Aired August 14, 2003

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT OF STORIES FROM CNN STUDENT NEWS.

Missile Arrest

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN ANCHOR: Hemant Lakhani is accused of attempting to smuggle a shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile in the u-s. But the missile was a dud, provided by under-cover Russian authorities...and the customer was a u-s informant.

When Lakhani allegedly met with the American agent to receive a down payment on more missiles, he was taken into custody. Prosecutors say that terrorists worldwide have lost an ally.

CHRISTOPHER CHRISTIE, U.S. ATTORNEY: Mr. Lakhani believed and proved himself willing to deal with groups that he thought were terrorists and that specifically stated that they intended to use this missile for terrorist activity in the United States against commercial airliners.

HENDRICKS: Lakhani's lawyer had no comment, but he wasn't the only person accused in the plot. Two gem dealers, who allegedly operated as money launderers, were also caught. Now if you're wondering what exactly a surface-to-air missile is, and what it's capable of doing. Jason Bellini has done the homework for you.

BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Light -- about 40 pounds. Cheap -- about $85-thousand on the black market. And widely available -- experts believe there are thousands around the world.

The Russian-made SA-18 missile system -- S-A standing for surface-to-air -- is designed to shoot down low-flying aircraft -- as high as two miles. It launches heat-seeking missiles, which go straight for a plane's engines.... Chasing them at twice the speed of sound.

The operator of the SA-18 can aim and fire from either a kneeling or standing position, the five-and-a-half foot launch tube balanced on the shoulder. The missiles can be fired either head-on at the target, or used in tail-chasing mode.

According to Jane's Military Research, the Russians introduced the SA-18 around 1983. The soviets exported it to countries that include Angloa, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, North Korea, Poland And Slovakia.

The SA-18 is at the top of its class in Russian surface to air missiles. It's more sophisticated, for example, than the SA-7 -- also Russian made -- which an al Qaeda linked terrorist group used in a failed attempt last November at shooting down an Israeli jet taking off from Mombassa, Kenya.

It uses technology designed to avoid flare decoys, like those employed on U.S. Military aircraft. The Federation Of American Scientists says there's a little better than one in three chance the missle will hit its target on an unprotected aircraft.

Jason Bellini, CNN

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Shoutout!

Fill in the blank here: An incomplete punch on a ballot is also called a _________________.

If you're not blanking on the answer, shout it out!

Is it: A) Doodad B) Chad C) Doughnut hole D) Punchie

You've got three seconds--GO!

Chad is the answer we're looking for. The term gained notoriety during the 2000 presidential election, when chads wreaked havoc on vote counting in the state of Florida. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

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LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the Los Angeles County Registrars Office, workers have "laced up their shoes" for a sprint...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Ophelia calling...

LOTHIAN: Rather than a marathon in the race to election day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you available?

LOTHIAN: Scrambling to find volunteers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will need you to be the inspector..."

LOTHIAN: It turns out this complicated lottery-like process to determine where some 200 candidates will be listed on the ballots, was the easy part of the recall process.

The big challenge now?

DICK ROSENGARTEN-PUBLISHER, CALIFORNIA POLITICAL WEEKLY: The County Registrars in the 58 counties are yelling and screaming bloody murder. They don't think they have enough time to prepare for this recall.

LOTHIAN: the first hurdle in this short race?

MICHAEL PETRUCELLO-ASST. L.A. CO. REGISTRAR: We have to format and print 4-million sample ballots, we have to mail them to four million voters. We then have to format the ballot itself.

LOTHIAN: And that's just one county. Everyone is concerned that so many names on the ballot may lead to confusion.

FREDRICK WOOCHER-ELECTION LAW ATTORNEY: It's going to be very difficult. Some voters may give up in frustration, others with poor eyesight may literally never be able to find the name of the person they intend to vote for.

LOTHIAN: Another hurdle: Twenty to twenty-five thousand polling stations must be set up.

One hundred thousand poll workers recruited. Officials call it a daunting task. California's secretary of state admits, there will be problems.

KEVIN SHELLEY-CA. SECRETARY OF STATE: Everyday will present us with issues we have never faced before.

LOTHIAN: The Florida debacle in 2000, of hanging, dimple and pregnant chads, and lawsuits, hangs over the heads of election officials here.

Especially since six of California's most populous counties are being forced to use the punch card system, which was decertified by a court order. New replacement machines won't be ready in time.

That's prompted the ACLU to take legal action in federal court in an attempt to delay the election for 5 months.

MARK ROSENBBAUM, ACLU OF LOS ANGELES: There is no question, these machines are defective. Those machines are going to deny 40-thousand California's their right to vote.

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HUTCHINS: Turning now to the African country of Liberia, where a violent standoff between the country's embattled president and the rebels who wanted him out of office, may be coming to anend.

A Word to the Wise

Fahrenheit (adj.): of or relating to a temperature scale that registers the freezing point of water as 32° and the boiling point as 212° at one atmosphere of pressure

Source: www.dictionary.com

Europe Heat Wave

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN ANCHOR: A broiling heat wave hovering over Europe has upped Fahrenheit readings far beyond their normal levels. Throughout the continent, doctors have had to make house calls to those too sick to leave their homes...and wildfires have eaten up wooded areas from Portugal to the Netherlands.

Paula Hancocks is in Paris to tell us how people are coping on the ground, and how intense heat affects the city of light.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Paris, we've been hovering around the 100 degree Fahrenheit levels once again. We're well into the second week of the heat wave here. And when you consider THAT the usual temperature we would expect in this city for August is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, that gives you some idea how much hotter it is.

And also, there's a nationwide debate for the moment on whether or not this city and this country is equipped to deal with such high temperatures, especially when you think of the health implications. Doctors have been telling me that at least one hundred people have died from heat related illnesses since this time last week. They have been criticizing the French government as well saying they haven't done enough to deal with the situation.

But we have had a response from the French government today. The Prime Minister Jean-Pierre (sp) Raffarin saying that he refuses to get drawn into a verbal battle. He's told his ministers what to do, they have positions in place, and they are going to stick to those plans at the moment.

Also, the spokesperson saying it's an important and serious situation, but it is under control. Also interestingly, some military hospitals in this country have been told to be on standby just in case civilians want to come in and if they do come in with heat related illnesses, then they would have to treat them.

Also, we do have some electricity issues here. Paris not really equipped to deal with this sort of heat. Some of the nuclear power reactors are threatening to overheat at the moment, so the threat of a blackout hangs over the city as well. So really, a city not equipped to deal with 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Paula Hancocks, CNN Paris.

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