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Your World Today

Bush Attempts to Calm Jittery Markets; Musharraf Holds Off on Emergency; China Threatens to Dump Dollars; Gay Rights Activists Host Presidential Debate, But Only Democrats Show Up

Aired August 09, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Digging a lifeline. Rescue crews drill through a Utah mountain to try to reach trapped coal miners.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Holding off. Pakistan's president reconsiders calls to declare a state of emergency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, one, zero and liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour, expanding the International Space Station while creating a classroom in space.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: And the Endeavour blasts off and for the first time in more than 20 years, a teacher turned astronaut heads for space.

SESAY: It's 6 p.m. in Berlin, 9 p.m. in Islamabad. Hello and welcome to our report, broadcast around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. From Johannesburg to Jakarta, Washington to Warsaw, or wherever you are watching, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

All right. We have a developing story right now in Vancouver in Canada. This just coming in, eight people have reportedly been shot at a restaurant in Vancouver. Two of them -- we are being told by police, two of them have been killed.

SESAY: Now police are calling an apparent targeted incident in the East End of Vancouver, as Jim said, in that restaurant. It happened early this morning Vancouver time. Police say a shooter barged into the Fortune Happiness Restaurant and opened fire.

We are, of course, working to get you more details on this story, but what we know at this point, that two are dead, six were hurt in that restaurant shooting that took place in an East End Vancouver restaurant. We're working to get you more on that. Stay with us.

CLANCY: All right. Well, we continue to watch that. We also continue to watch what is going on on Wall Street.

SESAY: Indeed, let's cross over there. I mean, was it a seismic event or, Jim, in fact was it just an aftershock? Let's look at the situation there now. The Dow woke up this morning with a downward tumble after opening, dropped some 241 points right now. As you see on the screen, down 121 points at this moment.

CLANCY: So it's about halved those losses, we're keeping an eye on it. All of this coming about after a French bank became the latest to feel the pain in the U.S. mortgage crisis. We'll have more on the markets a little bit later this hour, a more in-depth look.

All right. Well, President Bush spoke with reporters at the White House for more than an hour. He also had something to say about the stock market drop. He told Americans their national economy overall remains in good shape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Since we began cutting taxes in 2001, our economy has expanded by more than $1.9 trillion. Since the tax cuts took full effect in 2003, our economy has added more than 8.3 million new jobs in almost four years of uninterrupted growth. Inflation is low, unemployment is low, real after-tax income has grown by an average of more than $3,400 per person since I took office.

The American economy is the envy of the world and we need to keep it that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, a new survey shows that Mr. Bush's approval rating had inched up over the past six weeks, just barely. The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll found 36 percent of Americans approve of his job performance. Sixty-one percent, however, disapprove. In June, Mr. Bush's approval rating was at 32 percent.

CLANCY: All right. Now let's shift our focus to probably this story that rises above all others on the international stage coming out of that White House news conference, of course, too. A story leading many international newscasts, the volatile situation in Pakistan.

SESAY: Well, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has decided not to impose a state of emergency despite rising violence and instability within his country. Aides say General Musharraf, a critical U.S. ally in the war on terror, was considering the step to deal with the threat from Islamic militants, especially in that volatile northwest region near Afghanistan.

CLANCY: Critics, though, fear that Mr. Musharraf might curtail democratic freedoms and invoke authoritarian rule to tighten his own grip on power. They say it's still a possibility.

SESAY: Well, Pakistani government sources say a high-level phone call from the White House helped influence President Musharraf's decision. And just a short time ago, we had U.S. President George W. Bush urge Pakistan to hold free and fair elections. We are following this story on two fronts for you. Ed Henry is at the White House for us and Nic Robertson, the broader context from London, we'll get that from him. But let's start with Ed. And, Ed, just take us through what exactly the president has to say on the tensions in Pakistan.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, Mr. Bush walking a very fine line here, as you say, continuing to say Pakistan is a key ally in the war on terror even though the Bush administration recently put out a report saying that Pakistan has become a safe haven for al Qaeda.

Mr. Bush also saying he still supports President Musharraf even as Mr. Bush is trying to prod him to do more to crack down on militants in his own country. And on the question of whether or not the U.S. will go into Pakistan to get al Qaeda leaders if there's actionable intelligence on their whereabouts, Mr. Bush not quite saying the U.S. will take military action across Pakistan's borders, but also a not-so-subtle threat, if you will, to Mr. Musharraf that he had better do more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I have made it clear to him that I would expect there to be full cooperation in sharing intelligence. And I believe we've got good intelligence sharing. I've indicated to him that the American people would expect there to be swift action taken if there's actionable intelligence on high-value targets inside his country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now the fact that President Musharraf also pulled out of a key meeting in Kabul with President Karzai of Afghanistan is a blow to Mr. Bush. Back in Monday at Camp David, when he was appearing with President Karzai, both President Bush and President Karzai made a big deal about this meeting, saying this was a key development and that it could help show progress in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, in fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban. But instead, President Musharraf has pulled out of that meeting -- Isha.

SESAY: And I understand the president had some words to say on the issue of Iraq's relationship with Iran. Tell us about that.

HENRY: That's right. The president issuing new threats to Tehran, essentially saying that if you continue to be a destabilizing force within Iraq, there will be consequences from the U.S. Mr. Bush stopping short of saying there would be military action against Iran, but that's always a weapon that's on the table.

Of course, also talk of economic sanctions on the table, Mr. Bush was also foreshadowing what he expects to be a very vigorous debate within the United States in the fall about the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq, saying he thinks the fundamental question will be whether or not the struggle in Iraq is worth it.

He obviously believes it is, but once that progress report comes from his commander, General David Petraeus in mid-September, it should be a very healthy debate here in Washington about whether or not the U.S. should keep large numbers of U.S. troops. The president realizes it is going to be very much an uphill battle with the Democratic Congress -- Isha.

SESAY: Ed Henry there for us at the White House. As always, thank you.

CLANCY: In Pakistan, of course, seeing a sharp rise in suicide attacks and other violence involving Islamic militants. The military for its part has been pressing the fight in some of the border provinces. All of this coming about after an army assault on a hardline mosque right in Islamabad. Let's bring in senior international correspondent Nic Robertson to give us a clearer picture of the security situation on what's going on.

But, Nic, first, the political situation on the ground in Pakistan, many people expected President Musharraf to declare a state of emergency to better hold his grip on power, now his aides say it's not that at all. He's going for elections before the end of the year. What gives?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly seems that the call from Condoleezza -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a difference. We know, according to senior officials within Musharraf's government, that he was influenced by that phone call not to declare a state of emergency. He's just holding off at the moment. It still seems to be a card up his leave sleeve, if you will.

He faces pressures on many fronts. You have outlined the military fronts. a resurgent Taliban striking at his soldiers in the border region, striking at cities inside Pakistan, but he's also facing a very difficult political situation.

If you remember back about a month or so ago, the chief justice he tried to force to resign was reinstated. That chief justice has been today looking at bringing back the exiled former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif's political party has vowed to thwart President Musharraf's efforts to become -- to remain as president and to remain as army chief of staff.

So there are these pressures on President Musharraf, both political and military. And there are some analysts who are saying that this state of emergency wasn't just about the military situation, it was as much about trying to control the political situation so he could remain present -- Jim.

CLANCY: All right. Well, let's shift it to the security situation, vis-a-vis the Taliban, Afghanistan, the volatile border region, very interesting. Hamid Karzai, addressing the so-called "peace jurga" that President Musharraf was supposed to attend but did not. He sent Shaukat Aziz, his prime minister.

But Hamid Karzai saying this, he said, we're going to find out at this jurga who funds the Taliban, why they're funding them, why the Taliban is attacking people in the region and who is really lending them support and training? Can the people at that jurga in Kabul today answer those questions? ROBERTSON: Well, they can certainly answer the question because the tribal leaders have a lot of knowledge about what goes on in those border areas, whether or not they can actually do something about the situation is really a different question.

And there were some tribal leaders who weren't present and those were tribal leaders from north and south Waziristan, inside Pakistan where the Taliban is believed to have been growing stronger, where al Qaeda is believed to have a base of operations as well. They weren't present.

Some of those tribal leaders were quoted as saying why should we go to these talks in Kabul? Everyone knows the Taliban are behind the problems. They haven't been invited to these talks. So what's the point of going to sit down and talk about it? So that has been one of the views behind the scenes there as well.

Those tribal leaders are very influential in their areas, but without military backup, without a strong army behind them, if you will, they cannot take on a strengthened and growing Taliban by themselves -- Jim.

CLANCY: Nic Robertson with some good perspective for us what's taking place in both Afghanistan and Pakistan this day. As always, Nic, great to have you with us.

All right. We want to show you a live picture that's coming in now. A press conference at the scene of the Utah mine rescue that's still under way, trying to reach the trapped miners there. We're expecting to hear the latest from officials some time this hour. They have delayed the press briefing a few minutes but we will bring that to you live when it happens.

SESAY: Well, indeed, Jim, I should say, for six days those men have been trapped in that coal mine in Utah. And for three days families have waited outside the Crandall Canyon mine. And it has been three days, Jim, of controversy, frustration, and desperation.

CLANCY: The rescue workers have drilled some holes that it is hoped right now, Isha, holes that will be used to provide sustenance to the miners, air, water, even some food.

SESAY: Well, the mine's co-owner invited journalists to accompany him on a tour of the mine deep inside the mountain.

CLANCY: Our Gary Tuchman was the only network television reporter who made the trip, getting the closest look yet at the scene of the accident and the ongoing efforts to rescue the miners.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We entered the Crandall Canyon Mine through the same tunnel the six trapped workers went through. A three-mile journey in a small truck that would take about a half hour in utter darkness. We passed rescue workers in their vehicles on the way to our ultimate destination. ROBERT MURRAY, PRES. & CEO, MURRAY ENERGY: Right there is where the rescue effort is going on.

TUCHMAN: This is as far as we could go. This is where the mine had collapsed. The six trapped miners are believed to be tantalizingly close. But with tons of coal separating them from us, this was an unusual opportunity to see how much work rescue workers still have.

You're looking at the effort to drill into the coal and rock to rescue the six men. The machine is called a continuing mining vehicle. It has a spinning drum on the front of it with blades. It cuts into the coal, rock and other debris that is mixed in from the mine collapse and then deposits it on the back of what's known as a shuttle car, which can transport 12 tons of coal at a time. The coal is sent on a conveyor belt outside the mine and the process continues over and over and over again far below the surface of the earth.

MURRAY: Where the damage is here, we're about 2,000 feet deep.

TUCHMAN: But the process had to stop for almost two days because of seismic activity that has shaken up the mine and made it too dangerous for rescue workers. The work to get to the miners originally began at a different point of the mine.

MURRAY: We had this cleaned up 310 feet. The machinery is still in there.

TUCHMAN: But another shift in the earth caused another partial collapse and the cleared area filled with coal again.

(on camera): Frankly, it's very eerie standing here knowing that 2,000 feet behind me, and maybe less, are the six trapped miners. It's cold. It's dark. It's foreboding. A claustrophobic could never cut it here. There is a steady wind blowing. The ceilings are low. We're 30 minutes away from the nearest exit.

In normal times, it's very stressful. But right now there's a lot of tension. Nevertheless the workers here -- the rescue workers, the people who normally work in the mine are calm because they have a job to do.

(voice-over): And take a look at what happens to our camera shot while we're in the mine. We hear a boom that shakes the mine and startles the workers, and especially us. The owner says it's another seismic event. One more and we evacuate.

MURRAY: When the coal breaks away from the rib and just kind of lays there, we call that sloughage (ph).

TUCHMAN: But there are no more. We do see other damage to the mine walls caused by the initial collapse, but it's the feverish work to rescue six men dead or alive that stays in our minds.

MURRAY: This rubble could extend -- well, we know it goes 300 feet because we were up there. But it may go another 100 feet and stop and we can just walk up to the men or they may be right there.

TUCHMAN: Wishful thinking, perhaps, but it's keeping these rescue workers going.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, in the Crandall Canyon Mine, Utah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, want to see more pictures from the scene and pictures of the miners who are trapped inside? Well, check out our Web site cnn.com. It's a good destination any time you want to know more about a story.

Now, there are concerns China may consider flexing what some call its economic nuclear option.

CLANCY: That's right. Up next, why arguments with the United States over the value of Chinese currency could prompt Beijing to take some drastic action.

SESAY: And then, why once struggling breweries are making a comeback in a country that takes its beer drinking very seriously, let me tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Well, Isha, if you and your family are planning to visit London any time soon, you want to hear those sounds? Big Ben sounding off there? Better get there before Saturday.

SESAY: Well, yes, that's right, Jim, because Big Ben is losing its hourly bongs, and that includes the chimes sound of every quarter hour. Now that is going to be weird. The famous bell will be silent for at least a month for repairs on the clock. And the last sonorous bong before the repair work will be at 8:00 that morning.

CLANCY: Eight o'clock Saturday morning. You know, it's really nice to be standing down there just around Big Ben and listen to him go with those big bongs. Very comforting. It makes you feel akin to all of the things that have happened around the clock...

SESAY: Well, no bong this Saturday.

CLANCY: ... right through history. No bongs after Saturday for a month. It will be back. Welcome back, this is CNN INTERNATIONAL, YOUR WORLD TODAY, complete with the bongs.

SESAY: Indeed. We are covering the news the world wants to know, and giving you some perspective that goes deeper into the stories of the day.

CLANCY: All right. China sitting on a trillion-dollar bomb, the question is whether it's prepared to use it. Signals out of Beijing indicate the government there is considering a sell-off of its vast currency reserves, one that could cause a meltdown for the U.S. dollar. Jill Dougherty reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): China and the United States have been lobbing verbal grenades at each other over the Chinese currency. The U.S. claims that Chinese money is artificially cheap and that the Chinese government keeps it that way so Chinese exports will be cheap, too.

The Americans charge that gives Beijing an unfair export advantage. And they're demanding China revalue its currency. In other words, make it more expensive.

(on camera): China is getting tired of all that criticism, especially the steady stream coming from the U.S. Congress. The latest, a group of U.S. senators accusing Beijing of currency manipulation is calling for trade tariffs against Chinese goods.

(voice-over): Now two members of Chinese think tanks close to the Chinese government are warning China might use what some call its economic nuclear option. This nuclear bomb is made of money. More than $1.3 trillion in foreign currency reserves that China holds including more than $400 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds.

Those two Chinese economists say, if the U.S. uses trade sanctions to force Beijing to revalue its currency, China might have to sell off its dollars, in other words, hold a fire sale. The U.S. treasury secretary, Henry Paulson, just back from China, called that absurd, but a market strategist in Chicago says it's part of China's strategy.

ANDREW BUSCH, BMO CAPITAL MARKETS: They want the U.S. Congress to think that they're a little bit crazy, that they would actually go in and dump out U.S. Treasuries should trade sanctions get out of control in the United States. So this is really what I would call a political, you know, shot across the bow to guys like Chuck Schumer in New York, to say, guys, don't do this trade bill. It's not worth it. We've got leverage on you and you really don't want this to happen.

DOUGHERTY: Crazy or not, the Chinese warning did cause a sell- off Wednesday in U.S. dollars and Treasuries. One indication there may be a method to the Chinese madness.

Jill Dougherty, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, worries over credit crunches have kept the financial markets on a rollercoaster ride and so far, no end in sight.

CLANCY: That's right. Just up and down and bouncing all around. The Dow Industrials dropped more than 200 points in the first five minutes of trading.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT) KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta. More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. But first, a quick on stories making headlines right here in the U.S.

A bloody scene in a restaurant in Canada. Vancouver police say that gunmen burst into the business early this morning and opened fire. Eight people shot, two of the victims have died. The motive is still unknown. Joining us by phone, Constable Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department.

Constable, can you tell us what you believe may have happened here? Was it targeted?

CONSTABLE HOWARD CHOW, VANCOUVER POLICE DEPT.: Well, we believe that it was not a random attack. So what really took place was around 4:30 this morning, get a whole bunch of 9/11 calls to this Chinese restaurant. Two people came in, started shooting at customers. A real chaotic scene when we got there, tables turned, customers shot, frantic witnesses.

And they took off. The two suspects took off before we got there. And the final count we've got right now is eight people shot, two dead and one is critical. And the remaining were taken to the hospital.

PHILLIPS: Do you believe that the suspects then knew these individuals that they went after? Do you believe it was over money? What was the situation?

CHOW: Very early to speculate at this point. It's just hours away from when it actually took place, but typically in cases like this it's usually targeted. You know, our suspects are usually intending on hitting the people they do hit and, you know, tragic circumstances.

PHILLIPS: Any idea where those suspects may have gone? Have you received any good leads?

CHOW: No. Our investigators are all over this one. We have got the area all cordoned off. They're processing the scene and they'll be out looking for them.

PHILLIPS: So since you believe this was a targeted attack, is anybody afraid that they might be going after anybody else?

CHOW: Well, we take all the necessary precautions in cases like this, including those at the hospital. And we make sure there are security measures in place for the injured victims and, you know, we've got a lot of resources tied up on this one.

Constable Howard Chow, appreciate your time, with the Vancouver Police Department. We'll continue to follow the case and also the chase for those two suspects. Thank you.

Well, one suspect has been arrested and a search for another in the execution-style killings in Newark, New Jersey. Within the last hour, authorities announced the arrest of a 15-year-old. They say that a murder warrant has also been issued for 31-year-old Jose Carranza. Apparently, we are being told he is in custody at this moment. We are just getting word that he turned himself in.

Three college students were killed in an elementary school parking lot Saturday night. The victims once again: Dashon, Iofemi Hightower, both 20, and 18-year-old Terrance Aeriel. Aeriel's sister Natasha was also shot but survived and is helping in the investigation.

Now tensions climb and jaws drop along with the Dow on a wild day on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling more than 240 points before regaining some ground. This happened just after the French bank suspended three funds, meaning that investors can't get their cash for now. Those funds heavily invested in the U.S. subprime mortgagees.

We're going to be watching the Utah mine rescue efforts and bring you the new developments as workers drill in hopes of saving the lives of those six miners.

Also ahead in the NEWSROOM, big rig trouble and a trucker that passes out at the wheel, leaving his 9-year-old son to figure out how to put the brakes on a dangerous situation. Well, the young hero joins us live in the NEWSROOM to tell us how he saved his dad's life. We're going to talk to him and his dad.

We'll see you in about half an hour. Meantime, YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Welcome back to our viewers joining us from more than 200 countries and territories around the globe including the United States. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Isha Sesay.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. These are some of the stories that are making headlines in YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Efforts to get to the six trapped coal miners in Utah could pay off in a matter of hours. Bob Murray, co-owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine says the small hole could provide food and water to the miners along with communications, until a larger hole can be drilled to get them out. We're expecting a live update in a matter of minutes. We are going bring that to you when it happens.

SESAY: In the Canadian city of Vancouver eight people have been shot in what police are calling an apparent targeted incident. It happened early this morning local time in a restaurant. Police say two shooters barged into the restaurant and opened fire.

CLANCY: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf deciding not to impose a state of emergency despite rising violence and instability in his country. Aides say General Musharraf, a critical U.S. ally in the war on terror, was considering the step to deal with the threat from Islamic militants, but says he wants to have democratic elections before the end of the year.

SESAY: The United States has been pressuring Pakistan to crack down on militants, especially in the volatile northwest region near Afghanistan. But it also wants to make sure Pakistan doesn't fall under authoritarian rule. And, in fact, it urged President Musharraf to reject it. Let's bring in Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr for more.

Barbara, the president saying he wants to see free and fair elections held in Pakistan. But obviously, this talk of a state of emergency making the administration uncomfortable. What would that mean exactly, a state of emergency, in Pakistan?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, I have to tell you, the Bush administration and top military officials here at the Pentagon are viewing this situation very gravely even though President Musharraf is saying that he has no plan to install a state of emergency. Around here they think it is still possible that it could happen.

And what is the concern, of course, is that the U.S., as President Bush said earlier today, is pressuring the Pakistanis for open, free and fair elections later this year. There is a good deal of concern that any state of emergency would bolster the Pakistani military and possibly lead to additional unrest. And there are always two concerns, at least, when it comes to Pakistan. Command and control over their nuclear capability and what all of this would mean in terms of Al Qaeda and the rise of Islamic militants there, Isha.

SESAY: Indeed, Barbara Starr, let's focus in on that key issue. What would it mean in terms of seeking the capture of top Al Qaeda leaders?

STARR: President Bush, in his press conference, Isha, earlier today in Washington, made it very clear that the Bush administration is pressuring the Pakistanis to move out smartly against the militants. The U.S. view is that that agreement that Musharraf reached with the tribal leaders in the frontier area has been a failure. Listen to what president Bush had to say a little earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm confident that we, both Pakistanis and Americans, will be able to work up a plan based on national intelligence. We'll bring the top Al Qaeda targets to justice. And I meant what I said. We spend a lot of time with the leadership in Pakistan talking about what we will do with actionable intelligence. The question was am I confident they will be brought to justice and my answer is yes, I am, confident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Actionable intelligence? What is President Bush talking about, Isha? What he means is if the Pakistanis get a good tip on where these Al Qaeda leaders are, the U.S. expects them to go after it -- Isha. SESAY: Barbara Starr there at the Pentagon. Many thanks as always.

CLANCY: Isha, let's take a look at some of the other stories making news this hour.

SESAY: Let's begin with tight security and a massive pilgrimage in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people joined a procession to a Shiite shrine in Baghdad. A city-wide vehicle ban is in place during the annual pilgrimage to prevent suicide car bombings. Nearly 1,000 people were killed two years ago when rumors of a suicide bomber in the crowd triggered a stampede.

CLANCY: In Gaza, Mahmoud Abbas' government says it accidentally paid one month salary to 3500 members of the Hamas militia. A militia that Mr. Abbas, himself, outlawed and that overthrew Fatah in Gaza. The deposits totaled $2.3 million, but a portion was cancelled before the militiamen had time to withdraw the money.

SESAY: Famed opera singer Luciano Pavarotti is in hospitalized this day, in his hometown of Medina (ph), in northern Italy. He is said to be in stable condition and was admitted with a high fever. The 71-year-old tenor underwent surgery last year for pancreatic cancer.

CLANCY: To U.S. politics now. There is a new study released just ahead of a presidential debate tonight in Los Angeles. It shows more than 90 percent of gays and lesbians voted in the 2004 presidential race. That compares to 61 percent in the general voting population. Although a gay political group invited candidates from both parties to their debate tonight, only Democrats agreed to attend. Susan Candiotti (sic) has the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): On the gay TV network LOGO this week the edgy drama "Bad Girls" about a women's prison in Britain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I come in with you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course.

COSTELLO: But Thursday night the drama on LOGO will be all about political bedfellows. LOGO was televising a gay political forum featuring most of the major Democratic presidential contenders. Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd will not attend.

JOE SOLMONESE, PRES., HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: Four years ago our community was a political wedge in the elections. In this election cycle I think that anyone who uses our community as a political wedge will do so at their own peril.

COSTELLO: On the panel for this unusual forum, outspoken lesbian rocker Melissa Ethridge. And gay "Washington Post" editorial writer Jonathan Capeheart. JONATHAN CAPEHEART, EDITORIAL WRITER, "WASHINGTON POST": In 14, 15, 16 minutes or so, they're going to get nothing, but questions related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community. Questions that they may not be ready for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had 3500 questions submitted on our website alone.

COSTELLO: At stake is the endorsement of the forum sponsor, Human Rights Campaign, HRC, which some activists consider too politically tight with the other HRC, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

ANN NORTHROP, GAY USA: They give money to the candidates. That's the whole reason they exist. They win favor in Congress by supporting these politicians with donations. They are not independent people who will ask hard-hitting questions.

COSTELLO: But Congressman Barney Frank, himself gay, says no candidate will find the questions easy to answer.

REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I think from people who have lived that life and are subsequently concerned with the law, you are less like to get horse race questions.

COSTELLO: If nothing else, LOGO's gay TV forum will introduce these presidential candidates to a new political landscape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to see a marriage counselor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not even legally married.

COSTELLO: A place where event TV's conservative darling, "24".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Close the door!

COSTELLO: Will have a new president next season.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did some research after I saw your crops --

COSTELLO: Actress Carrie Jones who is a lesbian.

Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, it was a death-defying spill of a lifetime.

CLANCY: That's right. Last week, professional skate boarder, Jake Brown -- and there he goes! Flying away, world's first 720 degree spin on a ramp at the X Games. And then this -- bang! Lost his shoes he hit the ground so hard. He hit the wood so hard. It all went horribly wrong. Brown lost his skateboard, this was five stories, he went down, 15 meters.

SESAY: Yes, the impact knocked off his shoes, as Jim said, which is probably the least of his worries. But amazingly, he walked off the ramp. When you see him go down, you just don't think he's going get up. But he does. He is now out of the hospital and talking about his close call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE BROWN, PROFESSIONAL SKATEBOARDER: Just realize that I was going to be landing on the very flat, which means there's nothing to catch your fall. And it's a long way. I didn't realize it was 45 feet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: Well, it was 45 feet. I guess he realized it once he hit.

SESAY: Yeah. I'm sure he did. He felt it then. Talk about cheating death, but this is the thing that gets me. He suffered only a broken wrist, whiplash and a fractured vertebra.

CLANCY: Only that. He will get on his skate board next week.

SESAY: Yeah, well. Better him than me.

CLANCY: All right, well, he's got talent.

SESAY: He has got it -- and broken bones.

CLANCY: Yes, to prove it.

Humid, sticky shirt weather hovering over a very large portion of the United States.

SESAY: Ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY, the cities turned saunas and how some communities are keeping cool.

CLANCY: Plus, creatures who roamed the land before time, reappear for a party in a modern metropolis.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one, zero, and liftoff of Space Shuttle Endevour expanding the International Space Station while creating a classroom in space.

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SESAY: Well, Space Shuttle Endevour is now hurdling toward the International Space Station. It lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday.

CLANCY: The seven-member crew aboard includes a teacher-turned- astronaut. A teacher who waited more than 20 years for her trip to the stars. The mission's tasks include assembly work and repairs on the space station, after the shuttle arrives there. That's expected on Friday. What an incredible scene there of the space shuttle once again, hurdles into orbit.

SESAY: Welcome back. You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International.

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

We want now to return to the story that's got everybody talking around the water coolers anyway, in the United States and that's the heat wave.

SESAY: Yeah. It's affecting much of the United States in cities across the country. Temperatures are soaring, mixed with high humidity. It's creating really uncomfortable conditions and posing health risks to some.

CLANCY: For instance in St. Louis, Missouri, city workers going door to door here encouraging people to seek comfort at various what they call cooling centers.

SESAY: In the South the situation is made worse by scarce rainfall, where we are. Temperatures are expected to hit close to 40 degrees Celsius in several cities today and residents are -- you just have to find creative ways to beat the heat.

CLANCY: That's a pretty creative way. Stand in the fountain. Charleston, South Carolina, one of the super hot spots. That's where Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is trying to beat the heat.

Having any luck?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We are trying. We're trying to keep a good attitude and trying to stay as cool as we can. It's kind of tough when you're covers with the electronic equipment that we use for television. And you have water right there, and you can't quite get into it.

You guys, mentioned the temperatures today are expected to reach to the 40 degree Celsius point. Right now it's 44 degrees Celsius, where I stand. But still, I would argue, this is one of the best tourist spots in the City of Charleston.

Charleston is known for many great touristy things. They have, of course, Fort Sumter, you have the Citadel, you have carriage rides around town. In fact, take a look at this video that we have of some of the horses that do all the dirty work, taking tourists around this beautiful city. You know, we often think about how dangerous this heat is for people, but we really don't take into consideration how dangerous it is to the animals themselves.

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TOM DOYLE, PALMETTO CARRIAGE WORKS: The animals are very closely monitored, beginning at 90 degrees, we take each one's temperature. At 98 degrees we stop operations, but the thermometer I'm holding in my hand is the real key. No animal leaves the barn that's overheated. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: The animals are very well cared for and people need to remember that there are other pets. They really have to watch out for those, too. Dogs need plenty of shade and plenty of water, same story with cats.

And if you can, people in this area have been encouraged to check on your neighbors. Always an important thing to do when you have this extreme heat. This heat that's expected to last as we make our way into late Friday. But then as we get into the weekend a front comes through bringing a chance of rain and much cooler temperatures. Back to you.

CLANCY: Reynolds, tell me, are you noticing there are fewer people in the streets or are people coming out saying I don't care if it's 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 110, I'm here, I want to see the sights and enjoy myself.

WOLF: You know, that is a great question you just asked. Its funny it depends who you speak to. If you talk to people who happen to be, say, from New York or Chicago, to them, this is unbearable. But if you talk to people who are visiting, say, from Georgia or even some of the locals, this is business as usual. It's Charleston, South Carolina, this is a city that's used to heat.

In fact, many of the buildings you see behind me -- the way they're set up, the architecture is designed to handle the sea breezes, and of course, that intense daytime heating that we so often get in this particular climate. So it just depends on who you happen to ask.

CLANCY: Reynolds Wolf there in one of America's most beautiful and historic cities, Charleston, South Carolina, in the heat. Thanks a lot, Reynolds.

SESAY: If you ask me, it's just unbearable, where we are, here.

OK, it sounds like a sequel to the hit movie "Jaws." A great white shark taking a holiday off the British coast. Perhaps he's a fan of the queen. In truth, reports of a shark off Britain's coast were just another fishy tale. I'm sorry. As Paula Hancocks reports it had the British tabloids smelling blood in the water.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water -- it is. Reports of a great white shark off the coast of Britain are a great, white lie.

These pictures taken by a nightclub bouncer were part of a tabloid feeding frenzy. It is, indeed, a great white, but the photographer omitted to mention they were taken in South Africa, rather than South England, a mere 6,000 miles away.

Kevin Keeble (ph), who gave the pictures to his local newspaper said I sent the picture in as a joke. I didn't expect anyone to be daft enough to take it seriously. There's nothing like reports -- and even pictures of a giant predator off the coast of Britain to get newspaper editors salivating, and they did. The story spread from Australia to the Middle East.

Home videos emerged of fins in British waters. Sharks do exist here, but not of the dreaded killing machine variety. "The Sun" newspaper even quoted an expert saying this was a female, and her shark boyfriend was probably nearby.

People around the world have been obsessed with the great white shark ever since Steven Spielberg immortalized it in his 1975 film "Jaws."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to need a bigger boat.

HANCOCKS: The great British panic seems over for now, another silly summer story that refused to let the facts get in the way. Paula Hancocks, CNN, London.

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CLANCY: A dynamic dinosaur gets his welcome back party.

SESAY: Still to come, prehistoric pomp and circumstance with a futuristic twist. Details on the other side of this break.

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SESAY: Well, a German museum is having a bit of a prehistoric party.

CLANCY: Love this story. All dressed up with nowhere to go is one very special dinosaur.

SESAY: Fredrik Pleitgen has more.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Meet Brachiosaurus Branchi, at almost 43 feet high it's the tallest dinosaur skeleton in the world. And it's the start at Berlin's Museum of Natural History. Found by German researchers a hundred years ago.

Brachiosaurus Branchi isn't just big, it's one of the best- preserved bone collections in the world. The museum's director of paleantological research says it is still a rich source of knowledge for scientists, for instance, the reptiles' massive head.

It is nearly 80, 90 percent complete and what is here quite important, is it has the nasal opening here, at the top of the skull. Here are the holes of the eyes, and here, you have to imagine, these are the nasal openings.

PLEITGEN: The Berlin museum spent two years restoring the ancient bones to preserve them and put together a metal frame so individual bones could be studied without disturbing the rest of the dinosaur. Now the prehistoric beast is back on display.

(On camera): Just look at the size of the skeleton. In the flesh, Brachiosaurus weighed up to 38 tons. And now visitors here at the museum can actually experience what that was like. These devices over there, are call juriscopes (ph), and take you on a journey back into time.

(Voice over): Back 150 million years and the dinosaurs come to life. That's Brachiosaurus in his natural environment, the luscious land of what is today, Tanzania. Evolution in action, the museum's researchers call these animations. And while they can only guess what color the dinosaur's skin was, or what their roar sounded like, Reinhold Leinfeld, the museum's director, insists the exhibition meets the highest scientific standards.

REINHOLD LEINFELD, BERLIN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: We try to show really science, but we try to show it in an entertaining way, which means we feature originals. Most of our dinosaur materials are originals excavated by the scientists here, of the museum.

PLEITGEN: A concept that appears to be working. In only the past three weeks more than 100,000 people have come here to see Brachiosaurus and the other dinosaurs on display. Frederik Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.

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CLANCY: And that has to be our report for this day. Let's take a look at the Big Board, though, on Wall Street. You see the Dow down 158 points, right now.

I'm Jim Clancy.

SESAY: I'm Isha Sesay. This is CNN.

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