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The Fight for Mesrata; French Burqa Ban Stands Monday; New Terror Alert System; Beating the Sunday Slump; Obama to Reveal Debt Reduction Plan; How to Be Safe On Line

Aired April 10, 2011 - 17:00   ET

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

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: A quick check now of our top stories. The Red River is receding in Fargo, North Dakota. But the flood threat is not over yet. So far the sandbag dikes are holding and keeping the area safe. Forecasters say the river crested today at nearly 40 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers warns people who live along the river still need to be careful.

Now to Central Oklahoma where it's very dry and very windy and that's no help to firefighters watching for hot spots after this enormous grass fire near Tulsa. About 60 people had to leave their homes yesterday. But they're now returning. About 1,200 acres and a half dozen buildings burned up.

And you look at these pictures, and you wonder how anyone survived. Look at that massive tornado. It barreled straight through a small town in Iowa last night. Today, parts of Mapleton are pretty much a disaster. But the townspeople, well, they're staying strong. They're OK. Only minor injuries reported.

Tammie Pech with the Red Cross tells us the clean-up has already begun.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TAMMIE PECH, RED CROSS (via telephone): They're out there. They're chopping down trees. They're cutting up their stuff. They're removing insulation from the tree tops. They're out there just in force making sure their community is cleaned up.

Visions (ph) of the downtown area, many of the businesses have roofs that are blown off. They've got bricks that are falling off the top of the buildings. There are shattered glass windows all over. In the residential areas, the houses, we've heard of several that have been destroyed. We've got several that have had major damage. But trees have been a big problem. There's a lot of big old trees here that were falling on the houses and causing a lot of damage.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

FEYERICK: We could see more tornadoes later today.

Karen Maginnis in our Severe Weather Center. Looking at the pictures of that tornado, it is massive. KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is massive and there were what we call multiple vortices, meaning smaller, little whirls right around the core of the tornado. It touched down in that town of about 1,200 people, which was devastating. Minor injuries. No fatalities. It's amazing. They had about 10 minutes' warning before that happened.

All right. The atmosphere is very explosive right now. Last night, it was across this area. Right now, it is in this red box until 11:00 P.M. Central Time. That's the tornado watch that has been issued across a good portion of Wisconsin, not included in that right now is Milwaukee.

Let's take a live picture of what's going on in Milwaukee right now. Overcast skies. A lot more cloudy than it was even 45 minutes ago and the temperature in the mid-80s right now. And you are right on the firing line of what could be a very interesting night as far as the possibility of tornadoes go. You could see tornadic activity, large hail, also damaging winds and frequent lightning. All of those things combined are going to make for a very scary night as we go into the overnight hours with that potential for severe weather.

Here you can see a couple of little cells that have fired up right now. Those are severe thunderstorms that have erupted. And they have issued severe thunderstorm warnings for those areas. Meaning you could see gusty winds and lightning, but primarily this is in a tornado watch area. These are the cells that we are looking at. And this is across west central portions of Wisconsin. Also, towards Green Bay and Appleton, we do have some activity there. But not that reaches the level of severe thunderstorm warnings.

The severe weather outbreak for tonight looks like it is most of Wisconsin. It does include a portion of the U.P. of Michigan and Milwaukee. Chicago, I think you'll see some thunderstorms later on this evening.

And then we have to talk about the fires. Let's take a look at some of these pictures coming out of West Texas. Right around Midland and Midland County, this is what they were battling there. But also because of the very hot and dry conditions, the humidity is low, but the wind is really whipping this fire along. And there are red flag warnings as well as high wind warnings that are out for this region.

I think one of the highest wind gusts that I've seen has been about 60 miles an hour, but they have the potential to go up to 65 or so. We've got a lot of areas we're watching, Deborah, and we'll keep an eye on it.

FEYERICK: And is there any sense that it's going to rain and help those fires - putting out those fires?

MAGINNIS: Not yet. Not at all.

FEYERICK: OK.

MAGINNIS: But it does look like the wind weakens in the next several days. FEYERICK: All right. Well, that's Karen Maginnis, thanks so much. We'll check in with you in a little bit.

Overseas now to the crisis in Japan. More than 2,000 protesters marched against Nuclear Energy in Tokyo today. They're concerned about the long-term effects of radiation. Tokyo Electric is struggling to cool down three damaged nuclear reactors. Radiation from the plant has been a source of growing concern. Japan's getting help from two massive pumps being sent from the United States.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BILL DWYER, PUTZMEISTER AMERICA (via telephone): Well, the goal for them is to actually - to pump water at this point. They're originally designed to pump concrete. Putzmeister has a retrofit that goes on the end of the boom that will allow it to pump water at high pressure.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And Japan will hold a moment of silence tomorrow, marking one month since the earthquake and tsunami hit. The death toll has passed 13,000 people. Twenty-two thousand Japanese troops have started a new search to find more than 14,000 people who are still missing. More than 100 U.S. troops will be helping them.

And former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak broke his two-month silence today, denying charges that he's corrupt and warning his critics to back off. Also in Egypt, Mubarak's former Prime Minister was detained today. Officials in Cairo say Ahmed Nazif was questioned about possible financial corruption. He'll be held for 15 days.

Libyan rebels have reportedly scored a rare victory after holding off Moammar Gadhafi's better-equipped forces. They appear to have recaptured Ajdabiya. Witnesses say three Gadhafi soldiers killed during the fighting were carrying identification cards from other countries.

Elsewhere in Libya, pro-Gadhafi forces shelled Mesrata today. The port city has been a scene of intense fighting.

Neil Connery of ITV News got inside. He takes us go on a tour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEIL CONNERY, ITV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mesrata is a city under siege. Around 300,000 people live here. But after weeks of fighting, many have fled.

The Libyan authorities wanted to show us they're winning here. Anti- Gadhafi graffiti painted over, a nearby demonstration of loyalty to the leader. But head closer into this deserted city and this is the only sound you'll hear.

One Libyan Army captain who asked not to be identified admitted to me the challenge they still face.

CONNERY (on camera): How long until you win then beat the rebels?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe two weeks or something like that. Because fighting inside the cities, we all consider that the hardest kind of fighting.

CONNERY: For 40 days and nights now, pro-Gadhafi forces and rebels have fought for these streets. The regime here insists that it is in control of Mesrata. But it doesn't feel like it.

CONNERY (voice-over): Suddenly, we're told to take cover as Libyan troops fear a rebel sniper is targeting them. The army captain we'd spoken to just moments earlier was injured and rushed away. A journalist nearby was struck by shrapnel.

CONNERY (on camera): Mesrata's hell grinds on. Libya's third largest city has been ripped apart by intense fighting. And what is happening here right now reflects the widest stalemate and the consequences for those civilians trapped in the middle.

CONNERY (voice-over): Later, we were taken to the hospital where the Libyan Army captain was being treated. Government officials were keen for the media to film him. We were only allowed a brief glimpse of this city's desperate flight. But what's clear is that the fierce battle for its future has no quick end in sight.

Neil Connerry, ITV News, Mesrata.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Remarkable video there.

Well, to France now where in just a few hours, Muslim women in France will be breaking the law if they wear the garments of their faith. Much more on that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Some international headlines.

It's already Monday morning in Japan, one month to the day since the dual disaster. Earthquake and massive tsunami struck the nation's northeast coast. Japanese officials raise the official death toll today to about 13,000 people. More than 150,000 people still do not have a home.

We know a little more about the man who police say started shooting at a shopping mall yesterday in the Netherlands. He's so far been identified only by his first name, Tristan. Police say the 24-year- old gunman killed seven people with an automatic rifle. He then shot himself. Investigators found a suicide note in his mother's home.

And these women will be breaking the law starting tomorrow if they go out in public in France with their faces covered. A controversial law slaps a fine on anyone wearing a burqa or other religious clothing that covers the wearer's face. It's triggered a loud debate over religious freedom in France. Let's talk about that some more. Ralitsa Vassileva here from CNN International. And you have had some very interesting conversations. Now, it's not the burqa, but it's if the face is covered?

RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And what they're citing in France is that basically it's a question of the way they live there in the secular society. It's a question of values. The prime minister says, in France, we live in a bare-faced fashion.

So also some people are bringing up the notion that this is also a security threat. You don't know, you can't ID those people. However, on the other side of the argument are those who say, well, you're encroaching on religious right, on their freedom to wear what they want to wear.

But the reality is that a lot of people, the majority of the French people, support this. They don't want women to be wearing a veiled face. A veil on their face with just two slits for their eyes.

So I was talking to a journalist, a freelance journalist who writes about women's issue. We reached her in Cairo. And I asked her, you know, why is this so important? She herself does not wear the face veiling. She wears what is called a hijab, which again is full-body clothing with what looks like a scarf. And so she explained to me that it's a question of choice. Here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ETHAR EL-KATATNEY, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, EGYPT TODAY: Personally, I'm - I actually don't believe in the burqa or I believe that wearing it actually creates more problems.

But at the same time, I fully believe in freedom of choice. You know, my whole - if I had to break down the arguments against this burqa ban, is that I highly doubt now that Sarkozy has the interest of this poor, innocent woman at heart. It's always been - I've always seen it as a way to kind of distract voters in a kind of way to appease the far right by causing them to focus on this issue which is really reductive (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VASSILEVA: And, you know, she's right. There are some who say there are political reasons for this. Sarkozy, the French President, is trying to play to the far right supporters so he can get their support for next year's elections.

But the truth is, Deb, that 82 percent of the French people support this ban.

FEYERICK: That's remarkable. Is it that the - the girl you spoke with, she was wearing a hijab with her face uncovered. The burqa, is it more a symbol of, perhaps, religious extremism that may frighten the French a little and it's the French's way of saying, stay out, we don't believe in any form of extremism? VASSILEVA: I think it's - it's about women's rights for them. It's the fact that they think - a lot of them think it's about suppressing women's rights. It's about oppressing them, subjugating them to men.

And it's interesting, I have my Twitter followers have an interesting discussion going on and I picked a few tweets -

FEYERICK: Sure.

VASSILEVA: - two on the pro and two on the anti ban side. First, let's look at the pro ban side. This one I received from Barbara, saying, "France is a secular society. Face veils and the subjugation of women to men undermine decades, centuries of women's rights and progress." And here's another one pro ban. "It is regrettable, but terrorism, the fear of terrorism had to force the authority's hand." This one coming from the United Kingdom. So I got views from all over the world.

And on the other side, just to read you one -

FEYERICK: Sure.

VASSILEVA: -- against it, "That's a problem with people. They don't know how to mind their own business. It's not your business if I wear it or not." This one is from (INAUDIBLE).

FEYERICK: But it's very interesting. So this is really a cultural and a social issue for the French as opposed to religious issue. OK.

Well, Ralitsa Vassileva, thank you so much. And, of course, you can always catch Ralitsa on International whenever you travel. So we look forward to seeing you real soon. Thanks so much.

VASSILEVA: Thank you, Deb.

FEYERICK: OK. Well, a fight of a different sort in Paris. This one involves pillows. Up ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And time for the kind of stories that we put in our "Chatroom". And Karen Maginnis is here to chat. And the first story takes us to Paris. Well, not exactly high culture. What is it?

MAGINNIS: No. It's a little less romantic than that. But there was a pillow fight at the Eiffel Tower and these people are taking their pillows. But you know what happens in a pillow fight. You know, somebody inevitably will hit a little harder than somebody else. But apparently this goes on all over Europe. And the person who shot this said, well, next year I'm going to participate.

FEYERICK: Well, what's so funny is that, you know, it's always funny until someone gets hurt. Usually - usually it comes out of nowhere.

And there's now - so you've got this massive pillow fight and it takes place in other places as well, not just Paris here. The person who did this, I guess there were about 200 fighter - people who are taking part in this pillow fight.

There's another story you have for us as well.

MAGINNIS: And this would be in Brazil. Do you have children?

FEYERICK: I have two children, yes.

MAGINNIS: And have they been interested in Legos?

FEYERICK: You know, my girls were never interested in Legos. But my nephews were obsessed with Legos - obsessed with Legos.

MAGINNIS: I guess we've got some pictures out of Brazil. And they won over Chile, which had the world's largest Lego tower and that was at 31 meters. Let's say just under 100 feet or so. Yes, 102 feet. And that is over the City of Sao Paulo and that breaks the previous record that was in Santiago, Chile, in 2008. And that one was nine inches shorter. And the footballer from Brazil was the one who attached the last Lego.

Now, what if there was an oopsie (ph) there?

FEYERICK: Like a wind or something. Can you imagine somebody getting into an argument on the ground and just push it over? But that's pretty remarkable. Because it's actually very thin. So the fact that they were able to get it that high is impressive. Look at that.

MAGINNIS: Yes.

FEYERICK: Wow. Now - now obviously the people there who build that are very happy in Brazil. But talking about happy, there's a survey?

MAGINNIS: Apparently Tennesseans are very happy. Because they tweet happier than most people. And it is based on Twitter. They use more positive language and more positive references. But I guess there is a list of happiest and there's a top five. OK?

So the first one is, look - well, hold on. Florida comes in number five. Georgia, where we are here, comes in number four.

FEYERICK: Wow.

MAGINNIS: So that means everybody here working today is thrilled. North Carolina comes in number three. Colorado, which is beautiful -

FEYERICK: Gorgeous. I don't know what you have to be unhappy about in Colorado. And then Tennessee number one. Maybe they're just more polite and use a lot of nice, polite, happy words.

MAGINNIS: Polite. I think that would be the operative word. And for Colorado, I think it's the late spring snowstorms that may make tweet a little less positively on that note.

FEYERICK: Exactly. Exactly. And New York, which is where I'm from, well, we looked into that. And our producer tells us that apparently New York is ranked 14. MAGINNIS: Oh, dear.

FEYERICK: I know. I was surprised it came in that high, actually, but, you know -

MAGINNIS: Well, Justin Timberlake is from Tennessee. I think Reese Witherspoon is from Tennessee. Aretha Franklin. And so -

FEYERICK: They seem all pretty happy.

MAGINNIS: Yes. They say it's America at its best, Tennessee.

FEYERICK: Well, there you go. All the more reason to visit.

Karen Maginnis, thanks so much for bringing that - that to us.

MAGINNIS: OK.

FEYERICK: Well, folks in parts of North Dakota, they're keeping a close eye on the Red River. Also up Karen Maginnis' alley, rising water has already flooded some areas and the threat is in over the latest, is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, checking our top stories.

The governor of Iowa is in Mapleton right now. He's talking to residents less than 24 hours after this huge tornado ripped through their small town. A Red Cross spokeswoman told us there's a lot of damage everywhere. People are getting back on track. No one was killed, no one seriously hurt, and that's because the warning sirens, well, they went off about 10 minutes before the tornado hit.

At least two people were killed on a snow slick highway in Northern Arizona this weekend. A late spring snow dumped about a foot of snow on the area yesterday. Today, temperatures are expected to climb, which would help clear out that icy mess.

And the Red River is receding in Fargo, North Dakota. But the flood threat isn't over yet. So far the sandbags are holding and keeping the area safe. Forecasters say the river crested today at nearly 40 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers warns people who live along the river still need to be careful.

(BEGIN AUDIO TAPE)

COL. MICHAEL PRICE, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (via telephone): The hard part is behind us, but we will have to be vigilant and make sure nothing goes wrong.

FEYERICK: How do you prevent - you were successfully able to sort of keep the river at bay. What is the next step? Is the - is the system you have right now, is it still secure?

PRICE: It's - it's performing as we designed it. And the city's done great work in preparation. You know, the National Weather Service told us back in December that we were going to expect some record flooding. So we began planning and then with the cities in February and started putting things in place. So we got things out on the river in time to hold it back.

(END AUDIO TAPE)

FEYERICK: And now let's bring in our meteorologist, Karen Maginnis. And, well, they seem to have dodged a bullet. But is the - are the ramifications, the Red River safe, but other areas less so?

MAGINNIS: Other areas are going to feel the effects of this flooding. And this is because of the snow melt. But what you're looking at over Fargo and Grand Forks right now is some rainfall. This is not going to be the deciding factor as to whether they flood or not. They've already flooded across a number of these areas with the river cresting at Fargo.

But still to come, Grand Forks, which is downstream. This is a river that runs north towards Lake Winnipeg. So, Grand Forks, Fargo, picking up some wet weather now. But it is going to be the wind that will be the factor as to just how harmful this flooding situation becomes as far as the dikes are concerned. With that wind-driven water, it's going to just kind of lap at those dike areas. So be careful if you're one of those first responders or people who are looking to see just how well the dams or dikes are working.

Here's Grand Forks, still under that flash flood warning. And they are looking at wind gusts maybe up to around 30 or 35 miles an hour. It has been rather brisk. And those temperatures are a little bit chilly.

All right. We've got some fires to tell you about. Here's the crest as expected for Grand Forks, looking at just about 50.5 feet by Wednesday. Now talking about the fires, I took a look at some of the wind conditions across West Texas. West Texas known to be hot and dry, but it's hotter and drier. And the humidity is about 10 to 15 percent, maybe less in some areas, because we see the temperature right around 90 degrees in some places. But the wind could gust up as high as 65 miles an hour today.

And, Deborah, I saw wind gusts -- I've been watching Amarillo, because they've been very dramatic. But their wind gust today was close to 60 miles an hour coming out of the south and southwest. So that makes it hot and very difficult for firefighters.

FEYERICK: So what's interesting is you have tornadoes on top. You have fires because of the hot, dry weather on the bottom. And what's separating it - separating it is the jet stream coming through the middle.

MAGINNIS: Exactly. Exacerbating the situation.

FEYERICK: All right. Karen Maginnis, thank you so much.

Well, the Department of Homeland Security is nearing a decision on its plan to replace the color-coded terror warning alert system. The new system is expected to use alerts that will incorporate social media, while also distinguishing between elevated and imminent threats.

Jessica Herrera-Flanigan is a former General Counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA HERRERA-FLANIGAN, FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY: The way I understand it, they're going to give enough information to tell you here's what the type of threat that out there is, here's what we're doing to protect you and here's what you need to do.

Right now, without that kind of system in place, with the old color- coded system, a lot of misinformation will get spread. People will tweet and Facebook on their own without really knowing what the danger is. And this is a way for the government to take advantage of social media and other media to communicate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And nearly a month after a standoff in Wisconsin over union rights, there's another round of protests. Demonstrators are part of a grassroots movement. They say their aim is to reduce the influence of corporations on state government. One protest was held yesterday. Another day-long protest is scheduled for today.

In Southern California, four people survived after a small plane crashed into a storage facility near the city's airport. They got out moments before the plane burst into flames. Witnesses say the plane's engine was coughing and sputtering just before the crash.

Turning our attention to finances now, the tax filing deadline -- well, you know, it is coming up fast. But according to IRS.gov, many of us have already filed. So what's the average refund? Is it $3,257, $3,305 or $3,129 -- one more -- $3,149? Well, if you kept track of all of that, we're going to have the answer as soon as we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: So before the break, we asked what is the average refund of income tax returns filed so far? First, $3,257, $3,305, $3,129 or $3,149? Well, the answer, the IRS says, that as of late February, the average refund was $3,129. So that was $3,000 on the lower end.

Well, who's hiring? What happened to all the shoppers? Who's making a profit? Our Money team is watching your financial bottom line. First we're going to go to Alison Kosik and an update on the country's economic outlook -- Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Deb. The outlook for the economy weakened a bit last week. A CNNMoney survey shows that most analysts downgraded their outlook for economic growth. They estimate that the economy grew at a 2.7 percent pace last quarter, which is weak by historical standards. Economists blame oil prices, housing and potential cuts in government spending.

McDonald's is going on a hiring spree. The fast food giant will hire 50,000 workers all in one day, on April 19th. Both part-time and full-time restaurant positions are available, as well as jobs in management -- Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Alison. If your local mall looks empty these days, you're not alone. Mall vacancy rates are at their highest level in more than a decade, topping 9 percent. The problem? When the housing market was booming, malls were built to support that growth. But the recession kept people from shopping, so the growth never came.

The credit crunch is far from over. The Fed says that nearly a quarter of people who apply for a mortgage get denied, and many of them have good credit. Analysts blame tight lending standards.

Felicia Taylor has a look at what's coming up next week on Wall Street -- Felicia.

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Stephanie. Wall Street's been waiting for first quarter earnings season to get under way, and on Monday, aluminum giant Alcoa kicks it off. We'll also hear from corporate heavyweights like Google, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America. Analysts are split on exactly what they're expecting. On the one hand, the economy is recovering. On the other, there are some negative pressures, namely those soaring oil prices. Also, several manufacturers were forced to halt production because of the disaster in Japan. Deb, back to you.

FEYERICK: Thanks, Felicia.

Well, it's that time of the weekend, and the way you feel Sunday nights can speak volumes about your relationship with work, career, even your co-workers. Last hour, I talked with Paula Caligiuri. She's the author of "Get a Life, Not a Job." She says that Sunday nights really set the tone for how you're going to do Monday morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PROF. PAULA CALIGIURI, HUMAN RESOURCE MGMT., RUTGERS UNIV.: Well, it's an interesting issue, right? It's that contrast. We had a great weekend, like you said, family, friends. We were able to set our own hours, do what we wanted to do. And then Monday comes, and it's really that contrast that affects most people. And it affects 80 percent of Americans who are working. So a lot of people feel this Sunday slump.

FEYERICK: So what is the best thing to do? You really have to -- you really have to take a look at how you're feeling. And do you -- what do you -- do you basically acknowledge, you know, God, I just hate having to get ready for the next day? You have to assess your physical and emotional wellbeing, right?

CALIGIURI: You do, but it's also important to realize that the Sunday slump happens among people who even like their jobs. So it's not just that dread of going to a job that you dislike, but it's also the issue of, you know, being into that contrast, that idea of having that freedom on the weekend and having to deal with actually going to work and having your days controlled during the week. So the biggest thing to consider is the symptoms -- you know, how can we make ourselves happier on Sunday evenings -- but also the causes.

FEYERICK: So -- and it's interesting because, again, there are two different things. And a lot of people, they like their jobs. They like their co-workers. They like going to work. But if you are starting to feel a little bit sort of out of sorts come Sunday, what should you be doing? How do you identify maybe what is causing that? Is it something more than just, Well, I got to go back to the grind?

CALIGIURI: It may be. And it really depends, Deb, on what the feeling is. If it's a feeling of dread or anxiety, it may be having to do with the job that you just dislike. If it has more to do with just feeling the blahs, maybe a little bit of a slump, it probably has more to do with that loss of freedom.

So good thing to focus on Sunday evening. Fill your Sunday evenings. Plan your Sunday evenings to do something enjoyable, dinner with friends, go out to a movie, whatever you really enjoy.

But also plan for things during the week that you can look forward to. Basically, what we're trying to do is reduce the contrast between the fun you had on the weekend and some enjoyable things you can plan to do during the week. So real important, try to reduce that contrast. If it's a bigger issue with a job you just dislike, that's a whole other conversation about maybe eventually thinking about switching your situation or maybe switching your job.

FEYERICK: So really, instead of seeing the weekends as white and the weeks as gray -- or black, really -- there should be a little bit more gray so that you're incorporating -- so that the week feels a little bit more like the weekend.

CALIGIURI: Right. There's usually three things that people feel the loss of the most -- contact with family and friends -- they spend more time doing that on the weekends -- freedom to control their time -- they spend a lot more, obviously, time doing that on the weekends -- and the ability to do the things they love, like sports and hobbies. So the idea is just try to do a few more things like that maybe in your non-work hours during the week. And actually, it helps remove that contrast between the weekend and the week. It's really so very important, especially if you like your job.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And you can reclaim your career every Sunday at 4:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Pacific time, right here in the NEWSROOM on CNN.

And think the money battle is over in Washington? Think again. This week, the president unveils his deficit-cutting plan. Details of that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) FEYERICK: Some developing news out of Libya. According to South African president Jacob Zuma, leader Moammar Gadhafi has accepted terms of a roadmap aimed at ending the conflict in his nation as part of negotiations with the African Union. We're going to have a live report for you at the top of the hour -- that on Libya.

Expect the president to step forward this week and offer his plan for cutting the deficit. Insiders say the president's expected to come forward with a plan on Wednesday.

Let's bring in CNN's Sandra Endo. Sandra, what is the president expected to say, and why now? Is it in response to what we saw last week with the budget cuts?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. This is a big headache coming up, and it's a big hurdle Congress and the president do have to get over. That big sigh of relief you heard Friday night? Well, that was pretty short-lived here in Washington because there are budget battles ahead, but most pressing is the national debt limit. Congress must come to an agreement before the United States reaches its legal borrowing limit of nearly $14.3 trillion, which is expected to happen in the second half of May.

Well, today the president's senior adviser said the president will lay out a long-term deficit reduction plan on Wednesday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID PLOUFFE, CAMPAIGN MGR., President Obama: While we reduce the deficit, and we have to do it, we've got to do it in a balanced way. It can't be all on the backs of seniors and the middle class. We've got to make sure that we're taking a balanced approach to this that allows us to win the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENDO: And lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they recognize the fight to cut the national debt will be tough, but very necessary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Now instead of risking government shutdown, we are risking a second recession.

REP. JEB HENSARLING (R), TEXAS: The president is going to have to cut up the credit cards. He's going to have to work with us to cut up the credit cards and put the nation on a fiscally sustainable path.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENDO: Now, besides the debt ceiling debate, hammering out a 2012 budget is also on the to-do list, Deb. The Republican-led House is planning to debate the GOP proposal this week. So the political posturing is already in full swing for the fiscal year ahead, which begins on October 1st -- Deb. FEYERICK: And Sandra, you know, what's so interesting is that the U.S. is now maxed out, almost, its limit at $14.3 trillion. President Obama says he's looking perhaps to cut in the area of the military. But the -- the Republicans, especially the Tea Party folks, they're looking to cut Medicare and Medicaid. So is this the president's way of sort of balancing what one side is willing to cut and what he's willing to cut?

ENDO: Well, look, Deb, he really wants to lay out his priorities and ensure his constituents and voters out there that he's going to protect the programs that he values and Democrats value, as well as say that he understands the pain that's out there, the problems that lie ahead for the country, as well as address some of these conservative concerns, as you mentioned.

Keep in mind, of course, this is an election year. He wants to get ahead of this whole debate coming up. But Republicans are already saying that, Look, if you want to raise the debt ceiling, you're going to have to give up something. And that means concessions. Well, Democrats are saying, We need to raise the debt ceiling because otherwise, the economy will really falter, and the nation can't be in that position any longer. So certainly, two sides of the coin here. And obviously, that debate is going to be played out here for a while in Washington.

FEYERICK: What's pretty amazing is that everything we were covering at the end of last week seems to be the first step on what is going to be a very long road. Sandra Endo in Washington, D.C., thanks so much for bringing us up to date on that.

Time for a "CNN Equals Politics" update. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNNPolitics.com desk. Here's what's crossing right now.

A conservative political action committee has launched a new TV ad campaign declaring that President Obama has established a legacy of failure. That's their words. The ad blames Mr. Obama for high unemployment and the federal deficit.

Despite evidence to the contrary, Donald Trump won't back off his claim that President Obama may have been born in a foreign country. Trump, a possible Republican presidential candidate, appeared today on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley. He once again called on the president to produce his birth certificate.

And for the latest political news, you know where to go, CNNPolitics.com.

Watch those spam e-mails. Security breaches may have your personal information in the wrong hands.

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FEYERICK: A massive e-mail breach at a marketing firm has many of you asking, Just how safe are Internet transactions? Well, earlier, I talked to syndicated technology writer Marc Saltzman. He gave us five tips to keep on-line transactions safe, starting with "Beware of phishing attacks."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: This is a malicious attempt to steal your personal information over e-mail. We're voluntarily giving this information because a phishing attempt looks like a legitimate e-mail from, say, your financial institution, like your bank. And when you click on that link inside the e-mail, it takes you to a phony Web site. You're lured to the Web site -- hence the fishing reference -- and you are asked to give personal or financial information. The guise is that you're doing this to protect yourself, but in fact, someone is out to steal your personal identity for financial gain.

So with all these e-mail addresses floating around now since this security breach, you may be getting not just spam, which is annoying -- junk mail -- but a phishing attempt. So just hit "Delete." Do not click on that link in the e-mail. And most definitely do not give any personal information. Your bank is not trying to contact you.

FEYERICK: OK. And just very quickly, on that point, is it possible for somebody that you know to send you an e-mail with a bogus link? Will that then infect your computer? So even if you're getting an e- mail, you may want to be careful about that, or no?

SALTZMAN: Sure. Well, that's a different thing. That could be a virus or a worm. Even if it's from someone you know, their address book could be infected. So if it's suspicious, then start a new e- mail and write to your friend and ask them or call them, Did you e- mail this to me? But in most cases, a phishing attempt is separate from a virus. They're more interested in getting information from you that they can use to get money, rather than trying to infect your computer.

FEYERICK: OK. Now, next, you say pick a strong passwords. What exactly makes a strong password? And should you be changing it frequently?

SALTZMAN: Sure. It's a good idea to change it once in a while, every couple months, depending on your comfort level. But a strong password is at least seven characters long, whether it's for your FaceBook or your company Web site, seven characters that consist of letters, numbers and symbols. And definitely don't use "password" or "12345." That -- those two are the most common passwords out there, "password" and "12345."

FEYERICK: OK, so that's, yes, not secure. Tip number three. Shop smart. Most of us probably think we are. Are there any red flags when it comes to shopping on line,for example?

SALTZMAN: Sure. So definitely look for a secure connection. It'll say "https," as in secure, in the URL or address bar. You might also see a little padlock. But stick to the trusted sources. Stick to the big names that you're familiar with. Look for any other certification that shows that they're a reputable site. And if you're new to on- line shopping, start small. Buy a book or a DVD or a video game. Definitely use a secure payment method. If you're shopping on eBay or Craigslist, make sure it's a credit card or Paypal. Never send money or a check.

FEYERICK: Now, most of us have secure software for viruses, things like viruses. But you say we need to invest in something called anti- malware software. How is it different, and how important is that?

SALTZMAN: So "malware" is an umbrella term for anything malicious, as the name suggests. That could be viruses. It could be phishing attempts. It could be spyware, which are programs that are downloaded to the computer unbeknownst to the user that spies on your Internet surfing behavior, hijacks your home page -- it gives you a different home page that you didn't want -- and maybe adds a toolbar underneath the address window.

So I would invest definitely in good anti-malware software that includes all of those things. Personally, I use Symantec Norton Internet Security 2011. But there are some free alternatives at Download.com. If you take a look at their charts, their top 20 list on their home page, you'll see free anti-malware software.

So definitely use something. You know, whether it's free or not, it's better than nothing. And you know, it'll help you stay away from the bad guys.

FEYERICK: OK. And as we wrap, lastly, you have to be wary of wireless and make sure that your wireless network is secure. A friend of mine used a wireless network very close to a place, and she -- her whole identity got stolen, basically. Talk to us about that.

SALTZMAN: Sure, Deb. So definitely, whether you're in a hot spot, like your favorite cafe, using a free public wi-fi network, you definitely want to have antivirus software. But you definitely -- you don't do anything like, you know, banking or any on-line banking. You want to just read the news. Go to your favorite news Web site, and that's about it.

And when you're setting up a wireless network at home, make sure you put in a password. Most of us don't, only one third of us. Create a password for your home network. Otherwise, your neighbors are not only stealing your Internet connection, but they could be accessing your files if they're tech-savvy enough. And if you have a monthly limit on how much you can download, you're prematurely hitting that cap, that data cap, you know, and slowing down the performance of your Internet, as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And of course, you can get valuable tech information every Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern, 11:00 AM Pacific right here in the NEWSROOM on CNN.

And time now to see all the stories coming up at 6:00. Don Lemon joins me with a preview.

And first of all, there's some breaking news out of Libya that they may have come up with a roadmap. So that's the first thing. But what else do you have?

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: We're going be covering that, obviously. But you remember, you've been seeing that video, right, of up close and personal to the Fukushima nuclear power plant. the journalist. I spoke with -- you've been seeing the video all day. But I spoke with the journalist who ventured into that plant, and I said -- I asked him why he did it, and he had his explanation. But I mean, wasn't that journey amazing, when you see the dogs and you hear the Geiger counter and all of that stuff?

FEYERICK: And seeing the dogs, you see what has been abandoned.

LEMON: Yes.

FEYERICK: You know, what people had to leave behind. And one of those dogs wearing a collar. Also this view when you realize there's just nobody...

LEMON: Nobody.

FEYERICK: ... there. They're gone.

LEMON: Nobody there.

FEYERICK: It's deserted.

LEMON: So we had a very interesting conversation. So he's going to join us at 6:00 o'clock. Also, Donald Trump going out on a limb about President Obama and this whole birther controversy. Listen to a little bit of this, just a little.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: Three weeks ago, when I started, I thought he was probably born in this country, and now I really have a much bigger doubt.

And I just say very simply why doesn't he show his birth certificate? There's a huge difference between a birth certificate...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And Deb, as you know, this goes on and on. Any place that would take him last week, he was out talking about this controversy. It's giving him a boost in the polls. You know, the president's aunt is also weighing in now, and you're going to be interested to hear what she had to say. Someone caught up with her. And she's saying her entire family's embarrassed, even back home. This has found its way all the way back to...

FEYERICK: You mean the fact that Donald Trump is bringing this up yet again?

LEMON: Yes, yet again.

FEYERICK: You know, a lot of it's been run to the ground, basically. LEMON: Yes.

FEYERICK: And it's been established that -- what I find interesting also about Donald Trump is he says, Here's my conclusion, I'm going to go get the evidence now for you. You hang tight.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Usually, it's evidence and then a conclusion, right?

FEYERICK: A little backwards. A little bit backwards.

LEMON: But Douglas Brinkley, the presidential historian -- we're going to talk to him about this. I want to get him to wade through this. Has this ever happened before? Is this unprecedented? I want to know.

FEYERICK: It's going to be great.

LEMON: Tell me the story.

FEYERICK: We look forward to it, Don Lemon.

LEMON: Thank you. Good to see you.

FEYERICK: Thanks so much. Coming up in just a couple of minutes.

Well, that'll do it for me, Deb Feyerick. CNN NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour. Don Lemon is standing by. Have a great weekend, everybody.

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