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Latest on the Las Vegas Driver Who Hit Crowd; Convicted Rapist Released in India; Mudslide in China Leaves 91 Missing; FIFA Bans Blatter and Platini; Democrat Debate Examined. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 21, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:01]

Errol Barnett, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: Welcome to CNN Newsroom everyone. I am Errol Barnett. We have new details on the breaking news coming to us from Las Vegas. Police now say the driver who ran down 37 people on the Vegas strip Sunday night acted deliberately. At least one person was killed. Six more are in critical condition right now. Police say the driver was a woman in her 20s. She is in custody. A toddler riding in the car with her was not injured. For now, large parts of the Vegas strip are roped off as the investigation continues. Just a short time ago, I spoke with Bryan Callahan, a reporter with KTNV there in Las Vegas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYAN CALLAHAN, KNTV REPORTER: We're actually about three quarters a mile off the strip. This is the area where the driver's car is and where she was arrested. The car is actually sitting about 100 feet to my left here. You can't see it through the bushes. We got some shots of it earlier. The windshield is badly damaged, the rear-view mirror on the passenger side torn off. There have been some detectives going over and taking a look at the car at this point. Talked to a witness here at this casino that was checking in. He said when he arrived he saw six or seven officers running towards the entrance, and then he saw the woman in handcuffs. He actually saw that small three-year-old child police say was in the back of the car when she went up on the car twice intentionally according to police tonight.

The car did have out of state plates, still trying to determine if she was drunk or on drugs. We're told blood was drawn from her so officers can try and determine that. Officers have ruled out terrorism. They have said this was an intentional act this point. The strip likely to remain closed for several hours for most of the night in that area and as I said, we're about three quarters a mile away from it here. You can see the Flamingo over there in the distance. It is actually where the accident happened over there. We are told this car was a '96 Olds Mobile, again, an intentional act here. This casino remains blocked off, largely.

We're being told some of the guests are being allowed to come and go. This entrance where the car is located is closed off at this point as police continue their investigation tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BARNETT: Now it is just a few minutes passed midnight in Las Vegas

right now. A short time ago, I spoke with Sophie Kitteroed. She witnessed the tragedy as it unfolded.

SOPHIE KITTEROED, WITNESS: We were on the other side of the road watching a show. We heard people started screaming and people started running back and forth, panicking. We turned around and we saw a lot of people lying in the street, a lot of them were badly injured.

BARNETT: Now this happened at approximately 6:40 in the evening local time. We're told that emergency officials were quick to get there on the scene, but there was some confusion as to exactly what happened. We now know that this female driver hit people in two locations. Is it your understanding that she was able to drive and hit people on one part of the Vegas strip and then made an attempt to hit more?

KITTEROED: We were on the other side and we saw people being -- well, people lying in the street on both in front of Planet Hollywood and also in front of Paris. So it seems like she hit them on two separate places, yes.

BARNETT: It sounds like there was just so much panic when this happened. One witness telling us he was able to see a child in the car, the police is confirming that it was a three-year-old. Just tell us more about after the incident took place, what people were saying about the suspect, the woman in the car.

KITTEROED: At first, we didn't know what happened, there were a lot of rumors, and people were talking about a drunk driver. There were also rumors that it started with a shooting inside Planet Hollywood. So it got really chaotic, people were starting rumors about what happened, then we got on -- like, social media to see what actually happened, and we saw the media reported that it probably was one person that drove into the people standing on the sidewalk.

BARNETT: And just tell me how this has been for you, when you see an incident like this on an iconic place like the Las Vegas strip, of course it's frightening, are you visiting Vegas at the moment, are you local resident and how is this incident likely to change your plans then?

[03:05:01]

KITTEROED: We are going to leave Vegas tomorrow, so it's not going to change our plans. Of course, its scary being here because we didn't know what was going to happen. We didn't know if it was a terroristic attack or what was happening. It was really scary at the moment.

BARNETT: We want to make this clear, Las Vegas authorities have confirmed this tragedy on the Vegas strip was a deliberate act. Those details revealed at a news conference last hour. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking at our investigation twofold, number one was this an intentional act, or number two, was this an accident. Due to the area we're in with numerous cameras belonging to the hotel, surveillance cameras and our regional, our RTC cameras, we will comb through that footage to get a detailed idea of what occurred. Right now from what we know, we're looking at it as possibly being intentional. We just received that information. So we -- that is just the initial word we've gotten. The way we're looking, but we're going to look at all angles, our fatal detail and our homicide detail are working together like they do on numerous investigations to make sure this is done right and we leave no stone unturned.

We do know that there was a toddler in the vehicle with the driver who's three years old and that toddler is unharmed and that driver is being detained and like I've said, we're still conducting our investigation and trying to figure out how and why this occurred. Our initial investigation shows that there were two areas where pedestrians were hit on two separate parts of the sidewalk, so it was prior to the driveway that leads into the Paris in front of Planet Hollywood, and then over in front of the Paris. So we had two separate locations where the vehicle did go down into the roadway and come back up on to the sidewalk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: And in the aftermath of all of this, one person is dead, six people are in critical condition right now. If we get any new information in this story in the hours to come, we'll be sure to bring it to you.

Now, India's Supreme Court is upholding the release of one of the men convicted in a vicious gang rape. The man was released Sunday after serving three years in prison. He was 17 at the time of the crime back in 2012 and he's now served the maximum sentence for a juvenile there in India. The victim died of her injuries. The attacked happened on a moving bus in Delhi. That case led to global outrage, and new laws against sex crimes in India. To talk more about this we bring in Mallika Kapur, she's been reporting this over the past few years and joins us from New Delhi with more on this. And Mallika, three years ago this incident sent shockwaves throughout India, a gang rape on a bus. You wonder today did that outrage really have a real impact.

MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is a good question. I am glad you brought it up because, yes, we saw such severe outrage three years ago. Today there is anger on the streets of India, there is palpable sense of disappointment. The question is has it has an impact? Yes, it has had some impact for sure. There has been a lot of soul searching going on within Indian society, the number of rape cases have reported have increased. There has been a change. We've seen India strengthen its laws when it comes to rape and cases of sexual violence. When you reach a day like today, when you have the juvenile walking free, it does make people wonder, you know where the justice is.

But what is interesting here, is that no one has actually broken the law in this case. India's juvenile justice law says that the maximum punishment for a juvenile is three years in a reform home. And this juvenile, he was just a couple of months shy of his 18th birthday when this horrific crime took place. His time is up, three years are up. But this decision that allows him to go free, it's legal, yes, that's true, but it does have a lot of people wondering whether justice has really been delivered. There's a lot of anger here in India and a huge sense of disappointment and a lot of pain for the victim's parents.

[03:10:01]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's back, the savage gang rape and murder of a young New Delhi woman in 2012 is all over the news again. One of the rapists, then 17, a minor is now free. Can't bear to watch, but he can't tear himself away. The victim, the fearless one, was his daughter. Singh tells me he's losing and crime is winning.

KAPUR: Convicted of rape and murder, the minor was sentenced to three years in a reform facility. That's the maximum term possible for a juvenile in India. Now that the three years are up, the law says he must be released. Her mother visibly distraught says it's a severe miscarriage of justice. Now you decide, she asks me, it's almost like she's asking society. Should she get justice or should the culprit walk free? Many here believe the limited time the juvenile spent in a reform home was hugely disproportionate to the heinous nature of the crime he committed. What kind of incident will take? What kind of murder will it take? What kind of rape it will take, asks Singh for India to open its eyes.

All this time later, she still can't forget the words of her dying daughter. She wanted them burned alive. I asked she said this? Yes, she says. She told the visiting magistrate that the culprit should be burned alive.

Three years ago, India rallied behind her in solidarity. I remember covering the protests from right here and it was so crowded, I could barely move. Today, there are just a handful of protesters over here, and it seems like the only two people who are still pressing on with her fight are her parents. You know, Errol, it was heart wrenching to spend time with her parents yesterday. They so badly want justice for their daughter. They're obviously in so much pain, in talking with them they keep tearing up they don't have a few moments to give in to their grief and give in to the trauma. It was so hard just to watch them. One thing they kept saying is with this juvenile now walking free, they constantly feel like they're letting their daughter down.

BARNETT: Gut wrenching to hear that, Mallika Kapur live for us in New Delhi with that report, Mallika, thank you.

Later this hour, we'll speak more about this case with a former police officer and woman's rights activist in India, Kiran Bedi. She'll have some interesting points to make on this very important incident.

Now the death of a notorious Lebanese militant is sparking tensions between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli military says someone in Lebanon launched three rockets into Israel Sunday. In response, Israel fired artillery into southern Lebanon. No casualties have been reported. Hezbollah accused Israel of an air strike in Syria, which killed Lebanese militant Semer Qatar. The Israeli military would not comment on that accusation.

Aaron David Miller joins us now from Washington, D.C. He' Vice President for New Initiatives and Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, Aaron, thanks so much for your time. So have this exchange of gun and rocket fire at Israel's border with Lebanon. As Syria's civil war rage on next door, and it was a report Sunday from Hezbollah TV, the Lebanese militants were killed in Syria that seems to set this all off. Why is he so significant to Hezbollah and Lebanon and to Israel as well?

AARON DAVID MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR NEW INITIATIVES: You know he was actually born before the organization Hezbollah was actually created. Lebanese he was involved in one of the worst terror attacks across the border in 1979. And Kuntar was eventually swapped in '06 for two Israelis that Hezbollah had taken in an operation. I think what happened was he started running operations in conjunction with Hezbollah and conjunction with the Iranians. The Israelis haven't claimed responsibility for this, of course. Saturday's attack also killed a fellow operative. So I think this was an effort on part of the Israelis to demonstrate that they have reached, that they won't tolerate cross border attacks, a message perhaps to Hezbollah, but also to Iran.

[03:15:01]

And the Iranians have increasingly become more involved in coordinating, planning, preparation for the possibility of opening up additional activities across into Israel proper. I don't think this was score settling, although it could be considered a two for. No one is going to miss Kuntar in Israel.

BARNETT: What do you make for the free for all? You had Turkey shooting down a Russian plane. You've got U.S. forces targeting ISIS, and Israel striking Hezbollah. How long do you expect this to last because the potential for complications is huge?

MILLER: It is huge. It spilled over into Lebanon, into Turkey, into Jordan with respect to refugees. ISIS has inspired and directed attacks against three permanent members of the security consul, Russia, France and the United States. Even with all of this spillage, you haven't seen precisely what it is you're referring to, a major confrontation between the Israelis and Syrians, a major confrontation between Israeli and Hezbollah. Any sort of confrontation between Israel and Iran. And of course, the ever-dangerous possibility accidental or willful of an aerial engagement with the Russians, the Israelis or the Americans, you haven't seen any of that, which is actually quite counter intuitive and suggests that the external powers to this conflict shoot down the Russian -- it was -- and nobody wants to see this escalate more. You're right. I suspect it's going to go on a good while longer.

BARNETT: We'll continue to watch this closely, Aaron David Miller, thanks for your time.

MILLER: Pleasure. BARNETT: Emergency response teams are pouring through debris in the

aftermath of landslide in southern China. We'll bring you the latest on ongoing rescue efforts.

And farther north, pollution in Beijing has reached extremely dangerous levels for the second time this month. How bad have things become, more on that, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:21:01]

BARNETT: At least 91 people are missing after a landslide struck the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on Sunday.

Traumatic footage there, Chinese officials say dozens of buildings were toppled and buried under dirt. It happened when waste and residue collapsed under its own weight. Hundreds of emergency response personnel are searching the debris for survivors right now. At least 14 people have been rescued so far.

Northern China, Beijing is facing second red alert. The city issues a red alert it restricts the number of cars on the road and closes schools and construction sites as well. Our Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now with more on what the un-breathable conditions, particularly for the elderly and very young kids.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right. That's right. That's been the trend, of course, that we've talked about for so many days, Errol. This is the calendar for the month of December for Beijing, every single day the air quality indicates, the color green that is what's considered good air quality. Look at this, only one day in the first 20 so far tabulated for you that had air that was considered fit to breathe. The vast majorities in the reds or purples are areas in the gray which are beyond index. This is the concern over this region. The consistency and poor air quality, it's not just this December. You go back to the first of January, 2008, that's nearly 3,000 calendar days, only 2 percent or roughly 6 of those days in the last 3,000 are considered fit. It comes down to coal and coal consumption. We know there's the largest emitter for this particular carbon.

The industry is thriving over this region. We know in the winter months, also, a lot of heat and coal being consumed here they're warming up their houses from the electricity that creates these hazy conditions, the small particulates that cause all of these problems. This comes down to the particulates and the aerosols that the consumption of coal creates and releases, take the average human hair it's roughly 50 microns, grain of sand, 90 -- how about a dust particle, 10 microns. These are less than 2.5. You can take 28 of these put them side by side it would make up the same diameter of an average size of human hair. Extremely small that can get into your airways and cause a major, major problem when it comes to health quality, we know, the cost of it significant when it comes to premature deaths across the region. The life expectancy about five and a half years shorter than parts of

southern China and of course, environmental impacts continues as this gets into the water streams and nutrient levels have changed because of this, Errol.

BARNETT: It's scary and frightening stuff there. Appreciate that sobering update. Thanks.

Police in Kenya are questioning four people linked to a bomb scare on an Air France flight Sunday. The plane was going to Paris when a passenger found a suspicious device in the rest room. The airline labeled this threat a hoax the emergency made an emergency stop in Kenya. CNN's David Mackenzie joins us live from Nairobi for the latest on this. David, we can only imagine how frightening this was for passengers. What is the latest on them?

DAVID MACKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we know, Errol, that at first the passengers did not even know it was a bomb threat. They suspected it was some kind of a mechanical issue as they pulled that plane down in the very early hours to Kenya. It seems like they knew they pulled to that were assisted by the ministry. We're learning from the airport authority, many of the passengers, if not all of them, were sent late last night from Kenya on a plane, initially, to Athens, Greece, and then presumably on to Paris, France, their original destination. Four people, at least, right now being questioned, as you say. We expect more details from the ministry in the coming hour at the regularly scheduled press conference, Errol.

BARNETT: And David, as we wait for those updates, what about the four people being questioned. Do we know anything about those individuals?

[03:26:01]

MACKENZIE: Authorities I am speaking to are remaining silent on the details. There have been various rumors circulating around, and certainly it would appear that the person or persons who placed that device in the toilet would have done it after the plane had left because generally these planes are thoroughly checked, also particularly in the highest state of security awareness since the Paris attacks. Air France has had several planes diverted from the original destination because of hoaxes similar to this, mostly in the U.S. So there would have been high careful. Authorities saying there's no sense there was security lapse at that Indian ocean island airport because the device, which was described as cardboard with papers inside and some kind of timer device on it made to look presumably like an explosive device.

It didn't have metal in it so it would not have been picked up by regular checks. They say they will increase security there just in case, Errol.

BARNETT: All right, David Mackenzie live for us in Nairobi, Kenya approaching 11:30 in the morning, David, thanks.

It happened three years ago, but there is fresh anger over a vicious gang rape in India. Coming up, we speak to a former female police officer in the country and activist about what could be done.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:34:01]

BARNETT: Welcome back to those of you tuned in here in the states and people watching around the world. I am Errol Barnett. It's my last half hour with you today. Here is an update on our top stories right now.

Police in Las Vegas say the driver who ran down 37 people with her car acted deliberately. The driver described as a woman in her 20s, had a toddler in the vehicle with her. The child was not injured. But at least one person was run over, or I should say, one person who was run over is now confirmed dead. Six people were critically wounded.

Israel fired -- Lebanon in retaliation to rockets fired from Lebanon. No casualties have been reported. Rocket fire came after Hezbollah accused Israel of an air strike in Syria which killed a notorious militant Samir Kuntar.

At least 91 people are missing after a landslide in southern China. State officials say the slide was caused by a pile of construction residue and earth that had grown so high it collapsed. Rescue teams are searching for survivors in the debris.

Now, India's highest court has upheld the release of one of the six men convicted in a brutal gang rape. The man was under 18 at the time of the attack back in 2012. And under Indian law, he served the maximum penalty of three years. The victim died of her injuries about two weeks after the rape. Joining us now to talk more about this case is Kiran Bedi, a woman's rights activists and former Indian police officer. Thanks so much for your time in joining us here on CNN today. It's a heart-breaking story, but it's important to know there is wide-spread outrage, the release of convicted rapist after three years isn't illegal. But there is a void between laws working in India and justice being served. In your view, what's the solution to this?

KIRAN BEDI, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST: The solution is an amendment of the existing juvenile justice act, that's the solution. Because unless you have the law, how do you enforce it and that's what the judicial supreme court of India exactly said that. They say if you do your homework, if there's no law to detain -- we can't do it. You do your job. In fact, it's a message to the legislature that you do your job. You can't put your job at the footsteps of the judiciary. It's a message for the legislature. Unfortunately, the Indian parliament has not been functioning. It's been squabbling. For whatever reason, but they've just not legislated. That's why people are very angry with the current parliament, why haven't you amended the law. You knew it needed an amendment.

BARNETT: I just want to ask because the outrage is understandable, laws certainly can change, but is this something deeper or societal that needs to be addressed. For example, you're a former police officer there. Are female police officers in India doing more to encourage women to report these types of rapes? We've heard that male officers are condescending to rape victims. What can female officers do to change that aspect of culture there?

BEDI: It cannot be left to the shoulder of the police officers. I think it goes back to every family. India just needs a social resolution of that kind. The social revolution must be led by the political reformers who are not legislating they can go back. Why can't they encourage a social reform, which is for the family? Every family has to treat and respect its sons and daughters equally, and they must give equal opportunities for daughters to go out and work and educate and to make the boys more responsible. I think all they've got to do is girls more courageous and boys more responsible. The social reform has to be led by leadership, not just once, but social reform.

As this briefing is concerned, policing is encouraging widespread reporting and, in fact, if they don't record a register a crime, so the case can be redistricted against the police officer who does not register a crime of a complaint of harassment concerning a woman. So as that law is concerned, it's in place. But the families have to come forward and report. But they must get the boys. With the boys, whether they give all kind of stupid freedom to the boys and restrain the girls. I think they have to treat the boys and girls equally, and that's the real social reform and that's the protection of crimes against women.

[03:39:01]

BARNETT: You have seen incredible change and improvement of how women are viewed there in society. Why is it taking so long to bring these legal safeguards for young and vulnerable girls? Why the political gridlock? You said in some of your talks, real change will take decades, still.

BEDI: Well, India is still predominantly a ruling society. Its 70 still rulers, while, I think men are losing space to educated and pride women, they're resenting it. So India, to the television looks changing but the ruler will take a long time it's the education -- its skills training, economic empowerment, and economic sense of freedom. And unless women become more vocal for money and property, I think they will remain in subordinate positions. It's a social revolution and also criminal justice revolution. I think the social revolution is at its own phase. The criminal justice reform can go faster, but the legislature must legislate and the executive must govern.

You need better executive governance and you need better faster legislation. You need social reform within families. Education is the key and vocational skills and money and property in the hands of women.

BARNETT: Well, I certainly hear you loud and clear. It's a message many people have there in India. You're women's right activists. You say young girl's needs to be courageous, they can certainly learn something from you. I want to thank you for your time, Kiran Bedi, joining us there from New Delhi. Thanks very much. Now, Democratic candidates for the U.S. Presidency took the stage

Saturday in their last debate for the year, some of their memorable moments, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:46:01]

BARNETT: Spain's ruling party suffered a critical defeat in Sunday's election. Take a look at this, the Conservative People's Party won the most parliamentary seats, but failed to get the number needed for a majority government. Conservatives could try to form a coalition government but three of the opposition parties may join forces to keep that from happening.

Meantime, in the U.S., political pundits are still talking about Saturday's Democratic Presidential debate. But much of the talk isn't about what the candidates said, instead it's about when this debate took place. CNN's Reid Binion explains why some Democrats are unhappy about the timing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REID BINION, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the third and final debate of 2015, Democratic Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley battled on key issues like gun control and national security. While many saw high ratings with prime time weekday slots, the last two Democratic debates scheduled for Saturday nights haven't gotten much attention. CNN's Jake Tapper asked Martin O'Malley for his take on the schedule.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to ask you about the role that DNC is playing in this election. Do you think two of the three debates have been scheduled on Saturday night because the DNC wants to limit the audience and there by, under this theory, help Hillary Clinton?

MARTIN O'MALLEY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, that's also why for the first time ever they've limited the number of debates.

BINION: Indeed, at this stage in 2007, Democratic Presidential hopefuls had debated 17 times. The last aired on Saturday and averaged 8.5 million viewers. Significant drop from the CNN debate which aired on Tuesday a month earlier and averaged 15.3 million viewers, more complete ratings will be available Monday. Meanwhile, the next primary debate is set for Sunday, January 17th in Charleston, South Carolina. I'm Reid Binion, reporting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: And on the Republican side of the nomination race, U.S. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz is maintaining his lead over Donald Trump in Iowa, any way, according to a new poll. The CBS survey of registered voters in the earlier nominating state, Cruz 40 percent, Trump at 31 percent and Rubio coming in third.

Meanwhile, Rand Paul is slamming Ted Cruz for what he considers flip flopping on the issue of immigration. The Kentucky Senator told CNN's Jake Tapper that Cruz should admit his position has changed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Monday you're launching a new web video, this one is focusing on Senator Ted Cruz. Let's take a look.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounded like you wanted the bill to pass.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The web ad describes him as a flip flopper. Cruz obviously describes himself as a "courageous conservative," this ad and some other attacks depict him as a craving politician. You've worked alongside him, is that how you see Ted Cruz, a craving opportunist?

RAND PAUL, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think on several things he wants to have it both ways. On immigration at the time he supported an amendment that said, ok, we're not going to get citizenship but we will allow legal status. He wanted the bill to pass. I was in the same category. I thought citizenship was too far but the compromise would be no citizenship but give people a legal status, that's what Cruz was for. He's been explicit about it. And I think he should just admit he changed his mind that he used to be for legalization but he's not any more. He's done the same thing. He wrote something supporting Obama's trade authority, now he's against that.

He said when he ran for office he wouldn't support reauthorization for the Patriot Act then he voted to rewrite it. On a number of issues he wants to have it both ways depending on which audience he's talking to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Now Marco Rubio has also attacked Ted Cruz's position on this issue, but Cruz denies ever supporting what they describe as amnesty.

Now Star Wars is dominating the population cultural headlines, but there are a few other movies out to see this time of year. We'll talk Oscars and all things Hollywood, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BARNETT: I want to bring you some breaking news coming from the world of football. The ethics committee of football's governing body, FIFA is issuing a ban now from the sport against President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini for eight years each. Now they'll also receive fines. Blatter will be docked $50,000 and Platini $80,000. Now this is certainly a major development and we'll have much more on this at the top of the hour.

The new Star Wars has been off to a very hot start at the box office. All of the anticipation made for a stunning first weekend. Earlier, I spoke to our Hollywood insider from In Touch Magazine about that and much more.

Kim Serafin joins us from New York, regular viewers -- she's the Senior Editor of In Touch Weekly and always gives us the insight to what's happening in Hollywood. Kim, great to see you, of course, Star Wars is the movie everyone is talking about, as expected. It broke essentially all the box office records except for one, though, what was that and what's the round up it's been making?

KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR IN TOUCH WEEKLY: I think it's not surprise that Star Wars did very, very well. It did make the domestic box office record, beating Jurassic World, Jurassic World had the opening at 208 million. Beat Avengers. It had the first day. Also had the December record opening, it did not have the record opening for world box -- that goes to Jurassic World. That's at 524 million versus 517 million, but what we're talking about billions because this will get to a billion. It might actually take on Avatar, Avatar is the top earner with 2.78 billion. Star Wars could very easily get there.

BARNETT: That's incredible. I am excited about this movie. Surely I'll see it at some point. You have this crowd of people that want to see something, anything, and to avoid the big crowds. So for them, what should they see over the next few weeks? You've got the Remnant that opens. And you've got Concussion with Will Smith, which has been kind of controversial, what looks good to you?

SERAFIN: Look at those two, Leonardo DiCaprio, it's a hard movie to watch, the remnant, he plays this trapper on the American frontier, but he really is -- I think, Oscar material for this, definitely Oscar bound for his performance. Will Smith in Concussion of course, this is about the doctor who took on the NFL and it's getting a lot of buzz leading up to -- a lot of controversy around it. But if you like a good film, this is one to see. Also, the Hateful Eight, Quentin Tarantino's new movie. This is pure, true Quentin Tarantino, so it's brutal, bloody, it's a murder mystery set in post civil wartimes. And it's interesting because he shot it in 70 millimeter film. This is another interesting one. And of course, Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, if you want an uplifting story, also true story.

The woman who invented the miracle mask, it's a feel good kind of movie.

BARNETT: Ok, so there are many options for those who don't want to see storm troopers over the next few weeks. We also had a Democratic debate this weekend and SNL decided to have their current Hillary Clinton actress meet her ghost of politics past, Hillary of 2008 and another special guest, watch this.

[03:51:01]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we focus, because I am running from President again and I am getting advice from the smartest woman I know, me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I should be the one giving you advice, because in 2008 I got a heck a lot of the closer to the White House than this gal did.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here is my advice, you've got to do what you believe in your spirit, but also America, but not teachers and their fat liberal books, but also and even why worry about fast food wages with their status quo -- which is another Latin word, status quo, meanwhile, Americans are being taken for a ride and also the man can only ride you when your back is bent, so...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: I don't know that I got most of that. Tina Fay playing Sarah Palin, what's being said about that skit?

SERAFIN: I mean you could not have Tina Fay and Amy Poehler appear on SNL together during their big election without them reprising their roles. I mean, this is just -- it was brilliant. It was so good to see them. I hope they bring them back throughout this election year, even though Sarah Palin isn't not in the election this year. It would be nice to see Tina Fay just come back and do a little Sarah Palin and certainly there'll be work for Amy Poehler as the election goes on. This is a perfect way to have holiday episode of Saturday Night Live during an election year.

BARNETT: That trio could take that show on the road. All right, Kim Serafin, joining us from New York, Senior Editor of In Touch Weekly, great to see you. Thanks for joining us today.

SERAFIN: Thank you so much.

BARNETT: All right, one quick one before I go, beauty queens from around the world to compete in the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant. It was Miss Columbia who was awarded the coveted title at first, that is. You see, there was just one small problem, Miss Philippines was really the winner. There she is finding it out. Miss Columbia was the runner up. Host Steve Harvey had apparently misread the card with the official results. Both contestants were shocked by the sudden turn of events, while Harvey was visibly embarrassed. They get to walk away as gorgeous women, so they win. Steve Harvey is still left as Steve Harvey, #poor Steve Harvey is trending by the way. Thanks for watching CNN everyone. I am Errol Barnett. Remember to connect with me any time on social media. It's always great to hear from you. Early Start is next for those of you in the states, viewers elsewhere stay tuned for more global news from the CNN Newsroom. See you tomorrow.