[Berman:] All right. Breaking news this morning: United Nations human rights body has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being arbitrarily detained. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, trying to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in a rape case. Now, despite this U.N. finding, British police say they will arrest Assange if he steps outside those embassy doors. So, what really changes here? Let's go live to London and bring in CNN's senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir. What's the situation here, Nima?
[Nima Elbagir, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] We are waiting, John, to hear from Mr. Assange himself. This finding though will certainly escalate the controversy surrounding the allegations of sexual assault and rape that face Julian Assange. His lawyer had been speaking out before this finding, saying that if the U.N. panel of experts didn't find in Julian Assange's favor, that he was willing to submit himself to arrest. Of course, now we know the U.N. supports his team's claims he was arbitrarily deprived of his freedom. In fact, they go further. They criticize the Swedish prosecutor's office saying that they didn't exercise due diligence. Britain has not come out very strongly, John. They say that they will formally contest the panel of experts' findings. They say it is Julian Assange depriving himself of his own freedom. He is free at any moment to walk out down those steps behind me, but they will arrest him. They will exercise their responsibilities under that European arrest warrant that the Swedish authorities have filed. This, though, will give some moral weight to his claim throughout that that Julian Assange is a political dissident. Others that the U.N. panel of experts has found that he was arbitrarily detained. Of course, Aung San Suu Kyi and the former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy. Julian Assange is expected to speak later this morning and we'll bring you that as soon as we have it, John.
[Berman:] Maybe get new rhetoric, but doubtful it will get him new freedom. Nima Elbagir for us in London, thanks so much.
[Romans:] Saudi Arabia says it is prepared to a ground operation against ISIS in Syria if the United States and its allies agree to initiate one. That announcement comes one day after the U.N. suspended a new round of international peace talks. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes are advancing on the rebel-held city of Aleppo and they appear poised to retake it.
[Berman:] Top national security advisors are pressing President Obama to expand the fight against ISIS into Libya. According to a "New York Times" report, the president is resisting, and said he wants to step up airports to help Libya formed a unity government. The Pentagon is considering air strikes and command raids on ISIS targets in Libya, but the president has already ruled out a large scale ground operation.
[Romans:] All right. Let's get an early start on your money this Friday morning. Asian markets, stock markets mostly lower. European stock markets a bit higher. U.S. stock futures are ticking up here. It all could change, though, in just a few hours. Today is the monthly jobs report. CNN money predicts 197,000 jobs added in January. The unemployment rate steady likely expected to stay steady at 5 percent. There is a chance it could tick down. Applications are soaring at George Washington University. The school ditched the SAT requirement last year and guess what? Applications spiked 28 percent. That's about 6,000 more students compared with the prior year. GW says it saw more applications from African-American and Hispanic students, and also from students who would be the first in their family to go to college. Experts say SAT requirements discourage low income and minority students from applying. George Washington University is the latest school to go test optional. More than 30 schools have dropped the requirement in the past year. All right. Planning to skip work on Monday because of Sunday's big game? You won't be alone. Get this 16.5 million may miss work the day after the Super Bowl. That's according to a survey by the Workforce Institute. Ten and a half million workers have already asked for the day off in advance, which is what I recommend. And among those who manage to make it to work, 7.5 million of them will show up late.
[Berman:] That is bogus. It's a 6:00 start. He does it in 6:00 start? It's 6:00 start.
[Romans:] My friend took the day off because he thought it might be the Patriots.
[Berman:] You took the day off. He's not here?
[Romans:] No, he took the day off because you thought it was the Patriots, but it isn't. So, he kept the day off anybody.
[Berman:] When the Red Sox lost the World Series in 1986, I was a freshman in high school. I could not go to school the next day. I didn't take it off. I could not go. There's a difference.
[Romans:] Are you kidding?
[Berman:] I was really sad.
[Romans:] Oh, John. It's just a game.
[Berman:] It's not just a game. I don't know what you're saying. All right. EARLY START continues right now. Sparks fly at the Democratic debate in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Hillary Clinton with a decidedly new angle here in this election. Just a few days to go before New Hampshire. We'll break down the biggest moments ahead.
[Romans:] All right. Good morning.
[Berman:] Welcome to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.
[Romans:] I'm Christine Romans. It's Friday, February 5th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East. There's so much to get through this morning, breaking overnight: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, they came out swinging pretty hard. This is their first one-on-one debate, which itself created a different feeling, especially from Hillary Clinton. Three days after barely winning Iowa, five days before facing daunting odds in New Hampshire, she clearly decided she could not wait another day to fight back. CNN politics reporter Eric Bradner was at the debate in Durham, New Hampshire. He has the very latest.
[Bradner:] John and Christine, we are days away from the New Hampshire primary, and the gloves were off. Bernie Sanders hit Hillary Clinton accusing her of being influenced by Wall Street for taking speaking fees and for taking campaign contributions. Hillary Clinton got angry.
[Hillary Clinton , Presidential Candidate:] I really don't think these kinds of attacks by insinuation are worthy of you. Enough is enough. If you have something to say, say it directly, but you will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received.