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New Judge to Take Charge of Saddam Hussein Trial; Ford Motor Company Restructures; Somalia Next Staging Area in War on Terror?; Looking at Mining Safety Standards

Aired January 23, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tony Harris, meanwhile, you're working another story for us there in the newsroom. What do you have?
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just want to give you a -- a quick update. Let's see those pictures again of that fire in Los Angeles, downtown Los Angeles, an area you know really well, Kyra.

The call came in at about 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. And the firefighters have been working on that for a couple of hours now, 3:00 Eastern time, as you can see, pictures here from KTTV. I want to pinpoint that for you. This is at Eighth and Central streets in Los Angeles.

And, as I mentioned, this is pretty much under control at this time, but, boy, Kyra, about an hour ago, this thing was really fully involved, and that was the problem for firefighters. When they arrived on the scene, the fire was really involved. There were firefighters on the roof. As you can see now, they are back up there, where conditions are a little better for them to handle.

But, when they arrived, the fire was fully involved. There were firefighters at one point on the roof. They were called down because of the intensity of the flames inside of the building. There were firefighters on the ground and firefighters on ladders with hoses, trying to get control of the fire.

We're going to give you a mix now of live and -- and taped pictures as well. But the good news here is that we can tell you that this is -- it used to be a produce market, we understand. We're going to clear that up with Jim Wells. He's a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson. And we are going to try to get him on the line. And we will have him in just a couple of minutes.

But a lot of street closures, as you can imagine, around this scene -- good news, no one was in the building at the time, a two- story building, no one in the building at the time. And we understand, the building hasn't been occupied for some time.

But, Kyra, firefighters seem to have brought this fire under control, but it was something about an hour ago.

PHILLIPS: Tony Harris, thanks.

Well, a new and desperate plea from a hostage's father. American freelance journalist Jill Carroll was kidnapped 16 days ago in Baghdad. You may recall ,last Tuesday, her captors issued a 72-hour deadline for the U.S. to free all its female Iraqi prisoners, or else -- no word on Carroll's fate since.

Jim Carroll spoke exclusively to CNN and issued a plea to his daughter's captors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM CARROLL, FATHER OF JILL CARROLL: I wish to speak directly to the people holding my daughter. I hope that you've heard the conviction in Jill's voice when she spoke of your country. That was real. She is not your enemy.

When you release her alive, she will tell your story with that same conviction. Alive, my daughter will not be silenced.

Your story is one that can be told by Jill to the whole world. Allowing her to live and releasing her will enable her to do that. You already know that my daughter is honest, sincere, and of good heart. Her respect for the Iraqi people is evident in her words that she's been reporting.

Jill started to tell your story. So please, let her finish it. Through the media, if necessary, advise her family and me of how we might initiate a dialogue that will lead to her release.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Carroll was on assignment for "The Christian Science Monitor" when she was ambushed. Muslims from Iraq and elsewhere have been calling for her release.

Another bloody Monday in Baghdad -- a roadside bomb killed a U.S. soldier in the southwest part of the capital. Separately, at least three people were killed in a suicide car bombing near the heavily fortified Green Zone, not far from the Iranian Embassy. A police officer is among those victims.

Later, another police officer was killed in a second car bombing in southern Baghdad.

Another round of musical chairs in the trial of Saddam Hussein -- will a new judge be able to keep order when court resumes tomorrow?

CNN's Michael Holmes reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is almost fitting that the restart of the Saddam Hussein trial is mired in courtroom drama, because so were the earlier sessions.

Two defense lawyers murdered, a judge quitting, and this: Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants appeared to be running the show at various times, leading to criticism of chief Judge Rizgar Amin and his ability to control the proceedings. Now he has quit, and a court official told CNN he will be replaced when the trial recommences with a new chief judge, Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman, a Kurd who has been watching the trial as a member of a backup committee of judges. It is an interim appointment at the moment, perhaps even just for a day while efforts continue to talk Rizgar Amin out of quitting.

Also Monday, Amin's number two, Saeed al-Hammash, was moved from the case after claims he was once a Baathist, something he denies.

According to a Western diplomat, the next phase of the trial could see former members of the Hussein regime appear as witnesses, perhaps even one in U.S. custody.

This trial -- and there will be others -- concerns events that took place in 1982 in the Shiite village of Dujail -- Hussein and his co- defendants charged with ordering a massacre of 142 men in the village, following an attempt on the president's life during a visit there.

(on camera): Meanwhile, a Jordanian newspaper has quoted one of Saddam's defense team as saying he met with the former leader in Baghdad Sunday and he is in good health, high spirits, and looking forward to the resumption of the trial.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Painful, but necessary, that's how the chairman and CEO of Ford is describing a major restructuring, the same restructuring that workers called disappointing and devastating.

Ford says up to 30,000 people will lose their jobs and 14 facilities will close their doors -- three U.S. assembly plants among them, including one in Wixom, Michigan.

CNN's Ali Velshi is there -- Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we have been here where, over the last hour, the last shift has come out of the plant at Wixom. And we have been speaking to a number of people over the course of the last hour about how they feel.

And, you know, now that the numbers are out, and 30,000, it's massive. But to each one of these people, it's their lives and it's the communities in which they live. Have a listen to what one person had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a huge blow to that. This is a major employer. And -- and this business, Ford Motor Company's plant, will put at risk other businesses, and we hope to offset any ripple effect that would come from this plant being idle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: I will give you a sense of how this works.

Last year, just at the end of the year, we saw 30,000 jobs eliminated at GM. But through the course of the year, we had seen other jobs. Ford had laid off 10,000 people last year. There were about 50,000 jobs lost in America last year just in those businesses that supply the auto industry.

So, when you think about that 30,000 jobs being lost, it's not just 30,000 jobs. It's -- it's this restaurant and bar that we're in front of. It's the -- the suppliers, the part suppliers. These are a lot of people who, in many cases, have worked in this industry. I must have spoken to five or six people just today who have been 15, 20, 25, almost 30 years in the business.

That's a hard thing to remake. So, we are speaking to people who knew this was coming. They knew the U.S. auto industry is in trouble. In some ways, Kyra, I'm surprised with the -- the -- the heartwarming comments we have had from someone.

They're really hoping that Ford's decision to do this allows it to turn around and actually be successful. I have had at least a couple of people say to me they hope this plant, this Wixom plant, assembly plant, actually comes back if Ford can turn it around.

So, that is the kind of emotion we are getting today. But it is very much raw emotion, like it is in -- in Saint Louis and outside of Atlanta and in Windsor. These are places -- and outside of Cincinnati -- these are places where people are losing their jobs, and it's not all over.

Today were just 17 of the 14 plants that will be closed between now and 2112 -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, Ali, what do we know about what kind of options these workers are being offered, if any? Any type of -- of generic financial package, training, any type of job training for -- for other jobs in the company? Can they move to another plant that's not being closed down?

VELSHI: Yes.

And there are -- they are union workers. So, those with seniority do have options of going to other plants, perhaps bumping other people. But, again, union workers in the auto industry, often, these people have been in their jobs for so long that somebody with 10 or 15 years, perhaps, doesn't have the ability to move to another plant.

If you had 20 or 25, or maybe you're ready to retire, that kind of thing can work for you. In terms of retaining, that is very tough. This is something we have seen for some years. As auto workers get laid off, they don't often have somewhere else to go. This is one of those industries where people in towns like this and other towns that have depended on the auto industry have had two or three generations of people working in these -- in these companies.

So, entire families and communities and businesses and small businesses are rooted around these factories, like -- like this one. It's going to be very hard. We -- we just spoke to a gentleman, who, after 20 years -- 28 years -- said to me, you know, he's got some skills in electrical work. He will find work. He will make it work for himself.

He was holding back tears as he was telling me that. People are trying to keep an optimistic attitude. Some people knew these cuts were coming. But, in the end, it was their daily life. And they weren't able to do anything about it. Now they're being forced to do something about it. Some of them will get transferred. Some of them will find jobs.

But I think, Kyra, most of them simply won't.

PHILLIPS: Ali Velshi, we will keep talking about it. Thanks so much.

And, as Ali just mentioned, the cuts will have a huge impact on Ford communities, from Georgia to Canada. The Missouri plant, near Saint Louis, is one of the five facilities scheduled to be idled by 2008. It makes the Explorer SUV. Locals say they will keep up the fight to keep their plant open.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

T.R. CARR, MAYOR OF HAZELWOOD, MISSOURI: The important thing we want to do, and we have always said, we never want to get ahead of Ford Motor Company. If you listen to the report by Bill Ford today and by Mr. Fields, they're looking for innovation. They're looking for opportunity. They're looking for profit centers.

We intend to, through our negotiations, through our dialogue with Ford Motor Company, to demonstrate That you cannot find a better profit center than the Hazelwood assembly plant, due to the productivity of the men and women of Local UAW 325.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We will continue to follow the impact of these layoffs on the Ford workers and the communities where the plants are closing.

The news keeps coming. We will keep bringing it to you -- more LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Finding weapons or explosives before they go off is a crucial and painfully obvious key to fighting terrorism. Now one company says it can do just that.

It has developed a camera system designed to see through clothing, exposing threats without revealing any human anatomy. Now, it's called millimeter wave imaging. Well, Brian Andrew joins me from New York to talk about it. He's CEO and founder of Brijot Imaging Systems.

Brian, good to see you.

BRIAN ANDREW, FOUNDER & CEO, BRIJOT IMAGING SYSTEMS: Good to see you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's get right to it.

Let's do the show-and-tell. Give me a live viewing of this, and then I will ask you questions as we're sort of going through it.

ANDREW: OK. We will do that. We're going to do a demonstration of the system right now.

We're actually going to show the camera actually seeing and detecting a bomb. We are actually going to show you the material right now. This is actually a material that is a simulant of plastic, a plastic explosive bomb. Sadly, this is an al Qaeda-type video bomb construction technique, currently undetectable by any other system we have.

Now we are going to show the demonstration of actually walking into the sweet spot of the camera. And, as you can see, we have to turn now to the video monitor. As you can see, the machine is now demonstrating that we're seeing this material underneath the coat.

So, Jo-Ellen (ph), if you would remove the coat and show the bomb material.

It's a real-time camera, so it's actually showings the objects moving around as she moves them. And it sees this material quite clearly. If you see the actual white-gray color, that is actually what the cameras sees. That is the millimeter wave image. As you can see, it's very polite. It shows no racial profiling, absolutely nothing of the human. We call it the ghost in the machine.

PHILLIPS: Interesting.

ANDREW: The...

PHILLIPS: So, if -- but, now, what if you had it in an area, say -- well, can it see through flesh? Say...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Say the person sticks it, you know, underneath arm, or in -- obviously, in other areas. And some suicide bombers do. Can you detect it that way?

ANDREW: No. We cannot see under flesh.

The good news is, we don't see any medical issues that people may have under there, like pacemakers and things like that. And we are totally passive. Our machine is actually seeing this without any energy at all. So, we're very, very safe.

In terms of bombs, most people want to put a lot of bomb material on themselves. They come in with a small amount. So, in most cases, bombers, suicide bombers around the world and -- and here in America, have a large amount of material on them. Since there's no way to detect it today, except with this size of camera, the size of the bombs are usually quite large and -- and relatively easy to see...

PHILLIPS: And I'm...

ANDREW: ... as you saw in this example.

PHILLIPS: Well, and I was looking, too, that the system -- there's indicators for various objects. Gun-shaped objection, you will see a G. Knife-shaped objection, K. For assault-weapon shaped objects, A. And, for objects large enough to be explosives or bombs, L.

So, that is so you know exactly what the system is detecting? Is that right?

ANDREW: That's correct. So, the -- you can -- the operators, or the people who are using the camera, can take the right approach.

For example, if somebody has a bomb, the camera itself would actually lock down the flow control, like automatic doors, so that you could contain that person in an area and then determine what they had on them, and deal with them, without necessarily letting them be more threatening than they already are.

PHILLIPS: And what is your ultimate goal with this system? Has the military shown interest? Could the military afford something like this? Have you received any response from members of the Pentagon?

ANDREW: Actually, yes.

We can't be specific, but the first applications are currently protecting some of our troops overseas. And we're very proud of that. And, yes, there has been a great deal of excitement. In terms of cost and performance, the reason we are doing this right now, commercial equipment is intrinsically lower cost than that of anything military.

So, in this case, the military installation -- the military folks wanted us to commercialize it first to get the volumes up and the cost and -- cost of the product low enough, so they can afford to put it everywhere around the world, and not only that, protect commercial and government-related places effectively.

So, we have gotten the costs down very low, so that people can actually afford to deploy it and -- and use it to its effectiveness.

PHILLIPS: Now, I understand General Barry McCaffney (sic), Army four-star, was advising you on this project. What did he tell you? And -- and what -- how did he troubleshoot this system with you?

ANDREW: He was very helpful. General McCaffrey has been working with us for well over a year- and-a-half now. And what he was making sure we could do is, make it a deployable system, something that can be operated easily, without a lot of training, that didn't require without a lot of installation, something you could deploy quickly. And that's actually what we have achieved. As you can see with the system, it's very clear, very easy to see that there's something on the person, and very polite.

We -- we can actually pat down somebody effectively without actually ever touching them. And, in fact, we can actually run the camera thousands of yards, if not miles, away from where we're actually searching people. So, even if the person had a bomb and they detonated it, they wouldn't actually come to -- anybody else wouldn't come to harm.

So, those are the sort of things that he advised us to make sure we did -- so, remote control of the system. You can search people without ever having to touch them or -- or be near them or doing anything like that. So, it's a very polite and effective way to search people.

PHILLIPS: Brian Andrew, CEO and founder of Brijot Imaging Systems -- it's called millimeter wave imaging -- keep us updated.

We want to let you know how popular this gets and, if, indeed it's working.

ANDREW: Thank you very much, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Brian.

Well, the news keeps coming. We will keep bringing it to you -- more LIVE FROM after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Off-limits in Pakistan, the site of a deadly U.S. airstrike that strained relations and set off fiery demonstrations against the U.S. and Pakistani governments.

Security forces stopped opposition politicians from visiting the site, a day after thousands of people took to the streets, shouting "Long live Osama bin Laden." Pakistani officials say 13 civilians were killed in the airstrike 10 days ago, a strike Pakistan's prime minister says his government knew nothing of in advance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAUKAT AZIZ, PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER: We had no idea that this would take place. We generally are aware that there is activity in this area. And the normal standard operating procedure is -- because we have the people on the ground.

You can rely on electronic intelligence up to a point, but you need human intelligence and you need people there to capture. That is why 13 people who were apparently civilians have died, and we have -- we are still investigating the whole area, combing the area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, U.S. intelligence reportedly had al Qaeda's number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, meeting with comrades at the time and place of the attack. There's no indication al-Zawahiri hit.

Intrigue in Yemen, where the government says it thwarted a plot to assassinate the U.S. ambassador. Yemen's interior minister tells CNN the plotters had fought alongside insurgents in Iraq and were captured when they came home. All reportedly had ties to the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The U.S. Embassy in Yemen confirms that plot.

To a region where millions of people are starving, lawlessness reigns, and the U.S. fears al Qaeda is setting up camp.

Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, brings us a rare glimpse into Somalia, potentially the next staging area in the war on terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Horn of Africa, approaching Somalia. This remote area is one of the front lines in the war against al Qaeda.

CNN is with a small U.S. military team. These troops mainly conduct humanitarian relief, but they are watching al Qaeda, because al Qaeda is watching them.

(on camera): The U.S. military has brought CNN to this place, where it almost never comes. This the border of Somalia, a place that is ungoverned, uncontrolled, and now there is great concern that al Qaeda and other terrorists groups are moving through this region.

(voice over): This is one of the countless watches and photos of Osama bin Laden distributed in villages across Somalia in the last several weeks. Major General Timothy Ghormley, commander of the military task force for the Horn of Africa, gave it to CNN. It's part of a new al Qaeda recruiting campaign here.

MAJOR GENERAL TIMOTHY GHORMLEY, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We know for a fact that there are -- there's an East African al Qaeda cell in Somalia. It's been referred to as Mad Max and the Thunderdome in southern Somalia. And that's exactly what it is.

STARR: Somalia has no central government, and the U.S. has limited knowledge of what is happening ever since its withdrawal after 18 troops were killed in 1993.

Military intelligence is now watching for several top al Qaeda operatives in this region. Two in particular are Harun Fazul, involved in the U.S. Embassy bombing in Nairobi, and Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, the main planner behind an attack on an Israeli airliner in East Africa.

Military officials here say terrorist groups have made threats to attack the 1,400 U.S. troops here in the Horn region. Ghormley believes there are training camps inside Somalia, and the threat is expected to only grow.

GHORMLEY: We're winning up in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are going to have to go some place. They will have to move to another area, an where there is safety, where they can begin to rebuild.

STARR: This remote landscape, this is where al Qaeda can readily move.

Barbara Starr, CNN, on the northern border of Somalia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Drama on the high seas off the Somali coast -- a suspected pirate ship is overtaken and boarded by a U.S.-guided missile destroyer, the USS Winston Churchill. Sailors found a cache of small arms and held 26 crew members for questioning. Though some say they're the true victims hijacked by pirates a few days ago, Navy investigators are trying to figure out who's who.

From Motown to downtown, literally -- she was once the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas. Now she's making her mark on the Detroit City Council. Martha Reeves joins me live on -- ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Canadians trek to the polls today amid signs of change that could benefit the Bush administration. Conservative leader Stephen Harper says he'd bolster Canada's side of the U.S. border, send more troops to Afghanistan and work to temper the nagging disputes over Greenhouse gases in the lumber trade. Some call Harper extreme, but polls point to support for Prime Minister Paul Martin and his scandal-plagued liberals in power now for 13 years. The issues concerning Canadians: taxes, health care, child care and crime.

Notorious for decades, terrorists in the eyes of Israel and the West, now a potential force in the Palestinian parliament. With a long-awaited election set for Wednesday, polls are showing strong support for Hamas. Attacks by Hamas have killed hundreds of Israelis, though its backers say the group brings law and order and badly needed services to the West Bank and Gaza. The United States and Israel are banking on Fatah, the ruling party of the late Yasser Arafat, but many Palestinians see Fatah as corrupt. Last-minute polls show Fatah and Hamas running close to dead even.

A changing of the guard in South America's poorest country gives hope to millions of people. CNN's Lucia Newman is in La Paz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I never thought I'd be president, said Evo Morales, still trying to persuade himself that he really has become the first-ever indigenous leader of Bolivia. After receiving the presidential sash in front of 11 heads of state and dozens of other foreign dignitaries, the former leader of coca growers and left-wing activists, addressed the country in his native Aymara language.

The suffering of the original people of our land will end now, he said, vowing to do away with discrimination against Bolivia's impoverished indigenous majority. While a sworn enemy of globalization and free-market economics, conspicuously absent from Morales' speech were the caustic attacks of the White House that characterized his election campaign.

In fact, after meeting Washington's envoy to the inauguration, both were keen to offer an olive branch.

TOM SHANNON, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: And this is an opportunity for both the new government of Bolivia and the government of the United States to look towards the future and determine how we can begin a process of dialogue.

NEWMAN: Bolivia is small, poor, but strategically significant. First because of its large natural gas reserves, and second because of its coca, the raw material of cocaine. Morales' pledge to stop coca eradication concerns the U.S. and Europe, although Sunday, he assured the international community he would combat drug trafficking energetically.

Morales is the latest left-wing leader to be elected in South America, a trend that's growing because of the disenchantment with Washington's free market recipe for the region. A lot of expectations, a lot of hope in this country for change, and a lot of questions about if, and how, Evo Morales can deliver. Lucia Newman, CNN, La Paz, Bolivia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: For President Bush it may be a photo op to forget. "Washingtonian" and "Time" magazines report having seen about half a dozen photos of the president with disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff, you'll recall, has pleaded guilty to fraud and agreed to help prosecutors investigate congressional corruption. "Time" says staff members have seen at least six photos that appear to be from White House functions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADAM ZAGORIN, "TIME" MAGAZINE: There's another one which we were told by participants at the meeting was taken at the White House in a relatively small, private session with one of Mr. Abramoff's most -- or rather controversial clients. The client is an Indian chief involved in gambling in Texas, he's there talking to the president and one sees someone who appears to be Mr. Abramoff in the picture as well. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The White House says Mr. Bush has no personal relationship with Abramoff and dismisses the photos as coincidence.

Thirty-three years and still a divisive as ever. Supporters and opponents of legal abortion marked the 33rd anniversary of the high court's landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade. Anti-abortion activists gathered in the rain today at the foot of the Capitol Hill -- at the foot of Capitol Hill, rather, to hear a speech via telephone from President Bush. Mr. Bush praised the group for supporting what he calls, a noble cause, a cause he says will prevail. Last evening abortion rights supporters held their own rally, calling on the U.S. Senate to reject the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito.

A Motown icon heads to City Hall. Martha Reeves, the lead singer of "Martha and the Vandellas" has a new day job. She's going to join us live, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A radio receiver and a fake rock, Russia's federal security service, the old KGB alleges that four British diplomats in Moscow communicated with their contacts this way. The Kremlin is accusing the four of spying and giving money to non-governmental organizations in violation of a new Russian law. President Vladimir Putin, who once headed the KGB, says the West is using NGOs for political purposes. Britain admits giving funds to human rights groups, but denies any improper conduct.

Well pipeline explosions in southern Russia, potentially deadly fallout in neighboring Armenia and Georgia. Russia blames saboteurs for the blast that ripped apart a major natural gas line, supplying former Soviet republics. But Georgia's president isn't so sure. Some believe the act may have been political, a way to punish Georgia as it tries to move away from Russian influence. One thing is for certain, though, that region is in a grip of a bitter cold snap and needs all the fuel it can get.

Disaster in Kenya, a building under construction collapsed in the capital city of Nairobi today. At least six people are known dead, more than 70 are hurt, many others feared trapped. Earlier rescue workers were seen frantically searching through piles of concrete, steel, and wood, for victims. Rescue efforts continue well after dark. The cause of that collapse is unclear, but foul play is not suspected.

Even at its best, coal mining is a brutal way to make a living. At its worse, 14 families are struggling with that grim reality. West Virginia's twin tragedies have not gone unremarked at Capitol Hill. A Senate panel convened this morning to ask questions and demand answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVITT MCATEER, WHEELING JESUIT UNIVERSITY: We are a victim of our own success, we do not have the horrible number of disasters that we had when Senator Harkin's father was in the mines. But we have them often enough that we need to be prepared. We identified declining numbers of people volunteering. We defined declining equipment, we identified declining interest on the part of the companies in this area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: CNN's Bob Franken has more on the challenges this vital industry faces as it strives to become safer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today's hearings are framed by the raw emotions of another disaster this weekend in coal country, which has such a long history of tragedy.

DOUG CONAWAY, W. VA MINE SAFETY DIRECTOR: Unfortunately, we don't have a positive outcome from our efforts.

FRANKEN: This time, after a frantic search, two miners were found dead on Saturday. The two had gotten lost in an underground fire in their West Virginia mine. That was just three weeks after 12 died in the aftermath of the Sago, West Virginia, explosion underground. Politicians are forced to pay attention to the issue of safety once again.

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN (R), VIRGINIA: It is a heavily regulated, heavily inspected industry. It is also, please understand, a very dangerous job.

FRANKEN: It is an industry that has always seen struggle, often violent, between miners and coal operators over safety and conditions. Critics charge that regulation has gotten relatively lax in recent years. And now in the face of these two high-profile tragedies, the sides may be coming together, agreeing that there is need for improvement.

SEN. JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: When people get mad, they're more likely to do something.

REP. NICK RAHALL (D), WEST VIRGINIA: I hardly think that in today's climate we can continue to allow these tragedies to occur without addressing the causes and how we can prevent it from occurring again in the future. That process is under way.

FRANKEN (on camera): But it is a long way between the promises made in the aftermath of tragedy and real reform.

Bob Franken, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: With the recent coal mine tragedies and talk of boosting safety, we wanted to look at just how profitable coal mining is. Here's the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The biggest U.S. coal producer, Peabody Energy, made a profit of $260 million in the first three quarters of 2005. That put the company on track to double its annual profits from the previous year.

The nation's second largest coal mining company, Arch Coal, also had higher properties, up about 25 percent, to $91 million in the first nine months of 2005.

Coal industry profits can't hold a candle to profits from other industries. Oil, for instance. Exxon Mobil made a record $25 billion profit in 2004. But coal profits and the stock prices of the major producers have risen sharply in the past couple of years.

The trend holds with International Coal Group. In March of last year, it bought the Sago Mine, where 12 miners died this month. ICG had a net income of $29 million for the first nine months of 2005, compared to a heavy loss the previous year.

Analysts expect coal profits to rise further as the cost of natural gas and oil increases. Analysts expect the demand for coal to double in the next 20 years.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: In today's medical news, will overweight Americans get a new weapon in the battle of the bulge? The Food and Drug Administration is weighing the pros and cons of allowing the prescription weight loss drug to be sold over the counter. Xenical is the marketing name for the drug called Orlistat. It works by blocking absorption of fat. Drugmaker Glaxosmithkline is hoping U.S. regulators will allow a half-strength version of that pill to be marketed as Alli, say it permits gradual and modest weight loss. The major concern is that the drug also blocks absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and could lead to vitamin deficiencies.

China's reporting its tenth human case of bird flu. A 29-year- old woman from the area in southern part of the country was hospitalized six days ago with a high fever and two rounds of tests point to the bird flu virus. Though the World Health Organization hasn't confirmed it yet, since 2003, there have been almost 150 cases of human bird flu infection and 80 reported deaths.

In Canada, food inspectors confirm that country's fourth case of mad cow. It's on a farm in Alberta, but officials insist the cow never entered the human or animal food chain. Still, its a big setback for Canada's cattle industry, which has struggled since its first case of mad cow in May of 2003. The U.S. and Japan recently lifted bans on Canadian cattle and beef imports.

LIVE FROM has all the news you need this afternoon. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to the newsroom now. Tony Harris working an update now on the sole survivor from the Sago Mine blast, Randy McCloy. What do we know about his condition, Tony?

HARRIS: Got it right here, Kyra. Let me read it to you. Just came in. Randal McCloy's condition has been upgraded to fair. He's at the West Virginia University Hospital, as he continues to show some slight neurological improvements each day. He has been reacting to visitors and physicians who speak with him, but he remains unable to speak.

His physical condition is also slowly improving, and he regained additional kidney functions over the weekend. So that's good news. Randy McCloy improving seemingly every day, now upgraded to fair condition -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Prayers are being answered. We'll stay on top of his condition. Tony, thank you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Well, some basketball fans would call this sick, as in the coolest thing ever. Last night in Los Angeles, the Lakers, Kobe Bryant tallied the second highest single-game point total in NBA history. Bryant torched Toronto for 81 points. It sounds astounding, but it's still 19 shy of the record. Wilt Chamberlain went for 100 back in 1962.

Well, the stage is set for Super Bowl 40. And, as I'm constantly reminded by my audio operator Otis, as he was cruising through the studio, Denver yesterday, the Pittsburgh Steelers rode the arm of Ben Rothlisberger--thank you, Otis--to a 34-17 whipping of the hometown Broncos.

As big Ben connected with his core of swift receivers, the Steeler defense harassed the Bronco's Jake Plummer. Otis probably would have also into a day best forgotten.

In Seattle, the Seahawks handed off to Shaun Alexander, never looked so bad or never looked back actually. The burly runner plowed through the Carolina Panthers who fell 34-14. The showdown in motown is February 5th.

Down under, second seat American, Andy Roddick is down and out. Roddick lost his fourth-round match at the Australian Open yesterday ending the hopes of an American victory in the men's competition. But much-needed help for American tennis may soon take center court.

CNN's Larry Smith has his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): John McEnroe has called him a natural. Andy Roddick has called him insanely talented. And some believe he is Tiger Woods in tennis shoes.

He is 16-year-old Donald Young, the youngest player to ever be ranked as the world's number one junior.

(on-camera): If you weren't playing tennis, what sport would you play?

DONALD YOUNG, U.S. TENNIS PLAYER: I don't know what sport I would play actually. I mean, I played baseball. I played soccer, basketball a little, but I wasn't good at any of those, so I think tennis, I am honestly the best at.

SMITH (voice over): Young's tennis career is a family affair. He's coached by both his parents and is also home-schooled by his mom.

ILLONA YOUNG, DONALD YOUNG'S MOTHER: We realized we both can't talk to him about the same things at the same time, so we made an agreement that he would do the more than mechanical, physical things, and then I would handle more of the mental pieces of it.

D. YOUNG: Yes, I want someone who knows me and knows everything about me, what makes me tick, what makes me happy, and so they know that.

SMITH: The arrangement seems to work.

D. YOUNG: We have a really good relationship me and my dad. Sometimes we might argue. Sometimes we don't, but we argue a lot, and I usually do what he says. So it goes good.

SMITH (on-camera): It kind of works better that way.

D. YOUNG: Not get in trouble. Right, Yes.

SMITH (voice over): At the age of 14, Young turned pro. The money from endorsements helps pay for the costs of training and travel. Although no one denies Young's talents some have criticized the move as too much too soon. But the fact that he can still play in the junior tournaments made the decision easier.

D. YOUNG: Yes, you need to play. Because, I mean, it gives you confidence. Because I know, I mean, look at me now, I'm not winning any matches hardly in the pros. So imagine just playing all pros. I mean, I would have nowhere to go to win matches and get confidence and help develop my game.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's ready, but you have to ask yourself, are you ever ready? You know, do you wait until you're 19, 20, 21? Or do you take it now, take your lumps now and enjoy it?

SMITH: Despite his 0 and seven record in professional tournaments, Young's excited about his career but admits to thinking about, what if?

(on-camera): Do you ever sometimes look around and say, wow, I wonder what it would be, you know, a, quote, unquote, regular teenager?

D. YOUNG: Yes, I do that all the time. You know, yes, I do it a lot. Yes, but it always comes back to the same answer there. I like being who I am.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour in "THE SITUATION ROOM"

Hey Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Kyra. Thanks very much.

Lots of news going on, including the president of the United States unscripted this time. He's not necessarily Oprah, but he's taking Q&A on the road. A look at the style and substance behind the presidential change of gears.

Also, deja vu all over again. Hillary Clinton laying out her health care plan. We're live on the scene.

Plus, real-life James Bond. The Russians accuse the British government of hiding a high-tech spy operation in a rock.

And in our 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour of "THE SITUATION ROOM," our interview with Harry Belafonte. He's been blasting the president making all kinds of allegations. We'll ask him some of the tough questions. All of that coming up right here, Kyra, in "The Situation Room."

PHILLIPS: All right. I know you're going to have those tough questions, but at the same time we love his music, Wolf.

BLITZER: We certainly do. .

PHILLIPS: Can't diss the music.

BLITZER: Good music.

PHILLIPS: There you go. All right.

Well, good news for the parents of Toga -- I know Wolf has been waiting for this too -- the baby penguin that was stolen from a British zoo just before Christmas. We've got the update on that little cutie-pie right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A bit of bright news for two parents in Britain, who suffered a traumatic loss just before Christmas. Surely you remember the story of Toga, the three month old penguin who was birdnapped from the home that he shared with his mum and dad at the Amazon World Zoo on the isle of Wight. Well, despite urgent appeals that Toga could only survive a few days without his folks, he's never been found. But Kyala and Oscar are moving on with their lives. Zoo officials happily announced the arrival of a new egg, which should hatch in about 40 days. Stay tuned for LIVE FROM bulletins.

A massive restructuring plan for Ford was the big news on Wall Street today, our big story too.

Susan Lisovicz standing by live at the New York Stock Exchange with more on that--Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Kyra.

Well, Ford announced today that it will cut up to 30,000 jobs and shut 14 manufacturing clients, as part of a plan to slash six billion dollars in costs by 2010 and to restore its embattled North America auto operations to profitability over the next two years. While the plan means pain for many families and communities, investors are looking at the potential cost savings. This is one of those bad news on Main Street, good news on Wall Street stories.

Ford shares rallied five and a half percent on the news, moving back above eight dollars a share. The plant closings will reduce Ford's car making capacity by more than 25 percent. In addition to the restructuring, Ford also reported better than expected earnings today, strong results that its credit unit, which provides auto loans, weak car sales.

All of last year Ford earned two billion dollars. The third straight year of profitability for Ford, but earnings still fell sharply from '04--Kyra.

PHILLIPS: There it is, the closing bell. Take it away. We'll see you tomorrow. Thanks, Susan.

LISOVICZ: Thanks, Kyra.

A little bit of a recovery here after the biggest one day point loss in three years. The Dow up 20 points. GM, a big, big reason why, rising in tandem with Ford.

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