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CNN Saturday Morning News

Death Toll in India Rising; London Bombing Suspects Caught; Caulk Gun for Crack;

Aired July 30, 2005 - 9:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: Live pictures now. Take a look at what is going on outside of the shuttle Discovery the first space walk is under way. Two astronauts are testing some new repair techniques developed since the Columbia tragedy. We will bring you a live report from Mission Control in just a minute.
The British police say they have now captured all four suspects in the July 21st attempted transit bombings. Two of the men were arrested yesterday in London. The third suspect was taken into custody in Rome and the fourth suspect was arrested earlier this week. A live report from Rome in four minutes.

President Bush is undergoing his annual physical this morning at the Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, at the president's last check up seven months ago he had gained a few pounds and his cholesterol levels were up. He's been spending a lot of time we understand riding his mountain bike.

Welcome back everyone to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm Tony Harris.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Good morning to everybody out there. I want to thank you for joining us today.

Our top story this hour: Caulk gun for crack, dabbers for dents? Well astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery are using some seemingly familiar tools to make repairs to that heat shield. Right now crewmembers are just over three hours into a six-hour space walk and they're testing new emergency repair methods developed since the Columbia tragedy. For the latest, CNN's John Zarrella is live from Johnson's Space Center in Houston, Texas. And John we have to be clear. They are making these repairs as part of a test run; it is not an actual repair to the orbiter?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not at all. In fact, they're working inside of a shuttle cargo bay. And actually where they are right now in the process is that they've cleaned up the tools. They've put them away and they are finished with that part of the space walk. You can see in that wide shot of the space station up at the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen, the space shuttle Discovery and dangling on the attached upside-down to the end of the space station's robotic arm is astronaut Steve Robinson there and they have moved on now to some other tasks that they are doing now in preparation for the next two space walks during the upcoming weeks.

They've finished with that other work they were doing earlier. But that was the most anticipated and exciting part of this first day space walk and what they did was in the cargo bay there was a platform. They opened it up and a box. And in that box were a series of pieces of carbon-carbon material. And in the first set of experiments they used a caulk gun.

And the carbon-carbon is that part of the very black hard material that sustains the most heat on re-entry and they wanted to see if they had a material that would work to fix that carbon-carbon if, in fact, it was damaged during liftoff. They tested this material on some test material in the cargo bay, using the caulk gun and then scraping the materials down with a little -- with just a pad.

And then from there they moved on to the next section where they used a dobber. And right now again they're moving on to this last part of the space walk. The last three hours of the space walk. And so far, Betty, everything going nicely.

NGUYEN: A-OK. We do have to mention as you just did briefly. This is happening not only in space but he is upside-down, John. Amazing to watch it all play out. Thank you for that update.

And that brings us to our e-mail question this morning. Should the shuttle log more hours in space or should NASA just cut its losses and move on to the next generation of space flight vehicles? Let us know what you think. E-mail us, Weekends@CNN.com. We'll be reading your responses throughout the morning.

HARRIS: Investigators in Britain say they are now focusing on finding the masterminds and the money behind the transit attacks. Police in London say all four of the suspects behind the July 21st botched bombings are now in custody. Two men were captured in a dramatic raid on a London apartment yesterday.

No shots were fired, but police used tear gas after a three-hour standoff with the suspects. A third suspect was captured in Rome. Police there confiscated computer equipment and other evidence. And are continuing their searches. That suspect is facing a court hearing this morning. For more on the investigation, we go live now to Mallika Kapur in London.

Mallika, good morning.

MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. You're right, the investigation is continuing. Of course, there was a significant breakthrough yesterday when police arrested some of the men they believe may have had something to do with the botched bombing attacks of July 21 here in London.

We saw very dramatic scenes of their arrest yesterday. Police raided two locations in a West London yesterday. That arrest at the Peabody building in the North Hendinton (ph) area leading to the arrest of two people identified as Mukhtar Said Ibrahim and Ramzi Mohammed. Some very dramatic pictures of the men putting their hands up and being arrested on the balcony of this particular estate.

These are men police believe are the wanted men, the people who could have been responsible for attempting to detonate bombs on of the two of the train stations on July 21. This morning in London a lot of relief, a huge sense of satisfaction that these wanted men are in police custody. A quick look at some of the papers this morning just summing up the feeling here.

This tabloid simply saying "Got Them." Almost a feeling of triumph that police authorities here were able to find these men and track them down within just eight days and, in fact, arrest them. But still, police, authorities here are urging the public to remain vigilant and saying that the threat of terrorism still remains very real.

HARRIS: Mallika Kapur in London for us. Mallika thank you.

NGUYEN: And we want to get some more on the investigation. Let's go to Rome now and CNN's Jennifer Eccleston. Jennifer, what have you learned?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Betty, Italian officials are shedding a bit more light on the developments that led to the arrest of a man they call Osman Hussain. But British authorities refer to Hussain Osman.

Now he is the suspected fourth bomber in that July 21 failed attacks on London. Italy's Interior Minister said that Osman is of Ethiopian decent which is contrary to earlier reports that he is of Somali origin. They also said, as we know that he is a naturalized British citizen. Now was arrested yesterday at an apartment in South Eastern Rome after a tip off from Scotland Yard that Osman's cell phone calls indicated he was actually in Italy.

Now, according to the interior minister, Osman left London's Waterloo train station on July 26. The Italian police said he traveled to Rome via Paris then Milan and possibly other cities. The 27-year- old suspect is currently being held at a Rome prison. And the Interior Minister said this is an on going investigation, Betty, that searches are under way in at least 15 Italian provinces. They are trying to locate anyone who had contact with Osman. Now, Italy's chief prosecutor also said that Osman goes by the name of Hamdi Isaac and that his brother who also lives in Rome was arrested but he is being held in prison on charges of carrying false documents. Of course, Britain has asked for Osman's extradition to the United Kingdom and we believe those hearings will begin later today.

Betty.

NGUYEN: In all of this, as searches continue, there in Italy. Jennifer thanks for that update.

Too often stories of child on abduction end in tragedy. But not this time.

MICKENZIE, FOILED ABDUCTION TRY: I was just hitting and screaming and doing whatever I could to aggravate him. And make him mad. And he just pulled over and told me to get out.

NGUYEN: A remarkable story of courage right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: Plus, more live pictures from outer space. The first of three planned space walks. Live and in living color now. Brad Huffines, good morning Brad.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Tony. As scattered showers begin to move across the West Coast of Florida. The East coast looking OK now. In fact, showing us outside live now in Daytona Beach. Good morning, Daytona. Sunshine but more storms in your forecast as is the case for most of the Florida Peninsula. You complete weather forecast for the nation is coming up in just about eight minutes here on CNN LIVE SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: It is the same problem blamed for the disaster that struck the space shuttle Columbia and now at least one big chunk of foam tile has fallen off the shuttle "Discovery." How is the crew holding up? Tomorrow CNN's space correspondent Miles O'Brien talks to the astronauts. The crew of Discovery, 9:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."

NGUYEN: And speaking of the crew Discovery you are looking at a space walk right now. We had a tighter shot a little bit earlier from where our vantage point you could see one of the astronauts appear to be hanging upside-down. But you know what there's really no upside- down in space. What he's doing is a lot of repair work here, or at least testing of repair work and then shortly they will be moving over to the International Space Station for some experiments there.

We'll be watching. We will give you live pictures throughout the morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THEN & NOW (voice over): The British trader who tried to beat the market a decade ago and lost. 28-year-old Nick Leeson lost $1.3 billion to be exact of his employer's money. Single handedly bankrupting the 233-year-old Barron Bank. Leeson briefly tried to run from the law before being arrested at Frankfurt Airport in 1995. While serving almost 4 1/2 years in a Singapore jail, his wife divorced him and he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Homeless and unemployed, he capitalized on his experience, penning his first book, "Rouge Trader." Transferred to the silver screen, Leeson was immortalized by the actor Hugon McGregor. Now 38 and remarried, he lives in Ireland with his beautician wife and three children.

NICK LEESON, AUTHOR: I never wake up and feel sorry for myself. I don't wake up anymore and feel sorry for the bank or anything that happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His new book "Back from the Brink, Coping with Stress" deals with how he's moved on.

LEESON: I have to draw a line in the sand, and get on with my life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking top stories right now. After yesterday's dramatic arrest of two men suspected of trying to bomb the London transit system, the focus now shifts to Rome today. A third suspect was arrested there and he is expected to face a court hearing today. Authorities are trying to have him extradited.

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justice nominee John Roberts are set to begin September 6. Senate Republicans hope to confirm Roberts before the high court begins its new term on October 3.

And President Bush is getting his annual check up this morning. Doctors gave him a clean bill of health. Seven months ago even though his weight, body fat and cholesterol were all up, the president has been riding his bike a whole lot lately.

And when the president is done with his physical you can expect the detail of the examination right here on CNN.

HARRIS: You know you don't get away with much in a small town like trying to snatch a young girl in broad daylight. In the Ogden Utah suburb of West Haven a suspect is in custody and this little slip of a girl possibly saved her own life. Susan Wood of CNN affiliate KTVX in Ogden has the story.

It's the classic: I've lost my dog, can you help me find her.

SUSAN WOOD, KTVX CORRESPONDENT: Twelve-year-old Mickenzie was walking down a dirt with her brother Cadden when the stranger pulled up in his truck and got out. He had three of the four to his truck open. Mickenzie quickly had a bad feeling. The man asked for her bishop's name. Gave her his cell number. He kept walking towards her. Then told the kids to put their bikes in the truck, when they refused, he grabbed her.

MICKENZIE: I was just hitting and screaming and doing whatever I could to aggravate him and make him mad. And he just pulled over and told me to get out.

WOOD: Her brother watched the man drive off with his sister.

CADDEN: I thought that she -- I would never see her again.

WOOD: She did everything she could to make him miserable and about 100 yards up the road; he said he'd let her out if she crawled over him. She did, behind his back, got out the door and he drove off.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We feel that our heavenly father was watching over her and for some reason that this man stopped to let her out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are extremely appreciative to heavenly father who had given us our daughter back.

MICKENZIE: I just didn't really want to have happen what has happened to like all the kidnappings that you hear about that bad things have happened to. I didn't want that to happen because I have dreams that I want to fulfill.

HARRIS: Again, Susan, wasn't she something?

WOOD: Well spoken.

HARRIS: Susan Wood of CNN affiliate KTVX in Ogden, Utah, with that report.

NGUYEN: Well nature's marvels never cease to amaze. Want you to take a look at this, some incredible pictures to show you when we come back.

HARRIS: And then there are manmade marvels, more live pictures from the space walk right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

But first a "CNN EXTRA." If you are gaining weight, chances are your job could be to blame. The president would agree with that. A survey by CareerBuilder.com finds nearly half of Americans gain weight on the current job the reason. Unhealthy eating and lack of gyms and weight loss programs at work. Want to keep your waistline in check? Career Builder suggests packing a healthy lunch, go to the gym during your lunch hour and never ever, avoid at all costs the in-house candy machines.

NGUYEN: That's no fun.

HARRIS: They are a killer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's now get to some of the other top stories making news around the world this morning.

NGUYEN: There is major flooding in Western India. And the death toll just keeps climbing. For those details let's hand it over now to Anand Naidoo at the CNN International desk.

Hi Anand.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, thanks and good morning from me. Yes, the death toll from those monsoon floods in Western India has gone past 800. Some 850 people are confirmed dead in one state alone after extensive flooding triggered landslides. (INAUDIBLE) have died in the financial center of Mumbai that city was drenched with 37 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. At least 22 people including several children were killed in a stampede. That was prompted by rumors of a collapsed dam. A clean up is under way. Electricity has been restored in many areas and public transport is running again.

Now to the war in Iraq. A British diplomatic convoy has come under attack in Basra. It was hit by a roadside bomb. Two guards employed by a private security company have been killed. Two children were also wounded in that attack. And we're also hearing that a roadside bomb in Southern Baghdad missed a U.S. military convey but killed an Iraqi bystander and wounded two others. The explosion took place near a military base.

Tony.

HARRIS: Tell us about the auction for some of John Lennon's memorabilia.

NAIDOO: Well that one is really interesting. You're really going to enjoy this one. You remember those kinds of trademark horn-rimmed glasses he use to wear?

HARRIS: Yes.

NAIDOO: Well they sold at this auction for 55,000 pounds. In real money that's $97,000. But this is the best one. A handwritten manuscript of "All You Need is Love." Remember that song?

HARRIS: Yes.

NAIDOO: That one was retrieved from the stage floor after a Beetles television performance in 1967 and it fetched, guess how much? Six hundred thousand pounds, or just over a million dollars.

HARRIS: The lyrics sheet, they leave behind on the stage, someone goes up and gets it, and it's worth a million dollars.

NGUYEN: That is expensive trash.

HARRIS: A million bucks later.

NAIDOO: All you need is cash.

HARRIS: That's it.

NGUYEN: Apparently.

HARRIS: I've got a lot of lines but I'll just let it be.

NGUYEN: Oh, goodness. Here we go. Anand, we've really got to run now. Thanks.

HARRIS: Let's get you off to the CNN Weather Center. And Brad Huffines for another check of the nation's weather.

HUFFINES: We do have a couple things to talk about. One of which is a tornado warning in Somerset County, Maryland. Waterspout being reported by the public. So watch for that. Because if it moves ashore, could cause some brief damage. That's about all the damage is going to be from the thunderstorm. Gusty winds as well.

Look at the forecast for the southeast today as we're seeing this area of scattered showers from Maryland all the way down south through the Florida Peninsula. Some pretty locally heavy rains across portions of Florida, between 90 in Miami and 93 in Orlando, hot and steamy. Up north expect to see Washington seeing 86 degrees. Just north of the scattered showers and storms. Boston you will see 79 and gorgeous weather.

Across the nations plains and the heartland, expect to see temperatures near 90 in St. Louis, 90 in Nashville down south, 84 and scattered storms in Atlanta. Chicago 84 today. Strong thunderstorms across the northern high plains, 91 in Rapid City. 90 in Fargo, 90 in Kansas City. The heat continues to build out west with high temperatures near 102 in Los Vegas. Same in Phoenix, with widely scattered thunderstorms that Arizona summer monsoon starts off and then of course in the southern plains expect to see 93 in Houston, 99 in Dallas. All the heat plus the humidity, sounds comfortable, doesn't it?

HARRIS: Boy, Brad, OK. Thank you.

A busy day in outer space this morning for the crew of Discovery. The first space walk is under way this hour. We'll explain what's going on. But we can tell you that the astronauts are testing new repair techniques.

NGUYEN: And that brings us to our e-mail question. Should NASA scrap the shuttle program all together? Some of your answers when we come back.

And coming up a little bit later on CNN, her name was Viola Liuzzo. Perhaps you've never heard of her. But as a white woman she played a significant role in the eventual passing of Voting Rights Act. She was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1695. Now a new documentary tells her story like never before. We will share it with you today at noon Eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: We are going to take you back to these live pictures of the first of three planned space walks for the team of "Discovery." What we can tell you is that one of the astronauts, now we're not sure whether it is Steve Robinson or Soichi Noguchi is actually, what they're trying to do is position the astronauts so that he can attach a piece of equipment to the International Space Station. That's what's going on right now. Betty, help me here. This is a large bracket that they're using, that they're trying to attach to the outside there of the International Space Station.

NGUYEN: Right. It's going to be a part of this external stowage platform, which is going to be attached to the International Space Station using that bracket. Now, what the external stowage platform really is a storage rack where NASA's going to temporarily store some big pieces of equipment that will be installed on the International Space Station at later date. So there you have it in a nutshell.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Pretty much what they are doing right now. But we've been getting these really remarkable pictures from space all morning long. Just fascinating to watch. And, you know, all this does lead to our e-mail question of the day.

HARRIS: It does?

NGUYEN: It sure does.

HARRIS: It works out that way.

NGUYEN: Believe it or not it all kind of works out like that. It's planned, too, Tony. Here is the question. Should NASA scrap the shuttle program all together and go with something completely different, a different way of getting into space? And we've been getting really great responses today.

Ramon for Toronto says, "NASA should let private companies participate and find a way to commercialize these trips to space."

HARRIS: And this from Todd your space ranger from Arlington Virginia. "Since we need to establish a base on the moon, using it's reduced gravity, to efficiently explore the rest of our solar system; we need to get over our egos. Let's work tightly with Russia, China, Japan, the E.U., etc, use the reliable Saturn series of rockets, and let's start looking past the orbiter and go lunar." Todd, thank you.

NGUYEN: Todd went lunar on us.

HARRIS: Space cowboy there.

NGUYEN: Our space ranger there. That's our e-mail question. We thank you for sending in all those responses today and we'll have another question for you tomorrow.

"OPEN HOUSE" is straight ahead.

HARRIS: But first, these stories "Now in the News."

A walk in space: Astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery are using seemingly familiar tools like caulk guns and dabbers to test repair methods NASA may use in future missions. Right now crewmembers are just about four hours into a planned six-hour space walk.

A court hearing for a bombing suspect is expected today. Police are questioning the key suspects in the attempted transit bombings on July 21st, in London. Two of the men were arrested yesterday after their -- from their London apartment, after it was flooded with tear gas. A third suspect is the one apprehended in Rome.

And President Bush has arrived at that time Naval medical center in Bethesda, Maryland. The president is undergoing a battery of tests in his annual physical exam. His latest poll numbers have not been so healthy. A new Gallup survey finds his approval rating has slipped five points to 44 percent, the lowest of his presidency.

I'm Tony Harris.

And I'm Betty Nguyen. "OPEN HOUSE" starts right now.

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