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CNN Live At Daybreak
'Euro Edition'
Aired August 04, 2003 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check on what's making headlines overseas, shall we, in this morning's "Euro Edition."
Charles Hodson is live with us in London.
So, what are the front pages looking like this morning?
CHARLES HODSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is one story that's still dominating. It's been going on for weeks and weeks, and that is, of course, the story of the government scientist, Dr. David Kelly, who committed suicide. He's at the center of a huge row between the government and the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation, as to whether the government "sexed-up" -- that was the phrase used -- its dossier, which was a crucial piece of evidence in persuading the public and parliament that Britain should go to war over Iraq.
Well, in fact, the defense secretary, Jeff Hoon, is in big trouble, because he's actually on his way over to the United States, or may already be there, missing the funeral of Dr. Kelly, which is due to take place this coming Wednesday. And, for example, the "Daily Mail" says scathingly on its front page: "Care to make it a full-time holiday, Mr. Hoon?" And reports that senior government colleagues of Mr. Hoon have cut him loose and have savaged him for his decision...
COSTELLO: So, he's...
HODSON: ... to stay away from that funeral.
COSTELLO: He's not coming for business to the United States?
HODSON: Go on.
COSTELLO: He's just on holiday?
HODSON: He is going on -- he is going on holiday, and that's what is causing the trouble. Dr. David Kelly worked for Mr. Hoon at the Ministry of Defense, so he really ought to be going on to the funeral. That, at least, is the feeling, and that is what many senior ministers also feel and why Mr. Hoon is really in a lot of trouble over that.
Just moving on, of course, one thing that has been attracting huge headlines on your side of the Atlantic is also being followed very, very -- with great interest over here: "Gay bishop confirmed in the United States is traditionally certified." The prospects of an openly gay bishop for New Hampshire within the Angolan communion is causing enormous fractions here in Britain, where, of course, there was an openly gay nominee to be bishop of Redding. That nominee, Cannon Jeffrey John (ph), actually stepped down in the end, because -- or despite the fact that he was celibate, though openly gay, he didnt want to split the church. Now, we have the prospects of a split within the 77 million Angolan communion over that.
One thing, of course, not very far from the headlines is Liberia: "The children of jungle fire go into battle on a diet of drugs." That's the front-page special story in "The Guardian" newspaper here in Britain, showing a boy soldier with an AK-47 assault rifle, apparently crazed by crack cocaine and marijuana.
Of course, the temperature, as you mentioned, has been very, very much in the headlines. And just to go back to that "Daily Mail" headline at the top: "Burning Britain, could this be the week that temperatures soar to an all-time high?" Ninety-nine degrees, we could see even higher than that, something like 105; 104 degrees in southwest Germany.
In France, "Le Monde" is very concerned about this. France is, in fact, the No. 1 tourist destination in Europe, and it seems that despite those very inviting temperatures and the pleasures of being on the Cote d'Azur at this time of the year, they're saying: "Tourism, the Summer of Bad News." Iraq, of course, the strong euro not helping, in particular U.S. holiday-makers rather thin on the ground it seems in France.
Here is a little cartoon of a typical Cote d'Azur scene, a palm tree and so on, and one tourist is saying in that, "You mustn't exaggerate; I've actually seen an American." And this other guy is saying, "Hmm, it must have been Lance Armstrong." That was Lance Armstrong, who, of course, won the Tour De France for a record fifth time.
With that, Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Oh, those crazy French. Thank you very much, Charles. It was a lot of fun this morning. Charles Hodson reporting live from London for us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired August 4, 2003 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check on what's making headlines overseas, shall we, in this morning's "Euro Edition."
Charles Hodson is live with us in London.
So, what are the front pages looking like this morning?
CHARLES HODSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is one story that's still dominating. It's been going on for weeks and weeks, and that is, of course, the story of the government scientist, Dr. David Kelly, who committed suicide. He's at the center of a huge row between the government and the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation, as to whether the government "sexed-up" -- that was the phrase used -- its dossier, which was a crucial piece of evidence in persuading the public and parliament that Britain should go to war over Iraq.
Well, in fact, the defense secretary, Jeff Hoon, is in big trouble, because he's actually on his way over to the United States, or may already be there, missing the funeral of Dr. Kelly, which is due to take place this coming Wednesday. And, for example, the "Daily Mail" says scathingly on its front page: "Care to make it a full-time holiday, Mr. Hoon?" And reports that senior government colleagues of Mr. Hoon have cut him loose and have savaged him for his decision...
COSTELLO: So, he's...
HODSON: ... to stay away from that funeral.
COSTELLO: He's not coming for business to the United States?
HODSON: Go on.
COSTELLO: He's just on holiday?
HODSON: He is going on -- he is going on holiday, and that's what is causing the trouble. Dr. David Kelly worked for Mr. Hoon at the Ministry of Defense, so he really ought to be going on to the funeral. That, at least, is the feeling, and that is what many senior ministers also feel and why Mr. Hoon is really in a lot of trouble over that.
Just moving on, of course, one thing that has been attracting huge headlines on your side of the Atlantic is also being followed very, very -- with great interest over here: "Gay bishop confirmed in the United States is traditionally certified." The prospects of an openly gay bishop for New Hampshire within the Angolan communion is causing enormous fractions here in Britain, where, of course, there was an openly gay nominee to be bishop of Redding. That nominee, Cannon Jeffrey John (ph), actually stepped down in the end, because -- or despite the fact that he was celibate, though openly gay, he didnt want to split the church. Now, we have the prospects of a split within the 77 million Angolan communion over that.
One thing, of course, not very far from the headlines is Liberia: "The children of jungle fire go into battle on a diet of drugs." That's the front-page special story in "The Guardian" newspaper here in Britain, showing a boy soldier with an AK-47 assault rifle, apparently crazed by crack cocaine and marijuana.
Of course, the temperature, as you mentioned, has been very, very much in the headlines. And just to go back to that "Daily Mail" headline at the top: "Burning Britain, could this be the week that temperatures soar to an all-time high?" Ninety-nine degrees, we could see even higher than that, something like 105; 104 degrees in southwest Germany.
In France, "Le Monde" is very concerned about this. France is, in fact, the No. 1 tourist destination in Europe, and it seems that despite those very inviting temperatures and the pleasures of being on the Cote d'Azur at this time of the year, they're saying: "Tourism, the Summer of Bad News." Iraq, of course, the strong euro not helping, in particular U.S. holiday-makers rather thin on the ground it seems in France.
Here is a little cartoon of a typical Cote d'Azur scene, a palm tree and so on, and one tourist is saying in that, "You mustn't exaggerate; I've actually seen an American." And this other guy is saying, "Hmm, it must have been Lance Armstrong." That was Lance Armstrong, who, of course, won the Tour De France for a record fifth time.
With that, Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Oh, those crazy French. Thank you very much, Charles. It was a lot of fun this morning. Charles Hodson reporting live from London for us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
