Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Chris Kyle Murder Trial To Begin; Violence Escalates in Ukraine Hours Before Peace Talks; France Joins U.S., UK, Closes Yemeni Embassy; Jon Stewart Announces Retirement From Daily Show; Verdict Expected in Costa Concordia Trial

Aired February 11, 2015 - 08:00:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

Now a bus station gets hit by shelling in eastern Ukraine, just as the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany prepare to sit down to

hammer out a ceasefire.

Plus, western nations close their embassy doors in Yemen amid warnings the nation could be moving closer to civil war.

And two U.S. television hosts make big changes one forced, the other voluntary.

Now the stage is now set for peace talks in the Belarus capital of Minsk. The leaders of all four nations -- Russia, Germany, Ukraine and

France -- have all confirmed that they will attend a peace summit in just a few hours.

Now the talks are taking place against a backdrop of new violence in Eastern Ukraine. A bus station in the city of Donetsk was hit by mortar

shells. The Donetsk People's Republic says four people were killed, nine were wounded. And we've just received these pictures of Ukrainian troops

launching a counter offensive in Mariupol to push back pro-Russian separatists.

Now European leaders say that they're optimistic, but also realistic after September's peace accord failed.

Now, the heads of Ukraine and Russia will likely be approaching the negotiating table with a different agenda.

Now Ukraine has made it clear that it wants control of its territory again with President Poroshenko threatening to implement martial law if

order is not restored. Now Kiev also wants pro-Russian forces to disarm.

Now meanwhile, Russia wants to maintain control of Crimea after last year's contentious annexation. Russian leaders say that they also want

autonomy for the embattled Donbass (ph) area. Now that includes Donetesk and Luhansk.

Now leaders are also expected to discuss creating a larger demilitarized zone along the Ukrainian-Russian border.

Now our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Minsk ahead of the summit. And he joins us now.

And Nic, who will actually be there to try to put together a new ceasefire deal?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you'll have Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, you'll have the Russian President

Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel the German Chancellor as well as the French President Francois Hollande will all be here. They'll be meeting in the

palace of independence behind me here in the next couple of hours they're due to arrive. The French President already in the air, already on the way

here.

And as you say, key is going to be agreeing a ceasefire. But getting beyond that, to the parameters of who will control the borders, what will

the discussions and the limitations be on the autonomy of the -- of the Russian-backed separatists in the southeast of Ukraine? All of that on the

table.

The Russians have seemed in advance of these talks to be sort of spinning a very positive message that a deal can be done. But what we've

been hearing from both the French and the German foreign ministers is one of caution. They are concerned that there are a lot of unanswered

questions, there are a lot of compromises yet to be made.

But as we've heard from the Ukrainian president that the stakes are very, very high, that if there isn't a political deal here, he will declare

military law across the whole of Ukraine and that, in itself, threatens continued and escalated military confrontation and conflict.

So, the hope is to get a deal here. The fact is no one is sure if it can be done.

What is expected, though, that the talks will go on late into the night here -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: The stakes are high, the mood is cautious, and among those gathering there in Minsk, how deep is the divide over the future of

Ukraine?

ROBERTSON: Well, the concern is -- OK, so you give some level of autonomy to the Russian-backed separatists, but the question then becomes

what does that autonomy look like? Do they control their own borders with Russia? Some of that is just going too far for the Ukrainians who would

like to see independent European OSCE monitors along that border for any separatist area along the border with Russia. They want independent

control of that.

We have heard all long that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine should not be violated. We've heard this in the conversations

between President Putin and President Obama just last night discussing this very issue.

And the stakes go beyond the primary players here: the Ukrainian government and the separatists. They go very much to Russia here.

President Obama last night telling President Putin that if he didn't stop Russia's support financially, militarily, politically for the separatists

in the southeast of Ukraine, there will be increased economic penalties for Russia.

So, you know, all of this is in the background if you will saying that there's a ceasefire and saying that you'll pull heavy weapons back and

saying you'll create a larger demilitarized zone all this was done in September last year. But carrying it out on the ground, and the fine print

of the agreement of how you make this carry forward, that's where the difficulty lies at the moment, Kristie.

LU STOUT: That's right, carrying it out and making a lasting and enduring truce.

Nic Robertson joining us live from Minsk, thank you.

Now another western nation is leaving Yemen. France now says it is closing its embassy doors.

Now both the U.S. and the UK have already pulled out as Yemen falls into chaos.

Now CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now the United States, the United Kingdom and France all announcing that they have pulled

out their diplomatic staff from the capital Sanaa and shut down their embassies in Yemen. They're calling on their citizens to leave the country

immediately using commercial means.

Now this comes as the country's political and security crisis deepens. There are fears that the country is on the brink of a civil war.

The State Department in its warning cited a deteriorating security situation, terrorist activities and civil unrest as the reason behind these

decisions.

Now over the past few weeks, as we have seen, the political instability in that country increased in the capital Sanaa with that rebel

group, the Houthis, tightening their grip, ousting the U.S. ally, the government there that has been an ally of the United States in fighting

terrorism. There have been fears of what this means for terrorism there and the presence of one of the strongest al Qaeda franchises in the world:

al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula AQAP.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: That was CNN's Jomana Karadsheh reporting.

Now members of a group that pushed for Sharia law in Belgium have just been convicted on terrorism charges in that country. Now they were accused

of sending Belgians to fight in Syria and their leader is now facing 12 years in prison.

Now these convictions come just weeks after Belgian authorities raided several locations where suspected Jihadi cells may have been operating.

Now CNN's Atika Shubert joins us now live from London with more details on the verdict. And Atika, walk us through the decision and also

the group at the center of it all: Sharia4Belgium.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, this is one of the most signficant court decisions against extremist groups like this.

Basically, Sharia4Belgium is a group based out of Antwerp, Belgium that was campaigning for Sharia law and according to the judge advocating

for it by violent means. In fact, he classed -- in fact the judge classified Sharia4Belgium as a terrorist organization.

Perhaps more importantly, however, the accused leader of it, Fouad Belkacem, who received 12 years for his leadership of the organization is

also accused of recruiting young men in particular to go fight with the extremist groups in Syria and Iraq, particularly the ISIS but also Jabat al

Nusra, which is of course the al Qaeda affiliated group out there.

And there were a total of 46 people actually accused of being members of Sharia4Belgium in the trial, but only about seven showed up, that's

because most of them are actually still out in Syria fighting with groups there and some of them are even believed to have died in the fighting out

there.

So it kind of goes to the very heart of the concern of security officials here that you see young European men going to fight in Syria and

Iraq. And now the big concern is what happens when they come back.

LU STOUT: And Atika, last year you spoke to the family of one of the accused who said that he was the victim of grooming by Sharia4Belgium. How

so?

SHUBERT: That's right. In fact, he himself was part of the -- one of the people accused in this trial Yuyun Botnick (ph). And he received 40 --

several months suspended sentence for being a member of Sharia4Belgium. But he got a much more lenient sentence because he basically testified

against his former friends int he organization saying that they groomed him and recruited him to go to Syria.

So, his family is definitely happier with this decision, but I have to say it's not simply Sharia4Belgium that gets the blame. A lot of family

members I speak to say it's also the Belgian government that is responsible, because many of these young teenagers are getting on planes

and flying out to Turkey, in some cases just 14 years old. And nobody is stopping them. Even traveling without passports.

And so they're asking for the Belgian government to take more responsibility in making sure they aren't recruited.

LU STOUT: All right, Atika Shubert reporting live from London. Thank you, Atika.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come, the family of an American aid worker held hostage by ISIS mourns her death. She left behind

a letter. And we'll show you what's revealed inside.

And the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship could soon learn his fate. A court in Italy is expected to reach a verdict soon in this

deadly accident at sea. We'll have a live report.

Also ahead, one of America's funniest men stuns his audience with a surprise announcement.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at visual version of all the news that we have for you today.

Now we've already told you about the heavy fighting in Ukraine ahead of a new push for peace.

And later, we'll go live to Italy where we could soon learn the fate of the Costa Corcordian captain. Now he'll be convicted for one of the

world's worst cruise ship disasters.

But now I want to update you on the fate of the U.S. aid worker Kayla Mueller. Now ISIS has confirmed her family's worst fear. The terror group

sent a private message, it was authenticated by U.S. intelligence that said Kayla Mueller is dead.

Anna Cabrera reports from Mueller's hometown in Arizona.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kayla Mueller's parents received word of their daughter's death in a message from ISIS. A message

that included photos that confirmed the 26-year-old is dead. What is still not known is how she died. Late today Kayla's Aunt Lori Lyon remembered a

caring, courageous young woman.

LORI LYON, KAYLA MUELLER'S AUNT: Kayla's calling was to help those suffering whether in her hometown of Prescott or on the other side of the

world. She has done more in her incredible 26 years than many people can ever imagine doing in their lifetime.

CABRERA: While in captivity, Mueller sent a letter to her parents which they released today. It reads in part, "If you could say I have

suffered at all throughout this whole experience, it is only annoying how much suffering I have put you all through. I will never ask you to forgive

me as I do not deserve forgiveness." Mueller had worked with humanitarian groups in India, Israel and the Palestinian territories. And by 2013, she

was already in Turkey helping Syrian refugees. She posted this in 2011.

KAYLA MUELLER, HELD HOSTAGE BY ISIS: I reject the brutality and killing that the Syrian authorities are committing against the Syrian

people.

CABRERA: On August 3rd, 2013, Mueller entered Syria. She travelled with a young man believed to be a Syrian and alternately described as the

"colleague, boyfriend or fiancee." He went there to fix the internet connection at a hospital. Kayla apparently joined him on a trip to a war

zone off limits to Americans. The two stayed overnight but the next day returning to Turkey both were grabbed on the road. Mueller's family didn't

hear from ISIS for nine months then in May 2014, their first message, proof that Mueller was alive. Two months later a ransom demand, about $7 million

or Kayla would be killed. That deadline passed with no further word. In the letter to her parents, Mueller talks about how ISIS treated her. Please

know that I am in a safe location. Completely un-harmed and healthy. Put on weight, in fact. I have been treated with the utmost respect and kindness.

ISIS claims Mueller was killed in this building by a Jordanian airstrike but today a White House spokesman placed the blame on her death squarely on

ISIS.

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This after all was the organization that was holding her against her will. That means they were

responsible for her safety and her well-being. And they are therefore, responsible for her death.

CABRERA: We know the president has spoken by phone with Mueller's parents. He sent his condolences. He commended Kayla's selfless work.

And he pledged to relentlessly pursue those who had a hand in her death.

Priority number one is to bring Kayla's body back home so this community, her family, can have closure and Kayla can rest surrounded by

those who love her.

Ana Cabrera, CNN, Prescott, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to Buzzfeed after the death was announced. And he described a risky operation he ordered to try

and free Mueller and other hostages held by ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My immediate reaction is heartbreak. I have been in touch with Kaya's family. She was an

outstanding young woman and a great spirit. And I think that spirit will live on. I think the more people learn about her the more they appreciate

what she stood for and how it stands in contrast with the barbaric organization that held her captive.

But I don't think it's accurate than to say that the United States government hasn't done everything that we could. We devoted enormous

resources, and always devote enormous resources to freeing captives or hostages anywhere in the world. And, you know, I deployed an entire

operation at significant risk to rescue not only her, but the other individuals that had been held and probably missed them by a day or two

precisely because we had that commitment.

The one thing that we have held to is a policy of not paying ransoms with an organization like ISIL. And the reason is that it -- once we start

doing that, not only are we financing their slaughter of innocent people and strengthening their organization, but we're actually making Americans

even greater targets for future kidnappings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now U.S. intelligence officials say ISIS may be looking to capture more western hostage and could be planning operations in Lebanon

and Turkey.

Now police in Australia believe that they have foiled a terror attack just in time. Now two men were charged today after authorities say that

they found an ISIS flag, weapons and a disturbing video.

Anna Coren has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The terror threat here in Australia remains very much on high alert following the arrest of two

men who police say were about to launch a terrorist attack.

Counterterrorism forces raided a home in Sydney on Tuesday after receiving a tipoff seizing a machete, a hunting knife, an ISIS flag and a

video recording.

According to New South Wales deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn, the men aged 24 and 25 are known to police, were about to carry out

an imminent attack as revenge for incidents overseas.

CATHERINE BURN, NEW SOUTH WALES DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER: We will allege, we believe, that attack was going to occur yesterday. One of the

(inaudible) that will be introduced into evidence is a video. And in that video, we will allege that one of the men indicated that an attack was

going to be carried out.

COREN: It comes less than two months after the Sydney siege when a crazed gunman claiming to be an ISIS sympathizer, took 18 people hostage in

a cafe in which two of them were killed. Counterterrorism raids were launched across Australia last year after police learned of alleged terror

plots involving public beheadings and mass shootings.

While more than 100 Australian citizens are believed to be fighting with ISIS in Iraq and Syria, security analysts are more concerned about the

threats from lone wolves, predicting there will be more plots and attacks to come.

CLARKE JONES, TERRORISM EXPERT, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: It's very hard to detect these lone wolf acts and then added to the threat with

returning foreign fighters, we're in for a busy time.

COREN: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott here at Parliament House said this is a serious problem that's going to get worse before it gets

better. And while security is tight and new laws are in place to stop foreign fighters from returning to Australia, police are calling on the

public to remain vigilant and report any information that could prevent a terror attack.

Anna Coren, CNN, Canberra.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: A tragedy is unfolding off the coast of Italy's Lampadusa Island. A UN spokesman says as many as 300 migrants are presumed dead

after failing to attempt to cross the Mediterranean.

And we are told that they were packed into at least four boats to try to reach Europe apparently from Libya.

Now the first arrived in Lampadusa with 75 survivors, two others didn't make it until days later. They carried just nine survivors.

You're watching News Stream. We'll be back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Now the European Space Agency has said to put its unmanned space plane to the test. Now the launch of the Intermediate Experiment Vehicle, or

IXV, it was meant to happen about 30 minutes ago, but has been put on hold temporarily.

Now the space plane is set to lift off from Europe's space port in French Guyana, reach a height of about 450 kilometers and then descend for

reentry and will deploy a parachute to slow its descent.

Now after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, a ship will recover the IXV.

Now the mission is to test technologies that could survive the return to Earth with the aim of making reusable spacecrafts.

Now, the testing of this robot has got some people pretty riled up.

Now at first glance, it looks like a case of animal cruelty.

Now Jeane Moos shows us exactly what upset them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: When a company famous for its robots -- robots with names like Cheetah and Big Dog, released video of a

new little dog, named Spot, robot fans get their kicks. Not one kick but two.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's wrong?

Did they just kick the dog?

MOOS: Keep watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

MOOS: The wow factor is over the kick rather than the rob robot's ability to regain stability that was being demonstrated.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At least you don't have to clean up after it.

MOOS: Spot can run up steps. It's electric power makes it quieter. It beats the pants off older gas-powered models. What's circulating online is

a vine of the kick captioned OMG. Faces flinch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's still equivalent to being an actual animal.

MOOS: Posted on commenter, "Find a different way than kicking the dang thing to get your point across folks. Goodness." Come on. It's not alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a machine. You do the tire kick test when you go get a new car.

MOOS: Maybe the engineers at Boston Dynamics are amused. They seem to have a sense of humor evidenced by the time they put horns on Big Dog and

played matador. Spot isn't the first robot they kicked. Big Dog, by the way, was so famous he was parodied in a comedy video that included an

encounter with a real dog and, yes, he got kicked.

The Spot video ends with no robots were harmed in the making of this video but they are still getting grief.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't kick the robot. That's bad etiquette.

MOOS: But it is impressive to see all of these robots bounce back -- unlike the humans.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Good advice there. Don't kick a robot.

Now from those electric robot dogs to a solar powered buildings. Apple says it is investing almost $850 million in a new solar farm.

Now the energy should be enough to power Apple's new campus in Silicon valley as well as dozens of stores and offices in California.

Now, CEO Tim Cook has spoken about environmental issues before. And in a shareholder meeting last year when an investor urged him to stop

wasting money on green technology, he responded with this, quote, "if you want me to do things only for return on investment reasons, you should get

out of this stock."

Now earlier this week, we told you about concern that Samsung smart TVs could be spying on users.

Now the company has responded to the complaints through a blog post and says its televisions work like other voice controlled devices, for

example, Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana. Now the devices record what you say and send it to online servers.

Now Samsung says their TVs are set to only respond if users say certain TV commands. And they won't keep any of the voice data.

Now if users are still worried about privacy, Samsung says they can turn off the voice command feature.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come, it was one of the worst cruise ship disasters in recent years. And today, the captain of that ship

prepares to learn his fate.

Also ahead, the American Sniper film has captured the attention of millions of moviegoers. And now a real-life murder trial connected to the

film. We've got the details on that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now there was fresh fighting in eastern Ukraine ahead of new ceasefire talks. A bus station in the cit of Donetsk was hit by mortar shells. The

Donetsk People's Republic says four people were killed, nine were wounded. Now the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are due to discuss

ways of ending the conflict.

Now France is the latest country to close its embassy in Yemen. Now both the U.S. and the UK have already suspended operations there. And

citizens from all three countries are being warned to leave. Now rebels forced the president out last month and the country is on the brink of

armed conflict.

Taiwan's aviation authority says dozens of TransAsia Airways pilots have been suspended from flight duties. Now 10 of them failed an oral

proficiency test on how to handle an aircraft during engine failure. Now those tests were ordered after a TransAsia turbo prop plane crashed in

Taipei last week, killing at least 42 people on board.

The man accused in one of the worst disasters at sea in recent years is expected to learn his fate in the coming hours. Now we are expecting a

verdict today in the trial of Francesco Schettino. Now he was captain of the Costa Condordia cruise ship when it crashed off the coast of Italy's

Giglio Island three years ago. 32 people were killed.

Now the captain is charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship.

Now journalist Barbie Nadeau joins us now live from Italy where the judges are now deliberating. And Barbie, we are still awaiting the

verdict.

BARBIE NADEAU, JOURNALIST: That's right. In about five hours we'll go back to the courtroom and they'll be able to tell us when the verdict

will be delivered. It could be then, it could be a little bit later tonight.

Captain Schettino, though, before the judges went in to deliberate this decision, he pleaded with them for his freedom. He broke down. He

cried. He said on January 13, I died too with those 32 victims.

Whether or not that will make a difference in this decision is yet to be seen.

His defense, though, made some very interesting arguments in this case. One of them was how the cruise ship industry and Costa Cruise Line

in particular has changed many of the practices that led to, as he said, the death of those 32 people, that includes you know additional muster

stations (ph) -- that's where the people during a disaster meet. Things like that have been changed, he said. His defense saying that this trial

at least has served that purpose.

You know, the judges -- there is no jury, there's three judges. They'll make a decision on the abandoning ship charge on the 32 counts of

manslaughter and on whether or not he caused a maritime disaster.

The sentence they're asking for, the prosecution, is 26 years. But, you know, most legal analysts say that probably isn't going to happen with

Captain Schettino. He'll probably get a lesser sentence and he'll automatically appeal any sentence, he said, over five years.

So, we'll wait to see what happens tonight with the verdict. But we're not expecting necessarily a decision on whether or not he's guilty,

but how guilty this court finds him.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the verdict for this tragedy that took place in 2012 just hours away.

Barbie Nadeau reporting for us. Thank you.

Now opening statements begin just hours from now in the trial of a man charged with killing a former Navy SEAL whose story was told in the

blockbuster movie American Sniper. Martin Savidge reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the movie theater outside Stephenville, Texas, just like anywhere else you can catch the film

American Sniper, the hit movie that focuses on Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.

But unlike anywhere else, in the center of town at the courthouse the focus will be not on how Kyle lived, but how he died. As many as 800 jury

notices went out. Yet despite that number, and the obvious notoriety of the case, jury selection ended a day early.

10 women, two men, all white and two alternates. Each one of them had to fill out a four page questionnaire asking such things as where they

work, if they know the accused Eddie Routh, or the two victims Kyle and Chad Littlefield, the other man murdered with him.

They are also asked about military service and question number 14, "have you read the book, listened to the audio book, or seen the movie

American Sniper?"

Answering yes did not get you disqualified, but the very question shows how the blockbuster movie has complicated the case.

But in the courtroom, the characters are real and all eyes will be on defendant, 27-year-old former marine Eddie Ray Routh who, like Kyle, also

served in Iraq.

Routh allegedly confessed to carrying out the killings to his sister.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Listen, my brother just came by here. He told me that he's committed a murder.

911 OPERATOR: Who did he say he was -- he had killed?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said that he killed two guys. They want went out to a shooting range. Like he's all crazy. He's (EXPLETIVE DELETED)

psychotic.

SAVIDGE: But Routh later entered a plea of not guilty. His attorneys plan to argue his military service forms the crux of his defense: innocent

by reason of insanity due to post traumatic stress.

Author Laura Beal wrote about Routh's struggles after leaving the military.

LAURA BEAL, WRITER: His final downfall mentally happened very quickly.

SAVIDGE: Expect both sides to produce plenty of medical documents and call lots of medical experts.

A single camera will be allowed to video the proceedings, shooting through a window. But in an unusual move, the judge has ordered after

opening statements there will be no audio from the courtroom, which is unfortunate, since the trial will very much have movie-like drama as the

first witness expected to be called is the widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle.

Martin Savidge, CNN, Stephenville, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come, the audience on Jon Stewart's latest show -- sure we expected a lot of good

jokes, but a surprise announcement caught them off guard.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now the career of one of America's most influential news anchors is now a question mark. Now NBC Nightly News host Brian Williams has been

suspended for six months without pay. Now the reason, he stretched the truth about being fired at while in a helicopter.

Now it happened as he was reporting in Iraq over a decade ago.

Now NBC's CEO has called Williams' actions inexcusable. And NBC is now investigating his other reports.

And the legendary satirist Jon Stewart is bidding farewell to the Daily Show. Now the popular comedian, he shocked his audience on Tuesday

when he announced his decision to leave the program by the end of the year.

Now Stewart, whose wit skewered both politicians and the media, he spent more than 15 years at the helm of the iconic Comedy Central program.

And during his tenure, the show won some 20 Emmy Awards.

Now let's get more on this. And let's bring in CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter. He joins us now live from New York.

And Brian, why is Jon Stewart making this decision to leave now?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think he is tired after an incredible run at the Daily Show of more than 15 years on

the program. That's a long time for anybody. And he has been performing at such a high level for so long. He really is going out on top in a way

that few do.

Some people even compared him to Johnny Carson, the idea that he really pioneered a new form of late night television.

Stewart figured out ways to bring humor into the news and bring news into humor. He got more serious as time went on. He got angrier even

sometimes, but he still managed to find the funny and to poke fun at politicians and of course the media, CNN included.

He really leaves a legacy that few can match, people like John Oliver, Larry Wilmore, Steve Carell, people that got their start on the Daily Show

and now have headed off in different directions. They're going to continue doing what John Stewart and the Daily Show started.

LU STOUT: Yeah, he'll be leaving behind a huge legacy and some pretty big shoes to fill. So who could possibly replace Jon Stewart on the Daily

Show?

STELTER: I don't think anybody can. It's hard to imagine anybody in the chair, but Comedy Central says the program will continue. So,

speculation has centered around some of Comedy Central's existing correspondents on the Daily Show, people like Jessica Williams, other stars

on the channel like Chris Hardwick, possibly people from SNL like Tina Fey or Amy Poehler who got their start on SNL many years ago.

But I'll throw you a curveball here, I don't think this is, you know, it's not like this is going to happen any time soon, but Brian Williams.

You know, this news about Brian Williams happened an hour after Jon Stewart announced he was leaving the Daily Show. It is a wild coincidence

if that is all it is. And we know that in the past Williams has been interested in a more comedic opportunity. There are reports that he was

interested in the Tonight Show job when Jay Leno vacated that spot a number of years ago.

So, listen, I think stranger things have happened in television than that possibility, right?

LU STOUT: Yeah, you're right. That's quite a curveball, but anything can happen, right.

And I just want to get your thoughts on just like the impact of Jon Stewart and the Daily Show there in America, you know, on politics, on the

media, especially on the youth demographic. I mean, it's huge.

STELTER: It really is. It's important. Some people feel that he breeds cynicism. I personally think that he encourages political

participation, or at least interest in politics among young people, because in many ways he provides a sort of crash course in American politics to

young people who watch his program.

You know, he leans to the left and his audience leans to the left as well. Lots of jokes at the expense of Republicans and conservatism in

general. But Stewart figured out a way to provide news and information to an audience through humor. And we've seen many others then follow up and

do that.

So what he started, like I said, will continue through people like John Oliver and others.

LU STOUT: And with Jon Stewart, and also we can't forget Stephen Colbert with the end of the Colbert Report. Both of these huge figures

bowing out. Do you think this is going to be the end of the so-called fake news era?

STELTER: Oh, I think it's the beginning of a whole new era. Because what we see in television these days is traditional news -- channels like

CNN -- trying some of the techniques of shows like the Daily Show.

You know, when you see a series of embarrassing video clips of a politician changing their mind or misspeaking, when you see a mashup like

that, that's inspired partly by the Daily Show.

When you see long essays that read on air by people like Rachel Maddow on MSNBC or others on cable news, that's partly inspired by Jon Stewart and

the Daily Show.

So, he is basically I think he's got DNA that's been spread out all across the television landscape.

LU STOUT: Yeah, he's made his impact already.

Brian Stelter, thank you so much as always. Thank you. Take care.

Now that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere, because we've got World Sport with Alex Thomas up next.

END