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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
New Push To End Ukraine Fighting; Jordan Strikes Back At ISIS; Democrats Demand "Clean DHS Funding" Bill; Stocks Are Up For The Year; Five Infants Diagnosed With Measles In Illinois
Aired February 06, 2015 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ending the crisis in Ukraine. Right now, the United States, world leaders trying figure out how to stop the bloodshed there and keeping Russia from making any new land grabs. We are live with new developments, ahead.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Jordan unleashing vengeance against is. Bombing targets in Iraq and Syria and vowing to go even further. We're live with new information this morning.
BERMAN: The outbreak spreading. New worries about measles this morning after one day care center reports five children sick with measles. Health officials issuing an important warning that's ahead. Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday. It is 30 minutes past the hour. Welcome all of you here this morning.
The Obama administration holding out (inaudible) this morning trying to stop the escalating battle for Eastern Ukraine between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists.
The secretary of state brought the stick to Kiev Thursday meeting with Ukrainian officials about a possible U.S. defensive weapons aid. Kerry also backed the Ukrainian prime minister's claims that Russia is directly supporting the rebels with Russian tanks and Russian 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?
ARSENIY YALSENYUK, 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 President Putin. If they need, I can give them my glasses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: If they need, I can give them my glasses. The leaders of France and Germany provided the carrot trying to hammer out a peace agreement meeting yesterday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. And then today meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vice President Joe Biden is also joining the diplomatic push now, meeting this morning in Brussels with European Union leaders to discuss aid for Ukraine. For the latest developments, I want to bring CNN's Erin McLaughlin live from Moscow. Good morning, Erin.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Christine. The goal of the talks expected in Moscow later today very much on deescalating the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande is making the surprise announcement of a German/French-led initiative.
What they are calling negotiations document alongside Ukrainians and Russians rooted in maintaining the Ukraine territorial integrity. But the obvious question in all of this, will this latest diplomatic effort actually work?
Especially when we are hearing according to statement from the Defense Ministry that Russia is carrying out military drills today close to the Russian/Ukrainian border.
Now we have heard from the spokesperson for the Russian president, who said that today that the initiative led by the Germans and the French is a welcome initiative. They are looking at the visit as a positive step.
Russian state media is reporting that the kremlin does not know the details of this proposal and they are hoping for a constructive conversation later today.
Now, noticeably absent in Moscow today, U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry will not be present for these negotiations, though, it is expected he will be in Munich at the weekend at the security conference expected to meet with the Russian foreign minister.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Brussels today meeting with European leaders. The European leaders are set on Monday to rubber stamp a series of sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.
The sanctions that have been in place for some time not having an effect on President Putin showing no signs at the moment of reversing course on Ukraine especially with the planned military drills right near the Ukrainian border -- Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Erin McLaughlin for us this morning in Moscow. Thank you, Erin.
BERMAN: Jordan is striking back at ISIS. The kingdom launched as many as 30 fighter jets targeting ISIS training centers and arms depots in Syria and Iraq as well. Officials claimed the targets were completely destroyed.
Jordan's foreign minister tells CNN that the country's military is just getting started.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NASSER JUDEH, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It is the beginning of our retaliation over this horrific and brutal murder of our brave pilot. It is not the beginning of the fight against terrorism and extremism. We have been at the forefront of it and fighting terrorism and extremism for a number of years. So, yes, we are upping the ante. We are going after them with everything we have. It is not the beginning and certainly not the end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Jordan has named the operation "Moaz, the martyr," after its pilot, Moaz al-Kassasbeh, who Jordanian state television released 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 visited the Kasasbeh family to share in the moment of national grief. Standing by with the latest from Amman in Jordan is CNN's Becky Anderson. Good morning, Becky.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. And a clear and equivocal message from the Jordanian Armed Forces on Thursday flying missions over Raqqah and Syria and indeed Iraq degrading and destroying ISIS assets on the ground.
Let's take a look at what are these defining images over the past 24 hours. I have a set of three for you because I think this clearly points out both sides what is going on here.
The video images that our viewers will see of the destruction and air strikes on Raqqah. Some 30 fighter jets we were told in the air. They were successful. They destroyed their targets and all returned home safely. That is a first set of images.
I want to give our viewers a second set of images. These were released shortly after the infrared images released by the Armed Forces. These released by ISIS as part of their ongoing propaganda campaign. Set of images that show children in classrooms in Raqqah.
They say, ISIS, have opened 24 schools, 12 for boys and 12 for girls. Giving the impression or one it seems or gives the impression that life continues as normal in what is its hotbed of ISIS activity in Northern Syria.
Another image, which I think perhaps, sums up what has been going on here in Jordan over the past 48 to 72 hours since the gruesome video of the murder of the pilot was released. This is of King Abdullah's wife with the mother of the downed pilot.
Clearly incredibly emotional image and one that the Jordanians will be very quick to use to a certain extent to help galvanize, as it were, this support, you have to remember that here in Jordan, before that video was released.
There was a significant minority of people who didn't support Jordan's effort in the coalition against ISIS. Didn't understand why it was that the fight was so important outside of their own borders. The country here, the government here, now very much united in this fight.
Let's just look at the geography. Jordan is sharing a border with Iraq and Syria so clearly an issue of extremism, however small that is within the country's border.
So as I say, an unequivocal effort and message by the Jordanian government to send a clear message, as the foreign minister said that ISIS, as far as Jordan, is concerned, will be eradicated. They are leading the fight so far as the regional allies are concerned in the effort to do that -- John.
BERMAN: Becky Anderson for us in Amman. It's a collected moment of grief turning in to a collective moment of action for Jordan. Thanks, Becky.
BERMAN: All right now to the politics of paying for the war on terror. 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 don't want to be blamed for a DHS shutdown. It is not clear how they plan to respond.
BERMAN: The Obama administration set to release security strategy today. The White House tells CNN it will signal the U.S. resolve and readiness to deter and defeat American adversaries moving forward and will include strategies for combating ISIS in Syria and Iraq as well as Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
ROMANS: The White House confirms that it is close to sending its official request to Congress authorizing the use of force against ISIS. The president is required by law to get congressional approval for any prolonged military action, but he could be in for a pretty big political fight.
House Speaker John Boehner promising a rigorous set of hearings and discussions on the subject. President Obama's nation tour to push middle class initiatives including his tuition free community college plan will take him to Indianapolis today.
He will participate in a townhall that IV Tech Community College this afternoon. His free two-year college plan might be a tough sell in some places. In Indiana, the general assembly there is going nowhere on a bill very similar to the president's plan. Many of the Republicans in Washington do not look fondly on it either.
ROMANS: About 40 minutes past the hour. Let's take an early look at your money this morning. European stocks down right now. Ongoing worries there about Greek debt and bailout conditions for Greece. Asian stocks ended the day lower, but U.S. stock futures are up a bit here.
Yesterday, the Dow gained 211 points. It was enough to put the stocks positive for the year. February has been a great month so far erasing all of the losses from a pretty horrible January, a pretty important metric out this morning that could move the markets. The January jobs report that comes out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
Economists polled by CNN Money, they predict 233,000 jobs added down slightly from December not quite as robust as December, but still 233,000, nothing sees that the unemployment rate probably ticked down to 5.5 percent.
BERMAN: Nothing to sneeze about on a morning while I'm doing a lot of sneezing.
ROMANS: You started sneezing just before the weekend.
BERMAN: It's true.
ROMANS: Stay way. All right, 40 minutes past the hour, more children infected with measles. This morning, new concerns over how fast this outbreak is spreading next.
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ROMANS: The measles epidemic is widening now hitting a day care center in Illinois. Two infants have tested positive at the Palatine Kinder Care Center. Three others have been diagnosed based on symptoms.
As many as ten more kids may have been exposed. Parents now urged to watch their children for any fever or rashes. Unvaccinated staff and children are being asked to stay home for two more weeks.
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DR. KIRAN JOSHI, COOK COUNTY SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER: We do expect there will be more cases associated with this day care. Public health nurses have already begun reaching to the exposed individuals to provide guidance to each family.
The Cook County Department of Public Health will facilitate notification and identification of individuals who may have been exposed to measles cases.
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ROMANS: At least 102 cases of measles in 14 states have now been confirmed this year. Most of those cases are in California. We are getting updated numbers on measles cases in California today.
BERMAN: A field trip today for the jury in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial. Jurors will take a bus tour of key trial locations including the crime scene, the house of the victim, Odin Lloyd, and the house of the defendant, Aaron Hernandez.
In the court on Thursday, lawyers for the former NFL star grilled a police witness. The defense claimed the crime scene was tainted by law enforcement.
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JAMES SULTAN, HERNANDEZ DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Have you been trained in the collection of evidence at a crime scene, Captain?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
SULTAN: You said at some point a decision was made to pick up pieces of evidence, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SULTAN: OK. That was before anyone from state police crime scene services arrived, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SULTAN: Nobody measured it, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody measured it, no.
SULTAN: Is that what you are telling us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's exactly what I'm telling you, yes.
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BERMAN: You eyeballed it. Aaron Hernandez is charged with killing Odin Lloyd in 2013.
ROMANS: Investigators getting a clearer picture this morning of what happened when a New York commuter train crashed into an SUV stopped on the tracks at a grade crossing. The SUV driver and five passengers on that train were killed.
Officials say all signals and warning systems were working properly. The train was traveling just below the speed limit and the engineer applied the emergency brake. They say it was 39 seconds from when the crossing lights went on until the crash.
A man behind the SUV says the crossing gate came down on the back of the car. He said instead of backing up, the driver, Ellen Brody, drove forward and into the oncoming train.
BERMAN: The family of Bobbi Kristina Brown is denying reports the 21- year-old is brain dead and that everyone was going to the hospital to say goodbye. Family members gathered around Bobbi Kristina, the daughter of the late Whitney Houston, after she was found unconscious in a bathtub at her home in Georgia. In a statement, the family says she is still fighting for her life.
Investigators releasing new information overnight on what caused the passenger plane to crash into a river. The plane's black boxes are now being analyzed. We are live with new developments next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROMANS: The latest on 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.
The death toll from that crash climbing overnight to 35. Divers are still searching a river in Taiwan for eight missing victims. As we begin hearing from some of the 15 people who lived to talk about the terrifying ordeal.
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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 release the seatbelt and hold on to the chair and cover her head with clothes. Not long after, the plane went down.
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ROMANS: Let's bring in David Molko tracking development live from Taipei. David, what else are we learning this morning about that crash?
DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, those are remarkable stories of survival. We are also hearing a lot of information coming out. Just 48 hours after the crash. In fact, we are talking a little bit about the aircraft was designed to be flown on just one engine, but there were problems with both of them.
Let me walk you through what investigators said. Keep in mind this all happened in less than 3 minutes. The emergency started roughly 30 seconds after takeoff. There was an alarm or warning that had to do with the right engine on the plane.
Investigators say just after that, there was some sort of discussion about shutting down the left engine. The flight data recorder actually shows that that happened. The left engine was actually shutdown.
So at this point in the flight, in that short flight, there was no thrust from either engine. The lead investigator says that there were then conversations about restarting the left engine, the one that had been shut down. That actually happened a few seconds before the plane plunged into the river, far too late to recover.
Amazing stories of survival when you see that video of the plane clipping the highway and then flipping over and then heading into the water, 15 people surviving, many of them here in this hospital behind me.
We are getting a bit of an update on their condition including the youngest, the 15-month-old toddler. We have been showing you video with him with his father.
The good news, he had pneumonia and a fever, the fever is broken and his father, Brian, says the little boy is now out of ICU. He just wants to be held by his mother -- Christine.
ROMANS: I'm sure his mother is obliging. David Molko, thank you so much for that.
BERMAN: Alright, Radioshack, once an essential for so many, now filing for bankruptcy, but it is not quite the end for the electronics store. An early start on your money is next.
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ROMANS: All right, let's get an early start on your money this morning. U.S. stock futures are pointing higher. Yesterday the Dow climbed 211 points adding to strong gains for the month of February. The first week of trading this month has erased the losses from a terrible January.
Rising oil prices giving the market some confidence. Oil again above $50 a barrel, climbing this morning. Prices have been wild in recent weeks looking for a floor after a seven-month slide.
Radioshack has filed for bankruptcy, but that doesn't mean Radioshack will disappear completely. Almost half of the stores will close, but Radioshack struck a deal to sell the other 2,400 stores.
And the wireless company, Sprint, will set up shop inside some of those. Radioshack has been in business for almost 100 years. This was once an essential electronics store, but online competition from Amazon and others have made it irrelevant.
And I will say Radioshack is one of those brands, you know, once ubiquitous brands that in business school, this will be a case study. This would be something you'll learn when you get your own BA.
BERMAN: It will also part of the Polaroids from the early 80s that live in my house. All right, world leaders pushing to end the war on Ukraine, a flurry of activity. "NEW DAY" starts right now.
