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2009 Rushes in With Wintry Blast of Cold Weather; Hamas Commander Killed

Aired January 01, 2009 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: New Year big chill. 2009 rushes in with a bone rattling blast. Our severe weather on the worst on the snow and cold.
And a new strike in the Israeli-Hamas air assault, just in. A top commander killed in his home. We'll have a live report.

Happy New Year, everybody. It's Thursday, January 1st, 2009. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Bitter cold, snow, ice and wind. A frigid arrival for 2009 for much of the country as snowstorm in the Midwest makes driving dangerous in Ohio and other places yesterday. But things should calm down a little bit today.

As you can see by that video, people enjoying it.

In the northeast, a New Year's Eve snowstorm put a crimp on some holiday celebrations. Boston got about six inches of snow yesterday, but some areas in the northeast got up to, what, 11 feet of snow?

Reynolds Wolf standing by now.

Just tell me a little bit more about that. 11 feet, really?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I know. I mean, really, some heavy stuff. I mean parts of the northeast really have been dealing with a lot of the cold weather.

You saw last night during some of our coverage...

COLLINS: Right. Oh man.

WOLF: ... a lot of people were bundled up. And let's be honest, I mean, you normally have cold conditions out there.

COLLINS: Sure.

WOLF: I mean, you're not going to wear Bermuda shorts to Times Square during the...

COLLINS: No. Probably not a good idea.

WOLF: You know, but not only we have the cold weather, we have a lot of wind.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WOLF: That is a look at your forecast. We're going to keep you up to speed with these travel delays.

Heidi, I know you've got a lot to talk about.

COLLINS: Yes.

WOLF: Let's send it right back to you.

COLLINS: Yes, very good. All right, Reynolds.

WOLF: You bet.

COLLINS: We'll check with you later on.

A new year and no let up in the Middle East fighting. Israeli air strikes on Gaza now happening for a sixth straight day.

Minutes ago we learned a leading commander of the Hamas military wing is among the dead.

Israeli says the bombing will continue until Hamas militants quit firing rockets into the Jewish state.

The number of casualties is growing. Palestinian medical sources say 400 people have been killed in Gaza, another 2,000 have been wounded. Israel says four people have been killed by Palestinian rockets. Another 56 wounded.

Some trucks carrying humanitarian aid are now being allowed into Gaza.

Let's get the very latest on all of this now this morning.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is along the Israel-Gazan border, and he's joining us live.

Ben, good morning to you.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Heidi.

It has been an intense hour and a half of Israeli -- punishing Israeli air strikes at the northern end of the Gaza Strip. Right behind me, about three minutes ago, an Israeli, I think it was an F- 15, flew over and bombed that hill behind me.

Of course, the most dramatic bombing this -- of this afternoon -- was about an hour and a half ago, was when the Israeli Air Force targeted the house of Nizar Rayan, who is a senior commander of the Hamas military wing.

In that case, his house was utterly obliterated. According to Palestinian medical sources, at least 10 people, including Nizar Rayan, were killed in that Israeli air strike. From the pictures we have seen, it would appear that there are children among those who have been killed. And so, basically, within the last hour and a half, Heidi, we've seen seven or eight major Israeli air strikes in the Jabalya refugee camp in the (INAUDIBLE) area and in Gaza, the northern end of Gaza City itself.

We don't have details on all of those explosions, but certainly, as I said, the most dramatic was the hit on the house of Nizar Rayan, that Hamas commander.

As far as the number of rockets been fired out of Gaza, at this point, it's about 30. Some to the Israeli town of Sderot which is to my right, and also to the Israeli town of Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba. So certainly, the New Year is starting off in a particularly violent manner -- Heidi?

COLLINS: Boy, that is obvious now, isn't it? All right, Ben Wedeman. We will continue to check in with you on all of the news that is breaking from where you are. Thanks so much, Ben.

Shuttle diplomacy. French president Nicolas Sarkozy will travel to the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire.

Today, Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, is in France to discuss his proposals.

France is calling for a 48-hour truce, an idea that Israel has earlier rejected, living -- meets today with both President Sarkozy and France's foreign minister.

Pope Benedict XVI blessing thousands of people in St. Peter Square today and issuing a challenge to world leaders. The Pope urged leaders to think beyond short-term solutions to the financial crisis and focus on the future of globalization. He also talked about his belief that the global crisis shows the need for greater solidarity with the poor.

A new year, another milestone for Iraq. A four square mile area in the heart of Baghdad. Once home to Saddam Hussein is back in Iraqi hands now.

CNN's Jill Dougherty was at the hand-over of the Green Zone.

So, Jill, good morning to you. You were at the ceremony of the Green Zone handover. What is the significance of this? Certainly, it -- is something that -- is a good PR move, but how important is it for the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people?

Well, you know, it is significant. It's important, you know, in a symbolic way and it's also important in legal way, because after all, at this ceremony in the Green Zone, they officially turned over control of security in the Green Zone from the American, let's say the coalition forces, to the Iraqi forces.

That is the first step in this agreement, the security agreement, which is commonly referred to as the "Status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq." And it will govern now the behavior and what exactly the U.S. troops do in Iraq until they leave as expected about three years from now.

So, in that ceremony, we did have a chance to talk to the U.S. general, Major General David Perkins. And he explains specifically how this is going to work in that important place, the Green Zone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. DAVID PERKINS, MULTINATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ: We will continue to partner with them, but the Iraqis will be in the lead. When you come up to a checkpoint, the Iraqis will check your identification. They will make the decision if you come in or go out.

We will continue to be there to provide some technical capability, to provide some mentoring, but you'll see less and less American forces and more and more Iraqi forces. And they have the majority of their responsibility for making those key decisions which determines the security of their capital.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGHERTY: And then also, it's going to be determined, Heidi, other places across Iraq eventually. They're starting with the Green Zone. It's a very significant place where the government offices are and also the U.S. embassy.

And speaking of that, there was another ceremony in the Green Zone today that was a handover of the former Saddam Hussein palace where the United States had its embassy. And that is now turned over to the Iraqis and the staff will be moving over into the new American embassy built in another part of the Green Zone. Heidi?

COLLINS: Well, certainly significant there. All right, CNN's Jill Dougherty for us this morning.

Thank you, Jill.

From the war zone, a dramatic drop in troop deaths in Iraq over the past year. A CNN count of Pentagon figure shows 311 U.S. service members died there in 2008. Two yesterday, the last day of the year.

The count was two-thirds higher in 2007. Commanders credit a combination of the U.S. led surge, decrease in insurgent attacks and improving Iraqi security.

The situation, though, growing worse in Afghanistan where Taliban militants are increasing their attacks on coalition troops. 156 U.S. troops among those who died there last year.

A tragic start to the new year in Bangkok, Thailand. At least 58 people dead in a nightclub fire just after midnight. Many of them trampled to death in a rush to escape the flames. There were as many as 1000 people in the club for a New Year's Eve concert.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVEN HALL, SURVIVOR: As far as I could see, a fire broke out above the stage. And it spread very quickly across the ceiling. I think the reaction of most people, when they first saw the flames, they thought it may be part of the performance on the stage.

But, the actual look of the people who are on the stage were the (INAUDIBLE) if it was sparks or embers coming down. You could see the look of terror on their faces. And that was like, clear indication that it was not part of the show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Investigators think about 100 people were injured. We don't know yet how many foreigners are among those victims.

The cause of the fire is, of course, under investigation.

A New Year's Eve scare in the posh ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado. A pair of suspicious packages found at two separate banks in downtown, yesterday afternoon. Police orders a two block area evacuated.

The officers of the "Aspen Times" newspapers were among several businesses cleared out.

Police say a package wrapped with a threatening note was found at a Wells Fargo Bank. The second package turned out at a nearby Vectra Bank. Both packages have been detonated and just moments ago CNN confirmed that the suspect in the case captured in this surveillance photo has now been found dead.

The suspect is identified as an Aspen native, John Blanning. Aspen officials are planning a noon news conference. We, of course, are going to follow this story and keep you updated.

Your money, your concerns, his decisions. How will President- elect Obama handle the nation's lousy economy once he gets into office? Some answers coming up right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And we want to hear from you this New Year's Day. What are you looking forward to in 2009? Tell us all about it. E-mail us at CNNnewsroom@cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Quickly, we want to get this video to you as we are looking at at actually a live pictures for you coming to us from the Gaza-Israeli border. What you're looking at --the camera pans back to the right a bit is some black smoke that we have seen rising from the ground now because we have been watching these planes going by.

As you know, this is the sixth day now of the air assault. Dropping bombs and so forth and just before you're able to see this video, we saw some of those planes overhead. And this is the result of the bombs that were dropped. And you can see once again that black smoke there. You're looking at the Gaza-Israel border. I've actually noticed -- there you see some of the planes now. You see the payloads going off from that fighter jet.

You can't quite see, obviously, what type that is, but that is exactly what's been happening. Again, the sixth day of this air assault. And there you see some of these pictures coming into us, pretty incredible.

We've got Ben Wedeman in the area.

Ben, I know that you have been covering this area for quite some time. As you stand there and see and hear what you can, tell us a little bit about what you are noticing now.

WEDEMAN: Well, what we're seeing is -- just a little while ago, yet another plume of smoke coming from northern Gaza. We understand from Israeli defense forces that -- I just heard another boom -- they say that they were hitting houses which were being used to store weaponry in.

And certainly within the last two hours, it has been almost constant. One explosion after another. We see this -- big orange flashes, and then these huge plumes of smoke. And as I said, the most sort of significant strike that's happened today was on the house of Nizar Rayan, one of the senior commanders of Hamas' military, when certainly the most senior Hamas leader to be killed in the last six days of this Israeli offensive -- Heidi?

COLLINS: Well, Ben, we sure do appreciate that. Obviously, we want to tell you to stay safe there as we continue to see these air assault very, very much in action.

Thanks so much, Ben, on the Gaza-Israel border there.

Back now to the economy as many of you are feeling still "ISSUE #1" for Americans and job number one for their next president. It may prove to be the first test of Barack Obama's leadership and salesmanship.

CNN's White House correspondent Ed Henry explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY (voice over): While keeping one eye on the crisis in Gaza, President-elect Obama is now returning to the mainland to focus on the issue that propelled him to office, the economy.

Which is why the transition team is kicking off the New Year by sending the Congress a recovery plan in the neighborhood of $775 billion.

JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Economists rarely agree but on this score, there is overwhelming agreement that we need a robust and sustained economic recovery package. The greater threat to our economy lies in doing too little rather than not doing enough.

HENRY: Transition aide say the goal is to get the bill signed into law as quickly after the inaugural as possible to get the new president a quick victory, well, also giving the economy a shot in the arm.

The emerging plan includes for backlogs, transportation projects, to beef up constructions job and improve the nation's infrastructure, as well as modernizing crumbling public school, to create jobs while also investing in education.

REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: If we don't do this, it will cost us even more. This economy is now in the worst shape since the great depression and if we do not respond in a very firm way, it gets worse and worse and feeds on itself.

HENRY: But Republicans are making noise about slowing the stimulus plan down, because they're weary about the price tag, especially on top of a series of government bailouts.

REP. ERIC CANTOS (R) VIRGINIA: I think most American taxpayers now are sort of scratching their head wondering when all this bailout stuff is going to end and probably thinking, you know, when is my bailout coming.

HENRY: To overcome the opposition, aides say Mr. Obama is considering plans to travel the country, to sell the economic plan quickly after being sworn into office.

(On camera): Mr. Obama needs to move quickly to sell his plant because there is no time to waste. This is the first real test of the new president's clout.

Ed Henry, CNN, Honolulu.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Many of us all too happy to say good riddance to 2008. But is there any reason to believe this New Year will be any better for our wallet.

CNN's Christine Romans in New York.

So that's just it. Everyone wants to know, how is next year going to look?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it will be or will it be different. It'll definitely be different but every economist I talk to say it could be tough going continuing it into 2009. That's why they just reported the president-elect...

COLLINS: Hey, Christine. Hey, Christine, pardon me so much for interrupting. I want to get back to these pictures that we've been able to bring in live here at CNN. Once again you are looking at live pictures on the Israel-Gaza border of this air assault that is going on. And we have been bringing as much to you as possible. But just wanted to give you an idea of exactly what is going on there and what the people are experiencing.

News into us this morning that we believe -- and let me pull some of this up here. According to the IDF, which of course the Israeli defense, in the last hour, four air strikes in Jabalya, on houses where apparently, they are saying weapons are being stored.

It's what we are watching. And the result of those air strikes. Once again, you see this thick black clouds of smoke. We are continuing to follow this.

And just to give you an update, the other news coming out of there today as we continue this -- again, the sixth day of these air assaults, and much like what you are seeing on your screen right now.

Live pictures coming in from the Gaza-Israel border. One of the leading commanders of Hamas, his military wing in Gaza, was apparently killed this morning among about 10 other people in one of these air strikes, that person's name is Nizar Rayan, one of these Israeli missiles hit the home.

Again -- hit his home. Again, according to the idea Israeli defense, they are saying that the reason that they are carrying out these particular attacks is because these homes were storing weapons inside.

So we are, of course, going to stay on top of this for you and continue to watch these live pictures coming in.

Our Ben Wedeman is in the area. We have several correspondents, in fact, in the area to make that sure we are staying on top of the story.

New video as well. Boy oh boy, you can see exactly what happens when one of those missile hits and bombs from overhead of the Israeli defense forces.

And we just wanted to make sure that we could bring that to you and let you know, again, what people there are experiencing.

Overall, according to Palestinian medical sources, at least 400 people now have been killed in Gaza since these raids began on Saturday. So, we are continuing to see the after effects of some of these fighting that has been going on for years.

But this now, some of the most deadly, some of the fierce fighting in decades along the Israeli-Gaza border. Again, we will bring you the very just latest just as soon as it comes to us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Christine Romans standing by. Sorry about that, Christine. Just want to get those live pictures and want to make sure we get them out to the viewers of course.

You are talking about some important things as well that are really affecting people and will continue to affect people, I'm sure, all throughout this New Year.

ROMANS: You know...

COLLINS: I've been -- running today.

ROMANS: Watching those pictures, too, you know, what that says, Heidi, is that this -- President-elect of the new administration that has an incredible series of global challenges and one of those is the economy.

I mean that's the challenge we know about and all of these other political issues, they all kind of...

COLLINS: Absolutely.

ROMANS: They all kind of go together, really. And this new president has to be looking at -- just an enormous amount of work to be done and the difficult task in terms of the economy. Because here in this country, we will likely have a higher jobless rate next year.

We will lose more jobs, companies are going to go out of the business. You're going to see contraction in some industries, like the retail industry for example. There's a big (INAUDIBLE) that could be a big contraction there. That would be more jobs.

And the consumer, I mean, consumer sentiments, an all time low. People are very, very concerned. But here's something that I think is going to mark, mark 2009. And that is low mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are at a 37-year low right now.

In fact, I mean for anybody who's looking to refinance, for anybody who has good credit and is looking to save money on their mortgage payments, mortgage rates have been falling.

A year ago, they were about 6.06 percent. This week, they are 5.1 percent. How does that translate into your mortgage rate? Well, just over, you know, the past month and a half, from October, mortgage rates are down, 1 1/3 percentage points. That is about $173 savings on a 200,000 loan per month.

So you can see that there's some interesting refinancing right now for people. There's a hope maybe later in the spring into the summer, there could be some new homebuyer activity and maybe that could be able to start for the economy.

But what most economists tell me, Heidi, is that, frankly, they don't know what the thing will be that will start the recovery in the economy. They just don't know what that will be yet and so you got some tough months here ahead.

That means, your job, it's not a time to be taking risks with your job, not a time to be taking risks with your money. You know, if you have your job, make sure that you are in a mission critical part of that job. That you're doing a good job. You don't have a job be prepared for a little bit longer than normal, just try to get a new one.

COLLINS: Yes.

ROMANS: That's the best we can tell you for 2009.

COLLINS: Yes. Protect yourself.

ROMANS: Yes.

COLLINS: All right, Christine, sure do appreciate it.

ROMANS: Sure.

COLLINS: Thank you.

World leaders came and went. Big decisions were made there. And a first daughter was married there. Now Crawford, Texas gets ready to step out of the spotlight. We'll have a live report coming up this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live breaking news, unfolding developments, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Today is the first day of 2009 or do you actually say 2009? Just how do you refer to the year when you say it out loud? A new CNN Opinion Research Poll shows a vast majority of people, 93 percent of that, say 2009.

But what about next year? That could be more confusing. The poll shows most of us will go with 2010. But for 28 percent of people, 2010 is the way to say it.

So there you go.

President Bush spent New Year's Eve, his last, in office at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. He heads back to Washington today. And the town gets ready for the life outside the limelight.

CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is in Crawford, this morning.

A town in transition, that's for sure, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. You know, the next time George W. Bush returns here to Crawford, it will be as a former president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice over): After eight years, the sun is setting on the western White House. Crawford, Texas, population just over 700, with its most famous resident, President George W. Bush, leaving office.

MARILYN JUDY, CRAWFORD, TEXAS RESIDENT: I don't know. I think it's been a good thing.

QUIJANO: Long-time resident Marilyn Judy remembers how President Bush visited Crawford's coffee station restaurant. And at schools, sometimes with world leaders in tow.

In 2001...

JUDY: The Putin conference, you know, those kids were a part of history. And you can know other kids in America are going to be a part of history like that.

QUIJANO (on camera): Students also learned another lesson that year about the pressure of being home to the president of the United States.

JUDY: We were probably the only school in America that evacuated, too because we thought the plane was coming here, to the ranch.

QUIJANO: 2005, Cindy Sheehan arrived, protesting her son Casey's death in Iraq and demanding unsuccessfully to seat president Bush at his ranch. .

BILL JOHNSON, STORE OWNER: He never have had the courage to meet with me.

QUIJANO: Bill Johnson watched the crowds from his souvenir shop, the Yellow Roads.

JOHNSON: There's been 10 and 15, l2 cameras out here but it isn't selling that kinds.

QUIJANO: A self-described cowboy...

JOHNSON: We realize, we're not in the mainstream. And don't want to be.

QUIJANO: Johnson says the national media has mostly given Crawford a fair shake, mostly.

JOHNSON: I think, overall, Crawford has been in many ways be able to get a good job in some ways it hasn't because those that come looking for a booger can find one.

QUIJANO: And while President Bush is keeping his ranch, residents know the spotlight is fading fast on their one-traffic light town. But they say Crawford is better, its residents closer for having the Western White House.

JOHNSON: We've banded together and tried to put up a - put on a good show, or a good face for the media. And I think that made us all better.

(END VIDEO)

QUIJANO (on camera): On January 20th, Mr. and Mrs. Bush will return here to Texas and a new house in Dallas. Aides say they will continue spending time at their Crawford ranch - Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano in Crawford this morning. Thanks, Elaine.

Rescued. Helicopter crew carries a stranded snowboarder to safety. How he kept alive during his three days in the wild.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A new year dawns on day six of an all-out battle between Israel and Hamas militants. And there is no end in sight to the violence.

Here's what we know at this time.

Just a short while ago, an Israeli air strike killed a leading commander of the Hamas military wing. Palestinian medical sources say nine others died in the strike on the Jabalya refugee camp. The Israeli defense force confirms the air strike on the camp.

And earlier, an Israeli air attack on the Palestinian parliament building in Gaza. The blast sent columns of smoke across Gaza City.

CNN, of course, continuing to follow the story throughout the day. We will be bringing you updates just as soon as they happen.

Bitter cold, snow, ice and wind. A frigid arrival for 2009 for much of the country. In the Northeast, a New Year's Eve snowstorm put a crimp on some holiday celebrations. Boston got about six inches of snow yesterday, but some areas in the Northeast got up to 11 feet of snow. Can you imagine?

And if you're traveling in Chicago today, expect some cold weather, maybe even a flurry or two tonight. Other areas in the Midwest, like Michigan, expecting some snow, too.

So, that means meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf is a busy, busy guy, joining us now for more on all of this weather, just slamming the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: So, what I just - I just want to make sure I'm right about this. Really, some parts of the Northeast got up to 11 feet.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, 11 inches.

COLLINS: I thought that's what he said. All right.

WOLF: Yes, there was a misprint someplace, somewhere. But, yes.

COLLINS: I'm thinking, I have never in my life - not that that matters ...

WOLF: Yes, if that happened in ski country ...

COLLINS: ... have I seen 11 feet.

WOLF: Exactly. You know, if that happened down in, you know, ski country, hey, good times.

COLLINS: Yes, but that would include a base, usually, probably.

WOLF: Exactly.

COLLINS: All right. Thanks for clearing that up. Sure appreciate it.

WOLF: No problem.

COLLINS: Want to get to this story now, speaking of snow. A daring rescue of a snowboarder in the Vancouver Mountains.

Twenty-one-year-old James Martin was trapped for three days before being airlifted to a hospital. He is now being treated for frostbite. A cousin says Martin used the snowboard to keep moving and stay warm during his ordeal.

Wow. Lucky to be alive, but haunted by a decision. A snowmobiler tells how he and two others made it out of an avalanche, but were forced to leave eight other friends to die.

CTV's Kevin Rich reports now from British Columbia.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

KEVIN RICH, REPORTER, CTV, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Jeff Adams struggled through the haunting memories of Sunday afternoon. He was rescued by 28-year-old Danny Bjarnason after the first wall of snow hit. It was the second avalanche that left him in stunned disbelief.

JEFF ADAMS, AVALANCHE SURVIVOR: After about five minutes of struggle, and I got myself out, looked around, realized there wasn't anybody else - couldn't see any sleds, no gear, nothing.

RICH: Adams then heard the voice of Jeremy Rusnak. He managed to free Rusnak after about 15 minutes of frantic digging. The two men focused on another faint voice, that of James Drake.

ADAMS: We heard "crack" again. We said, "Sorry, James, we've got to run."

And as we were running away from James, he was saying, "Don't leave me here. Don't leave me here."

And we kept saying we're sorry.

RICH: Once the third slide came to a halt, Adams and Rusnak managed to free Drake. At that moment, the three men realized that they had to leave eight friends behind.

ADAMS: Couldn't see no hands, feet sticking up. We contemplated whether trying to get the one snowmobile that wasn't hit by the slide out.

And that's when we made the decision that it was unsafe to go in there. And that's when we had to make the gut-wrenching decision to leave our eight friends and start walking off the mountain.

RICH: As Adams, Rusnak and Drake starting hiking out, the mountain struck again.

ADAMS: Tried to look one more time. And as I turned to look at the mountain, the whole center of the mountain come down, burying everything again.

And so, we just decided that our best bet was to keep walking.

RICH: The three men were eventually picked up by a helicopter. On Tuesday, Adams went back to help searchers look for Danny Bjarnason, the 28-year-old friend that had freed Adams from the first avalanche.

Kevin Rich, CTV News in Sparwood.

(END VIDEO)

COLLINS: From Russia with no love. Doom and gloom predictions about the U.S. and an audience that just loves hearing all about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A new baby, a big trip, a huge bull galloping down Wall Street? What are you looking forward to in 2009? We want to hear from you. Go ahead and e-mail us, cnnnewsroom@cnn.com.

Well, first the party, and then the cleanup - the worst part. Yuk! About a million people packed Times Square to ring in the New Year, and they left a big mess behind.

But the street sweepers came in, and the Department of Sanitation pulled off a New Year's miracle, cleaning up tons of trash before most of us ever even thought about waking up.

2008, a rough year for the U.S. And one Russian professor says it's going to get a whole lost worse.

The former KGB analyst says the U.S. will break up next year. And it's a prediction that has made him the toast of the Russian media. Details now from CNN's senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, MOSCOW (voice-over): An economy in freefall, unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and growing hardships at home as recession bites. As if things weren't bad enough, now, one Russian professor is predicting the imminent breakup of the United States.

PROF. IGOR PANARIN, RUSSIAN POLITICAL THEORIST (through translator): I got the idea that the United States could disintegrate in the summer of 1998. I should admit that I was quite surprised to have come to this conclusion.

Up until I started analyzing, I had no idea that the U.S. had this disintegration tendency.

CHANCE: In brief, Panarin predicts that by 2010, the U.S. will break into pieces, including new republics centered on states like California and Texas. The Eastern states will join the European Union, he says. Canada will grab a handful in the north, while Alaska would return to Russian rule.

It's all the end result of a fractious civil war - triggered, says Panarin, by moral and economic degradation and immigrants.

CHANCE (on camera): It may be just a crackpot theory. We have no real scientific research to back it up.

But what's fascinating is how it's being received here in Russia. The Kremlin has long blamed the United States for everything - from instability in the Middle East to the global financial crisis. And this apocalyptic vision of America's future is suddenly being embraced.

CHANCE (voice-over): Professor Panarin, a former KGB analyst who heads Russia's Diplomatic Academy, regularly appears as a U.S. commentator on Russian television and in national newspapers. Analysts say his high profile reflects anti-American sentiment here.

SERGEI KARAGANOV, RUSSIAN POLITICAL ANALYST: Of course a lot of people in the world, including in this country, would like the United States to fall apart, because it has been too mighty, and because it is - it looks now that it is losing.

CHANCE: But Panarin says he's being proved right by events.

PANARIN (through translator): We're seeing indicators like the collapse of the Wall Street banks, a mortgage crisis in the USA, as well as a number of various domestic problems. Even five years ago, many of those problems didn't exist, and most people didn't believe my ideas. But today, when American has shown its vulnerability, people have started to take them more seriously.

CHANCE: And in a country like Russia, which has huge problems of its own, the demise of the United States - its old enemy - is proving a powerful distraction.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEO)

COLLINS: The new year brings a whole bunch of new laws to tell you about. Here's just a few now.

Florida has a new law to help people without health insurance. Hospitals are required to give patients a good-faith estimate on health care costs before providing treatment.

In Tennessee, doctors and lawyers now have to be ready to do their civil service. They are no longer exempt from jury duty.

Disabled veterans are getting a tax break in Oklahoma. The new law there says wounded vets do not have to pay property taxes. And that goes for surviving spouses, as well.

Sex offenders being tracked a little more carefully in Georgia. A new law says they have to provide the state with their Internet screen names - and, more importantly, their passwords.

In Seattle, doggy bags now have to really be bags. The city's ban on Styrofoam food containers - well, that's yummy - is now in effect.

North Carolina has taken its smoking ban one step further. Smoking in state-owned buildings was already banned. But now, you can't smoke in state-owned vehicles either.

California's ban on texting while driving is in effect. The highway patrol points out you can't even text while stopped in traffic or at a stop light. You also can't surf the Web. But there's one wrinkle. You can send an e-mail to a company's Web site, just not to a person. A first offense carries a $20 fine.

Partying, because it's 2009. You may have seen them ringing in the New Year in Times Square. But we'll take a look at how they celebrated around the world.

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COLLINS: A surprise arrival at Boston's Logan Airport. A baby girl was born on a flight from Amsterdam. Two doctors on board helped with the delivery. Both mother and baby are said to be doing great.

The baby was born in Canadian airspace. So, to get through customs, she was considered a Canadian citizen.

Ever wake up and feel like the tin man? Well, it's completely natural to slowly lose your flexibility as you age, but that doesn't mean you should just sit there and take it.

CNN medical correspondent, Judy Fortin, has some tips.

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JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, ATLANTA (voice-over): Lee Graham is 42 years old. Although he's been an avid fitness buff most of his life, these days his muscles aren't working as well as they used to. LEE GRAHAM, EXERCISE BUFF: As I've gotten older, it's been more and more creaky. So, and I find it more difficult these days to even start stretching, just because I find myself - you know, it hurts sometimes.

FORTIN: Lee has a problem with his flexibility - which is not unusual, because, as we age, our bodies lose their ability to flex.

DR. VONDA WRIGHT, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: The natural way our body ages is to become tighter and tighter with every year.

FORTIN: Dr. Vonda Wright, author of "Fitness After 40," says normal flexibility means that you can balance and complete normal daily activities with comfort. If you can't, then you need to start making some changes.

WRIGHT: In order to prevent injury, in order to function at our utmost, we have to stretch our bodies back out to the way they were when we were younger.

FORTIN: In your 30s and 40s, you may notice movement is not as smooth. Bending and stretching may become difficult, and you could experience stiffness or a catching in your muscles or joints as you try to reach for something or pick up an item off the floor.

WRIGHT: Our tissues simply get tighter and tighter. They actually do something called crinkling, which means that the tendons in a relaxed state live like an accordion - all bound up. And we have to help them unwind in order for them to function well.

FORTIN: If you exercise - and you should - working on your flexibility should be an important part of your fitness training. Warm up your muscles first, and then stretch before exercising to improve flexibility.

In your 50s, poor flexibility can cause certain aches and pains, which can cut down on activity. That inactivity can change our collagen structure in our body. And that's not good, because collagen binds our body parts and helps heal broken bones and wounds by growing blood vessels.

If collagen breaks down, the body becomes weak. So, try to keep active. And as we age, lack of flexibility can cause a balance problem.

WRIGHT: The good news is that you can retrain your balance by simply standing on one leg several times a day, doing it in a safe place.

FORTIN: For Lee, stretching his body every day has made a huge difference. He feels stronger. And he's not in as much pain, which makes it easier to complete his workout without injuring himself.

Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO) COLLINS: Suspicious packages lead to an evacuation in Aspen, Colorado. How police responded to the threat and what happened to the suspect.

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COLLINS: A chilly start to the New Year for a lot of us. Hundreds of thousands of people shivered - yes, at least - in New York Times Square last night. They came to see that famous Waterford crystal ball fall. Fireworks and parties in other cities, too, of course.

Here are some of the sights and sounds from around the world.

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VARIOUS CROWDS: Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!

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COLLINS: Some pretty steamy kisses there.

So, what are you looking forward to in 2009? Lots of you sending us e-mail today. Want to share a couple of them with you.

The first one from Jack. He says, "I hope that, in 2009, the 'need for greed' will be buried and will rest in peace."

And coming in from Eddie, "I am looking to the brighter side of life, like Luke Skywalker. Things like money in my account, working at my job, getting my truck paid for."

Aisha says, "Seeing Barack Obama in office as the nation's 44th president, and hopefully, peace in the Middle East."

And finally, Ashley is saying, "I am having identical twin girls in March."

Good for you, Ashley.

And we do want to hear more. What are you looking forward to in 2009? You can go ahead and e-mail us at that address on your screen, cnnnewsroom@cnn.com.

New year brings new attacks in Gaza. Israeli air strike hit the hall of a top Hamas commander. Live report ahead.

And a cold, hard start to 2009. Storm warnings and plunging temps. Our severe weather center tracking it for you.

Happy New Year, everybody. It's Thursday, January 1, 2009. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.