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McCanns Get New Spokesman; Wall Street Awaits Fed; College Student Tasered

Aired September 18, 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 ANCHOR: The McCann case, the family of the missing British girl called for an end to speculation and a return to the search for Madeleine.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: A matter of interest. Wall Street waits for the U.S. Fed Reserve's decision on lending rates.

GORANI: And one destructive storm. Hundreds of thousands flee coastal areas as Typhoon Wipha races towards eastern China.

Also...

HOLMES: Screams for help. Dramatic video taken by onlookers as a University of Florida student pleads with police who were Tasering him.

GORANI: It is 5:00 p.m. in London, noon in New York City. Hello and welcome. Our report is broadcast around the globe this hour, I'm Hala Gorani.

HOLMES: And I'm Michael Holmes. From Shanghai to Seoul, wherever you are watching, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

"Ludicrous and nonsensical." That's how the new spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann describes the charges that they harmed their daughter Madeleine. And Clarence Mitchell feels so strongly about it that he has quit his government job to defend them.

GORANI: Well, Emily Chang has been following developments for us and she brings us the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EMILY CHANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kate and Gerry McCann follow closely behind their new frontman as he makes his first statement outside of their home.

CLARENCE MITCHELL, MCCANN FAMILY SPOKESMAN: I feel so strongly that they are the innocent victims of a heinous crime.

CHANG: This on yet another day when speculation about what happened to Madeleine continues to swirl, and media coverage of the case goes 'round the clock.

(on camera): What do you have to say about speculation that Kate and Gerry are somehow involved in Madeleine's disappearance? MITCHELL: It is just not true to suggest that they harmed their daughter. They love their daughter as they love their other twins. And to somehow suggest even indirectly that they were responsible for her disappearance or even her death, if you know them, you realize that that is just ludicrous.

CHANG (voice-over): In his former role as media adviser to the British government, Mitchell spent time with the McCanns in Portugal just after Madeleine went missing, sometimes he said up to 14 hours a day.

(on camera): Portuguese police, it has been reported, have strong forensic evidence against the McCanns. What do Kate and Gerry have to say about that?

MITCHELL: There are wholly innocent explanations for anything that the police may or may not have found. And Kate and Gerry are more than happy to defend themselves should it come to that.

CHANG: Mitchell also says police have not revealed any plans to re-interview the McCanns, or indicated whether charges will be filed as Kate and Gerry prepare their case while dealing with the ever- present pain that their daughter is gone.

MITCHELL: They didn't expect some of the coverage to turn the way it did. And they are relieved to be home now. And as a result, they are getting stronger. They today they are quite positive, in fact. Of course, there is the constant reminder that Madeleine is not there. But, you know, they are dealing with that in their own way.

CHANG: And Mitchell says they will continue to do everything they can to find Madeleine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, Emily Chang joins us now live from Rothley, England.

Emily, there has been a lot of talk that this investigation, that the advisers that the lawyers and all this could in fact bankrupt the McCanns. How are they paying for these new advisers now?

CHANG: Well, Clarence Mitchell told us this morning that he's being paid for by an independent benefactor who would like to remain anonymous, someone who has stepped up to pay for the McCanns' legal cost. So the money will not be coming out of the Find Madeleine Fund that has raised more than $2 million.

The family has said that money will go solely to finding her. And they are indeed launching a new ad campaign that will run across Spain and Portugal to remind the world that Madeleine is still missing.

GORANI: All right. Emily Chang, reporting for us live from Rothley, England, with the latest on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Thanks, Emily -- Michael. HOLMES: Well, it is a big day on Wall Street. The Federal Reserve is set to make a decision on interest rates in about two hours or so from now, with signs that the U.S. Economy is slowing and the housing market continues to weaken, the hope is that a rate cut will give the economy a bit of a kick. Let's go to Stephanie Elam in New York for a look at how the markets are doing ahead of the decision.

Tell us what you know.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Michael, I can't hear you but I can see that you just tossed to me. So I'm going to just start talking. Wall Street is expecting to get what it wants today, so stocks are rallying right now. The Dow Industrials were posting triple-digit gains. And as you can see, that slid off of that high for right now. We are up 85 points, up over half a percent, 13,489 there. The Nasdaq up by a half a percent, up 14, 2,596 there. The S&P 500 is up three-quarters of a percent at 1,487.

The central bank has many reasons to cut its key short-term interest rate below the current level of 5.25 percent. Just before today's opening bell, a fresh report on prices at the wholesale level shows inflation is in check. Of course, inflation is the Fed's biggest foe, so if it stabilizes, the central bank can focus on economic growth.

And a few weeks ago we learned that the economy actually lost jobs last month. The first time that happened in four years. Companies have been limiting spending because of a lack of liquidity in the market.

And in a surprise move last month, the Fed slashed its discount rate, that's the amount banks paid to borrow money from the central bank. The discount rate and Federal Funds rate usually moves in tandem. With all of that in mind, a rate cut is considered a certainty. But the new question is, how big will that decrease be? It is never enough to just know that we are going to get a cut.

That's the latest from here in New York, Michael, back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Stephanie, thanks for that.

Now let's take a closer look at U.S. interest rates. Their recent ups and downs and really what it all means. The specific rate we are talking about, the one that the Federal Reserve is expected to lower, is called the Federal Funds Rate. Now, that is the interest that banks charge each other for short-term loans. But it also directly affects the prime lending rate.

Now follow us here. The prime lending rate determines how much it costs millions of consumers like you and me and also businesses to take out a loan. The Federal Funds Rate has changed dozens of times over the last decade, but it has changed direction just a few times during that period.

Nine years ago, the rates stood at 4.75 percent. It began climbing steadily over the next year-and-a-half, reaching a peak of 6.5 percent. That was back in May of 2000. But then there was a reversal. There were fears of a recession and so the Fed changed course and started cutting the rate.

Lower rates make it easier, of course, for consumers to afford big ticket items like houses and cars and that makes for a healthier economy. Now, a series of rate cuts followed little by little. For three years, until the rate reached an all-time low of just under 1 percent in June 2003, then another reversal. This time the goal was to keep inflation under control.

Now the way to do that is to increase rates, higher borrowing costs mean consumers and businesses spend less. And that cools off the economy just enough to keep inflation from taking off. And so the Fed raised rates at 17 straight meetings until it settled at 5.25 percent. That was in June of 2006. And that's where it remains today 15 months later.

Now that's the longest it has gone unchanged in a decade. But now the Fed is expected to reverse course once again and announce a rate cut. Now, the reason is the same as it was for the last rate cut. And that is fear and other possible recession.

The fear is that the slump in the housing market, we have been reporting on that for weeks now, rising delinquencies on those subprime mortgages, and the credit crunch could all combine to drag the economy down.

And so lower rates mean consumers can afford to borrow more, spend more as well. And that's all going to help the economy. Well, that's a theory at least. But making it easy to borrow is what helped bring about the subprime mess in the first place. So whether lower rates solve the problem or contribute to the problem remains to be seen.

GORANI: All right. Thank you, Michael. And we are going to be following, of course, the Fed rate announcement. And we'll have full analysis for you right here on CNN, not just on what it means for the economy but, of course, as it trickles down to the consumer.

Now we move on to this story, the screams were loud and unsettling. The scuffles stopped by a Taser. It is one of the most talked about videos of the day. An incident at the University of Florida that led to a student's arrest and a campus police investigation. Let's bring in Susan Candiotti for all the details. She's in Miami.

Susan, these were pretty shocking images. What went down exactly at the University of Florida?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the question at the heart of all of this is, did the police, Hala, go too far? The student at -- that we are talking about at this hour is being released from jail. A judge ruling that no bond was necessary. The college student's name is Andrew Meyer. He was asking questions yesterday at a University of Florida student forum, asking questions of U.S. Senator John Kerry. He got long-winded, he wouldn't give up the microphone, the student, and so then there was this struggle with police. Things got ugly and the student was Tasered while several cameras were rolling. Take a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get the (expletive deleted) off me, man! I didn't do anything! Don't (expletive deleted) Tase me, bro! Don't Tase me! I said don't Tase me!

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you doing that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God!

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Now the college student was charged with resisting arrest with violence and disturbing the police. One question that the campus police are looking at, was the student already handcuffed and on the ground when he was Tasered?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HOLCOMB, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SPOKESMAN: If someone was handcuffed, it is not a typical use of force with a Taser. But at this point it is too early to determine whether or not that was the case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now as you can imagine, students who were at the forum saw things quite differently.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't see the student resist arrest. I saw the student wondering why he was being dragged through the auditorium like that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, they gave him a lot of chances. They're like, if you don't roll over on your stomach, we'll Tase you. And the police officers acted very professionally, in my opinion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now the college president tells CNN that they are investigating this, they do share the community's concerns about what happened here. We contacted Senator John Kerry and he issued a statement saying in part that he doesn't know what kind of warnings had been given to the student before. According to Kerry, he barged to the front of the line and started asking questions.

And he said -- also, Senator Kerry, that he didn't know that the student was Tasered until after he had left. He went on to say that in 37 years of various appearances, nothing like this has ever happened before, as he put it, never had a dialogue end this way. And he hoped that neither the student was injured nor any of the police officers. And he was sorry that he didn't have an opportunity to finish answering the student's questions.

Now, we can also tell you that the campus is looking into this. So are the police. But students are demanding that Tasers no longer be used on campus. They want to have all the charges dropped against this student. And they also want to see the officers suspended until the investigation is complete.

So now apparently a state agency is also going to be taking a look at this -- Hala. This is far from over.

GORANI: Certainly absolutely raising a lot of questions as well. Thank you very much, Susan Candiotti, reporting to us live from Miami.

HOLMES: All right. Stay with us. You are watching YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: Well, a lot more ahead this hour. Typhoon Wipha lashes Taiwan as it barrels on toward China.

HOLMES: Hundreds of thousands of people are being moved to safety. We will get the latest forecast track and see pictures of Typhoon Wipha -- that sent in from our viewers in fact.

GORANI: Also, could that fatal plane crash in Thailand have been avoided? Hear what air traffic controllers have to say about it when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. China has evacuated 200,000 people in the path of what's being called the most powerful typhoon to hit the Shanghai area in a decade. Typhoon Wipha is bearing down on eastern China with waves reaching three meters high. The typhoon expected to make landfall on the Chinese Mainland early on Wednesday. Now this, as we said, is a very powerful storm. And Shanghai makes a pretty big target.

For more on future and of this typhoon, let's go to our Femi Oke, joining us here from -- this is massive, what's going to be the impact on the land, the people? It is a very populated area.

FEMI OKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Michael, I mean, just to give our viewers some idea, if this hurricane has been in the tropical Atlantic, it would be a Hurricane Category 5. It is a little bit slower than that right now, I have to say, just a little bit under 240 kilometers and an hour, and which makes it a Category 4 if it were in the Atlantic. It is a typhoon. Here is how one of our viewers describes the typhoon. Take a look at the video and this is what he said when he sent us the video. "This is a video that I took from the view from my room in my window in Taipei, Taiwan. And the winds were strong and the (INAUDIBLE) trees were blown away. And the scooters were turned upside down in the street."

Now this I-Report video was sent to us by Kwanele Fakudze. And topping off with some really good advice for the I-Reporters. Now most people, he says, are indoors, and that's the best thing to do in this kind of weather. Sounds like he is a weather guy. Click on the I-Report logo at cnn.com and send us your pictures. But take Kwanele's advice and stay safe no matter what you do. Thank you very much, Kwanele, for sending us those pictures.

That is what it looked like when you're really down there in real time. Let me show you what it looks like from space. This is our satellite picture. You can really see the enormity of this typhoon where you see the more vivid, brighter colors. That shows you where some of the strongest thunderstorms are pushing in.

And as you can see along this coastline here, that eastern side of China, there's lots of inlets here, there's lots of deltas. And that's really going to be the problem. The front right quarter, the direction of our typhoon is where it is going to be most dangerous. And that's where it is going to be pushing immense amounts of flood water inland.

So we are not out of the woods yet, even though it has now dropped down in terms of its windspeed. Still over 200 kilometers an hour, gusting to 269 kilometers an hour. And you can see where the track takes it, up through past Shanghai, up through in towards the Yellow Sea, and then across the Korean Peninsula.

And if you remember rightly, this is exactly where we saw incredible flooding just a few weeks ago. They really could do with a bit of break. But they are not going to get it. So let me just leave you with those vital statistics once more. Gusting up to 269 kilometers an hour. Over 200 kilometers an hour for its regular wind speed. Moving up in a west-northwestern direction. Of course here at the world weather center, we will keep you up-to-date with all the latest.

Hala, back to you.

GORANI: All right. Femi, thank you very much.

And our next story may just have something to do with the weather. To Thailand and a desperate search for answers. What exactly caused the crash of a jetliner attempting to land at Phuket Airport? We are now getting our first dramatic look at the scene. Sunday these images were shot by crash survivors. Forty-one were lucky, they got out alive although some remain in critical condition. But 89 were killed. What caused the accident?

Andrew Stevens is in Phuket. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The pilot of the ill-fated One-Two-Go jet was told minutes before he attempted to land that there was a strong possibility of wind shear, one of the most dangerous weather conditions facing aircraft coming in to land.

The head of Thailand's aviation transport department told CNN that the pilot who had landed just minutes before the doomed 269 flight radioed a warning that he had experienced wind shear, a sudden and dramatic change of the wind speed or direction.

A transcript of the final conversation between the tower and the plane makes it clear the One-Two-Go pilot heard the warning, the officials said. Just minutes later, the jet had crashed and burst into flames, killing almost 90 of the 130 passengers and crew on board.

According to Phuket Airport Chief Pornchai Eua-aree, the decision on whether to land was the pilot's alone.

PORNCHAI EUA-AREE, PHUKET AIRPORT GENERAL MANAGER: The air traffic controller would give the airplane permission to the pilot and warning information. But the final decision is -- depends on the pilot.

STEVENS: Another weather condition the pilot was battling with last Sunday, driving monsoon rain.

EUA-AREE: (INAUDIBLE) caused the pilot not to see very clearly and because that day we had a lot rain, really heavy rain.

STEVENS (on camera): Officials from One-Two-Go say they won't comment on any speculation on what may have happened on Sunday. They say they will wait for the findings of the official investigation.

(voice-over): But they say the aircraft were regularly checked and maintenance carried out. And the airline chief executive denies some media reports about using cheaper, more inexperienced pilots.

Apparently though little comfort to those leaving Phuket on One- Two-Go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The plane was too old, so I'm worried about it. two

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

STEVENS: Two days after the crash, more than 30 bodies have still not been formally identified, frustrating for family members and friends. For some, DNA testing now the only way to make a positive ID. Outside the airport, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim leaders coming together to lead a prayer service for those who died.

Andrew Stevens, CNN, Phuket, Thailand.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right. Iraq's Council of Ministers joins the interior ministry in calling for that U.S. security firm, Blackwater, to stop its operations in Iraq until a full investigation is made. A government spokesman tells CNN a preliminary report finds Blackwater did use excessive force in Baghdad on Sunday. That's when, you will remember, at least eight civilians were killed. Some numbers are even higher than that from different sources. They were killed in a shoot- out involving Blackwater personnel. More than a dozen people were wounded. And that the council must now review all security firms operating inside the country to see that they comply with Iraqi law.

GORANI: A lot more ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY. When we come back, the political scene in Pakistan.

HOLMES: President Pervez Musharraf says he's going to step down as army chief if he's re-elected, but opposition parties are crying foul..

GORANI: Also ahead, the Simpson saga. The latest on an alleged armed robbery that lands O.J. back in jail, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. First, a check on the stories making headlines right here in the United States. College students are outraged. They are protesting over the Tasering of a fellow college student. Police used a Taser gun on Andrew Meyer after he refused to stop asking Senator John Kerry questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get the (expletive deleted) off me, man! I didn't do anything! Don't (expletive deleted) Tase me, bro! Don't Tase me! I said don't Tase me!

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you doing that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God!

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, that event started calmly. Kerry was speaking to students at the University of Florida. Then during the Q&A, things got ugly. Meyer was hammering Kerry, wanting to know why he never contested the 2004 elections and refusing to leave the mike.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) (CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much. I'll ask my question...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have been talking for two hours, I think I've got a few minutes.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... asking my question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Kerry's request to answer the questions were ignored. Police attempts to escort Meyers out failed. Then the scuffle and the Tasering, that event is under investigation.

O.J. Simpson is in jail and probably looking ahead to tomorrow. Simpson is due in court for a hearing that could allow him to be released on bond. Right now he's being held because a judge says he's a flight risk. Las Vegas Police say Simpson was among an armed group of men who burst into a hotel room and demanded his sports memorabilia be returned. Simpson says there were no guns and there was no robbery. He says he just wanted his stuff back.

Last night on CNN's "LARRY KING," we heard from an alleged victim in this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALFRED BEARDSLEY, ALLEGED VICTIM OF O.J.: You know, this was a very small room in a seedy hotel that Riccio was staying at. And I only saw when this guy came over and ordered me at gunpoint to pack the items up in the boxes that we brought them in. I refused. And I was sitting in a chair and I was told to get the F up, get the F up, and I did get up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: One of the men arrested in the alleged robbery says he believes Simpson was set up. A lot of legal issues up in the air for O.J. Simpson. Be sure to join us in the "CNN NEWSROOM" at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. We will talk with criminal defense attorney Mickey Sherman for his take on all the latest developments.

Also ahead, a tiny town battens down. Jena, Louisiana, braces for the arrival of thousands of people. We will hear from local police about their plans for handling Thursday's march intended to show support for the so-called Jena 6. And will the Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate? Our Ali Velshi is there for the 2:15 announcement. And Susan Lisovicz will bring us Wall Street's reaction. That is coming your way in the CNN NEWSROOM at the top of the hour.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a quick break. We'll see you in about 30 minutes at the top of the hour. I'm Don Lemon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back, everyone. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY, seen this hour in the United States. Welcome to those viewers as well. I'm Hala Gorani.

HOLMES: And I'm Michael Holmes. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: Here are some of the top stories we're following.

The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann have a new spokesman. Clarence Mitchell has quit his government job to handle public relations for Kate and Gerry McCann. He says he wants to help refocus public scrutiny away from the McCanns and back toward the search for Madeleine.

HOLMES: Many eyes on the Federal Reserve in Washington today. This afternoon it is expected to reverse what it's been doing for a long time and cut a key interest rate to help pump up the U.S. economy. Worries are growing because of a steep slump in housing and widening credit market problems.

GORANI: Also in the headlines, China has evacuated 200,000 people in the path of what's being called the most powerful typhoon to hit Shanghai in a decade. Typhoon Wipha is bearing down on eastern China with waves reaching three meters high. The typhoon is expected to make landfall in China early Wednesday.

HOLMES: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is stepping into one of Latin America's longest running conflicts. Columbia's battle with rebels known as the FARC.

GORANI: Well, he wants to broker a hostage release but says that to do it he must go into the jungles of Colombia to meet directly with the rebel leader.

HOLMES: And Colombia welcomes his involvement, but so far not his choice of a venue. GORANI: FARC rebels are holding thousands of people hostage, including politicians, police, even CIA contractors. Karl Penhaul reports on some captives who never made it home alive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): These are the hostages who never made it home alive. Eleven Colombian lawmakers killed in the jungle five years after they were kidnapped by communist FARC rebels. FARC chieftains say they died two months ago in the crossfire during a failed rescue mission. The government denies mounting any military operation. The relatives are angry.

GUSTAVO PEREZ, NEPHEW OF SLAIN COLOMBIAN LAWMAKER (through translator): I see no end in sight for this war. The government and the FARC criminals will never make a deal.

PENHAUL: Guerrillas trained month ahead of the kidnapping. Rebel cameramen taped every detail.

April, 2002. The morning of the snatch. Guerrillas disguised as soldiers drive a bus into the heart of Medellin, Colombia's second largest city. The plan is simple yet slick. The kidnap squad clears the provision congress building, warning of a bomb threat.

The politicians are herded on to a bus by men they believe are genuine soldiers ferrying them to safety. It's only as the bus heads up into the rebel towns and stronghold that the politicians realize they've been kidnapped. By the time the police get to the congress building, it's too late.

The FARC are estimated to be holding up to 3,000 hostages. They want to swap them for hundreds of jailed guerrilla fighters like these. In addition to politicians, police and soldiers the FARC kidnapped former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt in early 2002 and three U.S. CIA contractors a year later.

Over the next five years, families of the kidnapped lawmakers saw their loved ones only in videos made to prove they were still alive. Congressman Edel Simperz (ph) inked a note on to his hand and asked simply, how much longer? In his heartfelt appeal, Congressman Jairo Hoyos foretold his own doom. JAIRO HOYOS, KIDNAPPED COLOMBIAN LAWMAKER, (through translator): President, those of us who are about to die solute you.

PENHAUL: Venezuela leftist president, Hugo Chavez, has now offered to act as a go-between between the Colombian government and the FARC, brokering a prisoner swap. But endow Chavez with the image of regional (INAUDIBLE) maker. But any deal is too late for these 11 families. All that's left for them is the cold comfort of mourning their dead.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Bogota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, here's a little bit more now on the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia known as FARC by that acronym. It is the oldest insurgency group in Latin America. It was formed in the mid 1960s. Now it's been violent. It's used bombings, it's used kidnappings, hijackings, extortion and other tactics in its long war against the government of Colombia. FARC's stated goals include the redistribution of wealth and blocking the privatization of natural resources in the country. The group is indeed very powerful, operating in nearly half of the country. And experts estimate FARC brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the illegal drug trade.

Michael.

HOLMES: Plenty of interest in this story. The latest on former American football idol, O.J. Simpson. His legal woes now. We'll bring you up-to-date. A third man arrested in the connection with the theft of sports memorabilia has been released on bail. Simpson himself, however, remains behind bars. He will be arraigned on Wednesday. Those robbery charges aren't Simpson's only problem. The family of Ron Goldman, who was killed in 1994, along with Simpson's ex-wife, will file papers stating claim to the items that Simpson was allegedly trying to get for himself. Goldman's sister, Kim, discussed her feelings about Simpson with our Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM GOLDMAN, SISTER OF RON GOLDMAN: I would be happy with him going to jail for anything. Again, you know, he walks the sort of thinking that he lives, you know, God-like. And for him to walk into that place and demand his stuff back and force people up against the wall, most logical civil minded people don't live that way. And I hope that he is treated fairly. I hope that he's not afforded any extra luxuries just because of who he is. And I hope the system works for us this time. I really do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Some say O.J. Simpson got lucky when he beat the rap for those murder charges back in 1995. But the acquittal has been in many ways a double-edged sword. While he's remained out of jail, he has not escaped unrelenting and largely negative scrutiny. Anderson Cooper has that. .

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, in the above entitled action, find the defendant Orenthal James Simpson not guilty of the crime of murder.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): A hint of a smile. A gesture of thanks. That's how the so-called trial of the century ended. And some hoped the verdict would also mark the last time they'd ever see or hear from O.J. Simpson again. Forget it. Since the acquittal, the world's most famous former murder defendant has continued to surface. Sometimes playing golf, talking to anyone that will listen and, of course, signing his name.

O.J. SIMPSON: I came here to focus on one thing, you know, memorabilia, signing what people want and then I'm gone.

COOPER: He's also had a few high-profile run-ins with the police. They included the mundane, like the 2002 speeding ticket he was issued in Florida for taking his boat through manatee protected waters. A few encounters were serious, however. In 2003, hid daughter called police to say Simpson was being verbally abusive. Here's part of her 911

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) miserable like for me. That's all (INAUDIBLE).

COOPER: No charges were ever brought against him for that. He was acquitted in a road rage allegation in 2001.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The defendant is not guilty.

COOPER: In 2004, the satellite cable provider DirecTV sued Simpson for piracy. DirecTV won the suit and he was ordered to pay nearly $60,000. In 2005, officers went to his home after a neighbor reported Simpson's girlfriend was attacking him. No arrests were made.

Through it all, Simpson says he's done nothing wrong, including this time when he's accused of taking part in an armed robbery. The former prosecutor, Wendy Murphy, thinks he's lying.

WENDY MURPHY, FORMER PROSECUTOR: He was acquitted of a double murder for which most people think he should have been convicted. He was found liable in a civil suit and was supposed to pay some millions of dollars to compensate his victims' families. And what did he do? He moved to Florida, set up shop in a state that lets him hide all his assets. In other words, he hasn't been held accountable at all ever for any bad things he's done. So is it really any wonder that the country is cheering now that he's been arrested?

COOPER: Now Simpson is under arrest, facing charges that could send him to prison for many years. On his latest mug shot, a grin for the camera. One legal expert thinks she knows why. Saying normal people don't smile when they're charged with serious crimes.

MURPHY: If that's not the behavior of a sociopath, I don't know what is.

COOPER: Anderson Cooper, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Interesting days for him.

Well, earthquake predictions are rare, but one man standing by his forecast.

GORANI: Absolutely. Ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY, a geologist who scouts the Indonesian coastline sounds the alarm that a massive earthquake is imminent.

Also ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, B, it's me. If you're there, pick up. I was just watching you on C-Span.

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HOLMES: She's back. She's back. The girl who sang the praises of Barack Obama will tell you who the object of her affections is this time around.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, (singing): I've never wanted anybody more than I want you.

I got a crush on Obama.

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GORANI: Welcome back. You're with YOUR WORLD TODAY. We've been hearing a lot lately about earthquakes. Some of them very devastating and scary across Indonesia.

HOLMES: Yes, and it shouldn't really surprise us because the area is known as the Pacific ring of fire. It's a hot bed for the generation of quakes.

GORANI: Well, 90 percent of the world's earthquakes and 81 percent of the world's largest earthquakes occur along that ring. Hugh Riminton reports on a man who's preparing for the next big one.

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HUGH RIMINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Smack on the equator. Don't be fooled by the scenery. This is the deadliest stretch of ocean in the world.

JOHN GALETZKA, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: Everywhere up and down the coast, just stripped down to bed rock.

RIMINTON: John Galetzka was a U.S. Army ranger. Now he's on another front line. He's an earthquake geologist investigating the fault line that sparked the 2004 tsunami and in recent days three more powerful quakes.

This is video he shot on Friday.

GALETZKA: OK. Experiencing an earthquake. Let's see, 6:50. This one's a lot stronger than last night. Yes, this is the big one. Yes, this is our big one. This is our big one. Whoo-hoo. Oh, yes. Look at the boat shaking here. Yes. This is our big one.

RIMINTON: Moments later he catches the panic on shore.

GALETZKA: You can see families evacuating to the hills, about 200 meters behind Kilaleho (ph). OK. Earthquake time.

RIMINTON: The day before, another big quake. Further away, but larger.

GALETZKA: Nice, long period waves. Look at the water here.

RIMINTON: For John Galetzka, this is where theory meets reality.

GALETZKA: I am just -- feel like the luckiest man alive because, you know, to experience two events, strong events, with almost 12 hours. Yes, it was about 12 hours. And you can almost hear the excitement in my voice. Like, oh, oh, my gosh. This is it. This is it.

RIMINTON: Galetzka is taking us on a journey to see the evidence his team believes its found showing another giant earthquake and possible tsunami are on their way.

So this is the first of the ones you put in.

GALETZKA: That's right. Back in August 2002.

RIMINTON: Wow, it's a great view.

Galetzka has established a network of position markers linked by satellite and that show a constant creek northeast among the islands on Indonesia's Indian Ocean frontier.

These 30 measuring stations along this coast line are now telling an ominous tale driven by the place that was underneath the Indian Ocean. The earth is flexing. It is literally bending underneath our feet. The pressures already are enormous. The theories are possibly quite soon those pressures will become intolerable.

The implications are terrifying.

GALETZKA: Eventually it's got to -- it's got to release in a giant earthquake.

RIMINTON: It could be a rare magnitude nine quake. The plates so tightly sprung it will happen, he believes, sooner rather than later.

Do you worry knowing what you know? Do you worry for the people living on this coast?

GALETZKA: I absolutely do worry. I tell them to be prepared. I, myself, when I stay in Padong (ph), I think about my escape routes almost -- almost every moment.

RIMINTON: As he crisscrosses these islands, searching for data, John Galetzka says his aim is to save lives. But he, more than anyone, knows the risks that one day he will confront a wave out here, a tsunami, powerful enough to swallow islands.

GALETZKA: If we thought that we would just head right into it, you know, I would shake your hand and say . . .

RIMINTON: Good luck.

GALETZKA: Good luck.

RIMINTON: Hugh Riminton, CNN, off west Sumatra, Indonesia.

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GORANI: They're going to need luck. Yes, absolutely.

HOLMES: Luck indeed.

Well, coming up, she gained global attention as the Obama girl in an instantly famous Internet video.

GORANI: Now she's back with some new friends, a catchy new tune and a message to U.S. troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stay with us.

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GORANI: Remember the folks who brought us the "Obama Girl" video?

HOLMES: How could you forget. Well, they're back. This time sending a message to U.S. troops. A message that's quite likely to get their attention.

All right. It's pop, that's for sure. It's called "I Like a Boy." And the video went up this morning on YouTube. Where else? It's a joint effort by barleypolitical.com and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They're calling on all military families to send in their own video to them.

GORANI: Amber Lee Ettinger appears in the video. She's the one that's got a crush on the Illinois senator and presidential contender. Paul Rieckhoff is with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

HOLMES: The two of them had a chat with John Roberts and Kiran Chetry on AMERICAN MORNING.

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PAUL RIECKHOFF, IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN VETS OF AMERICA: A few months ago we heard about "Obama Girl." It's this Internet sensation that had swept the world. And we figured it's great that Obama likes all these political figures, but what about the men and women serving in Iraq. So we teamed up with Barely Political and came up with this concept. And Amber stepped up and we created this fantastic song and a great video that shows our love for the troops. Serving overseas and here at home.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN'S AMERICAN MORNING: Amber, did you expect all of the attention, first of all, from the "Obama Girl" video?

AMBER LEE ETTINGER, INTERNET VIDEOGRAPHER: No, it still amazes me. I mean it's just reached such a diverse audience and we got so much positive feedback, like, it's unbelievable. So doing this video, I was so excited because I knew it would be a great thing for the troops and I really support the troops. My dad was in the military for 23 years. So when I told him that, he was -- he was thrilled.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN's AMERICAN MORNING: Yes, he went to Vietnam at the age of 18, right?

ETTINGER: Yes. And so he's the same age -- a lot of these people who are serving over in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And, Paul, you were with the third ID during the initial invasion there for about a year after that.

RIECKHOFF: Yes.

ROBERTS: So this is something that's very close to your heart.

ETTINGER: Absolutely. Yes. So it was great to work on.

CHETRY: So you have a chance to work on this. And there are some other people featured in it besides Amber, including -- are they wives and girlfriends of troops that are over there right now?

RIECKHOFF: They are. Absolutely. We've got a number of vets who are recently home from Iraq who are in the video, and then we've got a number of wives and girlfriends who put videos together to show their love for the folks serving overseas.

We've also got the rap star Mims involved. He's got a hit single called, "This is Why I'm Hot." And he's contributed his effort as well. And it's really a great collaboration, everybody getting together. It does not matter where you come from politically, you can show your love for the troops and check out the video on YouTube and at IABA.org and Barelypolitical.com.

ROBERTS: And you can also download it from I-Tunes and then the proceeds from that, and it's what 99 cents typically on I-Tunes. Is that's what it's going to be selling for?

RIECKHOFF: That's right.

ROBERTS: The proceeds go to your organization?

RIECKHOFF: Yes. We're a non-profit organization with member veterans in all 50 states. And we're working on issues ranging from post traumatic stress disorder, to traumatic brain injury. Trying to get those families and vets the support they need and deserve. So this is really going to help tremendously. And it's a great thing. It's a great way to say thank you to all those folks who are in harm's way every day.

CHETRY: You know, I'm curious, Amber, how did you get involved in the first place with the first video you did, "Obama Girl"?

ETTINGER: Ben Relles. He's the creator of barleypolitical.com. He found me online on my website and approached me with the idea. And Leah Kauffman is the singer of "Obama Girl," all the songs, and of this video as well.

ROBERTS: And she sings this one, right?

ETTINGER: Yes. So I thought the video was great, the concept was great and silly and fun and I just . . .

CHETRY: Did you really have a crush on Obama?

ETTINGER: If I didn't, I definitely do now.

ROBERTS: Hey, and just one last question. This is going to be a living, breathing, evolving thing because you're still asking people, as we saw some of the people in this video, to lip sync along to the song with a picture of their loved one who's overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan and you'll keep updating the videos (INAUDIBLE).

RIECKHOFF: Absolutely. This is what the interactive web is all about. It's going to be on MySpace and FaceBook and YouTube. And people can send their videos in if they're overseas or here in the states and we'll have a new video up in a few weeks.

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HOLMES: What a great idea. Good for them. Very poppy.

That's it for this hour. I'm Michael Holmes.

GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani. This is CNN. Stay with us. A lot more ahead.

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