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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Hundreds Die When Boat Capsizes; ISIS Massacres Christians on Camera; U.S. Terror Arrests; Report: Tim Tebow to Sign with Eagles. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 20, 2015 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Dresses and bags have been popping up on eBay, sometimes at double the retail prize. I personally don't get it. But these times are really popular, and actually, it's helping Target to regain is Target coolness a little.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The preppy explosion.
All right. Cristina, thanks so much.
EARLY START continues rights now.
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BERMAN: Hundreds dead after a boat packed with migrants capsizes in the Mediterranean. Search crews going through the waters overnight pulling scores from the water. We'll have the very latest ahead.
A new massacre by ISIS. Terrorists releasing new videos showing dozens of Christians killed. We're live with the details.
And the FBI busting what it calls an ISIS-inspired plot here in the U.S.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It's Monday, April 20th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. Christine Romans is off this morning.
Happening now: ships in the Mediterranean recovering scores of bodies this morning. They were among the hundreds of migrants in Libya who died when the ship that were packed into ship capsized. One survivor tells officials that many who died were locked inside the boat by smugglers.
Our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman is following the recovery efforts for us from Italy.
Good morning, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.
Yes, apparently, though, it seems that the major part of this rescue effort is winding down. We spoke to the captain of a fishing ship that took part in the initial rescue effort. He told us that he was only able to recover four bodies. He talked about lots of debris in the sea.
But apparently where the ship capsized is an area with very strong currents. And he said the depth of the sea in that area is somewhere between 500 and 600 meters. He said the fishing boats and other commercial vessels in the area that took part in the initial rescue effort had been pulled back and now, it's only the Italian coast guard and the Maltese navy that are involved in this effort.
But the certainly the stories that are coming out from the very few survivors at this point, it looks like 28 people survived are very disturbing. Of course, the Italian authorities did release a statement that included testimony from a Bangladeshi survivor who said as many as 950 people were on board that ship and many of them were locked in the lower decks and simply couldn't get out or couldn't escape from the ship when it capsized some time in the early morning hours of Sunday -- John.
BERMAN: Just 28 survivors, potentially 900 people on board that small vessel. What a tragedy.
Ben Wedeman for us, thanks so much.
New this morning, U.S. officials are condemning an apparent ISIS beheading of two groups of prisoners. The captives seen in the ISIS video are believed to be Ethiopian Christians. National Security Council officials are calling the killings a mass murder. A spokeswoman says the beheadings are, quote, "an attempt to sow discord among religious communities."
Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.
It also seems to be a multilayered message from ISIS, absolutely brutal -- the same brutality we have seen in other execution videos.
The main part of the narrative of this more than 30-minute video is to tell Christians under ISIS control you have two choices. One, you can die, or you can submit to rule by ISIS. Convert to Islam or pay a non-Muslim tax. Very stark choices. So, that is the major narrative, if you will.
But what they're also doing here is they execute two groups of people they say are Ethiopian Christians. One group they behead right next to the Mediterranean Sea, in the north of Libya. The other group of 15, they shoot and kill by gunshot and that is in the south of Libya. The message here is that ISIS extends control across all of Libya or large parts of it.
That is absolutely not the fact. On the ground in Libya, there are many different factions. But ISIS is really trying to spread a message here that it is in control of large parts of Libya.
The other part of the message overall here is not only in Libya is ISIS strong, but by using the same media group it uses in Syria and in Iraq to make this propaganda video, they are trying to create the impression that ISIS is really expanding its influence and control more broadly through the Middle East, John.
BERMAN: Coordinated across the regions within Libya and then in fact beyond Libya.
[05:05:03] Nic Robertson for us this morning, thanks so much.
The FBI has arrested at least six men in Minneapolis and San Diego in connection with an ISIS-inspired terror plot. More details are expected in a news conference later today. We do know the plot involved young people traveling to Syria or trying to in order to join up with ISIS. Authorities say there was never any direct threat to the public.
Nuclear talks with Iran resume this week in Vienna. Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slammed the U.S. on Sunday. He accused the White House of creating a myth about his country's nuclear intentions. But so far, he is still backing the negotiations.
Later today, President Obama will host the crowned prince of the United Arab Emirates to discuss the framework of the deal that has been reached with Iran.
A tsunami advisory has been lifted in the Sea of Japan after a powerful earthquake at sea. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the waters east of Taiwan and south of Okinawa costs buildings to sway in Taipei, forced residents in several cities to seek higher ground. The tsunami advisory was lifted about an hour after it was issued. Right now, there are no reports of serious damage or injuries.
Let's get an early start on your money right now. CNN Money correspondent Cristina Alesci is here.
Good morning.
ALESCI: Yes, mixed morning. Asia shares are tumbling, but U.S. futures are shrugging it off. U.S. futures are higher after the rough end to the week. Remember, on Friday, markets fell across the board. The Dow shed 279 points at 1.5 percent, the NASDAQ and S&P were also down over 1 percent. That was largely because the Chinese government announced new regulations on trading.
And today, some more bad news out of China. The central bank recognizing a need for more stimulus as the economy there really slows. Now, despite those concerns about China's growth, we're still very close to record high. The Dow is just 2.5 percent away from its record, the NASDAQ and S&P even less than that.
But Wall Street today will be looking ahead to a big week of earnings. We'll hear from IBM and Morgan Stanley later today, earnings as you know, John, are expected to fall by 3 percent this quarter, the first profit decline since 2009. The markets are ready for it. Anything bigger than that, we may have trouble.
BERMAN: All right. We'll keep eye on it.
Cristina Alesci, thanks so much.
Hillary Clinton heads to New Hampshire days after her potential Republican rivals gather there to layout the case against her. We'll have the details next.
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[05:10:37] BERMAN: Happening today, Hillary Clinton begins what her campaign says the first of many visits to New Hampshire. Candidate Clinton is continuing the small scale theme. She began in Iowa last week. This afternoon, she will tour a family-owned business that makes small scale furniture for kids, little chairs, little things.
Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny is in New Hampshire with the latest.
Good morning, Jeff.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton begins the second week of her presidential campaign here in New Hampshire. She'll be spending at least two days here, kind of retreading the visit that she started last week in Iowa. It's all small events meeting voters one on one in coffee shops and diners, trying to reconnect and reintroduce herself to what her campaign says are every day Americans.
Now, she is coming after a long weekend of Republican campaigning in New Hampshire. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, a long list of Republicans all trying to distinguish themselves against her. That's the environment she walks into, but she will be focusing on her own policies, and she had a few policies which we saw last week and we'll see if she defines those even more this week.
Same-sex marriage is a different view from eight years ago. She is not sure of the trade deal of Congress right now. Liberals oppose that, so -- forcefully.
So, that's the environment she is walking into as she comes into New Hampshire to campaign. She is going to have a meeting in Keene and Concord, and then do events across the state for at least the next two days. But she still will not have a big policy speech to roll out her big proposals until mid-May -- John.
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BERMAN: All right. Jeff Zeleny for us in New Hampshire.
As Jeff mentioned, on the Republican side, a parade of presidential candidates was in New Hampshire this weekend. It took turns taking shots at Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLY FIORINA, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO, HP: Hillary Clinton must not be president of the United States.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: This listening tour is something out of North Korea. Would you like to meet the dear leader and ask him anything you would like?
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that her dereliction of duty, her not doing her job, her not providing security for forces for our diplomatic missions should forever preclude her from holding higher office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Ohio Governor John Kasich is seriously considering a 2016 presidential run. You know, there are 19 or 20 people already in the race, it make it just one more. He says he is not ready to make it official just yet.
The mayor of Baltimore is promising an investigation into the death of Freddie Gray. The 27-year-old Baltimore man died Sunday one week after being taken into custody by police. His family claims that police are involved in a cover up now. Videos from the shows Gray being dragged into a van by officers with his hands behind his back. How he would up into a coma and died is unclear.
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ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER: I extend sympathy to his family. I have no words to offer that will ease the pain that resulted in this issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Baltimore police are not commenting on the case. Hundreds of people protested outside Baltimore precinct house over the weekend. And organizers will plan more demonstrations they say until the truth comes out.
The Tulsa County sheriff is expected to speak out on the training of Tulsa volunteer deputy Robert Bates. Seventy-three-year-old Bates is charged with manslaughter in a fatal shooting suspect he says he meant to subdue with his taser. Over the weekend, his attorney released records that he says show that Bates did meet all of the training required in Oklahoma to be a reserve deputy.
An Ohio police officer is being praised for holding his fire as a murder suspect rushed him. This harrowing confrontation was caught on the body camera of the officer. On the video, the suspect pleads with Officer Jesse Kidder to shoot him, Kidder refuses.
Our national correspondent Polo Sandoval picks it up with more -- Polo. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, good morning.
The Ohio officer's personal body camera captured that very confrontation that could have taken a deadly turn.
OFFICER: Get your hands up! Get your hands up right now! Get your hands up right now!
SUSPECT: Shoot me.
SANDOVAL: That guy you see in the frame, he is the suspect of a double murder according to CNN affiliate WLWT.
[05:15:02] Despite the New Richmond Officer Jesse Kidder's commands to get on the ground, he repeatedly runs toward the officer and asked him to shoot him. Kidder said the suspect was trying to commit suicide by cop. In fact, you see the officer back pedal so fast, he loses his footing and falls. He keeps his cool with the pistol sight on the suspect without pulling the trigger.
OFFICER JESSE KIDDER, NEW RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT: Law enforcement officers all across the national deal with split second decisions that may mean life or death. I wanted to be sure before I used deadly force.
SANDOVAL: We should mention, there has been criticism about the way Kidder handle handled it. Some former law enforcement officials say he should have opened fire the very moment the suspect rushed him.
New Richmond police Chief Randy Harvey says he would stand by his officer if deadly force was used.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For him to make the judgment call that he did shows great restraint and maturity. The video footage eliminate all doubt that this officer would have been justified if in fact it came to a shooting.
SANDOVAL: The Chief Harvey goes on says he is working to secure funding to make sure all of his officers have similar body cameras. You see the one that was used to capture was purchased by Kidder's family, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Polo, thanks so much.
It is Patriots Day in Massachusetts. The greatest day of the year, which is hours away from the start of the 119th Boston marathon. Security is tight for the race which is the second since the marathon bombing. 30,000 runners will take part. A million spectators will line the route from Hopkinton to Boston's Boylston Street.
City officials say that safety should not be a concern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMMISSIONER BILL EVANS, BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: There is no intelligence to say there is any threat to this marathon. So, I want to encourage everyone, don't be intimidated. Our presence is going to be very low key.
MAYOR MARTIN WALSH, BOSTON: Commissioner Evans has a great plan in place. Pretty much similar to last year's plan, just making sure there'll be security checkpoints coming in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The marathon is taking place just a day before the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev jury reconvenes to determine if the convicted marathon bomber will get life in prison or the death penalty.
The letter carrier who landed his gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol lawn is under house arrest in Florida starting today. Sixty-one-year-old Doug Hughes had hoped to raise awareness about the influence of big money in politics by deliberately breaking the law to deliver 535 letters, one for each member of Congress.
Now, Hughes is now expressing frustration that his message isn't really getting through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUG HUGHES, LANDED GYROCOPTER NEAR U.S. CAPITOL: I did not see the reaction that I had expected, OK? The police who took me in to custody were very professional all the way through, even early on when their adrenaline was running and I respect them for that. They treated me professionally all the way through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Hughes is facing federal charges for violating national defense air space and operating an unregistered aircraft. Right now, he has to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet until a court hearing in Washington next month.
Fallen trees and homes and buildings torn apart. This is the damage inflicted by the severe storms that rolled through the South over the weekend. The national weather service issued tornado warnings across counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
At least one EF-1 tornado touched down in Alabama. Train cars there were overturned. Thousands are without power throughout that region this morning. And at least one Ohio woman was killed after a tree crashed on top of a car she was driving.
More of that severe weather is on tap in the East today. Pedram Javaheri is tracking it all for us -- Pedram.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, John. Good seeing you. And, yes, look at the scenes across the United States over the past 24 to 48 hours. Saturday into Sunday, 400 severe storm related reports across the southern U.S., about 15 tornadoes, the vast majority related to hail and wind, high pressure trying to establish itself over some of the hardest hit regions, the severe weather now displaced off to the eastern U.S. across to Delmarva, down towards the Carolinas, as a very active weather pattern here pushes through the northeast.
So, heavy rain showers in and around New York City already this morning. It will persist in the afternoon hours. And yes, winter- like conditions at least in regard for cooler weather returning for this kind of year comes back in the forecast as we head to the latter portion of the week.
Look at the winds, 40 miles to 50 miles per hour at times early this morning, into the afternoon hours around New York and also Boston.
Of course, the Boston marathon in place, the temperatures far from ideal. You would think with the 40s in the forecast and rain showers increasing, but believe it or not, John, some numbers indicating the best temperatures for men to run marathons, 48 Fahrenheit, for women for performance, about 52. Pretty close.
BERMAN: All right, Pedram, thanks. The temperature is not the problem, but the rain could make things very difficult.
[05:20:02] All right. 19 minutes after the hour. He is back! Tim Tebow making a return to the NFL. But where? Does he really have any chance to make the team?
Coy Wire has the details in the bleacher report next.
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BERMAN: The first weekend of NBA playoff basketball was spectacular.
Coy Wire with details in the bleacher report. These games were really good.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: They were really good, John. An awesome night, but we had to wait until the last game of the night to see the most intriguing match up.
Defending champ Spurs against the Clippers. San Antonio and L.A., they were two of the hottest teams that's coming into the playoffs. But once the party got started, it was nothing but fist bumps and dunks for Blake Griffin. He went bonkers on Aron Baynes, had this guy more nervous than a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. Check out the spin move, went whirlwind on that one, John.
Look at clippers owner Steve Ballmer. You think he was a little bit excited. This guy, you got to love it. Now, L.A. takes this game one, 107-92. Game two, Wednesday night.
Now, King James and the Cavaliers against John Berman's Celtics last night. Kyrie Irving made the fans jump. He put on a heck of a show. He's the first place to score 30 and knock down five three-pointers in the first playoff game. Cavs win, 113-100. Sorry, John.
The action continues tonight on our sister station TNT, the Bulls host the Bucks at 8:00 Eastern.
[05:55:02] And Steph Curry and the Warriors take on the Pelicans at 10:30.
One of the most talked about football players in the past decade is back. It's Tebow time. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports provided some scoops last night and almost blasted Twitter. Tim Tebow will sign a one-year deal with the Eagles.
Eagles Coach Chip Kelly apparently met with Tom House, Tebow's quarterback coach, and liked what he heard. They'll give him an opportunity to show his stuff to the offseason team activities and free season action if he proves his worth. Guys, we know that Tim Tebow mania is strong. So, a lot of fans will show some love for Tebow in the City of Brotherly Love in Philly.
On to baseball, the best video of the day. Yesterday, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester gets the comeback shot. Ball stuck in his glove. He throws his entire mitt to first base to get the out. That's quick thinking by Lester. First base man Anthony Rizzo drops his glove so he could catch Lester's.
You don't say very often John, but what a day in sports. As you mentioned, those playoff games are great. Sorry that your Celtics did not get it done. But fun nonetheless. We are just getting warmed up in the playoff.
You know, the Jon Lester video is interesting. Lester has a problem throwing to first base. He doesn't do it. He has a very difficult time going there. So, when you see him do that, it is because he could not make the play. But wow, I didn't know it was legal to do that.
WIRE: Maybe he found the trick that worked for him. He'd do it every time.
BERMAN: I guess so.
All right. Coy Wire, thanks.
WIRE: You got it, John.
BERMAN: Hundreds of people drowned when the boat they were on capsized in the Mediterranean. This is a crisis. We'll tell you about it next.
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