tv CNN Newsroom Live CNN January 6, 2025 12:00am-1:00am PST
12:01 am
bitter cold, a dangerous combination of snow, ice and freezing rain threatening millions of americans from the central plains to the east coast. donald trump's return to power exactly four years after his supporters swarmed the u.s. capitol, congress will convene to certify the president elect's victory in the 2024 election, and new details reveal that the suspect behind the deadly new year's terror attack on new orleans has scoped out the scene or had scoped out the scheme just ahead. a timeline of events leading up to the attack. >> live from london. this is cnn newsroom with max foster. >> well, more than 55 million americans are under winter storm alerts across the u.s. with a powerful weather system dumping a dangerous mix of snow and ice throughout the midwest
12:02 am
and mid-atlantic regions. blizzard warnings are in effect in kansas and missouri, where tens of thousands of people are without power and stores are running out of essential goods. wintry thunderstorms have been hitting parts of kentucky, illinois and indiana. two roads in the region are covered in thick layers of ice, causing numerous accidents over the weekend. the mayor of washington, d.c., has declared a snow emergency as the district prepares for several major events, including the certification of the presidential election and funeral services for former president jimmy carter. some places could see more than 16in or 40cm of snow. as the system continues to move eastwards. on saturday, cnn spoke with the mayor of louisville, kentucky, who discussed how the state is preparing for the peak snowfall expected later today. >> well, this has been a significant storm for us. we
12:03 am
haven't seen this much snow in about a decade in louisville, and it still continues. we're expecting snow tomorrow morning. so our main focus is two areas. one, the roads, making sure we continue to work through the night to keep the roads clear. we're encouraging people to stay home, to stay warm, to stay informed and also power outages. our local electricity company here, lga, they've got 1000 people on standby that are ready with respect to the roads. we've been plowing and salting the roads all day. we have over 200 people that are working hard on our snow team across the entire city. we're going to keep at it with the freezing temperatures that are projected for the entire week. this is a particularly challenging storm, but we're going to stay at it. >> the nation's capital also bracing for the winter blast as washington's mayor declared a snow emergency and federal police are on heightened alert as congress will meet to certify the results of the 2024 election. house speaker mike johnson said. no matter how hard it snows, the results will be certified today. today's certification will mark a
12:04 am
striking political turnaround for donald trump, of course, who was widely condemned for his actions on this day four years ago when a mob of his supporters stormed the capitol. vice president harris, who lost to trump in november, will fulfill her duties as president of the senate and preside over the counting of the electoral votes from each state in today's joint session. our steve contorno is in west palm beach near mar-a-lago, with the latest on how the republicans are planning for their return to the white house. >> members of congress will meet on capitol hill on monday to officially certify the election of donald trump. it's a typically mundane process, but it takes on added significance this year because of what happened four years ago, when supporters of donald trump tried to halt the certification of joe biden's electoral victory. the date also marks two weeks until donald trump is officially sworn in during his inauguration, and republicans are already planning how to
12:05 am
push through an aggressive agenda in his first 100 days. that includes sweeping tax cuts, border security enhancements and raising the debt limit. however, there is already some differences among republican leaders on how exactly that can be accomplished. >> i think at the end of the day, president trump is going to prefer, as he likes to say, one big, beautiful bill. and there's a lot of merit to that because we can put it all together. one big up or down vote, which can save the country quite literally, because there are so many elements to it. and it will give us a little bit more time to negotiate that and get it right. we have the same set of objectives. >> we want to get to the same destination, but i think at times there will be differences in how we get there and understanding the unique aspects of how the senate operates is something that i'm going to have to be able to share and convey to the president and and help him understand, i think what the you know, what the contours are of what we can accomplish here in the senate and what's realistic.
12:06 am
>> trump's transition team is already looking ahead to his inauguration, with a rally planned for the night before in washington, d.c., as trump tries to keep his supporters engaged and energized heading into his next term. steve contorno cnn, west palm beach, florida. >> earlier, cnn spoke with the only republican lawmaker representing new york city in congress. we asked whether she had any concerns about the speaker's plan to get trump's ambitious agenda passed. >> well, obviously, it's going to be a big task, and it is challenging considering we have a majority of one in the house. but i do believe that we made significant progress this past week. we were able to elect speaker johnson united in just one round of voting, and we had a very good meeting yesterday where we went over the game plan. we went over the procedures of what is allowed, what's not allowed in a budget reconciliation bill. and we we have a framework right now which we are beginning to hash
12:07 am
out the details. and so i think that as long as we have good communication in our conference, the speaker keeps us informed of of what he wants to do, what his goals are, as does the president. and we get buy in and consensus. we can do these things that you mentioned america's top diplomat reiterating u.s. >> support for south korea's democracy as the country grapples with its ongoing political crisis. during his visit to seoul, secretary of state antony blinken sat down with south korea's acting president and reaffirmed u.s. confidence in the enduring strength of the u.s. and south korean alliance. blinken is the first high level u.s. official to visit the country since the political turmoil began last month. >> korea's democracy has been tested in recent weeks, just as america's democracy has faced challenges throughout our history. but you are responding by demonstrating your democratic resilience. the united states has full confidence in south korea's
12:08 am
institutions, and we reaffirm our unwavering support for the korean people as they work tirelessly to uphold those institutions. >> blinken's visit comes as south korea's anti-corruption agency plans to seek an extension of an arrest warrant for impeached president yoon suk yeol is set to expire at midnight local time. yoon is accused of abuse of power and leading an insurrection over his brief, botched attempt to impose martial law last month, the country's corruption investigation office is now delegating the execution of that warrant to the police, who are said to be reviewing the request. joining me now from seoul is in-bum chun, a retired lieutenant general with the south korean army. thank you so much for joining us. we heard blinken there talking about how the institutions, the democratic institutions in south korea are working. do you think they really are, because it feels completely chaotic with the institutions working well, not being entirely clear on what they're meant to be doing in this situation yeah.
12:09 am
>> it seems that democracy is chaotic, but that's the process that we all agreed upon. and i agree, yeah, our institutions are working so far. it looks chaotic, but i just think that that's the nature of democracy. >> can you just explain for people who are quite lost in all of this, where we are at this point? >> wow, that's a big order. so as you know, president yoon did execute a failed martial law attempt. he was impeached. or was is in the is in the process of being impeached by the constitutional courts. during the process, his acting replacement, the prime minister, was, um, not appointing the three constitutional judges that were absent. the opposition then impeached him, and now we have the deputy prime minister as
12:10 am
the acting president. the corruption agency, for its formal designation is the senior civil servant. corruption investigation unit. that's a big mouthful. but they were put in charge of executing a legal accusation of treason against president yoon. president yoon and his lawyers are saying this is illegal. and the jurisdiction is, uh, absurd. according to yoon and his lawyers, they are only required under the impeachment process through the constitutional courts to be, uh, to be responsible for. so they do not accept the jurisdiction of the prosecutor's office. the police, nor especially the senior civil servant. uh, corruption, uh, investigation unit. so that's
12:11 am
where they're not, uh, they're not accepting the arrest warrant. and, oh, by the way, the police have just said that they don't feel that it is their responsibility to execute the arrest warrant. once this, uh, arrest warrant expires, uh, there will be other counterclaims about its legality, and it's going to take some more time to see whether this is who's going to win. but for the time being, it's going to be very difficult to actually execute an arrest warrant against mr. yoon. >> obviously, it would be the police who would execute an arrest warrant. so this appears to be the block right now. they need to accept that arrest warrant and then carry it out. so where's their issue here? >> so the police do not think that it is their responsibility. also, i think the police
12:12 am
are in, uh, and also looking at whether jurisdiction from the corruption agency is correct or not. so their position is also a little bit, uh, not firm. so again, it looks chaotic, but the system is where people need to agree on what the real legalities are. and that's where we are right now. for the time being. the police said they're not going to execute the arrest warrant. >> okay. in-bum chun in seoul, good luck trying to navigate through that. but as you say, it is democracy as it works in south korea. thank you. now, japan's nippon steel says it may take legal action against the u.s. government. that's after president biden decided to block nippon's $14 billion takeover of u.s. steel. mr. biden said he took the action out of concern for national security and supply chains. the steelworkers union, which opposes the deal, praised his decision. but the president and ceo of u.s. steel called it
12:13 am
shameful and corrupt. now, next on cnn newsroom, authorities reveal the timeline of events leading up to the new year's day terror attack in new orleans, which may have been years in the making. plus, former president jimmy carter's home state of georgia pays its final respects before he lies in state at the u.s. capitol this week. details just ahead. >> when i hear cancer, i hear death sentence. >> at that moment, it was sadness. scared, surprised worry. everything. >> every 15 seconds, someone will hear the words, you have cancer. at the american cancer society. this is why we're here. to help people facing cancer through their entire journey. every cancer, every life. and today, we're asking for your support. >> i was ready to battle and do
12:14 am
whatever it took to be there for my family. >> your donation helps fund our cancer research. >> i survived cancer because of research funded by the american cancer society. >> thanks to our efforts and others, over 4 million lives have been saved since 1991. but we can't do it without your support. to donate, call or go online or scan the qr code now. your gift helps ensure people don't miss their life saving treatments. last year, we gave over 750,000 free rides. your gift supports our hope launch communities where patients and caregivers can stay when they travel for care free of charge. >> it's so important that my mom is here at the hope lodge with me this year, over 2 million americans will hear the words, you have cancer. >> your donation will help us be there for them and help support our efforts to end cancer as we know it for everyone. >> i want to thank you guys for
12:15 am
your donations that make my stay here possible. >> i owe it all to the american cancer society. >> i want to show people that there is strength, even with cancer, that there is hope. >> every cancer, every life. >> i am a prostate cancer. >> colorectal cancer, stage four breast cancer survivor. >> call now or go to give cancer.org to donate. >> it's halftime. time to go to the bathroom. >> never slams. >> shower and count how many full baths you have. >> it's a jack and jill. >> selling your home to open door is so easy you can do it during half time. >> i wish my tv provider let me choose what i pay for. >> sling lets you do that. >> i wish my tv provider let me choose what i pay for and let me pause my subscription when i want. sling let you do that. >> yeehaw! >> i wish my tv provider let me choose what i pay for, and let me pause my subscription when i want and have hundreds of free
12:16 am
channels. sling let you do that too. >> choose and customize your channel lineup or watch for free. sling lets you do that. >> does your fiance know you're spending this much money? is it bad? $1,000 a month on takeout? i don't have time to cook. why is there $40 on a wine subscription? >> no, i thought i canceled that. that was for my ex. >> just download rocket money. it shows all your expenses in one place. helps you cancel unused subscriptions, and even tries to get you refunds. >> it does all that. >> yeah, and it can help you create a budget so you're not spending the thousand dollars on takeout. >> that actually would really help do your finances a favor. >> download rocket money today. >> u.s. president joe biden expected to attend a vigil in new orleans in the coming hours, days after the terror attack on on bourbon street, which left 14 people dead. our julia benbrook has details on the planned visit. but first, cnn's rafael romo has more on the events that led up to the
12:17 am
attack. >> a crucial question that has surfaced here in new orleans after the new year's day terrorist attack is how long in advance did the attacker know what he was going to do, what he was planning to do? and we have gotten information from the fbi saying that perhaps it was weeks, if not years, before he knew that he was going to do that. and that's because we now know that he came to new orleans at least twice in the months preceding the attack, once in october, where he was here for several days. at one point, he was riding a bicycle and recording video here in the streets around the french quarter. and then he returned in november. and we have also learned that he traveled internationally, according to the fbi. jabbar went to cairo, egypt, in the summer of 2023, and a few days later he also traveled to ontario, canada. i asked the special agent in charge of the
12:18 am
fbi here in new orleans whether they know at this point if the attacker was financed by a terrorist organization, and this is what he had to say. at this time, we're still trying to determine the answers to that. >> that is exactly what our priority is for those international trips. essentially, we're looking at who has he encountered during those trips, who is he meeting with, or has he traveled while in those specific countries? and whether or not any visits to those countries may or may not have any indication as to the reasons behind this attack in our city. >> all 14 fatal victims have now been identified. louisiana governor jeff landry earlier said that the final victim identified was latasha polk, a certified nursing assistant and a mother of a 14 year old. rafael romo, cnn, new orleans, louisiana. >> their visit takes place just five days after the terror attack on bourbon street,
12:19 am
killed 14 people and wounded dozens of others. a white house official says that the president and the first lady will grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack on january 1st, and meet with officials on the ground. a source familiar with the planning tells our team that the president is expected to attend a vigil in new orleans and deliver remarks there. local clergy and law enforcement community members and family members of the victims are likely to attend following an event here at the white house. on sunday, biden took questions from reporters and he was asked what message he would like to share with the families impacted. >> there's nothing you can really say to somebody who has had such a tragic loss. and my message is going to be personal to them. if i get if i get to get them alone about, they just have to hang on to each other. there will come a day when they think of their loved ones, and they'll smile before a tear comes to their eye. that's when they know they're going to make
12:20 am
it. but it takes time. >> the president has pledged federal resources to assist with the investigation. this trip marks one of the final displays of biden as consoler in chief, a role that he's had to regularly step into during his four years in office at the white house. julia benbrook, cnn. >> today is the last day for the public to pay their respects in atlanta to the 39th president of the u.s. jimmy carter's body will remain there at the carter center until tuesday morning, when his casket will be flown to washington. he'll lie in state at the u.s. capitol until his funeral service, which is on thursday. meanwhile, the carter family's former home church held its first sunday service since his death. our eva mckend reports from plains, georgia. reporter at president carter's hometown church, a sunday
12:21 am
service that contained both elements of sorrow and joy as people that knew the president for decades showed up to worship and also to remember president carter's life and legacy. >> we also saw people travel from neighboring states who in the past saw president carter teach sunday school here, which he did for many decades. now his niece, kim carter fuller, has taken over sunday school lessons, and she leaned into the book of psalms, where she talked about how their hearts were heavy, but they were leaning on the strength of god in this moment. and what's also remarkable about maranatha baptist church is that it is now led by a female pastor. we know that president carter very notably broke with the southern baptists on this issue. he believed that women should be equal in all spaces, including religious ones. take a listen to how the pastor is thinking about this moment in this country where, um, to speak
12:22 am
bluntly, we still live in a patriarchal nation. >> we still live in a place where white men are often their voices are often elevated and listened to and believed more strongly than a woman. and so to have a president of the united states who realized within his lifetime the importance of speaking out to the harm that's been done. but i am just incredibly grateful for the legacy and the work that we have to continue to do, because women are still not equal, and we have a long way to go. but his voice was one of power that was used for good. >> and in her sermon, she talked about how president carter really lived a life where he hungered for god and was an incredible man of faith. and at the end of the service, we saw the choir go to the head of the church, where they seem to be preparing, going over the final details for president
12:23 am
carter's final tribute, which will take place here in plains on thursday, eva mckend. cnn plains, georgia. >> parts of europe blanketed by heavy snowfall, causing widespread travel disruptions and power outages. we'll have more on the wintry conditions across the continent next. plus, a new law has just made it more expensive to visit new york city by car. but city officials believe that's a good thing. we'll tell you why. >> kobe was global. people felt his presence. >> kobe the making of a legend premieres january 25th on cnn. >> slow down honey. >> a new driver. you need new insurance. zebra compares over 100 insurance companies to find savings no one else can. up to $400 a year. trevor. oh, look. it's my. stop, the zebra. we do the searching, you do the saving today, my friend. >> you did it. >> you did it. pursue a better
12:24 am
you with centrum it's a small win toward taking charge of your health. so this year you can say. you did it. >> there was a mother and a father who had a son. they didn't have much money, but they were happy. one day they heard the head of their country was sending soldiers to their town. the young family decided to flee. they were scared. but mary and joseph were far away from the atrocities taking place in bethlehem. >> everyone's running to the subway for three. all new spicy footlongs. wait, subway did what? that's right. they're bringing the heat with creamy sriracha, jalapenos and all new ghost pepper bread. but hurry! these subs are only here for a limited time. >> i got this thousand dollar camera for only $41 on deal
12:25 am
dash deal dash dot com online auctions since 2009, this playstation five sold for only $0.50. >> this ipad pro sold for less than $34, and this nintendo switch sold for less than $20. >> i got this kitchenaid stand mixer for only $56. >> i got this barbecue smoker for 26 bucks, and shipping is always free. always free. >> go to deal dash dot com dupixent helps people with asthma breathe better in as little as 2 weeks. so this is better. that too. dupixent is an add-on treatment for specific types of moderate-to-severe asthma. it works with your asthma medicine to help improve lung function. dupixent is not for sudden breathing problems and doesn't replace a rescue inhaler. it's proven to help prevent asthma attacks. severe allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for face, mouth, tongue or throat swelling, wheezing or trouble breathing. tell your doctor right away of signs of inflamed blood vessels like rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, tingling or numbness in limbs. tell your doctor of new or worsening joint
12:26 am
aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop steroid, asthma, or other treatments without talking to your doctor. when you can get more out of your lungs, you can du more with less asthma. and isn't that better? ask your doctor about dupixent, the most prescribed biologic in asthma. and now approved as an add-on treatment for adults with copd that is not well controlled, and with a specific marker of inflammation. absolutely free text. love to 321321 today. >> i'm natasha bertrand at the pentagon and this is cnn welcome back. >> an update now on the heavy snowfall and icy conditions across much of the u.s. right now. more than 55 million americans are under winter storm alerts with blizzard conditions burying communities in parts of kentucky, illinois and indiana. as the powerful storm system moves eastwards over the ohio river valley and mid-atlantic region. some places like washington, d.c. could see more
12:27 am
than 16in or 40cm of snow. winter weather, also impacting parts of europe, much of the uk and germany blanketed in heavy snow, disrupting flights and causing power outages across the region. sleet ice are also making conditions dangerous for drivers. it may look pretty from above, but heavy snow covering parts of europe over the weekend caused widespread disruption to travelers on roads, railways and in the air. snow and freezing rain cut power to tens of thousands of homes in northern england, and the uk met office warned that sleet and snow could lead to flooding in some areas when the icy mixture thaws. airports in liverpool, manchester, birmingham, leeds and bristol were forced to close some runways temporarily and several roads were impacted with conditions slicker than usual. at a time when many people were
12:28 am
traveling, returning from christmas break or heading back to university much of the same problem in ireland, parts of which were also coated in snow, the irish weather service says that bitter cold conditions will continue over the next few days, at a time when nearly 60,000 homes, farms and businesses were without power. german officials warned of black ice for drivers and pedestrians as the snow and ice snarls. transportation here to frankfurt and munich airports warned passengers of potential delays or cancellations, and some authorities are advising people to stay at home if possible well, if you want to drive into manhattan during peak hours, it will now cost you $9. it's part of a new congestion pricing toll that's meant to reduce traffic in the united states's busiest city. cnn's gloria pazmino tells us all about it.
12:29 am
>> well, that's right. in fact, congestion pricing has been in the works here in new york city for at least a decade. but it's faced a lot of political opposition and obstacles in recent years. in fact, it still remains deeply unpopular in the new york city suburbs and in new jersey, which sued to stop the program at the last minute. they were unsuccessful in that lawsuit. so early on sunday morning, at the stroke of midnight, congestion pricing officially went into effect. here in the big apple. now, it is exactly what it sounds like. it is a congestion pricing tolling structure designed to alleviate congestion and traffic here in new york city. it's also intended to raise public funds for the city's public transit system, and eventually it is supposed to significantly decrease gridlock in what is one of the most congested zones in the entire world. now, this is a first of its kind program
12:30 am
here in new york city. no other city in the united states has done this before. in fact, many other cities around the world have implemented similar programs, including places like london. now, how much is it going to cost new yorkers? well, if you drive a passenger vehicle, it's going to cost you at least $9 on weekdays to come into the city from the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on weekends, it's going to cost you $9 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. now, if you drive in during the off peak hours, it will be significantly less. and if you drive a commercial vehicle or a truck, it will also vary in price. now, more than 700,000 vehicles are estimated to enter the tolling area on a given weekday, so that is where a lot of this revenue is expected to come from. now, officials here in new york city, especially in the
12:31 am
suburbs, have been in opposition to this program. and even president-elect donald trump has said that he will cancel the program when he takes office on january 20th. he has called it a regressive tax, saying he believes it will hurt families, workers and businesses here in new york city. but the mta chairman, who is in charge of administering this program, responded to that criticism on sunday. take a listen. >> we're going to have to work with the new administration on all kinds of ways. i'm confident that agreements between the federal government and localities stand up to changes of administration, so we'll have to deal with whatever it is and fund people don't just routinely pull grant agreements or other agreements between the feds and states and localities. but i also keep saying it, and i believe it, that donald trump is a new yorker, his office buildings and he still owns a
12:32 am
few, are filled with people who take mass transit. and i think he understands being on fifth avenue, living on fifth avenue and 59th street, what traffic is doing to our city. so i'm hopeful that although there has been some rhetoric about this, that we will continue to work with the federal government and get through the change of administration. >> now, if you don't have e-z pass, that's the electronic toll system. it will also cost you slightly more. and if you are taking a cab, whether that's an uber or lyft, the cost will be passed down to the passenger. it will cost you an extra dollar and $0.50. if you are taking an uber or lyft, and $0.75 if you are taking a yellow cab. the part of the point, the point of all of this is to encourage the use of public transit. gloria pazmino, cnn, new york. >> still to come, after the end of the assad regime, some of the horrors of that era are
12:33 am
coming to light next. cnn goes inside a lab that may have been used to develop chemical weapons. >> i lay on my back, frozen, thinking the darkest thoughts, and then everything changed, dana said. you're still you, and i love you, super man. >> the christopher reeve story coming in february. today, my friend, you did it. >> you did it. pursue a better you with centrum. it's a small win toward taking charge of your health. so this year you can say you did it. >> watch your step. oh, that's why visionworks makes it simple to schedule an eye exam that works for you. >> even if you have a big trip to plan around. thanks, maggie. see you right now. that's convenient. visionworks. see the difference when you're the leader? >> disaster cleanup and
12:34 am
restoration. how do you make like it never even happened? happen. fire it up, randy. >> yeah woo! by being prepared for anything whatever comes your way, there's a pro for that. >> servpro. like it never even happened. >> i thought we had a plan for dad. he was set to go to the senior living community right by my house. then a friend suggested i talk to a place for mom. they really opened my eyes. my advisor listened and understood his needs and showed us options that were still nearby, but a better fit for dad. now he's in a warm, engaging community with a big group of friends. i know we made the better
12:35 am
(vo) fargo is your virtual assistant from wells fargo. (woman) oh, come on! come on! (vo) fargo lets you do this: (woman) fargo, turn off my debit card! (woman) i found it! i found my card! (vo) and also, this: (woman) fargo, turn on my debit card. (vo) do you fargo? you can, with wells fargo. what else can fargo do? quickly tell you what you spend on things like food. (dad) fargo, what did i spend on groceries this month? (son) hey dad, can the guys stay for dinner? (dad) no... (vo) learn more at wellsfargo.com/getfargo. >> there may be some progress
12:36 am
in the gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks. reuters is reporting that a hamas official says the group has approved an israeli list of 34 hostages to be exchanged for palestinian prisoners and detainees, but the israeli government denies receiving a list of hostages from hamas, according to the reuters report. the exchange is contingent on reaching an agreement for israel's withdrawal from gaza and a permanent ceasefire. white house middle east adviser brett mcgurk is amongst officials at the latest round of indirect talks in doha. and sources say israeli minister ron dermer is expected to travel to washington this week to meet with the biden administration and trump transition officials to. while ceasefire and hostage release negotiations are underway. israel is ramping up attacks on gaza. gaza's civil defense says four israeli air strikes on a residential building in northern gaza killed 12 members of the same family on sunday. one member of the family says a child was
12:37 am
found alive in the rubble, but 11 other people are still missing. ashleigh, ashleigh, we pulled out flesh and remains and there are still more trapped under the rubble. >> these are people who have no ties to resistance fighters or anything. we are here on the border of the conflict area, but now it is considered a red zone. they attack us every day now with missiles and bombs dropped by drones among the people. everyone is at risk of being bombed at any moment. >> gaza's health ministry reporting that 88 palestinians were killed on sunday, bringing the total death toll to nearly 46,000 since october 2023. meanwhile, a health official in gaza says another palestinian baby has died from hypothermia, low temperatures and a lack of access to warm shelters are being blamed for the deaths of at least six babies there in recent weeks. in syria, some are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after the fall of the assad regime. residents of jabbar, a damascus
12:38 am
suburb in syria, have finally been allowed to return home. but the town, made off limits by the assad regime in 2018, is in ruins. that includes the local cemetery, where people are now searching for the graves of family members as they try to get some closure. syrian officials urge the u.s. to lift sanctions on the country. during a visit to doha on sunday, according to reuters. the sanctions had been imposed on ousted president bashar al-assad's regime since assad fled, a number of facilities have been discovered that may have been involved in developing and using chemical weapons. cnn's jomana karadsheh goes inside one of those facilities. >> they're gearing up for one of the most dangerous missions in syria and they have to be prepared. exposure could be lethal. >> while we are searching for these secret prisons, we received information that there could be hazardous materials in
12:39 am
this facility. >> the white helmets volunteer rescue group suspects this is a chemical weapons research site. we joined their hazmat team at a former state security building. they wanted us to witness what they find throughout the war. the regime and its russian backers have repeatedly tried to discredit them with respirators, fixed and suits sealed. the final touch. chemical agent detector patches. with oxygen tanks and detection devices. these two men lead the way into the unknown. they have to move carefully and methodically. looters got here first. every surface is scanned for traces of chemicals. a suspected weapons delivery system sits in the middle of this room, but no traces detected so far. their advance team already told them it's the
12:40 am
upper floors where they need to be. slowly they move upstairs, step by step, on every floor and in every room. they're searching for clues. what was the assad regime doing here? evidence of what appears to be a secret chemical lab emerges in several rooms. they find countless labeled bottles and containers filled with chemicals. their main mission today is to. document, try and find out as much as they can about the chemicals they're finding in this facility. something sets off the detector. they take pictures for experts to review the reading. it says
12:41 am
tick. toxic industrial chemical. he checks his patch and carries on. until another alarm goes off. they realize it's one of the oxygen tanks he has to get out fast. it's becoming clear they were experimenting with dangerous substances here, tucked in the middle of a residential damascus neighborhood, the local druze community had long suspected this was more than just a state security building. as regime forces withdrew, people rushed in to see what was really inside. this feared compound. it was a local pharmacist who sounded the alarm, and the white helmets were called in. securing sites like this one is critical. amid a post regime vacuum and a volatile security
12:42 am
situation. >> these materials could not only pose a risk to the civilians and neighboring areas, but also if they fall into the wrong hands, they could be used elsewhere and pose a threat to other communities and maybe other countries. >> cnn shared images with four experts based on that snapshot. they all agree this was a chemical lab. it's unclear whether it was used for chemical weapons research or something else, including analysis of environmental threats or illicit drugs, among other possibilities. strewn about. they find what they describe as a trove of documents one we can't independently verify mentions communications between the facilities command and a russian military officer. preserving documents like this is now part of the team's mission. they also find weapons storage and production rooms. >> in syria. >> we see all the necessary
12:43 am
components to build modified and improvised explosive devices. >> it was a shocking how the previous regime used all these government institutions as multi-purpose facility. >> down this dark and dingy, cockroach infested basement is perhaps the most dangerous discovery so far. almost every surface and sealed container sets off the detector. it registers lewisite, a blistering chemical agent. experts say it could be a false positive, unlike everything here, it will need additional testing. the fall of the regime may be uncovering what, until this day, had been hidden in the dark. leaving syria and the world, a dictator's toxic legacy. jomana karadsheh, cnn damascus. >> in the u.s., the head of homeland security is warning of what he calls a heightened
12:44 am
threat environment following the new year's day terror attack in new orleans. it comes with several high profile potential targets this month, including donald trump's inauguration on january the 20th. but officials say there are no specific threats surrounding any major events. the concerns come from continued instability in the middle east, particularly in syria, as well as a significant increase in homegrown violent extremism in the u.s. >> we have not only the persistent threat of foreign terrorism that, of course, created the department of homeland security, but we have adverse nation states. >> we're very concerned about the instability that has resulted from that, and whether, in fact, it creates some space for the reemergence of i.s.i.s. in syria and i.s.i.s. continues to seek to radicalize individuals outside of the middle east and throughout the world. and that is something that we are, of course, also very focused on.
12:45 am
>> ukrainian forces refusing to give up on russia's kursk region after months of holding their ground. ukrainian officials say they are launching surprise counterattacks against russian fighters who are trying to reclaim the territory. russia's defense ministry says it's repelling those attacks, but ukrainian military officials say, quote, russia is getting what it deserves. meanwhile, russia's military says it's making advances in ukraine's donetsk region. a russian military blog claims that fighters have raised a flag near a key ukrainian transit hub. now coming up, a few surprises for the golden globes. we'll find out who won big and who didn't. >> does your wife know you spent over $600 on takeout? >> we're busy. we don't have time to cook. >> okay, but do you know you're also paying for a meal kit? >> on top of that? wait. really? look, just get rocket money. >> it shows you all your expenses in one place, and it even tracks your subscriptions and any subscription you don't want. >> which for you, there's a lot you don't need. you can
12:46 am
cancel right from the app. so you mean i don't have to call customer service to cancel? nope. no hold times or anything. and we'll even try to get you a refund for the money you spent, which i'm sure your wife will be very grateful for. i'm a download it right now. slow down honey. >> ah. >> a new driver. you need new insurance. the zebra compares over 100 insurance companies to find savings no one else can. up to $400 a year. trevor. oh, look. it's my. stop, the zebra. we do the searching, you do the saving. >> covid 19. i'm not waiting. if it's covid. paxlovid. >> paxlovid is an oral treatment for adults with mild to moderate covid 19 and a high risk factor for becoming severe. it does not prevent covid 19. >> my symptoms were mild now, but i'm not risking it if it's covid. paxlovid. >> paxlovid must be taken within the first five days of symptoms and help stop the virus from multiplying in your body. >> taking paxlovid with certain medicines can lead to serious or life threatening side effects, or affect how it or other medicines work, including hormonal birth control. tell your doctor about all
12:47 am
medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements you take as certain tests or dosage changes of your other medicines may be needed. tell them if you have kidney or liver problems. hiv one r or plan to be pregnant or breastfeed. don't take paxlovid if allergic to its ingredients. stop taking and call your doctor right away. if you have allergic reaction symptoms. serious side effects can include allergic reactions, some severe, like anaphylaxis and liver problems. these are not all the possible side effects, so talk to your doctor if it's covid. >> paxlovid. >> ask your doctor today. >> today, my friend. you did it. >> you did it. >> pursue a better you with centrum. it's a small win toward taking charge of your health. so this year you can say you did it. >> your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel. nothing beats it. i recommend pronamel active shield because it actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. i think that this product is a game changer for my patients. it really works. >> can a personal loan unlock
12:48 am
your ambitions oh yeah. >> consolidate bad debt and save money for your next goal. >> sofi personal loans low fixed rates. borrow up to 100 k, no fees required. >> now's the time to go back in time and shine a light on the family journey that led to you. learn when they said i do. when they became heroes, how they ruled the school. curious about what you might find. with billions of records, photos and more, you're bound to find some gems. ancestry can help you piece together the past. memberships are on sale now, so start your journey today. >> closed captioning is brought to you by skechers, hands free. slip ins. >> we talk on the phone, hands free. go hands free to turn on our lights. and now there's hands free footwear. revolutionary skechers slip ins. you just slip in and they're on. try skechers slip ins.
12:49 am
>> a major loss for the nuclear disarmament movement. peace advocate shigemi fukahori died at the age of 93 on friday. local news reports he passed away from natural causes in his hometown of nagasaki. excuse me? he was a survivor of the 1945 nagasaki atomic bombing, and he devoted his life to promoting peace and campaigning against nuclear weapons. fukahori was only 14 when the u.s. dropped the bomb that killed tens of thousands, including his own family. it took years before he was able to speak of his trauma. a new documentary about melania trump, due out later this year. there's no title right now and few details, but the incoming u.s. first lady will serve as an executive producer, meaning she'll have editorial control. the documentary began filming in december and is slated for a theatrical release, as well as streaming on amazon prime video. this follows the release of melania trump's autobiography in october, which remains a bestseller on amazon and hit number one on the new
12:50 am
york times best seller list. now it's a wrap for the 82nd golden globe awards, hosted by the first solo female host, comedienne nikki glaser. glaser managed to walk a fine line cracking jokes about ozempic and politics, as well as roasting several of the stars challengers. >> girl, oh my god, it was so good. i mean, that movie was more sexually charged than diddy's credit card. i mean, seriously? oh, no, no, i know, i'm sorry. i'm upset too. the after party is not going to be as good this year, but we have to move on. i know. stanley tucci fico just doesn't have the same ring to it. but no baby oil this year. just lots of olive oil. okay, well, the big winner of the night was emilia perez winning best motion picture musical or comedy, best supporting actress, best foreign language film and best original song. >> demi moore.
12:51 am
well, demi moore won for best female actor in a film, musical or comedy for her performance in the substance. >> in those moments when we don't think we're smart enough or pretty enough or skinny enough or successful enough, or basically just not enough. i had a woman say to me, just know you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick. >> this was moore's first major award in her decades long career, which is extraordinary, really. i'm joined by film critic and entertainment television host andrew freund, who's in l.a., where the awards were handed out last night. of course. i mean, i mean, that's extraordinary, isn't it? demi moore hasn't won anything big before this. >> yeah. you know, she she spoke about that. she's had a 45 year career. >> this is her first major award ever. >> and she gave that impassioned speech because
12:52 am
she's really never had a chance to do it before. and i don't know if you've seen the substance, but it is the wildest film to come out. last year. and she wholeheartedly deserves this award, that's for sure. >> yeah, absolutely. and, you know, it was interesting to see a female host taking this on as well, just because it hasn't happened before as well. so this is another first for this award ceremony. of course, you know, she's an absolutely brilliant presenter. but do you think it had an impact that i mean what resonance did it have? >> yeah. you know, nikki glaser was the first solo female host of the show. they did have tina fey and amy poehler hosted before together, but nikki was the first solo host, and i think she did great. i thought her jokes were hilarious. she told that fine line. she went there, she roasted people in the room. you know, she became really popular after that tom brady roast, and she handed it to a lot of people in that
12:53 am
room. and i was laughing a lot. i thought she did great. >> in terms of the rest of the awards, i mean, amelia perez, would you say she was the big winner? how would you define the big winner on this one? >> yeah. you know, i would say amelia perez was definitely the big film winner with four awards. i would also say that, you know, the brutalists won the drama award. and on the tv side, shogun won four awards. shogun, also hugely popular show. people are obsessed with that. so there were definitely, you know, some huge, huge winners. but, you know, there were also some snubs too. >> yeah, take us through them. >> so, you know, the biggest snub i think is wicked. you know, you can't move anywhere around the world without seeing something about wicked. and it only won one award in the ceremony. the cinematic achievement award. so to me that was kind of the biggest snub. another snub was the film honora. honora is
12:54 am
getting a lot of buzz around, a lot of circles, and it got zero awards. nothing, nada. >> yeah. in terms, i mean, this is often the issue, isn't it, with all these award ceremonies that, you know, there's a committee that decides who wins and it's often seen to be out of touch because you'll have a blockbuster, which is, by definition a successful film and a good film. whether or not the critics like it. how much of a debate is that in hollywood at the moment? >> you know, i think it is a little bit of a debate. i will say the golden globes is made up of 334 entertainment journalists from 85 countries around the world. so it's a very international voting, uh, membership, which is why i'm not shocked that amelia perez did so well, because it's a very international film. french director, french songwriter, set in mexico. so it just, you know, when we come to the oscars, the nominations are coming out on the 17th. it's a whole different ball game, a
12:55 am
whole different voting membership. so, you know, time will, i guess, tell. >> do the globes play into the oscars? i mean, you hear two arguments, don't you? the oscars want to be seen as independent, so they want to do something different from the globes. but at the same time, they can see how people responded to the globalness. >> yeah. you know, i think they maybe a little bit, but not too much. you know, next week we also have the critics choice awards, which i'm a member of. so, you know, we have all these different awards shows. you know, the oscars, of course, is the granddaddy of them all. do they play into each other a little bit, but not, you know, not totally? >> no. okay. well, thank you so much. we're waiting for the big one. there's some more before that, as you pointed out. but thank you so much for joining us, andrew, today. the nfl's new england patriots have fired head coach jerod mayo after just one season. would you believe the patriots scored a win over the buffalo bills on sunday, but finished with a dismal four and 13
12:56 am
record overall this season? mayo took over from legendary patriots coach bill belichick. mayo is a former player for the patriots and became an assistant on the team's defensive staff back in 2019. in northeastern china, the city of harbin is hosting an annual spectacle of ice and snow. we like to bring it to you every year with average temperatures well below freezing. the festival, which runs from december to february, draws visitors from around the world. in addition to the brightly lit ice and snow sculptures, there are nightly firework displays and other events, including a snow carnival and dog sledding too. according to the organizers, this year's event is the largest in history and incorporates elements from the ninth asian winter games, which will be held in harbin next month, and to spain. now look at that skating where the streets of madrid came alive for the annual tree kings parade, a thousands of spectators gathered to watch the kings
12:57 am
make their way along the parade route. amid the costumes and lights with giant, colorful frogs, a highlight of the event. the celebration marks the end of christmas. on the eve of epiphany, the day when the three kings, not three kings, are said to have visited the baby jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. thank you for your company. i'm going to stick around. i'm back for another hour of newsroom after the break, when christina will join me. in. the. >> the whole story with anderson cooper is anderson cooper is a five time emmy winner for long form journalism. the whole story with anderson cooper next sunday at eight on cnn. >> you don't stop being you just because you turn 65. but you do face more
12:58 am
risk from flu and covid. last year alone, those viruses hospitalized nearly 1 million people 65 and older. 1 million vaccines lower your risk of getting really sick so you can keep doing you. >> these days, the dollar just doesn't go as far. but at red lobster, you're big shrimp and baby it's shrimp your way. choose 2 or 3 flavors starting at just 16.99, like garlic shrimp scampi. get your shrimp on today only at red lobster. >> the freestyle libre three plus sensor tracks your glucose in real time, and over time, it can help lower your a-1c. this is progress. learn more and try for free at freestylelibre.us. ready to party? >> i'm talking about jackpot party, the number one free to play mobile slots game in the
12:59 am
world. that always gives you more download jackpot party for free and get a 45 million coin bonus jackpot party a party in every spin. >> and can you see a number in the circle 79.95 you want to try again? >> 79.95 i think you might be colorblind. >> i think you're missing the point. >> right? okay, now follow my finger without turning your head. now just follow with your eyes, okay? i don't think you understand what i'm asking. >> i don't think you know how owls work. get two pairs of glasses and an eye exam for just 79.95 or 2 pairs of progressives at an exam for 149 .95 at america's best. >> okay, everyone, our mission is to provide complete, balanced nutrition for strength and energy. >> ensure with 27 vitamins and minerals, nutrients for what if your mobile network wasn't just built to work out here... ...but was designed differently to also give you
1:00 am
blazing fast wifi where you are most of the time? reliable 5g, plus wifi speeds up to a gig where you need it most. xfinity mobile. xfinity internet customers, ask how to get a free 5g phone and a second unlimited line free for a year. visit us at gofundme.com. >> kobe the making of a legend premieres january 25th on cnn.
0 Views
Uploaded by TV Archive on