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Your World Today

Final White House Visit for British Prime Minister; Who is Gordon Brown?; Israeli Warplanes Attack Hamas Compound in Gaza; Stars and Directors at the Cannes Film Festival; How Wealthy are the Presidential Candidates?

Aired May 17, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Gordon Brown, according to George Bush is a "good fellow," and George Bush said that he agreed with Gordon Brown that shared interests are the most important part of the American-British relationship.
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Now, during this meeting, a lot of people are looking on this as obviously the last trip as Tony Blair is prime minister alongside President Bush. Looking at his legacy, certainly, but at the same time, trying to achieve some things. And there's a lot of people in Britain that say once again Tony Blair is overreaching in this relationship.

Now...

GORANI: All right. Now we're going to go to our White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano, for more there on this farewell summit with Tony Blair and George Bush presenting as really their final act together a united front once again -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Hala. And that really has been how the past four years since the Iraq War has really tested this relationship between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush, has certainly taken place. We have seen this time and time again.

Of course, the significance now, as Prime Minister Blair noting, this will likely be his last time participating in a Rose Garden news conference as prime minister, alongside President Bush. But both men essentially offering staunch political defenses of each other's conduct.

We heard this from President Bush at the very end talking about Tony Blair and saying that the world needs courage, Prime Minister Blair has courage. We heard Prime Minister Blair, for his part, defending President Bush, talking about how politicians, he feels, perhaps may be punished in the future for having values. But essentially, echoing the themes that we have continued to hear as both these leaders have faced criticism amid increasing frustration in both their countries over the conduct of the Iraq war.

A number of domestic issues President Bush being asked about as well. But really, it is Iraq that experts say will define both these men's legacies. It will certainly shape the view of history, the ties between these two countries that were forged post-September 11th. But questions also looking to the future, as well, and the likely successor, Gordon Brown. President Bush saying, will I miss Tony Blair? Yes. Can I work with the next guy? Yes, I can -- Hala.

GORANI: All right. Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Thanks, Elaine -- Jim.

CLANCY: Mr. Blair, of course, stayed at the White House last night. That's just one of the signs of the very close relationship that he has with President Bush. The British prime minister has paid a high political price, though, for that friendship, as well as his unwavering support of the Iraq War, some of which we just heard.

Let's bring in our U.S. affairs editor, Jill Dougherty, for more on all of this.

Surprising at all, just the extent to which these two men defended each other's records?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN U.S. AFFAIRS EDITOR: They did, Jim. You know, it was interesting.

It started kind of slowly, and then about midway, it really got interesting when there was a certain amount of frustration when one of the British reporters asked -- I think it was Tony Blair or President Bush -- but President Bush said, "Are you trying to tap dance on his political grave?"

You know, the question was, "Is Tony Blair the right guy to be talking to at this point?" President Bush at first looking almost incredulous and then saying, "You are trying to tap dance on his grave. He happens to be the prime minister. I'm dealing with him."

And then it got really interesting as they went on. He said, people admire him, he's effectively internationally, he follows through. And then also, President Bush saying, "I've been reading some history books. I'm reading books about George Washington, three books about George Washington. They're still looking at the legacy of the first president of the United States."

And he refers to himself as "43," the 43rd president. He said, "So I'm not worried, 43 is not worried about that."

He also admitted that he will be sorry. He will miss working with Tony Blair. But he said that the relationship enabled the free world to do hard things.

So obviously, you have both men trying to set up their legacy, as you pointed out, Jim, that they're looking long term. Because short term, it's looking pretty bleak, and especially for President Bush, who has a lot of difficulty right now over this war.

And another interesting point, Jim and Hala, was the -- Tony Blair admitting that in Europe, you can get a cheap shot at the U.S. and get applause by criticizing the U.S., but he wasn't going to do it.

CLANCY: Well, you know, let's just take a listen here to a little bit of what President Bush had to say about the relationship.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Somebody asked me the other day, "How would you define Tony Blair and your relationship with him?" And I said, "First of all, it's cordial, it's open. And I appreciate the fact that he can see beyond the horizon." And that's the kind of leadership the world needs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: Well, there is high praise for him. But now that leadership comes to the White House. Tony Blair, if you talk to 10 Downing Street, they're saying this is business at usual. They have got to talk about the upcoming G8 summit, they're going to talk about global warming. We heard Mr. Blair there say they were also going to talk about the situation in Africa.

But many think that Mr. Blair, once again, going to the White House, despite all the support that he's given to President Bush over the war in Iraq, going to the White House, asking for something that is beyond his reach. And that's the support on global warming.

What's the read in Washington?

DOUGHERTY: Well, you had that interesting phrase by President Bush in the beginning saying the U.S. takes climate change seriously. And that always has been a problem.

One of the feelings -- the opinions about Tony Blair, especially in Europe and in the U.K., was that he gave so much to George Bush on the issue of Iraq, and got very little in return. So that phrase, it almost sounded like a throwaway by the president, but it was not, where he said climate change, the U.S. takes it seriously, and they went back to it again when they were talking about the G8 upcoming, that they'll be talking about it.

Now, what will they actually do, or what will President Bush do is another question. But at least rhetorically, he's giving Tony Blair his due for bringing up that subject and making it very important, even for the United States.

CLANCY: Very interesting. Very important day for two men to have had so much at stake and have seen things go so very wrong. Iraq still hurting both of them in their political careers very harshly.

Jill Dougherty, thank you very much, as always -- Hala.

GORANI: Well, if there was ever any doubt about who will replace Tony Blair, it's gone now. Treasury chief Gordon Brown has formally accepted the nomination of Labour Party leader in the U.K. after the only other declared candidate quit from lack of support. Brown is expected to take over the reigns of the ruling party on June 24th. That will put him in position to be prime minister when Mr. Blair steps down three days later.

So, who is Brown? "The Sunday Times" calls him, by and large, a blank sheet of paper. That's not entirely true, of course.

Jonathan Mann has some insight -- Jonathan.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hala, let's start with what he is not. Gordon Brown is not a glad-handing, crowd-pleasing, feel good kind of guy. He tends to have a serious, somber look, and maybe there's a reason. It has taken a very long time for the rise of the long-suffering Scot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GORDON BROWN, U.K. FINANCE MINISTER: I will work hard for you. This is who I am. And I will do my best for all the people of Britain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Brown is 56. He's been chancellor of the Exchequer, Britain's finance minister for 10 years. The longest anyone has continuously held the job. And he gets high marks.

The pound is up over $2, stronger than it's been in a quarter century. Unemployment is down. And though things have trailed off a bit, when you look at the gross domestic product, the big picture of the British economy, you see the numbers.

Basically, they go up and down. They trail off a little bit at 2004. But what we're seeing here is consistent growth year after year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: I can report that the British economy is today growing faster than all the other G7 economies. Growth is stronger this year than the euro (ph) area, stronger than Japan, and it is stronger even than America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: But Brown didn't want to be just chancellor. He wanted to be prime minister. And he made a now famous deal over dinner at the Granita restaurant, the most storied meal in all of modern British politics. You could call it the dinner deal.

It's never been publicly confirmed, but the story is that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown agreed not to run against each other. Blair would be prime minister first, and then he would support Gordon Brown when he was done.

It took so long, though, that the restaurant has since closed and reopened under new management. It's called Desperados. They serve Tex-Mex there now, and the next time you're in London, they'll be happy to show you the table where it all happened.

For now, for the next six weeks, Tony Blair is traveling, and Gordon Brown is doing his last bit of waiting. And the opposition, well, the opposition is opposing them both.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, CONSERVATIVE PART LEADER: I congratulate Gordon Brown on his success, but I think what we need now is to end this ludicrous situation of having a caretaker government. We are going to have weeks of a prime minister on a sort of farewell tour, when the government should be getting on with the business of governing the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Tony Blair steps down in June, as we have been reporting. So that's when Gordon Brown takes office as prime minister, without election. Remember, his only competitor backed out.

The Labour Party is so unpopular that he probably won't actually call an election for years, maybe 2009 or 2010. The opposition will howl that he hasn't been elected. Even his own party didn't actually vote him in. But he will be prime minister -- Hala.

GORANI: Well, if they actually did make that deal over dinner -- and we've heard that story many, many times, even though it hasn't been confirmed -- now, it couldn't have been easy for Gordon Brown to wait a decade.

MANN: No. This has been one of the most painful partnerships to watch in our era, really. And anyone who has lived in Britain, anyone who has traveled through it and picked up a newspaper, has seen endless speculation about how the two men are getting on.

They were close once when they began their political careers. That was the origin of the deal. But they have been feuding, and the deal, depending on whose story you believe, was only supposed to last a term, a term and a half.

It has been three elections, 10 years. It's fair to say they were once close. They are not close anymore.

GORANI: Well, he finally got what he wanted, though, in the end. Patience pays off.

MANN: At the end of the June, anyway.

GORANI: All right.

Jonathan Mann, thank you for that "Insight".

CLANCY: All right.

Still ahead right here on YOUR WORLD TODAY, violence in the streets of Gaza heating up again.

GORANI: Members of Hamas and Fatah have been fighting each other, but now Israel is getting involved. Israeli warplanes have their sites on Hamas positions across Gaza.

CLANCY: And a lot of fanfare for this train crossing a border. But when it comes to North and South Korea, there is a reason to celebrate.

GORANI: And it looks like an imaginary city floating in the clouds, but fog problems in Australia are very real.

Stay with us.

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CLANCY: Hello, everyone. And welcome back to CNN International and YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: Well, we are covering the news the world wants to know with perspective, going deeper into those stories of the day.

And we take you now to Gaza, the volatile situation there in the Middle East, where the ongoing violence taken yet another deadly turn. Israeli warplanes have launched multiple air strikes on Hamas targets. Israel says it's all in a response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

As Atika Shubert reports, Hamas is now making some ominous threats.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A precise and devastating strike in the heart of Gaza City. Israel used air power to destroy the headquarters of Hamas' executive force, its elite military wing.

Hours later, Israel carried out two more attacks on a Hamas post and a vehicle carrying members of Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, an armed unit that had claimed responsibility for launching a barrage of rocket attacks into Israel. Israel says the air strikes were an unavoidable response to terror attacks on Israel.

MIRI EISEN, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN: Today in Israel we have had enough. Israel will take every defensive measure to stop these rocket attacks. We will defend our citizens against the rockets, against the weapons, against the Iranian-backed Hamas who are attacking Israel.

SHUBERT: Earlier in the week it was Palestinian against Palestinian, Hamas versus rival faction Fatah, battling it out on the streets for control of Gaza. In the last three days, dozens have been killed in the violence.

In the midst of the fighting, Hamas dramatically increased the number of rocket attacks into Israel. More than 80 rocket attacks in the last three days, most of them falling into the town of Sderot, hitting homes and a school. The Israeli response was swift and harsh. Palestinians immediately rallied together, condemning Israel's action, pushing aside their differences to focus on an old, common enemy.

(on camera): Hamas says it will respond to Israel's air strikes with more violence, including possible suicide attacks.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: Well, as money -- millions of dollars has poured into Gaza coming for arms both from -- for Hezbollah or for Hamas, coming from Iran, and for Fatah, coming from the United States, the fighting has only worsened the living conditions for average Palestinians there.

GORANI: All right. And we're getting a very interesting and colorful glimpse of what life is like there. One AP journalist, Associated Press journalist, describes what life is like for those living with the constant daily nightmare.

Look at this photo taken last year. This is Ibrahim Barzak looking out of his apartment window in Gaza. You can see the damage to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building from an air strike back then. He says that now, he sits in a dark hallway outside his apartment with his wife and infant, saying it's dangerous inside and outside.

CLANCY: Now, here's what he's writing today. "Today I have seen people shot before my eyes. I heard screams of terrified women and children in a burning building. I have argued with gunmen who wanted to take over my home. I have seen a lot in my years as a journalist in Gaza, but this is the worst it has been."

GORANI: Well, another reporter caught in the turmoil in a very different way, of course, is the BBC's Alan Johnston you see there on your screen, still thought to be captive somewhere in Gaza.

Today is Alan Johnston's birthday. He turns 45. The BBC is holding several vigils around the world to take grim note of the situation.

Johnston was kidnapped at gunpoint while on assignment in Gaza nine weeks ago. An online petition calling for his release has been signed by 93,000 people.

CLANCY: All right. Let's shift the focus now to Asia, where there was a brief opening of one of the most heavily fortified borders in the entire world.

Two trains, one from North Korea and then one from South Korea, crossed the Demilitarized Zone for the first time since the Korean War. This is part of a reconciliation plan that South Korea has high hopes for. It would like to see the rail line open to China and beyond for trade and to reunify Korean families. For now, though, the crossing was but a one-time event.

An interesting side note, too. The ceremonial was carried live on South Korean television. It was a big deal there.

GORANI: All right. But it barely received mention, apparently, on North Korean TV.

All right. Well, we're going to have a lot more. We'll check on how the markets are doing when YOUR WORLD TODAY returns.

CLANCY: Also coming up, a public glimpse of the personal finances of U.S. presidential candidates and their spouses. How wealthy are they? You may be surprised.

GORANI: Also, the glitterati (ph) and the paparazzi have descended on the French Riviera. The Cannes Film Festival is under way.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSROOM

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Hello, and welcome back to our viewers joining us from more than 200 countries and territories around the globe, including the United States.

GORANI: All right. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

I'm Hala Gorani.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy.

And these are some of the stories that are making headlines in YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Allies to the end. U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair standing shoulder to shoulder in the Rose Garden moments ago. Perhaps for the last time.

It was almost certainly Mr. Blair's last White House appearance as prime minister. He's scheduled to step down at the end of the next month.

The two leaders fielding a number of questions ranging from Iraq, of course, to the Middle East. And as usual, they seemed to see eye to eye on almost every issue.

GORANI: Now, the Israeli military has staged a series of air strikes against Hamas militants in Gaza. Targets included the headquarters of Hamas' military wing and a vehicle with Hamas bodyguards inside. At least two militants were killed and dozens were injured. Israel says it's retaliating for a barrage of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

CLANCY: The political turmoil can be very complicated, with Fatah and Hamas fighting each other all the time.

Ben Wedeman gives us some analysis on the interests, the motivations on the other players in the Gaza drama.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gaza is burning, overrun by mass gunmen, bombed by Israel, a city transformed into a battlefield. While it might appear that this conflict is between two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, many others are also involved. The Bush administration, Israel, Egypt and other Arab states made it clear in this fight they back Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Fatah movement.

MIRI EISEN, ISRAELI GOVT. SPOKESWOMAN: Israel has certainly coordinated, together with the Americans, together with the Egyptians on ways to help the moderate Palestinians. Not going to go into the details on how that is being done.

WEDEMAN: Outside backing for Fatah includes tens of millions of dollars in cash, logistical support and most likely weapons and ammunition. Washington says it's providing only nonlethal assistance to the Palestinian authority.

But a Hamas spokesman accused Fatah Security forces of, in his words, using American weapons and supported by American force. Hamas gunmen now refer to their Fatah opponents as American mercenaries.

(on camera): The Middle East is a land of unforeseen consequences. History is replete with examples of outside powers backing one side in a conflict against another with often disastrous results.

(voice-over): Mahmoud Abbas is walking a fine line. He needs to maintain credibility among his people and needs all the help he can get. But when the U.S. or Israel pull him too close, he knows there's a price to pay at home.

AHMED HARB, BIR ZEIT UNIV.: I think that this is like the death kiss.

WEDEMAN: Palestinian analyst Ahmed Harb warns outsiders must tread carefully in the mine field of Palestinian politics.

HARB: I feel, yes, the Americans are trying hard, playing with fire. They antagonize the rest of the people. Of course, they antagonize Hamas, and Hamas ask, you know, I think reasonable question -- why are the Americans giving money to so and so?

WEDEMAN: Despite out the outside help, Fatah has, so far, not fared well against Hamas, which some analysts think is now stronger than before.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hamas won the battle in Gaza Strip, and they might move even to the West Bank, so this approach I think won't work.

WEDEMAN: Another case, perhaps, of unforeseen consequences.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Ramallah, in the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, there is still no let up in the search for three U.S. soldiers who are missing and presumed kidnapped.

CLANCY: There's also been no further communication made public at least from the al Qaeda-linked group that claims to have abducted the soldiers.

GORANI: Well, Hugh Riminton reports, the three joins the lists of some 20 American servicemen classified as missing in Iraq.

We have a report of three joining the list of 20 American service men classified as missing in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUGH RIMINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When news broke of the three U.S. soldiers seized Saturday south of Baghdad, it stabbed at the heart of Entifadh Qanbar.

ENTIFADADH QANBAR, UNCLE OF MISSING SOLDIER: I sat there for an hour alone memorizing like a flashback what happened to us.

RIMINTON: Entifadh's nephew was the last U.S. soldier kidnapped in Iraq. Sergeant Ahmed Al Thai (ph) was seized last October. There has been just one 10-second glimpse of him since on an insurgent Web site.

For the family of Scott Speicher there has been even less, the longest standing American on the missing list in Iraq, he was the Navy pilot shot down in the '91 Gulf War.

Clues and rumors kept hope alive. When Saddam Hussein was toppled, CNN found "MSS," Speicher's initials, carved into the wall of a prison, where other inmates spoke of an American captive. But there, the trail ran out.

Sergeant Matt Maupin was seized by insurgents early in this war.

KEITH MAUPIN, FATHER OF MISSING SOLDIER: We have never given up hope on Matt's alive and that they will find him, and we keep pushing issues that, you know, they're not going to leave him in Iraq like they did those guys in Vietnam.

RIMINTON (on camera): Not just soldiers, but journalists, aide contractors, even a tourist has been taken hostage in Iraq. Iraqis have been kidnapped themselves in near thousands, usually for quick ransom.

(voice-over): But Americans are the highest prize, according to the man that set up the U.S. embassy's hostage working group.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The danger level for an American without question is the highest.

RIMINTON: Dan O'Shea (ph) has worked on hundreds of cases in Iraq. The toughest are always with al Qaeda or its associates.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, these people, they don't negotiate. That's what we have to understand. I mean, the option for these soldiers is what -- you know, is the option generally for Americans, that we're going to rescue.

RIMINTON: Entifadh Qanbar still believes his nephew's American uniform is strongest asset.

QANBAR: In a strange way, maybe it was positive, because he became valuable, and becoming valuable, you keep your life, but you never know.

RIMINTON: Hugh Riminton CNN, Baghdad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Looking back at Washington now, he put up quite a fight, but now it seems that the resignation of World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz isn't a matter of if, but really a matter of when. Word came Wednesday that bank officials are in talks with the White House working out terms for resignation deal.

Now, President Bush made some comments when he was meeting with Tony Blair and reporters in the Rose Garden just minutes ago. He said that, "I regret that it's come to this." Of course, Mr. Bush is the one that put forth Paul Wolfowitz as a candidate for the job. He defended him, but now it appears that both Mr. Wolfowitz and President Bush are giving up hope they can stave off calls for Wolfowitz to step down.

The body's board of governors at the World Bank has been debating his fate all week after a report found he violated ethics rules arranging a job and a pay rise for his girlfriend. At issue, whether the World Bank will admit it also made mistakes. That's what Wolfowitz wants.

GORANI: Well, calls for the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales grew this week as fresh testimony in Congress broadened the scope of the investigation. As Congress looks into the firing of federal prosecutors, the recertification of President Bush's controversial wiretapping program has come up.

Joe Johns has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This really happened, sirens blaring and speeding through Washington, a race to stop the president's men from getting a signature from a drugged and weakened attorney general on a document they knew he absolutely did not want to sign -- coming from the White House, Bush Chief of Staff Andrew Card and then White House counsel Alberto Gonzales.

Rushing to stop them and to protect his hospitalized boss, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was this man, James Comey, Ashcroft's second in command.

JAMES COMEY, FORMER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: That night was probably the most difficult night of my professional life. So, it's not something I forget.

JOHNS: It's March 10, 2004. At the White House, the president's men are under intense deadline pressure.

The next day, a secret program to eavesdrop on people in the U.S. without a court order is set to expire, and the president and his men do not want that to happen.

What they want, and don't have, is a certification from the attorney general that the program is legal. In fact, Ashcroft had already concluded it wasn't.

But, now, on the eve of the expiration, Ashcroft is seriously ill, in intensive care at George Washington University Hospital, not taking visitors, not signing anything. And the man he left in charge, acting Attorney General James Comey, won't sign, because he agrees with Ashcroft, that the National Security Agency'S program is probably not legal.

Out of the blue, Comey gets a call.

COMEY: I was headed home at about 8:00 that evening. My security detail was driving me. And I remember exactly where I was -- on Constitution Avenue -- and got a call from Attorney General Ashcroft's chief of staff.

JOHNS: Ashcroft's wife, Janet, had called the office to say that Card and Gonzales were on their way to the hospital. To Comey, it sounds all wrong. If he's in charge, why are the president's men trying to get to Ashcroft?

COMEY: I was concerned that, given how ill I knew the attorney general was, that there might be an effort to ask him to overrule me, when he was in no condition to do that.

JOHNS: Comey tells his driver to gun it.

COMEY: They turned on the emergency equipment and drove very quickly to the hospital. I got out of the car and ran up -- literally ran up the stairs with my security detail.

JOHNS: Comey, Card and Gonzales surround Ashcroft's hospital bed. And then something no one anticipated happens.

COMEY: And Attorney General Ashcroft then stunned me. He lifted his head off the pillow and, in very strong terms, expressed his view of the matter, and then laid his head back down on the pillow, seemed spent, and said to them, "But that doesn't matter, because I'm not the attorney general."

JOHNS: Ashcroft, sick, in pain, on medication, tells the president's men, that, because he was in the hospital, Comey, as acting attorney general, was in charge.

The next day, the secret wiretap program was reauthorized without Comey's suggested changes. The president did it without a signature from the Justice Department. And, that day, Comey prepared his letter of resignation.

And this is the story's epilogue. On Friday, before he could resign, and after meetings at the White House, it was decided that Comey could have the changes he wanted to the wiretap program to make it legal. What had been the worst day of his life ended up a victory of sorts.

John Ashcroft resigned the next year. A year later, Comey resigned. And the president's man, Alberto Gonzales, became attorney general.

Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, still ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY, it's 60, it's -- yes, 6-0 and it's showing no signs of slowing down.

CLANCY: The Cannes Film Festival, celebrating an anniversary. With all the usual trappings, the red carpet, glamorous stars and the paparazzi in tow. A preview coming up.

GORANI: And an invisible city down under. Heavy fog blankets Sydney. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back, everyone. You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY, this hour on CNN International.

CLANCY: Seen live in more than 200 countries and territories all around the globe.

Well, a sea of fog engulfed Sydney early on Thursday. Look at these pictures. The fog snarling traffic and disrupting ferry services, but it's giving an eerie glow to the city. Several international flights, of course, had to be delayed or diverted to other cities. The weather cleared before midday. Fog usually shrouds the Australian city at this time of year as the season changes from autumn to winter. What a picture, Hala.

GORANI: It is, indeed. It looks like it's springing out of that cloud.

Well, there's a little movie sparkle -- more than a little movie sparkle by the way, in the French riveria this week.

CLANCY: That's right, a lot of people walking on clouds as celebrities are walking the red carpet at Cannes.

GORANI: Myleene Klass looks at who took the spotlight during the annual film festival's opening night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MYLEENE KLASS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): This is probably the best known bit of red carpet in the world at what is certainly the world's best known film festival and this year, Cannes is celebrating its 60th birthday.

The next week and a half, we'll see a cast at the movie world's brightest stars and most talented directors mounting the famous steps to the Palee (ph) Theater.

Opening events this year is a film by one of town's (ph) favorite sons, Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai, directing Jude Law and singer/songwriter Norah Jones in his first English language film, "My Blueberry Nights."

The presidents for the Cannes jury this year is British director Stephen Frears.

STEPHEN FREARS, PRESIDENT, CANNES JURY: You know, people always tell me that I'm very eclectic. Well, I like films that are different, so anything that encourages, you know, the problem with the American cinema is they all tend to be the same or a lot of studio films tend to be the same, the same. So, anything that introduces variety and, you know, the bigger the choice, the better.

KLASS: Actress and super model Eva Herzegovina is expecting a baby in just two weeks time, but she still couldn't resist the temptation to lead the opening ceremony on the red carpet, along with Liz Hurley, Minnie Driver, and Devon Aoki.

(on camera): Why is Cannes so special to you? What makes a difference from all the other film festivals and all the other glamorous events?

EVA HERZEGOVINA, ACTRESS: You can dare anything at Cannes, you know, create (INAUDIBLE) work wise, you know? I mean, a film festival with films that are just about any subject. And it's very glamorous, you know? It's -- I think the parties, the diamonds, and lots of stars.

KLASS (voice-over): Never far behind the glamour, is a mass army of the Cannes press corps. Cannes is charismatic, yet chaotic, brash, yet beautiful. And at 60, shows no signs of slowing down.

(END VIDEOTAPE) GORANI: OK, nice view there of the beach in Cannes on the (INAUDIBLE). Myleene Klass, the host of CNN's "SCREENING ROOM" joins us now live from Cannes.

Myleene, can you hear me? Do we have Myleene? I understand she'll be popping up any second now.

Oh, there you are, Myleene. Myleene, I hear you spoke with Jude Law and also Norah Jones. They're stars of that Wong Kar-wai movie. What did they tell you about the film that's going to come out soon on big screens?

KLASS: Well, they're very, very excited, especially Norah as it is her first journey (ph) in the acting world.

GORANI: All right, yes, we are having issues there with our audio connections with Cannes. In any case, Myleene is going to be there throughout the festival. She is the host of the "SCREENING ROOM."

And Wong Kar-wai is coming out with his new movie, of course, we have stars, Gong Li -- you see her there, Andie McDowell. Also, on the opening night, we're expecting Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to make an appearance. We're also expecting Leonardo DiCaprio.

We'll have a presence there and hopefully we'll be able to connect our audio cables up by the time those big stars make their appearance on the red carpet. Jim Clancy, what do you think of that (INAUDIBLE)?

CLANCY: Well, you know what I think of it is tune in to the "SCREENING ROOM." Not only will you get to see Myleene and all the stars, you'll get to hear them too.

GORANI: But I'll tell you, the interesting thing about Cannes is the connection it has with Hollywood. These Hollywood stars all make an appearance at Cannes. Why -- because it's great publicity. The coverage that they get there is incredible.

CLANCY: Somehow, it looks like it's fun, too.

GORANI: It is very fun for them, I'm sure. The French riviera, you can't beat that.

All right, a lot more ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY. Well-known and well off in Washington.

CLANCY: No matter who winds up in the White House, after the next election, it's a cinch they won't be hurting for money.

GORANI: All right, we'll look at the personal wealth of the U.S. presidential candidates when we return. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: All right, we can go back now to Cannes in France on the riviera there for more on the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival.

Myleene Klass joins us now again. Hopefully, we can hear you better. Myleene, tell us, what are people buzzing about this year to the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival? What's -- so, what are people talking about?

KLASS: Well, I can tell you right at this very minute, people are very excited as Jake Gyllenhaal is literally ascending the steps of the infamous Palee (ph) Theater for European premiere of the film "Zodiak." So, every girl is literally lining the streets at the moment with excitement.

GORANI: We understand that some big name stars, we have Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, we see here Jude Law with Norah Jones. They're also going to make an appearance this year.

KLASS: Well, of course, all the "Ocean's 13" lads are flying in through the rest of the week and the U2 boys, Irish rockers as well. I spoke to Juliet Binoche today and she was absolutely charming and I literally can tell you -- I literally bumped into Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, who are here for (INAUDIBLE).

So, everywhere you look, there's glamour, glitz and movie stars.

GORANI: All right, and give me a sense of the atmosphere there. What is Cannes like this time of year? I mean, when you're walking down there, the promenade there, the (INAUDIBLE), you said you just bump into mega stars like this left and right?

KLASS: (INAUDIBLE) the beach is ...

GORANI: Not a bad gig, Myleene.

KLASS: It's not a bad job. Literally, the beach is lined with movie stars. There are parties going on left, right and center with movie stars celebrating either the premiere of their movies or just enjoying the atmosphere and the fun of being here.

Also, there's a bit of a financial buzz of people that are doing deals left, right and center. It's why they get their movies commissioned or their scripts commissioned. So, you can feel that there really that kind of party atmosphere and talking of parties, (INAUDIBLE) has her very own party going off tonight. So again, everyone's getting prepared for that.

GORANI: OK, Myleene Klass, live in Cannes. Thanks very much.

CLANCY: You see all those boats parked behind her? Yachts, I should say, not boats.

GORANI: Oh, not too bad. But you know, the Cannes Film Festival was created as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival when Mussolini was in power in Italy. So, that was in the late ...

CLANCY: Didn't know that. GORANI: Yes, and then World War II happened. They had to shut that down in a hurry and it really took off in the '50s, but it's -- it's really a film festival that is really the most prestigious and the most glamorous according to many. So, it's interesting to watch, definitely.

CLANCY: Well, you look at all the money that is there and we're going to talk money. You don't have to be a millionaire to run for the White House but you know what? It helps.

GORANI: It does help. Most candidates are these days. Some of them, many times over.

CLANCY: Mary Snow has a financial report on the current crop of rich men and one rich woman we should add, running for the presidency.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Republican Rudy Giuliani turned his experience as New York City mayor during the 9/11 attacks into lucrative speaking fees. Last year alone, he made roughly nine million dollars in paid speeches. His candidacy in the '08 race has prompted him to stop taking those fees. Along with his firm, his assets are estimated to be worth between 13 and $45 million.

Financial records show John Edwards earned $479,000 last year at a hedge fund that has been the target of scrutiny. That's because Edwards said he worked at Fortress Investment in 2006 to learn about financial markets and the relationship to poverty. The Edwards' camp points out that in that same year, the family donated $350,000 to charity. And on the campaign trail, the Democratic presidential hopeful has been defending his commitment to helping the poor.

JOHN EDWARDS, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've been doing a whole variety of things and I think if you put all those things together, it's very difficult to question my commitment to low-income families and to the poor.

SNOW: The reported assets for John and Elizabeth Edwards are estimated to be $29.5 million.

For Senator Barack Obama, writing is paying off. His financial disclosure report shows he made about $572,000 last year from royalties from one book and an advance on another. Obama's 2006 tax return shows he and his wife reported income of $991,000 last year, including the book money. What does it say about his wealth?

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL): It will say that I'm not one of the wealthiest candidates in this race.

SNOW: The wealthiest candidate appears to be Republican Mitt Romney. Advisers estimate his worth to be between 190 and $250 million. Plus, a blind trust for his children and grandchildren worth at least $70 million. Details of his fortune are yet to come since Romney filed for an extension on his financial disclosure form.

So did Senator John McCain. Much of his family's millions are tied to the beer distribution company founded by his wife's family.

Also filing for an extension, Senator Hillary Clinton. She is expected to report her husband earned roughly $10 million in speeches alone last year. Full details of their financials are due in the next 45 days.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: You know, it makes you wonder how the current president and vice president compare with this -- the group of wannabes, the millionaires who want their jobs.

GORANI: Let's just say they're not hurting according to official reports filed earlier this week to the Federal Office of Government Ethics. President Bush is worth somewhere between 7.5 and $20 million.

CLANCY: Well, get this, though. Vice President Dick Cheney has a little bit more in his bank account, somewhere in the area of $21 to $100 million.

GORANI: Well, that is a pretty big area.

CLANCY: Yes, it is. I mean, what I don't get is that you declare your worth, you say well, somewhere between 20 and 100 million.

GORANI: I think if you have stocks that fluctuate in value, that probably is one of the reasons.

CLANCY: All right. You got that much money, you don't have worry about it.

GORANI: True (ph), anything above 21 million.

All right. Thank you for watching. This has been YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International and that's it for this hour. I'm Hala Gorani.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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