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American Morning
Three Killed and Dozens Injured in a Bus Crash Overnight; Malibu Wildfires; Oil Is Ready to Hit A $100; Nawaz Sharif's Filing Papers To Run In January's Election
Aired November 26, 2007 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. Deadly crash. A charter bus slammed by a semi-truck. What went wrong?
Prime suspect. This morning, new evidence and new questions for the last man seen with Natalee Holloway.
Plus, rescued at sea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most (INAUDIBLE) but we are safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Trapped in the freezing Antarctic. Their cruise ship sinking in front of their eyes. Passengers tell their ultimate stories of survival live on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Amazing survival stories and we will hear them a bit later. Welcome, by the way. It's Monday, November 26th. I'm Kiran Chetry.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rob Marciano, filling in for John Roberts today. Hope you had a good holiday weekend.
We do begin, however, with breaking news out of Arkansas.
CHETRY: Yes, and this charter bus crash that we're hearing about, it happened late last night, leaving three people dead and dozens more hurt. It happened in a northeastern part of the state, near Forest City, said to be about 35 miles west of Memphis, Tennessee.
Right now, all eastbound lanes are -- of I-40 are shut down. It's a 13-mile stretch that's now closed while police investigate. They say that the Dallas-based charter bus jumps the median and collided with oncoming pickup trucks, then hit by an 18-wheeler.
As we said, three people were killed, including the driver of the pickup truck and two people on the bus. We do have crews on the way to northeastern Arkansas and we will have a live report for you from the scene in just a few minutes -- Rob?
MARCIANO: Kiran, the wildfires burning Malibu could be contained as early as today. A fire captain says the weather is cooperating with lower temperatures and there's more moisture in the air. One chief says they were able to get a hand on things quickly thanks to a week of planning and studying computer models of those Santa Anna winds that were forecast.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reactivated a state of emergency he declared for the months devastating fires just a few weeks ago so no time was wasted providing firefighters with the resources needed to fight these fires. The governor said 53 homes were destroyed in the fire, which started on Saturday. Another 34 are damaged.
The bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers told the "L.A. Times" his home, quote, "burned to a crisp." Most of the 15,000 evacuated people have been allowed to return. Some people came back to see just how close they were to losing everything.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MORA, CORRAL CANYON RESIDENT: It looks like my neighbors were all -- you know, my immediate neighbors were OK. But like I said, it's tragic for the rest of the people here in Corral Canyon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Investigators say they think the camp fire -- a campfire actually started the fire by people who were partying in the woods, well, they may have started the whole thing -- Kiran?
CHETRY: Also new this morning, the price of oil rising as high as $99.11 a barrel before settling back. Light sweet crude moved at $98.67 a barrel in Singapore, and that's up nearly 50 cents over Friday's price.
President Bush will meet and -- with Israeli and Palestinian leaders separately today in Washington ahead of tomorrow's summit in Annapolis, Maryland.
Syria has now agreed to send a delegation. Participants and observers both say that having Syria and other Arab states in Annapolis is critical to progress but they're cautious about seeing any breakthroughs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB EREKAT, PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: I'm not saying that Annapolis in the 24 hours will produce the magic stick that will deliver but I think the most important thing is that we start.
FRED THOMPSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I told the Palestinians aside that they want a two-state solution to live in peace, I don't think it's going to happen but hopes brings a turn.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Tomorrow's talks are shadowed by a nation not there, that's Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized Saudi Arabia for taking part in the meeting.
The goal of the summit is to get Palestinians and Israelis on a talk to a peace treaty and get the roadmap peace plan back on track.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaking out after his return from exile. He now says he will not lead a government under Pakistan's embattled military President Pervez Musharraf. Sharif made the comments to reporters at his home shortly before he was expected to register as a candidate in critical January elections.
Sharif was thrown out in a coup staged by Musharraf eight years ago.
And a series of major earthquakes rock Indonesia, at least three people confirmed dead, including a 5-year-old boy and more than 40 people have been injured in the eastern part of the country.
Local hospitals say more than a dozen people are being treated for broken bones and head injuries after their homes collapsed. Dozens of buildings either destroyed or damaged. The most powerful of the quakes, a magnitude 6.4, it triggered a brief tsunami warning.
All survivors of a cruise ship that sank in the Antarctic are waking up on dry land this morning. The passengers from the MS Explorer arrived in Chile yesterday, just two days after their ship hit an iceberg and started taking on water.
The Coast Guard says that collision punched a hole about the size of a fist into the ship and immediately caused it to take on water but investigators say the whole thing could have been prevented if the ship was equipped with sonar.
The Explorer had five, quote, "deficiencies" at its last inspection, including problems with the water-tight door. All 154 people on board spent hours in life rafts in below zero waters before they were plucked to safety by a Norwegian cruise liner.
We're going to be speaking with an American passenger coming up in just a few minutes.
And the world's largest plane-maker wins a multibillion-dollar contract from China. Airbus says China is buying 160 passenger planes. That deal worth about $15 billion. The order stands to push Airbus past rival Boeing in total orders for commercial aircraft.
Analysts say that the planes are well-suited for expanding Chinese domestic routes. Both Airbus and Boeing predict that China will become the second largest aircraft market behind the U.S.
A suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway heads to court in Aruba today. Joran Van Der Sloot arriving in the country from The Netherlands last Friday night. The judge will decide today if there's enough evidence to keep him in jail for more while investigators continue to develop the case.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are now saying that they can prove the Alabama teenager is not alive anymore.
Susan Candiotti is live for us in Aruba with the very latest. Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran. Today is the day that Joran Van Der Sloot will find out why he's been re- arrested. But he won't have to leave his jail to get the details on that so-called incriminating, new evidence. The judge is coming to him.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice over): If the prospect of facing another judge and another jail bothered him, Joran Van Der Sloot wasn't let it show under police escort back to Aruba. CNN obtained this exclusive video of Van Der Sloot during his extradition. Today, Van Der Sloot is expected to find out why he might face charges in the presumed death of Natalee Holloway.
HANS MOS, CHIEF PROSECUTOR: We think there has been action and facts that fit into a manslaughter case or lesser versions of that, like battery resulting in her death.
CANDIOTTI: CNN has learned investigators found discrepancies after reanalyzing the time and location of e-mails, text messages and phone calls among the three suspects the night Natalee Holloway disappeared. What caused Holloway's probable death and what role, if any, Van Der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe played, prosecutors won't say or don't fully know. All three young men have always maintained their innocence.
Behind these prison walls in a rural part of the island, a judge will meet with Van Der Sloot and his attorneys. If there's enough probable cause, Van Der Sloot will have to remain behind bars for more interrogations. In separate jailhouse hearings Friday, the same judge ruled the Kalpoe brothers must be held for another week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: I spoke with in the Natalee Holloway's mother and she calls the re-arrest of Van Der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers in her words, "a step toward answering our prayers." Kiran?
CHETRY: Now, what was it about the prosecutors, Susan, that they can prove Natalee is not alive, even though they don't have a body?
CANDIOTTI: Yes. He will not say why, nor will he say what the evidence is, this new evidence, but is he convinced, he says, that they can prove, even without a body, that she is dead and he said with each passing day, that's true. Back to you.
CHETRY: All right, Susan Candiotti for us in Aruba, thanks.
MARCIANO: Kiran, on to campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson is proposing a flat tax option. You can choose to pay 10 percent flat rate if you're a couple earning up to $100,000 a year or an individual who earns up to $50,000.
If you earn more than that you pay 25 percent in taxes. Thompson plans to make President Bush's tax cuts permanent but his plan would cut the initial Social Security benefit for future retirees.
And Democratic rivals, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, stepping up their sparring over differences in health care proposals. Yesterday, during a campaign stop in Iowa, Clinton called Obama's proposal, quote, "crafted for politics," and the latest example of his shifting policy positions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's been kind of confusing following his description of his own plan. If you go back and look, he said it was universal, he said it was sort of universal, he said it wasn't universal, he said it covered everybody, said it didn't cover 15 million, he has a mandate for kids. Now he's against mandates. I think you're going to have to ask him what his plan actually does.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Obama says all of this new health care criticism is coming from Clinton because his poll numbers in Iowa have improved.
And forget that leftover turkey for a minute. Check out the beef for your freezer or your freezer for your beef. Ninety-six thousand pounds of ground beef is being recalled because of an E. coli scare. The recall affects seven states: Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky and Indiana.
Products include ground chuck, sirloin and chop beef from the American Foods Group. For a complete list, go to CNN.com.
And just like show, the talks must go on. Negotiations are continuing between Broadway stagehands and theater producers. Talks picked up again yesterday after a week without word from either side. Theaters are facing mounting losses after a third week with the curtain down. More than two dozen plays and musicals have been silenced. And the two sides' biggest sticking point? Well, figuring out how many stagehands are required to keep a show running.
And writers and producers in Hollywood are also heading back to the tables today. Negotiators are expected to meet again this morning. Writers walked off the set November 5th. So far, about 50 TV shows and some movies have halted production.
If the strike lasts another two weeks, nearly all primetime shows shot in Los Angeles will follow suit. Officials say that could cost the area about $20 million a day -- Kiran?
CHETRY: It's time now to check in with our team of AMERICAN MORNING correspondents for some other news this morning.
Millions of shoppers hit the stores this weekend. It was black Friday weekend. But they registered that -- resisted, actually, that urge to splurge, despite the big holiday sales.
Ali Velshi is at the business update desk with more on that for us this morning. Hi.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran. They did what I did. They hung out at the mall on Friday and didn't buy enough stuff. According to the National Retail Federation, these numbers just coming in overnight.
Hundred and forty-seven million people hit the stores this weekend, that was Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And that's actually up 4.8 percent from last year, which is what a lot of the predictions were. Here's the problem. They spent less, $347.44 per shopper, and that is down from last year.
Why were there more people? We sort of felt this when we were at the mall on Friday. A number of major chains like Kohl's and JCPenney opened at 4:00 in the morning, got more people out. Those sales were there but people just weren't spending. We'll have to see whether that continues over the course of the next four weeks.
I'll have more on it for you as the morning continues -- Kiran?
CHETRY: All right, Ali, thanks so much.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: Kiran, more now on our top story. A tragic charter bus accident in Arkansas. Three people are dead, dozens more hurt.
Brook Sanders from our Memphis affiliate, WMC, is at the scene of the crash in Hughes, Arkansas.
Good morning, Brook. What is the latest?
BROOKE SANDERS, WMC REPORTER: Well, the very latest here is that they're still trying to clear up this wreck. The interstate is closed for about 10 miles here in Arkansas. And as they do that, they are interviewing the driver of both the 18-wheeler and the bus that were involved in this crash. They're interviewing both of those drivers to try to figure out exactly what happened.
But here's what we know: the charter bus was on its way from Chicago to Dallas, traveling westbound on Interstate 40, when witnesses say it crossed the median and slammed into oncoming traffic. It first hit a pickup truck, killing the driver of the pickup truck and then the 18-wheeler T-boned that bus, almost cutting it in half.
There were about 44 people on that bus. Many of them seriously injured, some of them critically. The critically injured were rushed very quickly to hospitals in Memphis, Tennessee. That is where our critically injured are taken in this area and then dozens more were taken to area hospitals.
But right now, as you said, we know that three people are dead, one of them the driver of the pickup truck, two people on that charter bus. The charter bus is chartered out of Dallas, Texas, and it was en route from Chicago to Dallas this morning. And that's what we know here this morning. Back to you in the studio -- Rob. MARCIANO: Brook Sanders, thank you very much. Our affiliate WMC out of Hughes, Arkansas in that tragic bus accident. Thanks, Brook.
CHETRY: Well, some dirty tricks at a beauty pageant in Puerto Rico. Investigators are trying to figure out who laced a contestant's evening gown and makeup with pepper spray.
Ingrid Marie Rivera was composed in front of the cameras and in front of the judges but back stage she was breaking out in hives. She had to strip off her clothes and apply ice bags to her face and body. And Rivera's clothing and makeup did test positive for pepper spray and then despite all the drama, she snagged the crown. She's going to represent Puerto Rico next year in the Miss Universe competition.
MARCIANO: Now how come we don't have any pictures of her freaking out, you know, in the back stage for, you know, drama and all the things going on there?
CHETRY: I don't know.
MARCIANO: I somewhat don't believe that story, but I guess they're reporting on it, it must be true.
CHETRY: They tested positive for pepper spray, her bag, her clothing, her makeup bag, the hair spray. I mean how mean.
MARCIANO: Women are so cruel sometimes. (INAUDIBLE)
CHETRY: Yes. Well, she won.
MARCIANO: Congratulations to her. She looks great in that crown, with or without the pepper spray.
All right. Topping your "Quick Hits" now, former Vice President Al Gore is heading back to the White House, but only for a day.
This afternoon, President Bush will welcome Gore and other recipients of the 2007 Nobel awards. Gore won the Peace Prize for his work on bringing attention to global warming. The former VP hasn't been to the White House since January 2001.
And forced to abandon ship in the middle of the night into icy cold waters. The rescue of passenger on the doomed MS Explorer cruise ship caught on tape. We'll show you the amazing footage ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: "Minding Your Business" brought to you by...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: And it is official. Oprah Winfrey joining Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the campaign trail. The Obama campaign e-mailed us to say that Oprah will appear in Iowa on December 8th, that she'll be in South Carolina and Manchester, New Hampshire on December 9th. The locations haven't been nailed down yet but the campaign says that all of the events will be free and open to the public.
Tragedy at a soccer game in Brazil. Eight people were killed after a section of the bleacher collapsed. They fell an estimated 130 feet, as the concrete in the highest section of the bleachers gave way. As news of that spread, formal celebrations were canceled and the stadium which holds 60,000 people is now closed pending an investigation.
In Bolivia, riot police clash with demonstrators. The protesters were angry about government attempts to rewrite the country's constitution. The protesters also set fire to a jail that allowed more than 100 inmates to escape -- Rob?
MARCIANO: Kiran, back on dry land. This morning the last survivors of the cruise ship that went down in the icy Antarctic waters arrived in Chile. It ends a harrowing "Titanic"-like ordeal which saw passengers dive in lifeboats before their ship made a deathroll into the water.
ITN's Phil Ray Schmidt has more from Punta Arenas Chile.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL RAY SCHMIDT, ITN REPORTER (voice over): When the Explorer hits an iceberg before dawn on Friday they were forced to abandon ship, set adrift on a choppy Antarctic Ocean for hours with the temperature well below zero. These pictures give a good idea of the freezing conditions as they were brought ashore on the remote King George Island, where the tourist were put up in a military barracks.
Then it was a ride to the mainland in the back of a Chilean Air Force Hercules, not exactly what they'd hoped for, but an adventure nonetheless.
UNIDENTIFIED SURVIVOR: The worst moment was being in the life boats. We were there for, like, four or five hours and it was cold and we were very exposed so to that was very difficult.
UNIDENTIFIED SURVIVOR: We grabbed our thermals before we left and that was it. The rest is gone.
SCHMIDT: The remaining passengers were airlifted to the mainland. In many ways they're all lucky to be alive. If the sea had been rougher, colder or even frozen, rescue may have been impossible. Instead, eventually, they should all make it home.
Phil Ray Schmidt, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: And as we said a little later in the show, we're going to hear from one of those survivors of that cruise ship catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the first U.S. diplomat stationed in North Korea. Your "quick hits" now, the state department saying it has an official in Pyongyang to help Phil Ray Schmidt, iTV news.
Later in the show we'll hear from one of those survivors of that cruise ship catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the first U.S. diplomat now stationed in North Korea. Your "Quick Hits" now, the State Department saying today it has an official in Pyongyang to help the U.S. team in disabling North Korea's main nuclear plant. They say it's not permanent. The U.S. and North Korea are technically in a state of war and have never had diplomatic relations.
Senator Charles Schumer blasting the Pentagon over veterans' benefits. He says that wounded vets are being told to repay part of their $10,000 signing bonus. The bonus agreement calls for enlistees to complete their full time of service or pay back part of the money.
Schumer says it's not fair to troops wounded in combat and that he will propose a law to stop the practice.
Well, check and mate. A chess legend thrown in jail in Russia while famed chess champion Garry Kasparov is waking up behind bars this morning. We have the answer coming up.
Also, it turned out that getting a turkey dinner was the easy part. But was getting home just as smooth? We'll tell you what travelers faced after Thanksgiving. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back.
Well, you won't be hearing paper or plastic in San Francisco grocery stores any time soon. Starting this week, the city is banning plastic bags at the stores saying they're ending up in landfills and they don't biodegrade.
So from now, shoppers have a choice of paper, a biodegradable bag or they can bring their own. The biodegradable bags come at a cost, 10 cents each, compared to the penny. Regular plastic bags cost grocers.
And which bring us to our "Quick Votes" this morning. It's a question we want you to answer. Should plastic bags be banned at all grocery stores? Cast your vote at CNN.com/am and we'll have the first tally of the votes later in this hour.
CHETRY: All right. We'll see. For dog owners, it's not going to be a pleasant situation in San Francisco.
MARCIANO: Oh, God forbid.
CHETRY: You know, and I need those plastic bags, if you know what I mean.
MARCIANO: You'll have to go out and buy biodegradable poopy bags for your doggie.
CHETRY: All right. Thank you.
MARCIANO: That's right.
CHETRY: Now you know what to get me for Christmas.
Well, if you're traveling to that holiday dinner last week, it wasn't so bad apparently, at least if you're going by air. Now it seems getting home wasn't much of a headache either. We're talking about flyers here.
A lot of travelers fear long lines this weekend for their return trip home. But there were only a few minor delays reported at the nation's busiest airport. In Atlanta, some flyers saw a weather delay but realized it could have been much worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED TRAVELER: The flight was on time, the arrival was on time.
UNIDENTIFIED TRAVELER: We came from Athens, Georgia, which is an hour and a half away and we left an extra half hour thinking there will be traffic and there was none.
UNIDENTIFIED TRAVELER: We got on the laptop and checked to see the amount of people that were going through here, 350,000, so we decided to come here about two hours ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Well, AAA -- it was such a smart move, by the way. AAA says more than 38 million Americans were likely to have traveled 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving.
Now you flew out of Atlantis -- Hartsfield airport. How was that? You did...
MARCIANO: It was a breeze. And actually, I checked flights on Delta on -- that Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they were pretty much wide open. So maybe the media sufficiently scared everybody and not travel.
CHETRY: I don't know. The New Jersey turnpike, a different story, though.
MARCIANO: Yes. Traveling by track.
CHETRY: Whoa, that was packed. Absolutely.
MARCIANO: All right. We're happy that -- hopefully everybody at home safe from the holidays.
Now let's take a look at what you can't miss coming up.
Aqua Dots. You know that dangerous toy they've been recalled? But apparently, they're still advertising.
CHETRY: Yes. This is unbelievable. These were the toys -- they were called something else in Australia but Aqua Dots here in the United States. And they were taken off the shelves and recalled because there is a substance in them that causes them, when ingested accidentally by kids, are turned into the date rape drug, GHP.
Well, here you got your flyer for Toys "R" Us. And we talked to the CEO, in fact, on Friday, the talked about their commitments to making sure that, you know, recalled toys won't going to be a problem. And sure enough, right here in their circular, advertising for Aqua Dots -- it says save $5, Aqua Dots super pseudo for ages -- for kids ages 6 and up.
So what's the story behind this? What did -- this isn't the only company, by the way, Target as well and perhaps others.
MARCIANO: Yes. I think I saw it in the Target one or two.
CHETRY: So what's their response to still advertising a very dangerous-when-ingested-recalled toy? We're going to find out.
MARCIANO: Those stories plus today's headlines when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: There it is, the White House. Good morning, D.C. Forty-six degrees right now. Could get into the 50s layer today. But former Vice President Al Gore expected to visit the White House. Temperatures inside could very well be below freezing.
CHETRY: How about that?
MARCIANO: See how that goes?
CHETRY: Yes, no warming there.
MARCIANO: Good morning.
CHETRY: Go ahead.
MARCIANO: It is -- what's today's date? November 26th.
CHETRY: 26th.
MARCIANO: Oh, almost December.
I'm Rob Marciano. John Roberts...
CHETRY: I can't help there.
MARCIANO: Thank you for helping out.
CHETRY: Good to see you this morning. Yes it is a Monday, after at Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We hope you had a great weekend. Thanks for being with us. We're on top of a breaking story this morning. That's a terrible bus crash that took place. It was a charter bus and an 18-wheeler collided in Arkansas. Three people killed and dozens more hurt. This happened along interstate 40 in northeastern Arkansas. It's about 35 miles west of Memphis, Tennessee. Police say that the charter bus was headed from Chicago to Dallas, traveling west when it jumped the median and hit a pickup truck head-on, killing the truck's driver.
This is a live look right now. Looks like crews are out there trying to figure out a way to get this big rig off the road, as well as the bus. The two people that were killed on the bus, and then at least one other, I think the driver of one of the trucks, at least five 55 other people were hurt.
Also new this morning, wildfires burning in Malibu could be contained as early as today. Lower temperatures and higher humidity helping cruise get control of a fire that's burned since Saturday morning. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger saying 53 homes have been destroyed. 34 others damaged and around 15,000 people who were told to leave have now been allowed to return. Some of them finding they lost everything.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALYSSA PESCUCCI, LATIGO CANYON RESIDENT: All of the stuff that you don't care about whether it goes or not will stay and everything that you do care about is gone.
PAUL MORA, CORRAL CANYON RESIDENT: Just to see my house here is absolutely amazing. I feel very blessed. It's a true miracle. Because, we just moved here a month ago. It's a brand new house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Firefighters say computer models helped show where the Santa Ana winds would be at their worst so they could preposition crews. The winds might return by mid-week.
And there are new details this morning that may solve the mystery of baby Grace. The toddler whose body washed ashore on the Texas Gulf Coast last month. Investigators have released a composite sketch of what they thought she might look like. Now they believe she's 2-year- old Riley Anne Sawyers of Spring, Texas. Police -- picture there. Police were doing DNA tests to confirm it. Riley's mother and her boyfriend have been arrested on charges of injuring a child and tampering with physical evidence. The Galveston County Sheriff's Department and FBI agents plan to release more information. They're holding a news conference later today.
MARCIANO: Well, don't look now but oil is ready to hit a $100. It jumped to $99 a barrel overnight but then settled back to $98.67. That's up nearly 50 cents over Friday. The dollar, in the meantime, hit a new low Friday against the Euro with a single buck worth only 67 cents in Europe.
And trouble brewing between Venezuela and Colombia. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez says he's putting relations with his South American neighbor quote, "In the freezer." Colombia's president removed Chavez as negotiator in hospice talks. Colombian rebels are holding hostages, including three Americans. Chavez says his removal was quote, "A spit in the face."
And a riot in northern Paris after a crash that left two teen motorcycle riders dead. An angry mob pelted a police station with Molotov cocktails. Shots were fired at police and several cars were torched. This all started just a couple of hours after a motorcycle crashed into a police car, killing the bike's 15 and 16-year-old riders. The police chief was hurt in the ride said the two teens weren't wearing helmets, still he's promising a thorough investigation.
And chess legend Gary Kasparov is waking up in jail this morning. He was thrown in a prison for five days after being arrested at a pro- democracy rally in Moscow. Among other charges he face, chanting anti-government slogans. Kasparov has been fighting to ensure next Saturday's Russian elections remain fair. President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to step down because of term limits but is expected to try to keep some form of power.
CHETRY: Pakistan's former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif announced this morning that he would not serve under President Pervez Musharraf. He's filing papers to run in January's election. His arrival in Pakistan yesterday certainly shaking up the political situation there. CNN's Karl Penhaul is live in Islamabad.
Karl?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kiran, Nawaz Sharif has just filed nomination papers to run in the January general elections. He had intended to do it this morning but it was certainly a very late start for him today, because that motorcade, that homecoming motorcade that he took part in yesterday, after arriving back from exile in Saudi Arabia took him through the very early hours of this morning but he has filed those papers now. He is declaring his intention to run in those January elections but of course the big question, if he does win anything in those elections, what will his relations be with President Musharraf.
Kiran?
CHETRY: And how does it factor in his arrival and his popularity factor into Benazir Bhutto, also the former prime minister and her wanting to also run and lead the country?
PENHAUL: Somewhat similar histories. Both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both serve twice as a prime minister of Pakistan. Both of those had their administrations severely questioned because of ranked corruption during those administrations but they still have powerful party machineries here. They still enjoy some popularity here and the two of them have said that they may, in fact, hold talks to see if they could work out an opposition platform to fight President Musharraf's emergency rule.
Kiran?
CHETRY: All right, Karl Penhaul live for us in Islamabad this morning, thank you.
MARCIANO: To sports now. A close call for the New England Patriots, that tops your "Quick Hits". This late touchdown kept the Philadelphia Eagles from derailing the Pats. A quest for the perfect season. The Eagles had a chance to complete the upset but the Pats sealed the deal with two interceptions. The Patriots are now 11-0 and have clenched their division and a spot in the playoffs.
And Disney has a lock on Thanksgiving movie audiences. The studio topped the box office for the holiday. Its fairytale "Enchanted" taking in more than $50 million for the long weekend. "This Christmas" came in second. "Beowulf," "Hitman," and Bee Movie round up the top five.
And David Beckham is accused of snubbing a group of child cancer survivors. We'll show you what happened and hear Beckham's explanation, that's coming up.
And the Supreme Court gets a taste today that could determine how you retire. It's pondering a very serious question about your ride when it comes to your 401(k). Our legal analyst Sunny Hostin takes a look, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. Your "Quick Hits" now. Typhoon Mitag is now headed for Taiwan, after slamming the Philippines, killing eight people. It could have been worse. The typhoon weakened as it made landfall and did not hit where 300,000 people had been evacuated.
And the White House will be getting its official Christmas tree later on this morning. Laura Bush will receive the 20-foot Frazier fir, which is being trucked in from Ashe County, North Carolina.
And naming day for the San Diego Panda's newest cub. She turns 100 days old and that's when Chinese tradition dictates that the panda gets a name. Online voting was done to pick the new name and I won't pretend to speak Chinese but I will give a shot at these, Li Hua which means beautiful China, Ming Zhu which means bright treasure, Xiao Li which means little beauty, and Zhen Zhen, which means precious. Jacqui Jeras, did I get any of those right, you think?
(WEATHER REPORT):
CHETRY: Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hears a case today that could affect the way you retire. The question, can someone sue if an employer ignores his or her instructions when it comes to investing money from 401(k)s? AMERICAN MORNING's legal analyst Sunny Hostin is here now with more on this. Thanks for being with us this morning. Glad to see you made it through cooking for 25 on Thanksgiving.
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did. I ate too much, but.... CHETRY: Didn't we all.
Well, this is a case surrounding James Larue. He is suing his employers over 401(k). He says he asked them to make changes in his retirement plan. It took them ten months to make the changes he requested. He says he lost $150,000 and he wants his employer to pay it. Does he have a case?
HOSTIN: I really think he does. It's interesting because this law was passed. There is a lawsuit passed in 1974, and it was passed to protect the planned participant. But when you look at sort of the history of the plan, of the law and how it's been interpreted, typically the employer, the pension plan has been the one that has been protected. But in this case, he specifically asked them to do something. They did not do it and he lost. He says $150,000, and today, with what's happening, that's a lot of money for someone that wants to retire and I would say he has a very, very strong case.
And I think that the Supreme Court will, this time, side with him and we're going to see a lot more of these cases coming on, because the pension plan has what's called the fiduciary duty. And they're supposed to do what the pension plan participants asked them to do. They missed the boat on this one.
CHETRY: Did this mean that for the future if you're not happy about the way anything goes with your 401(k), does it open the door to maybe some more frivolous type of lawsuits and then does that affect everyone's 401(k) in the way employers handle it?
HOSTIN: Well, I always say you can sue anyone for anything. Its just sort of the way our judicial system works but I don't think that that's going to be the case here. I don't think it's going to open up the door. The bottom line is this is a very specific case. He asked them to do something. He can prove that, because he did it in writing, apparently, and they did do it. That's a very different case from someone that says I don't like the way my money was invested, even though I told them to invest it that way.
CHETRY: Well, whenever the Supreme Court takes up a case though, you wonder does it have bigger implications. Why did they decide to take this?
HOSTIN: It always does. The Supreme Court is the court of the land, and anything that they decide affects us all. And so I think they decided to take it, because this is a very specific case. We know what's going on now with the credit crunch, and people's pensions and it's interesting, the Bush administration is supporting the plan participants in this case, the plaintiff in this case.
CHETRY: All right, we'll see how it turns out. Sunny, great to see you as always. Thanks.
HOSTIN: Thank you, my pleasure.
CHETRY: Rob? MARCIANO: Kiran, a call for the flat tax that tops your "Political Ticker." Republican Fred Thompson is proposing an option for a 10 percent flat tax for couples earning up to $100,000 and singles who earn up to $50,000.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama waging war of words over their health care plans. In Iowa yesterday, Clinton criticized Obama saying his plan offers universal coverage when 15 million Americans would not be covered. Obama says Clinton is stepping up criticism because he's moved up in the polls in Iowa.
And it's official. Oprah Winfrey is joining Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the campaign trail. The Obama campaign e-mailed us to say that Oprah will appear in Iowa on December 8th. She will be in South Carolina and Manchester, New Hampshire, on December 9th.
And CNN's getting ready to do it again, another YouTube debate. This time it's the Republican's turn and what do you want to ask the candidates? Well, be sure to catch that debate live right here on CNN Wednesday night at 9:00 eastern from Tampa, Florida, hosted by Anderson Cooper. And of course, you can find all the day's political news around the clock at cnn.com/ticker.
CHETRY: Well, Hulk Hogan's wife apparently pulled one finishing move that her husband never saw coming. Linda Hogan filing for divorce from the Hulkster, whose real name is Terry Bolea. Hulk says he didn't know about it. He responded to a reporter's question about the filing saying "thanks for the great information." Linda Hogan spent the past few weeks away from the couple's Florida home.
Well, his divorce is not yet final but it hasn't stop Paul McCartney. We're going to tell you who the Beatle was spotted with now.
Also, some child cancer survivors hoping to meet their hero, David Beckham. Instead the kids were left in tears when he walked past them. We're going to tell you what happened, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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CHETRY: Welcome back. 49 minutes past the hour now. And if you're just joining us, here's a look at what's making news this morning. The latest on a devastating collision between a charter bus and an 18-wheeler in Arkansas, leaving three people dead and dozens more hurt. This crash happened overnight in the northeastern part of the state. About 35 miles west of Memphis, Tennessee. Right now, all eastbound lanes of I-40 are shut down while police investigate.
People who live in Malibu returning this morning to what is left of their home, 53 homes destroyed by the wildfire that started Saturday. 34 others damaged. The good news is that officials expect to have this fire fully contained by today and that's thanks to good weather. Fire captains say lower temperature and higher moisture is helping in the battle. A series of major earthquakes hitting Indonesia. At least, three people confirmed dead and more than 40 others injured in the eastern part of the country. Local hospitals say more than a dozen people are being treated for broken bones and head injuries after their homes collapsed. Dozen of buildings either damage or destroyed. The most powerful of the quakes, the magnitude 6.4, even triggered a brief tsunami warning.
MARCIANO: David Beckham accused of snubbing a group of young cancer survivors in Australia. The kids were waiting for Beckham outside his hotel in Sydney. They were dressed in his jersey and holding up stuffed kangaroos, but Beckham walked right past them. 14- year-old Emma Buyers (ph) started crying because she didn't get to give him a toy kangaroo as a welcome present. Buyer survived leukemia. Thanks to two bone marrow transplant. Beckham says he didn't mean to walk past the kids.
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DAVID BECKHAM, L.A. GALAXY: I did not see any children when I arrived at the hotel this morning. I went in the back way and I don't know whether they were in the front or, I don't know, I didn't see but that's one thing that I would never have done, and never have done and never will do, so I'm more than willing to meet them, wherever they want, whatever time they want. So, that's not what I do and that's not what I'm about. So, I apologize to the children, but like I said, I never saw them.
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MARCIANO: It ain't easy being a super duper superstar. The kids are expected to get another chance to meet Beckham before he leaves Australia. He's there with the L.A. Galaxy to play an exhibition against the team from Sydney.
CHETRY: Well, the New York tabloids, here we have a shot of the "Daily News", this morning buzzing once again over Paul McCartney's love life. The Beatle, he's still got apparently. At this time, he was seen walking and holding hands with actress Rosanna Arquette in London. Just a few weeks ago, McCartney was photographed and set up a big buzz. He was photographed with a New York businesswoman. So, there he is, not shedding any tears over his bus stop with Heather Mills.
MARCIANO: You know, listen, for all the money she got, that's the only reason he should be crying.
Feeding parents, that's some new facts on a healthy school. Am I going to get sued over that? I'm ok.
CHETRY: Not at all.
MARCIANO: "Quick Hits," here we go. New research says that not only will kids eat a healthier lunch in school, if the cafeteria serves but that it also doesn't cost any more money to school lunch, its better -- I totally messed that up. Let me try that again. New research says that not only will kids eat a healthier lunch if the school cafeteria serves it, but that it also doesn't cost any more money to school lunch is better -- still doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway...
CHETRY: You know what I think they're saying?
MARCIANO: What are they trying to say here?
CHETRY: They're trying to say that, you know, just because, that there was a concern that if they tried to make school lunches healthier, less people would buy them, the kids would shun them and they say that's not the case. People are eating them and doesn't necessarily cost more to introduce healthier foods.
MARCIANO: Thank you.
CHETRY: How about that?
MARCIANO: It's good to be a mom, isn't it? You can translate this stuff for me.
The FDA is going to start looking into the effects of a controversial flu medication on kids. The agency will review reports of abnormal and sometimes dangerous behavior, more than 1,800 children who took Tamiflu since its approval in 1999. 22 of the reports contain incidents of convulsions, delirium, and delusions. Drug maker Rush Labs says none of the American cases resulted in death but after several deaths in Japan, the Japanese government issued a warning about Tamiflu. Dr. Elizabeth Cohen takes a look at this at the top of the hour, not a doctor but she's our medical correspondent and she'll be with us.
A popular too yanked from store shelves so why is it still being advertised? How did an ad for Aqua Dots end up in a "Toys "R" Us" ad? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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MARCIANO: Welcome back. It is 56 minutes -- 57 minutes after the hour. Time now to "Minding Your Business." Ali Velshi who has been shopping all weekend long. No doubt about it.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've been hanging out at the stores but apparently I'm like a lot of Americans. I was hanging out at the stores, didn't spend as much money as I should have, you know, as we expected people to. So, we had a lot of people out there, looking, not buying as much. Where were they hanging out? Look at this. A number of people, the largest number of people, 55 percent were at discounters and that accounts for why we had more people shopping but less money spent. The economy is affecting people so they're favoring discounters over some high-end stores. 39 percent of department stores, 43 percent at specialty stores. 32 percent online. That online number is going to grow every year which is why you cannot fall for this hoax that they call Cyber Monday, which is...
CHETRY: Today. VELSHI: Supposedly today, but you know, it's kind of like movies that open and they say it's the biggest opening ever. Well, of course, because there's higher ticket prices and more screens. Everybody's buying more online, Cyber Monday is a creation of the National Retail Federation that we're not going to fall for, right? Right.
MARCIANO: Yes.
VELSHI: 1 in 12 Americans is apparently finished their shopping already.
CHETRY: You're kidding me.
MARCIANO: Come on, who are these people?
CHETRY: Congratulations to you because you plan ahead or you bought fruitcakes for everyone.
VELSHI: I don't know who did. But once you finish your shopping, you have time for more leisurely pursuits like this one.
CHETRY: You guys look so cute together. You look like you're his little elf.
MARCIANO: What did you ask Santa for Christmas, just curious?
VELSHI: I asked him about economic forecasts. He wasn't interested.
MARCIANO: Never is.
VELSHI: Told me took to be a good boy.
MARCIANO: They don't make that at the toy shop in the North Pole.
CHETRY: All though, you wouldn't be opposed to getting coal because, you know, how important it is to the economy.
VELSHI: Coal is very valuable. Coal is very valuable. Quite happy to take a lump of coal.
CHETRY: Could I get a lump of coal and an oil barrel in my stocking, thank you, Santa. All right, Ali, thanks.
Well, you won't be hearing paper or plastic any more in San Francisco grocery stores. Starting this week, they city is banning plastic bags at the stores saying they're ending up in landfills and if they don't biodegrade, so from now on, shoppers have a choice of paper, biodegradable bag or they can bring their own. The biodegradable bags come at a cost, though, ten cents each compared to a penny that regular plastic bags cost grocer. And that brings us to your quick vote question of the morning. Should plastic bags be banned at grocery stores? Cast your vote, cnn.com/am. Right now, 78 percent of you say yes, they should be banned. 22 percent of you say no. We'll continue to update the votes throughout the morning.
MARCIANO: Such an environmentally-friendly audience we have here.
CHETRY: How about that. Well, you know, the other thing is San Francisco is the same city where the mayor won't allow bottled water, bottled water in cities.
MARCIANO: They won't allow the city workers to buy bottle water, very progressive.
CHETRY: Bottled water, is what really, I mean, bottle after bottle that must fill up landfills, even worse.
MARCIANO: You got to recycle the puppies for sure.
CHETRY: Well, the next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
Breaking news. At least, three killed and dozens injured in a bus crash overnight.
Track by cell phone. The new evidence against the man last seen with Natalie Holloway.
Plus, toys are oops...
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CHILDREN: Aqua dots.
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