Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Dallas Hit be Severe Storms; Wildfire in Australia Examined; Fighting in Ramadi Detailed; Flooding in Latin America; Latest Campaign Coverage. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired December 27, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:00] GEORGE HOWELL, HOST CNN INTERNATIONAL: Severe storms and tornadoes leave extensive damage in Dallas, Texas. We'll have the very latest on the destruction and deaths there. A huge uncontained bush fire in Australia. Fire fighters worked to hold the line in Victoria State. And later, Pope Francis prepares to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family at St. Peter's Basilica.

From CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell, CNN Newsroom starts right now.

HOWELL: Had a good day to you. We start this hour covering the weather that is sweeping across the United States and sending people running from their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, this car is in the kitchen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your daughter's car is in the kitchen here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her car is in the garage. It's in the kitchen right now

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my whole new car was in the driveway is up and around into the air. Her car is in the kitchen now. It was in the garage.

HOWELL: A terrifying evening in Dallas, Texas. At least eight people dead in the Dallas Metro area following a line of powerful storms that went through the city. And then in the state of California, it is fire that forced people to evacuate due to a fast-moving wildfire that has burned nearly 500 hectares, some 1,200 acres.

And in the southern state of Alabama, it's flooding. There are fears that some rivers could overflow their levys. In the past week, at least 17 deaths in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas have been linked to severe weather. Earlier my colleague, Natalie Allen spoke with Pat McMillan. He and his family barely escaped unharmed but their apartment didn't.

PAT MCMILLAN: My mom had got me and her boyfriend and put us in the resting in about -- it lasted about 10 to 20 seconds. We went outside, it's completely darkness around 7:30 -- around 7:20 to 7:15. Its complete darkness and we went around (ph) and the families are okay or needed help. There was a family across the hall from us. The windows are shattered. The doors in their circle(ph), we heard it. We heard it so, me and my mom's boyfriend went outside and like took the doors out and we helped trying the kids out to get out.

HOWELL: Just to think that he was sleeping when that happened. There is a lot to cover, let's get straight to meteorologist Derek Van Dam, and Derek, where do we start?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN INTERNATIONAL WEATHER ANCHOR: Well, this is the thing, the danger with these nocturnal tornadoes or tornadoes that occur after dark is that so many people are sleeping so they can't heed the warnings that a tornado is about to hit their home or their community. That man was extremely fortunate enough to be able to hear the roar of a tornado approaching, and that was enough to, you know, jostle him awake and take his family to safety.

Now, I want to show you some of the video of this particular tornado that moved through the Dallas, Texas vicinity. Remember, it was not directly through the city center but what's incredible about this is that some of the tweets that I saw from the meteorologist covering this n Texas said that the width of this particular tornado was, roughly a kilometer and a half, nearly one mile wide. You can imagine the path of destruction through a very populated area like Dallas County which is the second most populated county in all of Texas.

You can see the flashes of electricity, that's the pole -- the electrical poles being knocked over by the fury of the tornado illuminating the background allowing for people to actually see for a brief moment nature's fury there with the tornado in the background. Scary stuff. Let's zoom in to this region to show you just what happened. We had six reported tornadoes, several wind damage reports as well and large hale.

Of course the National Weather Service still has to assess the complete extent of this damage to determine on the Fujita scale, which is the measurement tool they use for how destructive the tornado actually was. They'll determine was this an EF3, an EF4 or the higher echelon tornado, and EF5, that moved through the suburbs of Dallas, Fort Worth.

An extremely complex weather scenario taking place across the Central U.S. at the moment. Let me do my best to try and explain to you what you can expect. We still have ongoing severe weather threats into Sunday and Monday, once again, slowly shifting eastward Eastern Texas, that means Houston.

Even into the New Orleans region, but on the backside of this system, we're wrapping in a lot of cold air so, that's going to drop the temperature enough to change over the precipitation from liquid into the frozen variety so snow, freezing rain, and the mixture that's going to create travel nightmares and headaches across that region especially for all the holiday makers. And on top of that, we have just such moisture laden air that the potential for flooding exist once again. Remember earlier this week, we talked about Alabama and the flooding

that they received well, this time, it's St. Louis and the destination is around that particular area, in fact, here's a look at the latest weather warnings across the United States. Winter storms from Iowa, blizzard threats -- a full on blizzard expected across the Texas Panhandle stretching westward into the Eastern sections of New Mexico, and there's the rainfall totals George. Another 10 inches of rain on top f an already saturated environment means flooding will happen once again.

[04:05:00] HOWELL: You know, people I'm sure, were just hoping for a break but it looks like the severe weather threat continues.

VAN DAM: And the timing couldn't be worse.

HOWELL: Derek, thank you and we'll stay in touch with you. You know, from the damage you saw there, you can tell that obviously many of the victims from these storms they are now homeless. So, if you would like to help out you can go to our website at cnn.com/impact. You can get information there on what you can do.

Now, onto wildfires on two continents-- first in Southern California where a Dutch tourist shot some dramatic video as she managed to escape the fire with her family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow. (ph)

HOWELL: Goodness, that family had just attended the Christmas day basketball game between two Los Angeles NBA teams when they found themselves trapped in the wildfire. The Solimar fire has burned more than 500 hectares but is now 60 percent contained. CNN's Sarah Sidner has more on that fire.

SARAH SIDNER, CNN CORRESPODENT: The holiday interrupted by a sudden ferocious brush fire. Within hours, it turned into an inferno Saturday in the hills of Ventura County California. Hundreds of fire fighters jumping into action from the sky and land to deal with a terrible combination -- drought stricken land, strong winds and brittle burning brush.

The fire is so intense it closed down a section of one of the most picturesque highways in the state, the Pacific Coast highway. It also closed down a portion of U.S. 101, a workhorse of a highway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These homes are right along the seashore. I mean if you step out the backyard, your feet are wet, but this fire just happened to blow down right at the Solimar area, you know, there's an alignment with the wind. There was a field bed long enough to carry towards those homes. We were fortunate we recognized the threat immediately and before it (ph) into that area, successfully defended those structures.

SNIDER: The fires burning hundreds of acres in Ventura County which lies between Santa Barbara to the North and Malibu to the South, population nearly 850,000. Evacuations have been ordered as the fire burns closer and closer to homes and structures. And an even worst scenario looms, Ventura County is home to an oil field. It's conceivable the fire could make its way there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a very dynamic. If you look up on the hillside, you can see a lot of smoke. Whether we open something out there, it's still a dynamic situation and it could change or could -- even if we do open up the roadways, it is still not a contained fire so, I just want to caution (ph) any openings that do happen as that is subject to be enclosed again if the fire changes direction.

SNIDER: Fire fighters are working to head off disaster, unfortunately, (ph) for the worst drought in a hundred years, this is a scene that is sure to be repeated far too many times in 2016.

HOWELL: That was CNN Correspondent Sara Snider reporting for us. And in Australia fire fighters are working to fully contain bush fires in Victoria State. The fires have been subdued but not before destroying more than one hundred homes. Parts of Great Ocean Road, a popular scenic highway were also shut down. Emergency officials say dry conditions could cause more fires.

And for more on these fires, I'm joined by CNN producer Joel Labi. And Joel, from Australia you can obviously tell us about what's happening there. What is the latest?

JOEL LABI, CNN PRODUCER: Well George, the latest terminology that the fire crew is using is that this blaze is subdued but not contained yet. So, what we can read into is that they have some sort of control over the flames. There isn't enough wind to make it a threat to anymore homes for the time being, but New Year's Eve New Year's Day, that is the time period that is of most concern to them because temperatures on Australia, temperatures in Victoria I should say again could be hitting the mid to high 30 celsius over a 100 degrees fahrenheit and that coupled with potentially stronger winds could really fan this blaze up.

They're talking that some of these flames might not even be put out until light January early February which is extraordinary. And we have a 116 homes already destroyed. That whole beautiful landscape along the Great Ocean Road from the town of Lorne kind of heading south is totally scorched in areas and you're talking about Route 101 in California. You've got the sea on one side and mountains on the other. Well, picture this in Australia and you have almost a carbon copy. It's a very similar situation to what you just saw in California to what's going on in Victoria right now.

[04:10:00] HOWELL: So, a beautiful part of that country, 116 homes destroyed, but for those people whose homes are no more, what happens with them now.

LABI: This is the worst part about the bush fire. We should say thankfully no one has lost their lives. I mean it is important to stress that because in the past, bush fires have proven fatal in Australia but this is a really heartbreaking situation, taking the locals of Lorne and (ph) river et cetera to properties that were once gorgeous overlooking the sea and now nothing more than charred ruins, and just have a listen to what they said, they were absolutely traumatized. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (ph) understandably, just really wanted to just sort of look and take it in and really all you can do is try to support them. We won't be letting the people back in. We won't be able to if it's not safe to.

LABI: And as you can hear George, it just isn't safe at the moment, even to be lead in that area. The flames may have been subdued but again not under control and until fire fighters say it is safe to go back into it, there's no telling how long that could be. They've even cancelled a musical festival, the Falls Festival which usually attracts 15 to 20 thousand people a year. They've had to move that well away, about an hour away from where it's usually held because the threat is just too great right now.

HOWELL: The threat is still real but Joel you make the important point, no lives have been lost and it's because they have planning. They were prepared for these things. Joel Labi, thank you so much for your reporting there. Now, onto Northern China where a thick lingering haze has caused several car crashes. Pile ups involving dozens of trucks caused a huge back up on Saturday. Fire fighters had to save people who were trapped inside their vehicles.

A few people were even sent to hospitals. No word yet on the extent of those injured. You're watching CNN Newsroom, ans still to come in just a few minutes, we will take you live to Italy where Pope Francis is celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family inside the Vatican. Plus, Iraqi forces make an important gain in their campaign in the fight against Isis. Stay with us. This is CNN Newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: I'm Don Riddell with your CNN World Sport Headlines. This Premier League season had just been impossible to call. Everyday there's another major surprise and the teams you'd think might benefit from all the chaos then just seem to mess it up themselves. (ph) on visiting Southampton, Shane Long had superb game for the Saints scoring twice in what was a major boxing day knockout. Southampton (ph) the score.

The Saints haven't one since the first week of November but they absolutely thrashed the gunners here. Now, in the build up to Manchester United's game against Stoke, it was obvious that manager Louis Van Gaal was feeling the pressure and his team failed to respond. Stoke beat United 2 nil on Saturday leaving Van Gaal to feel even more uncomfortable pressures about his future. They hadn't won any of their last seven games and they've lost their last floor including defeats to Bournemouth (ph) two of the promoted sides.

Now, ahead of this year's Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race -- much of the talk was about Wild Oats XI and his quest for a ninth title in the blue water classic. But there was also talks of brutal storms and those treacherous conditions came to pass, disastrously so for Wild Oats. They were running in second place when everything went wrong. Earlier reports indicated that a sail was torn in half by 40 mile an hour winds. The crew is safe but they're done for this race. That is a quick look at your sports headlines. I'm Don Riddell. [04:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: And welcome back to CNN Newsroom, I'm George Howell. It is a busy holiday schedule for Pope Francis. At this hour, he is in Vatican City celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family. A mass is devoted to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It's being held at St. Peter's Basilica. Our senior Vatican analyst, John Allen joins now live from Rome. John, good to have you with us this hour. So, the pope, he is there -- very important moment -- the family is a very important issue to him, what should we be looking for?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Well, good morning George. Happy Holidays to you from a gorgeous slightly chilly Rome. Pope Francis today, as you said, is celebrating this mass for the Holy Family. Now, this is part of a special jubilee of mercy that the Pope has called for. He's actually asked Catholic Basilicas all over the world where they have holy doors which is the main symbol of the jubilee year to conduct their own masses for families and all of these underscores how important the family is as theme for Pope Francis.

He has convened two extraordinary summits of Catholic bishops from all around the world called synods devoted to the theme of the family where they've wrestled with some very tough questions -- things like whether divorced and civil are you re-married Catholics ought to be able to receive communion, the right tone in talking about gay and lesbian relationships, people living outside of marriage. Sometime very soon Pope Francis is expected to issue a major document, perhaps as early as February dealing with all of that.

Now George, we don't expect him to weigh into that this morning. Today is going to be we expect a very pastoral message, a kind of positive treatment of the beauty of the family and the importance families praying together and so on. So, it's kind of a chance George for the Pope to catch his breath and go positive. Before he has to make some very, very tough decisions George.

HOWELL: John, I'd like to switch out just to talk about the climate of the world that we live in right now given the threats of terrorism, the concerns across Europe and the United States and elsewhere in the world, what is then Vatican doing to basically keep people safe? Anything exceptional there?

ALLEN: Yeah, there was a report actually out of Austria yesterday about possible terrorist strikes in major European cities that has had quite an echo here in Italy. The Vatican has taken additional security measures particularly in the wake of the recent Paris terrorist attacks. They've deployed additional security personnel around St. Peter Square.

The security string, the metal scans to get into the Basilica had become more stringent, which has to some extent, lengthen the lines to get into major papal events. Now, the Vatican insists they are taking the situation seriously but they also insist that Pope Francis is not going to be slowed down by any of this and certainly all indications are this is a Pope who is not allowing fears for his personal security to get in his way. Recently George, he took a trip to the Central African Republic, the

first time in recent memory a Pope has set foot in an active war zone, and he told his pilot on the way in that if he didn't feel safe landing, he should just give the Pope a parachute because one way or the other he was going to get there. So, you know, this is a Pope who is cognizant of the realities of the world, but at the same time George, does not intend to allow that to get in his way.

[04:20:00] HOWELL: The Pope's schedule goes on and today he celebrates an important moment. John Allen, thank you so much for your insight there in Rome.

Iraqi forces are gaining ground against Isis fighters in the strategic city of Ramadi after intense fighting, their government troops now control areas near the city center. They've diffused a lot of booby traps and rescued 120 families who were trapped in the fighting there. Meanwhile, an Iraqi air force strike on the city has killed one major Isis commnader. For the very latest on the fight for Ramadi, let's turn to CNNs Robyn Kriel who now joins us live from London. Robyn, so what's the very latest on the fight there in Ramadi. I understand that they are trying to secure another district there.

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we believe that they have secured another district, the (ph) district. They're about 500 meters away from this crucial Isis-controlled government compound that when they gained control of that is when we believed that they will start really advancing and then securing other parts of the city. But that's really the main focus and has been the main focus of this push ever since they begun it in earnest early Tuesday George. We understand as you said, they have killed one Isis fighter, high level Isis militant in an air strike.

They've also according to Iraqi security forces joined operations command, have also captured an Isis foreign fighter called Al-Abu Bakr, not to be confused with Abu Bakr Baghdadi but say he is a high level foreign fighter. They said that they have managed to get intelligence from him about the number of fighters who are still waiting it out in Ramadi. We had heard that there were 300 to 500 Isis fighters willing to fight to the death.

HOWELL: So, you know, Robyn while you're talking we're seeing images of fighting that you know, that goes on in Ramadi as the Iraqi military tries to secure that city, but as the fighting continues there are civilians who are in the middle of all this. Talk to us about those civilians caught up in the cross fire. How are they faring given what's happening?

KRIEL: Well, you can see from the video George, heavy fighting which means it would be extremely dangerous for civilians -- many families who were trapped by Isis, not allowed to leave inevitably to be used as human shields. So, they were given opportunities to leave. The allied forces, the Iraqi security forces dropped leaflets on a Sunday before this really heavy surge began and they were asked to leave, but many were prevented from leaving by Isis as I said, to be used as human shields but luckily for some families, some lucky families has been allowed safe passage by the Iraqi forces. They were asked to raise white flags outside their homes and granted safe passage. About 120 families have been rescued thus far but given that fierce clashes, it looks almost inevitable that there will be some civilian toll as well in this fight.

HOWELL: Robyn Kriel, live for us in London with the very latest. Robyn, thank you for your reporting there. Rebels in Northern Syria have captured a major dam from Isis fighters. The Tishreen Dam sits about 22 kilometers, well that's about 14 miles up the Euphrates River from the Isis stronghold of Raqqa. CNN military analyst Rick Francona says the dam is a major power generation point and part of a key supply line into the strategic city.

RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, everybody has been focused on that supply route between Mosul and Raqqa, this actually cuts off the supply line from Turkey down into Raqqa. So, this is very important -- this is critical and you're right, that dam controls -- it's the major generating capability for Northern Syria. It also controls the waters of the Euphrates River so, you know, this would be a big blow to Isis and it is yet one more step in what the coalition has to do to isolate them so they can finally kick them out of Iraq and Syria. This is a really good development. Everybody's been focused on what's been going on in Ramadi, what has to happen in Mosul, but this is also a key piece of the puzzle.

HOWELL: Could be a key play there to their so-called capital. The same group I should say of rebels is claiming other victories in Northern Syria as well. They say they took over more than eight villages since Friday night. There is a new audio message purportedly from Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi that surfaced on Isis affiliates social media over the weekend. The last recording that claims to be from shadowy commander is all the way back in May. CNNs Oren Liebermann has the details on the mysterious message.

[04:25:00] OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This newly released audio recording of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is 24 minutes long and it's called "Wait for we as well are waiting with you" a reference to a Kuran verse that speaks of judgment day. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the recording but it seems to follow the standard dissemination for Isis videos. It has two focuses, the first is a morale boost for Isis troops, troops that are now fighting in Iraq and Syria. Isis is likely to have a difficult year ahead analyst say, and Baghdadi makes a big recruitment push here as many in the international community crackdown on radicalization and make it difficult to travel to region.

The second big focus here is on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Isis has actually faced criticism in the past for not focusing more on the regions longest conflict and we've seen here over the past two months an effort to change that. The first Hebrew language Isis video was released two months ago or so and now this message from Baghdadi saying Isis will surround Israel and liberate Jerusalem. Israel's assessment is that Isis is still a fairly distant threat. There have been a few arrests here of people trying to join Isis or spreading Isis propaganda but those numbers are still fairly small.

What's also interesting about this message is what's not in it. Baghdadi makes no reference to recent Isis attacks in Paris or Sinai with a downing of the Russian jet that would seem to be something he would have want to boast about. But no mention of either one which opens up some question about when this message was recorded. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.

HOWELL: You're watching CNN Newsroom, and still ahead, an update on severe flooding and damage across several states in the Southern U.S. Plus, heavy rains drench parts of Northern England on Boxing Day cutting off towns and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. Live from Atlanta this hour, you are watching CNN Worldwide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00] HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom, great to have you with us this day. I'm George Howell. The headlines we are following, at least eight people are dead after a powerful storm system swept through the state of Texas. Officials believe at least five people -- five of those killed were struck by a tornado while inside their vehicles. Rain driven by powerful winds is expected to turn to snow later on Sunday. Iraqi forces say they are now firming in control of the big part of the city of Ramadi.

Troops had been fighting Isis forces there in brutal command efforts since many days and have dismantled a large number of booby traps there. The Iraqi forces also rescued 120 families who were trapped by the fighting. Rebels in Northern Syria say they have captured a strategic dam from Isis fighters. The Tishreen Dam sits about 22 kilometers, where that's about 14 miles up the Euphrates River from the Isis stronghold the alleged capital of Raqqa as they call it. It is part of an important supply line into that city.

And here now a look at the Vatican where Pope Francis is celebrating the last Sunday mass of 2015. It is the Feast of the Holy Family. The theme of the family has been a major priority for Pope Francis who has devoted the last two synods of bishops to it.

In the Southeastern part of the United States, several states are dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding during the Christmas Holiday. In fact, some states had record levels of rainfall and that led to floods and that left damage for homes and caused at least 17 deaths. CNN correspondent Nick Valencia has more.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Over the course of the last few days, portions of the Southeastern United States had been absolutely battered by a string of storms -- Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia all hit hard in portions of their state. The bad news is, not storms could be yet to come.

Severe weather batters several southern states. Heavy rains hammer parts of Alabama. The water made some roads impassable. Rescue crews helping residents trapped in their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The damage was done that was compared to approximately one square mile. We had three structures, three house (ph). They transported one person from the scene. There were two others that was removed from a stretcher but were reported no injuries.

VALENCIA: Alabama's governor declared a state of emergency because of widespread flooding. At least 117 homes overcome by water. In Georgia, the rain damaged roads and made driving treacherous. And in Mississippi, flood warnings and relentless rains add more misery to areas already devastated by tornadoes that killed at least eight people in the state. Many roads are flooded and some people are dealing with rising water in their homes. In (ph) Mississippi, Victor and Tamika Hale watched as their home of ten years was overtaken by water.

TAMIKA HALE: The (ph), the lawnmower, the trailer, it just floated away -- the garbage can, everything gone.

VICTOR HALE: It happened so fast. We had to get up and get out of there and rain is coming way too fast.

VALENCIA: The couple and their nine-year old son now homeless and staying with relative.

TAMIKA HALE: It's discouraging when you lost everything. My child, he didn't get none of his Christmas items.

VALENCIA: The storm prediction center says the risk for violent weather has dropped dramatically but the threat is still out there. Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.

HOWELL: The flooding has also caused misery in parts of Northern England. More than 300 warnings and alerts had been issued and hundreds of homes had to be evacuated. ITN's Martha Fairlie has a look at some of the worst hit areas.

MARTHA FAIRLIE, ITN REPORTER: The Boxing Day (ph) had been predicted but there was nothing homeowners could do to stop the rising water. At one point, 15 thousand homes were left without electricity as power cuts affected the center Rochdale. The water side restaurant, the building which had stood tall for over 200 years on the banks of the River Irwell, another casualty of the rising river levels.

And in Radcliffe, a gas main exploded. In Holly and Lancashire, the River Calder flooded the main road cutting the village in two and flooding businesses and homes. Some families who were evacuated returned this evening to assess the damage and salvage possessions, but the cleanup here will take months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the first time we've been in this state (ph) Roberts been here 50 years. Hewitt Shackleton has been here 52 years and never ever, it's totally unprecedented.

FAIRLIE: Efforts to keep the rising waters at bay were seemingly futile and emergency services and the army was drafted in.

[04:35:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we've been going to the houses that are likely to flood, knocking on the doors, asking the people to leave and telling them the situation and then registering their response. So, we are helping them to evacuate their property or registering whether they say that they want to leave and then taking that one information passing it up to police.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.

FAIRLIE: The force of the flood water swept away the Red Rocks foot bridge at Horton on the River Darwin. While in doubt, homeowners attempted to bailout their properties as the river levels continue to rise. Parts of Manchester's City Center were also submerged as the River Irwell burst its banks.

The M62 Motorway was shot after 22-foot sinkhole appeared in the carriageway. A month's worth of rain has already come down over the course of one day and with it continuing to fall this evening, residents are wondering when it will all end. Martha Fairlie, ITD News, Lancashire.

HOWELL: And more flooding to tell you about. Four Latin American countries are reeling from the worst flooding they've seen in years. More than 100,000 people have evacuated their homes in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. Heavy rains caused rivers to surge past their banks. Authorities say it is part of the El Nino weather pattern.

Paraguay's president declared a state of emergency to free up millions of dollars in relief fund. The death toll from a huge landslide in Shenzhen, China has now risen to seven. On Saturday, this was the scene -- a solemn memorial held for the victims there. More than 70 people still missing are now feared dead. It's been a week since a massive pile of construction debris swallowed buildings there. Chinese state media are blaming the landslide on safety violations. Russia has been on the international spotlight for much of 2015 and some of our CNN correspondent sat down to discuss that nation's role over the past year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russia literally acts with impunity on a global stage and gets people wagging their gingers at them. I mean there is nothing that stopping any of it and either you know, the west, the U.S. actually needs to step it up or say, you know what, we're getting out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a lot potential challenges that could come with not only Russia intervening in Syria right now and continuing to ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Flex its muscles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Flex its muscles but also repeat the anti kind of western anti-NATO, anti-American

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, the Ukriane conflict could flare up at any moment but it sort of also at the response of an extraordinary week aging regime. You sad because you are seeing a population's demographics aren't doing particularly well. Its economy is doing particularly well, whose reaching out into foreign military adventures to try and retain a sense o relevance that we can (ph) give it anyway frankly ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it works. But look at them, I mean it really worked. I mean Putin has -- for better or for worse, you can make that argument but he is certainly commanded the world's attention. There's no question that he has kind of filled the void that America has pulled back from and with a pretty negative impact, I think, from what we've see in Ukraine and now in Syria and elsewhere.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putin operates without transparency. He doesn't have Congress to worry about. He doesn't have the media asking him uncomfortable questions every time ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are no checks and balances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He just does what he wants the next day, which is when you look at Obama, with all the problems he faces. They can't operate in similar (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a different set of (ph)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's no shared language almost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, well you know, one day he will no longer be the president of Russia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the time being there's a guy with apparently limitless power who likes to throw his (ph) on the works for short term political gain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. But it works. It has worked ...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... lead to unexpected consequence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean there is nothing that stopping any of it and either you know, the west, the U.S. actually needs to step it up or say, you know what, we're getting out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can't do this in between thing anymore.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But then, as someone from a former colony, I always find that kind of narrative very worrying because the expectation that a super power should be the police officer of the world, comes with a lot of exploitation, a lot of expectation as what the return is going to be. I mean the reality is ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: America is not going to be the police of the world, then don't be the police of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop promising or inadvertently promising people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think President Obama has made very clear he doesn't want to be the police officer if the world. I don't think, I don't think he's ...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then you just got to sit back and watch what happens ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Exactly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... then you're no longer able to wag your finger about it and say I demand an answer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a diplomatic (ph) Middle Eastern dream of non- American intervention in the region has finally happened and they're really not particularly happy about it.

[04:40:00] HOWELL: Radio context there from correspondents who have covered many of those stories for quite some time. A police in Serbia have arrested at least 79 people on corruption charges in the country's biggest anti-corruption investigation to happen in decades. Among those arrested, a former Serbian cabinet minister.

Interior officials say those detained had embezzled a combined -- a combination of $70 million since 2004. Serbian authorities hope the crackdown might help the country's case for joining the European Union. You're watching CNN Newsroom. Still ahead, with the first U.S. Democratic primary getting closer, Hillary Clinton looks to cement her lead with her not so-secret secret weapon. Details ahead, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: As the first U.S. Democratic Primary approaches, Hillary Clinton is getting ready to use the one advantage that none of her democratic rivals can replicate. It is a person who has been at the White House before. That person, her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will soon join her campaign trail. CNN's Joe Johns explains the impact that could have.

HILLARY CLINTON: Starting in January, I will have my not so secret weapon.

JOE JOHNS, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: When Bill Clinton was a candidate running for the White House, he told voters you get two for the price of one. Now, the only former president to have spouse running for office is getting ready to join her as she makes her second run.

B. CLINTON: I have noticed and in my studies of (ph) the most successful presidents are those who've been elected at the time that they're (ph) and she's the best qualified person for the (ph) Thank you very much. JOHNS: But the last time the former president (ph) for his wife, the results were mixed.

B. CLINTON: I highly recommend it.

[04:45:00] JOHNS: In 2008, amid a tight race with Barrack Obama, Bill Clinton played a prominent role. Campaigning for Hillary in key early primary states. But along with the large and enthusiastic crowds came a series of verbal miscues including a harsh assessment of Obama.

B. CLINTON: Give me a break. This whole thing is a biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.

JOHNS: And days later, an off the cuff comment in South Carolina suggesting that skin color was a key factor in winning the primary there.

B. CLINTON: Jessie Jackson won South Carolina twice in '84 and '88.

JOHNS: Questions quickly arose whether Mr. Clinton was doing more harm than good and though he remained on the trail through the later primaries. He was tightly guarded, kept on script and away from the media. But how do you say no to the man who was revered among Democrats, popular among Americans and whose penchant for delivering a memorable line cannot be understated.

B. CLINTON: What new ideas do we bring to Washington? I always give a one word answer. Arithmetic.

JOHNS: A lot has changed since Bill Clinton's successful run more than two decades ago when Hillary was credited for standing by her man as charge of infidelity dogged him. This time, Hillary is the candidate, Bill is the spouse and Chelsea is a mom.

H. CLINTON: Now, it's a little bit more complicated with him because people still call former Presidents, Mr. President. So, I have to really work on this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what you should call, the first president lady would be a nice name. The first lady, doesn't the first lady ...

H. CLINTON: The first dude, first mate, first gentleman. I'm just not sure about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does the first lady typically pick out a new china pattern in the ...

H. CLINTON: Typically, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, would Bill do that? While you're actually in China, will be he selecting it?

JOHNS: Bill Clinton has not been invisible during his wife's run. He's attended a handful of campaign events and he's been quietly raising money for the campaign, but now, as we enter the final stretch to Iowa and the primaries, you can expect to see the former president back in the spotlight. Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

HOWELL: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize Clinton's campaign move. He tweeted, "Hillary Clinton has announced that she is letting her husband out to campaign but he's demonstrated a penchant for sexism, so inappropriate" he says. Trump appears to have emphasized the phrase penchant for sexism in his response to Clinton saying the same of him in a recent interview. Just ahead here on CNN Newsroom, the search for Biblical wine. We'll see the process behind recreating the wine that Jesus drank. The story ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RIDDELL: I'm Don Riddell with your CNN World Sport Headlines. In the build up to Saturday's Premier League game against Stoke, it was obvious that Manchester United's manager Louis Van Gaal was feeling the pressure and his team failed to respond. The traditional Boxing Day fixture was a miserable experience for United. Stoke beat them 2-0 leaving Van Gaal to field even more uncomfortable questions about his future. They haven't won any of their last seven games.

They've now lost their last four in all competitions including defeats to Bournemouth (ph) of the promoted sides. What's making Van Gaal perhaps a bit more nervous is the fun that Jose Mourinho is lurking on the horizon having been relieved of his duties at Chelsea. United's next game by the way is against the Blues and Chelsea have now got (ph) for the second time and then his first game back, he can only manage a tall draw against (ph) at home.

Diego Costa scored twice but Oscar missed a penalty and so they are still very much in trouble. Mixed emotions for Manchester City meanwhile, they were the only top three side to win but victory came with a price (ph) return from injury lasted only nine minutes before he limped off hurt again and it was his calf, which has kept him on the sidelines for the last eight games. It is a potentially major blow for City who needs the Belgian captain for defensive stability. But they did win the game beating Sunderland 4-1. That is a look at your sports headlines, I'm Don Riddell.

[04:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Wine lovers get ready for this story. The Bible is full of references to wine. Jesus himself is said to have made wine out of water, and wine makers near the birthplace of Jesus are now trying to recreate what he drank. Here's CNN's Oren Liebermann.

OREN LIEBERMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christmas in Bethlehem, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the beginning of the New Testament. At a monastery nearby, they craft a key component of many of biblical story -- wine as made in the time of Jesus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're concentrating on making the wine and ...

LIEBERMANN: The history comes with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... the history comes with it of course, yeah, ans hopefully God is happy with our wine.

(LAUGHTER)

LIEBERMANN: The wine making process has come a long way since biblical times, with stainless steel fermenting tanks and oak barrels, which I would describe as epic.

I've never sat on top of 4,000 liters of wine before.

Tradition and history, part of every bottle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you say Jesus drank from this wine so, it means it's a huge thing so, you have to continue on making this wine better and better every year.

LIEBERMANN: Cremisan was the first winery in the region to return to making wine from only local grapes. The same used thousands of years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (ph) is the name of the grape that grows only here in our country.

LIEBERMANN: After an (ph) of the local grapes with part tasting, I admit, not the first or last tasting on this story. Then a sniff, -- smells good, smells fresh, ripe. Swirl. Sip, and enjoy. It has that fresh, ripe taste to match.

At Ariel University, researchers trace the genetic vine to uncover which grapes are native to the holy land, testing ancient seeds preserved in archaeological digs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When finding archaeological finding of seeds occurs, 99 percent of the times it's burned. The seeds are actually charred. This is the reason that they were preserved.

LIEBERMANN: You can see the right seed is the burned one, it's darker, it's a little more shriveled and that's the left -- and the left is a modern day fresh Merlot seed.

Up the coast, wine maker Avi Felshtein, shows us his vineyards of recently harvested Dabuki grapes. There were heavy restrictions on wine making in the Holy Land for hundreds of years under the Ottoman Empire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These of course way after the season but you can still find a few edible berries.

LIEBERMANN: The grapes that survived were table grapes.

And so the wine from this grape could be the wine that Jesus drank.

UNDIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

[04:55:00]LIEBERMANN: Turning them into wine is still a new idea.

There has a tremendous sweetness to it but it's over ripe now. The French have a word, terroir, which describes the place the wine is from. What does that mean here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It actually expresses the sense of the wine.

LIEBERMANN: A sense of people, place and crucially of history. There is tremendous marketing potential here. A wine from biblical times, a wine that Jesus drank being bottled once again. Orin Libermann, CNN, the Holy Land.

HOWELL: For police officers, a day on the job can bring any number of interesting moments, but one trooper in the state of Louisiana had to be surprised by who, or rather, what ended up in his squad car recently, look.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly I felt something hit the left side of my face so, I'm thinking okay, maybe it's a football or something. And then I felt some scratching on the back of my head and some pecking.

HOWELL: That's the guy involved. An owl is responsible after the officer nearly crashed the car trying to stop. The owl refused to leave the scene of the crime for a solid 45 minutes but eventually he flew out of the window and the officer and his cruiser both escaped with minor injuries. At least it seems like everyone got a hoot out of what happened there. Thanks for joining us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'll be back after the break with more news from around the world. You're watching CNN, the world's news leader.