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Crews Battling Log Angeles Fires Brace for Intense Winds; Death Toll Rises to 16 as Wildfires Rage in Los Angeles; Santa Ana Winds Could Pick Up in the Coming Days; Biden Pledges Comprehensive Federal Government Support; Wildfires and Mental Health; Ukraine Says it Captured Two North Koreans Soldiers; Greenlanders React to Trump Saying he Wants U.S. to Take Island. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired January 12, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:00:29]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome. I'm Ben Hunte in London. It is so good to have you with me. As we head into day six of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, firefighters are racing against the clock. Officials are warning there's a very significant concern that the fires will grow in the hours ahead as the Santa Ana winds regain strength. That comes as a death toll climbs to 16.

California's governor is doubling the number of national guardsmen deployed. At least nine other U.S. states, Canada and Mexico are sending firefighters to help.

The powerful winds are picking up as crews make progress on the largest blaze burning in Los Angeles, the Palisades Fire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HUDSON, UNIFIED INCIDENT COMMANDER, CAL FIRE: We are mobilizing all the resources that we can throughout the state of California. These two incidents, this and the Eaton Fire, but specifically the Palisades are the two, those are the top priorities for Cal Fire right now.

We're continuing to monitor the situation. We're well aware that red flag events or potential red flag in Santa Anas are coming. We are doing everything to be prepared. We have resources here.

Every effort is being made to reinforce our lines ahead of that. And we'll look at deploying anything to new incidents around the area as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: One official says there's minimal activity in some parts of the Palisades fire as they stop the spread of the fire's boundary. But that work could be lost with flames inching closer to Brentwood, Bel Air and other communities near UCLA. The mayor of Malibu says that city has already lost one third of its

eastern edge to the Palisades Fire, which is 11% contained right now. The second largest Eaton Fire is 15% contained.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPTAIN JABARI WILLIAMS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: The recovery efforts have began. It will take some time, weeks. We have a lot of people, a lot of different agencies helping us, including the coroner's office, search and rescue for the sheriff's department, FEMA, OES, and a lot of different other agencies that are helping with recovery and efforts in the area. So they are doing researches, going house to house to search for damages and potential remains.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: CNN's Stephanie Elam is on the ground near Brentwood and shows us what fire crews are doing to prepare for this new round of strong winds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I want to draw your attention to this ridge line up here behind us. Up there, we see a vehicle parked up on top of that sandy colored area. They have been bulldozing, making that broader, making that wider.

And the reason why they're doing that is because they want to have a defensible space, a place where they can battle against the flames were the fire to come this direction. And we have gotten information that the winds will change direction and start to blow this way. Right now, the fire is burning out in this canyon here in Brentwood, California.

But what they want to make sure is that it stays away from these homes that you see right here. All day Saturday, we've seen firefighters staged there behind these houses that are up against this ridge. And obviously, a lot of people like to live here where they've got this lovely, beautiful nature backdrop behind them.

But this is also the downside of that is just how close they are to this fire burning here, the Palisades Fire. You can see, as they have been doing all day, they've been fighting this fire from the sky. They've been dropping fire retardant. They've been dropping water to stop that forward movement. But as the winds change, the smoke starts to change. So they have to change how they're fighting these blazes.

But this is what they're continuing to do here to protect the houses along this ridge here, because obviously, the first concern is to make sure that they keep people alive. And as I've been told, most of the people here did evacuate. The next thing that they're working on is keeping homes safe.

And so they have extra firefighters coming from all around the country, in fact, from several states and as well as Canada and Mexico here to help battle these blazes as we prepare for these higher winds over the next few days.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Our next guest says her grandparents lost their home in the wildfires. They've lived there since 1968. But these are pictures of what is now left.

[05:05:04]

Seanay Singleton tells us nothing can be saved. She's joining us from Dallas, Texas.

Seanay, thank you so much for being with me. I appreciate it. We can see the photos of your grandparents' home. I'm so sorry your family's going through that.

I'd love to know just the latest on their situation. And because we're talking about mental health and physical health today. How are your grandparents actually holding up right now?

SEANAY SINGLETON, GRANDPARENTS LOST HOME IN LA FIRES: Thank you so much for having me. My grandparents are doing OK. They are with my parents in Rancho Cucamonga. And they really have the joy of the Lord as their strength. And they are rooted in community and are receiving overwhelming calls and love and support from everyone.

HUNTE: I'm genuinely glad to hear that. Can you talk me through the evacuation? What did that look like? And when did they know that they had to get out of there?

SINGLETON: So it was Wednesday morning, this past Wednesday morning at about 3 a.m., they heard the police car driving down the street. And over the loudspeaker telling everyone to evacuate immediately.

My auntie -- auntie Tanya, who lives with my grandparents, she heard the siren and went into action. So they had about 20 minutes to gather what they could. They exited the home. And as my grandfather describes it, when he walked outside, he said all you could see was darkness because of the smoke. And he said the embers were just rolling down the street. They had just enough to get enough time into their vehicle and leave, so.

HUNTE: My goodness. Gosh, and now the rebuild. I know you've been using crowdfunding.

SINGLETON: Yes.

HUNTE: Did your grandparents have any kind of insurance?

SINGLETON: Yes, they definitely had insurance. Our crowd funding that we promoted online that was totally unknown to them. All of the grandkids, they have 20 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

HUNTE: Wow. SINGLETON: And we really band together. Yes, for to really breach the generational gap. Our grandparents are 82 and 78. And they have no awareness of any social media platforms or anything like that. So I spearheaded the conversations with my older cousins, and we all band together and have been sharing the link and have been so blessed by the overwhelming support that has come about.

HUNTE: And I want to talk a bit about social media as well, which your grandparents are unaware of. I mean, I wish I could be there, if only. How has social media helped your efforts so far. Is it that -- it's been a good thing for them?

SINGLETON: Yes, it's been amazing. So like you said, I'm here in Dallas, Texas. I'm born and raised in Rancho Cucamonga, California. All of my life is in California. So I've been trying to figure out, what can I do while I am not there to assist. And I was able to tap into my resources, as well as all of my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, everybody was ready to help because my grandparents have done so much for the community and so much for our family. They are pillars. And social media just became that platform and it has been overwhelming, truly.

HUNTE: I do want to talk about some of the negative of social media as well. Because I mean, I can't scroll through any of my feeds, I'm literally just looking at Instagram during my break there. And just seeing some of the -- the shades, some of the hateful comments that are on posts that CNN have put up the other newsrooms have put up about the fires. Have you seen any of that backlash? And I just wondered what your thoughts are around that?

SINGLETON: I've definitely seen the backlash. But to be honest with you, previously, before I left California, I was a 911 dispatcher. So I was trained in California in Pomona to learn how to be mentally tough, and don't allow emotions to crowd what needs to be done and accomplishing the mission.

So I understand what first responders are going through firsthand. And the training that I received there has truly helped me in staying focused for my family, and just staying on mission. And it has shown in fruit in so many ways.

HUNTE: I want to talk a bit more about that mission. Could the authorities have helped you or your family anymore? Do you think?

SINGLETON: Honestly, with -- I am grateful that my grandparents and my aunt are alive. The fact that they were obedient to the exit and the warning is all that we care about. Like I said, I have the training and know what it is to be a first responder. So I know that they are giving all that they can they are sacrificing time with their families, they're sacrificing their own mental health. The air quality is horrible. So I am grateful for what they have done. And we just continue to press forward into rebuilding because that is the ultimate goal.

[05:10:01]

HUNTE: That is the goal and it shall be done. Seanay, thank you so much for staying up for me.

The fact you can speak so eloquently at 4 a.m. in Dallas. I love that. So I appreciate it. Thank you so much. I am sure we're going to speak again soon.

SINGLETON: I agree. Thank you so much.

HUNTE: Thanks.

The Santa Ana winds this month have been exceptionally strong. CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers looks at why they pose so much danger in the days ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Santa Ana winds happen all the time. But the one that we had on Monday was extraordinary. 85 to 100 miles per hour. Unheard of. But what we're seeing now is even a 45 mile per hour Santa Ana wind will do certainly some damage because we have so many sparks that are already out there.

My morning hours here, I mean we have winds at 43, 45 mile per hour gusts. Now this is a transverse range. This is a mountain range up here. You're always going to see color here because it's on top of the mountain. That's kind of how the model is going to run this. But we kind of die off a little bit, have a lighter day on Monday. But then again Tuesday and Wednesday, look at the colors as we bring them back all the way through Wednesday and even into Thursday.

These deep reds are not we're looking for when we already have embers on the ground. So for today, critical. For tomorrow, critical. Tuesday, Wednesday, the same story.

Now, that's a level two of three. When we had the firestorm, we were of three of three. And it's not going to be unheard of if some of these days, either Tuesday or Wednesday, could get upgraded to three of three. We'll have to see. Obviously part of the problem is the drought.

Everywhere that we see orange here, that is severe drought. And that just happened since March when the rain simply stopped. A lot of growth over winter, lots of rain, lots of snow. But then all of a sudden, it just stopped precipitating. There was just no more rainfall to come. We are going to see some of that smoke blow away from L.A. We've been talking about how bad the air quality is.

At least by Monday, when the wind's all blowing from the same direction, we will be blowing that smoke offshore. For the next few days, kind of swirling around here in the valley, be very careful with that unhealthy air that's still out there.

HUNTE: L.A. County has extended its smoke advisory until 10 in the evening local time on Sunday, due to what it calls the area's unhealthy air quality. L.A.'s Chief Deputy Director of public health, Anish Mahajan, spoke with CNN about the problem. He says he's worried about the long-term health risks associated with

exposure to this level of smoke and ash. He cautioned residents to stay indoors, if possible, and to wear filtration masks outside. Mahajan is also worried about the county's water.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANISH MAHAJAN, L.A. CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH: There's an even greater problem of these toxins that you're describing with the burnt-out areas of the houses and all the chemicals that we live with that are now burned to ash. They also can find their way into the water. So we have several water districts here in L.A. indicating that residents do not use the water.

And that means you should not only not drink it, but you should also not use it for things like bathing, brushing your teeth, or other activities. And instead, you should be using an alternative source. And so these are steps that we are asking folks to take here in Los Angeles to avoid the health risks of this wildfire smoke and ash.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Mahajan says toxins from wildfire smoke can cause serious problems, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory and heart issues, and can cause long-term health problems.

President Joe Biden has been speaking to state and local officials in California. We're going to hear how the White House is responding to the fire emergency when we return.

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[09:17:45]

HUNTE: Carol Smith's beloved son, Randy, was among the 16 killed so far in California's devastating fires. Earlier, she told CNN what happened when the fire started.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL SMITH, MOTHER OF FIRE VICTIM RANDY MIOD: This past Tuesday when the fire broke out, he called me and I said to Randy, I said just grab your cat and get out of there. You know, don't make me worry like you did the last time. There was a fire in December and it was about the 10th, I believe, before Christmas and he spent three days and nights in that house because he wouldn't leave and he didn't have power. He had no television. He had no telephone because his cell ran out and he couldn't charge it, of course. He spent three days and two nights in that house by himself.

He would not leave because he was undetermined. He was going to save that house and that's why he didn't leave this time, I believe, because he'd been through so many of these fires and he's, you know, he made it through unscathed. I think he thought he could do it again and Tuesday when he called, I told him, like I'd done before, grab your cat and run off to a shelter where you'll be safe. And so obviously he didn't do that. He said, I'm not leaving. He said, I've got a garden hose and he said, I'm going to stay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Smith remembers her son as a very kind, spiritual person. 85- year-old Annette Rossilli is also counted among the known dead. It appears she insisted on staying in her Pacific Palisades home with her pets. Neighbors encouraged her to leave, but she declined.

Victor Shaw, too, chose to stay. One source says Shaw decided to try and fight the raging Eaton blaze with a garden hose rather than evacuate his long-time family home.

Meanwhile, a son is mourning his father, Rodney Nickerson, another Eaton fire victim. Eric Nickerson remembers every word of their last conversation. They were extremely close and spoke every day.

And finally, Rory Callum Sykes, an Australian former child star, died when wildfire ripped through his family's Malibu estate. He appeared on the 1998 British TV series Kiddie Capers. His mother Shelley describes him as beautiful and wonderful.

[05:20:13]

President Joe Biden says he and the federal government are making every effort to aid California's firefighting and provide support in what will be a difficult aftermath.

CNN's Julia Benbrook reports from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Biden administration says it is in constant communication with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Those two leaders were a part of a briefing where Biden was updated on the efforts to suppress the fires across L.A. and how federal resources are being used to assist with the response on the ground.

Following that briefing, Biden said that his team would continue to work 24-7 with state and local officials. This promise comes as Biden has just over a week left in office.

JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: We're going to make sure California has every possible resource to fight these fires and help survivors. This is not going to be over even when all the fires are out. It's just going to be the beginning.

And the change in insurance policy in California for these modest homes as well as these very expensive homes and businesses. So we're going to be around a long while to help the federal government and the mayor as well.

BENBROOK: The President said that his team is briefing the incoming administration on the steps that they're taking. Biden has directed the federal government to cover 100% of the state's cost in this initial disaster response for the first 180 days. And FEMA has activated their critical needs assistance program to jumpstart recovery.

That's a one-time initial payment of $770 to cover initial needs like food, water and prescriptions. The administration has also providing air tankers as well as firefighting helicopters to help with the response.

Biden was initially scheduled to be in Italy over the weekend, but he canceled that trip so that he can focus on the federal recovery efforts. And again, in just over a week, it will be a new administration overseeing this response.

At the White House, Julia Benbrook, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Firefighters from Mexico are now in Los Angeles to help battle California's wildfires. These professionals are joining more than 14,000 other people already fighting the Palisades Fire. The state of Texas is also entering the fight.

Governor Greg Abbott says he's sending more than 135 firefighters, emergency management and medical personnel. Texas will also provide 45 fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and equipment. California Governor Gavin Newsom thanks those helping his state.

Right now, a curfew is in place for many of the areas under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County. It's a move to aid police in cracking down on looters looking to burglarize homes. Law enforcement say they've already made several arrests in the fire aftermath, and they warn jail time and heavy fines await those thinking about burglarizing those empty homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE LORENZ, CAPTAIN, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: We've made seven arrests just in the last two days, and we even made arrests of two individuals that were actually posing as firefighters coming in and out of houses. So we're paying very, very close attention to everybody that's coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: A congressman from California tells CNN how concerned he is with people not following the directions of authorities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GARCIA, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: We are in the middle of a serious emergency, and one thing I just heard from law enforcement was, please, folks need to listen to evacuate, and the folks that are choosing to not take these direct orders, that are choosing to stay in their homes, are not just endangering themselves, they're endangering our firefighters. And I was talking to a group of firefighters earlier, and they just need our help. They need the public's help to please listen to these evacuation orders.

Law enforcement agencies, L.A. Sheriff, the L.A. Department, Long Beach, all these agencies have been crystal clear that you will be arrested if you are outside the curfew hour in one of these impacted zones.

We, unfortunately, there are some folks out there that are -- that think this is some kind of joke or a game, and those folks are going to be arrested, and the full extent of a law is going to be implemented in those cases. So, please, stay home if you can. Do what you can from home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: California's Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a website to fight wildfire misinformation. The site, California Fire Facts, aims to combat false misinformation spreading online. Newsom says there is an astonishing amount of misinformation being spread by political leaders who seek to divide this country for their own political gain.

[05:25:01]

We are getting a stunning look at one neighborhood that was destroyed by fire, along with a side-by-side view of how it looked before the flames.

Wildfires can cause more than just physical damage. Next, we'll speak to a psychiatrist about the impact on mental health.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:30:10]

HUNTE: Welcome back. I'm Ben Hunte in London. And this is CNN Newsroom.

A quick update on the raging wildfires in Los Angeles. Firefighters say they've made some progress on the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, but it's still encroaching on some of the city's neighborhoods and remains 11% contained.

Mother Nature may not be helping now, as forecasters predict more wind and dry weather in the coming days. But some firefighters told CNN the new wind may actually blow some fires back into the area that's already burned.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Malibu says one third of the city's eastern edge has been completely lost.

CNN's Leigh Waldman has more from the devastated Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Winds are picking up here in Pacific Palisades. It's a race against the clock for first responders who are trying to get a greater level of containment for the fires that are currently burning here in L.A. County. But we heard from the Cal Fire Chief who said there is a significant concern that with those winds picking back up, that the wildfires could grow.

(Voice-over): The firestorm in Southern California stretching east Saturday and now new concern over the wind speeds increasing, posing a further threat. The multiple blazes combined singeing nearly 40,000 acres in Southern California, decimating communities.

VANESSA PELLEGRINI, OWNER OF RESTAURANT THAT BURNED DOWN: It's like your heart's been ripped out and stomped on and thrown away, and you're just trying to find a piece to put it back together.

WALDMAN (voice-over): The Pellegrini family lost their restaurant of 40 years. Like so many others, they've lost so much.

DAN O'CONNOR, MALIBU RESIDENT: Two doors down, the house is gone. One door up, the house is gone. The house above me is gone. The house is across the street. We're burning all day.

WALDMAN: Dan O'Connor is one of the few residents whose home is still standing in Malibu, but around him is nothing but mangled metal and charred debris. This home, only the staircase is left standing. The largest of the wildfires, the Palisades Fire, devouring the Malibu area.

GINGER BLACK, HOME DESTROYED BY L.A. FIRES: It's devastating and heartbreaking for all, but it's great to see the community come together.

WALDMAN: The winds calming down Saturday morning, allowing crews to make progress, fighting the flames by air and reducing the risk for firefighters.

CHIEF JASON KEELING, PECHANGA FIRE DEPARTMENT: You're not having those, you know, strong, strong winds that are providing ember casting and starting spot fires in front of the head of fires.

WALDMAN: But the dry conditions still leaving much of Southern California under a critical level for fire danger. The Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up Sunday, which could worsen fire risk.

(On camera): California Governor Gavin Newsom doubled the amount of National Guardsmen who are here helping to respond to these fires. We also are getting help from Mexico firefighters and also firefighters coming from Texas, all with the same goal in mind, trying to protect the people and communities in the path of these blazes.

In Pacific Palisades, I'm Leigh Waldman, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Wildfires can not only affect our physical health, but they can impact our mental health too. Research shows that people personally affected by wildfires are significantly more likely to suffer anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. I obviously want to dig into this story, so Dr. Jyoti Mishra is here.

She's done research into the effects of wildfires on mental health and joins us now from San Diego, California.

Jyoti, strangely, I've actually got a degree in neuroscience myself, not that I remember a single bit of it, but I'm glad that some of us stayed in the field. Thank you for joining me. How are you doing?

DR. JYOTI MISHRA, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, UC SAN DIEGO: I'm doing good. Thank you for having me.

HUNTE: You're so, so welcome. One of the things that really hit me with this news is how all of us have been able to watch in real time as people's houses have quite literally burnt to the ground. But because they didn't have any warning, it wasn't just the houses burning, they've literally lost everything.

Those flames that we're seeing are their memories, their life savings, their prized possessions, and in some cases, family members and pets as well. Gosh. Can you just break down the mental health impact on these residents for me, please?

MISHRA: Absolutely. So, a disaster like this can have huge mental health impacts. As you mentioned, there can be signs of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and so much so that up to 40% of the affected or impacted communities can show these clinical symptoms, beyond clinical symptoms.

You can also see cognitive impacts. People will feel very distracted, unable to pay attention to their daily life activities, and they will also have poor ability to make decisions.

[05:35:08]

HUNTE: And it isn't just the residents, right? We're also seeing volunteers, we're seeing firefighters doing their thing out there. I've seen videos of residents hugging firefighters and volunteers. That's a lot of pressure on their shoulders. And imagine if they couldn't actually save the houses or the people that they're then hugging. What are the impacts on their mental health?

MISHRA: Absolutely. Our voluntary workforce and our firefighters are all under the threat of PTSD as well in a situation such as this. They have received some amount of resiliency training but they're not immune to these mental health impacts.

And what's important to remember is that the mental health impacts don't go away when the smoke goes away. These can linger on even years after a disaster.

HUNTE: And I also just want to talk about the positives, potentially, of discussing mental health. There are things that you can do to protect your mental health, right? So what can they do?

MISHRA: Yes, thank you for bringing to the fore the awareness about mental health impacts. This is primarily very important for our community members to understand so that they can relate this sense of trauma, these sort of symptoms to their health care providers, and also understand that this is not an isolated trauma, that it's not that one person in a household may feel this. Remember that almost half the community will be feeling these symptoms. And this is collective trauma, which requires a collective healing and us supporting each other.

HUNTE: I just wondered, maybe you know about this, but if something like this happens, where it is this huge emergency, the whole world is talking about these individuals, are there people on the ground that are going to people and asking if they need any kind of mental health, or is it really on them to reach out?

MISHRA: Yes, both ways. I co-direct the University of California's Climate Change and Mental Health Initiative. The University of California Los Angeles is right in the midst of these fires. And we are actively trying to mobilize a mental health workforce that's community-led, that's not, you know, sadly, there's not enough trained psychiatrists on the ground at this time. And so yes, there's a huge role that community first aid can play.

And I do request that folks, therapists, social workers who have such kind of expertise come out and help their community members on the field, and many are doing so.

HUNTE: Amazing stuff. Well, thank you so much for your work. Thank you to those community members for their work as well. We appreciate it. And thank you for staying up for me. What is it? 2.37 a.m. over there. Thank you. Genuinely appreciate that.

Dr. Jyoti Mishra in San Diego. I'm sure we'll be speaking again very soon.

MISHRA: Thank you.

HUNTE: Thanks.

Ukraine says it can now back up its claim that North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russia.

Still ahead, Kyiv says two North Koreans have been captured, and they're reportedly talking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:41:29]

HUNTE: Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department. The departure comes amid a legal fight to keep Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing Smith's report of his investigations into Donald Trump. That probe focused on Mr. Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. Smith's office has been winding down its efforts for weeks. His resignation before Trump takes office was expected. Frustration is growing among some Israelis over the lack of progress

in hostage and ceasefire talks. Protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday marched with signs calling for an end to the war in Gaza. The protests come as Israel sends its Intelligence Chief Mossad Director David Barnea to Qatar for the indirect talks with Hamas. An Israeli official tells CNN that sending Barnea is a sign of clear progress in the talks and of the pressure Israel's feeling to reach a solution.

Ukraine says it has struck one of Russia's largest and most modern oil refineries. This social media video, geolocated by CNN, appears to show a massive fire at a refinery in Tatarstan region, with a line of workers walking out. Ukraine says the facility was hit by a drone strike, which would be the second attack on it in less than a year.

The refinery plays a key role in supplying fuel to the Russian military, according to Ukrainian officials. But Russian officials deny the facility was even hit, and they say the images actually show an evacuation exercise.

Ukraine says it's captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian troops. Ukraine and its allies say some 11,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia's Kursk region, where Kyvi launched an incursion last year. Moscow and Pyongyang have never acknowledged deploying those troops.

Melissa Bell has more on this new development.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ukraine has released footage that it says shows two North Korean soldiers captured wounded in the Kursk region these last few days. What the video appears to show, and CNN can't independently authenticate it, nor indeed confirm the nationalities of the men it shows, what the video shows are not just what Ukraine says are those captured soldiers, but also the Russian I.D. that was found on one of them, Ukrainian secret services saying that the men say they had been brought to Russia on the understanding they were being trained there and found themselves in front-line combat instead.

We don't know much about the circumstances of their capture, bar what President Zelenskyy has said, that it was a difficult thing to achieve, given the Russian forces' tendency to execute wounded soldiers in order that they can't end up in enemy hands.

What the Ukrainian secret services are saying, though, is that these two men are the first captured North Korean soldiers. And, of course, that is important, since Ukrainians are trying to figure out exactly how many North Korean soldiers there are currently fighting in Kursk. Remember also the scene of very fierce fighting, all the more since the latest push by Ukrainian forces to try and make what progress they can there, in their attempt to keep that front active, that Russians can't resupply the eastern front, where the fighting, of course, continues as well.

A capture that will be important for the Ukrainians in trying to figure out not just the numbers of North Korean soldiers currently fighting in Kursk, but the nature of their training and readiness for battle.

[05:45:12]

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: You're looking at a rare display of open dissent in China. Angry crowds clashing with police in the northwestern Shaanxi region. Protesters had gathered outside a vocational school where a 17-year- old student reportedly died earlier this month.

The angry crowds accused Chinese officials of a cover-up. Authorities say the student died in an accident after falling from a building. But his family rejects that explanation and told a human rights group that they haven't been able to examine his body or even see any surveillance video.

Two trams collided in Strasbourg, France, on Saturday. This video shows the chaotic aftermath on the platform. French officials say dozens of people were hurt, but none of them critically. The injuries range from fractures to scalp wounds. Another 100 people were evaluated for shock or stress. People nearby stepped in quickly to help the injured. And officials say more than 100 firefighters and 50 rescue vehicles rushed to the scene.

The collision happened in a tunnel near the city's central train station, and there's no word yet on what caused it. The Prime Minister of Greenland is urging everyone to respect the island's wish for independence. His comments come after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants the U.S. to take control of the Danish territory, calling it, quote, "an absolute necessity."

Isabel Rosales shows us how Greenlanders are reacting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Greenland in the spotlight. With a population of more than 57,000 people and an economy mainly based on fishing, this remote, mineral-rich territory is once again on the top of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's wish list. So much so, Trump says he would not rule out using military or economic action to acquire it.

Its strategic northern location and vast resources make it an attractive deal. But Greenland's Prime Minister has said it's not for sale, and some residents say they have no interest in changing their status.

NIELS NELSEN, GREENLAND RESIDENT (through translator): We have been together in a union for 300 years. We don't need to talk about that stuff.

ROSALES (voice-over): Greenland is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark. That's self-governing, but relies on Denmark for its national defense, foreign policy, and annual subsidies, which cover roughly half of its public budget. It also has the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum. An independence movement has gained traction in Greenland in recent years. And in 2023, Greenland's government presented its first draft constitution. It's a desire for change that many residents and the Prime Minister support. It's just not exactly the change that Trump has touted.

JENS OSTERMANN, GREENLAND RESIDENT (through translator): Denmark doesn't matter a lot to me. It's just a small country. We can't use them any longer because there are so many great powers in the world. So our partner should be a great power because Greenland is very wealthy, and we have everything.

ROSALES (voice-over): Denmark's Prime Minister says the future of the Arctic island lies in the hands of Greenland's people. And Greenland's leader says he's open to talking with Trump about future collaborations with the U.S.

Whether or not that will be enough for Trump is unclear. His interest with the territory is seemingly on display when his son, Donald Trump Jr., made an unofficial visit there on Tuesday. But so far, Greenland is standing firm. Its leader says it won't replace one controlling power for another.

MUTE EGEDE, GREENLAND PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We don't want to be Danes. We don't want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlandic. And of course, it is the Greenlandic people who decide their future.

ROSALES (voice-over): Isabel Rosales, CNN.

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HUNTE: 2024 was the hottest on record. Ahead, how it led to natural disasters around the world.

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HUNTE: Firefighters are making progress on the Palisades Fire, the largest of the four major blazes burning across Los Angeles County. At least 16 people are confirmed dead, and the dry winds that fuel the flames are expected to regain strength.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors leader has invited Donald Trump to visit the area to see firsthand the damage inflicted.

And Prince Harry and his wife Meghan made a surprise visit to assist victims of the wildfires. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex popped up at a meal distribution center in Pasadena, California on Friday. The couple spoke first with first responders and volunteers and victims.

Pasadena's mayor described the pair as great people who had really buoyed the spirits. It's understood that Harry and Meghan donated clothing, children's items, and other essential supplies to fire victims. And the couple live about an hour and a half's drive from L.A.

California can usually expect a wet winter season, but due to climate change, it's been the driest start to the season on record. Three of the world's biggest weather monitoring agencies say 2024 was the hottest year on record. And scientists say fossil fuels are to blame.

Here's a look at how the climate crisis led to natural disasters all around the world.

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HUNTE (voice-over): 2024 was not only a scorcher of a year, it was one for the record books. NASA, NOAA, Copernicus, all top global weather monitoring agencies say it was the warmest year on record. Copernicus also warns of another major climate change red flag.

It says 2024 was 1.6 degree Celsius hotter than pre-industrial levels. That would make it the first calendar year to breach the 1.5-degree limit set in the Paris climate agreement. Although NASA and NOAA's figures were still below that mark, scientists say the warmer conditions are having far reaching effects beyond those sweltering summer days.

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DR. KATHERINE CALVIN, CHIEF SCIENTIST & SENIOR CLIMATE ADVISOR, NASA: The impacts we see depend on where you live. So in coastal regions, there's sea level rise, its affecting storm surge and coastal flooding. We're seeing extreme heat events across the country. We see changes in the water cycle, which means more heavy precipitation events and in some regions, more droughts.

HUNTE: In 2024, there were back-to-back hurricanes in the U.S. In Spain, a year's worth of rain fell in just eight hours, causing catastrophic floods. On the African continent, the normally barren Sahara Desert flooded for the first time in decades.

Amazon Rivers fell to unprecedented lows because of drought, and the Philippines experienced a supercharged typhoon season with six in just 30 days.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no 1 to 1 relationship between any of these events, and climate change, but the scenario is conducive to these events becoming more intense and more frequent.

HUNTE: While the winds are a major reason for the spread of the raging wildfires in California, experts say warming temperatures are creating conditions where fires can flourish.

CALVIN: Fires are very complex, and there's multiple factors that contribute, and were still learning about these fires, but in general, we know is that climate change does increase the risk and severity of fires. HUNTE: Forecasters say 2025 may not be as hot as last year, in part because the La Nina climate pattern has begun, which tends to have a cooling global influence. But scientists say the long-term trend still points to hotter times to come, which could mean more record-breaking years for all the wrong reasons.

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HUNTE: Well, that's all I've got for you. That wraps up this hour of CNN Newsroom. It's been real. I'm Ben Hunte and in London for potentially the final time. Let's do this again next week in the U.S.

Thank you for joining me. CNN This Morning is next. See you.

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