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CNN Live Today

First Lady Abroad; Stem Cell Research Breakthrough

Aired May 20, 2005 - 11:30   ET

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

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


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're getting these live pictures in from Oklahoma City. Five students were injured, none critically, however, when a brick wall collapsed today at an elementary school. This is in the southeast part of Oklahoma City. Two of the injuries classified non-critical or non-life-threatening, three others considered minor. This is Crooked Oak Elementary School. A brick wall collapsing, five students were injured.
Let's take a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."

Less may be more for struggling General Motors. The automaker reportedly will cut the number of models offered at Pontiac, Buick, Saab and Saturn. Only Chevrolet and Cadillac would continue to be full-line brands.

NASA filled the shuttle Discovery's tanks with the half million gallons of fuel today. Technicians hope to figure out why sensors and valves failed during an earlier fuel test. NASA is trying to put the shuttle back into space this summer.

And America West plans to combine with twice-bankrupt U.S. Airways to form a new budget airline. It will carry the U.S. Airways name, but it will be based in Arizona. That is home turf for America West.

Keeping you informed, CNN is the most trusted name in news.

On to world news now. The international Red Cross says it had reports from detainees about U.S. personnel at Guantanamo Bay disrespecting the Koran. The group says it raised the issue with the Pentagon several times. The Red Cross says in 2003 the U.S. issued strict guidelines on how the Muslim Holy Book should be handled.

Laura Bush has arrived in Jordan. That happened this morning, hoping to improve the U.S. image in the Arab world.

Our Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the first lady

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first lady travels to the Middle East to promote democracy, women's rights and education reform. But as the U.S.'s ambassador of goodwill, she acknowledged en route, in the Arab world she's got a tough message to sell.

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We've had terrible happenings that have really, really hurt our image in the United States. And they're not -- they were very atypical.

MALVEAUX: Mrs. Bush singled out the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal and more recently, the deadly riots of the erroneous "Newsweek" report that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay Prison had flushed the Koran down the toilet to rattle detainees. The first lady said "Newsweek," which has since retracted the story, was only partly to blame.

BUSH: In the United States, if there's a terrible report, people don't riot, kill other people. And, you know, you can't excuse what they did because of a mistake -- you know, you can't blame it all on "Newsweek." But at the same time, it was irresponsible. And that's -- it's too bad.

MALVEAUX: Despite the first lady's itinerary to hot spots in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Mrs. Bush dismissed any security concerns.

BUSH: I think we'll be -- all be safe.

MALVEAUX: And downplayed the report of a grenade discovered at the site where her husband spoke recently in Tbilisi, Georgia.

BUSH: Thank God no one was hurt from that.

MALVEAUX: But the first lady did express misgivings that Mr. Bush wasn't interrupted while taking a leisurely bike ride in suburban Maryland when massive evacuations were taking place in Washington. Last week, the White House went to red alert and Mrs. Bush to an emergency bunker when a small prop plane came within three miles of the grounds.

BUSH: Well, sure -- I mean, he should have been interrupted. But I'm not going to second guess the Secret Service that were with him.

MALVEAUX: The White House says the president was satisfied Secret Service protocols were followed, despite the fact he wasn't notified about the emergency until after it was all over.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, traveling with the First Lady.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Michael Jackson's former attorney is due in court when the pop star's child molestation trial resumes this hour. But the jury won't get to hear from one defense witness, CNN talk show host Larry King.

Ted Rowlands has the latest from Santa Maria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Larry King, who's usually covering the case on his show, showed up at the Michael Jackson trial ready to testify. The judge required King to take the stand without the jury to hear his story. King says he was told the mother in this case was a quote "wacko" by her one-time attorney, Larry Feldman. King says Feldman also told him he didn't take her case because he thought she was after money. The judge ruled King could not testify in front of the jury.

RAYMOND BAINE, JACKSON SPOKESWOMAN: Mr. Jackson was a little disappointed, because I think that Larry King's testimony would have been a good one for the defense, based on his hitting at motives.

ROWLANDS: Aja Pryor, the mother of comedian Chris Tucker's son, testified that she was very close to the accuser's family during the time they were at Neverland Ranch. Pryor said she never heard the family complain about being held captive as the mother and prosecutors allege. Pryor also said the mother complained about Jackson associates, that they were keeping her and her children away from Michael Jackson. If true, she's the first witness to back up defense claims that Jackson was avoiding the children during the time he's accused of molesting one of them.

The defense case may be winding down. Jackson's lawyers have told the judge they've pared down the number of witnesses they plan to call significantly.

LAURIE LEVENSON, LEGAL ANALYST: Less is more. And they learned that from the prosecution's case. The more they put on, the more they got hurt.

ROWLANDS (on camera): When court resumes, Mark Geragos, Jackson's former attorney, is scheduled to back on the stand to finish his testimony, which he began last week.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Adrian! It's the first hurricane of the year. It has pounded parts of Central America overnight. We're going to show you the aftermath in El Salvador, where Adrian is headed next. That and your U.S. weather is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, the Force might be with most moviegoers this weekend, but the fall of Anakin Skywalker isn't the only action at the box office.

CNN dot-com's Veronica De La Cruz has more on this weekend's attractions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: From a galaxy far, far away, "Star Wars: The Return of the Sith" opened in nearly 3,700 theaters across the nation. CNN.com takes a look at the long-awaited feature, as well as what's on tap for this summer's attraction. The latest "Star Wars" episode brings the saga full-circle. The original was the highest-grossing film until "E.T." came along in 1982.

How versed are you when it comes to the characters and it's ever- thickening plot? This guide connects the dots in an intergalactic story of love and war. And if you think you are the ultimate "Star Wars" fan, you can test your knowledge with this online quiz. Use the force for all the answers.

The movie industry makes more than half its money between now and Labor Day weekend. With "Star Wars: Return of the Sith" leading the pack, what else is out there? From "Batman: The Beginning" to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," browse this gallery to get the scoop.

Plot your summer diversions with CNN.com's entertainment calendar. Get release dates for books, movies, DVDs and CDs and find out when and where your favorite bands are on tour. Just logon to CNN.com/comingattractions. Also, don't miss CNN's entertainment, "Hot Ticket To Fun." That's this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

From the dot-com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN; So the agency that reviews the drugs that we can and cannot take is about to be scrutinized itself. What one panel has planned for the FDA is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In today's "Daily Dose" the Food and Drug Administration is up for review. A U.S. advisory panel wants to know how the agency handles drug recalls and other serious safety issues. The advisers hope to identify areas for improvement.

Sperm could hold the key to understanding cancer. Yes, sperm, I just said it. A new study compares human genes that of chimpanzees. It claims genes unique to humans and sperm production also leave people vulnerable to cancer.

All right then. Looking at some possible causes of autism, the Centers for Disease Control says the disability of autism might be linked to a difficult birth or family history of mental illness. The Centers looked at a Danish study that shows autistic children are more likely to have suffered birth trauma and have a parent diagnosed with psychosis. Nearly one out of every 253 children born in the U.S. is autistic.

For years, Sue Rubin was unable to communicate or control her behavior because of autism. Now at the age of 26, she is a disabled- rights advocate and a college student. Actress Julianna Margulies gives voice to Rubin's words in the documentary "Autism is a World." Here now an excerpt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a junior at Wittier College majoring in history. I attend classes with Ashley, my friend and support staff.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You ready to go outside?

OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, the Cairo conference. Remember, he kept talking about that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ashland takes notes for me, and is available when I want to communicate.

All right, all right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brandy Calderra (ph). Jennifer Eastlake (ph). Sue Rubin. Suly Vega (ph).

The first thing we're going to do, I'm going to start talking a little bit about ideologies and philosophies that were brought into play by the arrival of colonialism first, and then the rise of the nationalist movement in various parts of the Arab world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Autism is a constant struggle. It takes every ounce of energy I have to sit somewhat quietly during a two-hour lecture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It gives rise to what we today know as nationalist movements.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love learning, yet being looked upon as feeble-minded is something I have been forced to endure my entire life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good job. You can make it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, in the times I'm not fully engaged in school, I find that I am more susceptible to awful autism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, you can tune into "CNN PRESENTS" this Sunday for this Academy Award-nominated documentary "AUTISM IS A WORLD." It's a rare look at autism through the words of a woman who lives with it. That's Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

And now more on one of our top stories, a renewed debate in the U.S. over stem-cell research. This is following a major advance by scientists in South Korea. They've created the first embryonic stem cells to genetically match sick or injured patients.

ITV's Lawrence McGinty has more on the breakthrough.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE MCGINTY, ITV NEWS (voice-over): In the lab they're taking giant strides. Last year they cloned human embryos for the first time. Now they've cloned embryos designed to genetically match particular individuals. Why, because they could use cells from the clones to treat those people.

PROF. GERALD SCHATTEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Kidney disorders, heart disease, lung disease, skin disease, muscle diseases, perhaps strokes, perhaps Alzheimer's. Theoretically, this will be bigger than discoveries of vaccines or antibiotics.

PROF. WOO SUK HWANG, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: This report brings the science a giant step forward.

MCGINTY: Professor Woo Suk Hwang is the man who did the research. His laboratory in Seoul is now the world leader in cloning human embryos. What they did this time is being called very significant.

First they remove the genetic material from a fertilized egg, replacing it with genes from the donor. Then they shock the egg to stimulate it into developing. The hope is cells from the early embryo that results can be used to treat the donor because they're genetically identical.

Theoretically, you could have taken skin cells from Christopher Reeve, who suffered terrible spinal damage, cloned them into embryos and used the cells to repair his spinal cord.

All that is in the future, and it's controversial. The scientists here at Newcastle University will find out after they announce they've become the second laboratory in the world to clone human embryos.

Lawrence McGinty, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And let's find out what's coming up at the top of the hour on NEWS FROM CNN. Wolf Blitzer is in Washington. Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Daryn, thanks very much. A busy hour ahead on NEWS FROM CNN. Saddam Hussein, as you know, very much back in the headlines today with those new photos released to a British tabloid. There's now a U.S. military investigation into how those photos were released, then we'll go live to the Pentagon for details. We'll also speak live with one of Saddam Hussein's defense attorneys in London.

Also, South Korea -- doctors in South Korea announcing a breakthrough in stem cell research. As we just saw here in Washington, though, President Bush is threatening to veto any new legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. We'll go live to the White House.

Watch for those stories, much more, at the top of the hour on NEWS FROM CNN. Daryn, in the meantime, back to you.

KAGAN: All right, Wolf, thank you very much.

We have an update on a story -- breaking news story we brought you earlier from Oklahoma City, that wall collapse at an elementary school. We have told you five students had been injured. Now we're hearing the five students taken to Oklahoma City hospitals are in stable condition this morning. They're going to be OK. Apparently this brick wall fell about 9:45 a.m. local time in a school just southeast of Oklahoma City, Crooked Oak Elementary School. Students were gathering for football practice around that time of the morning.

Summer's coming here in the U.S., but in another part of the world it's already fall, almost winter. After the break, we're going to show you where the white stuff is normal for this time of year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: And now take a look at what's happening overseas this morning. In Southern Peru, evidence of a giant armadillo that lived in the Cuzco Valley some two million years ago. It's a nearly complete fossil that was found by a group of men working on their homes. Measuring six and a half feet long, more than three feet wide. You can only wonder about the size of the ants this armadillo was eating back in the day

Weird weather down under. All hail broke loose in Brisbane, Australia. Several inches piled up, in fact. Some people took advantage of the icy interlude. Most drivers, of course, aren't having any fun.

And El Salvador getting broadsided by Hurricane Adrian, a storm that swirled to life in the Pacific. 75 mile-an-hour winds closed schools and forced 14,000 people from their homes. It's the first recorded Pacific hurricane to strike El Salvador, as the storm lost strength over land. Forecasters predict heavy rain could unleash devastating floods.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: And on that note, that's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I'll be right back here with you on Monday morning. For now, up to Wolf Blitzer on this Friday afternoon -- well, still morning for some folks. But Wolf, you take it from here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired May 20, 2005 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're getting these live pictures in from Oklahoma City. Five students were injured, none critically, however, when a brick wall collapsed today at an elementary school. This is in the southeast part of Oklahoma City. Two of the injuries classified non-critical or non-life-threatening, three others considered minor. This is Crooked Oak Elementary School. A brick wall collapsing, five students were injured.
Let's take a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."

Less may be more for struggling General Motors. The automaker reportedly will cut the number of models offered at Pontiac, Buick, Saab and Saturn. Only Chevrolet and Cadillac would continue to be full-line brands.

NASA filled the shuttle Discovery's tanks with the half million gallons of fuel today. Technicians hope to figure out why sensors and valves failed during an earlier fuel test. NASA is trying to put the shuttle back into space this summer.

And America West plans to combine with twice-bankrupt U.S. Airways to form a new budget airline. It will carry the U.S. Airways name, but it will be based in Arizona. That is home turf for America West.

Keeping you informed, CNN is the most trusted name in news.

On to world news now. The international Red Cross says it had reports from detainees about U.S. personnel at Guantanamo Bay disrespecting the Koran. The group says it raised the issue with the Pentagon several times. The Red Cross says in 2003 the U.S. issued strict guidelines on how the Muslim Holy Book should be handled.

Laura Bush has arrived in Jordan. That happened this morning, hoping to improve the U.S. image in the Arab world.

Our Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the first lady

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first lady travels to the Middle East to promote democracy, women's rights and education reform. But as the U.S.'s ambassador of goodwill, she acknowledged en route, in the Arab world she's got a tough message to sell.

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We've had terrible happenings that have really, really hurt our image in the United States. And they're not -- they were very atypical.

MALVEAUX: Mrs. Bush singled out the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal and more recently, the deadly riots of the erroneous "Newsweek" report that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay Prison had flushed the Koran down the toilet to rattle detainees. The first lady said "Newsweek," which has since retracted the story, was only partly to blame.

BUSH: In the United States, if there's a terrible report, people don't riot, kill other people. And, you know, you can't excuse what they did because of a mistake -- you know, you can't blame it all on "Newsweek." But at the same time, it was irresponsible. And that's -- it's too bad.

MALVEAUX: Despite the first lady's itinerary to hot spots in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Mrs. Bush dismissed any security concerns.

BUSH: I think we'll be -- all be safe.

MALVEAUX: And downplayed the report of a grenade discovered at the site where her husband spoke recently in Tbilisi, Georgia.

BUSH: Thank God no one was hurt from that.

MALVEAUX: But the first lady did express misgivings that Mr. Bush wasn't interrupted while taking a leisurely bike ride in suburban Maryland when massive evacuations were taking place in Washington. Last week, the White House went to red alert and Mrs. Bush to an emergency bunker when a small prop plane came within three miles of the grounds.

BUSH: Well, sure -- I mean, he should have been interrupted. But I'm not going to second guess the Secret Service that were with him.

MALVEAUX: The White House says the president was satisfied Secret Service protocols were followed, despite the fact he wasn't notified about the emergency until after it was all over.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, traveling with the First Lady.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Michael Jackson's former attorney is due in court when the pop star's child molestation trial resumes this hour. But the jury won't get to hear from one defense witness, CNN talk show host Larry King.

Ted Rowlands has the latest from Santa Maria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Larry King, who's usually covering the case on his show, showed up at the Michael Jackson trial ready to testify. The judge required King to take the stand without the jury to hear his story. King says he was told the mother in this case was a quote "wacko" by her one-time attorney, Larry Feldman. King says Feldman also told him he didn't take her case because he thought she was after money. The judge ruled King could not testify in front of the jury.

RAYMOND BAINE, JACKSON SPOKESWOMAN: Mr. Jackson was a little disappointed, because I think that Larry King's testimony would have been a good one for the defense, based on his hitting at motives.

ROWLANDS: Aja Pryor, the mother of comedian Chris Tucker's son, testified that she was very close to the accuser's family during the time they were at Neverland Ranch. Pryor said she never heard the family complain about being held captive as the mother and prosecutors allege. Pryor also said the mother complained about Jackson associates, that they were keeping her and her children away from Michael Jackson. If true, she's the first witness to back up defense claims that Jackson was avoiding the children during the time he's accused of molesting one of them.

The defense case may be winding down. Jackson's lawyers have told the judge they've pared down the number of witnesses they plan to call significantly.

LAURIE LEVENSON, LEGAL ANALYST: Less is more. And they learned that from the prosecution's case. The more they put on, the more they got hurt.

ROWLANDS (on camera): When court resumes, Mark Geragos, Jackson's former attorney, is scheduled to back on the stand to finish his testimony, which he began last week.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Adrian! It's the first hurricane of the year. It has pounded parts of Central America overnight. We're going to show you the aftermath in El Salvador, where Adrian is headed next. That and your U.S. weather is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, the Force might be with most moviegoers this weekend, but the fall of Anakin Skywalker isn't the only action at the box office.

CNN dot-com's Veronica De La Cruz has more on this weekend's attractions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: From a galaxy far, far away, "Star Wars: The Return of the Sith" opened in nearly 3,700 theaters across the nation. CNN.com takes a look at the long-awaited feature, as well as what's on tap for this summer's attraction. The latest "Star Wars" episode brings the saga full-circle. The original was the highest-grossing film until "E.T." came along in 1982.

How versed are you when it comes to the characters and it's ever- thickening plot? This guide connects the dots in an intergalactic story of love and war. And if you think you are the ultimate "Star Wars" fan, you can test your knowledge with this online quiz. Use the force for all the answers.

The movie industry makes more than half its money between now and Labor Day weekend. With "Star Wars: Return of the Sith" leading the pack, what else is out there? From "Batman: The Beginning" to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," browse this gallery to get the scoop.

Plot your summer diversions with CNN.com's entertainment calendar. Get release dates for books, movies, DVDs and CDs and find out when and where your favorite bands are on tour. Just logon to CNN.com/comingattractions. Also, don't miss CNN's entertainment, "Hot Ticket To Fun." That's this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

From the dot-com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN; So the agency that reviews the drugs that we can and cannot take is about to be scrutinized itself. What one panel has planned for the FDA is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In today's "Daily Dose" the Food and Drug Administration is up for review. A U.S. advisory panel wants to know how the agency handles drug recalls and other serious safety issues. The advisers hope to identify areas for improvement.

Sperm could hold the key to understanding cancer. Yes, sperm, I just said it. A new study compares human genes that of chimpanzees. It claims genes unique to humans and sperm production also leave people vulnerable to cancer.

All right then. Looking at some possible causes of autism, the Centers for Disease Control says the disability of autism might be linked to a difficult birth or family history of mental illness. The Centers looked at a Danish study that shows autistic children are more likely to have suffered birth trauma and have a parent diagnosed with psychosis. Nearly one out of every 253 children born in the U.S. is autistic.

For years, Sue Rubin was unable to communicate or control her behavior because of autism. Now at the age of 26, she is a disabled- rights advocate and a college student. Actress Julianna Margulies gives voice to Rubin's words in the documentary "Autism is a World." Here now an excerpt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a junior at Wittier College majoring in history. I attend classes with Ashley, my friend and support staff.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You ready to go outside?

OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, the Cairo conference. Remember, he kept talking about that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ashland takes notes for me, and is available when I want to communicate.

All right, all right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brandy Calderra (ph). Jennifer Eastlake (ph). Sue Rubin. Suly Vega (ph).

The first thing we're going to do, I'm going to start talking a little bit about ideologies and philosophies that were brought into play by the arrival of colonialism first, and then the rise of the nationalist movement in various parts of the Arab world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Autism is a constant struggle. It takes every ounce of energy I have to sit somewhat quietly during a two-hour lecture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It gives rise to what we today know as nationalist movements.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love learning, yet being looked upon as feeble-minded is something I have been forced to endure my entire life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good job. You can make it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, in the times I'm not fully engaged in school, I find that I am more susceptible to awful autism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, you can tune into "CNN PRESENTS" this Sunday for this Academy Award-nominated documentary "AUTISM IS A WORLD." It's a rare look at autism through the words of a woman who lives with it. That's Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

And now more on one of our top stories, a renewed debate in the U.S. over stem-cell research. This is following a major advance by scientists in South Korea. They've created the first embryonic stem cells to genetically match sick or injured patients.

ITV's Lawrence McGinty has more on the breakthrough.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE MCGINTY, ITV NEWS (voice-over): In the lab they're taking giant strides. Last year they cloned human embryos for the first time. Now they've cloned embryos designed to genetically match particular individuals. Why, because they could use cells from the clones to treat those people.

PROF. GERALD SCHATTEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Kidney disorders, heart disease, lung disease, skin disease, muscle diseases, perhaps strokes, perhaps Alzheimer's. Theoretically, this will be bigger than discoveries of vaccines or antibiotics.

PROF. WOO SUK HWANG, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: This report brings the science a giant step forward.

MCGINTY: Professor Woo Suk Hwang is the man who did the research. His laboratory in Seoul is now the world leader in cloning human embryos. What they did this time is being called very significant.

First they remove the genetic material from a fertilized egg, replacing it with genes from the donor. Then they shock the egg to stimulate it into developing. The hope is cells from the early embryo that results can be used to treat the donor because they're genetically identical.

Theoretically, you could have taken skin cells from Christopher Reeve, who suffered terrible spinal damage, cloned them into embryos and used the cells to repair his spinal cord.

All that is in the future, and it's controversial. The scientists here at Newcastle University will find out after they announce they've become the second laboratory in the world to clone human embryos.

Lawrence McGinty, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And let's find out what's coming up at the top of the hour on NEWS FROM CNN. Wolf Blitzer is in Washington. Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Daryn, thanks very much. A busy hour ahead on NEWS FROM CNN. Saddam Hussein, as you know, very much back in the headlines today with those new photos released to a British tabloid. There's now a U.S. military investigation into how those photos were released, then we'll go live to the Pentagon for details. We'll also speak live with one of Saddam Hussein's defense attorneys in London.

Also, South Korea -- doctors in South Korea announcing a breakthrough in stem cell research. As we just saw here in Washington, though, President Bush is threatening to veto any new legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. We'll go live to the White House.

Watch for those stories, much more, at the top of the hour on NEWS FROM CNN. Daryn, in the meantime, back to you.

KAGAN: All right, Wolf, thank you very much.

We have an update on a story -- breaking news story we brought you earlier from Oklahoma City, that wall collapse at an elementary school. We have told you five students had been injured. Now we're hearing the five students taken to Oklahoma City hospitals are in stable condition this morning. They're going to be OK. Apparently this brick wall fell about 9:45 a.m. local time in a school just southeast of Oklahoma City, Crooked Oak Elementary School. Students were gathering for football practice around that time of the morning.

Summer's coming here in the U.S., but in another part of the world it's already fall, almost winter. After the break, we're going to show you where the white stuff is normal for this time of year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: And now take a look at what's happening overseas this morning. In Southern Peru, evidence of a giant armadillo that lived in the Cuzco Valley some two million years ago. It's a nearly complete fossil that was found by a group of men working on their homes. Measuring six and a half feet long, more than three feet wide. You can only wonder about the size of the ants this armadillo was eating back in the day

Weird weather down under. All hail broke loose in Brisbane, Australia. Several inches piled up, in fact. Some people took advantage of the icy interlude. Most drivers, of course, aren't having any fun.

And El Salvador getting broadsided by Hurricane Adrian, a storm that swirled to life in the Pacific. 75 mile-an-hour winds closed schools and forced 14,000 people from their homes. It's the first recorded Pacific hurricane to strike El Salvador, as the storm lost strength over land. Forecasters predict heavy rain could unleash devastating floods.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: And on that note, that's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I'll be right back here with you on Monday morning. For now, up to Wolf Blitzer on this Friday afternoon -- well, still morning for some folks. But Wolf, you take it from here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com