American Morning
South Africa set for World Cup kickoff
(CNN) – It's the biggest sporting event in the world and the World Cup has some extra political and historical significance this year being played in a place that was once divided by racist Apartheid 20 years ago. Game one is today, between host country South Africa and Mexico and CNN's Pedro Pinto joined us on Friday's American Morning for a report from Johannesburg.
Van der Sloot confesses to murder, Peruvian police say
Lima, Peru (CNN) – Joran van der Sloot could be formally charged as early as Tuesday in the killing of Stephany Flores Ramirez, Peruvian government authorities said.
The government authorities said Van der Sloot confessed to murder late Monday. He will likely be held at one of three maximum security prisons - Castro Castro, Piedras Gordas and Lurigancho, authorities said.
Efforts by CNN to contact van der Sloot's attorney were not immediately successful.
At his first court appearance, the judge may set a hearing date for van der Sloot and could order additional investigations in the case.
The Peruvian justice system often issues a lighter sentence in cases where the suspect confesses. That may have influenced his alleged confession. Read more
Growing terror threat within Somalia
(CNN) – The two New Jersey men arrested at a New York airport Saturday planned to travel to Somalia to "wage violent jihad," authorities say. It's a specific case that reflects a bigger picture of the growing concern U.S. officials have about Somalia's role as a training ground for extremists.
CNN has learned the United States now estimates as many as 200 foreign fighters may be in Somalia – fighters posing a possible threat to the United States after joining the Somali-based al Qaeda group known as al Shabab. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the report.
Barbara Bush launches health nonprofit
(CNN) – One of former President George W. Bush's daughters is aiming to change the face of global public health and she intends to use members of her generation to do it.
Former first daughter Barbara Bush's new non-profit, Global Health Corps, was inspired by a 2003 trip that she took with her parents to five African countries. The Bush family was in Africa at the time promoting the Bush administration's anti-AIDS initiative.
A visit to a health clinic for people battling HIV opened Barbara Bush's eyes to how she might make a difference in the health field.
"I think that was the first time that – I was not pre-med; I hadn't studied health – that was the first time that I thought well maybe, what am I doing? Maybe I should focus on this," the Bush daughter said in an interview Tuesday on CNN's American Morning. "And I can. You really can work in the health field even if you're not a doctor or a nurse." Read more
Duchess Fergie offers to 'open doors' to prince for cash
(CNN) – There are new developments out of London today where the latest scandal is rocking the royals. A British tabloid has put up a Web video showing Duchess Sarah Ferguson offering access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, in exchange for more than $700,000.
The prince denies knowing anything about it and the palace says he's always been a man of integrity. As for Fergie, she's falling on her sword and calls the video embarrassing and inexcusable. Our Phil Black joined us on Monday's American Morning to walk us through the sting operation.
Read more: Gotcha video shows Fergie accepting $$
CNN exclusive with Baghdad terror chief
(CNN) – They're some of America's "most wanted" – al Qaeda leaders who normally appear only in the shadows on grainy Internet videos or audio recordings. This week, CNN's Fred Pleitgen was the first western TV journalist to interview the recently captured Baghdad commander of al Qaeda in Iraq. As Fred tells us, the Iraqi government made him available to CNN and Arabic language media to highlight the progress it's made fighting terrorism.
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