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CNN Live Today
Jackson Jury Deliberates; Bush Meets with Prime Minister of Turkey; Hemingway's Home
Aired June 08, 2005 - 11:30 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: To California now for the latest in the Michael Jackson molestation trial. Jurors are due at the Santa Maria courthouse right now. They will begin day four of their deliberations.
Our senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is monitoring the case. He's back in New York City, but certainly is familiar with that courthouse and that courtroom. Good morning.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: Very much so. Hi, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good morning to you. So we're like 14 hours into deliberations here. No big surprise that there's not a verdict yet. These people have a long list of things to go over.
TOOBIN: Absolutely. You know, there are ten charges, four of which could be felonies or misdemeanors. They are in different areas of the case. There's a conspiracy charge, there's child molestation, there's providing alcohol to a minor. If you're conscientiously going through the evidence with regard to each of the elements of each of the potential crimes, that's going to take a while, and so this is not at all a long deliberation at this point.
KAGAN: Plenty of odd events in connection with this trial. Here's a legal twist. The jury has asked one question of the judge. Is it not usual procedure that then they tell -- the judge tells the media what the question was? This time the judge says, uh-uh, nope, lips locked.
TOOBIN: In every trial I have ever either participated in or covered, the jury questions have been public. And, you know, this judge, Judge Melville, has been very restrictive in what he's released, especially before the trial, on the ground that it might taint the jury pool. But here, the letter comes from the jury. So it's hardly -- seems to me -- that you could taint the jury pool, since they obviously know what's in this letter, I mean in this note to the judge. But I really think it's a reflection of how judges are really cracking down on public access. And I think it's too bad.
KAGAN: Speaking of tainting the jury pool, are you surprised this jury's not sequestered, at least for these deliberations?
TOOBIN: You know, that's a tough call. Juries really hate to be sequestered. It's a terrible hardship. People have families. They have, you know, people they're taking care of. And I think this judge feels like he can trust this jury a lot not to be influenced. One interesting thing about this jury that really shocked me -- when I was out there last week I realized this -- is that this jury, through 16 weeks of trial, did not lose a single juror. Not one alternate is on this jury. So you know, I think the judge feels having been this conscientious about attending, about apparently following the rules, they're big note takers, the judge can trust them not to follow the news coverage of the case.
KAGAN: This is kind of the tea leaf question, but we're getting word of who was picked -- not a name, but the type of juror, juror number two being picked as the jury foreman, described as a 63-year- old retired high school counselor and self-described Western artist living in Santa Maria.
TOOBIN: Well, and...
KAGAN: Anything you can read from that?
TOOBIN: Well, you forgot the key fact about the...
KAGAN: Foreman?
TOOBIN: Foreman. Which is that he's a dedicated CNN watcher.
KAGAN: Well, that's it.
TOOBIN: That's right. So he's obviously a person of...
KAGAN: Which should be the first thing that anything...
TOOBIN: ... taste.
KAGAN: ... anybody describes themself as.
TOOBIN: Right. Taste, intelligence, discernment. You know, he's one of the older jurors. Older jurors tend to be picked as foremen. I -- it's beyond my tea leaf reading capacity to think that that could help one side or the other.
KAGAN: OK. And any predictions? Well, I'll just put it out there. Any predictions? Predictions how long this will take, which way this is going?
TOOBIN: I don't think you'll see a verdict before Friday, at the earliest. I also don't think that Jackson will be convicted on the conspiracy charge. I think that's a pretty weak count. Other than that, you got me.
KAGAN: Yes, we do, and we're glad that we do.
TOOBIN: All right, Daryn.
KAGAN: Jeffrey Toobin, thank you.
TOOBIN: See ya. KAGAN: Well, jury deliberations are also underway in New York in another high-profile case. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz, the former top executives of Tyco, are accused of stealing more than $150 million from the company. This is their second trial, by the way. The first ended last year in a mistrial.
The suspect in yesterday's freeway chase and standoff in Southern California is hospitalized in stable condition today. He's identified as as Dennis Shellhouse of Alabama. The ordeal lasted about six hours. It covered more than 75 miles.
Peter Viles reports from L.A.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It shut down one of the nation's busiest freeways for hours. A bizarre standoff between a small army of police and an armed man threatening to kill himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only two bullets in this car and they're meant for me. So I can't get any clearer than that. Your officers are not in danger.
VILES: The story began in morning rush hour, police pursuing the driver of a white van, believing he had attempted to kidnap a woman north of Los Angeles and that he was armed and dangerous.
DEREK BELL, KCAL HELICOPTER REPORTER: The suspect, apparently armed with a nine millimeter handgun, said that he will not be taken by the police.
VILES: At times, it slowed to a stop in rush hour traffic. At one point. the driver pulls a U-turn on Interstate 10, but the California Highway Patrol was patient and effective, laying a trap with a spike strip right here to flatten the tires.
BELL: Spike strip got it.
VILES: Then another textbook tactic, the so-called pit maneuver, or tactical ramming. CHP did it several times.
BELL: Here it comes, here it comes. Once again, spinning it around. Oh, look at that!
VILES: At that point, a second drama begins. Patrolmen surround the car and bring in the big guns, literally. Three armored vehicles from the sheriff's SWAT team, pinning the vehicle against a wall.
BELL: I've never seen him do this. But it seems like a pretty good maneuver.
VILES: The standoff lasted three and a half hours and ended with a bang, officers using a pole to push a percussion grenade and tear gas into the car. They also fired a single gunshot at the driver. Minutes later, a police dog dragged the driver from the vehicle. He was wounded, but alive. Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And from there any minute we expect to see videotape that was just shot a few minutes ago in the White House. It shows President Bush and the prime minister of Turkey, who is visiting, having a meeting. You can see this is the prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan. Tayyip Erdogan just leaving the White House after that meeting. The tape we'll see, we're getting word, contains no questions.
The president didn't allow any questions. Just comments on the relationship between Turkey and the United States, which has been a little bumpy in recent years, since Turkey voted right before the U.S.-led war in Iraq to allow U.S. troops to use Turkey as an entryway into northern Iraq during the war, something the Defense Department said really -- believed really hurt the U.S. after -- in trying to topple Saddam Hussein.
But the prime minister of Turkey pointing out that since then, Turkey has done a lot to try to help the U.S. and U.S. military efforts and now is asking the U.S. help in dealing with the Kurdish situation.
Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the Oval Office.
We've had an extensive visit about a lot of issues. And the reason why is because Turkey and the United States have an important strategic relationship.
I told the prime minister how grateful I was that he is a strong supporter of the Broader Middle Eastern Initiative.
Turkey's democracy is an important example for the people in the broader Middle East, and I want to thank you for your leadership.
Along these lines, I thanked the prime minister for Turkey's leadership role in Afghanistan.
I was most impressed by his report from his trip to Afghanistan and his deep concern for the conditions of the people there, and his desire to work with the United States and NATO countries to help improve the lives of the children, for example, in Afghanistan.
We discussed a lot of foreign policy and shared interests between our countries.
And one of the most important foreign policy initiatives of my administration -- and I know the prime minister shares the same desire -- is to work with the Palestinians so they can have their own state, their own democracy, living side by side in peace with Israel.
And finally, we discussed the domestic issues. We discussed our economies. The prime minister reminded me that, in his judgment, Turkey's a good place for U.S. investment.
BUSH: I listened very carefully to what he had to say, but we spent -- all in all, it was a very rich and important discussion.
And, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for coming.
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you, Mr. President.
In our meeting with the president, we discussed and evaluated the political partnership that we have with the United States, and we looked into the future with regard to our relations.
ERDOGAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I can summarize the main titles of our discussions as freedoms, democracy, rule of law, fight against terrorism, security and human rights.
We also had an opportunity to talk about the Broader Middle East Initiative with regard to regional developments.
We also discussed the Cyprus issue.
ERDOGAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And we were able to discuss with some depth the issues with regard to Israel, Palestine, the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan.
We discussed, and I'm confident that we will continue to have the same kind of solidarity we've had in Turkish-U.S. relations in the past and the future as well.
I also mentioned to the president that Turkey is open to any new investment, as a country now of stability and security. And we were very happy to see that the president agreed and he had a positive view on investments.
And we're happy that we were able to confirm that our strategic relationship will move and take place in the future as it has been done in the past.
Thank you.
BUSH: Thank you, sir.
KAGAN: No questions taken at this meeting. That was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and President Bush meeting at the White House today. Not necessarily trying to smooth over relationships between the two countries, but trying to put it on a more positive track. There has been a difference of opinion on which direction it should go since the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
We have much more news ahead. I'm back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A lot more to get to this hour, but first here's a preview of hats coming up in the noon hour of your world today with Zain Verjee and Jim Clancy.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Jim Clancy.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Verjee.
Coming up at the top of the hour on CNN International.
CLANCY: Pyrotechnics on display as Iraqi and U.S. forces press on in a big operation against insurgents.
VERJEE: From the White House to House of Commons, Tony Blair faces tough questions over what he achieved across the pond.
CLANCY: And awaiting a verdict in California. We ask, what happens to Michael Jackson's children if the verdict goes against him?
VERJEE: All that and more, just ahead.
KAGAN: Look forward to that, you guys.
In Havana, a steamy tale of love, money and decay in the tropics against a backdrop of international intrigue. It's a plot worthy of Ernest Hemingway.
CNN Havana bureau chief Lucia Newman explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This 19th century estate on the outskirts of Havana was the first home Ernest Hemingway ever bought with his money.
GLADYS RODRIGUEZ, HEMINGWAY MUSEUM (through translator): He loved it so much that in 1940 when Paramount pictures paid him the royalties for the film "For Whom the Bells Toll," he buys it for $18,500.
NEWMAN: Gladys Rodriguez, curator for what is now the Hemingway Museum, took us on an exclusive tour of the house where the American novelist lived from 1939 to 1960, a period in which he wrote many of his most famous works.
But Hemingway's beloved Finca Vigia, as he named it, is in danger. The ravages of time, neglect and tropical humidity threatening a cultural heritage shared by Cuba and the United States.
RODRIGUEZ (through translator): This is the room that's in the worst shape, where Hemingway used to write. You can see that the humidity has swollen the beans, cracking the floor tiles and the ceiling.
NEWMAN: The U.S. National Trust for Historic Reservation has placed Finca Vigia on its list of 11 most endangered historic sites, the only one outside of the United States. There's plenty worth preserving, from Hemingway's cherished library to the bathroom that gives insights into his obsessions.
On the wall, he scribbled his weight almost every day, with comments like "17 days off diet," "five drinking."
(on camera): The house is now closed to the public. Cuba's culture ministry have earmarked about a quarter of a million dollars to start the restoration. And while Cuba says it can do it on its own, but also admits it will be harder and take a lot longer without outside help.
(voice-over): The National Trust for Historic Preservation hopes Washington will grant it a special license to bypass the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba so that it can provide more money and expertise.
PAUL EDMONDSON, V.P., NATIONAL TRUST: It is a very unique site. It's a -- the home of an American cultural icon that has very important historical significance to the American people.
NEWMAN: A rare opportunity for cooperation between Hemingway's country of birth and the one he fell in love with, at a time when only water divided the two nations.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: We're going to take a quick break. After this, we're going to check in on weather and business news, after this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: If you want to spruce up your house or buy that dream home at the beach, CNNmoney.com is your guide. Go to the "Renovation" section for a few tips on what you can do to bring your home up to the digital age. Install a wireless home- monitoring system to control the temperature, turn lights on and off and run a security camera while you're away. All you need is access to the Internet.
If you travel and worry that you've left the coffeemaker on, another device will let you know whether you did. It will also check for any leaky pipes. And a wireless remote can control all the lights in your home. Just don't lose it.
How about that dream home at the beach? Check out this gallery highlighting some of the most affordable places to make that dream come true. From sunny Florida's forgotten coasts to the cooler Prince Edward Island in Canada. That's all online at CNNmoney.com/yourhome.
Reporting from the dot-com desk, I'm Christina Park.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: We do have breaking news coming out of Aruba. This, the hearing concerning the two men that are being held in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, that teenager from Alabama. The judge in the case saying there is sufficient evidence to keep least one of the men. A man named Nick Johns (ph) still in custody in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. No additional information about where she might be or what might have happened to her.
Karl Penhaul was in the courtroom when this was announced. Karl, what can you tell us, quickly?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, in fact, we were all waiting outside the police station, because there was no session in the courtroom, as expected, because of the media focus on this and also the intense political pressure at different measures have been taken. And the Dutch law, there is no provision for the media or even family members to be present in court or in the hearing when these decisions are announced.
But certainly one of the suspects, Nick Johns, has been held in custody now under the judge's orders. He will be held now for a further eight days. The judge decided that there was sufficient evidence for him to be held. He's being held in a police cell on the east of the island right now.
And at this moment, the judge is in the second hearing with the second suspect, Abraham Jones (ph). He's up here in the north of the island, very close to the Holiday Inn where Natalee Holloway was staying during her stay in Aruba. And no decision on that suspect yet. But we are expecting something in the next few moments -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. And when it comes in, I'm sure you'll bring it to us live here on CNN. Karl Penhaul, live in Aruba.
That's going to do it for me. I'm Daryn Kagan. International news coming up next. Stayed tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY" with Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee after a quick break. I'll see you tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 June 8, 2005 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: To California now for the latest in the Michael Jackson molestation trial. Jurors are due at the Santa Maria courthouse right now. They will begin day four of their deliberations.
Our senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is monitoring the case. He's back in New York City, but certainly is familiar with that courthouse and that courtroom. Good morning.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: Very much so. Hi, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good morning to you. So we're like 14 hours into deliberations here. No big surprise that there's not a verdict yet. These people have a long list of things to go over.
TOOBIN: Absolutely. You know, there are ten charges, four of which could be felonies or misdemeanors. They are in different areas of the case. There's a conspiracy charge, there's child molestation, there's providing alcohol to a minor. If you're conscientiously going through the evidence with regard to each of the elements of each of the potential crimes, that's going to take a while, and so this is not at all a long deliberation at this point.
KAGAN: Plenty of odd events in connection with this trial. Here's a legal twist. The jury has asked one question of the judge. Is it not usual procedure that then they tell -- the judge tells the media what the question was? This time the judge says, uh-uh, nope, lips locked.
TOOBIN: In every trial I have ever either participated in or covered, the jury questions have been public. And, you know, this judge, Judge Melville, has been very restrictive in what he's released, especially before the trial, on the ground that it might taint the jury pool. But here, the letter comes from the jury. So it's hardly -- seems to me -- that you could taint the jury pool, since they obviously know what's in this letter, I mean in this note to the judge. But I really think it's a reflection of how judges are really cracking down on public access. And I think it's too bad.
KAGAN: Speaking of tainting the jury pool, are you surprised this jury's not sequestered, at least for these deliberations?
TOOBIN: You know, that's a tough call. Juries really hate to be sequestered. It's a terrible hardship. People have families. They have, you know, people they're taking care of. And I think this judge feels like he can trust this jury a lot not to be influenced. One interesting thing about this jury that really shocked me -- when I was out there last week I realized this -- is that this jury, through 16 weeks of trial, did not lose a single juror. Not one alternate is on this jury. So you know, I think the judge feels having been this conscientious about attending, about apparently following the rules, they're big note takers, the judge can trust them not to follow the news coverage of the case.
KAGAN: This is kind of the tea leaf question, but we're getting word of who was picked -- not a name, but the type of juror, juror number two being picked as the jury foreman, described as a 63-year- old retired high school counselor and self-described Western artist living in Santa Maria.
TOOBIN: Well, and...
KAGAN: Anything you can read from that?
TOOBIN: Well, you forgot the key fact about the...
KAGAN: Foreman?
TOOBIN: Foreman. Which is that he's a dedicated CNN watcher.
KAGAN: Well, that's it.
TOOBIN: That's right. So he's obviously a person of...
KAGAN: Which should be the first thing that anything...
TOOBIN: ... taste.
KAGAN: ... anybody describes themself as.
TOOBIN: Right. Taste, intelligence, discernment. You know, he's one of the older jurors. Older jurors tend to be picked as foremen. I -- it's beyond my tea leaf reading capacity to think that that could help one side or the other.
KAGAN: OK. And any predictions? Well, I'll just put it out there. Any predictions? Predictions how long this will take, which way this is going?
TOOBIN: I don't think you'll see a verdict before Friday, at the earliest. I also don't think that Jackson will be convicted on the conspiracy charge. I think that's a pretty weak count. Other than that, you got me.
KAGAN: Yes, we do, and we're glad that we do.
TOOBIN: All right, Daryn.
KAGAN: Jeffrey Toobin, thank you.
TOOBIN: See ya. KAGAN: Well, jury deliberations are also underway in New York in another high-profile case. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz, the former top executives of Tyco, are accused of stealing more than $150 million from the company. This is their second trial, by the way. The first ended last year in a mistrial.
The suspect in yesterday's freeway chase and standoff in Southern California is hospitalized in stable condition today. He's identified as as Dennis Shellhouse of Alabama. The ordeal lasted about six hours. It covered more than 75 miles.
Peter Viles reports from L.A.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It shut down one of the nation's busiest freeways for hours. A bizarre standoff between a small army of police and an armed man threatening to kill himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only two bullets in this car and they're meant for me. So I can't get any clearer than that. Your officers are not in danger.
VILES: The story began in morning rush hour, police pursuing the driver of a white van, believing he had attempted to kidnap a woman north of Los Angeles and that he was armed and dangerous.
DEREK BELL, KCAL HELICOPTER REPORTER: The suspect, apparently armed with a nine millimeter handgun, said that he will not be taken by the police.
VILES: At times, it slowed to a stop in rush hour traffic. At one point. the driver pulls a U-turn on Interstate 10, but the California Highway Patrol was patient and effective, laying a trap with a spike strip right here to flatten the tires.
BELL: Spike strip got it.
VILES: Then another textbook tactic, the so-called pit maneuver, or tactical ramming. CHP did it several times.
BELL: Here it comes, here it comes. Once again, spinning it around. Oh, look at that!
VILES: At that point, a second drama begins. Patrolmen surround the car and bring in the big guns, literally. Three armored vehicles from the sheriff's SWAT team, pinning the vehicle against a wall.
BELL: I've never seen him do this. But it seems like a pretty good maneuver.
VILES: The standoff lasted three and a half hours and ended with a bang, officers using a pole to push a percussion grenade and tear gas into the car. They also fired a single gunshot at the driver. Minutes later, a police dog dragged the driver from the vehicle. He was wounded, but alive. Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And from there any minute we expect to see videotape that was just shot a few minutes ago in the White House. It shows President Bush and the prime minister of Turkey, who is visiting, having a meeting. You can see this is the prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan. Tayyip Erdogan just leaving the White House after that meeting. The tape we'll see, we're getting word, contains no questions.
The president didn't allow any questions. Just comments on the relationship between Turkey and the United States, which has been a little bumpy in recent years, since Turkey voted right before the U.S.-led war in Iraq to allow U.S. troops to use Turkey as an entryway into northern Iraq during the war, something the Defense Department said really -- believed really hurt the U.S. after -- in trying to topple Saddam Hussein.
But the prime minister of Turkey pointing out that since then, Turkey has done a lot to try to help the U.S. and U.S. military efforts and now is asking the U.S. help in dealing with the Kurdish situation.
Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the Oval Office.
We've had an extensive visit about a lot of issues. And the reason why is because Turkey and the United States have an important strategic relationship.
I told the prime minister how grateful I was that he is a strong supporter of the Broader Middle Eastern Initiative.
Turkey's democracy is an important example for the people in the broader Middle East, and I want to thank you for your leadership.
Along these lines, I thanked the prime minister for Turkey's leadership role in Afghanistan.
I was most impressed by his report from his trip to Afghanistan and his deep concern for the conditions of the people there, and his desire to work with the United States and NATO countries to help improve the lives of the children, for example, in Afghanistan.
We discussed a lot of foreign policy and shared interests between our countries.
And one of the most important foreign policy initiatives of my administration -- and I know the prime minister shares the same desire -- is to work with the Palestinians so they can have their own state, their own democracy, living side by side in peace with Israel.
And finally, we discussed the domestic issues. We discussed our economies. The prime minister reminded me that, in his judgment, Turkey's a good place for U.S. investment.
BUSH: I listened very carefully to what he had to say, but we spent -- all in all, it was a very rich and important discussion.
And, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for coming.
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you, Mr. President.
In our meeting with the president, we discussed and evaluated the political partnership that we have with the United States, and we looked into the future with regard to our relations.
ERDOGAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I can summarize the main titles of our discussions as freedoms, democracy, rule of law, fight against terrorism, security and human rights.
We also had an opportunity to talk about the Broader Middle East Initiative with regard to regional developments.
We also discussed the Cyprus issue.
ERDOGAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And we were able to discuss with some depth the issues with regard to Israel, Palestine, the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan.
We discussed, and I'm confident that we will continue to have the same kind of solidarity we've had in Turkish-U.S. relations in the past and the future as well.
I also mentioned to the president that Turkey is open to any new investment, as a country now of stability and security. And we were very happy to see that the president agreed and he had a positive view on investments.
And we're happy that we were able to confirm that our strategic relationship will move and take place in the future as it has been done in the past.
Thank you.
BUSH: Thank you, sir.
KAGAN: No questions taken at this meeting. That was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and President Bush meeting at the White House today. Not necessarily trying to smooth over relationships between the two countries, but trying to put it on a more positive track. There has been a difference of opinion on which direction it should go since the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
We have much more news ahead. I'm back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A lot more to get to this hour, but first here's a preview of hats coming up in the noon hour of your world today with Zain Verjee and Jim Clancy.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Jim Clancy.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Verjee.
Coming up at the top of the hour on CNN International.
CLANCY: Pyrotechnics on display as Iraqi and U.S. forces press on in a big operation against insurgents.
VERJEE: From the White House to House of Commons, Tony Blair faces tough questions over what he achieved across the pond.
CLANCY: And awaiting a verdict in California. We ask, what happens to Michael Jackson's children if the verdict goes against him?
VERJEE: All that and more, just ahead.
KAGAN: Look forward to that, you guys.
In Havana, a steamy tale of love, money and decay in the tropics against a backdrop of international intrigue. It's a plot worthy of Ernest Hemingway.
CNN Havana bureau chief Lucia Newman explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This 19th century estate on the outskirts of Havana was the first home Ernest Hemingway ever bought with his money.
GLADYS RODRIGUEZ, HEMINGWAY MUSEUM (through translator): He loved it so much that in 1940 when Paramount pictures paid him the royalties for the film "For Whom the Bells Toll," he buys it for $18,500.
NEWMAN: Gladys Rodriguez, curator for what is now the Hemingway Museum, took us on an exclusive tour of the house where the American novelist lived from 1939 to 1960, a period in which he wrote many of his most famous works.
But Hemingway's beloved Finca Vigia, as he named it, is in danger. The ravages of time, neglect and tropical humidity threatening a cultural heritage shared by Cuba and the United States.
RODRIGUEZ (through translator): This is the room that's in the worst shape, where Hemingway used to write. You can see that the humidity has swollen the beans, cracking the floor tiles and the ceiling.
NEWMAN: The U.S. National Trust for Historic Reservation has placed Finca Vigia on its list of 11 most endangered historic sites, the only one outside of the United States. There's plenty worth preserving, from Hemingway's cherished library to the bathroom that gives insights into his obsessions.
On the wall, he scribbled his weight almost every day, with comments like "17 days off diet," "five drinking."
(on camera): The house is now closed to the public. Cuba's culture ministry have earmarked about a quarter of a million dollars to start the restoration. And while Cuba says it can do it on its own, but also admits it will be harder and take a lot longer without outside help.
(voice-over): The National Trust for Historic Preservation hopes Washington will grant it a special license to bypass the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba so that it can provide more money and expertise.
PAUL EDMONDSON, V.P., NATIONAL TRUST: It is a very unique site. It's a -- the home of an American cultural icon that has very important historical significance to the American people.
NEWMAN: A rare opportunity for cooperation between Hemingway's country of birth and the one he fell in love with, at a time when only water divided the two nations.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: We're going to take a quick break. After this, we're going to check in on weather and business news, after this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: If you want to spruce up your house or buy that dream home at the beach, CNNmoney.com is your guide. Go to the "Renovation" section for a few tips on what you can do to bring your home up to the digital age. Install a wireless home- monitoring system to control the temperature, turn lights on and off and run a security camera while you're away. All you need is access to the Internet.
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Reporting from the dot-com desk, I'm Christina Park.
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KAGAN: We do have breaking news coming out of Aruba. This, the hearing concerning the two men that are being held in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, that teenager from Alabama. The judge in the case saying there is sufficient evidence to keep least one of the men. A man named Nick Johns (ph) still in custody in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. No additional information about where she might be or what might have happened to her.
Karl Penhaul was in the courtroom when this was announced. Karl, what can you tell us, quickly?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, in fact, we were all waiting outside the police station, because there was no session in the courtroom, as expected, because of the media focus on this and also the intense political pressure at different measures have been taken. And the Dutch law, there is no provision for the media or even family members to be present in court or in the hearing when these decisions are announced.
But certainly one of the suspects, Nick Johns, has been held in custody now under the judge's orders. He will be held now for a further eight days. The judge decided that there was sufficient evidence for him to be held. He's being held in a police cell on the east of the island right now.
And at this moment, the judge is in the second hearing with the second suspect, Abraham Jones (ph). He's up here in the north of the island, very close to the Holiday Inn where Natalee Holloway was staying during her stay in Aruba. And no decision on that suspect yet. But we are expecting something in the next few moments -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. And when it comes in, I'm sure you'll bring it to us live here on CNN. Karl Penhaul, live in Aruba.
That's going to do it for me. I'm Daryn Kagan. International news coming up next. Stayed tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY" with Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee after a quick break. I'll see you tomorrow.
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