at this point.

Our Nick Paton Walsh in Beirut, thank you so much.

Australian fighter jets completed their first mission over Iraq in the effort to battle ISIS. Now the Australian FA-18s did not drop any bombs, instead we are told the military was on call overnight to attack targets as identified. The Australian super hornets have joined the eight-nation coalition which have all conducted attacks against ISIS forces inside Iraq over the past week.

A heart-wrenching plea this morning for the parents of the American man being held captive by ISIS. They are begging the terrorists to release their son. Abdul-Rahman Kassig's parents begging for mercy in a video released Sunday.

CNN is respecting the parents' wishes to now refer to their son by his Muslim name. The 26-year-old former Army Ranger was in Syria providing humanitarian aid when he was captured last October. His parents say they are simply torn apart.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA KASSIG, MOTHER OF ABDUL-RAHMAN KASSIG: Please know that we are all praying for you and your safe return. Most of all, know that we love you and our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so we can hug you again.

ED KASSIG, FATHER OF ABDUL-RAHMAN KASSIG: Like our son, we have no more control of the U.S. government than you have over the breaking of dawn. We implore his captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Your heart goes out to that family.

The director of the FBI is warning about a possible terror plot to attack the United States. Director James Comey telling "60 Minutes" that the al Qaeda-affiliate Khorasan may be plotting to do something very, very soon.

As for identifying and finding the hooded English speaking man in these ISIS execution videos, the director said that U.S. and British intelligence are making progress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: We are working pretty hard not to just identify and find that savage, but all of them.

SCOTT PELLEY, CBS NEWS: Do you know who he is?

COMEY: I believe we do.

PELLEY: Do you have a name?

COMEY: I have it on my head.

PELLEY: But you're not willing to share it?

COMEY: I am not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The director went on to say that the FBI knows the identities of about a dozen Americans who have joined ISIS. He insists his agency is prepared to track them very carefully should they attempt to return to the United States.

The enterovirus has now claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy in New Jersey. Eli Waller's death is the first confirmed fatality directly linked to the mysterious respiratory disease. Swelling in Eli's brain and lymph nodes was determined to be the result of the virus.

At least four other people who tested positive for enterovirus 68 have died. CDC officials are investigating whether the virus play a role in their deaths.

The next phase in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is under way. Australian transport officials say the search vessel Go Phoenix and two others will conduct detailed sonar sweeps in the Southern Indian Ocean in an effort to find the wreckage. MH-370 disappeared in March with 239 people on board. And extensive

search thus far has failed to turn up a single piece of definitive evidence as to the plane's whereabouts.

Thirty-six minutes after the hour right now. Let's check in with Indra Petersons now with an early look at the forecast.

Good morning.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know I had a rough weekend, John. Those temperatures, they went down to 30s, yes, it was with a windchill here into the north. But finally starting to feel a little bit better this morning.

I can do low 50s. New York City right now coming at about 51. Same thing out for D.C. Even Atlanta, though, is seeing those low 50s.

This is what I'm used to. What you're seeing on the West Coast. How nice is this. Almost near 70 degrees right now in through Los Angeles.

So let's talk about that. Yes. It is cold. So yes, frost and freeze advisories are already out there. The seasons have definitely changed. But we're going to be watching today is going to be a threat for rain. We're going to watch the cold front, continue to push off to the East today. It will bring a chance for severe weather. So that's going to be monitoring some of the hubs we're going to be looking at.

Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Jackson, Little Rock, even out towards Shreveport. This is where we're going to see the concentration of the heaviest thunderstorms out there. Even isolated tornadoes. That's going to be looking for. But more likely you're going to see some portions of large hail, even some very strong winds into that region.

Rain is not going to be too bad. Looking about maybe one to two inches out towards Ohio Valley. But of course we do have that threat for severe weather. That's where you're going to see that enhanced rainfall amount of about two to four inches of rain in through that region. Otherwise, this is what I love to see.

See that cold air way down to south? It's lifting up. So for most of us, things are going to be improving. That warm weather is going to be not to sting, and the south will make its way a little bit farther to the north.

I know it's been a rough in the south. Temperatures there still into the 90s. Maybe not good news for you, but everyone up in here, I'm telling you, we like this. It's going to feel a lot better over the next several days. Boston, notice, 60s already today, 70s by the time we get in through tomorrow. New York City, same thing. 70s are making a comeback. Meanwhile even out towards D.C., hello 76 degrees by Wednesday. So yes, there are some showers coming our way, but it's warmer, John, and that's key.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: How pathetic was it this weekend with Indra --

PETERSONS: I know you --

BERMAN: Indra is on her couch sending tweets out with pictures of herself huddled with her dog.

PETERSONS: Yes.

BERMAN: It's like October here.

PETERSONS: A full-on jacket. If you notice she had that fuller fleece on. You know. It was cold. It wasn't just me. The dog feels it. I'm telling you.

BERMAN: You are a meteorologist.

PETERSONS: Yes.

BERMAN: The cold is something that you must -- have to deal with regularly.

PETERSONS: With many layers, I do.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to you.

Thirty-eight minutes after the hour. Roman Catholic leaders kicking off a landmark meeting. Why Pope Francis is convening these leaders from around the world in this unprecedented gathering. That's coming up on EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Good news for the Catholic Church. In Rome this morning, Pope Francis convening a landmark two-week meeting of Catholic leaders from around the world. The focus is the family and how to better present their teachings on sometimes controversial issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and divorce.

CNN's Delia Gallagher is live in Rome.

A lot of expectations about this meeting, Delia.

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, it's interesting. We don't often have an opportunity to see bishops and cardinals from around the world come together for two weeks to hash out their opinions on hot button topics such as same-sex marriage, divorce, polygamy, and teen mothers, annulment and so on.

There are a number of important issues on the table. The floor is open. Pope Francis just said moments ago to the assembly that he wanted this discussion to be free and open. And that the bishops and cardinals should not feel afraid to express their opinion just because the Pope is there and might not agree with them.

The topics have been chosen because the Vatican sent out a survey last year to Catholics around the world to see what were the challenges that families faced in the real world. Pope Francis has said from the beginning of this pontificate, he wants a church that's not a useless structure, that really is involved in the lives and homes of people around the world.

So this is a preliminary discussion in terms of expectations, nobody is expecting any real change to come out of these meetings. However, there is another meeting next year in October. Same topics. So whatever they come up with in the next two weeks are going to be recommendations for next year. And any real changes, if there are any, will be made at that time -- John.

BERMAN: All right. Delia Gallagher in Rome. Thanks so much. We'll keep our eye on those meeting and what comes out of them.

Meanwhile, we do have some breaking news this morning. Nobel Prize awarded to tell you about from the world of science. The Nobel Prize of Medicine just announced awarded to John O'Keefe and the married couple May-Britt and Edvard Moser. It recognizes their work on cells to build a positioning system in the brain. It's thought the work could lead to new treatments in the world for Alzheimer's disease.

Nobel Prize for Medicine to those three people. Our congratulations to them. It means Chris Cuomo once again came up short in his quest for a Nobel Prize but physics, chemistry, still not out there.

Still not over yet for you, Chris. What's up on "NEW DAY?"

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Look, I believe every day is a "NEW DAY", John. And this does not blunt my efforts to win that prize. It's well within reach. That said, I do respect the Mosers especially. And the other people who won.

And I respect you, J.B. That's why I'm going to move on now. We're of course covering the latest on Ebola. Not just what's going on with the disease, but the reaction to the disease as well. Obama and the -- his administration now considering increased CDC screening at major U.S. airports.

Is that about spreading the risk or is it about spreading panic?

This, as the fifth American has been diagnosed with the deadly virus. As you know now, the NBC cameraman has arrived in the U.S. from Liberia.

We're going to will cover all of this with one of the most important people -- having a tough time this morning. I have to figure out what's wrong with me. We have CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden, as well as the U.S. general who is leading the joint forces command in Liberia. Remember a lot of U.S. troops getting sent down there.

And the woman leading the USAID's humanitarian response to Ebola in West Africa will be on as well. So we'll get all of these different areas covered. And then most importantly perhaps we're going to have infectious expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, back on the show. He's going to be talking to us about what we should do going forward.

How big is the risk, John, because, you know, as you know, that's the balance. OK. We're all worried about this. But there's nothing really to worry about yet so it's about analyzing our preparedness. And again, people get scared easily. You know, nobody wants to get something that they can't recover from. So we're going to try and take us through and get the people who can answer the questions for us this morning.

BERMAN: That's exactly right. And you do have those people with you, Chris, those people very much at the center of the battle against Ebola here in the United States and in those three West African nations. We look forward to that discussion.

Thanks so much, Chris.

CUOMO: Thanks, J.B.

BERMAN: Please help end this nightmare. Those words from the parents of missing college student Hannah Graham. The 18-year-old University of Virginia sophomore vanished last month. Yesterday, her parents made another emotional plea for her safe return. Authorities even upped the reward to find her to the sum $100,000.

With tears in her eyes and her husband by her side, Sue Graham begged anyone with information to come forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUE GRAHAM, MOTHER OF HANNAH GRAHAM: Despite all of your efforts, Hannah is still missing. Somebody listening to me today either knows where Hannah is or knows someone who has that information. We appeal to you to come forward and tell us where Hannah can be found.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Other news this morning, protesters in Hong Kong ignoring an order to disperse. Will that government crackdown? We are live in Hong Kong next.

This is EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Hong Kong authorities and protesters remain at a standoff this morning. Pro-democracy activists ignored a government deadline to disperse, but they also decided to allow city workers to enter offices that had been blocked last week. Student activists say they have met with government representatives paving the way for future talks to diffuse the crisis.

A new apology from Vice President Joe Biden. He has offered regrets now to Turkey and the United Emirates for comments made last week during an appearance at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The vice president suggested that U.S.-Arab allies are partly to blame for strengthening ISIS and other militant groups.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our allies in the region were our largest problem in Syria. The Saudis, the Emiratis, et cetera. What were they doing? They were so determined to take down Assad and essentially have a proxy Sunni/Shia war. What do they do? They poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens -- thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad, except that the people who were being -- who were being supplied were al- Nusra and al Qaeda and extremist elements of jihadists coming from other parts of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Doesn't mean he wasn't right, but he's still apologizing. The White House says that the vice president spoke to the crowned prince of Abu Dhabi by phone to say he did not intend to imply that the UAE supported terrorists.

The manhunt for a suspected cop killer in Pennsylvania is now in its fourth week. Eric Frein is accused of ambushing two state troopers, killing one and wounding the other. A possible sighting was reported on Sunday. Police have food, ammunition and supplies believed to be Frein's in the rugged, heavily wooded searched area in northeast Pennsylvania. But so far he has managed to avoid capture.

A new huge recall this morning and this one could have an impact on what is on your dinner table tonight. What you need to know, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: A new recall and a milestone for General Motors. More than 60,000 vehicles involved in this latest recall. Pontiac G-8 and Chevy Caprice models may have ignition problems and Cadillacs are being called back because of a fuel pump issue. The latest recall brings this year's total to 30 million for General Motors.

Hewlett-Packard may be heading for a split. That's according to "The Wall Street Journal." The iconic maker of personal computers and printers could break off into two separate companies by spinning off its technology services business. The break-up would create one company that sells HP's computers and printers, a second company that focuses on technology services including data storage, servers and software.

The hope would be that each one of those separate companies would somehow be more nimble and be more able to respond to market vagrancies.

It's been a huge beef recall in Texas. Sam Kane Beef Processors recalled more than 90,000 pounds of products after four people reported finding pieces of metals in the beef. The packages were produced between September 9th and September 18th. All of the products were shipped to retail outlets in Texas.

That's all for us this morning.

Get well, Christine Romans.

"NEW DAY" starts right now.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, the NBC cameraman affected with Ebola back in the U.S. This, as the Dallas patient's condition turns for the worst. And the last man who may have had contact with him finally found.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Stopping the spread. The CDC and the White House now considering extra screenings at airports. This as more U.S. lawmakers say all flights from Ebola stricken countries should be halted. We are covering it all.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Frightening words from the FBI director saying that Americans who join ISIS can come back to the U.S., but the FBI will track them and what he says about the threat from the al Qaeda offshoot Khorasan.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

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

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It is Monday, October 6th, 6:00 in the East. Alisyn Camerota joining us.

Very nice to have you.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much. Great to be with you, guys. Lots of breaking news today.

CUOMO: Yes. You bring news with you. Just moments ago the fifth American to be infected with Ebola now back on U.S. soil. Thirty- three-year-old Ashoka Mukpo. He's a freelance photographer for NBC. He touched down in a specially equipped plane after being evacuated from Liberia.

Now while the U.S. government says there is no cause for concern, with each new case, it does seem to be upping the emergency, nonetheless. Now considering increases screenings at major airports to prevent a full blown outbreak. How will that work? And is there a chance they'll ban travel to affected countries.

Those are the questions. And we're covering every angle of them for you this morning beginning with senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen in Dallas. Now that's where an Ebola infected man from Liberia is battling to stay alive this morning -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris.

Chris, while Thomas Eric Duncan is in the hospital, authorities here trying to keep Ebola from spreading in Dallas and trying to keep it from coming to our shores once again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THOMAS FRIEDEN, DIRECTOR, CDC: People are scared and it's normal to be scared.