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Police Using New Tactics to Keep People Safe; China Ends One- Child Policy. Aired 1:05-1:30a ET
Aired January 01, 2016 - 01:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:05:03] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. Happy New Year wherever you might be celebrating this hour. I'm George Howell at the CNN center in Atlanta.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Becky Anderson in Dubai. We've been watching as millions of people rang in 2016.
Well, that is how the big apple welcomed the new year. Thousands of people gathered in Times Square and the ball drop tradition there for you. Turning 108 years old.
HOLMES: Beautiful time there in New York. And in Brazil, here's the scene. People at the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, they dressed mostly in white. That tradition is meant to bring in peace.
ANDERSON: And this is how London welcomes in 2016. Fireworks. Near the Hogmanay lit up the River Thames.
New Year's celebrations did go as planned in Munich in Germany. Police there say they received serious and credible threats against two train stations, inclusion Munich's largest. Both were evacuated and train service was stopped for the night. Although stations have since reopened, police also called in additional officers to hunt for possible suspects and asked people to stay away large gathering. The city's police president said between five and seven people were planning suicide attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOACHIM HERRMANN, BAVARIAN INTERIOR MINISTER (Through Translator): There was information from a friendly intelligence agency that ISIS was planning an attack at midnight tonight at Munich's main train station or in passing. The Munich Police informed the public and the decision was above all made to restrict traffic at passing train administration and also Munich main train station. And all of the transport in passing.
I think this was the right decision because I believe that we cannot take risks regarding such concrete threats, about concrete places and concrete times.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Taking the threat seriously there. And in Rochester, New York, authorities say they stopped plans for a New Year's Eve attack inspired by ISIS. 25-year-old Emanuel Lutchman is charged with attempting to provide material support to that terror group. Investigators say he planned to kill people at a bar and a restaurant. The city of Rochester canceled its New Year's Eve fireworks show. Lutchman faces up to 20 years in prison.
ANDERSON: Well, investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a massive fire at a luxury hotel here in Dubai injuring at least 16 people. Smoke could be seen -- still seen coming from the building as the sun came up on Friday. It's been more than 12 hours now since flames raised up the side of the 63-storey address hotel in the downtown area. One source told CNN the fire broke out in a residence on the building's 20th floor after curtains caught on fire. There's still not, though, clear or confirmed exactly what happened. Witnesses said they heard explosions as the fire raged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, we were waiting for the fireworks at the Burj Khalifa. And then there's a lot of smoke coming out. And we saw the fire here in the hotel, and also two explosions, and it was scary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, as to what would cause the flames to spread so quickly up the side of the building, well, earlier, we asked Glenn Corbett, a tactical fire expert, to help answer that question for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLENN CORBETT, FIRE SAFETY EXPERT: We've had problems in the last 10 years or so with synthetic materials, plastic-based materials that are installed in the outside of buildings for decorative purposes. The most notable fire we had several years ago was at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas. A similar situation, but of course a much smaller fire, I mean, it was very large there. But this was an enormous fire that they had, which effectively spread the outside of the building.
[01:10:02] And I believe that, you know, when this investigation is conducted on or concluded that we're going to find out that that exterior wall surface played the predominant role in what we saw happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, despite the fire, a spectacular New Year's fireworks display went on as planned just meters away from the hotel.
HOLMES: And across the United States, police are using new tactics to keep people safe during major events and big celebrations.
Our Sara Sidner has this report. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The terror attacks that shocked the world from Paris to San Bernardino have had a ripple effect on how police in America deal with large-scale events, such as New Year's Eve and New Year's Day parades.
CHIEF PHILIP SANCHEZ, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, POLICE: We are always prepared for these kind of situations.
SIDNER: For the Pasadena police chief and his department, all eyes are now on the Rose Bowl parade and game. It's a tradition that brings some 700,000 people. Now what used to be looked as good, clean fun is now scrutinized as potential soft targets for terrorists since the recent attacks.
SANCHEZ: We have lessons learned from San Bernardino. We've looked at Paris. We looked at Mali.
SIDNER: Here, just as the flower-covered floats are choreographed seamlessly, Pasadena police are working to do the same with dozens of other law enforcement agencies which this year includes Homeland Security.
SANCHEZ: We have rapid response teams that are uniformed officers who are highly skilled, highly specialized with a specific mission. And that mission is if there is an unusual occurrence or an emergency, those teams will be immediately deployed.
SIDNER: And citizens will notice differences in what they can bring with them. Everything has to be in clear plastic bags at the game and everyone should be expect to be on surveillance cameras more times than they can count.
For other cities, New Year's Eve was the big test for American security. New York City deployed 6,000 police officers in Times Square alone. Bomb-sniffing dogs and even nuclear and chemical agent detectors, all in an effort to assure the public their safety is top priority.
WILLIAM BRATTON, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: We monitor threat information and intelligence information through our partners with the FBI and all the other government agencies, Department of Homeland Security, CIA, et cetera.
SIDNER: The result, a safe celebration in New York. Now the attention turns west as thousands gather for the Rose Parade. They can be sure police here are watching more than the floats.
Sara Sidner, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. And still ahead, a new year and a new family structure in China, as that nation ends its one-child policy. How China is preparing for the new children, next. Plus, lawyers for Bill Cosby vowing a vigorous defense against sexual
assault charges that they call unjustified. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:15:10] HOLMES: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
The U.S. president, Barack Obama, is set to announce a new executive action on guns. White House sources say the move would expand background checks on gun sales.
And looking back, it has been a violent year in the U.S. with gun- related incidents claiming more than 13,000 lives. Mr. Obama's announcement is expected in the coming days.
ANDERSON: Well, the start of the new year in China is bringing a new family policy. The one-child restriction is over. Couples are now allowed to have two children, legally, without any fines.
CNN's Matt Rivers reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maternity wards like this one could be filled with more little bundles of joy very soon. Starting January 1st, Chinese couples can now have two children each after final approval of a momentous change to the country's one-child policy that's been in place for more than 30 years.
(Voice-over): A Chinese demography expert told CNN this new policy could affect 100 million couples and result in a baby boom in 2017 and 2018 as more and more people grow accustomed to the idea of having two children. It's something facilities like Oasis International Hospital are eagerly preparing for.
DR. LI SHAOFEN, OASIS INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL (Through Translator): As a doctor, I'll try my best to get prepared for the challenge. We have recruited many new doctors and nurses in the past few months.
RIVERS: But there is some debate over just how many children will be added to the mix. Demography experts think the fertility rate won't rise very much in the long term. And the nonprofit Population Reference Bureau thinks the most likely scenario would see total births rise by about 23 million over the next several decades.
The one-child policy was extremely unpopular among many everyday Chinese. The system led to a bureaucracy, employing hundreds of thousands to enforce the law. Couples were forced to pay heavy fines for having a second child but many could not afford it. So forced abortions and sterilizations became a regular occurrence, according to many human rights groups.
Advocates for changing the law have said curbing China's population growth has been unnecessary for many years and now China faces a rapidly aging population, a shrinking workforce and many more boys than girls. Simply put, there aren't enough young people to take care of the old.
(On camera): It is unclear if this will be enough to offset China's aging population but officials know that something has to be done. The government says its population could be the oldest in the world within the next 15 years, with more than 400 million people older than age 60.
With the one-child policy ending, the government is hoping that maternity wards like this one are busier than ever before.
Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: After his appearance in court on felony charges of sexual assault, entertainer Bill Cosby used Twitter to thank friends and fans for their support. The 78-year-old is now out on bail. He is accused of drugging and then assaulting Andrea Constand back in 2004. The comedian has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has yet to directly answer a question about the allegations. But one of his attorneys spoke to CNN's Brianna Keilar. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONIQUE PRESSLEY, ATTORNEY FOR BILL COSBY: what Mr. Cosby thinks about giving drugs or what Mr. Cosby thinks about administering them is not what this charge is about and is not the facts of this case. And what the district attorney has to do in Montgomery County, which is what I'm here to discuss, the charge of yesterday, is prove of the facts of this case.
Prove that what happened on whatever day they can actually figure out if they can prove what date it happened and prove that the statute of limitations hasn't already expired, they've got to prove then the facts that belong with this one charge. There are three counts under it, but it is a single charge. And that is not the obligation of me on behalf of Mr. Cosby. That's the obligation of the prosecution.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: There are more than 50 women now accusing him of improprieties at this point in time. And I think what we're expecting from what legal analysts are saying, they're expecting that the prosecution is going to bring a number of those women forward to try to establish a pattern of behavior in Bill Cosby. In his defense, is his wife going to testify?
PRESSLEY: I think that what they'll try to do is get a judge to agree to what's called 404-B evidence. I'm sure that that will be one of the hotly contested issues. And I don't know that this will even make it to a trial and who our witnesses will be at that time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:20:04] HOLMES: Meanwhile, in a defamation lawsuit against Cosby from seven other women, a federal judge in Massachusetts denied his wife's motion to avoid testifying at an upcoming deposition.
Now on to record flooding in the central United States. It has claimed nearly two dozen lives.
Let's go live to meteorologist Karen Maginnis standing by at the International Weather Center with more on that -- Karen.
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It has been devastating all across the entire state, but not just there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MAGINNIS: Back to you.
HOLMES: Wow, Karen, thank you so much. And we'll stay in touch with you to continue to monitor weather there.
You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. And still ahead, here is a question for you. How many of the big stories from 2015 do you remember? The year that was is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Paris threw quite a party to ring in the new year. Scores of people flocked to the Champs Elysees to watch the colorful displays. This year's celebration, though, was a little more muted than the past due to heightened security concerns.
Well, the French president, Francois Hollande, says that he is proud of his fellow countrymen and women. During his yearend speech on Thursday Mr. Hollande said his country is forever changed by the tragedies it endured in 2015.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT (Though Translator): Despite the tragedy, France did not give in. In spite of the tears, she remained standing. Faced with hatred, she showed the strength of her values, those of the republic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Paris certainly resilient.
And now a look back at the year that was. The year 2015. Everything from historic terror attacks and destruction in some parts of the world to some important court rulings that changed millions of lives and brought remarkable scientific discoveries. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[01:25:05] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thousands of people have come here to protest against the killing of the journalists and caricaturists from "Charlie Hebdo."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Months into this migrant crisis, Europe still does not know what to do with all these people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Major crisis in Nepal. Many buildings have collapsed. People are still trapped under the rubble.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to stand for what we believe in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is one of our darkest days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The suspect may be headed towards Canada.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are dangerous people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dispatch as many ambulances as possible. We have upwards of 20 victims.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel, and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is now a federal terrorism investigation. But the investigation so far has developed indications of radicalization by the killers and of potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: French fighter jets bombed is sites in Raqqa, Syria two days after terrorist attacks in Paris. The bells of Notre Dame tolled for the dead. Many people in Paris still on edge and in fear.
BEAU BIDEN: There should be no debate about our shared commitment to take care of our veterans.
BB KING, MUSICIAN: When they stand up. Best honor they gave me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker, the Pope of the Holy See.
TRUMP: I'm using my own money. I'm really rich. I should have done this.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), OHIO: I will resign as speaker of the House, effective upon the election of my successor.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I thought using one device would be simpler, and obviously, it hasn't worked out that way.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails.
CLINTON: Thank you. Me too, me, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And while it may not be easy to get past the things you always don't understand I want to prove that it is absolutely possible if we only do it together.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The entire country of Liberia is Ebola free.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Liquid water has been found on Mars.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The world got its closest and clearest look yet at Pluto.
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR, "THE FORCE AWAKENS": Chewy, we're home.
JON STEWART, FORMER "DAILY SHOW" HOST: We've got big news. This is it. This is the final episode.
DAVID LETTERMAN, FORMER NBC HOST: Thank you, and good night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today we can look into the eyes of our children and we can finally say that we have joined hands to have a more habitable world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Becky Anderson.
HOLMES: And I'm George Howell at the CNN center in Atlanta. Happy new year to you, Becky, and around the world for our viewers.
I'll be back after the break with your world headlines. You are watching CNN, the world's news leader.
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