right now high wired diplomatic meeting between the u.s. and russia. the deadly weapons attack and the american missile response. >> under fire. white house in full damage control following sean spicer's gaffe caused an uproar. >> the man at the center of united's nightmare hospitalized. >> after dozens drop support for the o'reilly factor the host says he will take a two-week vacation. a high powered snatch and grab leaves cops scrambling. "early today" starts right now. good morning everybody. good to see you. i'm yasmin vossoughian. >> i'm frances rivera. it is five days dins is trump

administration fired 59 missiles into syria after its deadly chemical attack. the president is taking a hard stance against vladamir putin for what he says is the backing of an evil regime that is quote bad for mankind. >> frankly, putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person. and i think it's very bad for russia. i think it's very bad for mankind. it's very bad for this world. but when you drop gas or barrel bombs, these massive barrels and they drop them in the middle of a group of people and in all fairness you see the same kids no arms, no legs, no face, this is an animal. >> the president's comments coming as officials provide evidence confirming the assad regime used sarin gas on its own people last week and claiming russia is helping assad

perpetuate false claims. a report that read in part the syrian regime and its backer russia have sought to confuse the community about who is responsible for using chemical weapons against the syrian people in this and earlier attacks. >> that comes to a head with secretary of state rex tillerson in russia. set to meet with his kremlin counterpart as the administration takes a hard stance against vladamir putin and the chemical weapons attack. bill, how much of this is a make or break moment for tillerson and russian vladamir putin? >> reporter: good morning. i think the prospects for the meeting are about as bleak as the weather here. certainly the mood music isn't great. russia's deputy foreign minister saying this morning just minutes before the meeting that the u.s. rhetoric on syria is primitive and he said the u.s. position on syria remains a total mystery to

russia. the two men should be sitting around the table just about now. and really, if rex tillerson believes that somehow russia is going to agree to drop its support for president assad i think he is mistaken because russia has doubled down on its support for syria in the last few days. however, russia's official position is that its support for president assad is not unconditional. so i think rex tillerson will want to know what are the conditions in the future under which you might loosen your support for president assad. of course, the big question is will rex tillerson meet vladamir putin. i 24i if the meeting goes well you might see the two men shake hands. if it doesn't go well there is not a chance that vladamir putin will be seen with rex tillerson. >> certainly anxious to see the outcome and the impact if any at

all. thank you so much. the back lash continues against press secretary sean spicer. after he made controversial remarks during his press briefing comparing syrian president assad to adolf hitler. >> we didn't use chemical weapons in the world war ii, you know, you had -- someone as despicable as hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. >> that garnered repudiation with many noting hitler gassed millions of jews during the holocaust forcing spicer to try to clarify his remarks from the podium. >> i think when you come to sarin gas, there was no -- he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that assad -- there was not -- he brought them to the holocaust, i understand that. >> spicer was apparently referring to concentration camps when he used the term holocaust

center. following the briefing the white house had three clarifications. the damage had been done. a call said spicer engaged in holocaust denial. hoping to put the ordeal behind him spicer made a full throated apology while defending his position as press secretary. >> it was a mistake to make any comparison. assad has done bad things, to make any comparison is as m take. i'm sorry especially in a week like this a comparison that is inappropriate and inexcusable. >> spicer wasn't the only high ranking official to compare the fight in syria with world war ii. what james mattis had to say. >> even in world war ii chemical weapons were not used on battlefields. even the korean war they were not used on battlefields.

since world war i there has been an international convention on this. one time adviser to then the campaign carter page is lashing out at the obama administration. the "washington post" reported the fbi obtain add secret court order to monitor page's communications as part of an investigation about his possible collaboration with russians to manipulate the election. page reacted quote, there have been prior reports but i was so happy to hear that further confirmation is nowing revealed. it shows how low the clinton obama regime went to detry our democracy and suppress dissident who is didn't support their failed foreign policy. an official tells nbc news he had no official campaign title and never on staff and never compensate bid the cam page. page not accused of any crime also confirms he never met mr. trump personally. nbc news has not independently corroborated "the washington post" reports which 0 cites law

enforcement and u.s. officials. facing a public relations nightmare united airlines has abruptly changed course and apologized to the passenger who was violently pulled from his seats so employees could fly. that passenger still in the hospital being treated for injuries. new video of what happened in the moments before the chaos. >> reporter: new video taken moments before sunday's altercation on a united airlines flight. >> no, i'm not going. i am not going. >> reporter: we know the passenger is 69-year-old dr. david dao of kentucky. the doctor and his wife at first accepted the offer of $800 to give up their seats but returned when they realized they wouldn't get home in time for work. >> a long time. >> reporter: moments later security not police officers dragged him out of his seat. >> my god. what are you doing? >> reporter: the video of dr.

dao appearing unconscious and bloody went viral. in china a critical market for united social media exploded on concern dr. dao was singled out for being asian, with calls for a united boycott. after first blaming dr. dao, united airlines ceo changed his tone. in a statement saying i deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all others aboard. munoz is promising a full investigation with the results by april 30 saying i have committed to our customers and employees that we are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again. it turns out the doctor has a checkered history in kentucky. in 2004 he was convicted of trafficking in prescription drugs, placed on probation and had his medical license suspended. he resumed practice in 2015. but it's united's handling the way he was treated that has led to an all-out public relations disaster. >> tom costello reporting.

shares of united stock fell 4% before recovering. turning to our weather with some of us having mild temperatures, others especially florida dealing with a fire danger. bonnie, good morning. >> good morning. yesterday incredible record highs across much of the middle east. allentown, islip, in the mid 80s. the normal highs are about 20 to 25 degrees cooler. here is a look at some of the numbers, 84 in boston. warm weather continues across the country for today, big ridge of high pressure bringing about warm temperatures so we'll see numbers above average. not the best news for florida where fire danger continues. that's a look good morning. i'm meteorologist bill henley. clear skies, but clouds moving in later this morning. the temperatures heading down. 50s in the lehigh valley, the suburbs. delaware, 57. 56 in south jersey, 61 now in philadelphia.

i'm tracking some showers. we'll look at when you can expect to see raindrops coming up at 4:30. here's a look at what we're working on for "nbc10 news today" -- >> breaking now, temple students robbed. a gunman burst into their off-campus apartment overnight. parking app off line. drivers, listen up. effective now, you have to pay the old-fashioned way with coins or a credit card at pta kiosks. and forget the flags for now. the iconic national flags that fly along the ben franklin parkway will be replaced but just briefly. weather, traffic, and the news before you head out the door. o'reilly makes a big announcement. per roll more "doing chores for dad" per roll more "earning something you love" per roll

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>> takes you back watching that. j. geils founder of the j. geils band was found dead sadly at his home tuesday. police say he died of natural causes. j. geils band had hits in the 80s. freeze frame and centerfold we all know, j. geils dead at 71. >> leading the news, bill o'reilly the middle of a major sexual harassment controversy announced he is taking a vacation from his prime time fox news show. the network spokesperson says the trip was planned back in october and the timing coincides with when o'reilly usually takes off for his children's spring break. last night o'reilly recommended that people take two trips a year saying everyone deserves a break. he said he plans to return to his show on april 24th. in north korea the media warning any sign of american aggression could lead to a nuclear attack on the united states. the threat comes the u.s. navy

strike group sails toward korean peninsula. the move was a response leader kim jong-un's missile test. president trump addressed the situation. >> we are sending an armada, very powerful, we have submarines, very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that i can tell you. and we have the best military people on earth. and i will say this. he is doing the wrong thing. >> a tense time in the region. on to the white house and the easter egg roll is a beloved tradition. the new administration may struggle to pull it off. the new york times report several key staff positions that usually handle the logistics have gone unfilled leaving loose ends days before the event. many groups that normally get tickets don't know if they are invited. a spokesperson for the first

lady tells the times this year's event will be smaller but is expected to be a success. >> that should be a fun time. police in florida looking for the people behind a speedy robbery. security footage showing a pickup truck crashing through a gun store, then men start smashing displays, grabbing as many weapons as possible. the whole thing took only about 30 seconds. police investigating a possible connection to similar crimes in the area. still ahead, find out what has 136 million views in the past 24 hours. an important phone call over nuclear north korea has investors on edge.

in today's quick hits, republican ron estes defeated his rival in a special election in kansas. the margin of victory, only 7 points, the election as referendum on president trump. >> the plane ended up on its nose after an emergency landing along an interstate in maine. the pilot reported engine problems after takeoff. he and the passenger walked away. >> an 82-year-old japanese woman sensation on the tokyo club seen, spinning records in her 70s, but by day she works as a dup pling maker. >> president trump's call with

xi has investors on edge. united bottom line feeling the impact of that controversy. let's turn to karen who is following it all. good morning. >> good morning. too much geopolitics in the markets for a lot of investors. expect a cautious day as north korea and syria in the headlines, flocking to gold and the yen. united yesterday investors united behind social media. the stock losing $950 million in market cap at one point closing down 1% after the airline removed a passenger, that passenger was an asian passenger so chinese social media has been awash with negative media, about 96 flights a week to china and hong kong. mcdonald's in australia has been snapchat running a test taking snap lications.

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incredible -- yes! >> the trailer smashing records with over 136 million views it's now the most watched teaser in 24 hours in disney and marvel history. the previous record holder the bite and the beast trailer was watched almost 128 million times in the first day. and then you've got "star wars", "the force awakens" with 112 million views in that time. so wow. 136 and counting. a lot of fans. >> a lot of people watching. >> maybe one person watching a lot of times. >> time on their hands. teens caught stealing in canada's wonderland theme park. seems like a small time crime. look how the police responded to the trespassing report. a helicopter. thermal cameras and a canine unit. they were spotted hiding under a

tree. all three were later arrested and released. even though it was candy they responded appropriately to the call, plus it was a good lesson for the kids. >> serious business i guess. going to take the candy obviously. >> imagine if your kid stole candy and that happens. more than a lesson. one harlem globetrotter taking it to new heights. watch of it with a flick of a wrist, he sinks this trick shot, you see that, in the side of the building, if you are not impressed he steps up his game. this time taking a backward shot. here we go. >> come on. >> right in. >> oh, come on. that's why they get paid the big bucks. an update on michael buble's son. watch. nothing can stop crizal® no-glare lenses. neither water. nor smudge. nor scratch.

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feed the meter. drivers in philadelphia have fewer options to pay for parking after a popular app gets pulled. students robbed. three men get inside a north philadelphia home where temple university students live and make off with cell phones, debit cards, and cash. and remaining red. republicans keep control of the house after a special election in kansas. just about 4:30. good morning, there is sh-- thi "nbc10 news today." i'm tracy davidson. >> i'm vai sikahema. meteorologist bill henley, going to be cooler today? , why i yes, they're not her. temperatures have dropped into

the 50s and low 60s this morning. showers are far out of the area for now, but there's a good chance we'll see showers later in parts of the area. i'll show you which neighborhoods are likely to get raindrops when i'm back in a few minutes. first, jessica boyington with traffic. watching the vine street traffic in center city. our cameras around 20th street showing no problems and no construction. westbound and eastbound moving toward the schuylkill or 95 fine so far. the p.a. turnpike looks okay. watch for construction between valley forge and route 29. the left lane is closed. drive times okay. 23 minutes at the most westbound from route 1 to valley forge. more construction, this time on one of the bridges. the burlington bristol dealing with single-lane traffic in both directions. they'll toward that, both directions, ben franklin clear and the walt whitman clear, as well. >> thanks. new this morning, drivers in philadelphia can no longer use a popular parking payment app.

the meter up app was pulled at midnight. it offered a mobile way to feed your parking meter and avoid a ticket. now you have to once again manual dee it to refill -- manually do it to refill the meters in center city. matt, why was the app pulled? >> reporter: the short answer is financial problems on the part of the company that runs the app, not the parking authority. the idea was that you could feed the meter through your cell phone. now that is not an option. the app brought in $15,000 a day from philly parking meters. the parking authority no longer accepted the app as of 12:01 a.m. if you used it yesterday, it will not work today.