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CNN Saturday Morning News

Ariel Sharon Out Of Emergency Surgery; British Muslims Protest Cartoons Depicted Prophet Mohammed; Iran's President Claims Right To Develop Nuclear Power For Peaceful Purposes; George H. W. Bush Says Criticism Of His Son At King's Funeral Was Ugly; Keeping Up An Exercise Routine; Babymoons Are New Trend

Aired February 11, 2006 - 09:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Nice and fancy for you. It is February 11th, everybody, 9:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 4:00 p.m. in Jerusalem where we do continue to monitor the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Good morning everybody from the newsroom, I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes fancy stuff, shaking it up. Not bad. I'm Tony Harris, thank you for starting your day with us. Let's get started with the morning headlines now on the news.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is out of emergency surgery. This is Sharon's seventh surgery since he suffered a major stroke on January 4th. An update on his condition is scheduled two hours from now. More details straight ahead.

British Muslims gathered today to protest cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The images have been printed in several European publications but not in any major British newspaper. Muslims regard any pictures of the Prophet as blasphemous. This is the latest of the series of sometimes violent and deadly protests over the cartoons. A live report is straight ahead.

Iran's president is threatening to walk away from nuclear talks in a speech to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. He says Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He repeated his claim that the Holocaust was a hoax.

Kind of ugly is how former President George Bush described criticism leveled at his son at Tuesday's funeral for Coretta Scott King. One speaker mentioned the administrations inability to find WMDs in Iraq. CNN takes a look back at the emotional tribute to the beloved Civil Rights icon highlights of the final good-bye to Coretta Scott King today at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

The 20th Winter Olympia is under way in Torino, Italy. Already Michelle Kwan has cut short her practice session for the women's figure skating competition. Kwan suffered a hip injury in October and a groin pull in December.

NGUYEN: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon just got out of emergency surgery about an hour ago. Now, we are waiting on a news conference out of Jerusalem for an update on his condition. CNN's Guy Raz is there and has the latest.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Israeli Prime Minister appearing to continue to cling to life this afternoon as doctors completed three and a half hours of surgery to remove part of his intestine. This after doctors determined Ariel Sharon had suffered extensive damage to his digestive tract. This was determined after an abdominal scan was carried out earlier in the morning. Mr. Sharon was brought to the operating room where doctors immediately began the procedure, a laparoscopy.

A procedure that includes inserting a tube in his body to remove obstructions. Now, we understand that procedure is over. Ariel Sharon has been brought to the intensive care ward. There are in fact reports that his condition is improving. And extraordinary turnabout the fourth major surgery for Ariel Sharon now in five weeks. Since first being admitted to this hospital on the 4th of January after suffering a massive stroke.

He had undergone three procedures, emergency procedures at that time to drain blood from his brain. Very few doctors believe he would emerge from this hospital ward alive. But five weeks since being admitted here Ariel Sharon continues to cling to life. And doctors now believe that he may once again survive this latest procedure.

Guy Raz, CNN, outside the hospital in Jerusalem.

HARRIS: Well snow greets the start of the weekend in Tennessee. The flakes move into western Tennessee first but the National Weather Service predicts heavy snow all across the state and even down into neighboring North Georgia. Snow fell through the night in some of the mountain counties. In the west a cold front has brought snow to northern New Mexico. Manna from heaven to the ski resorts, a mess for drivers. Snow and whiteouts at times cause dangerous conditions along I-25 and it didn't stop for hours -- Betty.

NGUYEN: You know what it's not going to stop either. Because Bonnie Schneider is here to talk about this nor'easter that is headed the way.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Hey you know you throw your back out, first of all. And then ...

NGUYEN: It's miserable; it is cold out there.

HARRIS: You get a little heatstroke; you don't know that you're working that hard. Next thing you know, fall out in the snow. Be careful.

Moving ahead now, Muslim rage persists over the printing and reprinting of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. Protests today are being reported in London and Jerusalem where Palestinians tried to burn a Danish flag. CNN's Jim Boulden joins us now from London. Jim my understanding of the London protest today is that these are supposed to be peaceful and nonviolent? JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Tony. The organizers of this protest, this rally, and here in London's historic square say they have two aims. One aim is to show there's a continual anger at the publication of these cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed that were seen last September in Denmark and have been reprinted by other this is year in Europe.

But the second one is to show that moderate Muslims can get together and have a rally but not show any violence and not depict anger and violence and to show placards that we saw a few days ago where they were talking about decapitation of the people who showed the cartoons.

Let me step out of the way and show you what is happening here. We have several thousand moderate Muslims gathered here. You can see some of the placards they are holding up. Say things Mohammed equal mercy to mankind. United against Islam-phobia. That's a far cry to what we saw eight days ago here in London and certainly what we have seen around the world here.

Eight days ago we saw people in front of the Danish Embassy and they were showing signs that said they wanted to execute, to decapitate anybody who was involved with publishing the cartoons. We saw fires at several embassies in the Middle East. We're not seeing anything like that here today.

And the organizers saying it's very clear. They want to show that Muslims are for freedom. Very important that they say they do want press freedom but the freedom comes with responsibility and they say that it is simply intolerable and Islam-phobic to show the Prophet Mohammed in any form, especially in these cartoons -- Tony.

HARRIS: So Jim has the moderate organizers of today's event been able to explain to us why the other protests turned so violent?

BOULDEN: They say that is a different group. That's an angry, younger group. It is a group that's very upset about the war in Iraq. We saw a man out in front of the Danish Embassy a week ago dressed as a suicide bomber. He has since apologized for that.

That's the kind of element that the organizers here tell me will not be allowed inside this rally. They will not be the people who will be welcome at this rally. That the extreme sides of Islamic faith and that today's rally is to show the world that they are very angry, they are very upset about these cartoons but that they can do that within the laws of this country.

HARRIS: OK. CNN's Jim Boulden for us in London. Jim, thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, Tony, as you know the New Year is in full swing. It's the time of year when we start to throw in the towel on our fitness resolutions. You know, that happens from time to time. So coming up we're going to pump up the resolve to stay in shape. Don't want to miss our top five tips.

HARRIS: Plus we all wanted to sneak into the HOV lane.

NGUYEN: Sometimes actually done it. Not mentioning any names here, though.

HARRIS: One man goes to extremes. It's one of the most popular stories on CNN.com right now. Our Veronica De La Cruz -- we are going to -- who can replace that one man with Betty. Veronica De La Cruz has details coming up.

NGUYEN: You're going to rat me out.

HARRIS: More CNN SATURDAY MORNING when come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The latest numbers show that Americans are getting married just later in life. Join us tomorrow just in time for Valentine's Day as we explore the state of love in America. The state of love. Live on "CNN Sunday Morning" that's at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: I want to welcome you back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen. We ware waiting to hear how the latest emergency surgery went for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. His hospital in Jerusalem plans to hold a news conference in about 45 minutes from now. The ailing leader was rushed into surgery earlier this morning. At that time doctors warned his life was at stake. We're going to speak to Dr. Sanjay Gupta at 10:00 a.m. for the latest on his health.

Iran's president says he will pull out of nuclear talks if western countries interfere with Iran's right to develop nuclear energy. In a speech marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution he also repeated the claim that the Holocaust was a hoax.

Steve Fossett is trying his luck pushing through the finish line in his record trip around the world despite a fuel leak on his experimental glider. He decided to pass the point of no return over the Atlantic. If all goes well the millionaire adventurer is due to land in England a little later this afternoon.

HARRIS: All right, Betty, remember the New Year's resolution you made six weeks ago pledging to exercise daily and lose those extra pounds? Tell the truth, are you sticking with it or are your coming up with excuses to ditch the gym?

Joining us now is fitness guru and motivational speaker Jerry Anderson with tips on how to ditch the six-week itch to quit. Jerry, good to see you, Good morning.

JERRY ANDERSON, FITNESS GURU: Good morning, Tony, how you doing today?

HARRIS: I'm great. But here is the thing. Let me take you to task here. Here's the problem. ANDERSON: Yes.

HARRIS: Six weeks in the exercise program that you started with in January is boring.

ANDERSON: Yes, yes. A lot of people -- not only is it boring, Tony, it don't work. If I get on it and you get on it we're not going to get anywhere. People set up on a wrong program. You know what, don't quit ditch the six-week itch. We are going to put you on the right program, get ready to go.

HARRIS: So here we go. Here's the first tip. It says set realistic goals. What do you mean by that?

ANDERSON: Most people think I'm going to lose three to five pound a week. That's not going to happen. Don't do that, I recommend losing a half a pound or a pound of fat a week for a entire year. Tony this is amazing if you lose a half a pound of fat for a entire year that's 26 pounds, one pound is 52. Done deal it is all over with.

HARRIS: But it is not the water weight we talking about, you are talking about actual fat.

ANDERSON: Exactly, water weight is not going to do it. Because what happens water weight is going to dehydrate you. I want you to burn the fat. The fat has to come off. Trim the fat off slowly. Here's the thing. Amazing to me, I saw a group of ladies on television the other day.

They were all jumping on the scale and they were kind of depressed. Just ditch this. But here's the thing. They were losing weight but they wanted to lose three to four pounds a week. It was working for them. Stick to it.

HARRIS: Be realistic about it. Tip number two says have a seven and seven in the morning. Mixed drinks in the morning. What is this?

ANDERSON: Have a seven to seven in the morning. Here's one of the major problems. A lot of people can't stick with the program, so I recommend just stop, drop and roll. You need seven push-ups. Give me seven push-ups, seven squats, take a shower and get dressed and go to work and it is a done deal. You can do it against the wall, drop it like it is hot, right into a squat.

HARRIS: Drop it like it's hot.

ANDERSON: It is a done deal. Here's the beauty of it Tony. When you go from 7 and 7, now 10 and 10 and 15 and 15 and then you create an exercise habit. So what you want to do is create the habit that is what is most important. This lady was telling me the other day was unbelievable. She said she started the seven and seven, eight weeks she lost ten pounds and now she is doing a 21 and 21. It's having progressive. Have people here doing it. Man, it's incredible. I had a ten and ten this morning baby.

HARRIS: All right. Slow down your eating speed. That makes all the sense in the world.

ANDERSON: Unbelievable, Tony. You have seen people eat. They are not even in it, enjoying the taste of it. They are eating too fast. That's why they are taking in too many calories. The taste buds are around the outside of the tongue. Slow it down. Take a bite every 30 seconds. Chew the food at least 20 times. It takes 20 minutes for the stomach to send a message to your brain that you are full. A lot of people eat so fast they are beating the mechanism.

It's a mechanism. Man, just the other day I am walking through the mall, the food court. I noticed each person at -- it wasn't a coincidence. They were taking in too many calories. One guy was eating so fast I wanted to give him a speeding ticket for speeding in the loading zone.

HARRIS: Tip number four, skip the energy drink.

ANDERSON: Oh, my goodness. This is a big one. The energy drinks what they do is add calories. You figure people are trying to lose calories. Then they go and eat the energy drinks. Take in 100 calorie extra every day for the whole year; you're going to have a ten-pound weight gain. The energy drinks add calories. You got energy ...

HARRIS: Release the grease.

ANDERSON: Release the grease.

HARRIS: All right.

ANDERSON: The calories right around the waistline.

HARRIS: We're about to run out of time here. Visualize yourself succeeding.

ANDERSON: Exactly. You have to visualize yourself succeeding. You just can't say I want to do it. You have to see yourself doing it. People are using their pupils; they are not using their mind. Strength training aerobic exercise, low fat nutrition, Tony I had to do it. Check this out. I wanted to change my look. So what I did I took one of my photographs cut my head out and cut the body out, put my head on the body I put it up on the mirror and looked at it every single day.

HARRIS: Jerry we noticed -- show them the guns. Nice job, Jerry Anderson. Good to see you as always.

ANDERSON: My pleasure has a great, great, great day.

HARRIS: Betty, back to you.

NGUYEN: He's too much.

Seven and seven, slow down in the loading zone. That means slow down your eating and release the grease. I don't no, Tony, about dropping it like it is hot. I can do the other parts. HARRIS: Drop it like it ought to be hot.

NGUYEN: That's true.

All right. Barbie's boy toy, Ken, well he's getting a huge makeover. Becomes the talk of the big apple this week. It's the American International Toy Fair and it is hot on CNN.com. Ken is dropping it like it is hot. We are going to show you more straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. News flash. A famous couple makes up just in time for Valentine's Day and carpooling for dummies. Just a few of the most popular stories at CNN.com. Our Veronica De La Cruz joins us now with more about the couple. I never knew they broke up.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: You didn't? Don't remember a couple years back?

NGUYEN: I don't follow Barbie.

DE LA CRUZ: Hey, you're giving it away.

You guys are giving it away. The famous couple we are talking about lets just say Betty all it took was a makeover on his part. He went out, he got a makeover, and he's looking so good. She is taking him back. Before we tell you all about it, let me ask you this, Betty, when you think of axis of evil, laughter doesn't come to mind right?

NGUYEN: Nope.

DE LA CRUZ: Well three Middle Eastern comedians have made it their mission they are touring comedy clubs across the country hoping to spread a positive image of their culture and get a laugh at the same time. Their opening joke, how many of you were Muslim on September 10 and Mexican the day after?

All right. We're talking about Ken and Barbie now, they are back together again. This after Barbie gave Ken the boot a while back.

NGUYEN: I didn't know that.

DE LA CRUZ: Two years ago, probably. It seemed Ken has cleaned up his act. He has enlisted a helping hand from a celebrity stylist Philip Block who has given him a makeover. Ken does yoga; he wears tight jeans, T-shirts, leather jackets and has a few highlights in the hair. Seems Barbie has taken to the new Ken. She has taken him back but two are a hot item again just in time for Valentine's Day.

NGUYEN: Thank goodness. What would we have done?

DE LA CRUZ: Love is in the air.

Finally how many times have you been stuck in traffic and eyed the HOV lane but don't have that additional passenger. This guy in Colorado apparently took a lesson from the book "Carpooling for Dummies." He went to a beauty store. He bought a Styrofoam head and the rest is history. He and his lady rode the passenger lane in style for an entire year before they got busted -- an entire year.

NGUYEN: I wonder how they got busted? How did they find out?

DE LA CRUZ: I bet you anything somebody had an eye on this guy. But listen to this. Who is the dummy now? All he got was a $150 ticket.

NGUYEN: After all that time.

DE LA CRUZ: After an entire year. No points on his record. No points.

NGUYEN: Well don't get any ideas out there.

DE LA CRUZ: Exactly. We're not condoning this.

NGUYEN: Not at all.

All right Veronica, lots more on CNN.com.

DE LA CRUZ: Of course.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HARRIS: Enjoy the fact that you were taking notes.

NGUYEN: I have no notes. What are you talking about?

"Open House" is straight ahead. Whether you have been with the sweetie for two weeks or two years Gerri Willis will show you the best gifts to give this Valentine's Day.

HARRIS: Next hour one city's unusual approach to fighting the litter. The latest on the battle of the fast food tax. What is that about?

NGUYEN: But first is late night feedings, lack of sleep and dirty diapers are just around the corner for you or someone you know. Here is an unusual travel trend for expecting parents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First, it was the wedding, then off on a honeymoon and now a baby-moon.

STEPHANIE OSWALD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "TRAVELGIRL" MAGAZINE: A babymoon are the new hot thing for couples to do. The honeymoon is with you after the wedding. The babymoon is what you do right before the baby comes. Basically it is the last hurrah for the couple before they go from two to three. And it's really about giving parents to be a chance to relax and also reconnect as a couple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: According to "Travelgirl" Magazine the trend took root about four years ago.

OSWALD: Now it's really exploding. Whether you want to go to a hotel in New York or Washington or whether you want to go to a spa. There are some great places in the Caribbean that have get always designed for couples that are about to be parents. All the pickles and ice cream you can eat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are baby-moon packages that give each of the parents to be time to themselves.

OSWALD: There are some resorts that are trained in prenatal massage to teach them how to relax. Meanwhile dad can be out on the golf course enjoying what he likes to do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And remember ...

OSWALD: In general, the first and second trimester is very safe to travel. You should talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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