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CNN Live At Daybreak

GOP Rebuttal; Bangladesh Floods; Bittersweet Departure; Terrorist Suspect; South Carolina Flooding; More Than a Movie?

Aired July 30, 2004 - 05:30   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: Fresh from a lovefest of a convention, Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards hit the road. The two are heading out on a two-week tour through 21 states. They'll stop in Pennsylvania. They kick off the "Believe in America" tour in Boston where Kerry delivered his acceptance speech. He delivered that speech of course last night at the Democratic National Convention.
Kerry also issued a challenge to President Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush.

(APPLAUSE)

In the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity. Let's respect one another. And let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: After the convention, Kerry and Edwards hit the stage at a Boston Pops Orchestra Concert at the University of Massachusetts. The two got a standing ovation from the concert crowd and also took in some fireworks.

President Bush stayed out of the spotlight during the Democratic Convention, but he will be back on the campaign trail today visiting some key battleground states. The president will make stops today in Springfield, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio.

In the meantime, as CNN's Dana Bash reports, even though President Bush laid low during the convention, his rapid response team was out in force.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentlemen, please welcome America's mayor, the Honorable Rudy Giuliani.

(APPLAUSE) DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): GOP spinners saved this one for last. The popular politician on the front lines of 9/11 saying John Kerry's not up to the challenge.

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK: What we need is a strong, principled leader who is going to stand up for what is needed when it is popular and when it is unpopular And that's president George Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And America...

BASH: Oh, and he got the talking points on the Democrats' Convention speeches too.

GIULIANI: Reinvention convention.

BASH: Also in the GOP lineup, someone who knows what it's like to run against the Democratic nominee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can be a master at the art of changing the subject.

BASH: Bill Weld lost a close 1996 race for Kerry's Senate seat. He coined a new phrase for what team Bush calls Kerry's flip-flops.

WILLIAM WELD, FMR. GOV. OF MASSACHUSETTS: I would call analysis paralysis, seeing so many sides of an issue that it's difficult to make a decision and get on with it, which is something in government sometimes you simply have to do.

BASH: But Weld had a warning for Mr. Bush too. He had eight high profile debates with Senator Kerry and says he's hard to pin down, hard to beat.

WELD: Nobody better, and the senator is very articulate. I think it's an uphill fight against John Kerry in a televised debate.

BASH: Before the fall debates, though, Republicans will hold their convention. Giuliani and other moderates will have the spotlight. So given the president's recent appeal to cultural conservatives, look for Democrats to throw Republicans' extreme makeover line right back at them.

GIULIANI: I haven't had a makeover. You've noticed no makeover. I'll be the same as I've always been, and so will all the speakers. It will show the broad range of the Republican Party.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You can get a wrap up on the convention and a look at what's ahead in the presidential campaign on our Web site. The address, CNN.com/politics.

Tens of millions of people have been displaced throughout southern Asia by some of the most intense flooding in years. In Bangladesh alone, two-thirds of that country is now under water. For more on the disaster, we're joined by CNN's Satinder Bindra from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Tell us more about it.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the situation here continues to be fairly grim. In the past few weeks, some 500 people have been killed in some of the worst flooding that's been seen here in several years. Some 30 million people have been affected. And the losses here in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, is now estimated to be about $6 to $7 billion. The situation is so grim that the prime minister of Bangladesh is now appealing for international aid.

Right now, Carol, I'm in the capital city of Dhaka, and about half of this city, as you can see just over my shoulder, perhaps, is under water. This morning, I was out and about during rush hour traffic in Bangladesh, and I saw no trucks, no cars, no buses. All I saw was boats, hundreds and hundreds of them bumping and grinding into each other as people tried their best, did their best to go to work.

People are suffering here a lot, but they are very resilient and trying to go about business. However, Carol, a major problem, the sewage system here in Dhaka has broken down completely, so the floodwaters are mixing with raw sewage and industrial waste. And indeed this is fast becoming a health hazard. Health officials here fear the outbreak of cholera and typhoid.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: So apparently time is of the essence. I know they are asking for international help, but can it come fast enough? I mean how do you help millions of people displaced you know right now?

BINDRA: Carol, their first need, perhaps, is safe drinking water. And the government of Bangladesh is trying their best to provide them both safe drinking water and food. Many people claim they are getting food, some people complain they aren't. But the government of Bangladesh definitely needs help in rebuilding its infrastructure.

Roads have been damaged, schools have been washed away, buildings have been washed away, and indeed embankments, which are so vital in this country to prevent further flooding, have also been washed away. And all that will take billions of dollars to replace, and that's money that Bangladesh doesn't have and which it will need from international donors -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Satinder Bindra, reporting live from Bangladesh this morning, thank you.

Back in this country, here are some stories making news "Across America" this Friday.

In Redwood City, California, the Scott Peterson murder trial will go forward. The judge has denied a defense request to declare a mistrial or dismiss charges. Peterson's attorney claimed the first detective on the scene fabricated part of his testimony. The judge also allowed police wiretaps of Peterson's phone calls and portions of TV interviews with Peterson after his wife, Laci, disappeared.

Orange County, California police have talked with a man who may be a very important witness in the case of baby food tampering. Three jars contaminated with ground up castor beans were sold at an Irvine, California grocery store. Castor beans are a major component in the poison ricin. No one got sick from the contaminated jars.

Courtney Love's attorney is trying to work out a plea agreement in one of four criminal cases she's facing. The 40-year-old rock star is charged with felony possession of prescription painkillers. She's already sentenced to 18-months of mandatory drug rehab. She still faces trial on felony assault charges.

Pennsylvania Avenue may never again be so sweet. After working for five American presidents, the White House's legendary pastry chef, Roland Mesnier, is retiring.

CNN's Sanjay Gupta introduces us to the man who brought dessert to a whole new level.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROLAND MESNIER, WHITE HOUSE PASTRY CHEF: See you want to put some beautiful cherries in that basket, you see.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Parting is such sweet sorrow, literally, in the case of this executive pastry chef, Rowland Mesnier, who is retiring after 25 years of making pastries at the White House.

So what's it like to cook for the president?

MESNIER: Well it's very exciting, very scary, because you wanting to be nice at all time. You want the guests of the president and first lady to be very proud of what is served.

GUPTA: But did he have any near misses?

MESNIER: No deal (ph) at the White House. It has no room for that.

GUPTA (on camera): It doesn't happen?

MESNIER: It does not happen and it should not happen.

GUPTA: Have the sort of preferences of various presidents changed?

MESNIER: Some presidents prefer chocolate, some prefer fruit, some prefer coffee flavor.

GUPTA (voice-over): And some keep coming back for more. WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, we had a nice little session the Bushes put on for us. And after we all took pictures, I went in there and I thought, oh, my God, there's our fruit cobbler which I hadn't seen in three and a half years. I tried to avoid at least grabbing it with my hands, and I tried to be somewhat dignified, but Chelsea and I even more than Hillary, we really loved that fruit cobbler.

GUPTA (on camera): And were there anything any presidents have not liked?

MESNIER: No, that has never happened.

GUPTA: Never happened.

MESNIER: Never happened. I have never had that happen in my 25 years that they did not like a dessert. And I try to ask people, friend of theirs and everything when they come here, people that know them well, what is this new family like? You know when you know a new family is coming, you better do your homework.

GUPTA (voice-over): Good advice for whoever fills his hat.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And that's a tall order.

A big screen makeover for "The Manchurian Candidate."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can give them heat, energy, give them a war hero. Coming, they can feel it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: But will it be a blockbuster or a bust? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, Tom O'Neil takes us to the movies.

And a major al Qaeda operative is captured.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A high-level al Qaeda suspect is now in Pakistani custody. He is wanted in connection with the 1988 embassy bombings in east Africa.

Our Ash-Har Quraishi has details from Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Pakistani security forces say they had been monitoring activity around the al Qaeda hideout in central Pakistan for weeks. Then last weekend, sources say, 450 police surrounded the house. A 16-hour standoff resulted in the arrests of 14 foreigners with Pakistani forces netting their biggest catch in more than a year.

FAISAL SALEH HAYAT, PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER: As a result of the investigation which followed, it transpired that one of the foreigners is in fact Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, who is originally of Densign (ph) in origin and he is on the most-wanted list of the FBI.

QURAISHI: Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani had been wanted for his alleged involvement in the August 1988 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. More than 200 people were killed in those attacks, including 12 Americans.

PETER BERGEN, TERRORISM ANALYST: He's I think top of division B in terms of al Qaeda operatives. But also it's one of a string of arrests in Pakistan that we've seen in the past couple of years of significant al Qaeda operatives, which shows two things. One, that the Pakistani government is serious about going after these people. But two, that most of the senior al Qaeda leadership is actually in Pakistan.

QURAISHI: In May, the FBI and U.S. Justice Department put out an alert seeking information about seven suspects thought to have knowledge of impending attacks over the summer in the United States. Ghailani was on that list. Officials in Pakistan say they hope to learn more about possible terror threats in their interrogations of Ghailani and the others in custody.

HAYAT: As has been the experience in the past, whenever we have been able to arrest a high-profile terrorist, we have been able to secure some very valuable information from them which has further facilitated our dust (ph) and our policy is in the precipt (ph) of our objectives in eliminating these terrorists.

QURAISHI: Today, Pakistan says it has handed over more than 500 suspected al Qaeda suspects to the United States.

(on camera): Officials here in Pakistan say Ghailani is being interrogated by their intelligence agencies. If and when he is extradited to the United States, he could face the death penalty.

Ash-Har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:45 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

A Senate committee is holding the first congressional hearings to examine the 9/11 Commission's findings this morning. On the agenda, establishing a cabinet-level post to oversee national intelligence.

A soldier convicted of carjacking a sheik's SUV in Iraq probably won't face any jail time. Military jurors have recommended that Sergeant 1st Class James Williams be demoted and get a bad conduct charge -- discharge, rather.

In money news, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts may have some holes in its balance sheet. The company says the SEC is investigating some franchise purchases and recent earnings statements. The news sent Krispy Kreme shares down 15 percent.

In culture, Brandy has some brand new bling. The singer got engaged to NBA star Quentin Richardson. He reportedly gave her an 11- and-a-half carat diamond ring worth $1 million.

In sports, a time out for the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek of the Red Sox. The two were each suspended four games for their part in last weekend's bench-clearing brawl. Six others were either fined or suspended.

And I am sure you were watching that game -- Rob.

MARCIANO: I was. I think they play another six more times. When golden boy A-Rod gets into it, you know there's some tension between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

COSTELLO: Yes, but he's kind of rolled over though, come on.

MARCIANO: A little bit.

COSTELLO: Well Varitek had, what, his catcher's stuff on, so it would have been hard to beat him up.

MARCIANO: Exactly. They play some more. It will be a good September.

All right, here's your forecast.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Carol, we'll see you in a few minutes.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

The 9/11 report is once again the focus of attention in the nation's capital, but some Democrats fear the hearings will miss the mark. We'll get analysis in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

And a guest spot on the big screen offers a boost in sales. We'll show you who has the most recent starring role.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In South Carolina this morning, a sudden thunderstorm has flooded parts of Greenville. Some areas may have gotten up to five inches of rain prompting evacuations.

Carrie Davis of CNN affiliate WSPA joins us on the phone live from Greenville to tell us more.

Good morning.

CARRIE DAVIS, WSPA-TV REPORTER: Well good morning, Carol.

I am standing in front of the Reedy River in downtown Greenville. And this river literally turned into rapids yesterday afternoon, and it is still overflowing into downtown streets this morning.

Now, as you mentioned, we got about five inches yesterday and it caused several evacuations throughout town. They had to do water rescues. People were trapped on top of their cars, inside their homes. The Red Cross did set up a shelter; however, nobody, amazingly nobody needed their help overnight. Apparently everybody found places to stay.

Now we did have about 6,000 people without power yesterday. That number has dropped to about 2,800 this morning. And we're told they should have power back on to people in the area by noon. However, it all depends on the weather, at this point, because we do have a substation that is underwater right now. And they are hoping that the water will move out of that area by noon today, but we are still under a flood watch, so we should get -- we could get some rain in sometime this morning.

COSTELLO: Carrie, I was just going to ask you about that if more rain was expected.

DAVIS: Yes, they are expecting more rain this morning, unfortunately. And it seems that most of the major thoroughfares in the city are clear of water right now, but there are -- there is still some standing water in neighborhoods around the city so it is making it hard for people to get in and out of those areas.

COSTELLO: Carrie Davis live on the phone for us from Greenville, South Carolina.

Let's head up to the Weather Center to find out more about South Carolina's weather this morning.

So more rain is expected -- Rob?

MARCIANO: Well they've got about a 50/50 shot at seeing more showers pop up, Carol, so I guess there's a one-in-two chance of it not happening in an area -- the areas that have been flooded so badly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Some "Health Headlines" for you this morning.

There is a new pill that may help recovering alcoholics stay sober. It's called Campril (ph) and it's just gotten the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. You could start seeing Campril on store shelves by the end of the year.

The government says childhood immunization rates are at record high levels, but one-fifth of American children are not receiving all the vaccinations they need.

And federal health officials say more high school students are skipping class because they feel unsafe. That's despite recent figures which show the general level of violence in schools has fallen since the early '90s.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

Product placement in movies is nothing new. From the Reese's Pieces that E.T. ate in the '80s to any car Special Agent 007 drove in the '90s, products have enjoyed the sales bump from a well-placed guest spot on the big screen.

CNN's Fred Katayama looks at a new movie where the product has more than just a starring role.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Imagine all those burgers in your stomach right now.

FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a marketer's dream, the company name is in the movie title.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up, we're going to White Castle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're starving.

KATAYAMA: Two slackers go on a wacky road trip just to get White Castle square burgers. Who wouldn't object to a cameo in a major movie? Krispy Kreme ran away from the opportunity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How about a foursome?

KATAYAMA: It wouldn't say why, but consider the risk to its brand image. Companies typically avoid associations with adult themes. In this R-rated comedy, Harold and Kumar get high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You expect both of us to be blitzed out of our skulls?

KATAYAMA: And get lucky.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Think you could help me with this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hot.

KATAYAMA: But when New Line Cinema, which shares the same parent as CNN, asked White Castle if it wanted a role, the 83-year-old burger chain said yes. JAMIE RICHARDSON, MARKETING DIR., WHITE CASTLE: There are certainly things that happen in the film and behaviors we absolutely don't endorse, but we also recognize that at the end of the day there were larger themes in the film that really did resonate. There is a Korean-American and Indian-American who play the lead roles, and that's more reflective of the face of our team members who work in our restaurants. It's more reflective of our customers. It's more reflective of the face of America today.

KATAYAMA: White Castle's burger is popular with the young, the very group that's likely to watch this flick.

MICHELLE ADORJAN, NMA ENT. MARKETING: It's completely integrated into the film, the perfect road trip, fast food, what-do-you-crave story. And that's White Castle's tag line. I don't think you get a better fit than that.

KATAYAMA: Positive plugs pay off. Reese's Pieces attracted E.T. and many kids when Hershey Foods planted the candy in the Spielberg classic. Already, the Hollywood buzz is spurring sales of White Castle's T-shirts and luring burger buffs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The movie was funny, it was different. It kind of brought you in, made you want to see it.

KATAYAMA (on camera): White Castle is a private company, so it doesn't disclose its financials. But one thing is clear, if the movie is a hit, it will amount to millions of dollars in free advertising for the chain.

Fred Katayama, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, we're going to take you live to Boston and we're going to check in with Bob Franken on John Kerry's big speech last night. We'll also talk to two very young reporters. They are 12 years old and they have been covering the convention for "TIME" magazine. We'll talk to them, as well, in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired July 30, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Fresh from a lovefest of a convention, Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards hit the road. The two are heading out on a two-week tour through 21 states. They'll stop in Pennsylvania. They kick off the "Believe in America" tour in Boston where Kerry delivered his acceptance speech. He delivered that speech of course last night at the Democratic National Convention.
Kerry also issued a challenge to President Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush.

(APPLAUSE)

In the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity. Let's respect one another. And let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: After the convention, Kerry and Edwards hit the stage at a Boston Pops Orchestra Concert at the University of Massachusetts. The two got a standing ovation from the concert crowd and also took in some fireworks.

President Bush stayed out of the spotlight during the Democratic Convention, but he will be back on the campaign trail today visiting some key battleground states. The president will make stops today in Springfield, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio.

In the meantime, as CNN's Dana Bash reports, even though President Bush laid low during the convention, his rapid response team was out in force.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentlemen, please welcome America's mayor, the Honorable Rudy Giuliani.

(APPLAUSE) DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): GOP spinners saved this one for last. The popular politician on the front lines of 9/11 saying John Kerry's not up to the challenge.

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK: What we need is a strong, principled leader who is going to stand up for what is needed when it is popular and when it is unpopular And that's president George Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And America...

BASH: Oh, and he got the talking points on the Democrats' Convention speeches too.

GIULIANI: Reinvention convention.

BASH: Also in the GOP lineup, someone who knows what it's like to run against the Democratic nominee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can be a master at the art of changing the subject.

BASH: Bill Weld lost a close 1996 race for Kerry's Senate seat. He coined a new phrase for what team Bush calls Kerry's flip-flops.

WILLIAM WELD, FMR. GOV. OF MASSACHUSETTS: I would call analysis paralysis, seeing so many sides of an issue that it's difficult to make a decision and get on with it, which is something in government sometimes you simply have to do.

BASH: But Weld had a warning for Mr. Bush too. He had eight high profile debates with Senator Kerry and says he's hard to pin down, hard to beat.

WELD: Nobody better, and the senator is very articulate. I think it's an uphill fight against John Kerry in a televised debate.

BASH: Before the fall debates, though, Republicans will hold their convention. Giuliani and other moderates will have the spotlight. So given the president's recent appeal to cultural conservatives, look for Democrats to throw Republicans' extreme makeover line right back at them.

GIULIANI: I haven't had a makeover. You've noticed no makeover. I'll be the same as I've always been, and so will all the speakers. It will show the broad range of the Republican Party.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You can get a wrap up on the convention and a look at what's ahead in the presidential campaign on our Web site. The address, CNN.com/politics.

Tens of millions of people have been displaced throughout southern Asia by some of the most intense flooding in years. In Bangladesh alone, two-thirds of that country is now under water. For more on the disaster, we're joined by CNN's Satinder Bindra from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Tell us more about it.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the situation here continues to be fairly grim. In the past few weeks, some 500 people have been killed in some of the worst flooding that's been seen here in several years. Some 30 million people have been affected. And the losses here in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, is now estimated to be about $6 to $7 billion. The situation is so grim that the prime minister of Bangladesh is now appealing for international aid.

Right now, Carol, I'm in the capital city of Dhaka, and about half of this city, as you can see just over my shoulder, perhaps, is under water. This morning, I was out and about during rush hour traffic in Bangladesh, and I saw no trucks, no cars, no buses. All I saw was boats, hundreds and hundreds of them bumping and grinding into each other as people tried their best, did their best to go to work.

People are suffering here a lot, but they are very resilient and trying to go about business. However, Carol, a major problem, the sewage system here in Dhaka has broken down completely, so the floodwaters are mixing with raw sewage and industrial waste. And indeed this is fast becoming a health hazard. Health officials here fear the outbreak of cholera and typhoid.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: So apparently time is of the essence. I know they are asking for international help, but can it come fast enough? I mean how do you help millions of people displaced you know right now?

BINDRA: Carol, their first need, perhaps, is safe drinking water. And the government of Bangladesh is trying their best to provide them both safe drinking water and food. Many people claim they are getting food, some people complain they aren't. But the government of Bangladesh definitely needs help in rebuilding its infrastructure.

Roads have been damaged, schools have been washed away, buildings have been washed away, and indeed embankments, which are so vital in this country to prevent further flooding, have also been washed away. And all that will take billions of dollars to replace, and that's money that Bangladesh doesn't have and which it will need from international donors -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Satinder Bindra, reporting live from Bangladesh this morning, thank you.

Back in this country, here are some stories making news "Across America" this Friday.

In Redwood City, California, the Scott Peterson murder trial will go forward. The judge has denied a defense request to declare a mistrial or dismiss charges. Peterson's attorney claimed the first detective on the scene fabricated part of his testimony. The judge also allowed police wiretaps of Peterson's phone calls and portions of TV interviews with Peterson after his wife, Laci, disappeared.

Orange County, California police have talked with a man who may be a very important witness in the case of baby food tampering. Three jars contaminated with ground up castor beans were sold at an Irvine, California grocery store. Castor beans are a major component in the poison ricin. No one got sick from the contaminated jars.

Courtney Love's attorney is trying to work out a plea agreement in one of four criminal cases she's facing. The 40-year-old rock star is charged with felony possession of prescription painkillers. She's already sentenced to 18-months of mandatory drug rehab. She still faces trial on felony assault charges.

Pennsylvania Avenue may never again be so sweet. After working for five American presidents, the White House's legendary pastry chef, Roland Mesnier, is retiring.

CNN's Sanjay Gupta introduces us to the man who brought dessert to a whole new level.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROLAND MESNIER, WHITE HOUSE PASTRY CHEF: See you want to put some beautiful cherries in that basket, you see.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Parting is such sweet sorrow, literally, in the case of this executive pastry chef, Rowland Mesnier, who is retiring after 25 years of making pastries at the White House.

So what's it like to cook for the president?

MESNIER: Well it's very exciting, very scary, because you wanting to be nice at all time. You want the guests of the president and first lady to be very proud of what is served.

GUPTA: But did he have any near misses?

MESNIER: No deal (ph) at the White House. It has no room for that.

GUPTA (on camera): It doesn't happen?

MESNIER: It does not happen and it should not happen.

GUPTA: Have the sort of preferences of various presidents changed?

MESNIER: Some presidents prefer chocolate, some prefer fruit, some prefer coffee flavor.

GUPTA (voice-over): And some keep coming back for more. WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, we had a nice little session the Bushes put on for us. And after we all took pictures, I went in there and I thought, oh, my God, there's our fruit cobbler which I hadn't seen in three and a half years. I tried to avoid at least grabbing it with my hands, and I tried to be somewhat dignified, but Chelsea and I even more than Hillary, we really loved that fruit cobbler.

GUPTA (on camera): And were there anything any presidents have not liked?

MESNIER: No, that has never happened.

GUPTA: Never happened.

MESNIER: Never happened. I have never had that happen in my 25 years that they did not like a dessert. And I try to ask people, friend of theirs and everything when they come here, people that know them well, what is this new family like? You know when you know a new family is coming, you better do your homework.

GUPTA (voice-over): Good advice for whoever fills his hat.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And that's a tall order.

A big screen makeover for "The Manchurian Candidate."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can give them heat, energy, give them a war hero. Coming, they can feel it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: But will it be a blockbuster or a bust? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, Tom O'Neil takes us to the movies.

And a major al Qaeda operative is captured.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A high-level al Qaeda suspect is now in Pakistani custody. He is wanted in connection with the 1988 embassy bombings in east Africa.

Our Ash-Har Quraishi has details from Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Pakistani security forces say they had been monitoring activity around the al Qaeda hideout in central Pakistan for weeks. Then last weekend, sources say, 450 police surrounded the house. A 16-hour standoff resulted in the arrests of 14 foreigners with Pakistani forces netting their biggest catch in more than a year.

FAISAL SALEH HAYAT, PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER: As a result of the investigation which followed, it transpired that one of the foreigners is in fact Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, who is originally of Densign (ph) in origin and he is on the most-wanted list of the FBI.

QURAISHI: Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani had been wanted for his alleged involvement in the August 1988 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. More than 200 people were killed in those attacks, including 12 Americans.

PETER BERGEN, TERRORISM ANALYST: He's I think top of division B in terms of al Qaeda operatives. But also it's one of a string of arrests in Pakistan that we've seen in the past couple of years of significant al Qaeda operatives, which shows two things. One, that the Pakistani government is serious about going after these people. But two, that most of the senior al Qaeda leadership is actually in Pakistan.

QURAISHI: In May, the FBI and U.S. Justice Department put out an alert seeking information about seven suspects thought to have knowledge of impending attacks over the summer in the United States. Ghailani was on that list. Officials in Pakistan say they hope to learn more about possible terror threats in their interrogations of Ghailani and the others in custody.

HAYAT: As has been the experience in the past, whenever we have been able to arrest a high-profile terrorist, we have been able to secure some very valuable information from them which has further facilitated our dust (ph) and our policy is in the precipt (ph) of our objectives in eliminating these terrorists.

QURAISHI: Today, Pakistan says it has handed over more than 500 suspected al Qaeda suspects to the United States.

(on camera): Officials here in Pakistan say Ghailani is being interrogated by their intelligence agencies. If and when he is extradited to the United States, he could face the death penalty.

Ash-Har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:45 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

A Senate committee is holding the first congressional hearings to examine the 9/11 Commission's findings this morning. On the agenda, establishing a cabinet-level post to oversee national intelligence.

A soldier convicted of carjacking a sheik's SUV in Iraq probably won't face any jail time. Military jurors have recommended that Sergeant 1st Class James Williams be demoted and get a bad conduct charge -- discharge, rather.

In money news, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts may have some holes in its balance sheet. The company says the SEC is investigating some franchise purchases and recent earnings statements. The news sent Krispy Kreme shares down 15 percent.

In culture, Brandy has some brand new bling. The singer got engaged to NBA star Quentin Richardson. He reportedly gave her an 11- and-a-half carat diamond ring worth $1 million.

In sports, a time out for the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek of the Red Sox. The two were each suspended four games for their part in last weekend's bench-clearing brawl. Six others were either fined or suspended.

And I am sure you were watching that game -- Rob.

MARCIANO: I was. I think they play another six more times. When golden boy A-Rod gets into it, you know there's some tension between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

COSTELLO: Yes, but he's kind of rolled over though, come on.

MARCIANO: A little bit.

COSTELLO: Well Varitek had, what, his catcher's stuff on, so it would have been hard to beat him up.

MARCIANO: Exactly. They play some more. It will be a good September.

All right, here's your forecast.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Carol, we'll see you in a few minutes.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

The 9/11 report is once again the focus of attention in the nation's capital, but some Democrats fear the hearings will miss the mark. We'll get analysis in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

And a guest spot on the big screen offers a boost in sales. We'll show you who has the most recent starring role.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In South Carolina this morning, a sudden thunderstorm has flooded parts of Greenville. Some areas may have gotten up to five inches of rain prompting evacuations.

Carrie Davis of CNN affiliate WSPA joins us on the phone live from Greenville to tell us more.

Good morning.

CARRIE DAVIS, WSPA-TV REPORTER: Well good morning, Carol.

I am standing in front of the Reedy River in downtown Greenville. And this river literally turned into rapids yesterday afternoon, and it is still overflowing into downtown streets this morning.

Now, as you mentioned, we got about five inches yesterday and it caused several evacuations throughout town. They had to do water rescues. People were trapped on top of their cars, inside their homes. The Red Cross did set up a shelter; however, nobody, amazingly nobody needed their help overnight. Apparently everybody found places to stay.

Now we did have about 6,000 people without power yesterday. That number has dropped to about 2,800 this morning. And we're told they should have power back on to people in the area by noon. However, it all depends on the weather, at this point, because we do have a substation that is underwater right now. And they are hoping that the water will move out of that area by noon today, but we are still under a flood watch, so we should get -- we could get some rain in sometime this morning.

COSTELLO: Carrie, I was just going to ask you about that if more rain was expected.

DAVIS: Yes, they are expecting more rain this morning, unfortunately. And it seems that most of the major thoroughfares in the city are clear of water right now, but there are -- there is still some standing water in neighborhoods around the city so it is making it hard for people to get in and out of those areas.

COSTELLO: Carrie Davis live on the phone for us from Greenville, South Carolina.

Let's head up to the Weather Center to find out more about South Carolina's weather this morning.

So more rain is expected -- Rob?

MARCIANO: Well they've got about a 50/50 shot at seeing more showers pop up, Carol, so I guess there's a one-in-two chance of it not happening in an area -- the areas that have been flooded so badly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Some "Health Headlines" for you this morning.

There is a new pill that may help recovering alcoholics stay sober. It's called Campril (ph) and it's just gotten the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. You could start seeing Campril on store shelves by the end of the year.

The government says childhood immunization rates are at record high levels, but one-fifth of American children are not receiving all the vaccinations they need.

And federal health officials say more high school students are skipping class because they feel unsafe. That's despite recent figures which show the general level of violence in schools has fallen since the early '90s.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

Product placement in movies is nothing new. From the Reese's Pieces that E.T. ate in the '80s to any car Special Agent 007 drove in the '90s, products have enjoyed the sales bump from a well-placed guest spot on the big screen.

CNN's Fred Katayama looks at a new movie where the product has more than just a starring role.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Imagine all those burgers in your stomach right now.

FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a marketer's dream, the company name is in the movie title.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up, we're going to White Castle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're starving.

KATAYAMA: Two slackers go on a wacky road trip just to get White Castle square burgers. Who wouldn't object to a cameo in a major movie? Krispy Kreme ran away from the opportunity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How about a foursome?

KATAYAMA: It wouldn't say why, but consider the risk to its brand image. Companies typically avoid associations with adult themes. In this R-rated comedy, Harold and Kumar get high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You expect both of us to be blitzed out of our skulls?

KATAYAMA: And get lucky.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Think you could help me with this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hot.

KATAYAMA: But when New Line Cinema, which shares the same parent as CNN, asked White Castle if it wanted a role, the 83-year-old burger chain said yes. JAMIE RICHARDSON, MARKETING DIR., WHITE CASTLE: There are certainly things that happen in the film and behaviors we absolutely don't endorse, but we also recognize that at the end of the day there were larger themes in the film that really did resonate. There is a Korean-American and Indian-American who play the lead roles, and that's more reflective of the face of our team members who work in our restaurants. It's more reflective of our customers. It's more reflective of the face of America today.

KATAYAMA: White Castle's burger is popular with the young, the very group that's likely to watch this flick.

MICHELLE ADORJAN, NMA ENT. MARKETING: It's completely integrated into the film, the perfect road trip, fast food, what-do-you-crave story. And that's White Castle's tag line. I don't think you get a better fit than that.

KATAYAMA: Positive plugs pay off. Reese's Pieces attracted E.T. and many kids when Hershey Foods planted the candy in the Spielberg classic. Already, the Hollywood buzz is spurring sales of White Castle's T-shirts and luring burger buffs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The movie was funny, it was different. It kind of brought you in, made you want to see it.

KATAYAMA (on camera): White Castle is a private company, so it doesn't disclose its financials. But one thing is clear, if the movie is a hit, it will amount to millions of dollars in free advertising for the chain.

Fred Katayama, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, we're going to take you live to Boston and we're going to check in with Bob Franken on John Kerry's big speech last night. We'll also talk to two very young reporters. They are 12 years old and they have been covering the convention for "TIME" magazine. We'll talk to them, as well, in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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