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Your World Today
Rescuers on Scene of Roof Collapse in Germany; Russia-Ukraine Dispute; Hariri Assassination
Aired January 02, 2006 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Complaints mount in Europe as Moscow's gas war with Kiev brings accusations of theft and blackmail.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The U.N. looks to Syria's president as it investigates the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
CLANCY: And the Afghan army, is it ready to serve a nation without substantial help from the U.S.?
CHURCH: It's noon in Washington, 8:00 p.m. in Moscow.
I'm Rosemary Church.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. And this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.
We'll have more on those stories in just a moment.
We want to continue to keep you updated on the situation in southern Germany, where a roof has collapsed at an ice skating rink. There is heavy snowfall there being blamed for that. Police say at least one person has been killed, but dozens more are still unaccounted for.
Chris Burns joins us now on the line from Berlin.
Chris, how much do we know at this point from the rescue workers?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, this is a wrenching situation right now. Those rescue workers are waiting and hoping that a heavy crane arrives in the heavy snow which is holding that crane up, back from arriving to this little town called Bad Reichenhall. And this is where this roof collapsed sometime this afternoon over an ice skating rink, partial collapse under heavy snow.
They believe some 50 people were inside. So far, they've pulled 10 people alive out of that, slightly injured, one seriously injured with whom they had to revive, and one person, at least one person, dead. But there could be dozens trapped under there -- Jim.
CLANCY: Now, as we understand it, they have had these kinds of situations before in Germany, fairly prepared for it. And yet, there's got to be a lot of people today asking how could it have happened, that people were inside there when something like this happened.
BURNS: Well, Jim, it's really hard to tell. I tried to pin down the police on exactly what the cause was. They will not say right away that it was the snow that caused this. But there has been -- there have been days and days of very heavy snow across Europe and especially in Germany and some of the other Alpine regions. And this is what has happened.
It's also mixed with heavy rain as well. Rain and snow mixing with ice, making it just an accident waiting to happen -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. This is all happening right now at Bad Reichenhall, in the very southern part of Germany. We'll continue to keep you updated.
Thank you, Chris.
Well, Europeans are closely watching a natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine because it may well leave Europeans out in the cold.
CHURCH: And that's worrying them. Russia has shut down the flow of natural gas to Ukraine after Kiev refused to agree to a hefty price hike.
CLANCY: Europeans, well, they're worried, because the same pipelines that take that natural gas from Russia to Ukraine continue on to Western Europe.
CHURCH: France, Hungary, Poland and Austria are just some of the countries already reporting a sharp drop in gas supplies. Now the dispute has taken a nasty turn.
Ryan Chilcote explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The gas war, as it's now known, between Russia and the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine is heating up, sending shivers across Europe. Russia cut off gas supplies to the Ukraine on New Year's Day in a dispute over prices, then Monday accused Ukraine of stealing from the pipeline that carries its natural gas across Ukraine to customers in Western Europe.
ALEXANDER MEDVEDEV, DEP. CHAIR, GAZPROM (through translator): The amount of gas stolen on January 1 by Ukraine from the European pipeline is around 100 million cubic meters, with a market price of over $25 million U.S. If the theft will continue at such a tempo, then the value of the stolen goods will be extremely significant.
CHILCOTE: Ukraine denies the charge, though some Ukrainian officials say they will take some of Russia's Europe-bound exports if the temperature drops a few degrees below freezing. But it won't be stealing, they say. It will be extracting payment for transit fees.
Russia cut off gas sales to Ukraine after the Kiev government refused to pay what Russia calls market rates for fuel. The new rate is more than quadrupled the old subsidized rate Ukraine paid.
The price hike is punishment, Ukraine says, for its orange revolution and desire to develop closer ties with the West. It calls the new rates an attempts to undermine the economy and blackmail.
(on camera): Ukraine, a country of 48 million, is believed to have enough gas in its own reserves to get through the winter. But Western countries' reserve of patience is running dry. The United States and the European Union, which gets a quarter of the natural gas it needs, have called for a speedy resolution.
(voice over): In what's been the coldest winter in years, some European countries have already experienced a drop in their supply from Russia. Russia's Kremlin-controlled gas company says it has a plan but isn't announcing details.
MEDVEDEV (through translator): To ensure the energy security of Europe, we have taken all necessary measures to restore the expert levels.
CHILCOTE: But the reassurance has done little to ease fears. With every winter day the battleground expands and the cost of the Russia Ukrainian gas war gets a little bigger.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Now, just by way of background, Western Europe imports 25 percent of its natural gas supplies from Russia. Moscow's energy giant Gazprom said it would restore full natural gas supplies to European customers by Tuesday.
The EU has scheduled a meeting of its panel of energy experts for Wednesday. A meeting of the European Commission could follow. And diplomats, including the U.S. State Department, have expressed concern that energy supply is being used to exert political pressure.
CLANCY: All right. You can read more of the background reports and the analysis of Gazprom's decision on our Web site, the whole political debate. The address, cnn.com/international.
CHURCH: Well, spiraling gas prices have fueled the resignation of Iraq's oil minister. Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum stepped down, as promised, after substantial hikes in state-controlled prices of gasoline and diesel two weeks ago. Ahmed Chalabi has taken over as interim oil minister. Ulum said the prices hikes should have been phased in gradually.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IBRAHIM BAHR AL-ULUM (through translator): Your decision to implement exponential increases of oil prices is not suitable to the economic situation of the people. It is having a negative effect on their living conditions. We made it clear to you, the prime minister, our view on the importance of balancing national currency needs, external pressures and the economic needs of the people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, the move also angered many Iraqis. Demonstrators set fire to an oil company building in Kirkuk and blew up some company vehicles.
A liter of standard gasoline costs about 10 U.S. cents in Iraq. The government says the price hike was necessary to stop the smuggling of Iraqi oil products to other countries. Iraqi government figures show the country's oil exports in December fell to their lowest level since 2003.
CLANCY: At the same time, the wider violence in Iraq is continuing. Turkey's ambassador to Iraq survived an assassination attempt. Fifteen gunmen fired on to the diplomat's convoy, but there were no casualties. Iraq's industry minister also survived a roadside bomb attack.
And three bodies were recovered on Monday south of the capital of Baghdad. Police say the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs, there were gunshot wounds, and there were signs of torture.
Near Baquba, north of Baghdad, at least seven people were killed, 13 other wounded after a suicide bomber targeted a bus full of police recruits.
CHURCH: The United Nation's team investigating the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri is pressing top Syrian officials to submit to questioning. Syria has repeatedly denied any role in Hariri's death. But just days ago, a former Syrian vice president made explosive allegations that cast even more suspicion on Damascus.
Here's Tim Lister.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TIM LISTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was in an interview with the Al Arabiya network that Abdul Halim Khaddam made a series of stunning accusations against the Syrian government. His most damning charge, that former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was threatened by President Assad at a meeting in Damascus months before he was assassinated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Well, the harshness was something like Assad told him, you want to bring a new president to Lebanon, you want to do so and so, I will not let you. I will smash anyone for trying to disobey our orders.
I don't recall his exact words, but that was the level of harshness. Hariri went out, his blood pressure went up, and his nose started bleeding.
LISTER: Khaddam and his family moved to Paris after he resigned as vice president in June. Now Syrian parliament wants him charged with treason.
SHA'ABAN SHAHEEN, SYRIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (through translator): His comments last night constitute a criminal offense that reaches the level of treason. And we demand that he put to trial before the Syrian security high court.
LISTER: The parliament voted unanimously that Khaddam be put on trial, a call echoed by the ruling Ba'ath Party. In the interview, Khaddam said he was speaking out because of alleged corruption and President Assad's failure to introduce reforms.
He was one of the few senior Syrian officials to be on friendly terms with Hariri and the only one who attended his funeral in February last year. Some observers believe his remarks also calculated to increase pressure on President Assad just as the U.N. investigation into Hariri's killing concludes.
That inquiry, led by German prosecutor Detlev Mellis (ph) has already implicated Syrian intelligence in the killing. Khaddam has not blamed anyone directly.
ABDUL HALIM KHADDAM, FORMER SYRIAN VICE PRESIDENT (through translator): I do not want to blame anybody, but the assassination needs a huge amount of explosives, at least 20 people and a monitoring system and administration for the operation. What organization or who can get hold of this amount of explosives? A huge system is behind this operation, and that's what the investigations will lead to.
LISTER: Consequences for President Assad and his inner circle.
Tim Lister, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Well, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will delay this month's election if Israel bars voting in Arab east Jerusalem, raising a possibility of a postponement for the first time.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian policemen stormed government buildings in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. Witnesses say they were protesting the failure of the Palestinian Authority to fight growing lawlessness in Gaza.
Meanwhile, near the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, Israeli aircraft struck repeatedly at roads and a building that Israel says it used by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. No casualties were reported. The Israeli military says...
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. We're going to interrupt our international news coverage to show you exactly what is taking place close to New York City. This is the Hudson River. A small plane crashed into the river, and a rescue operation currently under way. One man has already been pulled out of the cold river water, and now it looks like they're close to getting another.
Let's listen in.
It looks like the man they were able to rescue was able to grab on to the basket and scoop himself in. And now he is being reeled up into that rescue helicopter. These are very dramatic images taking place live near New York City in the Hudson River.
Once again, this all started when a small plane crashed into the river. Not exactly sure where the plane is at this time. They already rescued one man, and now it looks like a second successful rescue is about to be completed.
The rescuer trying to reach out. That man who's in the basket looks absolutely exhausted. You can only imagine what he dealt with, going through the crash in the cold river water, trying to stay afloat, and somehow making it into the basket. And it looks like now he has found safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exhaust. Exhaust.
KAGAN: Found safety on board that chopper.
That would be the second rescue. I believe we have the first one on tape. Let's go ahead and queue that up, just minutes ago in the Hudson River.
Here is the first rescue. Once again, these people were on board a small plane that crashed into the Hudson River. They're giving the sign to reel up.
Well, that would appear to be one of the rescuers already in scuba gear in a police helicopter, as you can tell, close to New York City, because that is New York City police reeling one of the victims of this plane crash.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turn off the aircraft.
KAGAN: And now let's queue up that last rescue once again, the second one, because that was so dramatic to watch. A man treading water after having survived the plane crash.
The rescue helicopter hovers overboard over him and throws down -- are we back to live pictures? Can we queue up the tape, please? Yes, let's go ahead and queue up the tape instead of going live, because those pictures were just incredible.
Do we have those available? All right.
Watch this. Just moments ago, we were watching this live here on CNN. The rescue helicopter hovering above the Hudson River. The man makes it to the basket as they lowered just below the surface of the water. With his last bit of energy, he gets over, he hangs on, and he scoops himself into the basket. And then they will be able to use the cable, and they scoop him up into safety.
What caused the plane to crash? Were there more than two people on board at the time of the crash? We don't have that information right now. But we do know at least this one rescue was successful out of the Hudson River, very close to New York City.
We'll get more information about what took place there. Dramatic pictures we wanted to share with you right away.
More information just ahead. I'm Daryn Kagan. We rejoin CNN International in progress.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
CHURCH: Well, still ahead, a fresh glimpse into history.
CLANCY: That's right. Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill, was widely known for his strong opinions. Just how strong? Newly released documents reveal more about his views on his war enemies, as well as some others.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. First, though, let's check on stories making headlines here in the U.S., including these incredible images that we watched live just a few minutes ago here on CNN.
A small plane crashes into the Hudson River near New York City, and they're able to rescue two different people out of the Hudson River using helicopter rescue. Incredible images as we watch that unfold here on CNN.
The cause of the crash, not exactly sure at this time. But this one was really incredible. The man having just enough energy to swim to the rescue basket, get himself on board as that rescue basket is lowered just below the surface of the water. He climbs on board, and then they pulled him to safety aboard the rescue helicopter. His exact condition at this time is not known.
We'll keep an eye on that story and bring you more information as it is available.
Right now we want to update you on a mine explosion in Tallmansville, West Virginia. Latest word is there are still miners trapped inside the mine. This is about 100 miles from Charleston.
Joining us on the phone right now with more is Carrie Jones of CNN affiliate WDTV.
Carrie, I understand this crisis began with an explosion earlier today.
CARRIE JONES, REPORTER, WDTV: Yes, the explosion happened around 6:00 this morning. Then some of the people I talked to that actually live in the area said that they could actually feel their houses shake. So they knew that something very bad was happening.
There are, at this time, 13 miners still stuck in the mine. Six actually did make it out, and they did refuse treatment. But there's still -- the worst thing about this situation right now is that there is no communication with the miners.
So that is what they are trying to work at, at this moment, is actually they know they are a couple of miles into the mine. So getting in contact with these men.
KAGAN: And so emergency crews on the way or already there, Carrie?
JONES: Emergency -- they are government agents from the Mine Safety and Health here, as well as mine rescue workers, local fire departments, and EMS standing by for those miners that they do hope to get out soon.
KAGAN: OK. We'll be tracking it.
Carrie Jones, from our affiliate WDTV in West Virginia.
Once again, 13 miners currently trapped a mile underground.
Let's move on now.
Fire crews in north Texas are doing double duty today, trying to contain three major fires while searching for survivors. The tiny towns of Kokomo, near Eastland, and Ringgold have been essentially destroyed. The Eastland County fire has burned more than 22,000 acres. Firefighters are close to having that fire encircled, but there are concerns about shifting winds.
A resident from Ringgold described the towering flames that hit town of 100 people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were tall and fast and they were twirling like -- I mean, they'd just go and they'd just carry them. And then it would start up again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Meanwhile, a fire official says all of Oklahoma City is a target for grass fires today. Yesterday, two dozen of those fires destroyed hundreds of acres in the city and several homes.
The fires, fueled by unseasonably dry conditions, have so far destroyed nearly 100 homes and businesses across the state. One man died. Residents trying to save their homes from the flames are getting dangerously close.
And from tinder-dry to water-soaked, northern California getting a little break in the water today. But there won't be much leisure time to enjoy that. Instead, they'll be cleaning up.
A pair of powerful storms unleashed floodwaters and mudslides across the region. More than a thousand homes have been damaged just in the Napa wine country.
Meanwhile, colder temperatures in the higher elevations you see on the left part of your screen bringing more snow. The mountain town of Truckee has already seen several inches today.
Jacqui Jeras with plenty to talk about in the weather center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: If you like the aisle seat, you might have to pay extra. Travel trends for 2006 at the top of the hour on "LIVE FROM."
Meanwhile, YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a quick break.
I'm Daryn Kagan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International.
I'm Rosemary Church.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy.
And these are the stories that are making headlines around the world.
CHURCH: Rescuers in southern Germany are working to reach more victims of a roof collapse at an ice skating rink. Police in Bad Reichenhall say at least one person has been killed and some 11 others injured. Dozens of skaters are still unaccounted for. The roof collapsed amid heavy snowfall. Crews are waiting for a heavy crane to help them get full access to that building.
CLANCY: Russia has halted natural gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev refused to pay a hefty four-fold price increase. Now officials from Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom are accusing the Ukraine of diverting gas meant for Western Europe -- a charge that Kiev is denying. Several countries are already reporting gas shortfalls. Russia says it would restore full supplies to Europe by Tuesday.
CHURCH: The United Nations team investigating the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri is pressing top Syrian officials to submit to questioning. The commission wants to meet with President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa.
Just days ago, a former Syrian vice president accused President Assad of threatening Hariri months before he was assassinated. Syria denies any connection with Hariri's death.
CLANCY: Iraq's oil minister Ibrahim Bahr Al-Ulum has resigned in protest over the government's steep hike in gas and diesel prices. His resignation coming amid a public uproar that sparked some violent protests. Now, Ahmed Chalabi, head of Iraq's energy council, has taken over as the interim oil minister.
CHURCH: Well, to the United States now, where President George W. Bush started the new year much as he ended the last -- defending a much debated domestic spying program.
Elaine Quijano reports from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fresh off a week at his Crawford ranch, President Bush began the new year visiting privately in San Antonio with 51 wounded U.S. troops and awarding nine Purple Hearts.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can't think of a better way to start 2006 than here at this fantastic hospital.
QUIJANO: Afterwards, the president reprised his staunch defense of the secret domestic surveillance program he authorized after 9/11. Mr. Bush reiterated his argument that the use of the program is legal and necessary.
BUSH: If somebody from al Qaeda is calling you, we'd like to know why. In the meantime, this program is conscious of people's civil liberties, as am I.
This is a limited program designed to prevent attacks on the United States of America, and I repeat, limited.
QUIJANO: Limited, the White House says, to international communications to and from the United States.
But critics say the use of electronic surveillance on Americans without a court-issued warrant threatens privacy rights and civil liberties.
The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter, plans to hold hearings on the issue, and a Democratic committee member says he wants to hear a full discussion about the administration's actions.
U.S. SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: I hope the White House won't hide behind saying, "Oh, executive privilege, we can't discuss this." That's the wrong attitude. A discussion, perhaps a change in the law, those are all legitimate.
QUIJANO (on camera): President Bush says the disclosure of the classified program's existence has hurt national security. The Justice Department has opened an investigation into how information about the program was leaked to the media. Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: A suicide attacker in Afghanistan set off a car bomb near the southern city of Kandahar on Monday. It killed the attacker and it wounded a U.S. soldier, as well as an Afghan woman and child. The bomber was apparently targeting a U.S. military convoy that was passing through the city. And that city Kandahar, of course, was a former Taliban stronghold.
CHURCH: Well, the attack follows an announcement by the United States to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan. The plan depends on the ability of Afghan soldiers to assume a leading role in the country's security.
But as Vickie Diamond reports, it's not certain when the new Afghan army will be able to operate on its own.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VICKIE DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abdul Ala (ph) is familiar with war, but this 22-year-old Afghan platoon sergeant has no experience with an organized national army.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a country who fights with others, Russian men and other foreign men for a long time. We want to join together with Americans to help the peace.
DIAMOND: Abdul Ala is part of a new Afghan army unit patrolling the town of Sayed Karam (ph). Supported by U.S. forces, the Afghan soldiers lead the mission. It is what's called a presence patrol, showing local villagers that the national army exists and is protecting them.
Before they head out into the field, Afghan soldiers train for 14 weeks in Kabul. Their trainers are Afghan, but they're supervised by U.S. and coalition soldiers who say building this new army has some surprising difficulties.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The training of the Afghan national army is a challenging task in itself because it's an uneducated army and you've got people that cannot read or write.
DIAMOND: Seventy percent of Afghan soldiers are illiterate and no Afghan unit operates without the technical or logistical support of coalition forces.
According to U.S. military officials, the ultimate goal is to make the Afghan army independent, clearing the way for further U.S. troop reductions in Afghanistan or freeing up U.S. forces to engage in other missions.
Abdul Ala fled Afghanistan during the Taliban's rule.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come back here to live here, to really live here, live in my country, live in peace.
DIAMOND: Abdul Ala doesn't think the Afghan army is ready to operate alone. He, like the U.S. military, refuses to speculate on a timeline.
Becky Diamond, CNN, Sayed Karam, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: All right. What are the challenges that are being faced not only by U.S. troops, by the Afghans themselves?
Well, a little bit earlier we spoke with Becky Diamond, who was back in Kabul. We asked her how members of the U.S. military are assessing the situation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIAMOND: U.S. troops feel they're winning the war on terror here. I mean, there has been an increase in violence. 2005 saw nearly double the fatalities of U.S. soldiers.
But the soldiers I've spoken to all say they feel they're winning. They say -- the combat soldiers I've spoken to say they are not seeing an organized insurgency. They're basically seeing criminals, crazies and thugs -- those are their words. They say they rarely run into groups of more than 10 people at a time.
And the U.S. military says the violence, the suicide bombings -- there has been an upsurge in suicide car bombings and roadside bombings in Kabul and other Afghan cities. The U.S. military says that this is a sign of desperation on behalf of the insurgency, that the insurgent tactics aren't working and so these people are turning to suicide bombings.
But like I said, it's been a very, very violent year, 2005.
CLANCY: Do U.S. troops -- your own observations, are the Afghan forces ready to take over?
DIAMOND: They're definitely not ready to take over yet. I think any observer would tell you that.
The Afghan army seems to be making strides. These are soldiers who definitely know about war. Their country has been at war for many, many years.
But they're not an organized army yet and you can see it in their formations. They're disorganized. They don't quite know what to do. Many of them are illiterate. They're not great, I've heard -- been told -- with managing all of their weapons, and they lack a lot of discipline and commitment that U.S. forces have.
But from what I can see on the ground, they believe deeply in their own national army. They're a young national army and they are committed in the long term to making it work and to making Afghanistan a democracy.
So they have what it takes, but they need the time to develop. And what timeframe that is, no one knows.
CLANCY: From Kabul, Afghanistan, Becky Diamond.
Becky, thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: All right.
We want to return to our breaking news story.
We've been watching the collapse of an ice skating rink in southern Germany. Let's bring up these latest pictures now that have come in.
Of course, we've been telling you, inside this ice skating rink were about 50 people at the time. Heavy snows were the cause of the collapse or partial collapse of that roof.
Now we understand, according to Associated Press, that three people have died, 20 are still missing. We do understand that about 11 were injured, one of them seriously, but 10 of them just slightly injured.
But looking at these pictures, we can see now this crane. That's what the rescue workers have been waiting for, the arrival of this crane. It, of course, had been delayed.
Chris Burns is on the line now from Berlin. He's been monitoring this.
Chris, welcome news to see pictures of that crane.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely, Rosemary.
That's been the wrenching thing going on the last few hours, was waiting for that crane to get through the heavy snow.
We have an update now. We have confirmed, according to police, three people dead -- one man, one woman and a child about 8 years old. About 20 to 25 injured, and missing -- 20 to 25 missing. And that is the key.
With that crane, they're going to be able to find out how many of those people are still alive.
CHURCH: And, Chris, for a lot of people watching, they would wonder how this can happen in a country that's really quite used to a lot of snowfall, and heavy snowfall at that.
BURNS: Well, absolutely.
That is a big question. I'm sure that little town is going to be asking a lot of questions about that.
But do keep in mind that in the last few days we've had a lot -- a lot of heavy snow across Germany, even here in Berlin, which there aren't any mountains here. There has been a lot of snow and ice, too, with rain mixing with snow, you've got a very, very dangerous situation.
That's how the roads and the towns are in those Alps. It is high up in the Alps. It is closer to Salzburg than it is to Munich. It is right near where Hitler's Eagle's Nest was. It's very high up in the Alps where you get a lot of snow.
CHURCH: What are rescue workers saying now that crane has arrived, how long do you think it will be? What are they saying about how long it will be to lift that roof up and get into rescue those people?
BURNS: We're hearing it could be going through the night. It could be a long process. There's really no telling at this point.
CHURCH: Not so far from here, too, we understand, there has been an avalanche as well. This isn't the end of it at all.
BURNS: No, it's not. There was an avalanche about 10 kilometers away, according to police. Ten people were buried in it. Three people are still missing. They are searching for them right now.
CHURCH: Give us an idea, too, of those injured. You mentioned you think the numbers are around 20 to 25 people injured in this particular incident. These pictures we're looking at, this ice skating rink, what sort of injuries are they talking about?
BURNS: Well, that, they will not specify. We did hear that among the injured, there's at least one who is very seriously injured to the point that person had to be revived. There had to be resuscitation for that one person. So, that's all we know at this point.
There were at least ten of those lightly injured, managed to get out with light injuries. There's no telling at this point. There could be others quite badly hurt if you look at those pictures.
CHURCH: Indeed. Chris Burns monitoring this story from Berlin.
We're looking at pictures just out now. We understand one man has died. A woman has died and an 8-year-old child has died. So, three people are dead. We understand 20 to 25 people have been injured and still 20 to 25 people missing, because it was thought that about 50 people were inside that ice skating rink when that roof collapsed as a result of heavy snow fall.
That crane has now arrived and rescue workers are hoping that, certainly, through the night they can lift that partially collapsed roof and get in there to those who, hopefully, have survived this incident.
We're going to take a short break here on YOUR WORLD TODAY. Do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: For viewers in the United States and around the world, welcome back. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
CHURCH: An hour of international news. Winston Churchill publicly described Adolph Hitler as a monster of wickedness.
HOLMES: The imminently quotable British leader also said this: "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."
CHURCH: Given that, it probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn what Churchill would have done, had he gotten his hands on the Nazi dictator.
HOLMES: We do have an idea now because of some newly released government documents, giving us, literally, the answer. ITV's Chris Rogers reveals.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS ROGERS, IPN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Previous records of war cabinet meetings have only ever revealed the general tenure of discussions on what to do with Nazi leaders.
At the time, capital punishment in Britain involved hanging. Now we know that Churchill favored the electric chair for Hitler as punishment without trail.
(on camera): Churchill revealed his brutal attitude towards his enemies during a series of meetings on how to deal with war criminals. They were held here at the cabinet war room.
The shorthand notes were taken by the deputy cabinet secretary and now released to the public, we have the first insight of what was said and who said it. Not everyone agreed with the prime minister.
(voice-over): At a cabinet meeting in December 1942, Churchill noted, "Contemplate that if Hitler falls into our hands, we shall certainly put him to death. This man is the mainspring of evil." But the future labor prime minister, Clement Atley, badgered the war time leader to moderate his combative views.
Two years later, the home secretary, Herbert Morrison, argued that a mock trial of Nazi leaders would be objectionable. Churchill agreed that a fair trial for Hitler would be a farce. However, Within weeks, the U.S. and Russia insisted on court proceedings.
Churchill was to be irritated further. The papers reveal he favored letting Gandhi die while under British detention if he went on a hunger strike. But the spiritual campaigner for India's independence was saved by ministers who opposed the tactic, fearing Gandhi would become a martyr. He was eventually released, officially, on compassionate grounds. Chris Rogers, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: 2006 is expected to usher in a fresh crop of hot, new performers. With more on the ones to watch this year, "Billboard" magazine's Tamara Conniff joins us live from New York. Nice to see you.
So, who should we be looking out for?
TAMARA CONNIFF, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: My favorites are Teddy Geiger, he's sort of a young John Mayer, 17 years old, extremely mature lyrically. Singer, songwriter, he's also a TV star, he's on "Love Monkeys," CBS's "Love Monkey." He's definitely at the top of my list.
CHURCH: How do you decide who becomes one of the top ten new talents to keep an eye out for?
CONNIFF: You look at acts that have been bubbling under the radar for the past year or two and then you assess what's going to happen to them, career wise, this year. A lot of people on the list either have new records coming out, television shows, or something else that's going to really sort of catapult them into fame in '06.
CHURCH: Also, they hope. The interesting thing, when you're talking about new talent, you're not necessarily talking about young talent, 32-year-old, that's not so old, but you don't think of that as new talent. You pinpointed an opera singer from Germany as a new talent. That's an interesting choice.
CONNIFF: She's brilliant and she has really been under the radar. She's releasing an album this year that I think is really going to put her on the map as a top talent.
There's another artist on the list from Nashville, who has been working in Nashville for 11 years. Now she's working with John Rich from "Big and Rich." I think this is going to be her year.
CHURCH: You're talking about Shannon Brown, of course?
CONNIFF: Yes.
CHURCH: Why do you think it's going to be her year?
CONNIFF: She's really been building up a following, has honed her skills. She has a label behind her. She has John Rich behind her. I really think it's going to be a great record for her.
CHURCH: And just give us an idea, how often have you been right?
CONNIFF: Well, let's see. You know what? I actually am not too wrong too often.
CHURCH: That's pretty good. CONNIFF: Two people on the list I have actually showcased at Billboard conferences because I believe in them that much. I guess you'll have to ask me at the end of the year if I was right or not.
CHURCH: I'm sure those ten people are very happy they've been picked out. Tamara Conniff, thank you so much for talking with us.
Still ahead, did Hurricane Katrina silence the music in New Orleans.
HOLMES: It was no doubt the storm damaged hundreds of pianos, but getting them back in tune would cost tens of thousands of dollars. A look at restoration efforts when YOUR WORLD TODAY continues.
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CLANCY: What a tradition of music the city of New Orleans brings. And those who own grand pianos in that city when Hurricane Katrina hit are really now singing the blues.
CHURCH: They certainly are. Hundreds of pianos are missing or in need of repair for a city famed for its music.
Susan Roesgen reports from New Orleans.
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SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Maryanne Bullock (ph) finally got into her flooded home in New Orleans the thing she most wanted to find out was what happened to her pianos. She had not one, but two Steinways.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just couldn't believe my eyes. It looked like two -- the first thing I thought was two wounded big animals, like two pachyderms or something with their arms up in the air like help me, you know, and I couldn't help them, you know.
ROESGEN: Bullock (ph) is the pianist for the Louisiana Philharmonic. She took pictures of her two crippled Steinways, but the worst thing was watching the garbage crew haul them away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They lifted it up in the air and let them go and they went down into this iron dumpster and the sound was amazing. It was this huge echoey boing, like that. You know?
ROESGEN: Who knows how many pianos wound up like hers, chopped up in a pile beside the curb? But now hundreds of damaged pianos are in need of repair.
Stacked end to end in storage, these are pianos rescued from the flood. They're high end instruments worth $50,000 or more each. The average cost of repair, $15,000.
STEVE KINCHEN, HALL PIANO COMPANY: They are pianos here that we will probably rebuild against our better judgment, because the costs associated with the rebuilding related to the value of the piano after the rebuilding. It wouldn't make economical sense.
ROESGEN: A wooden instrument is no match for high water. Wood and felt and glue, that's about all about there is to a piano, but putting those parts back together requires a master craftsman.
It takes two years to learn how to repair a piano. That's a hard sell when there's a lot more money to be made in New Orleans ripping out sheetrock. Piano repairmen are in sort supply. Since Hall Piano Company has just four trained repairman, getting a piano fixed could take up to a year. Repair wasn't possible for Maryanne Bullock's (ph) Steinways, but she did manage to say something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These were two of the posts -- at the pedals of the older one, the 1903.
ROESGEN: She also pulled a few of the keys out of the trash heap, just enough to make a couple of octaves, something she says she'll put under glass, maybe, and hang on a wall. A reminder of how the hurricane silenced the music.
Susan Roesgen, CNN, New Orleans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: All right. Just enough time before we go to check the inbox.
CLANCY: We've been asking this, what story do you want us to cover more in 2006?
CHURCH: Jacqueline from Switzerland writes, "Piracy did not disappear with Blackbeard. It is today a crime out of control, and hundreds die every year as a result."
CLANCY: Leonard Garden writes this, "Please provide more reports on the environmental science behind natural catastrophes we have experienced and will probably continue to experience as a result of global warming.
We also got some nice short ones here.
CHURCH: We've got space programs. That's a suggestion from Robert.
CLANCY: Two people said more on Africa and the corrupt officials who have been exposed.
CHURCH: Global stories about innovation. That (INAUDIBLE) from Robert in Switzerland.
CLANCY: Domestic spying in the U.S. and the Valerie Plame leak. That's from Peter in North Carolina.
CHURCH: And Steve in the United States suggested economic effects of globalization is a good idea. CLANCY: Shortest answer of them all, Suhandra (ph), and he's an expatriate living in Germany. He had just one word story -- cricket, Wants to hear more cricket.
CHURCH: All right. And just quickly, we want to update you in on the situation in southern Germany. Of course, we've been telling you about the roof that collapsed as a result of heavy snowfall. That was an ice skating rink in Bad Reichenhall (ph), and we're looking at those pictures there. Fifty were thought to be inside. At this stage we know, one man died, a woman died and an 8-year-old child, and 25 or so injured. It's thought about 20 are still missing.
CLANCY: That's YOUR WORLD TODAY. Stay tuned. The news continues here on CNN.
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