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CNN Saturday Morning News
Live 8 Hits the World; Justice O'Connor Retires; Luther Vandross Dies;
Aired July 02, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: An impressive list of stars using their fame to put the world's spotlight on poverty in Africa. Live pictures, as you can see there. Thousands of others are supporting the cause by converging on Edinburgh, Scotland this morning, all in hopes of catching the attention of world leaders about to meet at the G8 summit.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
July 2, everyone.
Good morning.
I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Happy July!
It's the big holiday weekend. We'll be talking about all of this coming up.
But first, we want to thank you for joining us today.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
Let's get started with what's happening right now in the news.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a recruitment center for Iraqi police in western Baghdad this morning. At least 17 people are dead and more than 20 others are wounded. Many of the casualties are Iraqi police commandos. A police official says the bomber was wearing a commando's uniform when he blew himself up.
A tourist from Austria is the latest swimmer to get bitten by a shark off the Florida Coast. The 19-year-old was bitten yesterday on the ankle off the southwest coast, near Fort Myers. He suffered ripped tendons and damaged blood vessels. He's Florida's third shark attack victim in just a week.
Singer Luther Vandross has died. The Grammy award winner never completely recovered from the stroke he suffered early in 2003. Vandross' hits include "Here and Now" and "Any Love." He was known for his melodic voice and romantic love songs. Luther Vandross was 54. I'm going to miss that voice.
Well, you can experience the power of CNN video on your computer. Log on to cnn.com, click on the video link and browse for the video you want to see whenever you want to see it.
HARRIS: And here's what we're working on for you this morning.
The balance on the Supreme Court is about to make what could be a seismic shift and President Bush holds the future in his hands. We'll get a live report from the White House.
Also, the U.S. military will leave no man behind when it comes to finding a team of special forces in the Afghanistan mountains. We'll get a live update on that mission.
And, a golden voice is forever silenced. We will remember Luther Vandross.
NGUYEN: But up first this hour, in the history of harmony, it will hit a very high note. It's epic in proportion and extravagant in promotion. In today's Live 8 events, the whole world is alive with the sound of music. Nine cities and four continents are the backdrops for 150 bands and billions of eyeballs united in music and united in a movement to lend their voices to Africa's voiceless poor.
If you can't be there in person, you can still get a front row seat via radio, TV and the Internet. On aolmusic.com, most of the shows will be broadcast in their entirety. They're watchable live starting at 8:00 a.m. Eastern and will be repeated throughout the summer.
And it is no coincidence that the Live 8 concerts are taking place in all of the Group of 8 nations. Thousands of protesters are already gathered in Scotland to stage demonstrations around the upcoming G8 summit. In Edinburgh, anti-poverty activists are mounting protests to mark International White Band Day.
CNN's Paula Hancocks is live on the scene in the Scottish capital with the latest on what is happening there -- Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty.
I hope you can hear me. It's certainly very loud here.
There are tens of thousands of protesters that have come here to Edinburgh to make their voice heard ahead of that gem. They have a very simple message. They want fair trade, they want debt cancellation and they want more and better aid for countries in Africa and across the world.
It's a real carnival atmosphere, as you can see here. There are tens of thousands just about to start this march around the city center of Edinburgh. They'll be walking around, most of them dressed in white t-shirts and what they're expected to do is form a human chain around the center of Edinburgh in those white t-shirts, which is just like those white wrist bands that "Make Poverty History" have been selling over the past few months.
And at 3:00, which is about 11:00 a.m. your time, they will be having a moment of silence and then they will be having a tremendous amount of noise, they tell us, to try and wake up the G8 leaders and to try and make them realize that they have to do something.
They have given us statistics and horrific statistics -- 30,000 children are dying a day. They should -- this should not be tolerated in 2005. And that is why they are here today, to try and tell those G8 leaders that this has to happen very soon. It has to happen in 2005. This is the year that everything can change.
Now, there is a fair bit of security here, as you could imagine. But as I say, it is a carnival atmosphere. The police, about 2,000 of them around the city center, say they're not expecting any trouble. This is going to be a peaceful protest to tell the G8 leaders that 2005 really is the year they have to do something -- Betty.
NGUYEN: A carnival like atmosphere with a cause today, though.
Thank you so much, Paula, for that update.
We'll be checking in -- Tony.
HARRIS: And not too far away, big crowds are lining up in London for one of the strongest lineups of the Live 8 events -- Paul McCartney, Bono of U-2, and, for the first time in decades, a reunion between Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and David Gilmore. The anticipated event took a lot of planning.
With a preview of the populations, here's CNN's Munita Rajpal.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MUNITA RAJPAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's history in the making, but making history in under six weeks means a race against time -- transforming all this into a venue fit for a landmark concert is a task that's putting roadies and crew to the test.
STUART GALBRAITH, CLEAR CHANNEL ENTERTAINMENT: If this was a commercial show, it would never have happened. It's as simple as that. People are putting in longer hours. People are doing things for nothing. People are turning around on deadlines that you just wouldn't even think are possible. And things are being achieved that in normal circumstances just, just would not take place.
RAJPAL: A crew of about 2,000 are involved in setting up for what will perhaps be the biggest music event ever in London. Scotland Yard says it's also one of the biggest policing operations in recent years, an operation involving 1,000 officers.
(on camera): Organized chaos is probably the best way to describe what's happening around here. But Hyde Park is going to have to be ready Saturday morning for the 155,000 people who will be here for London's contribution to Live 8.
(voice-over): Not to mention readying another side of the park for the 110,000 people who want tickets to catch the concert on a giant screen.
And it's not just London racing to be ready. Tokyo will be the first Live 8 concert to start on Saturday. Organizers say they are good to go.
Amid Rome's ancient ruins, Circus Maximus is being transformed into one of the most picturesque venues. From Berlin to Johannesburg, to the Palace of Versailles in Paris, set to host the largest live broadcast event in history.
While the pressure is on to make sure the stage is set for the artists, the artists themselves are gearing up for the performance of a lifetime.
JOSS STONE, ARTIST: It is history. I mean god. And me, I would never think they wouldn't have asked me.
RAJPAL: The lineup in London has been a disappointment to many of the musicians performing. They say if this is a concert for Africa, then Africa should be represented.
YOUSSOU N'DOUR, ARTIST: I was, you know, a little bit, you know, disappointed with the fact that, you know, they don't invite a lot of Africans. We need people together. And today it's not about talking. It's about really action.
RAJPAL: Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof agrees. He has been adamant in saying this is not Live Aid 2, but he says this is the final push toward the long walk to justice.
BOB GELDOF, LIVE 8 ORGANIZER: I've just been on the phone to my mate and we can't believe...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your mate being?
GELDOF: Bono -- that four months ago, if we'd have sat down in a pub and said this, it just wouldn't have happened. I do believe we're this close.
RAJPAL: Munita Rajpal, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: Icons and legends -- the impressive list of talent playing today reads like a who's who of today's biggest music stars. Among the artists, Mariah Carey in London; Tim McGraw in Rome; Shakira in Paris -- love her.
NGUYEN: Shakira!
HARRIS: Shake it up Shakira! And Green Day in Berlin.
With the spotlight on poverty in Africa, tonight, CNN will air a prime time special on the economic situation there. CNN's Christiane Amanpour goes beyond the headlines about the upcoming summit, talking with Tony Blair and looking at the epidemic of global poverty. "Can We Save Them?" is only on CNN, tonight, at 7:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: Conservatives and liberals are gearing up for a fight over the future of the Supreme Court. The surprise resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor changes the dynamics of the court. And she's been a key swing vote on many divisive issues, and the balance of power often rested with her.
So, let's get more now from CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash for the latest -- hi, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty.
Well, President Bush this weekend is at Camp David and he is digging into all of the materials that his aides have been gathering for quite some time on potential nominees. Aides do say that the president recognizes this could be one of the most critical decisions of his presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BASH (voice-over): Into the Rose Garden, framing a moment four- and-a-half years in the making.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will choose a nominee in a timely manner so that the hearing and the vote can be completed before the new Supreme Court term begins.
BASH: Selecting a Supreme Court nominee is a little like picking a pope. That's how a senior official intensely involved in the process describes it.
Within minutes of Mr. Bush hanging up the phone with Justice O'Connor, he gathered an Oval Office version of a conclave -- the vice president; the White House counsel and her predecessor, the attorney general; political adviser Karl Rove; Counselor Dan Bartlett; and, by phone, the White House chief of staff.
Top Bush advisers working in top secret had already stepped up their search in recent weeks.
C. BOYDEN GRAY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: I know that there is a team in the White House that has interviewed the candidates.
BASH: Candidates culled from a group of potential nominees gathered since day one of the administration.
Helgi Walker worked in the Bush counsel's office. And back on day one, more than four years ago, she and her colleagues began scrutinizing records, writings, rulings, building profiles.
HELGI WALKER, FORMER BUSH ASSISTANT COUNSEL: To see what kinds of issues in their background might make them harder to confirm than other candidates.
BASH: Even before word of Justice O'Connor's resignation, his team had a short list ready to go.
GRAY: They've probably got about five possibilities on that list. BASH: Though the exact list is closely held, Bush advisers say they include Judges Michael Luttig and Harvey Wilkinson, now on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; Samuel Alito, an appellate court judge in Philadelphia; John Roberts on the D.C. Circuit; Emilio Garza, a Texan on the Fifth Circuit.
If Mr. Bush wants a woman to replace O'Connor, appellate judge Edith Jones, another Texan, is mentioned by Bush advisers. A wildcard is attorney general and long time Bush confederate, Alberto Gonzales, who would be the court's first Hispanic. Conservatives, however, call him too moderate because of abortion rulings as a Texas state justice.
As Mr. Bush makes his pick, the White House is gearing up for war. Top Bush lieutenants met with outside advisers just last week to finalize battle plans in the works for years. But for now, a plea for a peaceful process.
BUSH: The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate, characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote.
BASH: Looking to quiet Democratic complaints, the president did make a couple of calls, talking to the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, promising a meeting and asking for civility.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
BASH: Now, the president has not personally interviewed any potential candidates at all yet. He will likely do that after he returns from Europe. That is going to be next Friday. And aides say don't expect any decision before then -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Dana, looking at the short list in your piece right there, as you mentioned, there is one woman that could be a possibility. But just looking at that, it seems the chances may be pretty slim that he will nominate a woman to this position.
BASH: Well, that was sort of one, one example. You know, talking to different people you get different answers. As I mentioned in the piece, this is a very closely guarded list. So some have said well, there really wasn't a woman on the short list. Some have said, well, you know, there was.
So it's really unclear and it's unclear at this point whether the fact that Justice O'Connor was a woman, is a woman, and that's going to be an opening, whether that really is going to guide the president's thinking. They insist here that the president is very, very focused on getting the best nominee he possibly can, you know, regardless of gender.
That he would have made -- if it had been the chief justice, that certainly would have played into the president's thinking in determining who he was going to pick. But they insist that gender isn't an issue. We'll see, though.
NGUYEN: Yes, we will definitely see. And the president has said he will move quickly, so, thank you, Dana Bash.
We appreciate it.
And we'd like to know what you think this morning. Does the Supreme Court need a moderate, conservative or liberal to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor? E-mail us your thoughts at weekends@cnn.com. And we'll be reading those e-mails throughout the morning.
Well, the U.S. military says it is using every resource available to find the missing soldiers in Afghanistan this morning. But is time running out? Just one of the questions we'll put to a military analyst. That's live right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
HARRIS: Plus, the voice of a legend goes silent. We look back on the life of Luther Vandross.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The Live 8 concerts are focusing new light on the economic plight of some African countries. But the man behind "The Purpose Driven Life" philosophy says the dark continent's problems are nothing new. Tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," Pastor Rick Warren on how you can help. That's on "Faces Of Faith," 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning.
I'm meteorologist Brad Huffines with your "Allergy Report" for your Saturday.
Expect to see some pretty serious allergy conditions, especially out West, where it's been so dry.
In the East, though, all the states in the green low allergens. And across the Northern Plains and the intermountain West, that's where we have very high allergens, or at least high amounts, unless you're in a soft shaped area from the Central Plains to northwest Wisconsin, you're in problems if you have allergies.
To cope with allergies, don't dry your clothes outdoors, monitor pollen counts and wear a dust mask when mowing the lawn or doing other outside chores.
A complete weather forecast is next as CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Our top stories right now.
Hundreds of musicians are on nine stages all around the world today for Live 8. The worldwide music marathon in all the G8 countries are designed to raise awareness of poverty in Africa. Now, while Live 8 attracts millions, the G8 summit has drawn thousands of protesters in Scotland. At this hour, up to 100,000 anti-poverty protesters are staging a White Band March in Edinburgh.
And the Florida Gulf Coast is still drawing sharks and tourists. An Austrian teenager bitten by a shark near Fort Myers is in fair condition. He underwent surgery yesterday to repair damage to his right ankle. It was the state's third shark attack in just a week.
HARRIS: And time now to get our first check of the nation's weather with Brad Huffines.
Brad is the chief meteorologist for CNN affiliate WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama -- good to see you, Brad.
HUFFINES: I learned a good lesson last night.
HARRIS: What's that?
HUFFINES: You saw "Mary Poppins" as a kid?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HUFFINES: Well, what does she carry above her head?
NGUYEN: An umbrella.
HARRIS: Right.
HUFFINES: Exactly. I had a beach umbrella -- well, not a beach, a patio umbrella on my back porch last night.
HARRIS: Yes?
NGUYEN: Gone?
HUFFINES: Open, nine feet, a seven foot glass table underneath it.
NGUYEN: Gone now.
HUFFINES: A thunderstorm...
HARRIS: Oh.
HUFFINES: ... wind...
HARRIS: Got you.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HUFFINES: It picked that sucker up and threw it over the deck and threw it 20 feet off my deck now.
HARRIS: Yes, we can do the math from there.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HUFFINES: A reminder -- meteorologists, sometimes we're people, too.
HARRIS: That's right. That's right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: It's going to be a hot holiday weekend, apparently.
Thank you, Brad.
HUFFINES: Yes.
HARRIS: We're taking the shots this morning.
NGUYEN: Really.
HARRIS: And still ahead, we go live to the Live 8 jam in Johannesburg and find out what Africans think about this global campaign to help wipe out poverty on the continent.
And also ahead, a soulful, silky voice is silenced. We look back at a life and the career of the man known as Luther.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: R&B balladeer Luther Vandross has died. The popular singer never fully recovered from a stroke in April of 2003.
CNN's Brooke Anderson has more on the life of the Grammy winning singer.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Soulful and memorable -- Luther Vandross made fans swoon with his elegantly crafted songs and emotionally charged love ballads.
LUTHER VANDROSS, SINGER: I'm very happy with the choice of my life's pursuit, you know, being music, being an artist, you know? I wouldn't be happier doing anything else.
ANDERSON: After a chance meeting with David Bowie in a recording studio, the rocker asked Vandross to sing backup on his hit 1975 album, "Young Americans." Later, Vandross joined Bowie on tour as his opening act.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
ANDERSON: Vandross went on to sing backup for such powerful acts as Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand. He also lent his versatile vocals to numerous commercial jingles.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING) ANDERSON: In 1981, Vandross signed with Epic Records and released his debut disc, "Never Too Much." It sold an impressive two million copies and topped the R&B charts.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
ANDERSON: His silky rich vocals propelled him to the top of the charts several times with hit singles such as "Any Love" and "Here and Now." An old school romantic, Vandross won eight Grammy awards, including four from his final effort, "Dance With My Father."
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
ANDERSON: A popular live performer, Vandross struggled with his image and health problems, including yoyo dieting, diabetes and hypertension. But Vandross refused to slow down. Music continued to be his passion and he stuck to his tireless work ethic until the very end.
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: Luther Vandross was 54 years old.
(AUDIO CLIP LUTHER VANDROSS SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Welcome back, everybody, on this Saturday.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
It is the second day of July on this holiday weekend.
Welcome, all.
Thank you for joining us.
Let's check out what's happening now in the news.
Tokyo kicked off a marathon of Live 8 concerts today. Hundreds of artists are taking to the stage in nine cities around the world to raise awareness of poverty in Africa. The free concerts are also designed to pressure world leaders to do something about it when they meet at a G8 summit next week in Scotland.
There's been yet another shark attack in Florida. An Austrian tourist is recovering at a southwest Florida hospital after a shark bit him on the ankle. Authorities say the 19-year-old was standing in chest deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. It's the third shark attack in Florida this week. There are conflicting reports out of Aruba over the status of three men being held in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Now, according to the Associated Press, Aruba's attorney general had said the three had been charged with murder. But Aruba's chief government spokesman now denies that, telling the A.P. that formal charges could come as early as Monday.
And remember, you can view more CNN reports online. Just visit cnn.com and click on "watch" to check out some of the most popular stories. It's all free on cnn.com.
NGUYEN: Just days before the G8 summit, a summit of protest. We want to show you now live pictures from Edinburgh, Scotland, where the G8 leaders from industrialized nations will meet on Wednesday. Protesters hope to pressure the world's richest nations to do more to end poverty in Africa.
Demands include canceling the debts of African countries.
Now, a tenth Live 8 concert will be held in Edinburgh later in the week.
Organizers for today's nine Live 8 concerts are relying on star power to get the message out that poor countries in Africa need help. But, unlike charity concerts of the past, they're not looking for help from the crowds.
As Mallika Kapur reports, this time they are looking for a bigger fish to fry.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tadesa Shumi (ph) visits his child's grave in his hometown of Makili in northern Ethiopia. His son was one of the hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians who died during the great famine of 1984. Even more were displaced.
Pictures like these shocked the world and resulted in an international celebrity-led campaign to raise money for Africa's famine victims.
(VIDEO CLIP FROM LIVE AID CONCERT)
KAPUR: The charity concert Live Aid raised around $100 million. One of the areas the money went to is Makili. Today, water flows in newly built canals, cattle roam the village and the annual harvest ensures there's plenty of food reserves. But that's just Makili.
GELDOF: Africa's got worse. Africa's declined economically 25 percent in 20 years. It's the only continent in economic decline.
KAPUR: Economists paint a more complex picture.
RAZIA KHAN, STANDARD CHARTERED: If you consider the time since Live Aid, African economies have made a great deal of progress since then. In the last 10 years, there were over 10 countries in Africa growing at a rate of over 5 percent a year. So the situation is not as hopeless as a lot of commentators have made it out to be.
KAPUR: To continue making progress, Khan says Africa needs more than one charity event.
KHAN: Aid flows that persist over time are going to be important. But certainty is a very important part of the equations so these can be factored into a country's own planning, into their own budgets.
KAPUR: This time around, Geldof isn't asking for individual donations. Backed by a host of musicians, he's asking G8 leaders to increase aid to Africa and forgive its debt.
GELDOF: Essentially, it's a fourfold plan -- debt relief, a doubling of aid, a lifting of trade restrictions and subsidies and tariffs in exchange for good governance.
KAPUR: Back at his son's grave, Shumi emphasizes aid alone is not enough.
SHUMI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We need real policies, real development and real strategies. If we have those, then we can be rich people.
KAPUR: A message for Geldof and leaders of the world's richest nations.
Mallika Kapur, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
NGUYEN: And now this program note.
You'll want to tune in tonight for a CNN prime time special leading up to the G8 summit. CNN's Christiane Amanpour goes beyond the headlines and looks at the global epidemic of poverty. Watch "Can We Save Them?," which airs tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
HARRIS: In Afghanistan, still no official word on the fate of a unit of special forces missing in the mountains near Pakistan. What we do know is that 16 troops were killed on their way to reinforce them when their military helicopter crashed in the mountains. It apparently was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade. There are unconfirmed reports that at least one American soldier has been captured. If true, that's enormously worrisome to U.S. military commanders.
Brigadier General James "Spider" Marks, a military intelligence analyst for CNN, is with us from Washington to explain more about the urgency of finding those missing special forces -- Spider, good to see you.
BRIG. GEN. JAMES MARKS, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Tony, good morning.
How are you? HARRIS: I'm well, thank you.
Let's first deal with this unconfirmed report about an American soldier captured there in Afghanistan. This is coming from Mullah Latif Hakimi, is I believe how you pronounce the name. And he claims to be a Taliban spokesman.
How reliable is this information coming from this character?
MARKS: Totally unreliable. There's no way to confirm that a soldier has been captured or -- some service member has been captured. And it could be a Navy SEAL or some other member of that special forces team. But the short answer, Tony, it's unreliable.
HARRIS: OK. Spider, deal with this for me, if you would, please.
The insurgency in Afghanistan, particularly over the last three months or so, is it beginning to look a lot like the insurgency in Iraq?
MARKS: You know, Tony, it's not. It's a different circumstance entirely in Afghanistan versus what you see in Iraq. In Afghanistan, you see the remnants of the Taliban regime that have holed up on that eastern portion of Afghanistan as it borders the very mountainous region, as it borders with Pakistan. And so these are really kind of isolated pockets. Yet those are very contested areas. And so it's important to apply the appropriate force to find, track, hunt down the bad guys, and at the same time provide the care and the support to this burgeoning government that exists and to kind of bring some normalcy back to the villages that exist out there in Afghanistan.
HARRIS: Let me push you on that a little bit. This idea that we're seeing isolated pockets of resistance here, over the last couple of months, or three months, in fact, 477 suspected insurgents killed, 47 Afghan police and soldiers killed, 134 civilians. We've got 45 U.S. troops.
How concerned should we be, Spider?
MARKS: Well, we should be concerned and therefore we have a presence that exists in Afghanistan. But keep in mind, keep it in perspective that since 9/11 and the fall of the Taliban, if you recall, that happened in the fall of '01. So very quickly after 9/11, the intentional community came forward, led by the United States, and crushed the Taliban regime.
But they had been in place for some time. So they had the mechanisms in place. That went away, but not entirely. So what you've see in the interim is the presence of U.S. and other international forces trying to do the best they can to support this burgeoning, emerging government that exists in Afghanistan.
So clearly you see one emergent and the other one is collapsing, and you've kind of got an intersection of those two that's taking place right now, Tony. HARRIS: I've got to ask you, has the Taliban, the remnants of the Taliban, has it at all been emboldened by this robust insurgency in Iraq?
MARKS: Oh, I would say it has. And, in fact, what you need to keep in mind is that there are no firewalls. There are essentially no borders that exist within Southwest Asia and the greater Mideast. Recruitment on the Internet takes place. Jihadists of different forms will be recruited from Egypt to Saudi Arabia to the Horn of Africa. And so then they show up on the battlefield and in many cases they show up on the battlefield in Iraq, and they're doing some damage. And they show up on the battlefield in Afghanistan, as well.
HARRIS: Brigadier General James Marks with us this morning.
Spider, good to see you.
Thanks.
MARKS: Thanks, Tony.
HARRIS: Thank you.
We appreciate it.
NGUYEN: Well, it's time now to check some of the other major stories making news around the globe.
HARRIS: And for that, let's go to the International Desk and CNN's Hala Gorani -- good morning, Hala.
HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Good morning, Betty.
We start our look around the world in Iran and the denial from the Iranian president-elect himself that he took part in the 1979 hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The "New York Times" is reporting that Mahmood Ahmadinejad has denied that he was the hostage taker seen in this 1979 photo -- if we could bring it up -- widely publicized this week, a grainy black and white photo that came out. Some American hostages said they recognized Ahmadinejad as one of the hostage takers.
But the Associated Press is reporting that U.S. investigators don't think Ahmadinejad is the militant seen in those photos that came out this week.
Now, another day, another deadly bombing in Iraq. A suicide bomber killed 12 people and injured 22 at a police recruitment center in western Baghdad. Most of those killed were Iraqi police commandos.
And finally, will he make it seven in a row? American cycling super champ Lance Armstrong peddled off into the French countryside in the annual Tour de France. Some people are calling it the Tour de Lance. The grueling cycling marathon starts today in Paris. If Lance Armstrong does it again, he will set a new record for most Tour de France wins and make sporting history again. An unbelievable feat, if you consider he battled cancer and won once, and he's nearing his 34th birthday.
Tony and Betty, I've seen some of those hills those guys pedal up.
HARRIS: Yes.
GORANI: It's hard to drive up them.
HARRIS: Right. Right, right, right.
GORANI: Twenty-two hundred miles.
NGUYEN: Yikes!
Well, you know, he's got some good motivation -- Cheryl Crow by his side.
HARRIS: Oh.
NGUYEN: He can do anything now.
HARRIS: Oh.
GORANI: He believes he's got motivation.
NGUYEN: All right, Hala, thank you.
HARRIS: Who would have seen (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
A new Wimbledon women's champion and it will be an American, that's for sure. We'll tell you why.
NGUYEN: Plus, can you really have too much of Old Glory on a holiday weekend? Some people think so.
HARRIS: But first, a "CNN Extra."
Africa is home to five of the world's fastest growing economies, but also 34 of the world's poorest countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's poorest place. More than 300 million people there live on less than $1 a day. The number is expected to reach 400 million in 10 years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Protesters in Scotland are urging rich nations to end the global poverty. Here's a live look right now. We're going to take you also, coming up, live to the streets of Edinburgh. That's next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Trevor Rees-Jones was the sole survivor of the car crash that killed Princess Diana and his boss, Dodi Fayed, in August 1997.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The car, the front of it, is totally smashed in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fired family bodyguard, a passenger in the car that night, needed extensive surgery to rebuild his face. But rebuilding his life has been tougher. He lost his job working for Dodi's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, after the millionaire claimed Rees- Jones had a role in the crash.
TREVOR REES-JONES: He only sees his own truth. He's not going to be happy until the definitive version is the one that he puts out. And it's never going to be because, as far as I'm concerned, it was just a simple car accident.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A French inquiry cleared Rees-Jones of any responsibility in 1999. A year later, he wrote a book about his experiences called "The Bodyguard's Story." But since the book, he has never sought publicity. He says that his new job is his life. He runs his own security company and has worked in Iraq and for the U.N. in East Timor.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And checking our top stories right now, another deadly suicide attack in Baghdad this morning. This time the target was Iraqi police commandos and recruits. The attacker apparently was wearing a commando uniform. At least 12 people were killed.
Major cities around the world will be rocking and grooving to Live 8 today. Tokyo was the first to kick off the global music fest, which is aimed at fighting poverty in Africa and the world's poorest countries.
And kind words from President Bush for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The president praised O'Connor as a "discerning and conscientious judge."
NGUYEN: Well, we want to know what you think today. Does the Supreme Court need a moderate, conservative or a liberal to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor?
E-mail us your thoughts at weekends@cnn.com.
We'll be reading those replies on the air, so send them in.
Now, other "Stories Across America" on this Saturday morning.
The search goes on for a 4-year-old Oregon boy who vanished from his home in suburban Portland. Police say they have received more than 100 tips about the disappearance of Matal Zachary Sanchez. He was last seen Wednesday afternoon.
A Tennessee man's patriotic streak is a little too much for his neighbors. The homeowners association asked him to take down some of his Independence Day flag displays. There were 50 small American flags stuck in the ground, flag banners hanging from the fence and an Uncle Sam statue, or several of them, beside the door.
Well, actress Brooke Shields fires back at Tom Cruise's rant against anti-depressant drugs. Cruise had criticized Shields for taking anti-depressants after she had a baby. In a "New York Times" editorial, Shields says she'll bet that Cruise never suffered post- partum depression.
HARRIS: Live 8 isn't the only high profile event in London today. The Wimbledon tennis championships are also in full swing. The women's final will get underway in about an hour or so.
Americans Lindsay Davenport -- there she is -- and Venus Williams face off. The last time they played each other at the Wimbledon finals was in 2000, and Venus won that title.
The men's final is tomorrow. Two time defending champion, the brilliant Roger Federer, will try to make it three in a row. He'll go up against either Andy Roddick or Thomas Johansen. Their semifinal match yesterday was suspended in the first set.
For the love of money -- how can you pocket more cash? You know the answer to that.
NGUYEN: We all need that.
Just after the break, our Web Desk will offer you tips on how to keep more cash flowing in than out of your bank account.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: On cnn.com today, can you spare a dime? Whether the answer is yes or no, your dimes and your dollars are better in the bank than in your pocket.
Our Web Desk has 50 tips on how to save more.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: If those rising gas prices are making you go empty on cash, we've got 50 smart ways to rev up your net worth at cnnmoney.com/smartest.
Starting with the dos and don'ts of saving dough, do open a home equity line of credit and use it for the right reasons -- to tap as a rainy day fund or finance college for your kids. But don't raid your home's equity to fund vacations, plasma TVs or that Beamer you can't afford.
Experts say don't buy life insurance for your kids. If they don't support the family, they don't need insurance. Instead, put that money toward disability insurance. You have a 30 percent chance of becoming disabled for three or more months at some point in your working life. Disability insurance keeps that cash flowing. Get a policy that pays 60 to 70 percent of your earnings until age 65.
Back to those high gas prices, "Money" magazine's auto guru says that if your car's engine isn't super charged or turbo charged, run it on regular gasoline. Premium gas won't extend the life of your engine or do much for your fuel efficiency.
So fill her up on money saving tips at cnnmoney.com.
I'm Christina Park reporting from the Dot-Com News Desk.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: Cookouts, a lot of cookouts.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: Family get-togethers.
NGUYEN: Love that.
HARRIS: Family reunions. We're going to check the holiday weekend forecast when we come back.
NGUYEN: And hopefully it doesn't include rain.
Also, in the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, what is next for the U.S. Supreme Court after a surprising announcement from Justice O'Connor? We'll talk about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, time now to get a check of the weather. It's a big holiday weekend.
Brad Huffines is in here -- Brad, all the pressure is on you, my friend.
HUFFINES: No pressure at all.
HARRIS: None?
NGUYEN: Oh, OK. Well, just don't bring any rain.
HUFFINES: Just remember, I don't do it, I just forecast it. The pressure is...
NGUYEN: You're just a messenger, right?
HARRIS: Yes.
HUFFINES: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the only guy that does it, right, Tony?
HARRIS: I'm with you.
HUFFINES: All right. HARRIS: I'm totally with you.
HUFFINES: All right.
HARRIS: We're not shooting the messenger around here, at least not on the air.
HUFFINES: It wouldn't be prudent there.
HARRIS: That's right.
HUFFINES: Not at this juncture.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HUFFINES: Sure.
HARRIS: Quickly now to our E-Mail Question of the Morning. And you've been sending us -- we appreciate it.
Thank you.
Here's the question -- does the Supreme Court need a moderate, conservative or liberal to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor?
And K. Herman writes, let's see: "A moderate choice to replace Justice O'Connor would go furthest in helping to cut the acrimony in our government. A moderate, yes."
NGUYEN: Thomas Shrack says: "I truly don't think 'Roe'" -- meaning "Row v. Wade" -- "is in danger on this appointment alone. But so many other things are in danger, namely, New Deal reforms, interstate commerce, pro-consumer federal law, etc."
So, send us your thoughts to our E-mail Question of the Day. Does the Supreme Court need a moderate, conservative or liberal? All you have to do is send it to weekends@cnn.com.
HARRIS: And the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The search continues for a U.S. military team missing since Tuesday in Afghanistan.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is July 2, 8:00 a.m. here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, 7:00 a.m. in the Mississippi Valley.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you caught up on stories now in the news.
The search for Natalee Holloway resumes this morning in Aruba. Meantime, authorities may be close to filing formal charges against the three suspects in custody. A spokesman did not specify what the charges might be.
More than 100,000 protesters all dressed in white are forming a human chain around Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the first of three White Band Days, a global call to action against poverty. And to help raise awareness about poverty in Africa and the world's poorest countries, hundreds of musicians are on nine stages around the world for Live-8, the worldwide music marathon, in all of the G8 countries.
It's kickstands up and metal to the pedal.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: All right. For Lance Armstrong as he launches his quest for a seventh straight Tour de France title. This year's cycling challenge covers 2,240 miles.
And you can experience the power of CNN video on your computer. Log onto cnn.com, click on the Video link, and browse for the video you want to see, whenever you want to see it.
NGUYEN: Well, coming up, to use a supreme analogy, the ball is now in President Bush's court, as he weighs his options. Others will, well, with loose lips are naming names on just who might replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
And before you eat all those holiday burgers and buns, you'll relish our tips on how not to eat yourself into a pickle. Our "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta has got the beef in our final installment of the summer survival guide. HARRIS: The U.S. military says it is devoting, quote, "all available assets" to find a small number of special forces missing. In the mountains of Afghanistan, shortly after they went missing, a helicopter carrying their reinforcements crashed, killing 16 service members. As part of the search effort, U.S. forces bombed an enemy compound near the Pakistani border.
CNN's Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The recon team has been unaccounted for since Tuesday, when an MH-47 helicopter carrying 16 U.S. troops, including an eight-man Navy SEAL team, was shot down as it attempted to land with reinforcements.
The Pentagon won't say how many troops are missing, or when they last made contact.
LARRY DI RITA, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: I think people can appreciate that it's a sensitive matter. And we're trying to be precise in how we talk and trying not to disrupt ongoing operations.
MCINTYRE: The U.S. military has acknowledged an unmanned Predator spy plane was lost during the search, but says every available asset is involved in trying to locate the missing troops.
A U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan dismissed claims by a purported Taliban spokesman that a U.S. serviceman has been captured, saying there is no evidence that any members of the team have been caught or killed.
At the Coronado Navy Base outside San Diego, where some of the Navy SEALS were stationed, a flag at half-staff marks the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the Taliban was toppled in 2002.
And there are trends that suggest Taliban and al Qaeda remnants are trying to disrupt scheduled Afghan elections in September by fostering an Iraqi-style insurgency.
LT. GEN. JAMES CONWAY, U.S. MARINE CORPS: There is one that we see a little bit troubling, and that is the increased presence of IEDs. And I think if you charted it over time, you would see more attacks tied into IEDs than perhaps we had in the last six to 20 months.
MCINTYRE (on camera): The missing troops are among the most highly trained in the U.S. military, capable of sustaining themselves on the ground for days, even in the harshest conditions. Right now, the U.S. military's top priority is finding them and bringing them back safely.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: And a quick follow-up. The bodies of those 16 troops killed when the helicopter crash, or in that helicopter crash, are now back in Dover, Delaware.
HARRIS: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a recruitment center for Iraqi police in western Baghdad this morning. At least 12 people are dead, and more than 20 others are wounded. Many of the casualties are Iraqi police commandos. A police official says the bomber was wearing a commando's uniform when he blew himself up.
In a separate incident, a suicide car bomb exploded south of Baghdad at a police checkpoint. No word yet on casualties from that attack.
NGUYEN: Now to security watch, where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror every Saturday morning.
Hoping to strengthen the country's intelligence operations, President Bush has ordered the creation of a new national security division inside the FBI. The move is partly intended to bridge some long-standing gaps between the FBI and CIA.
A congressional review of 67 state and federal fugitives found 37 of them were not included on a State Department database. The loophole, enabled them to successfully apply for a passport. A top State Department official told lawmakers steps are being taken to ensure it doesn't happen again.
And a Homeland Security official says a new program that fingerprints people trying to enter the U.S. has led to nearly 3,000 visa applicants being turned down. It also helped authorities to stop about 700 people at various points of entry.
The National Academy of Sciences is reversing course and publishing a study that outlines how terrorists could poison the country's milk supply. That is despite earlier complaints from health officials that the report gives away too much information. Academy officials say all the information in the article is already available on the Internet.
So you'll want to stay tuned to CNN both day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
And speaking of security, it is certainly tight in Scotland, where a huge anti-G8 rally is under way. We'll go live to Edinburgh and this.
A Motown legend passes way.
Also, later on "HOUSE CALL," a few coping mechanisms to get you through this big holiday weekend.
You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: Uh, millions simply called him the voice. Luther Vandross, (INAUDIBLE) vocals, great in reputation, still (INAUDIBLE) even in memory. He died yesterday at age 54.
With a smooth and silky voice, the multiple Grammy-winner sang songs of love, life, and loss. Favorites include "Here and Now," "Dance with My Father," "Bad Boy Having a Party," "A House Is Not a Home," "If This World Were Mine." Vandross suffered a debilitating stroke over two years ago, from which he never fully recovered. He died in New Jersey surrounded by friends (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: Meanwhile, the music world is also mourning the death of another legend. Renaldo "Obie" Benson was a member of the Motown group The Four Tops. He died of lung cancer yesterday. Now, as a Four Top, Benson helped the group sell 50 million records worldwide. He was just 69 years old.
HARRIS: And let's get another check of weather now, and Brad Huffines is in for Rob Marciano this morning. Good morning, Brad.
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And I left my red sequined suit at home.
HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE), (INAUDIBLE). Boy, they can dress...
HUFFINES: (INAUDIBLE)...
HARRIS: ... they can dress.
HUFFINES: (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: Show clothes.
HUFFINES: (INAUDIBLE)...
HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE).
HUFFINES: ... amazing. I mean, you know, look and see what they were doing and what an amazing group and what a little before my time, though.
HARRIS: And I was right there. I was right there.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Right there with him, (INAUDIBLE)...
HARRIS: Thanks, Brad, appreciate it.
HUFFINES: (INAUDIBLE), wasn't going to say that to you.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
HUFFINES: We'll talk again coming up next hour, guys.
HARRIS: OK, Brad, appreciate it. Thank you. And checking our top stories, Iran's president-elect reportedly denies he took American hostages during the 1979 siege of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. A reporter for "The New York Times" says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told him it's not true. It's only rumors. Some former U.S. hostages said they recognized the man from their traumatic past.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has asked the militant group Hamas to join his cabinet. He hopes the group can help forge a peaceful takeover of Gaza after Israel pulls out this summer. Israel calls Hamas a terrorist group, saying it should not be a part of any political process.
NGUYEN: The fight over the future of the Supreme Court is on. The resignation of moderate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor threatens the balance of power in the court. Key issues such as abortion rights may be at stake.
And CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us now with more. Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.
And the president got word somewhat cryptically on Thursday from the court that he was going to be receiving a letter, though he did not know exactly who that letter would be from until yesterday morning, when, of course, he found out that it was Justice O'Connor. And within minutes of hanging up the phone with Justice O'Connor, wishing her well, he gathered a very small group of advisers in the Oval Office, who have been drawing up battle plans for some time, some of whom who've actually interviewed potential nominees already, to get things ready.
And then Mr. Bush stepped into the Rose Garden, as you see there, promised to name his pick fast, and pleaded with Democrats for a peaceful process.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The nation deserves, and I will select, a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of. The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing, and a fair vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the president did call some Democrats yesterday, the Democratic leader of the Senate and the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee that will be overseeing the confirmation process, and promised to have key senators, Democrats and Republicans, to the White House when he returns from Europe next week, late next week.
Now, Mr. Bush, at this time, is at Camp David, where aides say he is reviewing dossiers, all of writings, rulings of potential nominees, that his aides have been gathering literally for years, and he will continue to do that as he travels to Europe next week. And he will interview candidates personally when he gets back.
Now, Betty, most of official Washington (INAUDIBLE) were that they were expecting any kind of vacancy, they, most thought it would probably be the chief justice. Well, now that it is Sandra Day O'Connor, a swing vote perhaps, senior officials do concede that that could very well alter the president's thinking in who exactly he picks.
NGUYEN: Big decision to be made. Dana Bash, thank you.
So who should we brace ourselves for a momentous battle in the Senate over the high court nominee? (INAUDIBLE) or ask our walking legal encyclopedia and civil rights attorney, Avery Friedman. He joins us now from Cleveland.
Boy, that's a name, walking cyclopedia. So we'll put you to the test.
Look, first of all, let's go over the importance of this nomination, as mentioned by Dana Bash. Sandra Day O'Connor often was a swing vote on the Supreme Court, which means whoever takes her place could tip the balance of this court.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Oh, to a certainty, Betty. And there has been no Supreme Court justice in the history of the nation that has had as unique a contribution as Sandra Day O'Connor, because unlike the fractious sort of ideological split we see in the U.S. Supreme court, Sandra Day O'Connor used actually her political background to use consensus building.
And what that really meant was that she participated in more majority opinions than any justice in the history of the country.
So whoever is going to replace her, is, if there is going to be that sort of consensus building, that sort of balance, it's going to have to be a candidate very similar to what Justice O'Connor has offered the court for almost a quarter of a century.
NGUYEN: OK. So when it comes to finding that candidate, is there going to be some type of a litmus test that must be used in this? And a lot of people think maybe that test could center around the issue of abortion.
FRIEDMAN: Let me tell you something, I'm not a political commentator, but strictly from a constitutional law perspective, it strikes me that what the Senate is going to look to and what the president will be compelled to look to will be the sort of qualities that Justice O'Connor really has shown for over 23 years. She has been very careful. She's had an independent streak. Interestingly enough, the thought was, at her appointment by Ronald Reagan, that she was going to be just another ideological Republican hardline right wing.
NGUYEN: Not the case.
FRIEDMAN: It never happened that way. NGUYEN: Right.
FRIEDMAN: Exactly right. And that's typical, Betty, of what happens when you're appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. There's the litmus test is not going to work. What will work will be a candidate respected basically across both sides of the aisle.
NGUYEN: Justice O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice. Do you think there's chance of getting a female to replace her, or does that seem pretty slim at this point?
FRIEDMAN: You know, I have to tell you, Betty, I think the odds are that we are going to see another woman. The first female justice, you have a nation that is comprised of 53 percent women, and it strikes me that there are enough candidates out there who now serve on our federal appeals courts, who sit in our district courts, who actually can fill the bill.
So don't be surprised to see another qualified female being appointed by this president.
NGUYEN: All right, Avery Friedman, thank you so much for your time today.
FRIEDMAN: Nice to see you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Nice to see you too.
HARRIS: And that gets us to our e-mail question. Do you think the Supreme Court needs a moderate, conservative, or liberal?
How about this from Eric? "Shame on you." (INAUDIBLE), shame on us?
NGUYEN: That's what he's saying.
HARRIS: All right. "Shame on you. The Supreme Court doesn't need liberals or conservatives, it needs the highest quality legal minds this great country has to offer." Well, Avery's available.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Yes, that walking encyclopedia that he is.
HARRIS: Yes. "If we focus on the politics, we are likely to get second-best talent."
NGUYEN: Jim says, "If President Bush wants to unite us, not divide us, he will pick a moderate."
But we also want to know what you think. Who should be nominated to this post? Send us your thoughts, weekends@cnn.com.
Big names, big events, and an even bigger cause. After the break, we will show you what's happening around the world in today's Live-8 concerts. HARRIS: And the Live-8 comes days before the G8 summit, that is. All of the leaders aren't there yet, but most of the protesters are, that's for sure. We'll go live to Scotland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The world is alive with the sound of music. Today, in nine cities on four continents, 150 acts perform in Live-8. This is the scene in Johannesburg, South Africa. The events are focused on ending poverty on the African continent.
So if your weekend plans don't include hitting one of the concert sites around the globe, today, fear not. You're only a mouse click away. Aolmusic.com is your exclusive online source to see all of the concerts in their entirety. That is aolmusic.com.
HARRIS: Well, protesters by the thousands are gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland, this morning. They're staging a massive demonstration against world poverty. It's a run-up to the Group of Eight summit this coming week.
CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us live from the Scottish capital. Good morning, Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Tony. I hope you can hear me. There's an awful lot of noise going on around me. There are tens of thousands of people here, all (INAUDIBLE) poverty (INAUDIBLE). We're expecting up to about 100,000, according to the organizers. All of them coming here this morning, a march that started an hour and a half ago, going around the center of the city of Edinburgh, which has been cordoned off.
Now, it's a carnival atmosphere, as you can hear, the (INAUDIBLE) bands playing, but the message behind this atmosphere is very serious. They are telling the G8 leaders (INAUDIBLE) so close to here in Scotland later on next week that there are certain things that have to be done in 2005. They say (INAUDIBLE) children are dying every year, every day, sorry, in the poorest countries of the world due to poverty and due to preventable diseases. They say this has to change.
What they'll be doing in about half an hour's time is, most of them are wearing white. They're going to be forming a human white band, (INAUDIBLE) one of these bands. It's a Make Poverty History band. They want that human band across Edinburgh. They did a similar thing back in 1998 (INAUDIBLE) England, where 70,000 people were there.
They want a lot more this time around. But (INAUDIBLE) they say the message is very serious, they want debt cancellation (INAUDIBLE) countries. They want more trade (INAUDIBLE) fairer trade, they want more aid, they want better aid, not just donations, but helping to stop corruption in many of these African countries, Tony.
HARRIS: Paula Hancocks. Paula, we appreciate it. We hope you read lips at home.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: (INAUDIBLE) there's a concert going on. With the spotlight on poverty and Africa tonight, CNN will air a primetime special on the economic situation there with the G8 summit approaching. CNN's Christiane Amanpour goes beyond the headlines, talking with Tony Blair and looking at the epidemic of global poverty. "Can We Save Them?" is only on CNN tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
At noon next hour, we'll go live to Palm Beach, Aruba, to get the latest on the search for missing American teen Natalee Holloway.
NGUYEN: But first, on "HOUSE CALL," a summer survival guide with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
We'll be right back.
Taking a look at a CNN extra. Every day in Africa, 6,300 people die and another 8,500 become infected with HIV. That includes more than 1,000 newborn babies who are infected through their mother's milk. The United Nations estimates about 25 million people in Africa are HIV-positive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. "HOUSE CALL" is next.
But first, these headlines.
One major music festival on nine stages all around the world, it's billed as Live 8 to combat global poverty. It's a grassroots run up to next week's G-8 Summit in Scotland. Live 8 concludes Wednesday with a tenth concert in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In Aruba now, still no sign of Natalee Holloway more than a month after she disappeared on a class trip. Aruban authorities suggest charges may be filed as early as next week, even if no body is found.
And if you miss some video on CNN or want to just see it again, all you have to do is point your Internet browser to CNN.com. You can catch all of CNN's video there any time and it won't cost you a dime.
HOUSECALL starts right now.
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