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North Korea Claims H-Bomb Detonation; President Obama's Gun Control Initiatives Examined; Iran-Saudi Tensions Rising; Flooding in California. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired January 6, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:01]

ERROL BARNETT, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: -- here in the state and those of you watching all around the world. I am Errol Barnett.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: And I am Rosemary Church. Thanks for joining us. This is CNN Newsroom.

And we begin with breaking news. North Korea says it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb just a few hours ago.

BARNETT: Photographs show North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing the order. If this claim is true, this marks a significant advancement for a country which has only tested less powerful plutonium weapons.

CHURCH: A test created a 5.1 magnitude seismic event. And you can see the ground shaking in neighboring China during the explosion. Some children near the border were evacuated from their school.

BARNETT: The news agency reports that South Korea officials are casting doubt on Pyongyang's claim. Meanwhile, Japan is vowing to join its allies and take a stand against North Korea for its nuclear tests.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: North Korea nuclear test is a serious threat (AUDIO GAP)...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Indication saying it could be days before they know whether or not it was a successful hydrogen test. As far as Pyongyang is concerned, it was. And they say it was needed as a defense to the United States, saying they have a legal right to defend their country if the U.S. does not violate North Korean sovereignty, they will not use nuclear weapons. So once again, using that justification of what they perceive as U.S. hostility to be able to carry out these tests, something they have said many times before.

Condemnation is flying in from across the world and the region. South Korea's President Park Geun-hye calling it a clear provocation, saying it threatens people's lives. She's calling on a very strong response from the international community, from the U.S., from the allies. But of course, it's a question what can the response be given that the strong responses we've seen during the previous and after the previous three nuclear tests have not stopped Pyongyang so far, Rosemary. CHURCH: Paula, as you say, it could be days before we know for sure

whether this is indeed a hydrogen bomb, but how do they confirm that? Let's talk about the significance of that in the region.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, there are a number of ways that they can. At the moment, we know that Japan has sent two aircraft into the area of the Sea of Japan or the East Sea, which is just east of North Korea where they believe any radio active material, would have blown given the wind direction. They're going to collect that dust, they're going to analyze that and find out if that gives any clues. Obviously, the kilotons would suggest how big the explosion was. Of course, they don't know what the underground casing is, they don't know the format of this underground tunnel that it has been tested in, so that makes it complicated if they can whether or not this was a hydrogen bomb.

There are a number of ways they can test it. If it's a hydrogen bomb, it's a huge jump in capability for North Korea. The young leader Kim Jong-Un said I have the capability of a hydrogen bomb. At that point, they dismissed it. They said it is highly unlikely in a jump of capabilities so quickly. There's a race against time to find out whether or not is a hydrogen bomb. If it is, it certainly ups the ante.

CHURCH: All right, our Paula Hancock bringing us up to date on the situation from Seoul in South Korea. Many thanks.

BARNETT: Considering all that, let's turn now to CNN's Will Ripley. He has reported from inside North Korea on multiple occasions. He joins us now from Beijing with more reaction. Will, Kim Jong-Un grew up watching his father test nuclear technology. This is likely a life long dream for him. How does the north see this test?

[03:05:01]

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's noteworthy that Kim Jong- Un has been the leader overseeing two nuclear tests, 2013, the most recent before today, but North Korea for the last 15 years has been the only country in the world that has been continuing to conduct nuclear tests in spite of international sanctions, in spite of condemnation from the international community. The North Korean regime truly does have a track record of provoking their enemies. But question, why are they trying to do this? What are they trying to gain by continuing to show the world that they're developing this very dangerous program?

August 1998, supreme leader Kim Jong-Un is just 15 years old when his father fires a multistage rocket over Japan. Demonstrating North Korea's frightening potential to develop missiles to reach around the region. Then this, October 2006, North Korea announces its first underground nuclear test, joining a small group of nations that posses nuclear weapons.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: The United States condemns this provocative act.

RIPLEY: The U.N. slaps crippling sanctions on an already struggling regime. But North Korea forges ahead, claiming nukes are its only lifeline, protection from the U.S. government which it says is hell bent on toppling the regime. In 2007, Pyongyang agrees to halt its nuclear ambitions in exchange for international aid, but it's short- lived and the program resumes. December 2012, in spite of U.N. resolutions condemning rocket launches, North Korea fires what a peaceful satellite into space. Increased sanctions stoked the north's anger further.

State media announcing a third nuclear test in February of 2013, with each test, North Korea gains valuable new knowledge in weaponizing its nuclear technology. In May, another bombshell, North Korea claiming it has miniaturized nuclear weapons, war heads small enough to put on a missile.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the situation is very dangerous. There are no constraints on his program and North Korea seems determined to build its nuclear arsenal.

RIPLEY: North Korea also seems determined to develop rocket technology despite the sanctions, including recent upgrades to its launch site. U.S. intelligence believes the facility has an underground rail line, moveable building and a cover over the launch pad, all designed to hide activity from prying eyes in the sky. But North Korean space scientists we met in September told us their purpose is peaceful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our launch is no threat to the U.S., said this researcher, speaking to us outside from Pyongyang's new satellite center.

RIPLEY: What can you say to the world to prove that this is not a ballistic missile program in disguise?

Why on Earth we would have any intention of trying to drop nuclear bombs on the people of the world, including the United States, said the director of scientific research and development. But North Korea's own state media boasts a growing nuclear arsenal and willingness to strike if provoked, this latest escalation leaves many wondering just how far is North Korea and its unpredictable young leader willing to go.

The timing here is noteworthy because coming up on Friday, its supreme leader Kim Jong-Un's 33 years old. At the hands of a growing nuclear arsenal, a country that has missile capabilities, very troubling of course, not only for the United States but certainly South Korea, Japan and even here in China as well, Errol.

BARNETT: And Will, what is this likely to do to North Korea's relationship with its strongest ally, China? How that might change if at all?

RIPLEY: China is certainly North Korea's most powerful friend. They sent a high-level representative to the workers party celebration back in October. The parade and other celebrations I attended there. It seemed like their relations were on the up and up. But the Chinese President of course, strongly condemns nuclear activity. In the last hour, here in Beijing strongly condemned this nuclear test to try to stop any potential of destabilization of the Korean peninsula, China wants to keep the peninsula stable.

They have a very significant trade relationship with North Korea, they keep that country's economy going, and they do that strategically because North Korea as a strong friend of China it counteracts the relationship between South Korea and the United States. What they will do moving forward is something we'll have to watch closely.

BARNETT: All right, Will Ripley live for us in Beijing -- nine minutes passed four in the afternoon there. Will, thanks.

[03:10:01]

CHURCH: Joining me now from Hong Kong is Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow with the U.S./China Institute at the University of Southern California. He's also the author of Meltdown, the inside story of North Korean nuclear crisis. Mike thanks so much for joining us. Now, we don't know if this was a hydrogen bomb, we need to emphasize that, if it was, does North Korea achieve by carrying out this test now, what is Kim Jong-Un's aim do you think.

MIKE CHINOY, SENIOR FELLOW U.S.-CHINE INSTITUTE USC: I think there are several goals here. One is developing and enhancing the nuclear capability has been a central theme of Kim Jong-Il's rule ever since he took power. He has this policy of developing nukes and developing the economy. Also, the North Koreans by taking this step it enhances their leverage -- I doubt very much that North Korea plan to put a rocket on a missile and attack the United States. But in the very complex diplomatic game that we see on the Korean peninsula, this definitely gives the North Koreans additional leverage, which they'll probably try to extract concessions but from South Korea and the United States.

More broadly, the North Koreans really trump at the idea they're advanced technological society with the big powers, they want to play in a league and developing this nuclear capability plays to that sense of national pride which is very important in consolidating Kim Jong- Un's legitimacy.

CHURCH: Interesting. Now, if it's confirmed that this is indeed a hydrogen bomb, how should the international community respond, what should it be doing at this point?

CHINOY: This raises really tough questions for the international community, because there are no easy or straightforward answers. In the case of the three previous nuclear tests, we saw the same pattern, international condemnation, resolutions of condemnation at the United Nations. Implications of sanctions but none of those sanctions have any effect in changing North Korea's behavior. The likeliest outcome is the repetition of the same pattern here, but there's going to be real pressure on the United States, on South Korea, to put some meat on this language about this is unacceptable, North Korea has to change course.

But how they can do that is really hard because the kind of sanctions that might really hurt North Korea would involve also targeting Chinese companies and Chinese banks that do business with North Koreans and help prop up the North Korean economy, and that of course, will bring the United States into a more open conflict with the China. Any kind of diplomatic engagement at this stage -- the American position has been no talks unless North Korea agrees in advance that the goal it will abandon its nuclear program. If there were a change to focus on a freeze on the north's capabilities, there might perhaps be a diplomatic door opening.

So, I think attend of the day the North Koreans are going to get away with this. But nothing will change in the north's nuclear program -- will continue full steam ahead.

CHURCH: It will be of course, interesting to see what its closest ally China will do at this point. We'll be watching this very closely, Mike Chinoy joining us there from Hong Kong, many thanks.

BARNETT: And impassioned speech on a contentious political issue, ahead, U.S. President Barack Obama spells out his plan for curbing gun violence. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:19:04]

CHURCH: After years of frustration and bloodshed, President Barack Obama announced his plan to bolster gun control in the United States.

BARNETT: Surrounded by families of gun violence victims, the President shed tears and chastised Congress for failing to act after the mass shootings that have become so prevalent in the U.S., and in his announcement, Mr. Obama spelled out the executive actions he's taking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: We know we can't stop every act of violence, every act of evil in the world. Anybody in the business of selling firearms must get a license and conduct background checks or be subject to criminal prosecutions. We're going to hire more folks to process applications faster. We're going to boost gun safety technology. If we can set it up so you can't unlock your phone unless you got the right fingerprint. Why can't we do the same thing for our guns? Second amendment rights are important, but there are other rights we care about as well.

An alienable right to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness, those rights were stripped from college kids in Blacksburg and Santa Barbara, and from high schoolers at Columbine and from first graders in Newtown. And from every family who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun. Every time I think about those kids it gets me mad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Joining me now are two Congressional representatives on opposite sides of this issue. On the right of your screen, you Roger Williams, a Congressman and a Republican from Texas district that includes Fort Hood. On the left of your screen, you see Congresswoman Karen Bass from California. Welcome to you both and thanks for joining us on CNN today.

KAREN BASS, CALIFORNIA CONGRESSWOMAN: Thanks for having us.

ROGER WILLIAMS, TEXAS CONGRESSMAN: Thank you.

BARNETT: Congressman Williams, let's start with you, you called any efforts by the Obama administration to enact gun control "An attack on law-abiding gun owners," yet nationally their support for expanded background checks and as majority support for it in Texas as well, why not follow the will of the people?

ROGER WILLIAMS, TEXAS CONGRESSMAN: Well, I don't know that would be the case -- the will of the people. Surveys we see don't necessarily show that. But what President Obama is trying to do is not going to work. What you're penalizing, you're penalizing the good guys and the bad guys are going to do bad things anyway. I think what we see is an extinction of President Obama's anti-gun legislation, and he's using situations like Fort Hood, Chattanooga, California, to get that point across, and I think he's dividing Americans. The truth of the matter is, is that the anti-gun legislation is what he's promoting, and like I say, it's not going to work and I wish that he would focus on what I think is important, and that is fighting terror in this country.

We're literally under attack and he doesn't want to admit that terror exists here. I represent Fort Hood and we had to argue for a long time whether it was terrorist attack or work place violence. So I think I like to see the President focus more on terror than attacking the second amendment of the constitution.

BARNETT: But Congressman Williams, you're pivoting and talking about a different issue, terrorism, but when comes to mass shootings in the United States, you at least agree that something needs to be done.

WILLIAMS: I think there's no question. I think you need to look at what needs to be done. We need to address mental illness in this country. We have to focus on that. We have to reach out to those people and let them know there's help available and so forth. This isn't driven by guns or good people. It's driven by bad people and in many cases mental illness is an issue and I think we have to address that.

BARNETT: I think mental health is part of the U.S. President's overall strategy here. Congresswoman Bass, you support what the President is doing. For this to stick overtime you'll have to work with Congressman Williams and many others who will resist this. How can you both work together on this issue?

BASS: Well, I think the Congressman gave a very specific point where -- I'm in complete agreement with him and that is the issue of mental health. And one of the things that the President called for in the executive order, he called on Congress to approve $500 million for mental health and so I do think and always there are ways that Democrats and Republicans can come together, and I think that's a perfect example. We need to think about it. There is no other country on the planet, a developed country that has the type of mass shootings that we do.

[03:24:01]

You know what the President called for actually was not new legislation, he essentially called for modernizing our current system, so when background check legislation was put into being several years ago, it predated the internet. So he's calling for essentially us to strengthen existing laws, which actually I think that's something that the National Rifle Association said it supports. We need to enforce existing legislation, and that's exactly what the President called for. But funding mental health, Mr. Williams and I are in complete agreement about.

BARNETT: Ok, bit of progress there. Congressman Williams, President Obama blasted the NRA. He said this isn't an effort to take away anyone's guns, but to stop violence. Don't you think the background checks should be improved so we know whose purchasing weapons that can kill people?

WILLIAMS: We have background checks now when people buy from gun dealers. Let me say this, if what President Obama wanted to do was effective, why it is not working in Chicago. Chicago where he is from has the strictest gun laws in the United States, but every single day we read about the tragedies that come out of Chicago from people killing people. So like I say, it doesn't work -- what he's proposing just doesn't work and we need to have to address the issues. We talked about with mental illness. I am very grateful in his plan he has money set aside for that. But the fact of the matter is, the -- he's dividing America and it gets back to his anti-gun agenda when he ought to be focused on terrorism in this country.

BARNETT: The President says he can do more than one thing at a time. He did mention the shootings in Chicago as well. Congresswoman Bass, go ahead.

BASS: Yeah, well I think Mr. Williams is right. But you know one of the problems in Chicago, Chicago might have very tight gun laws but the areas around the Chicago and the states around Chicago don't have strict gun laws. Lot of different problems we have in this country that lead to violence, and we need to have a comprehensive strategy. And I absolutely think that the points that the President laid out is one part of a strategy. We do need to modernize the background checks. We need to deal with internet sales. We need to deal with the way law enforcement should have information about people who are mentally ill.

I think that you know when it comes to inner city, urban violence, you need a completely separate strategy. One thing I think is often missed is that people in those communities organize and fight every single day against the violence, and sometimes that doesn't actually get the proper media coverage that I think it deserves.

BARNETT: And just in the interest of transparency, Congressman Williams, how much money have you received from the NRA?

WILLIAMS: Frankly, I do not know, but I support the NRA. I support what they're doing. I am a lifetime member of the NRA. I don't mind telling you that. So it's not an NRA issue. The NRA is working to make things right and to make sure people can live in this country with the bill of rights. The second amendment is the most important right in my district in Texas we feel that way.

BARNETT: I can help you answer that question. In 2014, you received at least $2,000 that's through open secrets. Our viewers can check that out. Congresswoman Bass, how much money have you received from the NRA?

BASS: Well, the NRA actually -- they have this report card that they give to legislators every year, I have to say I've been graded F, which means they wouldn't give me a dime.

BARNETT: Ok, well I appreciate you both coming in to talk about this issue. Representative Roger Williams from Texas and Representative Karen Bass from California, I appreciate it.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

CHURCH: A short time ago, I spoke with Nathaniel Pendleton. His daughter was killed by a gunman less than a mile from President Obama's home in Chicago. It happened just days after the 15-year-old danced at the President's second inauguration in 2013. Nathaniel Pendleton supports Mr. Obama's executive actions and insists they do no impinge on the right of Americans to bear arms.

[03:29:01]

NATHANIEL PENDLETON: We have the second amendment right and we do -- we have the right to bear arms. So I don't want that to go anywhere. I grew up with guns. My father was a district commander. He taught me and my brother how to use guns at a very young age. I and my brother never shot anyone. The thing is we're not trying to take guns out of responsible citizens' hands, we're trying to take guns out of hands of people that are ex-felons that are mentally challenged, you know things of that nature.

BARNETT: We invite you to join CNN for a special look at guns in America with U.S. President Barack Obama. Anderson Cooper hosts an exclusive one-hour live town hall event, you can see it Thursday at 8:00 p.m. in Washington. That's 1:00 a.m. for those of you watching in London, and 9:00 a.m. Friday in Hong Kong only here on CNN.

CHURCH: Coming up on CNN Newsroom, a closer look at the risks that the North Korea's leader is taking by testing a nuclear weapon. Do stay with us for that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:34:01]

CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I am Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: And I am Errol Barnett. Let's update you on our top stories right now.

First, our breaking news, North Korea says it successfully exploded a hydrogen bomb in underground tests. A hydrogen bomb is more powerful than anything North Korea has tested before. China just released a statement which says safeguarding peace and stability in northeast Asia is in everyone's best interest. The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in just a few hours.

CHURCH: President Barack Obama teared up as he talked about gun violence in the United States. Surrounded by the families of victims, the President blasted the lack of gun control progress. He's taking executive action, calling for more extensive background checks, increased mental health treatment and improved gun safety technology.

BARNETT: In Cologne, Germany, police report that dozens of women were sexually assaulted and robbed in New Year's Eve celebrations. Investigation is under way, Germany's justice ministry cautions against linking the assaults to the immigration issue.

Back to our top story now, North Korea's surprise nuclear test. An assistant professor in Seoul and he joins us over the phone to discuss this test's implications. What do you make of this claim from North Korea and do you think it's true?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, there seems to be a little debate they performed a test. It was not an earthquake, it was a significant blow. So there was a nuclear device test.

BARNETT: And for now, everyone is trying to spin out if it is true what next, Kim Jong-Un apparently what's more prestige, a higher status of his country with this. But doesn't North Korea lose leverage with this? Resulting in more sanctions?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think that's right. Before asking what's next, we have to ask why now. And what is Kim Jong-Un's call calculus. We focus on neighboring countries and the role of the United States. We should probably start domestically because from what we can tell we're still in a period where Kim Jong-Un is trying to consolidate his power. He calculates it's in his reach to prove strength. Even to show he's quite independent of China. The international relations are affected. First issue is the domestic politics of the decision.

BARNETT: And what about that toll, the relationship with China specifically, it is the country's number one ally, the country that has been trying to get the world to engage with the north. Do you think that will continue?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Historically, they have a very complicated relationship, even though they say they're formerly allies but there are a lot of ups and downs in that relationship. It has actually been quite rocky under Kim Jong-Un and Xi Jinping. The two of them haven't figured out how to get along. Now, this sets all that back. This is very much a slap in the face to Beijing to do this. Clearly, this isn't something that China wants to see. Recently, there have been rumors will Kim Jong-Un do a visit early this year to China, you can pretty much scrap all that and the relationship goes back in the freezer. That said, Xi Jinping's options are pretty limited in terms of really hard line sticks that he can use to (Inaudible) Kim Jong-Un, so it's a dicey situation even for Xi Jinping.

BARNETT: Yeah, North Korea continues to be such a mystery. (Inaudible) Thanks for speaking with us today from Seoul.

CHURCH: And we turn now to tensions in the Middle East, Iran's President is lashing out at Saudi Arabia over its execution of a Shiite cleric. Hassan Rouhani says the Saudi government can't hide, "its great crime by severing ties with Tehran."

[03:39:01]

BARNETT: The execution has spread protests throughout the Middle East, and similar diplomatic action by neighboring countries. On Tuesday, Kuwait recalled its Ambassador to Tehran, and the Saudi Arabia Prince said he's no longer considering projects or investments in Iran.

CHURCH: Our International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson is live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and he joins us now with the latest. Nic, we're seeing this, more countries are aligning themselves with Saudi Arabia, where is it all going? What efforts are under way to try to deescalate the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia and how bad could this get?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Just certainly international efforts from outside the region, the United States for one, Russia has also offered to be an intermediary here to deescalate. And Russia have interest in ending the can conflict in Saudi Arabia. What we're hearing from the Saudi ambassador to the United Nations is the current diplomatic tensions with Iran won't impact Saudi Arabia's participation in those talks. Of course, critical because both parties play such an important role in fight in Syria now. So that's significant, the Saudis essentially saying that those talks can continue. The reality is when you get inside that room for negotiation, the polarization between Iran and Saudi Arabia at the moment, means it's going to much harder to compromise.

Bahrain will stop flights to Iran now. So at the moment, we're not seeing nor have an expectation for whatever the international pressure is to bring to bear to diminish the current tension. Things can change quickly. But the message that we're getting here from Saudi officials that they're angry with Iran about what they see is interference in their neighbors, meaning Yemen, meaning Iraq and meaning Syria. At this moment, this tension looks like it will continue to exist, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. And we know you'll keep a very close eye on this developing story, our Nic Robertson reporting from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Many thanks. BARNETT: Still to come this hour, couples with one child in China no

longer need permission to expand their families. We'll bring you more information on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:45:30]

BARNETT: All right, we have this news just in to CNN that the office of German Chancellor of Angela Merkel has been sealed off, this because of a suspicious package there.

CHURCH: It's not clear if Mrs. Merkel is in the building. Police say the area has been closed off for about an hour now. We'll of course, keep you updated as we get more information in here.

Couples in China wanting to start or expand their family no longer required to apply for approval, that's according to China's state-run news agency.

BARNETT: China's one-child policy implemented in 1970s is now being scrapped, but that does very little for families who already lost the only child they're allowed to have. Matt Rivers has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Their voices carry beyond the small room where they gather. Men and women, some off-pitch, most filled with emotion, all with two things in common. They each had one child and that child has died. He sings louder than the rest, he lost his son last year. Leukemia took him at 31 years old.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was sick for so long and suffered for so many years. We tried our best to save him but could not.

RIVERS: He's like so many other Chinese parents who raised children over the past decades. The official policy here was one couple, one child, so he only had one. Now, his son is gone as is any chance for grandchildren to carry on his name.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if I had had two children it might have had a little bit easier to deal with this loss. I think we've made a sacrifice for China's economic development.

RIVERS: Parents like him pay the human costs of social engineering that was at times carried out in brutal ways. Couples who could afford it could pay fines to have a second child.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The so-called social support fees are actually a method for local authorities to rake in money.

RIVERS: (Inaudible) is a Chinese lawyer who says local governments strongly rely on fines to help fund their operations. He sent letters to each of China's 31 provinces, asking for information on the amount of money made from 1 child policy fines in 2012, 24 responded and together, reported they made 20 billion Yen, about $3.2 billion. Enforcing that policy and collecting those fines requires an incredible amount of manpower. The government says roughly a half million people work for the Family Planning Commission. They helped create an entire generation of only children, a deeply entrenched bureaucracy that isn't going anywhere. (Inaudible) will use old methods to enforce the new limit of two kids per couple.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not optimistic about the new policy. I think I the local Family Planning Commission will continue to force abortions.

RIVERS: Continued enforcement including fines because local governments will still need that revenue. For people like (Inaudible), questions about the future are irrelevant. He and others here grieve about the past.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He says his son was very kind, getting choked up. Nothing will ever replace his pain he says.

RIVERS: Whether things change for others in the future, no longer is his concern, Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Millions across California are under a flood watch right now, as some heavy rains soak the state.

BARNETT: Our Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now from the international weather center with the details, and of course, Pedram the problem here is the earth is so scorched there it's unable to absorb all this water.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The areas we watched burn so frequently across this region -- the rainfall is beneficial. You take a look at the damage -- certainly this is ocean shores not far from San Diego, significant flooding taking, one of the wettest days in years across San Diego. For Monday into Tuesday, nearly 2 inches of rainfall came down, an additional 1.7 can come down Wednesday through Thursday. Compare to that January of 2015 it's not even close.

[03:50:01]

This amount of rainfall took five months, certainly a good start when it comes to at least getting some beneficial rains, but for some people it's certainly too much of a good thing quickly. You get a jet stream that dives right into the southern portion of California. We move on over towards portions of southern California, about 13 million people stretching from San Diego all of the way out to San Francisco -- the coastal areas getting inundated by flooding -- 4 to 6 inches could come down in the favorable mountain locations.

As we march through these graphics, want to take you over the U.K. because in Scotland, you know December one of the wettest Decembers on record across this portion of the world. We know homes have been submerged. Businesses have been submerged. A castle, 450-year-old Scottish castle is on the brink of collapsing into this river -- 76- year-old man living in this home, this castle -- we have a Google image actually of a 2010 view and you bring in what happened there on Tuesday. You see the road that was taken by the Google machine there no longer exists.

You can see the castle in place before it crumbled. Again, here's the top of the castle. And here's the top of the castle on Tuesday, incredible sight out of Scotland.

(CROSSTALK)

BARNETT: A cricket star learns the hard way that the field is no place for flirting. We'll tell you how much it cost him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:52:15]

CHURCH: A world football government, FIFA has decided to extend the suspension of Secretary General Jerome Valcke by 45 days.

BARNETT: That's right. Valcke was suspended in September from the number two position in FIFA. He was accused of providing World Cup tickets which were sold on the black market. He has denied those charges.

And speaking of sports, a cricket star struck out, you can say, while hitting on a reporter during a live TV interview.

CHURCH: CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story of the on-air flirtation that backfired.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don't blush, baby, tends not to be a good answer to a sports reporter's question about cricket.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well done, thanks.

MOOS: A star batsman got a little too lost in the eyes of Australian channel 10 reporter, Mel McLaughlin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the reason I am here.

MOOS: But some saw red, not clever, not funny, and not original. How about just let a fine broadcaster do her job, tweeted a fellow reporter. His club called his behavior inappropriate. It ended up being an expensive flirtation. He was fined about 10,000 thousand Australian dollars which works to about $7,000 thousand U.S. He called it a simple joke. No disrespect intended.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He issued an apology. And I accept that. I just want to move on.

MOOS: It moved us back, back to the time a plastered Joe Namith got over-amorous. The time at fox sportscaster and Erin Andrews had to take evasive action at the Daytona 500. Maybe it's good to see that occasionally a female TV reporter flirts. Tennis star Maria Sharapova seemed sweet on an Australian reporter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So much good self-esteem when you speak, it's really nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was the question? I was just admiring your form.

MOOS: Next thing you know, the broadcaster was addressing an issue to Maria in Russian. With that volley, maybe he should be blushing. Jeanne moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: It's not blushing. She was horrified. And thanks for watching CNN. I am Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: And I am Errol Barnett, thanks for being with us. Remember you can connect with us on Twitter anytime. Tell us where you're watching, but no flirting please.

Early Start is next for those of you watching in the states.

CHURCH: And for our viewers elsewhere, stay tuned for CNN Newsroom. Have a great day.

BARNETT: See you tomorrow.

[04:00:00]