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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Heat Flash Detected in Russian Jet Crash; GOP Debate Revolt Crumbles; Yazidis Prepare for Sinjar Offensive. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired November 03, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: For the latest on the investigation, let's bring in CNN's Ian Lee live in Cairo.
[04:30:03] Ian, a lot of contradictory information from the Russian government, from the Egyptian government and from the company that runs MetroJet itself, yes?
IAN LEE, CNN REPORTER: Well, that's right. We are going by the facts that we are hearing. The latest this morning is that heat flash. The Egyptians have yet to comment on it. Russians are saying that they can't neither confirm nor denounce the claim.
This is coming from the U.S. official that the satellite picked up this heat flash. They do not know if it happened in the air or on the ground which leads to a few scenarios. One, it could have been a missile. Although this is so far the least likely as militants in the Sinai do not possess that type of weaponry that could hit a plane traveling over 30,000 feet.
The other would be a bomb onboard, but so far, there has not been any residue detected from the crash site, although that could take weeks to go through all that wreckage. The next scenario would be the engine blowing up during the flight due to a malfunction. They are looking into that. And then possibly the plane when it hit the ground, it could cause heat signature.
And when you do look at that wreckage, you see there was an explosion, with much of it charred. So, these are things the investigators are going to go over. They are also going to check to see if there was multiple heat flashes that could lead to other clues.
But right now, the main focus is on the black boxes, trying to decipher them, learn what they can from them to determine how this plane went down. But the one thing we are hearing from both Egyptian and Russian officials is patience. This is not going to be a quick investigation, that it could go on for some time -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: Ian, are the data recorders actually going to stay in Egypt or will they go to either France or Germany to be downloaded?
LEE: So far, what we're hearing is that they will remain in Egypt. We know that there is a team from Airbus which includes French and Germans. There's also a team from Ireland that is on the ground to help with the investigation. Originally, we didn't know if Egypt had the capabilities to read the black boxes or if the Russians did either.
But right now, we aren't hearing anything about the black boxes leaving. It sounds more like these experts are coming here.
MARQUEZ: Interesting. The Egyptians staying in firm control of the entire investigation. Ian Lee for us in Cairo -- thank you.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight, a second plane carrying human remains from the crash arrived in Russia. A medical source in the Sinai tells CNN that most of the bodies being retrieved from the wreckage are intact and show no major burns. Russian President Vladimir Putin appearing in public for the first time since the crash, describing it as an enormous tragedy and adding his thoughts are with the families of the victim.
In St. Petersburg for us now with the latest, international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson.
You know, there are so many theories about what could have brought this plane down. But you hear a MetroJet Airline official saying almost assuredly that it wasn't mechanical, there was no pilot error, and they kind of hinting that it could have been terrorism by pointing to an external event.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, some kind of a certain impact, mechanical or physical impact is what the airline executive said. They put up on the Internet their figures, the sort of log, the flight log for the last few flights that this particular aircraft had made. Aviation experts look at these logs and say that figures all line up, everything looks good there.
Also, we know that the aviation, the federal aviation authority here has looked at MetroJet's, two of their A321 aircraft. They passed those, fit for service. So, they're back in service. And that's what the executive was saying, the aircraft physically in good condition and staff up to the job.
The company is being investigated now by authorities here. However, because the payments -- the salaries for staff were two months in arrears, that is being investigated. And the sort of financial health of MetroJet is being investigated.
Here, however, really what we're seeing here is the families going to see and identify their loved ones, 196 bodies arrive back here. The most recent arriving a few hours ago on an overnight flight from Egypt. We are told so far that nine bodies have been identified, two of them children, both girls, a 10-year-old and 14-year-old girl.
We are learning from authorities that potentially today, the paper work that will allow the families to take their loved ones away for burial, that could begin to be completed today.
[04:35:06] So, that will be something that's very important for these families. But a slow process in the beginning of the identifications here -- Alison.
KOSIK: So grim, so heartbreaking. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
Now, President Obama cheerfully mocking Republican presidential candidates and their complaints about last week's CNBC debate. The president tried out his comic timing, cutting into the Republicans at the Democratic fund-raiser right here in New York City last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Have you noticed that every one of the candidates say Obama's weak. He's -- you know, Putin's kicking sand in his face. When I talk to Putin, he's going to straighten out. Just looking at him, I'm going to -- he's going to be --
(LAUGHTER)
And then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators.
(APPLAUSE)
I mean, let me tell you, if you can't handle -- if you can't handle those guys, you know, then I don't think the Chinese and Russians are going to be too worried about you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: He's going to be out of a job in a year. Colbert, watch out.
The president is the least of the Republicans worries this morning. Their effort to put up a united front demanding more control of the future debates already starting to fall apart. This is a pair of new polls paint a picture in the GOP race, surprise, surprise. CNN's Sara Murray has the latest from Washington, D.C.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, Alison and Miguel.
A new poll shows it's not Donald Trump that's leading nationwide anymore. Instead, Ben Carson is the frontrunner in the new NBC News/"Wall Street Journal" poll. He leads 29 percent to Donald Trump's 23 percent.
Now, Trump still has bragging rights for him. He leads in a new Monmouth University poll in New Hampshire. It's a wide lead. He is ahead of Ben Carson by about 10 points.
Now, if these polls sound a little bit chaotic to you, it is nothing compared to what's going on right now at the Republican debate process. After all those campaigns got together, huddled in the room, agreed to debate rules from requiring opening statements, to how cool it had to be in the debate arenas, now it seems the agreement is falling apart. It all began with Donald Trump, his campaign saying that he is going to negotiate directly with the networks. After that, things started to crumble.
John Kasich said he would not sign on to a joint letter with other candidates regarding the debates. Chris Christie followed suit, saying the same thing, and Carly Fiorina also jumped ship. So, you see there, it was a short lived truce between all the campaigns.
Alison and Miguel, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: OK, Sara, thanks for that.
Hillary Clinton meeting privately with the mothers of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice in Chicago. Two topics dominating the talks: gun violence and restoring trusts between communities and law enforcement. The mother of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Cleveland police officer, believes the talks were productive, though no promises were made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMANA RICE, TAMIR RICE'S MOTHER: We discussed a lot of reform, ideas with change across the nation and just about how this nation can improve itself. I felt that she was very sincere and I do felt that she listened. She made a lot of great points. Now, we are looking for action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail in Iowa today. She's going to be hosting two town hall meetings there.
MARQUEZ: The Keystone XL oil pipeline is officially in limbo. The TransCanada, the company behind the project, asking the U.S. government to suspend its application for a permit beyond the 2016 election. The firm will now go through a state review in Nebraska, something it originally resisted. The move comes in the face of the rejection by the Obama administration as early as this week.
KOSIK: Time for an early start on your money. Seeing a lot of red arrows. Asian and European stocks lower. So are U.S. stock futures.
Yesterday, though, stocks picked off November with a nice rally. The Dow climbing 165 points. That gained putting the Dow in positive territory for the year. The S&P 500 climbed 1.2 percent and it's getting close to its record high.
[04:40:01] Volkswagen's emission cheating scandal spreading to Porsche. U.S. regulators say 10,000 high priced Porsche and Audi vehicles contain the cheating software, very small compared to the almost 500,000 cars already cited in the U.S. and 11 million cars worldwide. But it's another blow to VW's credibility. It could expose the automaker to another $375 million in Clean Air Act violation violations. VW is denying the new claims. Car owners are just getting more and more irate over this.
MARQUEZ: I wonder if VW is going to exist in the future at this rate.
KOSIK: You would be surprised. We have seen comebacks for GM. We have seen comebacks for Toyota.
MARQUEZ: This is massive though. I mean, this is just so huge. Interesting story. Amazing.
President Obama with new help for ex-cons struggling to reenter society after their time is served. A new mandate, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: Welcome back.
President Obama pushing for an overhaul of the national criminal justice system. He wants ex-cons to get a second chance. And he is calling on local municipalities to work with colleges and employers on job training and placement for former inmates.
We get more from CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPNDENT: Alison and Miguel, just as the Obama administration is speeding the release of federal prisoners who are serving harsh drug sentences, the president wants U.S. companies to start hiring many of these former inmates and not hold past crimes against them.
[04:45:02] President Obama delivered that message after visiting a halfway house in New Jersey yesterday, shining a light on a program that transitions former prisoners back into the society.
The president is calling on Congress to ban the boxes it described in federal hiring. That means eliminating the section on job applications that asks about criminal records, encouraging employers to seek that information later on.
OBAMA: Now, a lot of time that record disqualifies you from being a full participant in our society, even if you already paid your debt to society. It means millions of Americans have difficulty getting their foot in the door to try to get a job. Much less actually hang on to that job. That's bad for not only those individuals, it's bad for our economy.
ACOSTA: The president says that second chance is crucial to thousands of federal prisoners who are released just over the weekend after many had their drug sentences reduced -- Alison and Miguel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Our thanks to Jim Acosta.
One of the first new changes that Speaker Paul Ryan has made, removing a portrait of disgraced predecessor Dennis Hastert from the speaker's lobby outside the House floor. A spokesperson says Ryan felt it was appropriate to rotate in a different portrait. It comes just days after Hastert who served eight years as speaker pleaded guilty to breaking banking laws in a $3.5 million hush money scheme.
KOSIK: A judge in Los Angeles ruling Bill Cosby and his former attorney can be deposed in a defamation suit brought by Janice Dickinson. The model claimed she was defamed by public statements accusing her of fabricating allegations that Cosby drugged and raped her in 1982. The court ordered the deposition to take place before November 25th. More than 50 women have made similar allegations against Cosby. He has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.
MARQUEZ: A change in the weather will keep us together. Big changes in the forecast.
Let's bring in meteorologist Allison Chinchar.
Allison, are you there?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We are dealing with a clash of two types of weather across the country. We've got very warm, very dry air in the east. Very cool and wet conditions out to the west.
But in the Midwest, specifically, we are talking a possible record high temperature of Chicago, Minneapolis and Cleveland, where there'll be 15 if 20 degrees above normal. Take a look at this -- Minneapolis normally right now about 49 degrees. Looking the top of it, 68 today. Des Moines, 55. They'll be 71 today. In Chicago, they average 55. They will top out at 72.
Colder air out to the west, especially in parts of Washington and Oregon. Mix that in with the moisture that is coming in and we are dealing with snow in parts of Sierra Nevada and also into the Rockies as that low pressure system begins to push to the east. Snowfall totals will be up around 1 to 2 feet and the areas warm enough will see rain. We are talking, Alison, Miguel, around two to four inches in much-needed California.
KOSIK: I'm so happy it's going to be 70 degrees in New York today, in November no less.
MARQUEZ: Seventy in New York, that's Perfect.
KOSIK: I love it.
And a battle brewing in the war on ISIS. Iraqis trying to take back the town seized by the terrorists. We're live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUEZ: In northern Iraq, Kurdish forces are preparing for a major offensive to recapture the town of Sinjar from ISIS. Joining in the battle will be 5,000 Yazidi fighters. They were driven out of their hometown 15 months ago. Many of them forced from their home a year ago and now they face another harsh winter living in tents.
Let's go to Iraq and bring in live, senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir.
Nima, do the Yazidis and the Peshmerga, do they have the will, the material and the organization to take on ISIS?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they definitely don't have everything they need. You know, they stood up against ISIS, the Yazidis, for months with just machine guns. Given what we have seen of how well-equipped and well-trained ISIS is, that is an extraordinary defeat.
The Peshmerga, the Kurdish forces, that does a little bit better, but when you think about what they are facing up against, the bigger picture here, of course, is this push to start breaking up the ISIS territorial death grip that ranges between Iraq and Syria and Mt. Sinjar and Yazidi homeland that's right in the center of a crucial ISIS supply route in Mosul and back into Syria and Raqqa. They are right in the thick of it.
For them, this really is a battle for their very existence. Up on that mountain, we went up there, Miguel, it is freezing, it is brutal. That was just during the day. Dozens of children were killed last winter, and they are so desperately worried about what they're facing this winter, because realistically, even if this offensive were to get under way soon and even if ISIS were cleared out of Sinjar City, from what we have seen from ISIS left behind, just to give you the comparison of Kobani, they are still trying to clear Kobani from booby traps and IEDs and the most horrifying places, in the fields, inside people's homes. It could still be a year before any of these families are back and safe in shelters -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: Nima, such difficult and frustrating situation you are covering there. Thank you very much for being there. Great stuff. Thank you.
KOSIK: All right. Let's switch gears and ask this questions -- hey, moms, how does five months of paid maternity leave sound? I like it. The latest win for new parents, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: I'm Alison Kosik. Let's get an early start on your money.
Not a great morning for stocks. Asian an European stocks are mostly lower. So are (AUDIO GAP) kicked off November with a rally. The Dow climbed 165 points. That gain puts the Dow in positive territory for the year. And the S&P 500 climbed 1.2 percent.
It is getting real close to its record high. But that could change with lots of corporate earnings this week coming out, plus the all- important October jobs report. That comes out on Friday. Something the fed is going to watch as well.
Remember all that scathing criticism about the poor work/life balance at Amazon? Well, being a new parent just got a little easier. Starting next year, new moms can take up to 20 weeks of paid leave. That's 12 more weeks, an Amazon's old policy. Plus, they can ease back into work on a flexible schedule. Dads can
take up to six weeks of paid leave. Employees can share with a partner who doesn't get paid leave.
Candy Crush is getting a new owner. Activision Blizzard announcing plans overnight to acquire King Digital Entertainment for $5.9 billion. Activision is best know for more traditional games like Guitar Hero and Call of Duty, that are played on PCs or gaming consoles. And buying the maker of Candy Crush will help get it a stronger foothold in mobile gaming.
I haven't got into those games. I just cannot do it. My eyes just --
MARQUEZ: I shoot them up in the middle of the night, screaming at people (INAUDIBLE)
KOSIK: That sounds like you.
MARQUEZ: Candy doesn't do anything.
EARLY START continues right now.
(MUSIC)
MARQUEZ: New clues in the deadly Russian jetliner crash.
