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CNN Live At Daybreak

Home Again; Climb to Freedom; Peterson Theories; The Cost of Health; Hair Today

Aired September 29, 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: Good morning to you. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

Word in just two-and-a-half hours ago, a judge in Yemen has sentenced two men to death for the bombing of the USS Cole four years ago. Four other men were given prison terms ranging from 5 years to 10 years. Seventeen American sailors were killed in that attack.

Look at this exclusive CNN video from Beijing right outside the Canadian Embassy, 44 North Koreans scale the wall in a bid for asylum. One man failed to get over when Chinese guards pulled a ladder out from under him, but many others managed to get over that wall.

Two men battling over Barry Bonds' record 700th home run ball are due in a San Francisco courtroom today. The ball, of course, could be worth somewhere in the six figures.

Parts of New Jersey and New York a bitter taste of the remnants of Jeanne. The former hurricane even spawned a tornado in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. No one was hurt, but 11 buildings were damaged.

To the Forecast Center and Chad.

More rain today there, huh?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Still raining in some spots, Carol. It's moved out of the city now, though, but still not out of the tristates. It's still raining across parts of Washington and even into Worcester and into Boston, Massachusetts. Providence also seeing some rain showers this morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: I was just looking at our e-mail box. Our viewers finally woke up. We're getting e-mails now.

MYERS: What's the e-mail question for today?

COSTELLO: The e-mail "Question of the Day," you know President Bush is going to appear on "Dr. Phil," and then John Kerry is going to appear on "Dr. Phil" like next Wednesday. So the question is "Dr. Phil," what's next, "Jerry Springer?" What's "Dr. Phil" going to tell them, get real. So we were wondering if it was a good thing or a bad thing for candidates of this stature to appear on talk shows like that. So candidates and talk shows: good or bad mix? DAYBREAK@CNN.com e-mail us now.

Thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: Good thing Geraldo still doesn't have a show.

COSTELLO: Can you imagine?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: We begin now this half-hour, though, in Iraq where there has finally been a resolution to some of those hostage situations and some movement toward a resolution in another. Two French journalists who were abducted August 20 are reportedly close to being freed. A French negotiator says they could be let go soon.

Two Italian women released by their kidnappers return to Rome today. The two aid workers were taken from their office on September 7.

An Egyptian telecommunications company says four of its six hostages kidnapped last week have now been released. Two Egyptian engineers remain in captivity though.

Also, two Iraqi aid workers who were with the Italian women when they were taken have also been freed.

Let's talk about the Italian hostages that are free this morning. Italian newspapers are filled with news about those two female workers who were released after their three-week hostage ordeal.

Let's get more on that from our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci.

Good morning -- Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning to you, Carol.

It's a beautiful day here in Rome, and I can tell you that the whole country must feel just the same. There is relief here, of course, that the latest hostage crisis hitting this country has ended without bloodshed and in the best possible way. And this sense of relief, perhaps enhanced by the fact that even just last Friday Italian media were reporting that the two hostages were executed, were dead. And later, after their release yesterday in front of the headquarters of the Italian organizations for which they work in Iraq, there were celebration as well.

Now let me show you the contrast with the headlines last week with the headlines this morning in the Italian newspapers. "The Careera Della Salla (ph)," the main daily here in Italy, (SPEAKING ITALIAN), they are all back home, thanks to all, with a picture, of course, of the two Simonas, as they are known here.

The "La Stames" published in Torine, another large picture of the two former hostages. (SPEAKING ITALIAN), the smile of the two Simonas, we are doing well.

And finally, "A Messangero (ph)," the main daily here in Rome and the capital, a casa, at home again here the picture of the two Simonas.

They arrived here last night at the airport only hours after they had been released in Iraq. There were some reports of a possible ransom being paid. Italian government officials are denying it. Political sources here are telling me that some money has changed hands, but you don't have to ask politicians to figure it out.

Ask any barman, any taxi driver in this country, anybody in the streets, everybody believes that some money has been paid, otherwise the two hostages, the two former hostages would have not been released. But at the same time, nobody here really cares how much or if any money has been paid, because the most important thing for the people in this country today is that the two Simonas are back at home safely.

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Well it would be disturbing, though, if money were paid to those terrorists. And the other weird thing about this is these women are anti-war and they were in Iraq protesting the war.

VINCI: Well that is correct. If indeed news were to be confirmed that some money has been paid, and indeed the confirmation that Italian government may have negotiated with the kidnappers, it would be disturbing news. But I do not believe that confirmation will ever come. But if you ask the people in the streets of Italy, they do not believe that it is important. The most important thing for them, as I said, is the two women have been released.

As you mentioned, these two humanitarian workers were outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. They were in Iraq. They have been in Iraq for quite some time before they were kidnapped.

One of them was actually involved, even in the early days after the first Gulf War in 1991, she worked for this organization called Umpanta Fay (ph), a bridge for Baghdad. And she was there helping the Iraqis coping with the U.N. imposed sanctions. So these were people who were in Iraq helping the Iraqi people and, therefore, the Italians were outraged to the fact that they had been kidnapped just in Iraq by Iraqi people as well -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Alessio Vinci reporting live from Rome this morning, thank you.

There is also news of a hostage release close to those of us who work at CNN, our CNN producer Riad Ali is free today almost 24 hours after being abducted in Gaza. He was welcomed by correspondent Ben Wedeman. The two were together when Ali was taken at gunpoint. Upon his release, he talked about going home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RIAD ALI, CNN PRODUCER FREED AFTER ABDUCTION: The only thing that I am waiting for now is to see my family, to see my kids, to see my wife. They are waiting for me up in the north in my village. So thanks all of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So happy he is home safe and sound. Ali tells reporters he doesn't know who abducted him.

Just over two hours ago, a group of North Korean refugees in China took their chances and made a dramatic try for freedom.

Let's go straight to Beijing's bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz with details.

Such sad and dramatic pictures -- Jaime.

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, it was yet another daring move by North Korean refugees in Beijing to seek asylum, this time captured on tape by our CNN crew. Some were disguised as construction workers. They placed three large ladders against the fence of the Canadian Embassy while others climbed over it inside and into the Canadian Embassy ground.

One of them didn't make it. All 44 of them made it, mostly men, but also including children, women and the elderly. But one man didn't make it. A 75-year-old man was pulled down by a Chinese guard, employed by the Canadian Embassy, before he could make it inside the embassy. We still don't know what happened to him afterwards.

But we reached one of the asylum seekers by mobile phone while she was holed up inside the embassy, and she explained to us why they are doing this. She says that they have no food to eat in North Korea, that life is hard there and they all want to go to South Korea -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So will they get to go to South Korea, the ones that made it over the wall? What will happen to them now?

FLORCRUZ: Well typically this will take a long diplomatic negotiation, involving the Chinese, the Canadians in this case, and perhaps North Korea and South Korea. This is just one of the latest of the wave of North Korean refugees sneaking into China, trying to escape poverty and hunger and political persecution in their country.

And over the years, they have tried to barge into embassies and even international schools trying to seek asylum. And typically, after a long negotiation, they are allowed out of China, eventually to South Korea, but only very quietly and through a third country so that they will not embarrass the China's long-time ally and neighbor, North Korea -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jaime FlorCruz, reporting live from Beijing, China this morning, thank you. An earthquake interrupts court in the Scott Peterson trial. And a theory surfaces that Peterson may have tried to poison his wife. The latest in the Peterson case ahead.

And wages are up slightly, but the cost of health insurance is up considerably. Coming up, why more and more Americans are uninsured.

And our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Morning," candidates on talk shows, like "Dr. Phil," is it a good or bad mix? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. Of course we'll read some of those e-mails on our show.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Did detectives get lazy during their investigation of Laci Peterson's murder? That's a defense argument.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has more on the testimony and the theories of the lead detective of the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): During his sixth day on the stand, lead detective Craig Grogan testified at one point he thought Scott Peterson may have poisoned or drugged his wife, Laci, before killing her. He said police pursued the theory because it would help explain why no crime scene was ever found. Grogan admitted that items tested for drugs came back negative.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos used his cross-examination of Grogan to attack the investigation into Laci Peterson's disappearance and murder. Geragos established that a number of items found near the remains of Laci Peterson were never tested, including a piece of plastic that one police officer thought smelled like human remains.

Geragos tried to counter earlier testimony that Peterson didn't seem to care about the investigation. Grogan admitted that a few weeks after Laci was reported missing, Scott Peterson called to say that police were wasting their time focusing on him and they needed to follow other leads.

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL ANALYST: He doesn't have a huge point that he wants to make. He has a bunch of small points, and so he's just going one by one by one.

ROWLANDS: Testimony came to a sudden halt after many people in the courtroom, including most of the jury, felt the 6.0 earthquake centered in central California, some 200 miles south. Court resumed after a short break.

(on camera): The judge told jurors to expect that the prosecution's case, which was to end on Thursday, will most likely last at least another week. Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Word overnight in Yemen, two men accused in the deadly bombing of the USS Cole have been sentenced to death. Four others got prison terms. Seventeen American sailors died in that blast.

Take a look at this, it is a desperate scramble to freedom. It happened three hours ago in Beijing, 44 North Koreans scaled a fence around the Canadian Embassy. Chinese guards stopped one man from getting over. These pictures in China.

In money news, the price of your morning jolt just went up. Starbucks announced it will raise prices by an average of 11 cents at all of its 4,500 outlets. Higher coffee and sugar prices being blamed for that price hike.

In culture, fashion pioneer Geoffrey Beene is dead. He died of pneumonia at his Manhattan home. Beene burst onto the fashion scene more than 40 years ago. Geoffrey Beene was 77 years old.

In sports, the Anaheim Angels pulled into a tie for first place in the American League West with an 8 to 2 win over the Texas Rangers. The Angels and the Oakland A's are tied for the lead. They will face each other for three games to close out the regular season. Pretty darned exciting -- Chad.

MYERS: You bet. Hey, a couple of great races out there as well, Carol.

Hey, good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

Getting warm and fuzzy with the voters, that's what's behind some high profile appearances on the TV talk show circuit. The "Dr. Phil" show airs a pre-taped interview with President Bush and his wife today. The topic, parenting.

John Kerry and his wife appear on the show next week. Kerry has already made some other visits on the chat circuit. Besides his appearance on "Dr. Phil," the senator has dropped in to see "Regis and Kelly" and done late night gigs with Leno and Letterman.

So our e-mail "Question of the Day," candidates and talk shows: good or bad mix? Now I submit that what's next, "Jerry Springer?" I mean Regis Philbin is not going to ask a tough question of John Kerry. Let's face it, John Kerry is just going to sit there and be John Kerry, right? So what real use are these interview shows for the candidates and for voters? Well, you certainly disagree with me.

This is from Hector (ph). He says even though the actual content of the interviews might not be relevant, those shows let us see another dimension of the candidate's personality, for example, their sense of humor and their tolerance to informal criticism.

This is from Valerie (ph) in New York or in Virginia. Actually, I do think it's a good idea. I'm addicted to CNN. I watch it about 10 to 12 hours daily. My sister and my friends, however, watch soap operas and talk show and that may very well be the only places they actually see the candidates talk, especially since often their shows are interrupted when the president talks, which makes them highly upset.

And user name unknown. Put your names on it, we like to hear where you're from. Believe it or not, most Americans will tune in to a talk show before they will tune into national news.

And one more, this is from Megan (ph). She says how can candidates and talk shows possibly be a bad mix? Anything that gives the public an intimate and personal view of a candidate is a good thing. Seeing them outside their formal political setting gives everyone the opportunity to learn more about the person behind the suit, the man behind the policies.

In my estimation, though, you learn nothing about the policies, no tough questions are ever posed. So what do you really know about the candidates, you know, those important things that you'd need to know to vote? Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Buying those little blue pills online might not get you what you want. A British study says as much as half of the so-called Viagra sold on the Internet could be fake. Some of the pills have different ingredients or less of the active ingredient.

Could be a new way to stop smoking. A Florida-based drug company has come up with an experimental nicotine vaccine. It says about a third of smokers in a small clinical study kicked the habit after getting the strongest dose of the vaccine.

And the number of you without any health insurance keeps going up. A new study finds billions of people who have health coverage are paying more for it, and in many cases are getting a lot less.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Slingluff's family bought the Baltimore Belting Company back in 1950. Since then, they've had about 10 employees making conveyor belts. When they first started, health insurance was a nice perk to offer. But in the past few years, Slingluff says providing it has become a financial burden.

JOHN SLINGLUFF, BALTIMORE BELTING COMPANY: We figure that since 1997 it has just about doubled. And the coverages that we have been providing have actually decreased in an attempt to modify some of the cost increases.

FEIG: He says his employees are paying higher premiums. Now a new study from the liberal health consumer group, Families USA, that's what Slingluff and other Americans have been seeing. The group compared what Americans paid for health insurance and what they received for health care in the past four years.

RON POLLACK, FAMILIES USA: Working families are paying much more in premiums and receiving much less in coverage. Wages are being depressed and millions of people have lost health coverage entirely.

FEIG: The study found costs for health insurance have risen by 36 percent since 2000 while wages have increased about 12 percent. Both the federal government and the insurance industry blame increasing premiums on rising health costs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the Bush administration has taken several steps to help control those costs, such as opening more community health centers so the uninsured will be less likely to use the emergency room and giving more Americans access to health savings accounts to help pay for health care. The insurance industry says it's a vicious cycle. When people lose their health insurance, the cost of providing them care is shifted to those who have insurance.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

Imagine walking into a Hallmark store and then finding yourself on a card. The hair-raising incident happened to one man, and you'll meet him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Well I was just thinking of Tom Sizemore playing Pete Rose. Have you seen that on ESPN with the bad toupees? Anyway, catch it if you can, because you'll laugh.

Imagine if old pictures of you ended up in an unexpected place in plain view of thousands of people. No, we're not talking about Vanessa Williams. But we are talking about a guy, his hairdo and Hallmark. If this makes no sense, don't worry, CNN's Jeanne Moos will explain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How would you feel if you found yourself staring out from the front of a Hallmark card?

BRIAN CROMLEY, FORMER MALE MODEL: Someone sent it to me in the mail, and I think it's hilarious.

MOOS: Hilarious, except for the birthday greeting inside. The hair loss that comes with age isn't always a bad thing.

No wonder the Hallmark spokesperson is asking...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was he upset? Is Brian upset?

MOOS: Brian Cromley admits he was a little offended. At the time the photo was taken, he was modeling for trendy advertisers and cutting edge magazines.

(on camera): So you were modeling as like a good-looking guy?

CROMLEY: Right.

MOOS (voice-over): At the same time that Hallmark was using him as living proof that bald is beautiful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looks like it could be a wig, actually.

MOOS: Ever since Brian was a kid, his Hallmark has been his '70s looking hair, the kind celebrated by "Hair."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees. Give a home to the bees in my hair.

MOOS: Friends send Brian the card with notes like they wish they had your hair.

Brian signed a release for the photographer who took the picture, who then sold it to a stock photo agency, which in turn sold it to Hallmark. So Brian has no legal recourse. But he does have a message for Hallmark.

(on camera): You like your hair?

CROMLEY: I love my hair. I love my hair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love your hair, too.

MOOS (voice-over): The card has proven popular, over 86,000 sold.

(on camera): Has anyone ever told you they'd like to run their fingers through it?

CROMLEY: People want to touch my hair all the time.

MOOS (voice-over): He's even been featured in a German magazine for hairdressers. But on a Hallmark card, it's enough to curl your hair.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You've cut out high fat, sugary desserts and high carb food, so where does alcohol fit in? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a look at those low carb wines. Are they really low carb or should you just avoid them all together and get some good wine? Didn't mean to say that. We'll have much more on that story ahead on DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired September 29, 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: Good morning to you. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

Word in just two-and-a-half hours ago, a judge in Yemen has sentenced two men to death for the bombing of the USS Cole four years ago. Four other men were given prison terms ranging from 5 years to 10 years. Seventeen American sailors were killed in that attack.

Look at this exclusive CNN video from Beijing right outside the Canadian Embassy, 44 North Koreans scale the wall in a bid for asylum. One man failed to get over when Chinese guards pulled a ladder out from under him, but many others managed to get over that wall.

Two men battling over Barry Bonds' record 700th home run ball are due in a San Francisco courtroom today. The ball, of course, could be worth somewhere in the six figures.

Parts of New Jersey and New York a bitter taste of the remnants of Jeanne. The former hurricane even spawned a tornado in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. No one was hurt, but 11 buildings were damaged.

To the Forecast Center and Chad.

More rain today there, huh?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Still raining in some spots, Carol. It's moved out of the city now, though, but still not out of the tristates. It's still raining across parts of Washington and even into Worcester and into Boston, Massachusetts. Providence also seeing some rain showers this morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: I was just looking at our e-mail box. Our viewers finally woke up. We're getting e-mails now.

MYERS: What's the e-mail question for today?

COSTELLO: The e-mail "Question of the Day," you know President Bush is going to appear on "Dr. Phil," and then John Kerry is going to appear on "Dr. Phil" like next Wednesday. So the question is "Dr. Phil," what's next, "Jerry Springer?" What's "Dr. Phil" going to tell them, get real. So we were wondering if it was a good thing or a bad thing for candidates of this stature to appear on talk shows like that. So candidates and talk shows: good or bad mix? DAYBREAK@CNN.com e-mail us now.

Thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: Good thing Geraldo still doesn't have a show.

COSTELLO: Can you imagine?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: We begin now this half-hour, though, in Iraq where there has finally been a resolution to some of those hostage situations and some movement toward a resolution in another. Two French journalists who were abducted August 20 are reportedly close to being freed. A French negotiator says they could be let go soon.

Two Italian women released by their kidnappers return to Rome today. The two aid workers were taken from their office on September 7.

An Egyptian telecommunications company says four of its six hostages kidnapped last week have now been released. Two Egyptian engineers remain in captivity though.

Also, two Iraqi aid workers who were with the Italian women when they were taken have also been freed.

Let's talk about the Italian hostages that are free this morning. Italian newspapers are filled with news about those two female workers who were released after their three-week hostage ordeal.

Let's get more on that from our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci.

Good morning -- Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning to you, Carol.

It's a beautiful day here in Rome, and I can tell you that the whole country must feel just the same. There is relief here, of course, that the latest hostage crisis hitting this country has ended without bloodshed and in the best possible way. And this sense of relief, perhaps enhanced by the fact that even just last Friday Italian media were reporting that the two hostages were executed, were dead. And later, after their release yesterday in front of the headquarters of the Italian organizations for which they work in Iraq, there were celebration as well.

Now let me show you the contrast with the headlines last week with the headlines this morning in the Italian newspapers. "The Careera Della Salla (ph)," the main daily here in Italy, (SPEAKING ITALIAN), they are all back home, thanks to all, with a picture, of course, of the two Simonas, as they are known here.

The "La Stames" published in Torine, another large picture of the two former hostages. (SPEAKING ITALIAN), the smile of the two Simonas, we are doing well.

And finally, "A Messangero (ph)," the main daily here in Rome and the capital, a casa, at home again here the picture of the two Simonas.

They arrived here last night at the airport only hours after they had been released in Iraq. There were some reports of a possible ransom being paid. Italian government officials are denying it. Political sources here are telling me that some money has changed hands, but you don't have to ask politicians to figure it out.

Ask any barman, any taxi driver in this country, anybody in the streets, everybody believes that some money has been paid, otherwise the two hostages, the two former hostages would have not been released. But at the same time, nobody here really cares how much or if any money has been paid, because the most important thing for the people in this country today is that the two Simonas are back at home safely.

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Well it would be disturbing, though, if money were paid to those terrorists. And the other weird thing about this is these women are anti-war and they were in Iraq protesting the war.

VINCI: Well that is correct. If indeed news were to be confirmed that some money has been paid, and indeed the confirmation that Italian government may have negotiated with the kidnappers, it would be disturbing news. But I do not believe that confirmation will ever come. But if you ask the people in the streets of Italy, they do not believe that it is important. The most important thing for them, as I said, is the two women have been released.

As you mentioned, these two humanitarian workers were outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. They were in Iraq. They have been in Iraq for quite some time before they were kidnapped.

One of them was actually involved, even in the early days after the first Gulf War in 1991, she worked for this organization called Umpanta Fay (ph), a bridge for Baghdad. And she was there helping the Iraqis coping with the U.N. imposed sanctions. So these were people who were in Iraq helping the Iraqi people and, therefore, the Italians were outraged to the fact that they had been kidnapped just in Iraq by Iraqi people as well -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Alessio Vinci reporting live from Rome this morning, thank you.

There is also news of a hostage release close to those of us who work at CNN, our CNN producer Riad Ali is free today almost 24 hours after being abducted in Gaza. He was welcomed by correspondent Ben Wedeman. The two were together when Ali was taken at gunpoint. Upon his release, he talked about going home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RIAD ALI, CNN PRODUCER FREED AFTER ABDUCTION: The only thing that I am waiting for now is to see my family, to see my kids, to see my wife. They are waiting for me up in the north in my village. So thanks all of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So happy he is home safe and sound. Ali tells reporters he doesn't know who abducted him.

Just over two hours ago, a group of North Korean refugees in China took their chances and made a dramatic try for freedom.

Let's go straight to Beijing's bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz with details.

Such sad and dramatic pictures -- Jaime.

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, it was yet another daring move by North Korean refugees in Beijing to seek asylum, this time captured on tape by our CNN crew. Some were disguised as construction workers. They placed three large ladders against the fence of the Canadian Embassy while others climbed over it inside and into the Canadian Embassy ground.

One of them didn't make it. All 44 of them made it, mostly men, but also including children, women and the elderly. But one man didn't make it. A 75-year-old man was pulled down by a Chinese guard, employed by the Canadian Embassy, before he could make it inside the embassy. We still don't know what happened to him afterwards.

But we reached one of the asylum seekers by mobile phone while she was holed up inside the embassy, and she explained to us why they are doing this. She says that they have no food to eat in North Korea, that life is hard there and they all want to go to South Korea -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So will they get to go to South Korea, the ones that made it over the wall? What will happen to them now?

FLORCRUZ: Well typically this will take a long diplomatic negotiation, involving the Chinese, the Canadians in this case, and perhaps North Korea and South Korea. This is just one of the latest of the wave of North Korean refugees sneaking into China, trying to escape poverty and hunger and political persecution in their country.

And over the years, they have tried to barge into embassies and even international schools trying to seek asylum. And typically, after a long negotiation, they are allowed out of China, eventually to South Korea, but only very quietly and through a third country so that they will not embarrass the China's long-time ally and neighbor, North Korea -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jaime FlorCruz, reporting live from Beijing, China this morning, thank you. An earthquake interrupts court in the Scott Peterson trial. And a theory surfaces that Peterson may have tried to poison his wife. The latest in the Peterson case ahead.

And wages are up slightly, but the cost of health insurance is up considerably. Coming up, why more and more Americans are uninsured.

And our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Morning," candidates on talk shows, like "Dr. Phil," is it a good or bad mix? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. Of course we'll read some of those e-mails on our show.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Did detectives get lazy during their investigation of Laci Peterson's murder? That's a defense argument.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has more on the testimony and the theories of the lead detective of the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): During his sixth day on the stand, lead detective Craig Grogan testified at one point he thought Scott Peterson may have poisoned or drugged his wife, Laci, before killing her. He said police pursued the theory because it would help explain why no crime scene was ever found. Grogan admitted that items tested for drugs came back negative.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos used his cross-examination of Grogan to attack the investigation into Laci Peterson's disappearance and murder. Geragos established that a number of items found near the remains of Laci Peterson were never tested, including a piece of plastic that one police officer thought smelled like human remains.

Geragos tried to counter earlier testimony that Peterson didn't seem to care about the investigation. Grogan admitted that a few weeks after Laci was reported missing, Scott Peterson called to say that police were wasting their time focusing on him and they needed to follow other leads.

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL ANALYST: He doesn't have a huge point that he wants to make. He has a bunch of small points, and so he's just going one by one by one.

ROWLANDS: Testimony came to a sudden halt after many people in the courtroom, including most of the jury, felt the 6.0 earthquake centered in central California, some 200 miles south. Court resumed after a short break.

(on camera): The judge told jurors to expect that the prosecution's case, which was to end on Thursday, will most likely last at least another week. Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Word overnight in Yemen, two men accused in the deadly bombing of the USS Cole have been sentenced to death. Four others got prison terms. Seventeen American sailors died in that blast.

Take a look at this, it is a desperate scramble to freedom. It happened three hours ago in Beijing, 44 North Koreans scaled a fence around the Canadian Embassy. Chinese guards stopped one man from getting over. These pictures in China.

In money news, the price of your morning jolt just went up. Starbucks announced it will raise prices by an average of 11 cents at all of its 4,500 outlets. Higher coffee and sugar prices being blamed for that price hike.

In culture, fashion pioneer Geoffrey Beene is dead. He died of pneumonia at his Manhattan home. Beene burst onto the fashion scene more than 40 years ago. Geoffrey Beene was 77 years old.

In sports, the Anaheim Angels pulled into a tie for first place in the American League West with an 8 to 2 win over the Texas Rangers. The Angels and the Oakland A's are tied for the lead. They will face each other for three games to close out the regular season. Pretty darned exciting -- Chad.

MYERS: You bet. Hey, a couple of great races out there as well, Carol.

Hey, good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

Getting warm and fuzzy with the voters, that's what's behind some high profile appearances on the TV talk show circuit. The "Dr. Phil" show airs a pre-taped interview with President Bush and his wife today. The topic, parenting.

John Kerry and his wife appear on the show next week. Kerry has already made some other visits on the chat circuit. Besides his appearance on "Dr. Phil," the senator has dropped in to see "Regis and Kelly" and done late night gigs with Leno and Letterman.

So our e-mail "Question of the Day," candidates and talk shows: good or bad mix? Now I submit that what's next, "Jerry Springer?" I mean Regis Philbin is not going to ask a tough question of John Kerry. Let's face it, John Kerry is just going to sit there and be John Kerry, right? So what real use are these interview shows for the candidates and for voters? Well, you certainly disagree with me.

This is from Hector (ph). He says even though the actual content of the interviews might not be relevant, those shows let us see another dimension of the candidate's personality, for example, their sense of humor and their tolerance to informal criticism.

This is from Valerie (ph) in New York or in Virginia. Actually, I do think it's a good idea. I'm addicted to CNN. I watch it about 10 to 12 hours daily. My sister and my friends, however, watch soap operas and talk show and that may very well be the only places they actually see the candidates talk, especially since often their shows are interrupted when the president talks, which makes them highly upset.

And user name unknown. Put your names on it, we like to hear where you're from. Believe it or not, most Americans will tune in to a talk show before they will tune into national news.

And one more, this is from Megan (ph). She says how can candidates and talk shows possibly be a bad mix? Anything that gives the public an intimate and personal view of a candidate is a good thing. Seeing them outside their formal political setting gives everyone the opportunity to learn more about the person behind the suit, the man behind the policies.

In my estimation, though, you learn nothing about the policies, no tough questions are ever posed. So what do you really know about the candidates, you know, those important things that you'd need to know to vote? Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Buying those little blue pills online might not get you what you want. A British study says as much as half of the so-called Viagra sold on the Internet could be fake. Some of the pills have different ingredients or less of the active ingredient.

Could be a new way to stop smoking. A Florida-based drug company has come up with an experimental nicotine vaccine. It says about a third of smokers in a small clinical study kicked the habit after getting the strongest dose of the vaccine.

And the number of you without any health insurance keeps going up. A new study finds billions of people who have health coverage are paying more for it, and in many cases are getting a lot less.

CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig takes a look.

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CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Slingluff's family bought the Baltimore Belting Company back in 1950. Since then, they've had about 10 employees making conveyor belts. When they first started, health insurance was a nice perk to offer. But in the past few years, Slingluff says providing it has become a financial burden.

JOHN SLINGLUFF, BALTIMORE BELTING COMPANY: We figure that since 1997 it has just about doubled. And the coverages that we have been providing have actually decreased in an attempt to modify some of the cost increases.

FEIG: He says his employees are paying higher premiums. Now a new study from the liberal health consumer group, Families USA, that's what Slingluff and other Americans have been seeing. The group compared what Americans paid for health insurance and what they received for health care in the past four years.

RON POLLACK, FAMILIES USA: Working families are paying much more in premiums and receiving much less in coverage. Wages are being depressed and millions of people have lost health coverage entirely.

FEIG: The study found costs for health insurance have risen by 36 percent since 2000 while wages have increased about 12 percent. Both the federal government and the insurance industry blame increasing premiums on rising health costs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the Bush administration has taken several steps to help control those costs, such as opening more community health centers so the uninsured will be less likely to use the emergency room and giving more Americans access to health savings accounts to help pay for health care. The insurance industry says it's a vicious cycle. When people lose their health insurance, the cost of providing them care is shifted to those who have insurance.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

Imagine walking into a Hallmark store and then finding yourself on a card. The hair-raising incident happened to one man, and you'll meet him next.

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COSTELLO: Well I was just thinking of Tom Sizemore playing Pete Rose. Have you seen that on ESPN with the bad toupees? Anyway, catch it if you can, because you'll laugh.

Imagine if old pictures of you ended up in an unexpected place in plain view of thousands of people. No, we're not talking about Vanessa Williams. But we are talking about a guy, his hairdo and Hallmark. If this makes no sense, don't worry, CNN's Jeanne Moos will explain.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How would you feel if you found yourself staring out from the front of a Hallmark card?

BRIAN CROMLEY, FORMER MALE MODEL: Someone sent it to me in the mail, and I think it's hilarious.

MOOS: Hilarious, except for the birthday greeting inside. The hair loss that comes with age isn't always a bad thing.

No wonder the Hallmark spokesperson is asking...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was he upset? Is Brian upset?

MOOS: Brian Cromley admits he was a little offended. At the time the photo was taken, he was modeling for trendy advertisers and cutting edge magazines.

(on camera): So you were modeling as like a good-looking guy?

CROMLEY: Right.

MOOS (voice-over): At the same time that Hallmark was using him as living proof that bald is beautiful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looks like it could be a wig, actually.

MOOS: Ever since Brian was a kid, his Hallmark has been his '70s looking hair, the kind celebrated by "Hair."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees. Give a home to the bees in my hair.

MOOS: Friends send Brian the card with notes like they wish they had your hair.

Brian signed a release for the photographer who took the picture, who then sold it to a stock photo agency, which in turn sold it to Hallmark. So Brian has no legal recourse. But he does have a message for Hallmark.

(on camera): You like your hair?

CROMLEY: I love my hair. I love my hair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love your hair, too.

MOOS (voice-over): The card has proven popular, over 86,000 sold.

(on camera): Has anyone ever told you they'd like to run their fingers through it?

CROMLEY: People want to touch my hair all the time.

MOOS (voice-over): He's even been featured in a German magazine for hairdressers. But on a Hallmark card, it's enough to curl your hair.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You've cut out high fat, sugary desserts and high carb food, so where does alcohol fit in? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a look at those low carb wines. Are they really low carb or should you just avoid them all together and get some good wine? Didn't mean to say that. We'll have much more on that story ahead on DAYBREAK.

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