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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

World Leader Debate Ukraine Intervention; The War on ISIS: Jordan Unleashes New Attacks; Measles Outbreak: 5 Infants Infected at Daycare; President Obama Pushing Middle Class Initiatives; Black Boxes: Trouble in Both Engines; Chris Paul Criticizes Female Referee

Aired February 06, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Ending the war in Ukraine. Happening now: U.S. and European leaders debating how involved to get to stop the violence and keep Russia from making a new land grab. We're live with new developments this morning.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Jordan unleashes new wrath on ISIS, bombing the terrorists in Syria and Iraq, promising there is more to come. We are live as the war against ISIS escalates this morning.

ROMANS: Measles outbreaks spreading. Five infants now at one day care sick with the disease, new cases across the country. Health officials warning things will get worse before they get better.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It is Friday, February 6th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And the Obama administration doing what it can to try to stop the escalating battle for Eastern Ukraine. That battle raging between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists and perhaps Russian troops as well. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Kiev Thursday, meeting with Ukrainian officials about possible U.S. defensive weapons aid, lethal aid. The secretary also backed the Ukrainian prime minister claim that Russia is directly supporting the rebels with tanks and troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: I would ask him very simply: Mr. Prime Minister, is it true that as the Kremlin just said today, there are no Russians on the ground in --

ARSENIY YATSENYUK, PRIME MINISTER OF UKRAINE: It seems to me the only country who strongly denied clear military Russian boots on the ground is Russian Federation and personally President Putin. If they need, I can give them my glasses.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: If they need, I can give them my glasses. There is a flurry of diplomatic activity right now. Leaders of France and Germany trying to hammer out a peace deal. They met yesterday with the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. They go to Moscow today to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Vice President Joe Biden, he will be part of this diplomatic push. He is in Brussels, meeting with European Union leaders.

For the latest on all these developments, let's go to Moscow right now. CNN's Erin McLaughlin live there.

Good morning, Erin.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Well, the aim of the talks expected in Moscow later today is very clear, and that is to deescalate this ongoing crisis in Eastern Ukraine. Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande making the surprise announcement of a new German, French initiative, and working on a negotiations document alongside the Ukrainians, and the Russians, aimed at, in his words, maintaining the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Now, we have heard from a Putin spokesperson calling the visit, today's visit a positive step. Yesterday, Hollande and Merkel met with the Ukrainian president there in Kiev. Out of that meeting, the Ukraine foreign minister tweeting that it went well, and that from their part, they were satisfied with that meeting.

But as for the Russians, we heard from the Kremlin this morning quoted in state media, saying that they do not know the details of the current proposals, but they are hoping for a constructive conversation, constructive negotiations today. But noticeably absent today as well, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, he will not be part of the talks here in Moscow.

Meanwhile, we understand that our U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to meet with E.U. leaders in Brussels. This as those leaders are set to rubber stamp a new round of sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, although some E.U. states expressing their concern that those sanctions do not go far enough. That latest round on the heels of the fresh violence that we have been seeing in Eastern Ukraine -- John.

BERMAN: These sanctions have an economic impact in Russia, but so far have not kept them from meddling in Eastern Ukraine. Erin McLaughlin with us, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right. Jordan is striking back at ISIS with a report of 30 fighter jets hitting ISIS training centers and arms depots, expanding from ISIS targets only in Syria, to some in Iraq as well, and claiming those targets were destroyed. Jordan's foreign minister telling CNN the country's military is just getting started.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NASSER JUDEH, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It's actually the beginning of our retaliation over this horrific and brutal murder of our brave young pilot. But it's not the beginning of our fight against terrorism and extremism. We have been in this current effort for a good few weeks now, actually at the forefront of it, and we've been fighting terrorism and extremism for a number of years.

So, yes, we are upping the ante, we're going after them wherever they are, with everything that we have. But it's not the beginning and it's certainly not the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Jordan named the Operation Muath the Martyr, after its pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, murdered by ISIS, shown burned alive in a video ISIS released this week. Jordanian state television reflecting the depth of the public rage there, releasing exclusive footage of the bombing run and footage of air force personnel, including a uniformed woman writing taunts aimed at ISIS on the bombs.

King Abdullah giving voice to his people's grief, visiting the al- Kaseasbeh family, pointing out a flyover of the Jordanian air force jets after their bombing run.

Standing by with the latest for us from Amman, Jordan, this morning -- CNN's Becky Anderson.

Good morning, Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

And the mission, as you rightly point out, flown in the name of the young Jordanian pilot so brutally murdered by ISIS. The aim of the mission very, very clear -- if anybody was in any doubt of Jordan's commitment to this fight against ISIS, then just seeing the footage released by the armed forces here of the degrading and destruction of ISIS assets in Raqqa, made it very, very clear.

They are determined as the foreign minister points out here to eradicate the group. How easy will that be? Well, that's the next question, of course. An appeal by the Jordanians to the international community to intensify action and support for the coalition both in the air and on the ground -- Jordan pointing out this group has and sees no borders. And that the foot soldiers on the ground need to be supported as much as those flying missions in the air.

Raqqa, of course, a hotbed of ISIS activity, was there. The video was released of the air strikes yesterday by the Jordanians. Yet, within 24 hours, ISIS releasing more propaganda video of children in what they say are their school rooms of women in machine factories, sewing niqabs, giving a sense that life continues as normal.

So, as the propaganda from the militant group continues, a significant message from the Jordanians that they are determined to be on the frontfoot, not on the backfoot in this fight. And the message to the domestic audience I think here as well. Before the release of the gruesome video of Muath al Kaseasbeh, there

was a significant minority of people here who didn't support the Jordanian action within this coalition. Clearly at this point, over the past couple of days, there has been a galvanization of support. But I think a clear message from the Jordanians to the people at home as well, support us on this mission because it is as important to you here as it is to those who live in Iraq and in Syria.

Do remember, Jordan shares border with Iraq and Syria. The Syrian refugees within Jordan, a significant impact on infrastructure here. So, clearly, very, very loud message from the government, king and country here yesterday: we are on this and we will continue to fight this militant group both militarily and the ideology -- Christine.

ROMANS: And far from the end, they will keep going.

All right. Becky Anderson for us this morning in Amman -- thank you, Becky.

BERMAN: Some controversy in Washington.

Democrats challenging Republicans to fund the Department of Homeland Security with no strings attached. DHS money runs dry in three weeks. Democrats are demanding a clean funding bill that is not tied to stopping the president's executive action on immigration. Republican leaders, of course, say it will not be their fault if it did not get through, but no doubt, they do not want to be seen as blocking money for homeland security.

ROMANS: From paying for the war on terror to a plan for winning it. The Obama administration set to release its national security strategy today. White House officials tell us it will signal America's resolve and readiness to deter and defeat American adversaries moving forward. It will include strategies for combating ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

BERMAN: The White House claims it is close to sending an official request to Congress to authorize the use of force against ISIS. The president is required by law technically speaking to get congressional approval for any prolonged military action. But up until this moment, the White House has been somewhat loathe to ask for it directly, the Congress has been somewhat loathe to vote on it directly. House Speaker John Boehner has promised a rigorous set of hearings and discussions on this subject.

ROMANS: Secretary of State John Kerry will take up the issue of Iran's nuclear program Saturday. A senior State Department official says Kerry will meet with Iranian foreign minister in Javad Zarif in Munich. It's part of a year's long effort to make sure Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, it's for energy. The two sides have given themselves until the end of March to come up with the outline of a deal.

BERMAN: The United States is pressing Cuba to allow the opening of an American embassy in Havana by April. "Reuters" reports that Washington wants diplomatic ties restored before a regional summit in Panama when President Obama would meet Cuban leader Raul Castro, they've really only once briefly shaken hands, that was at the funeral for Nelson Mandela. Cuba is demanding removal from the list of state sponsor terrorists, or people who sponsor terrorism, state sponsors of terror before granting an embassy. U.S. officials say the review of Cuba's status is being rushed, but could take until June.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start for your money. Stocks up for the year for hard one gain. U.S. stock futures a bit higher this morning. Yesterday's stocks up about 1 percent. So far, February has been a great month, so great that stocks have recovered all of the losses from the ugly January.

Rising oil prices giving the stock market a boost. Oil rose above $50 again yesterday. It is up about 4 percent yesterday. Still climbing right now.

It has been a wild ride in oil recently. As you know, stock oil prices were slashed in half last summer. It's great for drivers, but typically a bad sign for the health of the global economy. One very important measure of the U.S. economy comes out this morning. It's the first jobs report of the year.

And I have to tell you, an interesting side bar about the oil story. You know, a big oil consumer like India for example, they import 80 percent of their oil. Well, they have a much lower oil bill. They are using all of their savings to build infrastructure. So, it's interesting how the oil story is playing out around the world.

BERMAN: Time for an investment in the future.

ROMANS: Yes.

BERMAN: Eleven minutes after the hour.

Survivors of the deadly plane crash now sharing their stories for the first time. That is information from the failed flight's black boxes is released. We have no information live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: New information this morning. The crash of TransAsia flight 235. Aviation officials are releasing the first pieces of information from the plane's black boxes. We now know there were problems with not just one, but both of the plane's two engines. These are the images of that plane crash.

The death toll from the crash climbing to 35 overnight. Divers are still searching the river in Taiwan for eight missing victims. We have begun to hear from some of the people who survived, the 15 people who lived to talk about the ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUANG JIN-SUN, CRASH SURVIVOR (through translator): Shortly after takeoff, I felt something wasn't right. Something was wrong with the engine, because I always take this flight. I told the girl beside me to quickly release the seatbelt, hold on to the chair in front and cover her head with clothes. Not long after, the plane went down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Our David Molko live in Taipei with the very latest.

Good morning, David.

DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, good morning.

In the words of that survivor, he felt something wasn't right after takeoff. This emergency began 37 seconds after this plane lifted. The plane, keep in mind, the flight only lasted less than three minutes.

Let me walk you through what investigators are saying. Remember, this is an aircraft that can be designed -- is designed to be flown on one engine. There were problems with both.

The first problem started on the right engine. About 30 seconds after takeoff. There was some sort of an alarm. A bit after that, the pilots had the discussion about possibly shutting down the opposite engine, the left engine. The flight data recorder shows the left engine was actually shutdown.

I just got off the phone with the lead investigator on this case here and said, could that have happened automatically? Could something have caused the other engine to be shut down? His words, the only thing he would say, the engine cannot be shutdown automatically. It would not shutdown automatically.

Investigators also saying at that point, there was no thrust from either engine. We heard that call to air traffic control: mayday, mayday, engine flameout. After 30 seconds, the pilots were talking about restarting the engine that they had talked about shutting down, that left engine. The investigator telling me a few minutes ago, they did restart the engine. It was a couple of seconds, though, before the impact.

John, I should also mention the harrowing video of the plane hitting the overpass and tumbling into the water. Amazing stories of survival. Some of the 15 survivors here and inside this hospital behind me. The taxi driver who is clipped on the bridge is here. We've been told by hospital officials he was asked to get out of bed and move around his room.

The youngest survivor, the 15-month-old, his father Brian releasing a statement a short time ago, saying his son is now out of ICU and is doing well -- John.

BERMAN: Really nothing short of a miracle. David Molko for us in Taipei, thanks so much, David.

ROMANS: All right. Back home, the measles epidemic is widening, now hitting a daycare center in Illinois. Two infants had tested positive at the Palatine kinder care center. Three others had been diagnosed based on their symptoms. As many as ten more children exposed. Parents are being urged, watch for their children with a fever or rashes. Unvaccinated staff and children are asked to stay home for two more weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. KIRAN JOSHI, COOK COUNTY SR. MEDICAL OFFICER: We do expect that there will be more cases associated with this day care. Public health nurses have already begun reaching out to the exposed individuals to provide guidance to each family. The Cook County Department of Public Health will facilitate identification and notification of individuals who may have been exposed to measles cases.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: At least 102 cases of measles confirmed this year. Most of those cases are in California. Updated numbers, we're going to get updated numbers from California today.

BERMAN: A field trip for the jury in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial. Jurors will take a bus tour of the crime scene and the house of Odin Lloyd and house of defendant Aaron Hernandez as well.

In the court on Thursday, lawyers for the former NFL star grilled a police witness. The defense claims that crime scene was tainted by law enforcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES SULTAN, HERNANDEZ DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Have you been trained in the collection of evidence at the crime scene, Captain DiRenzo?

CAPTAIN DIRENZO: No.

SULTAN: You said that at some point a decision was made to pick up pieces of evidence, right?

DIRENZO: Yes.

SULTAN: OK. And that was before anyone from state police crime scene services arrived, right?

DIRENZO: Yes, yes.

SULTAN: Nobody measured it?

DIRENZO: Nobody measured it. No.

SULTAN: You eyeballed it. Is that what you are telling us?

DIRENZO: That's exactly what I'm telling you, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Aaron Hernandez is charged with killing Odin Lloyd in 2013.

So, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers not to mention Kevin Love, he was the man last night. They are on quite a roll. They look now like the contenders everyone thought they would be. Mike Galanos on the streaking Cavs and so much more in the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Clippers all star guard Chris Paul igniting a fire storm of controversy for his comments over a female referee.

ROMANS: Mike Galanos has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey.

MIKE GALANOS, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning, guys.

Listen to the last line of the Chris Paul criticism. I mean, that's what you want to listen for here. Clippers, they didn't show up against the Cavaliers, they are getting blown out. And the game is kind of getting out of hand. Five technical fouls handed out against the Clippers, four in the third quarter, three in one minute. Chris Paul gets one of those. The referee handing out, rookie ref Lauren Holtkamp.

Here's Chris Paul, unplugged.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS PAUL, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: The tech that I got right there was ridiculous. I don't care what nobody says, I don't care what she says; she -- that's terrible. There's no way that can be a tech.

We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did, she said, uh-uh. I said, why, uh-uh? She gave me a tech.

That's ridiculous. If that's the case, then this might not be for her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALANOS: It's that last one. This might not be for her. Expect Paul to try and clarify. The league could jump in with some discipline here. Holtkamp, one of two females in the league, only third all time.

Why was he so upset? Again, I mentioned, they didn't even show up. LeBron and the Cavs, are just all over the Clippers. They were up 32 at one point. LeBron throwing one down there. He had 23 points, nine assists. They win it 105-94, 12th straight win for Cleveland, longest winning streak for them in five years. There's the mega star having a grand old time.

Another mega star not so much. Tiger Woods continues to struggle with the bad back. Tweaked it again. Second hole or actually the 11th hole yesterday. He is limping on the course. He had to pull out after 12 holes in all. Third withdrawal for Tiger Woods in the last eight starts. He shot the worst round in his career in 82.

Many wondering, will we ever see the dominant Tiger again? Can he get his back right? We'll see.

Guys, back to you.

ROMANS: The wince on his face.

BERMAN: What was, 2008, was that his last? The last major was 2008? That was a long time ago.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: It is a long, long time ago now.

ROMANS: All right. Mike Galanos, thanks, Mike.

BERMAN: Happening now: the United States meeting with world leaders on how to end the war in Ukraine. Pro-Russian rebels increasing their attacks and increasing their territory. Some say they are getting money and military aid and military equipment and military troops from Russia. We'll discuss, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)