Early Start's new website
Armed Syrian rebels enter besieged city of Kobani
About 200 Syrian rebels entered the besieged city of Kobani at dawn Wednesday with weapons that included mortars and heavy machine guns, a Syrian rebel commander said.
Col. Abdul Jabar Okaidi spoke to CNN by phone from inside Kobani, a Syrian border city.
Okaidi said the rebels are using weapons from the Free Syrian Army supplies, but did not disclose which brigades offered the weapons or assisted.
This is the first group to enter, and more fighters will come in if required, he said.
"Today, 200 is enough," he said. "But we can send more today if needed."
See John Berman's Journey to Amsterdam to Solve a Family Mystery
Could John Berman be related to the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza, noted as the Prince of Philosophers?
Berman travels to Amsterdam, the country where his ancestors, the Spinozas, lived for 140 years in search of his “inner Spinoza”… and the truth.
To see more familiar faces of CNN share their own stories, visit CNN.com/Roots.
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Follow Christine Romans on Her Journey to Trace Her Roots
“As a journalist, I interview and write about newsmakers – but in my family, the real newsmaker was just an ordinary girl who had the courage ... to leave everything she knew and start all over again in America." – Christine Romans
See Romans trace her history from Iowa back to Denmark where she learns her great-great-grandmother was a risk taker and a giver.
The Danish Archives collects and stores historic sources and makes them available to the public.
Almost all of the documents revealed on Christine Romans journey is found online.
If you have lineage that dates back to Denmark, go online to www.sa.dk for more information!
And for more history from other familiar faces of CNN, visit CNN.com/Roots
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New ISIS Hostage Video Released
British photojournalist John Cantlie reads a statement in a new ISIS hostage video that mocks airstrikes.
CNN's Atika Shubert reports.
CNN Reporter's Close Call in Gaza
A large blast rocks a Gaza City building, forcing CNN's Karl Penhaul to dive for cover.
Happy Independence Day!
What are you doing to celebrate this holiday weekend?
Hometown Cancels Bergdahl Event
Security worries lead officials to call off the welcome home celebration for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in Hailey, Idaho. CNN's George Howell reports.
NASA Discovers 'Mega-Earth'
NASA makes a surprising discovery: a new planet, a so-called "Mega-Earth."
The planet is known as Kepler-10c.
It has a mass 17 times that of Earth, partly since the surface and mass is made of rock, as opposed to gas.
The planet is believed to be about 11 billion years old.
Don't get too excited though, Kepler-10c isn't likely to sustain life since it's too close to its parent star, 560 light-years away.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Indra Petersons
Indra Petersons is a weather anchor and meteorologist for CNN contributing to all programming including 'Early Start' at 5am ET and 'New Day' at 6am ET.
From earthquakes to asteroids, air turbulence to ocean currents, Indra's reporting doesn't just tell us what's happening outside, but why it's happening. It's nice having a self-proclaimed weather nerd around!
Here, Indra shares 10 things you didn't know about her:
1. Indra is the Hindu God of Weather but also just a place in Latvia. I got the second one
2. I rescued two dogs. A pit bull and a chihuahua. The chihuahua runs the house
3. I’m either a health freak or a foodie, just depends on what day of the week it is or how fun the party is
4. My dad REALLY is a brain surgeon
5. My husband is a marine sniper
6. Latvian was my first language. I speak English but I do know what you’re saying about me in Spanish
7. In my free time I’m either traveling the world or at home scrapbooking it. Adventurous or a hermit? You decide
8. I was playing the piano and skiing by age 3
9. Most of my friend’s say I’m the best guy friend they have, without the love of sports
10. You’ll know you’re in yoga with me when you hear the instructor remind the class, “some people aren’t genetically flexible,” but I bet I can do as many pull-ups as you can. Well, maybe round one
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Connect with Indra!
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Is severe weather happening where you are? Indra and iReport want to hear your story. Share your stories, photos and video, and we may request to feature them on 'New Day.'
10 Things You Didn't Know About John Berman
John Berman is the co-anchor of 'Early Start' with Christine Romans at 4am ET and '@THISHOUR' with Michaela Pereira at 11am ET.
Oftentimes, he can be seen covering across all CNN day parts, including anchoring Anderson Cooper's show "AC360" at 8pm ET. All of which confirms for us that John Berman does not sleep.
Here, John shares 10 things you didn't know about him:
1. I have been thrown out of Yankee Stadium
2. I am not related to Chris Berman
3. I have seen Barry Manilow in concert
4. I was embedded with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines for the invasion of Iraq
5. I have seen Milli Vanilli in concert
6. I was once Peter Jennings' head writer
7. Started dating my wife in college when she was a costumer for a musical I was in
8. It was a drag show
9. I have seen KISS in concert
10. I don't really like concerts
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Connect with John!
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When inspired, John does a segment at the end of '@THIS HOUR 'called 'Cable Outrage,' where he goes off on topics that irked him that week.
Here's one of our favorites on how John found out it's Daylight Saving Time (singular) and NOT Daylight Savings Time:
Have any idea for a 'Cable Outrage'? Tell John on Twitter using #CableOutrage!
