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Legal Proceedings Underway for Guatanamo Terror Suspects; RNC/NYC Security Concerns; Women Authors Write for Charity; Fall Getaways.

Aired August 23, 2004 - 10:30   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of rebel militia members remain holed up inside a Najaf mosque and say U.S. airstrikes have damaged the shrine, which is held sacred in the Shia religion. A spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr says several people were wounded or killed in the renewed fighting. Now, al-Sadr's loyalists say they'll transfer custody of the mosque when a delegation of Shia representatives arrives.
New overtime rules are taking effect today, but there's little agreement on the bottom line. The estimated number of workers who could lose their overtime benefits runs the gamut from just over 100,000 to some six million employees. Regardless, though, it's the largest such overhaul in half a century. Labor experts say, with all the variables, only your employer can say whether you'll be affected.

Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards resumes campaigning next hour in Wisconsin, where he is challenging the Bush administration to denounce an attack on running mate John Kerry. The TV ad, which runs in Wisconsin and two other states, accuses Kerry of lying to win combat declarations in Vietnam. The Bush campaign has refused to critically specifically criticize the ads, but says it has no connection to the sponsoring group, which is the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The image also captures the emotion in Oslo, Norway. Armed robbers made a daring daylight snatch of two priceless paintings by Edvard Munch, including a version of his masterpiece "The Scream." Witnesses say later they were later shocked by the audacity of the thieves and the lack of security at the museum named after the Norwegian artist.

Legal proceedings are just getting underway this week for terror suspects held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Among the first to appear, an accused al Qaeda accountant, a poet, and an alleged driver for Osama bin Laden.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti takes a closer look at these proceedings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Citing security reasons, the U.S. Defense Department will not allow any recordings inside the courtroom once the historic proceedings begin. Here, a five-member military commission -- a process not used since World War II\ -- will decide the fate of the only four of nearly 600 Guantanamo prisoners so far charged with what the government calls war crimes.

LT. SUSAN MCGARVEY, MILITARY COMMISSION SPOKESWOMAN: I'm hoping that people will see the process as a full and fair opportunity for each individual to have their case heard.

CANDIOTTI: Yet already, human rights organizations are skeptical. Three of the four defendants captured in Afghanistan in 2001 are charged with conspiracy to attack civilians. And three are also alleged former bodyguards of Osama bin Laden.

One of them is also accused of making an al Qaeda recruitment tape, praising the attack on the USS Cole. Australian David Hicks is charged with attempted murder of coalition forces and aiding the enemy.

Critics question whether the proceedings, with no independent judge, no outside civilian appeals, will be fair. They also question the credibility of some witnesses, whose allegations came after intense interrogation. Even appointed military attorneys for the accused are critical of the process.

LT. COMMANDER PHILLIP SUNDELL, ATTORNEY FOR ALI HAMZA: The trials are fundamentally flawed, and they cannot guarantee a fair process. You don't need to be stacked any more than that.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): The defense department has imposed a number of restrictions in visualizing the story. For security reasons, we're told no pictures of people coming and going from the building. The courtroom sketch artist is not allowed to draw recognizable faces of members of the commission, of prosecutors, even the defendants' faces. It would violate rules of the Geneva Convention.

Yet, defense attorneys insist their clients have no objection.

(voice-over): Prosecutors worry about retribution.

COL. DAVID MCWILLIAMS, MILITARY COMMISSION SPOKESMAN: They have a concern about protection for themselves and their families if they are publicly known to have been participating in a process against someone who's alleged to have committed war crimes.

CANDIOTTI: If found guilty, the maximum penalty is life. However, acquittal does not mean automatic freedom. Every prisoner is considered an enemy combatant and could be held indefinitely until the war on terror is over -- whenever that may be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): No testimony is scheduled when the commission gets underway tomorrow, as the first of four defendants is scheduled to appear. However, charges will be read, and each of the four defendants as the week goes on will have an opportunity to enter a plea. They're not required to do so at this stage. And also, motions will be heard -- several of them. Defense attorneys already complaining that they have barely had enough time to meet with their clients, to work with translators, to find and interview potential witnesses. And they are asking for a delay in the start of the trial, which is tentatively scheduled for November -- Betty?

NGUYEN: And there are reports that one attorney even left his client for another job, leaving that detainee without representation. So, we'll see how this all shakes out. Susan Candiotti, on the base there in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Thank you.

In Mannheim, Germany, a pretrial hearing is underway this hour for four of seven U.S. soldiers charged in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. Morning testimony focused on Specialist Charles Graner, identified as the ringleader. He faces the most serious charges, including assault, maltreatment of prisoners, and adultery. Graner's attorneys failed to have photographs taken from his computer suppressed. All those charged are Reservists with the Army's 372nd Company. The hearings will continue today and tomorrow.

In Afghanistan, a judge has delayed the proceedings against three Americans accused of imprisoning and mistreating Afghan prisoners. The men are charged with torturing a dozen prisoners during an alleged vigilante hunt for terrorists. One of the suspects claims he was working with the approval of the Pentagon and Afghan leaders, a charge that Washington vehemently denies. Earlier today, the defense showed a videotape of a former Afghan official congratulating the suspects for their work.

The war on terror now in a battle for the White House converge one week from today in New York City. The city hosts the Republican National Convention and faces what may well be its greatest security concern since the 9/11 attacks.

CNN Financial News reported Allan Chernoff looks at the extraordinary precautions being put in place.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If someone gets arrest, call us. We know what to do. And I need people that are going to staff this...

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Opponents of President Bush have been planning for months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the police tell us we need to move in a different direction...

CHERNOFF: This group sarcastically calls itself Billionaires for Bush. The Billionaires next Sunday plan to join tens of thousands of protesters in a march past Madison Square Garden, where George Bush is to be nominated for a second term.

ANDREW BOYD, BILLIONAIRES FOR BUSH: We want to show the world that there's a huge uprising of resistance against George Bush and the war in Iraq.

CHERNOFF: The police say they are ready for the protesters, illustrating here how they would break up demonstrators who chain themselves to objects. Add the recent warnings that landmark buildings are terror targets, New York's post-9/11 high alert status, and the city is confronting one of its great security challenges.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: The first and most important thing is make the city secure, and then we'll figure out how to pay for it.

CHERNOFF: The price tag will top $70 million -- $50 million of which is coming from Washington.

RAYMOND KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: We'll be using, in essence, the entire department. We'll be working extended tours. And I don't believe any area is going to be diminished at all in terms of, you know, our effective enforcement of the law.

CHERNOFF: City, state, and federal authorities will be patrolling New York on the ground, in the air, underground, and in the water. Madison Square Garden will be on virtual lockdown. Streets north and south of the Garden closed. All but two entrances to the train station sitting beneath the arena also closed. Deliveries in the immediate neighborhood, restricted. Demand is high for private security, as well. 21st Century Security has hired an extra 40 agents, expanding its staff by 50 percent.

ANTHONY POVEROMO, CEO, 21ST CENTURY SECURITY: We're providing bodyguard services. We're providing basically peace of mind, letting them know that they can call on us to either be their driver, someone to walk with...

CHERNOFF (on camera): The modern political convention is a tightly scripted event with no surprises. It is largely up to law enforcement to ensure that everything does go as planned, that the city is safe for delegates, protesters, and all New Yorkers.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, it's not all good news for Google. A new report raises questions about the way the company is run. We'll go live to the New York Stock Exchange for those details.

And going for gold: the latest on the U.S. women's softball team.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You might call it chick lit for a cause. It's a collection of short stories by popular women authors, and the proceeds benefit children affected by war. The book is called "Girls Night In." And one of the contributors is Meg Cabot, author of more than 30 novels, including "The Princess Diaries." She joins us now from Miami.

Good morning to you.

MEG CABOT, CO-AUTHOR, "GIRLS NIGHT IN": Good morning to you. How are you doing?

NGUYEN: I'm doing wonderful. Let's talk about this book, because it's really a compilation of short stories by a number of authors, some really good authors. This is some serious female power.

CABOT: Yes.

NGUYEN: How did this idea come about?

CABOT: You know, they've been doing this over in he England for a while, having authors contribute to short story collections to raise money for war child, and it just finally trickled over here in the U.S. We're doing it for Harlequin. And somebody just called me, and was like, would you be interested in doing this? And I said, yes.

NGUYEN: Yes, of course you would.

CABOT: Sure!

NGUYEN: Well, what are the stories about? Give us some insight into the short stories?

CABOT: Well, i can't speak for all of them. Actually, the book's not out yet. It's going to be out September 1st, and my copy got stolen.

NGUYEN: It's that good, that it got stolen. I think it's very appealing to female audiences. And I got a copy, and it's disappeared. So, I didn't actually get to read the entire book, but I can tell you that judging from author, judging from the author, Sophie Kinsella, who writes the "Shopaholic" series, which I personally love, and I know and my story.

They're very light, funny stories. So, though it's supporting a cause that's very serious, war child, the stories themselves are exactly what people have come to expect from authors like Anna Maxted and Megan McCafferty. I mean, they're just fabulous, fun, little short stories.

But really, if you want to spend a girl's night in reading, it will be totally comforting and give you a good laugh.

NGUYEN: And feel-good stories. Well, and as you mentioned, it all goes to charity. Talk to us about War Child USA. What is that?

CABOT: War Child is actually, it's a network of organizations that help to aid children in countries that have been torn by war. So, they do things like supply insulin for diabetic children. They've started programs in Afghanistan to create bakeries so that, you know, villages can get the food that they need. They have a blind school. I mean, they're really going around to countries in Rwanda and I believe Croatia, helping children who are victims of war, since, you know, obviously they're innocent victims, and we want to do what we can for them. And so, the fact that the writing community has been able to come together and contribute this great product that I think people will love, and all the money is going to go to help children of foreign wars.

NGUYEN: It's wonderful to see all of you come together, because a lot of you can really get some big bucks for your writings, but you decide to team up and do this for such a good cause. How does that make you feel?

CABOT: It makes me feel great. You know, I get asked to contribute to a lot of anthologies, and this was really one of the first ones where they said, and you know what, we're all going to give all the money away. And I was like, oh my gosh, that's great, let's do it, wow!

So, it's a fun way to use my talent and actually give back to the people. So, I think I'm having the best time going around talking about this book, because people are excited about it, and it's a great cause.

NGUYEN: It's very rewarding. Do you think there will be more of these?

CABOT: Oh, I think so. There have already been a bunch, and I think that there will probably be more, the first U.S. offer through Harlequin. But I think if (INAUDIBLE) keeps up, we're going to see a lot more, I hope.

NGUYEN: Well, best of luck to you, Meg Cabot, coauthor of "Girl's Night In," thank you.

CABOT: Thank you.

NGUYEN: In our "Daily Dose" of health news, companies trying to cash in on the low-carb craze may be a day late and dollar short. Over a one-year period that ended in June, sales of low-carb branded foods surged to more than $1 billion according to market research.

But the number of Americans who say they're on low-carb diets peaked in January and has since leveled off. One industry consultant says companies may have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on reformulated and repackaged foods.

A company is giving up its legal fight to help Americans buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. Rx Depot faxed customers prescriptions to pharmacies in Canada, and then those pharmacies sent them the drugs directly to patients. But the FDA objected, and a judge ruled that the company's actions were against the law. Rx Depot appealed the judge's order, but has now agreed to comply.

You've heard about the potential health benefits of wine. Now researchers say the grapes left over from the wine-making process may help fight many common types of bacteria. Scientists in Turkey tested 14 types of bacteria, including E. coli, and found the leftover grapes could destroy the bacteria. The study suggests that extracts could be used as preservatives to protect food from bacterial growth.

And to get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, all you have to is log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is cnn.com/health.

We have a check of the financial markets next. Plus, fantastic fall getaways. Find out which South American city makes the list.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Cool air, hot deals. Lots of people are making plans now for a fall getaway. So, where should you go? The September issue of "Travel + Leisure" magazine solves that dilemma for you.

Nilou Motamed joins us now from New York.

Good morning to you.

NILOU MOTAMED, "TRAVEL + LEISURE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well we're talking about the ultimate fall getaway, not your average, but the average. So, the pressure is on. Let's start in the U.S. Where should you go?

MOTAMED: I think if you're going to go anywhere in the U.S., forget the leaf peeping and head straight to Napa. There's just a lot of exciting news going on there. Calistoga Ranch just opened up, from the Auberge Properties. There's Carneros Inn. There's Copia, which is the American Center for Food, Wine, and the Arts, which kind of brings all of that together. There's definitely a lot do there.

Of course there's a lot of wine to drink. They're over 200 wineries there. So, you need a head start.

NGUYEN: OK, so if you want to travel overseas this fall, what do you suggest?

MOTAMED: I don't know. It's a tough call, but I think Italy is always high on the list of many "Travel + Leisure" readers. And what's great in Italy right now is there are so many unbelievably hot, hot, hot hotels that have opened up.

The big news right now is actually Frenchman Alain Ducasse has decided to open up a hotel in Tuscany, in the Maremma region, called L'Andana. And he is known for his perfectionism, and the hotel has just started to kind of get everything going, because they have the rooms, but there's going to be a spa, and two world-class restaurants and definitely a place to hit.

There's also the Park Hyatt in Milan. It has the largest bathrooms of any hotel in Milan, which means that if you love your deep-soaking tubs, that's the place to go.

NGUYEN: Now you mentioned some savings on the meals, but with these hot, hot hotels, is it expensive?

MOTAMED: Well, I think that you can always find deals, and Italy is the kind of place where you can eat on the fly. There are great places to have pasta, and it won't be as expensive, although the euro does definitely take a chunk out of your budget there.

NGUYEN: What about Paris? Is that on the list?

MOTAMED: Oh, Paris is absolutely always on my list, and becoming popular again with our readers. We did a great story on affordable places to eat in Paris. We include Le Lyonnais. We include Maitre Albert. We include even Jean Reubeuchand's (ph) restaurant, which is the hottest ticket in Paris, and how to eat there on a budget.

NGUYEN: That's Europe. What about something with a Latin flair? You suggest somewhere down south of us?

MOTAMED: Well, if you're sad to see summer go, I think the way to do it is to go to South America, and head to Rio, where it will just be summer, so you won't be having to let summer go. So, it's a fall getaway where it's really summer, and you know, "The Girl from Ipanema" is no joke. This is an unbelievable destination if you're looking for bikinis, if you're looking for the beach, if you're looking for hot, hot, hot, again, this is the place to go.

You have amazing cultural destination, you have incredible art at their museum, contemporary museum there. The Copocabana has just been renovated, and of course there's Ipanema Beach, where you'll see the smallest bikinis anywhere.

NGUYEN: I don't know if I want to go there, not in shape for that, but maybe after heading to the gym.

MOTAMED: You can do it.

NGUYEN: All right, Nilou Motamed, thank you so much.

MOTAMED: Thanks for having me.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

NGUYEN: We have a check of the weather when we come back, so stay with us. You're watching LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, that is going to do it for it edition of LIVE TODAY. Thanks for joining us. We want to send it now to Washington and CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

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 23, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of rebel militia members remain holed up inside a Najaf mosque and say U.S. airstrikes have damaged the shrine, which is held sacred in the Shia religion. A spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr says several people were wounded or killed in the renewed fighting. Now, al-Sadr's loyalists say they'll transfer custody of the mosque when a delegation of Shia representatives arrives.
New overtime rules are taking effect today, but there's little agreement on the bottom line. The estimated number of workers who could lose their overtime benefits runs the gamut from just over 100,000 to some six million employees. Regardless, though, it's the largest such overhaul in half a century. Labor experts say, with all the variables, only your employer can say whether you'll be affected.

Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards resumes campaigning next hour in Wisconsin, where he is challenging the Bush administration to denounce an attack on running mate John Kerry. The TV ad, which runs in Wisconsin and two other states, accuses Kerry of lying to win combat declarations in Vietnam. The Bush campaign has refused to critically specifically criticize the ads, but says it has no connection to the sponsoring group, which is the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The image also captures the emotion in Oslo, Norway. Armed robbers made a daring daylight snatch of two priceless paintings by Edvard Munch, including a version of his masterpiece "The Scream." Witnesses say later they were later shocked by the audacity of the thieves and the lack of security at the museum named after the Norwegian artist.

Legal proceedings are just getting underway this week for terror suspects held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Among the first to appear, an accused al Qaeda accountant, a poet, and an alleged driver for Osama bin Laden.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti takes a closer look at these proceedings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Citing security reasons, the U.S. Defense Department will not allow any recordings inside the courtroom once the historic proceedings begin. Here, a five-member military commission -- a process not used since World War II\ -- will decide the fate of the only four of nearly 600 Guantanamo prisoners so far charged with what the government calls war crimes.

LT. SUSAN MCGARVEY, MILITARY COMMISSION SPOKESWOMAN: I'm hoping that people will see the process as a full and fair opportunity for each individual to have their case heard.

CANDIOTTI: Yet already, human rights organizations are skeptical. Three of the four defendants captured in Afghanistan in 2001 are charged with conspiracy to attack civilians. And three are also alleged former bodyguards of Osama bin Laden.

One of them is also accused of making an al Qaeda recruitment tape, praising the attack on the USS Cole. Australian David Hicks is charged with attempted murder of coalition forces and aiding the enemy.

Critics question whether the proceedings, with no independent judge, no outside civilian appeals, will be fair. They also question the credibility of some witnesses, whose allegations came after intense interrogation. Even appointed military attorneys for the accused are critical of the process.

LT. COMMANDER PHILLIP SUNDELL, ATTORNEY FOR ALI HAMZA: The trials are fundamentally flawed, and they cannot guarantee a fair process. You don't need to be stacked any more than that.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): The defense department has imposed a number of restrictions in visualizing the story. For security reasons, we're told no pictures of people coming and going from the building. The courtroom sketch artist is not allowed to draw recognizable faces of members of the commission, of prosecutors, even the defendants' faces. It would violate rules of the Geneva Convention.

Yet, defense attorneys insist their clients have no objection.

(voice-over): Prosecutors worry about retribution.

COL. DAVID MCWILLIAMS, MILITARY COMMISSION SPOKESMAN: They have a concern about protection for themselves and their families if they are publicly known to have been participating in a process against someone who's alleged to have committed war crimes.

CANDIOTTI: If found guilty, the maximum penalty is life. However, acquittal does not mean automatic freedom. Every prisoner is considered an enemy combatant and could be held indefinitely until the war on terror is over -- whenever that may be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): No testimony is scheduled when the commission gets underway tomorrow, as the first of four defendants is scheduled to appear. However, charges will be read, and each of the four defendants as the week goes on will have an opportunity to enter a plea. They're not required to do so at this stage. And also, motions will be heard -- several of them. Defense attorneys already complaining that they have barely had enough time to meet with their clients, to work with translators, to find and interview potential witnesses. And they are asking for a delay in the start of the trial, which is tentatively scheduled for November -- Betty?

NGUYEN: And there are reports that one attorney even left his client for another job, leaving that detainee without representation. So, we'll see how this all shakes out. Susan Candiotti, on the base there in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Thank you.

In Mannheim, Germany, a pretrial hearing is underway this hour for four of seven U.S. soldiers charged in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. Morning testimony focused on Specialist Charles Graner, identified as the ringleader. He faces the most serious charges, including assault, maltreatment of prisoners, and adultery. Graner's attorneys failed to have photographs taken from his computer suppressed. All those charged are Reservists with the Army's 372nd Company. The hearings will continue today and tomorrow.

In Afghanistan, a judge has delayed the proceedings against three Americans accused of imprisoning and mistreating Afghan prisoners. The men are charged with torturing a dozen prisoners during an alleged vigilante hunt for terrorists. One of the suspects claims he was working with the approval of the Pentagon and Afghan leaders, a charge that Washington vehemently denies. Earlier today, the defense showed a videotape of a former Afghan official congratulating the suspects for their work.

The war on terror now in a battle for the White House converge one week from today in New York City. The city hosts the Republican National Convention and faces what may well be its greatest security concern since the 9/11 attacks.

CNN Financial News reported Allan Chernoff looks at the extraordinary precautions being put in place.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If someone gets arrest, call us. We know what to do. And I need people that are going to staff this...

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Opponents of President Bush have been planning for months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the police tell us we need to move in a different direction...

CHERNOFF: This group sarcastically calls itself Billionaires for Bush. The Billionaires next Sunday plan to join tens of thousands of protesters in a march past Madison Square Garden, where George Bush is to be nominated for a second term.

ANDREW BOYD, BILLIONAIRES FOR BUSH: We want to show the world that there's a huge uprising of resistance against George Bush and the war in Iraq.

CHERNOFF: The police say they are ready for the protesters, illustrating here how they would break up demonstrators who chain themselves to objects. Add the recent warnings that landmark buildings are terror targets, New York's post-9/11 high alert status, and the city is confronting one of its great security challenges.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: The first and most important thing is make the city secure, and then we'll figure out how to pay for it.

CHERNOFF: The price tag will top $70 million -- $50 million of which is coming from Washington.

RAYMOND KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: We'll be using, in essence, the entire department. We'll be working extended tours. And I don't believe any area is going to be diminished at all in terms of, you know, our effective enforcement of the law.

CHERNOFF: City, state, and federal authorities will be patrolling New York on the ground, in the air, underground, and in the water. Madison Square Garden will be on virtual lockdown. Streets north and south of the Garden closed. All but two entrances to the train station sitting beneath the arena also closed. Deliveries in the immediate neighborhood, restricted. Demand is high for private security, as well. 21st Century Security has hired an extra 40 agents, expanding its staff by 50 percent.

ANTHONY POVEROMO, CEO, 21ST CENTURY SECURITY: We're providing bodyguard services. We're providing basically peace of mind, letting them know that they can call on us to either be their driver, someone to walk with...

CHERNOFF (on camera): The modern political convention is a tightly scripted event with no surprises. It is largely up to law enforcement to ensure that everything does go as planned, that the city is safe for delegates, protesters, and all New Yorkers.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, it's not all good news for Google. A new report raises questions about the way the company is run. We'll go live to the New York Stock Exchange for those details.

And going for gold: the latest on the U.S. women's softball team.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You might call it chick lit for a cause. It's a collection of short stories by popular women authors, and the proceeds benefit children affected by war. The book is called "Girls Night In." And one of the contributors is Meg Cabot, author of more than 30 novels, including "The Princess Diaries." She joins us now from Miami.

Good morning to you.

MEG CABOT, CO-AUTHOR, "GIRLS NIGHT IN": Good morning to you. How are you doing?

NGUYEN: I'm doing wonderful. Let's talk about this book, because it's really a compilation of short stories by a number of authors, some really good authors. This is some serious female power.

CABOT: Yes.

NGUYEN: How did this idea come about?

CABOT: You know, they've been doing this over in he England for a while, having authors contribute to short story collections to raise money for war child, and it just finally trickled over here in the U.S. We're doing it for Harlequin. And somebody just called me, and was like, would you be interested in doing this? And I said, yes.

NGUYEN: Yes, of course you would.

CABOT: Sure!

NGUYEN: Well, what are the stories about? Give us some insight into the short stories?

CABOT: Well, i can't speak for all of them. Actually, the book's not out yet. It's going to be out September 1st, and my copy got stolen.

NGUYEN: It's that good, that it got stolen. I think it's very appealing to female audiences. And I got a copy, and it's disappeared. So, I didn't actually get to read the entire book, but I can tell you that judging from author, judging from the author, Sophie Kinsella, who writes the "Shopaholic" series, which I personally love, and I know and my story.

They're very light, funny stories. So, though it's supporting a cause that's very serious, war child, the stories themselves are exactly what people have come to expect from authors like Anna Maxted and Megan McCafferty. I mean, they're just fabulous, fun, little short stories.

But really, if you want to spend a girl's night in reading, it will be totally comforting and give you a good laugh.

NGUYEN: And feel-good stories. Well, and as you mentioned, it all goes to charity. Talk to us about War Child USA. What is that?

CABOT: War Child is actually, it's a network of organizations that help to aid children in countries that have been torn by war. So, they do things like supply insulin for diabetic children. They've started programs in Afghanistan to create bakeries so that, you know, villages can get the food that they need. They have a blind school. I mean, they're really going around to countries in Rwanda and I believe Croatia, helping children who are victims of war, since, you know, obviously they're innocent victims, and we want to do what we can for them. And so, the fact that the writing community has been able to come together and contribute this great product that I think people will love, and all the money is going to go to help children of foreign wars.

NGUYEN: It's wonderful to see all of you come together, because a lot of you can really get some big bucks for your writings, but you decide to team up and do this for such a good cause. How does that make you feel?

CABOT: It makes me feel great. You know, I get asked to contribute to a lot of anthologies, and this was really one of the first ones where they said, and you know what, we're all going to give all the money away. And I was like, oh my gosh, that's great, let's do it, wow!

So, it's a fun way to use my talent and actually give back to the people. So, I think I'm having the best time going around talking about this book, because people are excited about it, and it's a great cause.

NGUYEN: It's very rewarding. Do you think there will be more of these?

CABOT: Oh, I think so. There have already been a bunch, and I think that there will probably be more, the first U.S. offer through Harlequin. But I think if (INAUDIBLE) keeps up, we're going to see a lot more, I hope.

NGUYEN: Well, best of luck to you, Meg Cabot, coauthor of "Girl's Night In," thank you.

CABOT: Thank you.

NGUYEN: In our "Daily Dose" of health news, companies trying to cash in on the low-carb craze may be a day late and dollar short. Over a one-year period that ended in June, sales of low-carb branded foods surged to more than $1 billion according to market research.

But the number of Americans who say they're on low-carb diets peaked in January and has since leveled off. One industry consultant says companies may have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on reformulated and repackaged foods.

A company is giving up its legal fight to help Americans buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. Rx Depot faxed customers prescriptions to pharmacies in Canada, and then those pharmacies sent them the drugs directly to patients. But the FDA objected, and a judge ruled that the company's actions were against the law. Rx Depot appealed the judge's order, but has now agreed to comply.

You've heard about the potential health benefits of wine. Now researchers say the grapes left over from the wine-making process may help fight many common types of bacteria. Scientists in Turkey tested 14 types of bacteria, including E. coli, and found the leftover grapes could destroy the bacteria. The study suggests that extracts could be used as preservatives to protect food from bacterial growth.

And to get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, all you have to is log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is cnn.com/health.

We have a check of the financial markets next. Plus, fantastic fall getaways. Find out which South American city makes the list.

Stay with us.

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NGUYEN: Cool air, hot deals. Lots of people are making plans now for a fall getaway. So, where should you go? The September issue of "Travel + Leisure" magazine solves that dilemma for you.

Nilou Motamed joins us now from New York.

Good morning to you.

NILOU MOTAMED, "TRAVEL + LEISURE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well we're talking about the ultimate fall getaway, not your average, but the average. So, the pressure is on. Let's start in the U.S. Where should you go?

MOTAMED: I think if you're going to go anywhere in the U.S., forget the leaf peeping and head straight to Napa. There's just a lot of exciting news going on there. Calistoga Ranch just opened up, from the Auberge Properties. There's Carneros Inn. There's Copia, which is the American Center for Food, Wine, and the Arts, which kind of brings all of that together. There's definitely a lot do there.

Of course there's a lot of wine to drink. They're over 200 wineries there. So, you need a head start.

NGUYEN: OK, so if you want to travel overseas this fall, what do you suggest?

MOTAMED: I don't know. It's a tough call, but I think Italy is always high on the list of many "Travel + Leisure" readers. And what's great in Italy right now is there are so many unbelievably hot, hot, hot hotels that have opened up.

The big news right now is actually Frenchman Alain Ducasse has decided to open up a hotel in Tuscany, in the Maremma region, called L'Andana. And he is known for his perfectionism, and the hotel has just started to kind of get everything going, because they have the rooms, but there's going to be a spa, and two world-class restaurants and definitely a place to hit.

There's also the Park Hyatt in Milan. It has the largest bathrooms of any hotel in Milan, which means that if you love your deep-soaking tubs, that's the place to go.

NGUYEN: Now you mentioned some savings on the meals, but with these hot, hot hotels, is it expensive?

MOTAMED: Well, I think that you can always find deals, and Italy is the kind of place where you can eat on the fly. There are great places to have pasta, and it won't be as expensive, although the euro does definitely take a chunk out of your budget there.

NGUYEN: What about Paris? Is that on the list?

MOTAMED: Oh, Paris is absolutely always on my list, and becoming popular again with our readers. We did a great story on affordable places to eat in Paris. We include Le Lyonnais. We include Maitre Albert. We include even Jean Reubeuchand's (ph) restaurant, which is the hottest ticket in Paris, and how to eat there on a budget.

NGUYEN: That's Europe. What about something with a Latin flair? You suggest somewhere down south of us?

MOTAMED: Well, if you're sad to see summer go, I think the way to do it is to go to South America, and head to Rio, where it will just be summer, so you won't be having to let summer go. So, it's a fall getaway where it's really summer, and you know, "The Girl from Ipanema" is no joke. This is an unbelievable destination if you're looking for bikinis, if you're looking for the beach, if you're looking for hot, hot, hot, again, this is the place to go.

You have amazing cultural destination, you have incredible art at their museum, contemporary museum there. The Copocabana has just been renovated, and of course there's Ipanema Beach, where you'll see the smallest bikinis anywhere.

NGUYEN: I don't know if I want to go there, not in shape for that, but maybe after heading to the gym.

MOTAMED: You can do it.

NGUYEN: All right, Nilou Motamed, thank you so much.

MOTAMED: Thanks for having me.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

NGUYEN: We have a check of the weather when we come back, so stay with us. You're watching LIVE TODAY.

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(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, that is going to do it for it edition of LIVE TODAY. Thanks for joining us. We want to send it now to Washington and CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

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