the scandalous life and times of sylvio berlusconi.ye drop so exceptional, it relieves .seven symptoms., new visine totality " multi-symptom. now reducecehe reded bathe the dry .and gritty;, soothe the itch, irritated, .burning and watery. visine totalili. no other drop doesmore. two identical rooms. so why does this one cost so much less on hotwire.com? because when four star hotels have unsold rooms, they use hotwire to fill them, than any other travel site. guaranteed. travelocity price $195. on hotwire just $98. the same great room, just less than other travel sites. four stahohotels. two star prices. h-o-t-w-i-r-e, hotwire.com save big on car rentals too. from $13.95 a day. >>> president obama along with leaders from the world's other most industrialized nations have agreed to limit the rise in the global temperatures to two degrees centigrade by the year 2050. the consensus was reached earlier today by the g-8 summit in italy, but the leader of the host nation is already feeling the heat for altogether more personal reasons. and

meanwhile, lawyers for berlusconi's wife prepare her case for divorce.irm their commitment to restore worldwide economic growth. meanwhile, berlusconi's lawyers fight to block future publications of girls cavorting at his villa. >> he is just entertaining himself. >> are the well-oiled wheels coming off berlusconi. for years he's led a charmed life. >> berlusconi is a very funny person, and a lot of the italian people want his mind. >> silver tongued charmer in the land of amore. ♪ ♪ amore >> a land where a prime minister's security detail looks like this. >> most italian men like the idea of a man who as he grows older has fewer wrinkles and more hair and plenty of girls. >> his political opposition is weak and berlusconi controls much of the italian media. >> you can get away for a longer period. >> anyway, most italians, even journalists don't much care what the boss gets up to from the waist down. >> what berlusconi in his private life is not my problem. >> italians expect their policians to be sleazy and lascivious so forgive them when they are. oh,

berlusconi likes a conquest.pril, he attended a lingerie model's 18th birthday party and give her a diamond necklace. mrs. b, an actress, accused her husband of concerting with minors and filed for divorce. >> majority of italians like berlusconi. but they are getting a little bit tired, because he's making italy look silly. >> reporter: berlusconi has survived endless accusations of corruption, but now the 72-year-old's unflagging libido might spell the political end for a man known to his young female friends at pappi. nick watt, abc news, london. >>> and that is "world news" for this wednesday. i'm charlie gibson, and i hope you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have a good night. captions by vitac this is "jeopardy!" here are today's contestants-- an editorial assistant

berlusconi likes a conquest.odel's 18th birthday party and gave her a diamond necklace. an actress who was topless on stage when she first caught his eye a accused her husband of consorting with minors and filed for divorce. >> a majority of italians like berlusconi but they are getting a little bit tired because he's making italy look silly. >> reporter: berlusconi has survived endless accusations of corruption but now the 72-year-old's unlagging libido might spell the political end of a man known to his young female friends as pappy. >> it's interesting. in that story i wonder if there wasn't so many photos of him with these younger woman if it would be so bad. in italy it's sort of been

silvio berlusconi prime silvio has been the subject of -- prime minister silvio berlusconi has been the subject of some conversations that allege he is with the woman in a bed here, but he has dismissed the scandal. >> the leader of italy, silvio berlusconi, entangled in a sex scandal that will not go away. right at the heart of the italian political establishment. the woman behind this is called a prostitute. she claims to have secretly recorded conversations with silvio berlusconi in his bedroom. a tape has been published, reportedly containing his voice and hers. the voice can be heard to say that i am also going to have a shower, they will wait for me on the big bed. what big bed, the woman asks? vladimir putin? >> yes, poutin -yes, putin -- te reply. the allegedly recordings were made here in rome, the key suggestion being that a paid female escorts spent the night here in italy. the prime minister himself has been forced to deny ever paying for sex. >> the nation and the government, acting in a proper way. >> i just care about what they said with the economic problems that we have

. >> reporter: silvio berlusconi admits he's no saint.any italians see him as an indiscreet but ultimately lovable old rogue. the guy who bellowed at president obama during the g-20 summit in april and upset the queen. who gave rabbit ears to spain's foreign minister in an official photo in 2002 and told earthquake survivors in may to view the experience as a camping weekend. but it's berlusconi's most recent sexcapades that have polarized italian public opinion. >> when you publish every single word, tape in the bed, it's embarrassing. >> reporter: during the taping, patrizia d'adario, a call girl who claims to have recorded this conversation at the prime minister's home. berlusconi swears he didn't pay for the alleged sex, but this spring his wife filed for divorce after he attended an 18-year-old's birthday party. soon afterward, pictures appeared of naked and near-naked guests partying at his villa in sardinia. predictably among voters there's the outrage. >> it's a disaster. >> i hate him. >> reporter: but there's also been admiratio

on a very luxurious island off the coast of sardine ya but prime minister silvio berlusconi moved itdevastated thousands of people and ruined a lot of homes so he moved it here in support. locals are critical enmany think the summit will be more of a distraction an a help and they don't necessarily think this is a great thing. meanwhile, we're here. they're still having aftershocks although we haven't felt any yet. >> italian prime minister berlusconi is a little bit of hot water at home. do you think any of his problems will affect the g-8 summit? >> reporter: well, i tell you, he is to say the least a colorful figure. prime minister berlusconi is in the middle of a divorce, the tabloids are feasting on him with pictures of him with young women, but, you know, he never met a camera he didn't like and i'm sure he'll be all over the summit and probably won't affect the outcome but there's been criticism the planning hasn't been great and the u.s. has had to step in so we'll see. michelle? >> what's the view of president obama's trip up to now? >> reporter: well, the obama people feel

later he'll meet with the prime minister silvio berlusconi. here's what he said he thought the priorities were when dealing with the economy and other significant issues the next couple of days. >> we are working hand-in-hand in places like afghanistan to ensure that we are isolating extremists and strengthening the forces of moderation around the world. on the international front, we discussed the importance of europe and the united states raising standards on financial institutions to ensure that a crisis like the one that's taken place will never happen again. >> part of it is trying to get everybody on the same page here to come up with a strategy after this is over so that it doesn't happen again. we heard the president emphasize over the past couple of days, just yesterday in russia, talking about the need for transparency, for accountability, tough regulations, opening those markets. those are the kinds of things that he's going to be talking

he'll meet with berlusconi.gure out the world economy, to deal with the global crisis. we did get a hint of what the president's message would be yesterday before some russian business leaders emphasizing the need for transparency, open markets, free throw trade, corporate accountability, those types of things. the president, unlike other world leadse leaders have focus stimulus, economic stimulus. that's not something the other world leaders have agreed. they want tighter regulations. these are the conversations that the president is going to have. it is building up to what they hope is more coordination between the world leaders so that when the economies do turn, when things do get better this kind of crisis doesn't happen again, alina? >> suzanne, you know the g-8 summit was supposed to be held in rome initially. the last change of plans and it's being held in l'aquila. outside of rome. we remember it because there was a deadly earthquake there in that region earlier this year. but what is the significance o

in a recent interview with cnn, berlusconi dismissed the scandal as a political plot. >> translator: in the face of an accusation of this nature. i will react. i will explain exactly what the situation is. i will still have the italians on my side. once again, this accusation will boomerang against the people who started it. >> reporter: but now the prime minister faces allegations that this woman and several other women were each paid to visit the prime minister's home, and she says she's got these photos taken in berlusconi's house and a recorded conversation to prove it. i feel that i am the only one that is here telling the things that no other woman daresay. throughout the scandal, berlusconi has obtained high approval ratings but is this one step too far for italy's notorious prime minister. this woman says, as an italianings i am ashamed and i believe she should resign right away. it's a further indignity for those who didn't vote for him, this person says, but it has only increased his popularity among his followers. a messy divorce and naked pictures? that might be enough in

unless they happen to be hosted by the one silvio berlusconi, the richest man in italy and i think the best lover as well. [applause] i think i am too old for him. but the fact is, his private life has been hijacked in an amusing way. but in a way that is really bothering italians. ok, they elected him. but there is a point where they say, "enough's." >> they got rid of him, then they were bored, so that brought him back. >> hugh hefner or casanova as your prime minister. scandal after scandal. they are very workmanlike, but without the flamboyant that can be brought to them by somebody like berlusconi. >> and become better known for the protest around them. but are you saying that an international agreement to maintain earth's temperature is not progress? what are you suggesting, linda? >> for columnists -- so unachievable and unlikely. other things the president did in russia, joe? >> apparently he did well. i do not think people works up at 2:00 in the morning east coast time to watch it live. i do not think a lot of news is generated. the president himself complained the past week

that's why berlusconi had it here, he wanted to bring attention to it is devastation. can still imagine how tough it is on the people still in tents and what they're trying to get is get them into permanent accommodations by the fall. president obama will be serving that with the italian prime minister, but background noise to all of this, tony, italians right now have quite a scandal on their hands with silvio berlusconi. they are used to this. he's been prime minister three times, each time plagued by scandal, but this one takes all. take a look. >> reporter: with his roots in showbiz, silvio beryl down has also pursued what iltan crass call labellea feruggia, or making a good show of it. his third meeting of hosting duties is no different, but the scandal beats all this time, even for berlusconi. in an interview, the woman admitted being a high-paid prostitute at the center of an investigation into whether italy's prime minister paid for sex. >> translator: i feel that i am the only one here that is telling the things that no other woman dare say. >> reporter: berlu

they are very workmanlike, b without th flamboyanthat can be brought to em by somebody li berlusconi. >> andecome better known for the protest around them. but are you sing tha an international agreement to maintain eart's temrature is not progress? hat are you suggesting, linda? >> for columnists - so unachievable and unlikel other things the prident did in rusa, joe? >> apparently he did well. i do not thinkeople works up at:00 in the morning east coast time twatch it live. i not think aot of nes generated. the president himself complaine the past week betweenetwork interviews about the ft that everyone wantehim to talk about michael and sarah, and here his eliminating nuclear weaponryy a third. all knew w those people were doing without hring their names. but it is difficult to make ne whenou're talking about nuclear disarmament. i decid not to talkbout michael. in satellite radio, we are about niche. i think we we the only channel for ur hours during e memori service talking about something other than him, and think we ha all h it with that love fair. >> it is just resetting, a th

. >> berlusconi says gos if berlusconi saycome on over the house, we e having a party after th summi go. look ihink that -- look, berlusconi is the head of governmentmaybe the head of the sta there and i don't care who they e. you ha got to treat them with a certain measure of digty and respect, no matter thr personal misconduct and behior or even their ideology. d this is an area where think barack obama rack obama's natural griousness and couesyl rvhim well. pat buchanan, tha you so much. >>>what political sty will be making headlines? that's next on "andrea mitchell report ports". stayith us. ininhehesearkets, i'm gladad turned to fidelity for an annuityty wh h guanteed income f f l lif ththat r rht, guaranante i ince for life. my annuiui f frofidelity means myetetement income is safe.. 's'suaranteed, m matr what happens. if guararaeeeed come for life sodsdsood to you, do w whai i d -- let fifidetyty byour guide. call fidelely y at. >> what story will we be talking ababo, if we can ttal in thehe nxt 2hours. chchk it up jetlag. ris cillizza,ututh of t t fix. help m meout. >> welcom

instead, citizens are upset that the recorded conversations include berlusconi bragging to the womanut the existence of 30 venetian tombs from the third century b.c. on his villa estate in sardinia. this was apparently news to almost everyone, and the daily mail reports any archaeological discovery like this should be reported to rome's culture ministry and a local office in charge of artistic heritage. failure to do so can result in fines and possible jail time. berlusconi's office had no comment but his opposition is calling for a full report on the significant discovery. again, the outrage in the press is over the undisclosed tombs and not the sex acts or the pillow talk heard on the audiotapes.ws continuing our coverage on healthcare e form legislation, we're going to take a look now at some of the democrats who are giving their leadership and the president such a hard time over healthcare reform legislation. correspondent molly hennenberg has the story of the blue dog coalition. >> the capitol is going to the dogs, the blue dogs, not this kind of blue dog, but these blue dogs, 5

berlusconi has always done it his way.s admit not even this scandal will likely get in his way. paula newton, cnn, rome. >>> protests timed to the summit are going on across italy. they threw tree branches and trash on to rome's streets to block the traffic. some 20 activists were detained. greenpeace says demonstrators have occupied four coal-fired plants today, urging the g-8 to do more to fight climate change workers at two of the plants held counter-demonstrations. >>> back here in the united states, president obama is under fire over his economic recovery plan. critics say it's not creating jobs. live picture from capitol hill as the house oversight committee is hearing testimony on how states are spending their portion of this $787 billion package. government auditors say many are using the money to simply stay afloat and not no larger way toss jump-start the economy. >>> republicans think they have found the president's weakness, and they plan to capitalize on it. more on that coming up in the half hour. >>> say goo

what can you say about berlusconi? he has scandals, but he can pull this off.g to be a nightmare, this conference, but he managed to get the world media, everyone else to italy, anravaged zone. there's been no contention on the surface, which is a second success as well. there's been limited movement on free trade, limited movement on the discussion on the recovery. but one big success, undoubtedly, has been president obama. i've seen world leader after world leader coming up and talking to me and other news group saying leadership from the u.s. is back on the table. leadership on aid, leadership on climate, leadership on free climate. the australian prime minister congratulating the president for his leadership on this issue. president obama wrapping up in about 55 minutes' time. he will be talking about, hopefully, the latest deal to give more aid to africa, $15 billion is the number we've been thinking about. and also he'll be applauding the fact that world g-8 leaders have reached some accord to development levels in terms of climate. hopefully wushing forw

. >>> and at g-8 summit, all eyes not on first lady obama but on the woman seen with silvio berlusconito accompany him to the event, not his wife. you think that's good stuff? here's the kicker. the italian press reports a quote, cold war has broken out between two other female officials who didn't get the invite. so, the plot thickens. >> oh, goodness. all right. time for the winners, our daily challenge to viewers to come up with a better caption for a photo we put on the blog every day. let's take a look at the picture. president obama and the italian prime minister greeting each other at the g-8 summit in italy. kurt, his caption, i must say madame tussaud outdid herself when she made you, silvio. your winner is evan, his caption, the president checks prime minister berlusconi for obama fever which started in the states and spread across europe. congratulations. your t-shirt is on the way. >>> coming up next on "360," he's gone but michael jackson memorabilia lives on. want to buy a moon walking cheeto? a look at the strange stuff on auction on ebay. at the top of the hour, the lat

emergency hecopters are on stand to aiift the g8 leaders out, just in case pre-empt for silvio berlusconi, on by one, has taken leaders arnd the city. thiafternoon, it was preside oba's turn. the italian leaders 's reputation is riddlewith sex scandal and other allegation e chinese present s leing before the event even began. thg8 leaders were arriving. the main questionhey haveo solve, h t deal th the world ecomic crisi. round-tae tasthis afternoon have brought progress. they reed to the world economy was still to shaky to put an end to th stilus packages both britainnd the u.s. insis are necesry, but germany'chancellor merkel are also talk about preparing ex strategy ito avd rnning up too much debt, and innother breakthrgh, forhe first time, they agreed that rich countries should bear the brun for glob greenhouse gas emissions and pledged to lit global warming is not re than two deees celsius. >> this is an agreement of the g8 countries. it is the fir time in as ever happened. ihink is very signicant that en during a diffilt time of recession, people want to loo forward. lo cbon jobs wi

italian prime minister, silvio berlusconi moved the summit there to help boost the local economy. off the leg of his trip with a visit to the vatican and pope benedict xvi. after that, it's off to ghana. >>> and now, for this morning's weather from around the nation. showers and thunderstorms in the midwest and northern plains, with hail, gusty winds and a chance of tornadoes from montana to missouri. thunderstorms with heavy rain in the southeast and the gulf coast. and scattered showers and thunderstorms also in new england. a wet 73 in boston. 83 in new york. and 83 in baltimore. 100 in dollar. st. louis will hover near 90. while chicago and detroit are in the 70s. just 65 in seattle. 77 in boise. and 84 in sacramento. >>> coming up next from los angeles and new york, a clear sign of bernard madoff's wife may escape any prosecution for his multibillion-dollar scheme. >>> and the jackson children, destined for a life in the spotlight. what they can learn from other children living in the shadow of a superstar parent. that sticks to your teeth so well you can even drink water wit

emergency helicopters are on standby to airlift the g8 leaders out, just in case pre-empt for silvio berlusconi, one by one, he has taken leaders around the city. this afternoon, it was president obama's turn. the italian leaders 's reputation is riddled with sex scandal and other allegations. the chinese president was leaving before the event even began. the g8 leaders were arriving. the main question they have to solve, how to deal with the world economic crisis. round-table talks this afternoon have brought progress. they agreed to the world economy was still too shaky to put an end to the stimulus packages both britain and the u.s. insists are necessary, but germany's chancellor merkel are also talk about preparing exit strategy is to avoid running up too much debt, and in another breakthrough, for the first time, they agreed that rich countries should bear the brunt for global greenhouse gas emissions and pledged to limit global warming is not more than two degrees celsius. >> this is an agreement of the g8 countries. it is the first time in as ever happened. i think is very significant th

and finally, the best for last, prime minister berlusconi. it makes you smile. he has been in the news of late. i found it very interesting that the italian president recently called for a truce amongst italian press because they want the summit to go smoothly. they don't want the words call girl splintering into the headlines. think the prime minister would welcome a slow news cycle coming out of the g8. they're trying to put to rest, if you'll recall, in 2001 when they last hosted the g8 summit, there were violent protests. a protester was shot and killed. there were a lot of internal dynamics following that death. and i think they want to see obviously a very smooth performance here. and, again, looking to popularity, prime minister better lesbetter less scoany ha. i think the italian politics have a capacity of the scandal. i think you see where it is affecting his popularity and his maneuverability. on italy, again, just picking up on a comment that steven said, you know, the italians as host have to be mindful that they are sort of a poster child, if you w

. >> workers from the arts are so angry about silvio berlusconi's plan to slash funds that they took their objections to the front door of parliament. their banner reads "emergency," and that is how they see it. there are worries that wiping $180 million of the budget will bring the industry to its knees and put them all out of work. >> we are here to claim that the cuts are deadly. we're in such dire straits that we run the risk of being the scene 40% of the independent world disappear. >> the situation has to be resolved because i believe the cinema, culture, art is important to italy and has to be supported in all possible ways. >> the problem is, like most of europe, the italian government is suffering from the fallout of the global economic recession. passed incentives have already been introduced to try to pump some cash into the industry. but without the government fund s, some projects will not get off the ground, so the tax credits are meaningless. its symbol perhaps of how the protesters are feeling. the group of violinists give them a taste of what they might be missing if

the host, italian prime minister silvio berlusconi, decided to move the summit from sardinia to the earthquake struck city to boost the economy. thousands of forces have been deployed to provide security for the three-day summit. >> here we have troops coming from navy, air force, and army. >> reporter: after the summit, the president will have his first meeting with the pope in rome before ending the weeklong trip in the african country of ghana. charlie d'agata, cbs news, london. >>> now to michael jackson. the stage is set for today's memorial service. a final farewell worthy of the king of pop. los angeles is bracing for an onslaught of jackson fans, tens of thousands who didn't get tickets for the memorial are expected to jam downtown l.a. elizabeth sanchez has the latest. elizabeth, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, michelle. 3,000 los angeles police officers are already out here getting ready for the expected crowd of more than 250,000 people. officers tell me they're prepared to stop anyone without a ticket and a wristband from getting near the staples center. michael jackson wi

on wednesday, italian prime minister silvio berlusconi gave the president a personal tour of the damageident paused to glad-hand with first responders. >> the fire fighters of the united states, they're very proud of you. >> reporter: mr. obama seemed to be a hit with firefighters. but some residents, still living in tent cities three months later, had a not-so-subtle message to the visiting american president. a twist on his campaign slogan. yes, we camp. well, the summit wraps up today, but tomorrow the president and first lady will still be in italy, natalie. they'll meet with the pope. >> and savannah, do we know if president obama talked with brazil's president about david goldman? of course, he's the new jersey father locked in that custody battle with the brazilian family over his son sean? >> well, an administration official tells me it did not come up today. but that this is something the president continues to be concerned about, and presses at all levels of government, including the secretary of state. but they had other issues on the agenda today, so it didn't come up. >> sa

the g-8 circus has come here on the whim i'm saying of silvio berlusconi. but the question is that everyone around the world is asking and markets in particular, what are we going to get out of this. i say we'll get something, some progress. do all the politicians, including president obama and first g-8 conference actually want concrete measures on the host of issues you mentioned. i would suggest progress not final conclusions. the president has his own agenda. in pittsburgh the good-20 will be meeting after the previous meeting. i would suggest to viewers then is when the president will reach concrete agreement on environment, aids, stimulus, of course regulation as well. though we want to see progress on key issues, i would suggest the president would also keep an eye on the future agenda which will hopefully be a conclusion of the world trade talks, sometime in 2010. >>> thank you, steve. this morning states in crisis. guest host no stranger to navigating budget woes. senator pataki served three terms as governor, presided over his showdown. good morni

president berlusconi moved the summit here in support. regular aftershocks in this area in the mountains so there's an emergency plan in place because there are almost 40 leaders staying in police barracks so if there's another serious quake, there's an emergency plan to move them all out in air lifts. >> bill plante in l'aquila, italy, thank you very much. >>> 7:11 and dave price is here just back from l.a. great job out there. >> good to be home. why don't we take a look at the weather. see what's happening. we'll start out right here in the northeast in the new york city area and the northern suburbs. lots of delays at the airport yesterday. let's tell you why. take a look at this video. how about it. last night, hail covered the ground like snow during fast-moving thunderstorms. north of new york city, golf ball-size hail fell. kids were making hail angels. some of that still on the ground this morning, by the way, just remarkable so lots of folks going from west to east from that memorial service delayed getting in. all is well today

evan, his caption, the president checks prime minister berlusconi for obama fever which started in the states and spread across europe. congratulations. your t-shirt is on the way. next on 36, the shot he's gone. but michael jackson memorabilia lives on. want to buy a moon walking cheeto? a look at the strange stuff on auction on ebay. at the top of the hour, the latest on the jackson death investigation. the desperate intervention to help him back in 2007. mr. evans? this is janice from onstar. i have received an automatic signal you've been in a front-end crash. do you need help? yeah. i'll contact emergency services and stay with you. you okay? yeah. onstar. standard for one year on 14 chevy models. and an environment in balance. between consuming less and conserving more. there is one important word: how. and it is the how that makes all the difference. to the planet we all share. good choice. only meineke lets you choose the brake service that's right for you. and save 50% on pads and shoes. meineke. >>> it's time for the shot. tonight's ebay overload over michael jackson. there a

and again looking to popularity, prime minister berlusconi has fallen. he's now at 49%. i think italian politics and domestic, they have an absorbtive capacity for scandal to perhaps other countries don't. but now i think you're starting to see where it's affecting his popularity and his maneuverability. finally on italy, again, just picking up on a comment that steven said, you know, the italians as hosts have to be mindful that they are sort of a poster child, if will you, for unfulfilled g-8 commitments and that's particularly true on development aid. will you see some public tritkism kill drble criticism, particularly from the humanitarian assistance community. they just have not, you know, talk is pretty cheap and they haven't fulfilled their commitments. again, very brief with both things that i would look for, what europe leaders are going to be looking for, climate change and the big comment now is whether president obama will make a public commitment to the so-called two-degree goal and that is ensuring that we will limit the rise of global temperatures by two d

and again looking to popularity, prime minister berlusconi has fallen. he's now at 49%. i think italian politics and domestic, they have an absorbtive capacity for scandal to perhaps other countries don't. but now i think you're starting to see where it's affecting his popularity and his maneuverability. finally on italy, again, just picking up on a comment that steven said, you know, the italians as hosts have to be mindful that they are sort of a poster child, if will you, for unfulfilled g-8 commitments and that's particularly true on development aid. will you see some public tritkism kill drble criticism, particularly from the humanitarian assistance community. they just have not, you know, talk is pretty cheap and they haven't fulfilled their commitments. again, very brief with both things that i would look for, what europe leaders are going to be looking for, climate change and the big comment now is whether president obama will make a public commitment to the so-called two-degree goal and that is ensuring that we will limit the rise of global temperatures by two d

obama will be welcomed by the country's prime minister silvio berlusconi's kicks off the g-8 summit. president obama took off from russia this morning and in one schmidt and beginning another in italy. he joins leaders from around the world at the group of eight in la chemic italy. it builds off the summit held in london this past spring and it will be an exchange of views. the number one issue is the global economy. >> no nation can wall itself off from the consequences of a global crisis. no one can serve as the sole engine of global growth. >> leaders are looking for an exit strategy as they seek to move from stimulus to recovery. many remain cautious including britain's prime minister gordon brown who is continuing to press for coordinated international action. but the financial crisis is not the only hot topic to dominate the heads of state. they are addressing other major issues from climate change and world hung are to the situation with iran and north korea. this g-8 kimmsummit lasts the n three days. >> what do officials expect out of this g-8 summit? >> one thing well watch

the winner, it is berlusconi on the phone. he needs an alibi for last friday. i like that one. congratulations. beat 360 t-shirt on the way. >> still ahead, a plane doing daredevil maneuvers and a car in the wrong place at the wrong time. all caught on tape. we'll show you how it played out. . >>> at the top of the hour, my exclusive walk an take with president obama at cape coast castle. mr. evans? this is janice from onstar. i have received an automatic signal you've been in a front-end crash. do you need help? yeah. i'll contact emergency services and stay with you. you okay? yeah. onstar. standard for one year on 14 chevy models. so, malcolm, you do know that energy savers last 6 times longer than ordinary light bulbs. this isn't my room. it's baron davis'. baron davis the basketball player? this is his room? yep. interesting because we have baron davis right here. baron, do you live here? no. i don't mean that baron davis. announcer: millions of kids are using their energy wisely. >>> tonight's shot >>> a plane take a look at how low. it hit a parked car just beyond those

. >> italian prime minister silvio berlusconi led mr. obama on a tour where the earthquake killed 3,300 and left villagers displaced. they looked at a displaced government building and aftershocks have rattled the region since the killer quake. italian security forces pre-positioned helicopters to evacuate the g8 leaders should another quake strike. a product of the mid 1970's oil shock and recession, the g8 used to matter. now, it struggles to assert influence. last year's meeting in japan misread everything, predicting steady but somewhat slower economic growth, while describing inflation and high oil prices as the biggest economic threat. well, two months later, lehman brothers collapsed, oil prices are now half what they were in japan, and inflation worries replaced by the first post war global economic contraction. >> i think the g8 is a little bit outdated as a meeting, because right now, we cannot decide anything about the financial crisis, in general, about the crisis without speaking to china and india and developing countries.

silvio berlusconi, the italian prime minister, moved the summit here to show his solidarity with those who are still suffering the effects of that earthquake. 66,000 people are still displaced. president obama went along with the prime minister to tour some of the damage today. while he was there, he came across a sign that might have looked vaguely familiar. it read yes, we camp. it says many of those displaced are still living in camps here from when the earthquake first hit. the prime minister said treat it like a camping weekend. some still are, and they are not very happy about it. shepard: major garrett live at the summit in italy. a wildfire and emergency crews have evacuated a los angeles landmark. we have brand-new video. it's near the getty art center art complex, a famous museum in the santa monica mountains overlooking l.a. you can't miss it. it's quite a sight. firefighters say the flames broke out about three hours ago and are now actually burning on getty property. they have shut the place down, evacuated it, turned off the ventilation system to try to prevent the smoke

coverage headline -- sex and the silvio, shocking claims against italian prime minister silvio berlusconi. it involves a paid escort and the most intimate private acts between a man and a woman. i'm wolf blitzer in cnn's command center for breaking news, politics, and extraordinary reports from around the world. you're in "the situation room." >>> we have just witnessed a political twist rarely seen. just a short while ago, the president of the united states made a surprise appearance before reporters and dialed back his words regarding the arrest of an african-american scholar. professor henry louis gates of harvard university. let's go straight to our white house correspondent, dan lothian. he's got the details 37 dan? >> reporter: wolf, you know, this was a story that was just not dying down. the president was trying to focus on health care reform, deal with division within his own party on that issue. at the same time, white house officials were really trying to do some damage control on this controversy in cambridge, massachusetts so, the president decided to come out and address the

berlusconi wanted to move the g-8 here to showcase the rebuilding efforts but also simply to serve as almost an economic stimulus to the area. >> i'm please aed the united states like other countries will be contributing to the help, rebuilding process. >> lots of back and forth of these world leaders. it is not just the g-8 here by the way. there are representatives from nearly 32 other countries and the agenda is wide ranging, climate. the economy. all of those typical things that you have here. but the big one as far as the united states is conceed is iran. what will they say collectsively about eye sxran all of that is in the hands of russia. if the president made progress in russia, on iran, we will find out when they issue the statement here on iran. chuck todd reporting from rome. nbc news. >>> while in italy president obama is being forced to zpeend his economic stimulus plan. and there is growing debate on capitol hill and as to whether it is working. republicans are gearing up to fight a second still us will even though the white house says that there will not be one. brian

italian prime minister silvio berlusconi moved the sum tlit to help boost the local economy. yunji de nies, abc news, moscow. >> now let's take a look at your wednesday forecast. showers and thunderstorms with a chance of severe weather in the midwest and northern plains today. thunderstorms and heavy rain from the carolinas into florida and into the gulf coast. scattered showers and thunderstorms up in new england. >> a high of 73 in boston, 81 in new york and 87 in atlanta. chicago and detroit will be in the 70s. 91 in colorado spring, 86 in salt lake city and just 65 in seattle. >> you know, we're hearing so many stories like, there so many people dropping what they were doing no matter where they were to come to l.a. to be a part of history yesterday. even if they didn't have ticketeds to michael jackson's memorial. >> they will no doubt take home many memories. we'll share a few in just a moment. ♪ it true we make a brighter day just you and me ♪ ♪ we are the world, we are the children ♪ we are the ones who make a bright are day so let's start giving ♪ hi. number two, pl

. >> that's nicholas sarkozy next to him and silvio berlusconi was there looking as well.l those world leaders who got an eye full in italy yesterday. >> i mean, tact, guys, a little bit of tact. but there's no shortage of people ogling you around this place either. >> i'm all aware of this? >> ooh, she wants to dust it off for you. >> it's everything i can do to keep the women away. >> they were screaming in this picture. he made his first appearance in the newsroom and all the girls were like jeremy, he's here finally! >> and there's donna ogling me from behind. >> we'll be right back. >> now to a story that's nearly too horrific to believe. it comes from a suburb of chicago. >> it's where a cemetery manager and three grave diggers were arrested yesterday. coverage from chicago's abc 7. >> hundreds of families descend on the cemetery desperate for information. they want to know if their relatives were in the graves that were dug up to make room for new bodies. the number of bodies affected is now estimated at as many as 300. >> four cemetery employees have been charged a

basically, controversy about silvio berlusconi himself, his private life about his government policy, whether he should be leading the g-8 itself anyway, about the relevance of the g-8 as a forum. of course, it doesn't include china, it doesn't include the powerhouse of india and brazil as well. some are saying the g-20 is about a forum, and others are saying the u.s. thinks it's too unworldly. too many powers giving their five cents worth to the debate. but now we're here. it's a meeting, like a reality check, really. i don't know if you remember back in london in april, gordon brown and president obama were saying about how we had these trillions of dollars we're pumping into the economy to save the world. now here we are, the markets are falling and the same questions abound, questions about climate, questions about free trade and questions, of course, about the dollar as well, and whether there should be other reserve currencies. that one, though, will be left lingering, because the chinese leader, hu, he's gone home to sort out problems in his own country. larry? >> stay with us.

and again looking to popularity, prime minister berlusconi has fallen. he's now at 49%. i think italian politics and domestic, they have an absorbtive capacity for scandal to perhaps other countries don't. but now i think you're starting to see where it's affecting his popularity and his maneuverability. finally on italy, again, just picking up on a comment that steven said, you know, the italians as hosts have to be mindful that they are sort of a poster child, if will you, for unfulfilled g-8 commitments and that's particularly true on development aid. will you see some public tritkism kill drble criticism, particularly from the humanitarian assistance community. they just have not, you know, talk is pretty cheap and they haven't fulfilled their commitments. again, very brief with both things that i would look for, what europe leaders are going to be looking for, climate change and the big comment now is whether president obama will make a public commitment to the so-called two-degree goal and that is ensuring that we will limit the rise of global temperatures by two d