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CNN NEWSROOM

Controversial E.U./Turkey Deal Begins on Refugees; Will Armenia/Azerbaijan Cease-fire Hold; Brussels Airport Reopens after Attacks; Being Christian in Pakistan; U.K. De-radicalization Programs Help Convicted Jihadists Reintegrate; Controversial E.U./Turkey Deal Begins on Refugees; Trump, Cruz Demand Kasich Get Out of Race; 80th Master's Tees Off Thursday. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired April 4, 2016 - 02:00   ET

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


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[02:00:37] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Thank you for joining us on CNN NEWSROOM.

And we begin in Greece where refugees and other migrants, who risked their lives to reach the Greek isles and ultimately northern and western Europe, are now on their way back to Turkey. Now, three Turkish ships have left the port bound for Turkey. We're looking at live pictures here. The migrants are being returned as part of a controversial and much criticized deal between the European Union and Ankara. Under that agreement, migrants who reach Greece illegally after March 20th and had their asylum request rejected or who didn't apply for asylum are now being sent back.

Well, CNN's Erin McLaughlin is at the port of Lesbos and Phil Black in Dikili, the Turkish town where the ships will be arriving.

We want to start with Phil Black there.

We know, of course, that those ships are heading your way, should reach port very soon, in fact. Phil, talk to us about what those migrants on board have to look forward to once they arrive there.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, we can see the vessels. They're now clearly within sight here. And they appear to have slowed on their final approach here. Each one carrying around 130 passengers, reluctant passengers. These are people who crossed in the other direction with the dream of establishing a new life in Europe. And they're now returning to Turkey. That dream really a total failure.

What happens to them here isn't clear and it is really the most controversial part of what you touched on and described accurately as a controversial agreement. What we see here at our facility set up by the immigration authorities here in Turkey where it is pretty clear these people are going to be processed. The authorities don't want us to see too much. They set up tents to shield their activities from view. But the expectation is once they're processed here, they'll be removed to other centers. Of course, just where will depend upon where these migrants themselves are from. If they are Syrian, it is likely they'll be moved back to the vast camps that house millions of Syrian refugees in this country. If they come from other countries, their future is perhaps less certain -- Rosemary?

CHURCH: This is a worry for so many of those people, retracing their footsteps, going back from where they came, and some of them perilous journeys to get to where they had gotten there in Greece. Talk to us about this process. I know you said it is sort of behind closed doors or tense, if you like, but what some of these families might very well be going through once they do reach Turkish shores.

BLACK: What we've been told, on the Greek side is these, just men, it would seem, we're not sure where they're from. That's a key point. That will play a role in determining just how they are treated from here, how they are approached and where they're sent beyond this point. Turkey has insisted, particularly given recent criticism, it treats Syrian refugees fairly. Amnesty International claimed recently that Syrian refugees were being sent back in across the border to Syria itself. Turkey denies that, says there are no forced deportations back to Syria.

But if these migrants are less likely to meet the official definition of refugees, and we're told by the Greek authorities that these are people who have not applied officially for refugee asylum in Greece itself, perhaps implying that's the case, perhaps implying that these are what authorities like to describe as economic migrants, people looking for better economic conditions, better quality of life, then their claim for protection here in Turkey is weak, as it was across that short, narrow body of water in Europe as well. That's where it becomes less certain.

Turkey commits itself very publicly to being generous and open to Syrians who flee the war, from across Turkey's southern border. But when it comes to other economic migrants, its stated desire, if you like, to protect and show generosity, well, that's less clear and less enthusiastic -- Rosemary?

[02:05:38] CHURCH: Yes, certainly understand.

All right, Phil Black reporting there from Dikili in Turkey, where very soon we expect the three ships to dock there at port. Many thanks, Phil.

We'll get hold of Erin McLaughlin there in Lesbos where the ships departed and we'll get her perspective.

But in the meantime, for a list of ways to help those affected by the refugee crisis, sweeping Europe, you can visit our impact your world web page. It has links to various organizations that are working to help the refugees and that's all at CNN.com/impact.

Well, the future of Syrian President Bashar al Assad has been a major bone of contention between the U.S. and Russia in ongoing peace talks. Now, a Syrian opposition leader is demanding that the U.S. reaffirm its intention to oust Assad in any transitional government. He points to American ambiguity among increasingly tense talks with Moscow. Washington has referred to Assad's inclusion as a "nonstarter" in the past.

Azerbaijan says it will stop fighting Armenia troops after a long- running territorial dispute heated up again. A unilateral cease-fire was declared Sunday but Armenia says Azerbaijan is still firing artillery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERZH SARGSYAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): This is the most wide-scale fighting that Azerbaijan has attempted since restoring the cease-fire regime in 1994.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN"s Becky Anderson has more on the renewed hostilities.

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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A decades-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia flares again over the past couple of days.

(GUNFIRE)

ANDERSON: Heavy fighting in the disputed region left dozens dead as these tensions tick to military escalation.

A military helicopter shot down. An Armenian drone, six tanks and 15 artillery pieces destroyed. Both sides accuse each other of breaking a cease-fire that brought calm to the region for years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was their violation of the cease-fire regime, the international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. What they have officially done was -- was a manifestation of terrorism and Armenian policy.

ANDERSON: But the foreign ministry says Armenia is to blame. Quote, "Armenian armed forces shelled the settlements near the front line where civilians closely live. The acts intentionally committed by the Armenian side killed and injured several civilians, damaged personal property. As an aggressive country, Armenia bears responsibility for the current situation."

It's a region that's been in dispute for years. The area is land locked, surrounded and claimed by Azerbaijan, but controlled by ethnic Armenians, who are backed military and financially by Armenia.

A fragile 1994 cease-fire ended in armed conflict that had lasted six years, leaving tens of thousands dead. Sporadic fighting is marred the truce ever since.

Calls to stop the violence came swiftly amid fears it could quickly escalate.

The U.S. and Russia called for restraint. And closer to the region, Iran, an ally of Armenia, and Turkey, a close supporter of Azerbaijan, have both pushed for a diplomatic solution. Calls that, if not heed, could potentially open up another proxy war with deadly consequences for the region.

Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: More flights are taking off from Brussels Airport, which reopened to passengers Sunday for the first time since last month's deadly terror attack.

Alexandra Field has more on the airport's reopening.

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[02:09:57] ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The security is stepped up here in Brussels as it reopens at least partially for the first time since the bombings on March 22nd. This is the first time passengers could fly out of the airport. It's also a return for employees who work at this airport.

The victims, who died in the attacks, were close to everyone's mind. There was a moment of silence before the first flight departed.

Just three flights leaving the airport, called symbolic flights, of course. This is a significant step forward, a first step forward. There are temporary check-in structures in place. That's where people are going. Then they go through another level of screening beyond the security that meets them as they arrived at the airport.

We're told because of the extent of the damage inside the terminal, that terminal won't be fully repaired until perhaps the end of June, beginning of July. The airport likely won't be operating at full capacity until that work is done.

This is an airport that served some 60,000 people a day. They start with far fewer passengers right now. But again, they hope to build up in the next few days.

In Brussels, Alexandra Field, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Another story, deadly storms wreaking havoc across northeast Pakistan. At least 53 people are dead and 60 injured after heavy rain caused landslides and made the roofs of dozens of homes collapse. 81 people died during last summer's rainy season.

Also in Pakistan, memorial services have been held one week after an Easter bombing at a crowded amusement park. More than 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded. A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban said they targeted Christians in the attack. Churches have been bombed before, and some are now protected by private gunmen.

CNN's Saima Mohsin joins us from the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore with more on the challenges Christians far throughout the country. Saima, this has been so very difficult for people, but it also has to

be pointed out that more Muslims were actually killed in that bombing. But for both faiths, this has been very difficult.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has, and these attacks have been going on for many years now, where people of all faiths come out to form human chains to even protect churches, including Muslim groups. And in fact, you mentioned the memorial services, very few people compared with normal on a Sunday service turns out for the memorial services.

I went to find out what it is like for everyday life as a Christian in Pakistan.

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MOHSIN: Gunmen guarding the church. I meet Pastor Shakeel Anjum and he say it's strange to see gunmen outside a place of worship.

"We have 20 to guard us on a Sunday," he says.

This is the most densely populated Christian area in Pakistan. It was attacked last year.

Inside, the Free Church School, there are usually 40 children in this class, but many are too scared to attend since the Lahore park bombing. Pastor Shakeel has buried six of his flock in one day.

SHAKEEL ANJUM, PASTOR, SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (through translation): Our people are very poor. They can't afford the time to protest the attack. We really need the support of Muslims of Pakistan and the government. As Christians, we love and pray for Pakistan.

MOHSIN: In a national address, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said each and every drop of blood is being counted. The score will be settled. It's being settled apparently by the military and police in raids on terrorist hideouts across the country.

CECIL CHOUDRY, MINORITY RIGHTS WORKER: What about the beast within us? What about the beast that is within our houses and our society? If we do not address those problems, this military operation will be a waste.

MOHSIN: Minority rights worker, Cecil Choudhry, has said successive governments have made space for extremists. The roots of the radicalization of Pakistan are in its various laws.

CHOUDHRY: When you exclude the religious minorities from your textbooks, when you start putting material letters bias towards or discriminatory to other faiths, how will they respect minorities when they grow up.

MOHSIN: Cecil's father, a decorated war veteran and pilot in two wars, have been removed from the history books.

And this ad clearly says it's looking for non Muslims to clean toilets. The ad was later retracted but exposed the institutionalized discrimination.

We found the Christian community feels isolated and neglected.

"My husband is a day laborer but doesn't find work. I only get cleaning jobs."

"It's clear our area is neglected because we are Christians. No roads or pavements."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): How can we live here? We are under attack?

MOHSIN: Blasphemy law has often been manipulated to persecute minorities, including Christians. In a highly publicized case, a Christian mother of five was sentenced to death for blasphemy. The Muslim governor of Punjab called for the death penalty to be revoked. He was gunned down by his own guard.

At Sunday's service, a special song praying not just for Christians but for citizens of all faiths in Pakistan, we should be seen as equals in the eyes of the state.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:15:33] MOHSIN: And, Rosemary, as you mentioned, more Muslims were killed in this attack. And this is very much a policy by terrorist groups, divide and rule. Say you are targeting minorities to isolate them, to create the sense of the other, but Muslims are under attack, too. If you're not the right sect of Islam, you could be targeted here in Pakistan as well, as are other minorities. The call is coming from all faiths for unity in Pakistan -- Rosemary?

CHURCH: Indeed. Saima Mohsin, with the latest from Lahore and the aftermath of that horrific blast.

The U.K. has de-radicalization programs to help convicted jihadists try to reintegrate into society when they leave prison. But the man considered one of Britain's most effective radicalizers tells Nic Robertson government funding is falling short.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CROSSTALK)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): Three years ago in London --

JORDAN HORNER, MUSLIM VIGILANTE PATROL MEMBER: You're walking through a Muslim area dressed like (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You need get out of here.

ROBERTSON: -- a Muslim vigilante patrol, the threatening voice. That's Jordan Horner. Today, he says he's a changed man.

HORNER: It's something which when I was sincere to myself, I said, yes, it was something which I was regretting.

ROBERTSON: Back then, he was a Muslim radical, praised Muslim killers. He was dangerous and went to jail.

Today, he credits this man, former cage fighter and de-radicalizer, Roger, with turning him around.

HORNER: That made me understand that, you know, that the actions that I did do were not Islamic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's able to re-conceptualize things for the individuals in a way that allows them to challenge their own internal beliefs. There is a very, very select few that are actually quite effective in what they do.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Getting de-radicalizing right has never been so important. British officials estimate about 800 people have gone to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and about half of those have come back.

Then there's Jordan Horner and others like him, an unknown number, who radicalized and never left.

But what Roger, who I have been covering for several years, is telling me is shocking. That his scant government funding is drying up as authorities re-evaluate their programs.

(voice-over): Always working on a shoestring. He is down to his last $200 in an overdraft account.

HORNER: We were doing about 70 percent of our work for free. What's ended up happening is that even that agreement has now disappeared.

ROBERTSON: But he is still in demand. Plenty of jailed terrorists are asking for his help.

HORNER: I wanted to go after a few weeks, but I couldn't go on my own. And he says, I still have terrible nightmares, and I want you to help me.

ROBERTSON: This letter he says is from a British radical who joined ISIS in Syria, now a convicted terrorist.

HORNER: We're not able to reach those individuals because there isn't an understanding there of how to deal with this phenomenon.

ROBERTSON: He is frustrated, and so is expert, Douglas Weeks. Both say most de-radicalizing programs can alienate radicals.

DOUGLAS WEEKS, JIHADIST EXPERT: What they're saying is you're wrong. And so you immediately have this kind of confrontational approach.

ROBERTSON: The British governments prevent de-radicalization strategy details hundreds of people who have been helped through education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health approaches to de-radicalization. In jail, Horner says authorities tried de-radicalizing him using a

psychological approach, telling him he was wrong, to be a good husband, a good father. Nothing worked until he met Raja.

HORNER: I knew I was a father. I knew I was a husband. Once I knew from a religious perspective what I did was incorrect, then I had to question, OK, what's the solution?

ROBERTSON: A solution, it seems, may be at hand. Embracing it, still a challenge.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:20:08] CHURCH: We'll take a break right here. Still to come, Brazil is holding an impeachment vote this week for President Dilma Rousseff. We'll have the latest on the embattled leader's troubles and how it's affecting the upcoming Olympics. That's still to come. Stay with us.

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(SPORTS REPORT)

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CHURCH: We're taking live pictures from Dikili in Turkey, the first of three Turkish boats or ships have just arrived there from Greece.

And I want to go now to our Phil Black. He's there in Dikili.

Let's talk about the people on board this ship, because it appears they are mostly men. Is that the case for all three of the ships and what lies ahead for the men?

[02:24:46] BLACK: Rosemary, what we have seen here are two vessels approach very slowly at this final section of the journey, once they enter Turkish territorial waters. You see behind us, the first has come in to dock. They came in and they're escorted from the Turkish coast guard. We're told from teams on the island of Lesbos is we're only seeing men board these vessels. We're not sure where they're from.

We'll zoom in and show you more closely what we can see here. You can see faces through the tinted glass there, the windows. We know that around 130 people. We know that those migrants are traveling, roughly an equal number of European officials, security escort, if you like, maintaining security aboard the vessel. And from here, they'll disembark.

And beyond what I can show you, the Turkish immigration authorities have set up a registration point, a processing center, these tents with desks, mostly hidden from our view at this point. For some reason, they don't want us to see what is happening there. And once the people are approved, they'll be moved. But we don't know where. It's not clear at this point.

We don't know where these migrants are from. It they were to be Syria, logically, we would think they would move towards many of the large camps that currently house and protect around 2.7 million Syrian migrants that fled the war. But the future of people being shipped back from Greece and Europe becomes less clear and less certain if they come from other countries that don't have such a solid claim to traditional refugee or asylum. Turkish policy here is not to grant permanent asylum to the people that fleeing the conflict in Syria, but to simply protect them, allow them to stay on Turkish territory until the conflict is resolved.

In the event, however, that people from other countries, Middle Eastern countries, African countries, are returned on these boats, it is unclear what Turkish policy will be, whether they can stay here or be deported back to their countries of origin -- Rosemary?

CHURCH: Phil Black keeping an eye on the situation there, as we watch the first three of ships dock there in Dikili. Many thanks to Phil Black.

We'll return to him what the other two ships have docked there. Keeping an eye on this story.

We'll be back in just a moment. Do stay with us here on CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:41] CHURCH: A warm welcome back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

Want to update you on the main stories we have been following this hour.

(HEADLINES)

Three ship carrying migrants have left the Greek port of Lesbos. The first ship has just arrived in Turkey. The migrants are being sent back as part of a controversial deal between the European Union and Ankara to stem the refugee influx. It is expected thousands more migrants will make the same journey back to Turkey from Greece in the days ahead.

To Erin McLaughlin, who joins us now from the port of Lesbos in Greece.

Erin, what have you been seeing as migrants were put on the three ships heading for Turkey, and were these all -- who boarded them?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, let me first show you what's going on behind me. I don't know if you can see. A very small group of protester gathered here outside the port. They have signs saying "Wake up, Europe, stop the dirty deal," chanting "E.U., shame on you." Their primary concern is the country these migrants have gone to, Turkey, is not a safe country, but something we heard from in different international organizations like Amnesty International.

The deportation process from here has been for the large part peace begun, begun in the small hours of the morning. Buses arrived under the cloak of darkness. Migrants were boarded and put on ships to leave for Turkey.

Who they are and how they have been chosen is not entirely clear. This has not been a transparent one, not clear what the nationalities of those individuals are. From what we could see boarding those ships, mostly men. We didn't see any women or children and the Greek official has told us those are individuals that did not apply for asylum here in Greece.

Also interesting to note, this deal between Turkey and the E.U. is dependent on these deportations acting as a deterrent, sending a message to migrants in Turkey, don't risk your treasure, don't risk your life making this perilous crossing here to Greece, but the buses were coming in. Migrants likely to be taken to the same center that they came from.

CHURCH: Talk to us about the flow of these migrants being put on these boats. We know these three have left, one of them has arrived in Turkey. Many are about to arrive. How many more would we expect to see? The flow during date and the days ahead?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, right now, an E.U. official telling CNN that two -- flee boats, two boats expected to leave with some 250 people individuals on board in total from the island of Lesbos. Today, we saw three boats. Boats are expected to leave from Chios, an island not far from here. According to that official, these are set to take place tomorrow, tomorrow and Wednesday. Again, we're circling back to officials who are being very tightlipped. The information has not been made public, just in terms of the precise number and the nationalities.

[02:35:21] CHURCH: Erin McLaughlin, keeping an eye on the situation there from the port in Greece. Erin, many thanks to you.

The U.S. presidential hopefuls are focusing on Wisconsin one day before the U.S. holds the next round of primary voting. Republican Ted Cruz needs a win there to stay viable against Donald Trump. He's hoping the New York billionaire's brisk style will not sit well with the traditional voters.

On Sunday, Trump kept up his traditional style and demanded John Kasich, who is trailing far behind in the Republican delegate count, bow out of the race.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I'm way over 50 percent, but with Kasich, it is harder and he shouldn't be in. If he wants to get to the convention, that's OK. Go to the convention and now you want to be president. But you shouldn't be littering up the process. That's what he's doing. It is a disgrace. I'll tell you. And if he's doing it -- I mean this. If he's doing it, then Marco, and all of these other guys should have just stayed in and kept all these people in. It is really not fair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN Politics reporter, Jeremy Diamond, has more on Trump's motives wanting Kasich to quit now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: With less than 48 hours until Wisconsin Republicans head to the polls, Donald Trump stumping in a suburb of Milwaukee talking about trade and immigration but also focused some of his fire on Ohio Governor John Kasich. That's a little bit unusual given that Donald Trump spent most of his time talking about trade and hitting Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker who endorsed Cruz last week.

Donald Trump went after John Kasich talking about Kasich being a nasty guy, calling him a disgrace for staying in the race. It will be hard to snag the delegates needed to get the nomination before convention.

Now, it is looking like a very strong potential that things could be headed for an open convention. They're hoping they can lock in support of some of the key delegates who could possibly, on a second ballot, sway the math and give the Republican nomination to one candidate or another. Donald Trump understanding he has to focus on that. He's put a team in place, and he'll be going forward now, hoping to get a win in Wisconsin. But if he doesn't, he's turning his attention to New York where he's leading in the polls now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has been mentioned as a possible Republican nominee if Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich fail to win enough delegates. But during his trip to Israel, he swatted down the idea. Ryan ran for U.S. vice president back in 2012. He cited the crowded field and his young family as reasons why he won't run.

Remember to join us here on CNN all day Tuesday for complete coverage of the critical Wisconsin primaries.

It may be April, but that's not going to stop some heavy snow from hitting the northeastern United States.

Our Meteorologist Karen MaGinnis joins us now with the forecast.

Can't believe it, spring, but still snow.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, there is video of a man who is mowing his yard, but it is covering with snow. This across the Midwestern United States where we have seen back-to-back clipper systems. They move at a clip, they move rapidly. We've seen a succession of them move across the Midwest.

I want to point this out. We had a dramatic temperature change in 10 days. This was at O'Hare Airport. These are going to show you hourly temperatures but an eight degree Celsius or seven degrees Fahrenheit temperature drop in 10 minutes. The temperature was hovering around 22 degrees, hourly. We're looking at temperatures above the freezing mark. As that clipper system swept through, it dropped the temperature dramatically. Hundreds of severe weather reports literally from the Midwest, the Great Lakes, the Ohio valley, the northeast, into the New England area, where we had screaming winds. Look at this video out of Oakley, Ohio, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, downed trees. This tree looked like it clipped the end of the home. Then in Indianapolis, pretty much the same thing, downed trees, downed power lines. And we even had a report of a semi tractor trailer that was blown over. Some of the winds getting to 1015 kilometers per hour. A wild ride for April in the U.S.

Back to you, Rosemary.

[02:40:52] CHURCH: Unbelievable. So hard to predict.

Thanks, Karen. We'll talk again soon.

Let's take a short break here. Still to come, a Muslim woman says she felt humiliated and helpless when her family was kicked off a U.S. flight. Why the airline says it removed the passengers. Back in a moment.

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[02:44:34]CHURCH: Brazil is it struggling to fill the seats for the Olympic Games in Rio this summer. With four months before the opening ceremony, only half of the tickets have been sold. The new minister of sports says public officials must work to boost confidence in Rio's ability to host the games. The economy is suffering its worst recession in 25 years. The country is also in the midst of political chaos with massive protests and accusations of government corruption. President Dilma Rousseff faces an impeachment vote this week.

A British doctor is accused of giving banned performance enhancing drugs to 150 top-flight athletes. The doctor is denying those claims but the "Sunday Times" says it sent an elite runner undercover who got the doctor to prescribe him banned substances. The paper says the alleged clients include premier league football players, boxers, cyclists, body builders. The anti-doping agency possibly knew about the wrongdoing two years ago but did not alert officials. An independent investigation has been order into the case.

A Muslim family is demanding an apology from United Airlines after being kicked off a flight last month in Chicago. The parents say it happened after they asked for an extra strap for their child's booster seat. That's when they said a United employee told them must get off the plane due to a security issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it a discriminatory decision or just because -- what is the reason?

UNIDENTIFIED UNITED EMPLOYEE: Just a safety of flight issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: United Airlines says it rebooked the family on a later flight over concerns about the child's safety seat. The Counsel on American- Islam Relations is representing the family and says, quote, "We are tired of Muslim-looking passengers being removed from flights for the flimsiest reasons."

Lawmakers in several southern U.S. states have recently debated bills that addressing religious concerns over the rights of gays, lesbians and transgender people. One bill in North Carolina has become law.

Nick Valencia looks at the measure's impact so far.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SINGING)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina, and this is a midday drag show, a fund-raiser for LBGT awareness.

(SINGING)

(CHEERING)

VALENCIA: Candace Cox is the person of the hour.

COX: The most important thing for me personally is that every time I close my eyes and say a prayer, I ask my God, as a person of faith, how he feels, he didn't seem to have a problem with it. My parents have no problem with it and their opinion matters to me.

VALENCIA: Cox is transgender.

COX: I'm used to being stabbed in my back, not in my eye.

VALENCIA: She says she's one of the tens of thousands of transgender people in North Carolina affected by the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act. It is a new state law that requires transpeople to use the public restroom related to the gender on their birth certificate.

COX: It puts us in danger and open discrimination. No different than the Jim Crow laws we had in the south.

VALENCIA: At home, Candice and her husband, Adam Daniels, say now they worry she'll be physically assaulted or worse --

STATE REP. PAUL STAN, (R), NORTH CAROLINA: I say most of the attention is because people don't understand what the bill actually does.

VALENCIA: State House Republican pro tem, Paul Stan, is one of the bill's sponsors. He says it is not about limiting protections of the LGBT community, but not giving them special rights.

STAN: We have lots of accommodation in the bill for those with special circumstances. But we're trying to protect the usual expectations of privacy of 99.9 percent of our citizens who think when they're going into a restroom or changing room or locker room that they'll be private.

VALENCIA: 19 surgeries, two trips to Thailand and more than $100,000 later, Cox is post-op transgender. Though her birth certificate says she's a man, she's what the trans community would call passable as a woman.

COX: We're all literally the same and we're all fighting for the same thing. We all just want to be accepted and we want to know we're not going to be discriminated against.

(CHEERING)

VALENCIA: Nick Valencia, CNN, Raleigh, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:49:35] CHURCH: And we'll take a short break here. Still to come, two burglars are behind bars thanks to the very cleaver thinking of a group of children. How they helped police catch the suspects. There's a clue there. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

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CHURCH: A story that will cheer you up. In Surry, England, some quick thinking kids were crime fighters for a day helping police catch two suspected burglars. It began as an Easter egg hunt in the English countryside, but the police noticed a police helicopter hovering overhead and two men running. So they form a human arrow to point police to the suspects. How about that? It does take a village.

The 80th Master's tees off on Thursday. It's the golf season's first major tournament of the year and arguably its most prestigious.

Our Patrick Snell looks at the top contenders.

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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For golf fans the world over, this 80th edition of the Master's really can't come soon enough. An elite star-studded field literally champing at the bit to be let loose at Augusta. Factor in, too, this is also the 30th anniversary of the legendary Jack Nicklaus's final and 18th grand slam title at the age of 46, when the Golden Bear became the oldest man ever to win it.

At age 22, Nicklaus's competitor, Jordan Spieth, looking to win the season's first major for a second time. Last year the Texan, who also won the U.S. Open, would be the tournament's second youngest winner after Tiger Woods. But 2016 has so far proved frustrating. Despite a standout start to the year, which saw him record a huge win in Hawaii.

[02:55:04] While was Spieth who won the first two majors of 2015, it was Australia's Jason Day, who triumphed at the PGA championship at Whistling Straits. For so long touted as the best player to have never won a slam title, the popular Aussie finally laid that ghost to record with a major record 20 under par finish. Day triumphed at the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando and followed that up with a WGC match play success in Texas, his sixth victory in his last 13 starts.

A year ago, all the talk centered on Rory McIlroy and his quest to complete a career grand slam at Augusta. But he had to play second fiddle to Spieth, and frustrations have continued in '16 with the northern Irishman yet to win this year.

In addition to golf's big three, keep a close eye or two on Adam Scott, who has clearly adapted well to having to ditch his longer putter, quickly getting to grips with a shorter one, already having won twice this season. Scott is also looking to win the coveted green jacket for the second time in three years.

Patrick Snell, CNN.

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CHURCH: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church.

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