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CNN NEWSROOM

Iraqi Forces Retake Ramadi; Eleven Have Died in Deadly Texas Tornadoes; El Nino Brings Dangerous Weather Across the Globe; New Chinese Terror Law Examined. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired December 28, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:15] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, I'm Rosemary Church a full hour of news is just ahead, but we begin with the check of the top stories.

Iraq government plans to have a flag raising ceremony Monday at a recaptured compound in the city of Ramadi. Security forces have been fighting to push ISIS out of this strategic city. It has been under their control since May. Military commanders expect to have full control of Ramadi within a few days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will declare the victory soon by the Golden Brigade and the Special Forces God willing. We will announce happy news to the people of Anbar, those who were displaced for their own town and in lived in tense. God willing, it will be able to return to their place soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: A weather emergency is happening right now in the U.S. state of Texas, at least 11 people died in storms in tornadoes that ripped through the Dallas area over the weekend. And more bad weather is on the way.

The governor is reassuring victims that they will be taking care of.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: We pray and support that those who have had their homes destroyed and their lives turned upside down.

And I want you to know that Texas is doing everything we can to help you piece your lives back together, to help you better deal with the challenges that you are facing right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Firefighters in Australia are still working to contain a bushfire west of Melbourne along the southern coast. Officials warn it could take weeks to extinguish the blaze. More than 100 homes were burned since the fire started just over a week ago. The damages assess that $38 billion so far.

In Northern England hundreds of people have been force from their home as the region deals with it worst flooding in 70 years. The government issued 24 severe flood warnings on Sunday. The Prime Minister is sending more troops to help.

And China is ending its one-child policy that's been in effect for decades. Lawmakers approved new legislation that allows couples to have two children in order to help support the countries aging population. Reaction to the move is mixed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think two children are better. The only child is too selfish because there's only one in the family. The four grandparents and dad and mom are all focusing on him there's too much attention for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: I'm Rosemary Church. Please stay with us another edition of CNN newsroom start in just a moment.

Liberating Ramadi, Iraqi forces continue to drive out ISIS fighters seizing a key government compound from the Atlantic militants.

Also the long clean up begins after deadly tornados decimates half of Texas. We will have the latest on extreme weather across the U.S. which has claimed dozens of lives.

And unusual booming business in Japan, the schoolgirl culture is everywhere but is it crossing a danger life?

Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Thanks for joining us.

This is CNN NEWSROOM.

The Iragi military announced a huge step forward in its fight to recapture the city of Ramadi from ISIS. They say they push the terrorist out of a key government complex in a heart of the city. Right now the security forces are advancing slowly. They concern about explosives and booby traps ISIS may have left behind. But the commanders say they'll have Ramadi firmly in their control within a few days.

The provincial capitals sets about 110 kilometers west of Baghdad, it felt the ISIS just this past May.

Well, for more we want to turn Robyn Kriel, she joins me live from London. So Robyn, do we know what the situation is on the ground right now, how much progress is actually being made by the Iraqi forces.

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is all begun in earnest on Tuesday and they have been advancing worst rate towards this key government compound, the provincial government compound which hold the number of essential buildings towards the city as well as, it was the ISIS militant stronghold.

[02:05:01] And now that they've reach that government compound. They've surrounded it, we understand. But they delayed going in it yesterday it was darkness was approaching and we also understand they've very worried about the likelihood of booby trap such as IEDs and suicide car bombs, et cetera sniper fires as well as something that they've been coming under a lot during this advance toward this crucial government compound.

But they do they have it surrounded. We do understand they will try to go into day. As I said ISIS has had months in which to plan for this counter assault to rigged the entire city full of improvise explosive devices. We understand there are thousands in the ground and in buildings.

CHURCH: And Robyn, is this seen as somewhat of a game changer for the Iraqi forces?

KRIEL: It's definitely seen as game changer. The next stop will be Mosul which is also a critical, critical city, perhaps even more critical than Ramadi. But the reason this is so important is because it's a capital, it's the heart land of Sunni in Iraq. It's the capital of Anbar province. It's so close to Bagdad within striking distance along that crucial Bagdad highway.

But if they manage to take the city to recapture the city from the ISIS militants, it will mean a legitimate chance for the Iraqi government to actually govern the entire country. It will also mean that ISIS is very likely weakening.

CHURCH: All right, Robyn Kriel many thanks to you joining us there at live from London.

General Mark Hertling joins me now from Orlando, Florida. Thank you, sir for being with us.

So, I did want to ask you how significant you think these games being made by Iraqi forces are. What could this mean in the fight against ISIS going forward?

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yeah, there were two things to consider Rosemary. But first of all, this was a military or has bee so far a military victory or at least the beginnings of one.

We're seeing a resurgence of the Iraq security forces the army. They are taking in more troops of the Sunni sec (ph) and religion. And also having some malicious involve that are those other than the popular mobilization front the so called Shia malicious.

So you're seeing some retraining of Iraqi security forces that are nationalistic in Nature. They're attempting to regain security for all of the people of Iraq. But the other more important thing, the thing that I've been watching very closely is, is there dependance and is there a generation of trust between a Shia dominated governance in Bagdad with the Sunni and the Kurdish population and other parts of the country.

And I think now that you're seen a Shia government, a majority Shia government in Bagdad supporting a Sunni province. It gives us some good indication of thinks to come.

CHURCH: Interesting, so we're seeing this resurgence of the Iraqi forces. Where do you think this leaves ISIS? Are they on the run of is it just too premature to say such a thing.

HERTLING: It's very premature to say that. I think this is a very good tactical victory for the Iraqi security forces in Ramadi, they have shown that they could regenerate and provide security for the people that they're connected to the central government. They have the support of not only the government but the people of Iraq, that's important.

And that's contrary to what ISIS was using to generate support for themselves, they were going into territories and basically telling the people there. The government in Bagdad does not care about you. We're trying to establish a caliphate which is counter to what the Shia believed in your central government.

Well now, you see the central government supporting the tribes in a Sunni territory, regenerating army and proving security for the people and that runs contrary to the dialog that ISIS has been having with the local population. All of that has been very important.

As we said from the very beginning the government is the most important thing, a solid secure government that tested (ph) all the people is the most important thing to use to defeat ISIS.

CHURCH: Yeah, interesting and Iraqi military commanders predict the complete recapture of Ramadi in the coming days. Do you think that's realistic?

HERTLING: Yeah, I've been in situation before with some of the Iraqi and military claiming quick victories not yet. I would say base on what I know about the city, base on what I know about how ISIS fight, there is still going to be many though days ahead.

You're not only have to beat these individuals militarily but then you quickly after getting support infrastructure, reestablishing electricity, ensuring the water is running. The government is established. Police forces are there to secure the people in the local towns.

[02:10:02] The military is going to quickly leave Ramadi. It's going to be left out to the local security forces, the police and also the political forces in this province and in this city to take care of the people. That will be the thing to watch next.

You can defeat ISIS on the battle field but then you have to follow up with services to the people to make them understand that the government of Baghdad is taking care of them.

CHURCH: General Mark Hertling thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate...

HERTLING: Thank you Rosemary.

CHURCH: Officials report a suicide car bomb with designated near the airport in Afghan capital of Kabul and Afghan military administer spokesman said one civilian was killed and four others were wounded and a Taliban have claimed responsibility for the blast.

In Nigeria, at least 14 people were killed in several other injured when Boko Haram terrorist stormed their village, shooting residence and burning homes. It happened on Christmas day in Kimba in Borno State. To the west in Kaduna, Nigeria's armies says it has arrested seven Boko Haram bomb experts, official say they were planning suicide bombings.

Iran president is calling on Muslim to reject extreme Islam saying it leads to violence. President Hassan Rouhani spokes Sunday as an international Islamic unity conference Tehran. He also called on Muslim to counter negative images of Islam and renounce conflict.

Entire communities have been ripped to shred by tornadoes in the United States.

Coming up, people in Texas are picking up the pieces, but more bad weather is on the way.

Plus, people in parts of England are dealing with their own flooding nightmare, what the prime ministers says, he's doing to help with the emergency.

We'll back in the moment with that and more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(SPORTS)

CHURCH: A weather emergency is happening right now in the U.S. State if Texas. At least three tornadoes slammed the Dallas suburbs over the weekend killing 11 people. And now the area is expecting freezing weather and snow that will make it harder of course for emergency crews who are still sifting through storm debris, making sure no victims were overlooked. Hundreds of buildings and homes are damaged. And as Nick Valencia reports, the State's governor has declared a disaster in four counties.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The damage to this area of Texas from the EF4 tornado has just been extraordinary. And the residents that we've spoken to say, the stress and the anxiety, it's still very much real.

UNIDNETIFIED MALE: Oh my gosh. It's big. It's heading south. Oh, it's a big tornado. Big, big, strong tornado.

VALENCIA: Residents in Texas are picking up the pieces today after a terrifying night of deadly storms.

UNIDENFIED MALE: I actually looked at the twister and (inaudible).

VALENCIA: OK. Describe it for me.

UNIDENFIED MALE: Well, it's just a dark -- it was just dark funnel when it was just a big rawr. It's really scary. Scary. I mean I don't scare that easy, but I was scared.

UNIDENFIED FEMALE: We have at last (ph) and I think after that (ph).

VALENCIA: Sirens warn residents to take cover as an estimated half-a- dozen twisters ravage the Dallas area, killing at least 11 and leaving hundreds more homeless.

UNIDENFIED FEMALE: My daughter car is in the kitchen.

VALENCIA: Your daughter's car?

UNIDENFIED FEMALE: Her car is in garage.

VALENCIA: It's in the Kitchen here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, it's in the Kitchen right there.

VALENCIA: In the back of your...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my husband car is in the driveway, is out in around into the alley.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the alley.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But her car is in the kitchen and it was in the garage.

VALENCIA: The towns of Garland and Rowlett took the run (ph) of the storms.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I see it. That's a person in a highway, right there. I can see it.

UNIDENFIED MALE: Yup, there is.

VALENCIA: Lafayette Griffin huddled with his family under a mattress and prayed as the tornado hit.

LAFAYETTE GRIFFIN: It was terrifying. I was terrified. They were terrified. You know, they don't know if they're going to make it.

VALENCIA: Eight people died when a tornado hit the area around Interstate-30. And in some neighborhoods, storms rips facades off houses, leaving gaping holes. And in other cases, houses were just gone. UNIDENFIED MALE: Thanks for the grace of God. He works, man. I'm really grateful. You know, my wife works not that far from here. Dividing colors (inaudible) or now, my kids will be here, too. So, they (inaudible).

VALENCIA: Local authorities here in Garland, Texas had blocked out some of the roads to the hardest hit areas making that said journey impassable. From what we're told though, those authorities are still going door-to-door to make sure that they have everyone here affected by the storms accounted for.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: CNN's Nick Valencia reporting there from Texas. And the tornadoes are the latest in a string of deadly weather events to tear through the Southern U.S.

So, we turn now to our meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri, who joins us. And this extreme weather is just extraordinary because now, Texas is going to experience very cold temperatures, freezing in fact.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah. And blizzard's conditions of course across the western part of the U.S. States as well. And you know, Rosemary, of course we know AAA is at about a 100 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday week. And we know a lot of them of course made their trip some time last week. And now, the return trip is occurring.

So, a wintery weather now is part of the problem, it was severe weather as they were starting off their trip. And this pattern is incredible in this extreme nature of the storms. And we take a look at the severity of the storms, you know, there are at least 67 tornadoes since the first day of winter, seven days ago that have occurred. It's incredible. That typically takes all of December, all of January, part of February to occur in the cold season. Of course it hasn't been cold and that's part of the reason why the storms have really been fueled across this region.

But one of the storms, Rosemary, was categorized of an EF4. Right there, we consider it devastating damage. Incredible to think because we don't cross the United States since 1950, where a tornado records have been kept. About 50,000 tornadoes have been observed. Less than 1 percent fall in the EF4 to EF5 scale. And of course you don't typically see that in the cold season. But again, not what it feels like outside.

Back behind us, that storms system, frontal boundary in place, temperature is 15 degrees below normal ahead of its 20 degrees above normal. The clash of air masses, the instability in the atmosphere, of course the severe storms that come with it now displaced off to the east.

[02:20:10] So, parts of the U.S. State of Alabama dealing with the inclement weather going over the next several hours. But look at this, I counted one in every other person in the United States on Monday, well he has some sort of inclement weather to deal with. We have blizzard warnings, ice storm warnings, winter storm watches, flood watches extend that off to the east and that continues.

And the pattern again now for the severe storms centered right over eastern areas of Mississippi, parts of Alabama, even southern areas of the State of Tennessee as well.

But look at the temperatures across parts of Western Texas right now, what it feels like 7 to 8 Fahrenheit on the Eastern side in Dallas where was in the 80s on Christmas weekend. Dropping off until 20s and of course the mild air ahead of this but the severe storms are expected that you can see the temps just quickly fall apart here at the 24 hour period from Saturday into the Sunday and of course that is what's led to some of these wild weather patterns. And Rosemary that we've been talking about to the last week or so now across the U.S.

CHURCH: Yeah. And it has been extraordinary because as an Australian, on Christmas Day here on Atlanta...

JAVAHERI: Yeah.

CHURCH: ... the temperature was the same so it was back in Sydney.

JAVAHERI: Where it's summer.

CHURCH: Where its -- yeah, exactly.

JAVAHERI: Yeah. Yeah.

CHURCH: So any -- all these years we're having a nice warm Christmas.

JAVAHERI: That's right.

CHURCH: So it's a - it's a disaster of an El Nino is fueling all of it.

JAVAHERI: Absolutely. Yes, you know, this is something that fishermen for Ruby (ph) and fishermen back in the 1950s notice their fish harvest, anchovy harvest that actually limited because the water temperature is where warmer so the anchovies were not in place there.

They called it El Nino because they have observed that happening around Christmas time every few years. They've a little they know that around the world the weather patterns were also been displaced as warm waters are building across that part of the world.

CHURCH: Yeah, just hard to predict.

JAVAHERI: Absolutely it is.

CHURCH: All right. Pedram, we'll talk again next hour.

JAVAHERI: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Thank you, I appreciate it.

Well other parts of the world are dealing with their own dangerous weather in South America. More than 150,000 people are being displaced by flooding. Paraguay was hit the hardest, that's where most of the evacuations where. Days of torrential rain blamed on El Nino cause the flooding.

In Argentina, 20,000 people were forced from their homes. Brazil and Uruguay were also affected.

And in northern England, hundreds of people have been forced their homes as they region deals with its worst flooding and 70 years. And some areas are months worth of rain fell in just one day. Prime Minister David Cameron is sending more troupes to help. He calls the flooding "An incredibly serious situation." The government issued 24 severe flood warning on Sunday.

And bad or good the strange weather isn't just happening in the U.K. and South America, parts of continental Europe are also reporting unusual temperatures and once again El Nino is to blame.

Michael Holmes has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: People in Madrid enjoying coffee in an outdoor cafe, many without jackets. In Valencia, at 19 degrees celsius, it's nearly beach weather.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's marvelous, at this time of the year with this fabulous sun to enjoy the beach.

HOLMES: Moscow, its red Square without snow. The Christmas day was anything but white. Green slopes in Germany Ski Resorts force would be skis into more of the round attractions, like the Alpine Sled Run.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are of course people who come mainly to go skiing, so some our saying, this is not ideal weather was. But a lot of people are familiar with our surroundings here and they always find alternative activities.

HOLMES: But why is this happening? Meteorologists are talking it up to El Nino.

El Nino, occurs when ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are unusually high. The pulled warm water changes weather patterns all over the world. It happens every two to seven years and this year is expected to be one of the worst on record.

El Nino being blamed at least being part for disastrous flooding in the United Kingdom and parts of South America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh it's a big tornado. Big, big strong tornado.

HOLMES: And severe weather events in the United States as well.

Michael Holmes, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: And now to Southern California with firefighters continue to battle the Solimar wildfire. They're making great progress with officials reporting more than 75 percent containment. They expect to have the fire under control by Tuesday.

Dry conditions help fuel the place that was started by downed power lines and burn some five hundred hectares that's more than 1200 acres.

Well a different story in Australia where firefighters are still working to contain a major bushfire in the State of Victoria. Officials warn it could take weeks to extinguish the blaze which started with a lightning strike just over a week ago and destroyed more than 100 homes.

[02:25:02] Many people are returning to their neighborhoods to find burned out cars and homes, fallen trees, and downed power lines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX SHILTON, CREW LEADER, DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER & PLANNING: Really all you can do is try and support them. This, you know, we can't bring it back so just giving them an opportunity to have a bit of a look and just reflect and think about where they go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: But we do have a little good news to report. Crews were able to rescue this Koala found unconscious on the side of the road. She seemed to be feeling better after police gave her some water and gum leaves. They name the Koala, "Constable K. Bear", very cute.

Well Australian authorities are declaring an emergency after a train carrying 200,000 liters of sulfuric acid derailed in the remote area with Northern Queensland. Police say, there is minor leakage of the highly corrosive acid and some diesel fuel. Officials established a two kilo metrics exclusions zone around that scene. It's unclear at this stage what cause the derailment but there is flooding in that area. We'll keep an eye in that story.

Well China's government is acting a tough new anti-terrorism law but critic say, it goes too far. A closer look that's coming out.

Plus, youth and innocents a big business in Japan but some say the country's pop culture fascination with schoolgirls is exposing young women at risk. We'll explain when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: And warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and of course all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to get you caught up in the main story. We have been watching this out.

[02:30:05] Iraqi forces say, they are close to pushing ISIS out of the central of Ramadi. They say the militants have abandoned a strategic compound in the heart of the city. And military commanders predict the complete recapture of Ramadi in the coming days. A weather emergency is happening right now in the U.S. State of Texas. At least 11 people died in storms and tornados, that ripped through the Dallas area over the weekend and more bad weather is on the way, freezing weather and snow are in the forecast now.

And there is massive flooding in northern England. Hundreds of people have been forces from their homes as the region deals with its worst flood in 70 years. The Government issued 24 severe flood warnings on Sunday. The Prime Minister is sending more troops to help.

In South Africa, this is what's left of a passenger train that caught fire at the Cape Town railway station. Five cars were destroyed. Fire officials say, "No one was hurt and the cause of the fire is under investigation." Two similar incidents have been reported in three months.

(inaudible) security laws are getting tougher. Lawmakers unanimously approved a controversial measure requiring tech firms to give the government encryption keys it can use for surveillance and the army will be allowed to conduct counter terrorism operations abroad. Want to get more on this law and the criticism surrounding it, Kristie Lu Stout joined us now from Hong Kong to explain.

So Kristie, talk to us about just how extensive this new Terror Legislation is.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With over 95 articles and that this new terror legislation of is just passing China is very, very extensive and it's also trying his very first piece of anti-terror legislation that's been passed in the country was passed unanimously on Sunday by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. It will go into effect in January and effectively allows China to address rising terror and security first at home as well as to boost international security. And this is what a Chinese official with the Public security Ministry had to say about this new piece of anti- terror legislation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AN WEIXING, CHINESE PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTRY (Through Translation): The violent terrorist cases that happened in China have caused a serious lose of peoples' life and property. Terrorist activities have impost severe threat to the national security and social stability, economic development, national unity and people's life and property.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Now again this anti-terror legislation has a total about 95 articles in there. It was published in Chinese, re-scour the entire document and translating it to English. One article that caught our attention was some they called article 18 and it details what actions at telecom service providers and internet service providers should take and it says this.

"Companies and corporations who provide telecommunication and internet services should offer police and States Security Department assistance of technical interface and decoding to prevent and to investigate terrorist activities."

Now this law was passed after months of international debate -- after months of international controversy and lot of concerns being braced by business groups as well as human rights groups. Back to you Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah, and let's talk about those concerns because this is very controversial. What are the critic saying about this? What is their main complaint?

STOUT: Their main complaint is that it simply goes too far and it gives China wide ranging surveillance powers as well as center ship powers. We heard from Amnesty International who said that it goes too far. Basically this terrorism law gives China a license to commit human rights abuses and is in the worst of Amnesty International human rights group its part of the Xi Jinping's authoritarian agenda.

Now earlier CNN spoke to a Chinese Academic and Academic of Chinese politics James Leibold and this is what she had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES LEIBOLD, SENIOR LECTURER IN CHINESE POLITICS, LA TROBE UNIVERISTY: One of the big concerns I have with this draft counter- terrorism bill is that the definition of terrorism is quite vague and open-ended and if we look at how Chinese officials and the media have used the terrorism tag in the past, it's chiefly applied to the Uyghurs as well as the Tibetans. It's applied to people who disagree with the policy of the Chinese Communist Party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Now there is a fear that China will use this counter terror law to rationalize its own actions inside China, to rationalize increasing pressure that it's been placing on ethic Tibetans groups and ethic Muslim Uyghurs in its country.

Now Beijing argues that the measures are needed to prevent a terrorist attack and to deal with the rising security threats inside to on boarders. In fact over the week end there was a heightened security lured around the selling to in shopping district in neighborhood in Beijing due to security alerts that were issued by foreign embassies in China including that of the United States. Back to you.

[02:35:03] CHURCH: All right Kristie Lu Stout bringing us up-to-date, they are live from Hong Kong. Many thanks.

And China is changing, one of its most controversial policies that has stood for decades. Lawmakers voted Sunday to end the One-Child Policy and allow couples to have two children. The reason is China's aging population. The government says, in just fifteen years, China will be home to more than 400 million people over the age of 60. And there are concerns there won't be enough young people to support them. Reaction to the move is mixed though.

(START VIDEOCLIP) UNKNOWN FEMALE: I think two children are better. The only child is too selfish because there's only one in the family. The four grandparents and dad and mom are all focusing on him. There's too much attention for him.

UNKNOWN MALE: One child is enough, another one would be a burden, especially when they need to go to school and find a job when they grow up.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: It would be harder for us now to have another child. But I think two children can have less pressure looking after us when we are old.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

CHURCH: One sociologist estimates the new policy will affect 100 million couples.

All right, let's turn to Japan now, an images of schoolgirls are everywhere from comic books to cafes. Innocence and cuteness is a lucrative business. But are some of this young girls being exploited? CNN's Will Ripley take a look at Japan's fascination with schoolgirl culture and if it's crossing a dangerous line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On a cold, rainy night in Tokyo, Japanese schoolgirls line the streets, shivering in short skirts passing out fliers for "J.K. Cafe", J.K. short for "Joshi-kosei", high school girls.

One J.K. cafe allows our camera's inside. We find it full of adult men paying for the company of schoolgirls as young as 16.

RIPLEY: What kind of costumers usually comes in here?

RIPLEY: "Most are in their 30s, 40s and 50s," says 18-year-old Honoka. She say's they talk about school work and life.

The karaoke machine full of "J Pop", a teenage favorite, these girls, all dressed in their actual high school uniforms, earn about eight dollars an hour to socialize and serve food and drink to men often more than twice their age. Sometimes costumers bring in expensive gifts, sometimes they want more than small talk.

RIPLEY: Has a costumer ever asked you out on a date.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: (inaudible) anyone.

RIPLEY: "Yes, all the time, but we have a no dating rule here", says16-year-old Eli, a Russian, born and raised in Japan.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

RIPLEY: The cafes owner, Hideki Yamanaka (ph) says if girls are caught dating costumers, he calls their parents. He says, everything happening here is legal. All 80 school girls on staff must have a signed permission slip.

"People often tell me, I'm running a strange business" he says, "but we have nothing to hide".

So, these are all visit to this bar here?

RIPLEY: Shigetsugu Komine, is 45, a married father and university professor. He said he comes here for the conversation.

SHIGETSUGU KOMINE: I like drinking and I can learn from the young generation.

RIPLEY: 35-year-old, Johnny Michio (ph) says, chatting with young girls gives him energy, but says, he's never asked one out.

"I came here once a week", he says. "There maybe criticism, but I come because it's fun."

We found other "J.K." businesses selling a different kind of fun, this hallway lying with massage parlors, even a shop selling school girl uniforms and supposedly "used" underwear.

So this is the many different services and you can pay for a 30-minute massage, or you can pay for an hour walk, or you leave with a girl.

They're called walking dates. A U.N. Human Rights envoy in October called the practice, "worrying". Last year, a U.S. State Department report on human trafficking called "walking dates", a common front for prostitution.

RIPLEY: "Once you're out of the shop even by a step, you can do whatever you want", says this victim's advocate who asked us not show her face.

The Lighthouse Center for Human Trafficking Victims is one of the few resources available for "J.K." girls in trouble. Executive Director, Shihoko Fujiwara says, Japan's shame-based culture, blaming the victim, prevents many from seeking help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Always society accuses the children who enter the kind of business.

RIPLEY: Our final stop, an adult video store. Sitting right next to the pornography, we find videos of school girls in uniform smiling, posing for the camera.

The box and some of them say the girls are elementary school age.

The store operates openly in one of Tokyo's busiest neighborhood.

[02:40:04] Because the children on the covers are fully clothed, it's not clear if any of the videos' violate Japan's newly revised child pornography laws which make it illegal to possess sexualized images of children. Beneath the bright lights a dark reality a culture some says exploit the innocence of young girls.

Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And still to come here on CNN Newsroom. The Mayor of Chicago is calling for change after police say they accidentally shot and killed a woman while responding through domestic disturbance call. We will hear from a from a former officer about the use of deadly force.

We'll back in a moment.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METROLOGIST: And that time, its time for ski watch Metrologist Pedram Javaheri with you and we'll start of, where are on Western United States with the storm go is wide open, the temperatures are plummeting across part of the Western U.S. with the northerly flow in place and certainly plenty of wet weather go around with 3 million people underneath winter weather advisory or the storms warning if your across the (inaudible), the Beirut, the Siskiyous, the (inaudible), Caicos cave (ph), the Rockies (ph) you name it.

Snow showers relevant (ph) across this region and certainly going to be great news if you holiday plans to make it up for the ski resource across this part of the world as well. So, this what we expect over the next lets say 36 hours Mount Baker up to seven inches could get at least that around crystal mount up to 18 inches 49 degrees North of the a couple of inches in Mount Hood, not to bad a little over a fresh amount of foot there coming down while toward across the North of the border stay around Sun Peaks resort Whistler-Blackcomb also healthy amounts of snow depth at least in place in.

And its take you up to about 90 percent of trial being open a right around with there Whistler (ph) 93 percent of the trails open you have about a percent of trails that are still an open and generally speaking just about ago across parts of Sun Peaks as well and ask been much been the same with impressive numbers.

No additional news now it just yet across this part Colorado but we think it'll improve over the next coming couple of days but most of the trials are go across Colorado's with Steamboat Springs also looking impressed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back every one. Well, the Mayor of Chicago is calling for changes in the way its police are trained after an officer shot and killed two people the day after Christmas. Authority say the officer shot 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier while responding to a domestic disturbance call, 55 year old Bettie Jones a neighbor was also killed.

Police say Jones was accidentally shot, the family members and activist blame bad leadership and as why police did not use none lethal force such as stun guns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACQUELINE WALKER, FRIEND OF SHOOTING VICTIM: A beautiful woman. It hurts my heart to see that. It hurts me all over the family (inaudible). There's tragic dangerous thing that's going on, police shooting without not asking.

Why you got to shoot sir to ask and question later. It's ridiculous. You are done by neither do something about this. This is ridiculous, about the teaser, teaser you have, don't start shooting people innocent people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:45:06] CHURCH: And early our CNN Poppy Harlow asked Lauren Forsman Analyst and former NYPD Detective Harry Houck when the officers resulted deadly force over taken.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRY HOUCK, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: You make that choice as an officer run your life or the life of another person is in danger that is when you can use deadly physical -- I'm sorry deadly force, the used of their weapon. So if somebody comes out you with a knife, a baseball bat, a brick, a gun, as a police officer those weapons I'm talking about right now can kill you.

Being hit in the head with the baseball bat can kill you. So, if the officers were charge and like we said, we don't know for sure the investigations will bring it out, then the officers do have the right to fire at somebody was coming at him with the baseball bat. You know, it depends on how quickly it's happening, if they had time to tell them to drop the bat, they we're trying do that first as several times but if it gets to close where you get within a immediate danger then as an officer you gonna have to fire your weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The officer in that Chicago shooting has been placed on the administrative leave. The mayor is calling for a police meeting to review training procedures on, how officers respond to metal health crisis calls.

Here the 2016 race for the White House now in the escalating war of worlds between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The Republican frontrunner has ramped up his attack against Clinton on T.V. and online, including a shot he took at her husband former President Bill Clinton.

CNN's Chris Frates has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATOR CORRESPONDENT: The fight between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is getting increasingly personal with the billionaire attacking Bill Clinton for sexism, Trump says his tweet Saturday night attacking Bill Clintons "Pension for sexism," turn the tables on Hillary Clinton because she is the same phrase to criticize Trump earlier in the week after he uses sex is vulgarity to describe Clintons lost to Barrack Obama in 2008. DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think he is fair game because his presidency was really considered to be very troubled, to put it mildly, because of all of the things that she talking to me about. I mean, she's mentioning sexes were actually turned her exact words, I don't know if you saw the at the following tweet, but I turned her exact words against her from that standpoint then, she's got to be careful, you know, it's got to be fair.

And we all have to fight fairly, and we have to fight, you knows, for the good of the country, for the good of the people, for the good everybody, but we have to fight fairly and she's playing the woman's guard and it's like give me a break.

CHRIS FRATES: The chairwoman of the Democratic national committee fire back saying, Trump is practice gutter politics and that the whole GOP field is following him down the sewer (ph).

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, CHAIR DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: It's really outrageous that the debts and how low he was allowed this campaign to think, and the rest of the Republican field entry is going along.

FRATES: Trump slammed on Bill Clinton's marital fidelity and alleged sexual misconduct comes a week after the Democratic frontrunner announce that her husband will hit the campaign trail for her next month, and the attack appears to be kind of preemptive strike on the man regarded by many as one the country's best campaigners.

It also suggest that Trump is feeling secure enough if it's lead to top the GOP field to take on the leading Democrat, Trump and Clinton our neck and neck in a hypothetical match up. And of course it doesn't hurt that criticizing Clinton is also a very popular past time among Republican primary voters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And will have more CNN Newsroom after this commercial break just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:50:55] PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And that time it's time for Ski Watch. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri with you and we'll start you off. Where on the western United States where the storm door is wide open the temperatures are plummeting across parts of the western U.S. with an northerly flow in place and certainly plenty of wet weather to go around with 3 million people underneath winter weather advisories weather storm warnings, if you're across the South Beirut, the Siskiyou, the (inaudible), Caicos (ph), the Rockies you name it.

Snow showers traveling across this region and certainly going to be great news if you have holiday plans to make it up to the Siskiyou's or its across this part of the world as well.

So, this what we expect over the next let say 36 hours Mount Baker up to seven inches, it could get at least that around Crystal Mountain up to 18 inches 49 degrees North (inaudible) a couple of inches in Mount Hood not too bad a little over a fresh amount of foot there coming down while as you work your way across the north of the border let say around that Sun Peaks Resort Whistler-Blackcomb also healthy amounts of snow depth at least in place and it takes you up to about 90 percent of the trail being open right around with Whistler while in advance (ph).

93 percent of the trails open you have about a percent of trails that are still are open and generally speaking its just about ago across parts of Sun Peaks as well and as didn't much the same with impressive numbers.

No additional news no snow jet yet across this part of Colorado but we think it will improve over the next coming couple of days but most of the trails are go across Colorado's with Steamboat Springs also looking impressed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: A U.N. sponsored deal between rebels and Hezbollah to swap Syrians from opposite territories is now underway. Now under the plans set up by Turkey Iran and the U.N. Shia's (ph) in Northern Syria arriving busses into Turkey.

While rebels near Damascus are taking busses into Lebanon. Both groups will then board planes but the Syrian Rebels flying to Turkey and the Shias from Damascus flying to Lebanon.

Well South Korea and Japan have reached in agreement on the controversial issue of comfort women. A topic that is long strained relations between the two countries comfort women was the name given to women mostly Korean that were forced to work in Japans military brothels during World War 2.

Now according to the Japanese foreign minister the government take deep responsibility for its actions South Koreas foreign minister says the deal will be final and irreversible as long as Japan fulfills its responsibilities.

Now in just a few weeks a little panda cub named Bei Bei is set to make his public debut in Washington. He's already gone before the median and at just four months old the national zoo's newest start is grabbing plenty of attention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has a thing about having his head touch sometimes.

JUAN RODRIGUEZ, GIANT PANDA KEEPER: Yes, he is definitely very large. He's probably about three or four pounds heavier than Bao Bao his older sister was at the same time. When he was born he was already automatically larger than his previous siblings such as by it's a natural process and he's going to be larger through two time.

DON NEIFFER, CHIEF VETERINARIAN: He has gone from an animal that really could not do anything to us to one who's becoming a little bit more resistant and difficult to handle.

RODRIGUEZ: His personality is very unique definitely comparisons to his older sister Bao Bao he's sort of been very quiet in the beginning which is very unusual. And as he's gotten older he's done more and more vocal.

And its really interesting it seems like whenever he's comforted by his mom that typically is when he sort of settle down.

[12:55:06] I do know that I've learned a lot from his mom. So whenever he is he does be a little unsettled, little squirmy I just try to look at what mom is doing and what she's done that kind of help her do the process and I sort of try emulate the same behavior as it may done.

So every birth is very unique and every animal is very unique, at this point in time we're just very excited that he was is born. And our goal is to make sure that we can ensure that this species will be seen by many generations ahead, you know, in the future but also most probably be able to see them in the wild.

CHURCH: How cute is that. Well, British adventurer John Beeden is the first person to rose solo none stop from North America to Australia. He has been rowing up to 15 hours a day since June 1 and this wasn't even his first record. He's already completed the Atlantic Ocean Solo trip, so congratulations to him well done.

And thanks for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Rosemary Church. Just stay with me for another hour of news from all around the world.

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[03:00:11] CHURCH: Deadly tornadoes flooding, now blizzard large parts of the U.S. on alert for extreme --