Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Britain's Top Cop Resigns; Overtime at the World Cup; Mubarak Out of Coma; Ailing Venezuelan President in Cuba; Japan Women's Team Won in Shootout; Casey Anthony Out of Jail and Out of Sight; Battle for Iowa; Stalled in Mid-Career; Harry Potter Breaks Record; Stopping Spam E-mails

Aired July 17, 2011 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thanks so much. We'll check back with you.

Jacqui, appreciate that.

All right, let's take a look at one of our top stories. A key adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a member of Afghanistan's parliament were killed today. At least three attackers entered the home of Jan Mohammed Kahn, the former governor of one province. They killed him, his security detail and the parliament member.

Minutes ago I talked by phone with CNN's David Ariosto in Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ARIOSTO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just moments ago we spoke with both NATO and Afghan officials. And this gun battle that has been raging since about 8:00 p.m. local time here in Kabul continues.

What we've learned is that Afghan security forces are being led by Afghan National Police. Now this is significant because NATO and part of the transition has made it clear that they're intent on positioning more and more authority towards Afghan forces. Today was actually the first day of the transition period to be extended over the next two years.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the attack.

The Murdoch phone-hacking scandal in Britain has claimed its first public official. Just hours ago, Britain's top cop suddenly resigned. His resignation comes on the same day police arrested a top Murdoch executive.

Let's bring in CNN's Atika Shubert.

Atika, is there a connection between this resignation and the arrest of that top Murdoch executive?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are basically two different strands of the same scandal. In the place of Sir Paul Stevenson, the topmost senior police officer here in Britain, he basically resigned because of increasing intense scrutiny over the relationship between the Metropolitan Police and "News of the World." That tabloid that was shut down because of those phone-hacking allegations.

And basically there was a former "News of the World" editor, Neil Wallace, who it turns out was paid by the Metropolitan Police to be a communications consultant. And Sir Paul Stevenson was taking a lot of flak for that.

Now he resigned saying he feels he's done nothing wrong, his integrity is intact, he says. However, he does feel that these allegations are distracting from the Metropolitan Police's police work. And for that reason, he has decided to resign so he can focus only on those allegations and the police can get on with doing their work.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, Atika, Murdoch executive Rebekah Brooks, she still is being questioned at this hour after more than seven hours at the police department?

SHUBERT: She is. It's now gone late into the evening here. It's about almost 10:00 at night. And, you know, the thing is, she went in this morning because she had an appointment to talk with police investigators. But her spokesperson tells us she did not expect to be arrested when she walked in the door.

But that's exactly what happened. She's now been there late into the night answering questions. We're still waiting for word. And of course, this is going to have an impact on her hearing on Tuesday. She was supposed to be grilled by lawmakers. It's not clear now if she gets released exactly if she will actually be able to attend that hearing.

WHITFIELD: And still scheduled to answer questions before parliament would be Rupert Murdoch and his son, James Murdoch, as well, right?

SHUBERT: That's right. They're supposed to be alongside her. But there's really only so much all three of them can say as this police investigation is going on. And Rebekah Brooks, if she's released and allowed to attend, she probably can say even less because she can't prejudice the investigation. And also she could be in danger of incriminating herself.

WHITFIELD: Atika Shubert, thanks so much from London. Keep us posted on that.

All right, meantime, in Germany, it's an incredibly exciting final match at the Women's World Cup Soccer tournament. And it's not over yet. Apparently it's in overtime with team USA scoring two goals and Japan with one. Any predictions of a blowout by either the hot favorite of USA or the sentimental favorite of Japan, all wrong so far.

CNN's Zain Verjee is at the game in Frankfurt, Germany.

And wow, with the cheers right now, what's happening?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Fredricka, if you can hear me, Japan just missed a goal very closely. The U.S. is breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The U.S. is 2-1 up, is the score. They are minutes away from making history. Boy, this has been such an electric match.

Abbey Wombach just moments ago for the U.S. scoring a powerful header with an assist by Alex Morgan. A short while Japan was able to equalize the U.S. goal because there was kind of a miscommunication in the U.S. defense line. And Japan was able to make it 1-1. But the U.S. scored the first goal in the 68th minute.

They are playing superbly. They have been the strongest team. They have shown amazing stamina and a never-say-die attitude. Japan was a little bit nervous before, but they are coming back in full force. There is cheering for both sides in the stadium around me. And in a few minutes, the U.S. will be able to clinch the 2011 World Cup if they can hold off the determined and highly skilled Japanese.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. How exciting. That's incredible.

Zain Verjee, thanks so much. Keep us posted there from Frankfurt.

So let's check out what some of the fans here stateside are saying and thinking about this nail biter of a tournament.

Susan Candiotti is in Manhattan at a German bar or pub or eatery. And -- oh, they're cheering "Go, USA," aren't they?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is hard to turn away from the game to talk to you.

(LAUGHTER)

CANDIOTTI: I just can't take it. But anyway, we got -- I've got Japan fans over here. And USA fans over here. So Japan cheering defense. And --

(CHEERS)

CANDIOTTI: Uh-oh. Uh-oh. They just tied it up. Japan just scored. Oh, man. It's a wild scene here. A lot of happy people and sad people.

WHITFIELD: OK. I know. Susan can't hear us. They are excited because I think I understood properly. So it's 2-2 now. It's tied up. Already they were in overtime. The U.S. seemed like they were just maybe seconds away from clinching this title and now Japan has scored yet another point. So now we're back to being tied.

Can you hear me now, Susan?

CANDIOTTI: Yes, I can hear you now. So let's talk to -- tell me your first name. What do you think of what's happening right now. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not worried. I think the U.S. is a better team.

CANDIOTTI: You still think the U.S. will be able to pull it off?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With Wombach in there, yes.

CANDIOTTI: I mean tell me the emotions you're going through right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a little unbelievable that they scored. I think Hope Solo just came off of a -- you know, little bit of a jolt, wasn't quite ready. But you also get back in there. They've proven it time and time again. They're going to win.

CANDIOTTI: Well, there you go. You see, even she can't look at me long enough to do the interview. No one -- everyone's eyes are glued to the set here, obviously.

WHITFIELD: Very exciting. OK.

CANDIOTTI: So, I'll tell you what, we'll get back to you as soon as it's over. I hope we get the ending, right?

WHITFIELD: We're going to get right back to you because right now we're going to go to Tokyo where we know people are incredibly excited there, too.

Paula Hancocks has been there with a very quiet crowd who was watching last time we checked with you. Now they must be exuberant.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They just went absolutely berserk just a couple of minutes ago. Tables were being toppled because people jumped up so quickly. And I got hugged by complete strangers. Everyone was so excited.

The passion is back in this room. Everybody believes that Tokyo -- that Japan can now go on to win this. And of course, they have been quite quiet for a while. People have thought maybe that was it, that was the end of it. But twice they've thought they were out of the game and twice Japan has pulled it back.

There is such excitement here. And, of course, here in Japan it is more than just a game of football. It is more than winning the World Cup. The whole nation is behind this one team, the team that has gone further than they ever thought they would. And look at this atmosphere. It is well gone 6:00 in the morning. This is incredible.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. OK. Well, we can understand why people there in Japan are so incredibly excited after all they've been through with the tsunami and earthquake early in the year. And now they have something super to cheer about.

So what you're looking at now, you've on the left-hand screen you've got Japan. You've got down on the bottom there in the center, that's Washington, D.C., where people are glued to the television sets. And then in the upper right hand corner in New York.

So people cheering on USA, cheering on Japan, while it is tied up now, 2-2, Japan and USA Women's World Cup Final in Frankfurt, Germany.

And of course, just down the street from that restaurant or pub in Washington, D.C., at the White House with our first family, they, too, are watching the game. Here's some of the first official White House photographs just released here showing the president, first lady and the daughters Sasha and Malia transfixed on the game between the U.S. and Japan's U.S. women's team. And some snacks there, too.

Watching the game just like everybody else. Glued to the sets. And in case you're wondering, apparently the Obamas are watching the game in the Treaty Room. Part of the private residential portion of the White House.

Again, 2-2. Overtime. Japan and USA. We'll keep you posted.

All right. Casey Anthony now out of jail. And right now still out of sight. We'll get the latest live from Orlando.

Plus, find out what First Lady Michelle Obama did earlier this week that has some people fussing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Following early reports today that ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has fallen into a coma. The hospital where he has been since April now says he has regained consciousness.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Cairo with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: According to medical sources at the hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh where Hosni Mubarak is being treated, he fell into a coma earlier today. But that only lasted for a very short time. And he has since awakened and is, quote, "in stable condition."

Now, earlier Hosni Mubarak's lawyer, the man who is representing him, told CNN that Mubarak had fallen into a deep coma at noon local time here in Egypt from which he had not awakened. The Health Ministry for its part told us it had no information whatsoever as to whether or not Hosni Mubarak was in a coma. But also said that he was in stable condition.

Now, Hosni Mubarak's health is, of course, a major issue here in Egypt. For one reason because he's due to stand trial for atrocities committed during his reign in power and also during the uprising that began here on January 25th.

There have been health issues with Mubarak since he has had to cede power earlier this year. There was an interrogation during which he felt unwell and he had to stop that. And just a couple of days ago it was said that his heart had stopped and he had to be resuscitated. So certainly his health is a major concern to many people. Many of those, of course, are people who want him to stand on trial. His trial is due to begin on August 3rd. At this point in time, it's anybody's guess whether or not he's actually going to be fit to appear in front of a court.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Cairo, Egypt.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And today is the last day in Afghanistan for General David Petraeus. In a few hours he'll hand over command of NATO troops there to a U.S. Marine Corps three-star general. General Petraeus will retire from the army to become director of the CIA.

And more than 5,000 people have now fled the area where a volcano roared to life just a few days ago. It is in northern Indonesia. The mountain sent smoke so high officials are worried about the effect it may have on airline flights.

And former South African President Nelson Mandela turns 93 tomorrow. Tomorrow also is the second Annual Nelson Mandela International Day declared by the United Nations to recognize Mandela's contributions to the culture of peace and freedom.

The president of Venezuela is in Cuba today. And it's not a matter of state. It's purely personal. President Hugo Chavez has chosen to receive medical treatment in Havana after cancer surgery last month also in Cuba.

Ralitsa Vassileva is here from CNN International.

So why is Chavez saying this is the place I want to get my continued medical treatments?

RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, he hasn't said why he's going to get his continued treatment. He actually got an offer from Brazil's president in the facility, state of the art facility where she was treated. But ultimately he decided in the last moment to go back to Cuba. He has a very close relationship with Fidel Castro.

Also some say that there he will be able to control and have more limited release of information about his condition, about his prognosis. So he has chosen to cast his luck there with Fidel Castro, the trust they have and the control over the information.

WHITFIELD: So he was there once before. They removed something like a baseball-size tumor. This time if it's chemo, is it for this same problem? Does anybody know?

VASSILEVA: We don't know exactly. What we know is he's saying that he's gone there back for chemo. It's going to be aggressive. They have found that it hasn't spread. Whatever cancer this is. He's not saying what cancer it is. So he says that doctors have not found that it has spread but they're going to do an aggressive chemo just in case. So that's all we know.

WHITFIELD: And apparently he has designated some of his power. He's handed off some of his duties to someone.

VASSILEVA: For the first time in 12 years, he has handed over just a few duties to his vice president and his finance minister. But he's kept most of the powers to himself.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. All right, thanks so much for that update. Appreciate it.

Ralitsa Vassileva, appreciate it.

All right, there's a new song and dance craze sweeping the Internet. Do you know how to do the Harry Potter?

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: OK. An Ohio mom shows us the moves in the "Chat Room."

JACQUI JERAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We can try them out.

WHITFIELD: We'll try in the commercial break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK. Time to take a little break from World Cup soccer even though that's what we're all wanting to really chat about. It is down to the wire. But, hey, let's talk about some other things.

JERAS: Penalty kicks.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Let's talk about some other things that are kind of off radar. We think they should be on radar.

JERAS: You want to know what we're talking about here today, right?

WHITFIELD: I know. Right. Well, you know, the first family is watching, of course, the soccer match.

JERAS: They are.

WHITFIELD: As is -- you know, as are a lot of people. But apparently Michelle Obama, has gotten a little --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: -- ribbing because of some food choices that she made.

JERAS: Well, there's a new burger joint that opened up in D.C. this week. Right? It's called the Shake Shack. And she went there for lunch on Monday. And apparently what she ordered --

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: Yes, this is video from her kind of let's move campaign. JERAS: Right. And of course she's known for trying to fight childhood obesity and so --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Eat well and get moving.

JERAS: Right.

WHITFIELD: OK. So what did she order?

JERAS: Apparently she ordered a Shack burger, fries, a chocolate shake, and then a Diet Coke which kind of cracks me up a little.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: I know. What's with the Diet Coke?

JERAS: And you put it all together, you guess how many calories?

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. At least a day's --

JERAS: It's like 1700.

WHITFIELD: Daily serving. Oh, wow. More than.

JERAS: Just about that. Well, you know, that's a tough one. So people are saying, you know, how can you --

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JERAS: And that's a tough one because they campaigned --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: She is there supporting the business.

JERAS: Right. But she also has said very openly that every now and then it's OK to splurge and have a little bit -- you know she says she loves French fries. We know she loves French fries.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Oh, gosh. Don't we all?

JERAS: So once in a while, you know?

WHITFIELD: I know. So it just means you've got to get moving --

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: The rest of the week.

JERAS: That's right. So now she's got to be at the gym.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: But we know she's got to be -- yes, we know she's got quite the commitment and schedule waking up at 5:00 in the morning and working out at the gym. So something tells me she's burned off all those calories.

JERAS: Absolutely. Yes. And I think, you know, if you don't splurge or do a little bit every now and then, that's when people tend to overeat, right? When you completely withdraw from some of those things.

WHITFIELD: That is true. You can't deprive yourself all the time.

JERAS: So yes, I'm OK with it, Michelle, once in a while. It's cool.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I'm OK with it, too, because I definitely splurge a lot.

JERAS: Yes. That's right.

WHITFIELD: And then it just means you work harder, you know, to get back on track.

JERAS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk about a little ode to Marilyn Monroe.

JERAS: OK.

WHITFIELD: That iconic image, you know.

JERAS: Right. Over the subway with the skirt. Seven-year inch.

WHITFIELD: Yes, subway great. Everybody loves that.

JERAS: Right. Well, apparently --

WHITFIELD: My goodness.

JERAS: Look how big it is.

WHITFIELD: Wait a minute. We've got breaking news now. World Cup soccer. So those penalty kicks.

JERAS: I don't want to know.

WHITFIELD: This means a defeat for the U.S. is what my producer is telling me now. Japan wins in that penalty kick.

JERAS: Bummer.

WHITFIELD: I know.

JERAS: Oh well.

WHITFIELD: We're sad.

JERAS: Good for Japan. WHITFIELD: Good for Japan.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: They needed it for especially many months after that tsunami and earthquake. They really needed this kind of lift.

JERAS: Yes. Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: You know, and pick me up.

JERAS: Absolutely. Absolutely. That's right.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: Congratulations to them.

WHITFIELD: Let's go to Tokyo, in fact. Our Paula Hancocks is there also.

Paula, people there are over the top, aren't they?

HANCOCKS: They are absolutely delighted. Everyone here is so excited. Everyone has been screaming themselves hoarse. And everyone went berserk when that final penalty was kicked. There's been chants of "Nippon, Nippon," which is Japan, Japan.

This is so much more than a soccer match I was told for many Japanese people. This was a chance for some good news. This team had gone further than anyone had expected and the entire nation was inspired by them.

It is 6:30 in the morning here. Look at everybody. Everyone is absolutely delighted. And it's not surprising. It has been a roller coaster of a match. It's been a roller coaster of emotions for everybody here. And it is a well-deserved win for Japan. And you can just see the delight on everyone's faces.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's so nice. I see people who are tearing up over there. They're so excited about this.

Paula Hancocks, thanks so much and congrats to the Japanese there. They really did need that.

Let's go to Manhattan now.

JERAS: What a way to start the day. 6:00 a.m.

WHITFIELD: I know. That's right. That is a great way to start.

JERAS: Think of all day long.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: That's right. Let's check in with Susan Candiotti. She has been with fans both cheering for USA and Japan from Manhattan. All right. What are they saying? How are they thinking and feeling?

CANDIOTTI: Hi, Fredricka. We're here at Zoomschneider's in Lower Manhattan. Obviously this has put a damper on things here. USA fans clearly disappointed by what happened.

Let me talk to you. You've been watching every second of this game. In the end, do you have your heart in your throat?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I --

CANDIOTTI: You feel like crying?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was the year the U.S. should have won. They had the best team out there.

CANDIOTTI: What can they walk away from with this? What can they walk away from with this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have some young players who are incredible. Morgan who scored one of the goals is 22. She has a long time to play. Ten years or more on the national team. And that's very hopeful.

CANDIOTTI: Is there something that they could have done better do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a defensive mistake. I think they know it. It happens occasionally. And Japan is good enough to capitalize on it. I think U.S. had the heart. Just didn't come up this time as a win.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much.

It is a team with heart and certainly fans have been behind them the whole way throughout the game. Even I'm losing my voice. You do have a lot of fans for Japan here, too. They're whooping it up like there's no tomorrow. But everyone -- afterwards coming together. Even the owner of the bar. That's him blowing the horn.

WHITFIELD: We heard it.

CANDIOTTI: So everyone gets along.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: And I have to say, Fred, that here the sport is the winner. Everyone knows it has had a great impact on getting more people involved in it. And isn't that what everyone wants in the end?

WHITFIELD: Yes. It will definitely happen. I mean it really lit the fire in a lot of folks who were -- who may have been tepid about soccer and now they are just full bore super excited about it.

Susan Candiotti, thanks so much there from Manhattan.

And you know what? Congratulations, Japan.

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And USA, Team USA, they were amazing. What an incredible game. What an incredible tournament, period.

JERAS: Huge. Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: And fabulous final.

JERAS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: So congrats to them. We're proud of everybody.

All right, we're going to return with a little bit left of our "Chat Room" before we move on.

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: This was also a big Harry Potter weekend.

JERAS: Big movie. The final one was released.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JERAS: It broke all kinds of records at the box office. And people really have that Harry Potter fever out there once again.

WHITFIELD: In a big way.

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: There's a dance, apparently. The Harry Potter. Uh-huh. Lisa Dunn, go mama, out of Ohio there came up with this.

JERAS: She's a rapping mom from Ohio.

WHITFIELD: It's called the Potter. Not the Harry potter. But the Potter.

JERAS: Go ahead, the Potter.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JERAS: Look at --

(LAUGHTER)

JERAS: OK.

WHITFIELD: She's an awfully cool mom, I was just going to say, right?

JERAS: She really is. And of course she got everybody there in her Ohio town onboard. So they're extremely excited about the whole Harry Potter.

WHITFIELD: Mania stuff.

JERAS: She's a wife. She's a mother of two.

WHITFIELD: Fun stuff.

JERAS: She's got her own little witch's brew right there.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks. We had a nice little variety in our little "Chat Room." We're going to go back to the NEWSROOM in a moment.

So thanks so much, Jacqui, appreciate that.

All right, we're going to be talking about Casey Anthony walking free. Protesters take to the streets near her parents' homes. Up next, we'll take you live to Orlando.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hospital officials say ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has regained consciousness after falling into a coma earlier today. He is now listed in stable condition. The former president faces a trial next month on charges he ordered police to open fire on protesters.

And two more casualties today in Britain's phone hacking scandal. Last hour Britain's top cop suddenly resigned, saying he didn't want questions about his leadership to distract from security for the London Olympic Games.

His resignation comes just hours after a top executive in Rupert Murdoch's media empire was arrested in London. Rebekah Brooks was taken into custody in connection with the widening scandal.

And today is the last day in Afghanistan for General David Petraeus. In a few hours he'll hand over command of NATO troops there to a U.S. Marine Corps three-star general. General Petraeus will retire from the Army to become director of the CIA.

Twelve days after being acquitted of murder, Casey Anthony walks out of jail and out of sight.

Our Martin Savidge was there for the midnight release.

So, Martin, she left right out the front door. That's not exactly what the crowd expected, right?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it wasn't, Fredricka. Good afternoon to you.

You know, this case has continued to surprise people almost from the get-go. And right up to the verdict, of course, many people were very surprised, disappointed with how it came out. And then of course with her release, all of this debate, all the talk about how it was going to be done and the very clandestine nature that we probably wouldn't see her at all.

We were guessing as to one of six doors she might come out of. One of the reasons why you had the pool camera inside so that we might know in some way that she was, in fact, released and see it documented.

But in the end what has had happened? Come out the front door. There she is hand in hand with her attorney. And as they come out, there is this huge crowd that blossomed in the last about half hour to about 1,000 people. All the television cameras there. A remarkable scene. The helicopters, news copters, flying overhead focusing in.

So very public. Very out in the front of everyone to see. They get into a SUV and then they drive off into the darkness. Helicopters try to follow it. The vehicle apparently ends up at the Bank of America building which is the office of one of her lead defense attorneys, Cheney Mason. And then disappears.

And that's the end of it. And that's, of course, the way the defense team wanted it to go. They were so concerned because of the death threats that have been made against her. So since that time we haven't seen Casey. We haven't heard from her parents. They don't seem to be speaking to her. So there is no communication as to what is going on.

What was happening today, a very silent walk. A lot of people, about 150, went from the sight that's become the makeshift memorial. This is where Caylee's remains were found. And they went from that spot, walked down the street, completely silent. Holding signs, many of them with young children, families intact, going down the sidewalk, going to the Anthony home, and then they made the trip back.

And for most, it was a moment of closure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Is this a closure?

KAREN GILREATH, MARCH PARTICIPANT: This is a closure. This is, as we were saying before, starting today we're just -- it doesn't matter anymore. The verdict is read. It's over. What's done is done. Somebody else will take care of it in the end and we just needed to all say our good-byes.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: That's it. For many people they say they're getting on with their lives. The verdict has been made. They will move on -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Martin Savidge, thanks so much from Orlando.

All right. Across the country, the heat is taking a huge toll. Take a look at what months of drought have done to this farmland in Texas. And this isn't confined to the south.

And then the "Harry Potter" movie. Just how hot is it at the box office? It's sizzling.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Talk about hot times in the city. We're seeing the heat index in triple digits in a lot of places. Right now it feels like 100 degrees in St. Louis, Missouri, 102 in Dallas. And can you believe it feels like 107 in, of all places, Minneapolis?

The blistering heat is not only dangerous for those of us who are out in it but also for animals and crops.

In Texas, wheat is dying before it even gets a chance to grow. And ranchers are selling off their cattle in record numbers. The drought is killing all of the grass and they can't afford to buy feed which is going way up in price. And that means we are going to see prices much higher when we go to the grocery stores.

And then take a look at this in Oklahoma. It's so hot the asphalt is buckling on some of the roads.

And something tells me -- Jacqui Jeras is here to tell us not that cool days are right on the horizon.

JERAS: Not so much.

WHITFIELD: More heat for a while, right?

JERAS: Yes. I mean, this is a really significant heat wave.

WHITFIELD: It's incredible.

JERAS: Yes, I mean parts of Texas and Oklahoma have already been in it for probably a good week already. And they've been seeing those buckling roads and the drought conditions are just unbelievable.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: OK. Thank you.

JERAS: Just went into Mexico. May be heads the U.S.

WHITFIELD: Thank you, Jacqui. All right. Appreciate that. Thanks so much.

All right, so how do you move to the next level when your career seems to have stalled? I'll have some tips. Plus, I'll tell you about a record breaking performance at the box office this weekend.

But first, are you ready for retirement? A new study finds singles are more at risk of hitting financial hard times later in life. After the break, a look at the risk of going broke for people aged 66 to 69.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So before the break we told you about a new study which found that single people are more at risk of hitting financial hurdles at retirement. Well, here are the hard numbers according to the Rand Corporation.

Fifty-one percent of singles versus 23 percent of couples ages 66 to 69 are at risk of going broke at retirement.

So every week we focus on ways to get a jumpstart in the workforce. And in today's "Reclaim Your Career," I talked to financial planner Karen Lee, and she's the author of "Where Will You Go From Here?"

Actually, that is not right. That would be Valorie Burton. And this week Valorie focused on workers whose careers have stalled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: To make sure that you're not only looking at what is it you can do a little bit differently but what do other people say when they look at your career. So if there was like a hidden video camera over the last week watching you at work, would I see the passion? Would I see the attitude?

You know sometimes I think people kind of fall out of love with their jobs.

WHITFIELD: So sometimes they get -- yes, they feel a little complacent, they feel like they're -- I don't know, I guess a little mundane.

BURTON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: They're just in that rut. But they've got to get excited about it before anybody gets excited about them.

BURTON: That's right. That's right.

WHITFIELD: Is that what you're saying?

BURTON: That's what I'm saying. You've got to fall back in love with that job. You have to make the decision that you're going to have the passion to do it. And you also have to make sure that people are seeing your efforts.

The other thing to do is something that HR departments do. There are a lot of departments will do a 360 assessment. So you want to get that feedback from your boss but you also want to get it from your customers or people who work from you and from your peers. And that can be hard to do.

WHITFIELD: How are you going to do that? You're going to have, like, kind of survey folks?

BURTON: You ask. You survey folks. You ask them what do you think I can improve upon? What do you think my strengths are? How do you see me in this environment? Is there something that no one wants to say to me but someone really needs to say to me so I can truly improve?

WHITFIELD: And then you say set some new and very specific goals for yourself. BURTON: Yes. Yes. Be very clear, very specific. Where do you want to be a year from now? How much income do you want to be making? What kind of responsibilities do you want? And then how -- what do you want less of? Because for a lot of people there are some things they'd like to kind of cut out of whatever their job is. And that would make them more effective.

WHITFIELD: And understand the big picture. The big picture of your company, not necessarily just your goals?

BURTON: Yes. So this isn't just about your goals. This is about what's the big picture for where the company is headed and where's the company right now? So many companies are dealing with change. And if you're one of those people that's fighting against change, you're not probably one of the ones that's going to get promoted to that next level. They need people that are going to be resilient and flexible when change is happening.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, Valorie Burton, thanks so much. Helping to "Reclaim Your Career" every Sunday beginning at 4:00.

All right, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" has set worldwide records this weekend. Estimates have the movie making more than $475 million around the globe this weekend.

It has the biggest domestic, international and worldwide openings ever. Domestically it had the biggest opening day. The largest midnight debut and the best ever three-day IMAX run ever.

OK, so lots of records set.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: Well, yesterday I talked to movie critic, Matt Atchity, the editor in chief of Rottentomatoes.com. And he gave the movie very high marks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT ATCHITY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ROTTENTOMATOES.COM: This is an excellent good-bye to the franchise.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

ATCHITY: There's a lot of people out there that are going to be kind of sad. But this is a fantastic movie. This is everything you could have hoped for out of the final film.

WHITFIELD: Can you watch -- can you go to this movie if you haven't seen the previous ones?

ATCHITY: Absolutely not.

WHITFIELD: OK. ATCHITY: In fact, I hadn't seen the -- I hadn't seen part 1 since it was in theaters. And I have to say I was a little it lost for the first five minutes because it doesn't give you any prologue. It's like it comes back from a commercial break. There's no previously on "Harry Potter" that you get. No prologue or anything. Just jumps you right in.

But it's fantastic. You know if you followed these books, you kind of know the story. But they still make it really exciting. There's a battle scene between armies of wizards that is like nothing you've ever seen on screen before.

WHITFIELD: Really?

ATCHITY: And it's a very moving film. It's -- you know, again, it's a wonderful good-bye to these characters that we've seen on screen for 10 years.

WHITFIELD: It is unbelievable that it's had this kind of life expect tansy. So what kind of grade are you giving it?

ATCHITY: I give Harry, he gets high marks. I give him an A.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. He says go see it.

Coming up, steps also to reduce the amount of spam you receive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Some of the Republican presidential hopefuls are going all out in Iowa.

CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser takes a look at what's ahead this week in politics.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Fred. Call it the battle for Iowa. Tomorrow former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty begins a five-day swing through the state that holds the first contest in the race for the White House.

All this comes just a month before a crucial straw poll in Iowa in mid-August. Pawlenty needs a strong showing there and more importantly in Iowa's February caucuses if he hopes to win the Republican presidential nomination.

Possibly standing in his way is fellow Minnesotan Michele Bachmann. Iowa is just as crucial for her. The congresswoman was born in Iowa and is spending this weekend stumping in the state. She's on top of most of the recent polls of likely Iowa caucus goers.

Wednesday, what's being built as the first ever Twitter presidential debate. Six candidates say they'll take part in the event being put on by an online Tea Party group.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Paul.

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

And about -- let's see, 11 minutes or so from now, more of the Newsroom with Don Lemon.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: You're good at math.

WHITFIELD: No, I'm not.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: How are you?

LEMON: I'm good. I told you yesterday, I'm fascinated by this "News of the World" story or News Corps.

WHITFIELD: Aren't we all?

LEMON: Oh my gosh. Every single second there seems to be developments. Stunning developments in the "News of the World" hacking scandal.

London's police commissioner has resigned as Fred has been reporting. And a former editor, Rebekah Brooks, under arrest.

The question now, Fredricka, who is going to be the next to fall? I think it's already starting a domino effect. I mean --

WHITFIELD: Right. This is just the tip of the iceberg you know.

LEMON: Yes. I'm going to talk to a media critic and I'll also speak two people in our London bureau who are getting information fast and furiously. But you're right. Domino effect, don't you think?

WHITFIELD: Absolutely. And it's already started.

LEMON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: We're at the 10th arrest now?

LEMON: Yes. And, I mean, it started back in, you know, early 2000. And now it's just coming to a head.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

LEMON: So she's still being questioned by police.

Also we're going to talk to the best political team on television about the debt ceiling, Michele Bachmann's husband, and Mitt Romney. It all makes sense.

And then my interview with this lady. Did you see it? The nail lady.

WHITFIELD: The nail. LEMON: You don't want to -- her name is Mama Jazz, 26 inches long.

WHITFIELD: The nail lady.

LEMON: One more inch it would be nine-inch nails times three. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: You heard me, 26 inches long. Which one is that one?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one.

LEMON: That one. This one. OK. I don't want to get close because I don't want to break them. If I break them I'm in major trouble.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.

LEMON: All right, Jazz.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

LEMON: They call you Mama Jazz.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

LEMON: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

LEMON: All right, so first before --

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, why?

LEMON: I asked her why, she said since she was a child she always grew her nails long. And she had the ability so she wanted to do it. She's a homemaker so she stays at home. And then I asked her how she did certain things.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I want to know --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: How do you scratch your ear? She took that nail -- well, you have to watch.

WHITFIELD: OK. No. Really? That was the question? How do you --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: How about, how you cook?

LEMON: I mean I had other questions. I had other questions.

WHITFIELD: OK. How do you cook? How are you doing stuff?

LEMON: Well, we went off to her home, and she showed us a lot of those things so I didn't have to ask her live on television. But there are certain how she showed us quite, honestly how she folds tissue.

WHITFIELD: OK.

LEMON: How she cooks. How she washes her hair.

WHITFIELD: Oh, good.

LEMON: You know?

WHITFIELD: OK. Don't ask a lady how she scratches her ear again, OK? Or even a guy. I don't want to know.

LEMON: Yes, ma'am, Miss Whitfield. Yes, dear. Yes, dear.

WHITFIELD: All right. Very funny. We're going to look for that one at the top of the hour, Don. You never know what you're going to get. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

OK. A rousing wake-up call for the Atlantis astronauts and the International Space Station crew.

You heard this, right?

LEMON: Yes .

WHITFIELD: That's Don and Cool and the Gang, in space, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Maybe you heard when we were talking about this earlier in the "Chat Room." The Japanese women's soccer team won the World Cup after beating the United States on penalty kicks. You saw the moment right there. Well, you're seeing the moment now. You heard us earlier talking about it. Now we can show you the pictures.

Japan won in an overtime shootout. And this is Japan's first-ever world title. Both teams, though, were amazing.

All right, day 10 of the final shuttle mission begins with a celebration.

All right, Cool and the Gang there providing this morning's wake-up call. And the crew has something else to celebrate. Mission control says the shuttle's main computer which had some sort of glitch on Thursday is now up and running again normally. The shuttle is scheduled to leave the space station Tuesday.

And with all that junk e-mail or spam in our e-mail accounts these days, it's a miracle that we can get anything done.

In our gaming and gadget segment today, I talk to our tech guy, Mark Saltzman, and he gave us some pretty easy tips to use.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: Go into your favorite e- mail program settings, and you'll likely find a junk mail filter that lets you increase or decrease the sensitivity of that filter. By and default, it may be on low. But, you know, in some cases it's a little slider. So take the mouse and you move it across so it will catch -- or what they think is junk mail.

What the program will try to guess to be junk mail with either keywords or not knowing who it's from. And it's not a bad idea once in a while to go into your junk mail folder and see if there's any what we call false positives. It might have dragged a couple of those in there when you did, in fact want them. But the first tip is to definitely by default, you know, move it from low to medium or even high, within the settings.

I know with Outlook, it's pretty easy to find.

WHITFIELD: OK. And then there's software to reduce the spam mail. How does that work?

SALTZMAN: Sure. So there's different pieces of software out there that will also add another layer of protection from junk mail. A free plug-in for Outlook is called Spam Fighter. It's a very powerful tool that is free to use. And so you can go to spamfighter.com.

Then there's also bigger packages from likes of Semantic and McAfee. Best known for Internet security solutions. And they also have either as a stand-alone product or as part of a bigger Internet security. They'll also have a more aggressive anti-spam tools to help reduce the amount of junk mail you're getting in your inbox.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. Mark Saltzman helping to keep our inboxes clean and clear.

And Jacqui Jeras in the weather center right now.

Let's get another look before we start our workweek.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: That'd be nice. All right. Thanks so much, Jackie. Appreciate that.

All right. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks for hanging out with us today. More of the NEWSROOM, top of the hour, just seconds away now from Don Lemon.

Have a great week.

There he is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)