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Greek Payment Deadline Today; Gunman in Tunisia Had Ties to Terror Group; Captured Fugitive David Sweat Is Now Talking; Fire in Pacific Northwest Scorching Everything in Sight; Greek Debt Deadline Arrives; What Can Tourists Expect in Greece; More U.S., Iran Talks Over Nuclear Deal; British Couple Stays in Tunisia After Beach Attack; States Push Back Against U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage; NBC Severs Ties with Donald Trump. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired June 29, 2015 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:00:26] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Deadline day, time to pay up. But it's looking like Greece won't pay its debts. We look at what happens next if that happens.
A live report ahead from Tunisia, as there are new details on the man who shot and killed tourists at a beach resort.
And a billionaire gets dumped. Donald Trump reacting after a major TV network cuts ties with him.
Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. I'm George Howell. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
And good day to you. We begin this hour in Greece. Today is the day, the deadline for that country to make a $1.7 billion loan payment to the European creditors or the country will face default. The Greek prime minister says payment will be impossible. It has sent financial markets in the United States and Europe into a tailspin. In New York, the Dow Jones saw its worst day of the year, falling 350 points on Monday. European markets won't open for another 24 hours. They finished in negative territory Monday.
Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied against the idea of more austerity. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras asked European leaders or an extension to the deadline. Their answer: no. Mr. Tsipras has called for a referendum for people to vote on the bailout this Sunday. He says there is no way Greece will be forced out of the Eurozone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXIS TSIPRAS, GREEK PRIME MINISTER (through translation): The economic cost if the Eurozone is dismantled, the cost of a country in default, 120 billion Euros is enormous, and this won't and in my view. My personal view is that their plan is not to push Greece out of the Eurozone. Their plan is to hope that there can be a different kind of policy in Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOWELL: Donald Tusk of Poland is the current president of the European Council. He says Greece has every right to hold a referendum, but he is warning of the consequences of a vote against this bailout. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TUSK, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COUNCIL: One thing should be very clear. If someone says that the government will have a stronger negotiating position with the "no" vote, it is simply not true. I am afraid that with such a result of the referendum, there will be even less space for negotiations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: CNN's Isa Soares is live Athens following all the developments.
Isa, good to have you with us.
We've seen people ling up at ATMs around the country, people trying to get their hands on their own money, but they are restricted in some fashion. What are you seeing in Athens this morning?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, good morning, George. Pretty much the same thing. And when we came in this morning, we didn't see queues yet. It was still very early, but I will tell you probably around 7:00, 8:00, you'll start seeing people queuing up to ATMs, most likely pensioners, because yesterday was supposed to be a pension day. That was supposed to be the day the government paid pensioners, but it never happened. They showed up at ATMs and several banks that opened just to pay the pensioners that didn't have cards, and a lot of pensioners were furious because they didn't have access to their funds. They couldn't get their money out. I interviewed a lady who said that she tried 10 times to get money out of her pension but she couldn't even get 60 Euros, not even five Euros, let's lone 60. Later on today we are expecting to see a rally, that is an anti-government rally, pro-Europe rally in the streets of Athens in the square. It will be interesting to see how big the crowd is, to get a sense, George, of where people stand on the issue, but, you know, I was listening to the sound bite that we just played from Donald Tusk. And I think he really struck something there. Because I think what people are thinking here, come Sunday, if they vote no, perhaps Europe will still come back with something, Europe will still say maybe we can figure something out. Here's a better deal, and it doesn't seem that it's going that way. Europe saying yesterday the door was ajar, reminding Europeans, the Italian prime minister telling people, this is not about the European Commission, about Europe, or Tsipras or Greece. This is about the Euro versus drachma, and this is your choice, if it goes the way of a no, I think Europe won't be able to offer anything to the Greeks they haven't offered already.
[01:05:14] HOWELL: Isa, so you paint this picture. You see people who are frustrated that they can't get their own money. We've seen these big anti-austerity rallies in the streets of Athens, but at the same time, do Greeks want to stay in the E.U.? How do you square the circle there?
SOARES: Yeah, they do. I mean, this is a city pretty confused. And I've heard your discussions earlier, with Zain, where it doesn't make much sense that people want to stay in the E.U. but at the same time they want to risk it all. And it's confusing, I think, but the majority of people say, look, of course, if we had a choice, the choice would be stay in the Eurozone, but we know austerity. But that's not the choice. That's not the offer being put forward by Europe. If you want to stay in the E.U., you have to make concessions like a lot of Europe did, like Portugal, like Spain, like Ireland. They've all made cuts, and they are growing, a lot of these countries. So what they are saying is, yes, we want to stay in Europe. Yes, we want to be part of the European project, but we don't want austerity. At the same time, other people are saying if it's about staying in the European project and growth, perhaps we can go it alone. And I think some people haven't quite realized the consequences, George, of going it alone. Sure, they may not have money, be able to take 56 Euros, but there's a much bigger problem here. They won't have any money at all to take out and that will be the tip of the iceberg.
HOWELL: Isa Soares reporting live in Athens. And we'll stay in touch with you as this continues to play out.
A senior counterterrorism official tells CNN the United States is, quote, "definitely on a heightened state of alert" as calls to attack the West come from the terrorist organization ISIS. The threat comes as the United States gets ready to celebrate its Independence Day this weekend. A White House official says they are mindful of the situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There's no specific, credible intelligence to indicate any threats against celebrations over the 4th of July weekend. However, we have repeatedly seen calls for violence over the past year by leadership and supporters of ISIL against members of the military and military installations, law enforcement, the U.S. government and the American public. And we're mindful of the more recent call by leaders of ISIL and other extremists to carry out attacks in the middle of Ramadan, which we're in right now. So I think it's fair for you to conclude that issuing this kind of joint information bulletin is part of our standard operating procedure, but we're certainly mindful of the unique environment in advance of this 4th of July holiday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: We turn now to a country that was recently rocked by terrorism, the country of Tunisia. That country's interior ministry tells CNN that the man who gunned down 38 people on a beach resort last week, that he had ties to a Libyan terror group. Authorities have also made first arrests in connection with this attack.
Let's turn now to our senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, who is live.
Nick, good to have you with us. What's the latest there?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The interior ministry giving the first indications exactly who they think the network behind the gunman may have been. They're saying it's a Libyan organization. They're not saying if it's al Sharia, the al Qaeda affiliate. That may make more sense with the witnesses suggesting the gunmen chose to kill foreigners, rather than Tunisia workers on the beach as well, or whether or not, as ISIS claimed, he was working with ISIS. But they say the amateur video you're about to see shows the recovered cell phone he threw into the sea as well as his laptop and documentation from the parental home we were at Saturday.
Here is the chilling video filmed by what seems to have been a hotel worker after that attack.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SHOUTING)
PATON WALSH (voice-over): They are unarmed, but still think run towards a gunman who's already killed guests at the hotel where they work. Towards the pool, many guests already fled.
(SHOUTING)
PATON WALSH: That last blast, perhaps a sound grenade, one of risky detonators, equipment that might be a lead to any backers.
(SHOUTING)
PATON WALSH: He's gone into the hotel lobby, it appears.
(EXPLOSION)
(SHOUTING)
PATON WALSH: But perhaps found no more victims.
(EXPLOSION)
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
[01:10:07]PATON WALSH: He heads back towards the beach, this cafe near the sands. The cameraman runs again, towards him, yet pauses at the bar. He's seen something. Gun on his shoulder, the gunman is strolling back towards the beach. There we see the victims. Their bodies too gruesome to show.
The cameraman keeps low.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
PATON WALSH: "Why, why," he exclaims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) PATON WALSH: Lives and livelihoods taken here in these golden tourist sands.
No longer firing. Is he out of bullets? Or targets? Unwilling to shoot Tunisian workers?
(SHOUTING)
PATON WALSH: Still, it's those workers who give chase, a head long rush toward possible death.
The cameraman sees him throw his phone into the sea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
PATON WALSH: They follow him back to the streets.
(GUNFIRE)
PATON WALSH: Those bullets heading towards the cameraman.
(GUNFIRE)
PATON WALSH: Perhaps from police. Some very close.
(SHOUTING)
(GUNFIRE)
PATON WALSH: It's on this road that the gunman met his death.
(SHOUTING)
(GUNFIRE)
(SHOUTING)
(GUNFIRE)
PATON WALSH: Was he running towards an accomplice who drove him there? Was he seeking another hotel to continue his rampage? He took those secrets to his grave, yet his last moments captured by one of the many Tunisians who risked their lives for foreigners.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PATON WALSH: Now, George, we are still learning those details about who that gunman was. There are witnesses we spoke to after the attack. They said they'd seen more than one gunman. They say that the gunman worked on his own. They believe he was radicalized online. I know we have just been reporting the belief that he was connected to a Libyan terrorist organization. Unclear which one that is.
These details are coming through, as is the Tunisian interior ministry's desire or question immediately two men who are in their early 20s. They released their images online. They say they're dangerous, and they are mostly students. Also, they are questioning his roommates at the university there.
A network, it appears, under investigation now as are its extent into Libya. Unclear if the gunman traveled to Libya at this stage. That is not something authorities have actually confirmed. They can prove at this stage, it may seem likely, or perhaps that radicalism that made him carry out that bloodthirsty attack, traveled across the border to convert him here towards that twisted violence.
But it's still early morning here, a coastal resort struggling to digest the enormity of what happened Friday noon -- George?
HOWELL: Senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, live in Tunisia.
Nick, thank you for the details and insight. And we'll stay with you as this investigation continues there.
Yemen claims it fired a scud missile on Saudi Arabia targeting a military base there, located about 430 kilometers or 270 miles from Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen. Yemen's president says the attack is a response to Saudi Arabia killing civilians in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has not verified any attack inside their borders.
Meanwhile, ISIS has claimed responsibility for a car bomb in the capital city of Sanaa. 35 people were hurt in that blast, which officials say targeted a group of mourners.
And in Egypt, the country's top prosecutor was assassinated Monday after an exPLOsion near his home in Cairo. The bomb targeted the prosecutor's convoy and comes one day before the second anniversary of the mass protests against former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Six other people were injured and several cars were destroyed in the blast. At this time, no one has claimed responsibility.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Captured fugitive, David Sweat, is now talking about his escape from a New York prison and his run from the law. More on what he's telling authorities next.
Plus, a fire in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. is scorching everything in its sight. Details on what may be fueling this fire straight ahead.
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[01:18:54] HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
Scorching temperatures and scarce rainfall, two ingredients that are fueling a wildfire that is tearing through the Pacific Northwest here in the U.S. And you can see what it did to a home as it burned through parts of the city of Wenatchee, a town more than two hours east of the city of Seattle. It began Sunday outside that town, and by evening it made its way into the city limits and has caused a lot of damage. The cause of that fire is still unknown.
For more on these fires, let's turn to our meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri.
You and I used to live and work in that part of the world, and when these fires get started they're hard to stop.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You see these fires across eastern Washington frequently, but this past weekend, the temperatures absolutely incredible across the Western side as well. It was warmer than in Miami across south Florida. And then you come to the eastern side, Walla Walla, it was 113 Fahrenheit, mid-40s Celsius. Warmer than Phoenix. But the perspective for Wenatchee and the concern is that it's just not going to cool off much. 2: 00 in the morning, the forecast brings it down to 85 degrees, drops to the mid-70s by sundown. And the dry pocket where you expect it east of the Cascade Mountains, humidity in the 20 percentile. The western side, you're back up to the 60 percentile.
But here's the forecast. Notice it is on an upward trend. The sunny skies are there. The chance for rainfall is at a goose egg. So you put this together, not a good recipe for fire weather. And the forecast for some of the bigger cities as well. Getting up to around 90 degrees in Seattle and remaining there for the July 4th weekend. While Salt Lake City into the 90s, closing in around 100. Southwest above average. Phoenix, right around 110, 111 potentially this parting of Arizona. And the heat not confined to the U.S. In Spain, temperatures shooting up around mid-40s Celsius, which is 110 Fahrenheit -- George?
[01:16:07] HOWELL: Another situation we are following, we are learning that Japan is raising its alert level after a volcano eruption. What more can you tell us about that?
JAVAHERI: That's right. This news coming in inside the last hour. Japan well-known for volcanic activity. And we kind of go in for a closer look. This is Hakone, a prime destination for a lot of tourists. There's a lake across this region, a lot of hiking in this region. And the level on a one to five is taken up to a level three. Apparent concern is some evacuations, not placed just yet, but the concern is once you get to level four, that's when evacuations occur. They are saying do not approach the volcano under any circumstances. And historically, this area is very, very active. This is something we're watching near a pretty densely populated area -- George?
HOWELL: Pedram Javaheri following it all. We'll stay close to you as this continues to play out.
Pedram, thank you.
JAVAHERI: You bet.
HOWELL: This just in. It appears a fire on board a bullet train in Japan was caused by suicide. The information is still coming in, but an official tells CNN two people were found in cardiac arrest on the train, traveling from Tokyo to Osaka. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, say that a man set himself o on fire inside a bathroom. And a woman is suffering from smoke inhalation. In New York, captured David Sweat is talking to police now about his
prison break and his weeks on the run. Meanwhile, the FBI is looking into possible corruption at the prison where Sweat and Richard Matt escaped. Law enforcement officers say investigators are also looking into alleged drug trafficking, involving prison workers and inmates.
And there is also focus on this man. Prison guard, Gene Palmer, is accused of giving Matt the frozen meat containing power tools used to cut through those prison walls. According to the county prosecutor, Sweat says Palmer did not help them break out. Palmer appeared in court on Monday and did not enter a plea.
David Sweat was shot twice in the torso. It's important that he stays alive so they can learn more about how he broke out of prison.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The prison break, supposed to end in Mexico, instead, convicted killer, David Sweat, was captured two miles from the Canadian border, after three weeks on the run. Authorities say Sweat is talking, saying the plan was for prison employee, Joyce Mitchell, to pick him and Richard Matt up and head south.
ANDREW CUOMO, (D), GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK: They would kill Mitchell's husband and get in the car and drive to Mexico on the theory that Mitchell was in love with one or both of them.
MARQUEZ: Instead, they headed into the woods. Sources tell CNN Sweat and Matt split up five days ago because Matt was slowing Sweat down and had become ill. A New York State Police officer, out on patrol by himself, spotted Sweat wearing camouflage near a barn in the town of Constable, New York.
JOSEPH D'AMICO, NEW YORK STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER: He spotted a male who was basically jogging up along the side of the road. He approached him. And as he exited the car, the male turned to him. He says, hey, come over here. The male kind of ignored him.
MARQUEZ: The officer pursued Sweat on foot, repeatedly ordering him to stop. When he refused, the officer opened fire, shooting Sweat twice in the torso. Sweat was unarmed.
Sweat airlifted to a trauma center in Albany where he's now being treated under heavy guard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He will be basically in 24/7 lockdown for the rest of his life.
(CHEERING)
MARQUEZ: Residents here taking to the streets in celebration.
CUOMO: The nightmare is finally over. It took 22 days.
MARQUEZ: A search of Sweat's backpack revealed it was loaded with supplies like, maps, bug repellant, wipes and Pop Tarts. It's unknown how or from where he obtained the supplies.
D'AMICO: It's believed these two males were using pepper to throw the scent off of the dogs tracking them.
MARQUEZ: DNA, amazingly, from underwear found near an outhouse lead authorities to track down Richard Matt. Matt was shot three times in the head and killed by police on Friday night after officers came upon a cabin where they smelled gunpowder. As they searched the woods, they heard coughing. Moments later, Matt armed with a .20 gauge shotgun, was confronted and fatally shot.
(on camera): According to an official, alcohol could be smelled on his body. They also believe he could be ill from contaminated food or water. An autopsy of Matt's body showed bug bites and blisters. And Sweat's backpack of supplies led authorities to believe both were living in the woods on the run for 22 days.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Albany, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. The tourism industry is vital to the country of Greece. Ahead, what visitors can expect as that country grapples with the debt crisis.
Plus, another deadline for a nuclear deal with Iran is inching closer. Details on a key sticking point as this broadcast continues worldwide on CNN International and CNN USA.
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[01:30:00] HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.
The headlines this hour, thousands of Greeks rallied in support of the country's decision to reject austerity measures in exchange for a bailout. Greece's loan payment to IMF is due today. The economy minister says the country cannot pay that debt.
Tunisia's interior ministry tells CNN that the man who shot and killed 38 people last week at a beach resort had a connection to a Libyan terror group. It is still unclear whether he had ever traveled to Libya. Authorities say they have made their first round of arrests in connection with that attack.
Captured convict, David Sweat, is talking to police now about his escape from a New York prison. He was shot and captured on Sunday after three weeks on the run. Sweat and fellow escapee, Richard Matt, apparently had plans to go to Mexico but switched to Canada when their ride backed out.
This video in now from Japan. It shows the bullet train where we're being told a fire on board was caused by suicide. An official says two people were found in cardiac arrest on the train that was traveling from Tokyo to Osaka. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, says a man set himself on fire inside a bathroom. At least 20 other people are said to have minor injuries from that fire.
Returning now to our top story, it is a pivotal day in the country of Greece. A loan payment is due to the IMF but will likely not be paid. And it's looking like the prime minister, he rejected terms for bailout and is now calling for a vote on Sunday.
The president of Greece's Chamber of Commerce calls this referendum a charade.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONSTANTINE MICHAELS, PRESIDENT, GREECE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: It is impossible for anyone who hasn't started basic economic theory to be able to understand exactly what the question is. And to be quite honest with you, I think we're looking towards a charade referendum on Sunday, simply because the constitution in Greece here clearly stipulates that all the ballot papers, and the full preparation for the referendum needs to be completed and everything needs to be in place five days before the referendum, which is Tuesday. Unfortunately, the only thing we've had so far is this complicated question, which I'm sure that a large percentage of the electorate would not be able to comprehend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: So what about tourism? Tourism is important to Greece. But with Greeks dealing with this latest turn on the debt crisis, what can tourists expect visiting that country?
Nina Dos Santos got some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Queues at banks and demonstrations in central Athens. Scenes like these are the last thing Greece wants holiday makers to be watching. With an estimated 20 million visits expected this year, tourism is a key part of the Greek economy, contributing up to one-fifth of the country's income and employing one in five people.
But amid the financial turbulence brought about by the collapse of its debt talks, what do holiday makers need to know about their summer vacation?
First up, with banks shut, money, specifically which money to use is a primary concern. With talk of Greece leaving the single currency, will Euros still be accepted?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even if Greece were to leave the Euro, it wouldn't mean overnight that the Euro becomes worthless, so Greece's restaurants and bars those will be accepted.
DOS SANTOS (on camera): Another question people have is should I rely on cash or should I use my credit card? Credit and debit cards will still be accepted but to be on the safe side, do take extra Euros and cash to cover emergencies and day to day expenses. (voice-over): Will prices go up or down?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd say if they were to leave, we'd see the worst. Euro very bad news if you're a Greek. But for a tourist, I don't think so, I think it would be beneficial.
DOS SANTOS: How do the capital controls now in face affect travelers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's Greek nationals that prevent them from moving their savings from Greek banks, and they can only take out 60 Euros a day. That doesn't apply. If you're a foreign national, you can take out considerably more than that on credit and debit cards.
DOS SANTOS: Will I still be able to get around?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Greeks have one bright spot, it's their tourist industry. And they will put every single resource they have to make sure that the planes run, ferries run and the coaches are going.
DOS SANTOS (on camera): If I get stranded, will my travel insurance cover the costs? The best advice is to check the terms and conditions of your own insurance.
And if you haven't booked yet, the safest option would be to book a package holiday. Tour operators are obliged to get you home if anything goes wrong.
But it's not all doom and gloom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The main message for people thinking of going to Greece, whatever happens, continue with your holiday plans, so I say, actually, in a funny way, even if they do leave the Euro, this may be the best times to come to Greece.
DOS SANTOS: Providing at least one silver lining to the gathering financial storm.
Nine Dos Santos, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:35:15] HOWELL: And now on the other side of the world, Puerto Rico may soon join Greece in defaulting on its debt. The governor is demanding the U.S. government allow the commonwealth to declare bankruptcy. Currently, only cities towns and municipalities can do so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEJANDRO GARCIA PADILLA, GOVERNOR, PUERTO RICO COMMONWEALTH: (through translation): We need action from Washington, action from Washington now, actions so they can continue improving the changes to Chapter Nine so Puerto Rico can count on the same protection that other jurisdictions have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Puerto Rico owes $73 billion. The government-run energy company has a debt payment due on Wednesday and is expected to default.
U.S. President Barack Obama has announced a plan that would make about five million more American workers eligible for overtime pay. He wants to more than double the maximum income a salaried worker could earn and still be eligible for overtime. Businesses argue that plan could kill jobs and that it could hurt the career advancement of middle-class workers.
The United States and Iran have more talks today ahead of the nuclear deal for a comprehensive nuclear deal. This final round began over the weekend in Vienna with Secretary of State John Kerry leading with Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Zarif. There are some points of contention as both sides work to achieve an agreement, like whether Iran will give U.N. inspectors will have access to sensitive military sites, whether sanctions will be lifted immediately once an agreement is reached, and whether those sanctions can be re-imposed if Iran violates the deal.
One of those key sticking points, the immediate lifting of sanctions is something a senior Iranian official says Tehran wants, however, he admits it could take some time.
He sat down with CNN senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, to talk about this possible deal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Obviously, the nuclear negotiations are in a very decisive phase right now. How good do you think it is right now that a deal will be reached? And what does Iran want to achieve.
ALAEDDIN BOROUJERDI, CHAIRMAN, IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY COMMITTEE (through translation): I believe the sanctions must be lifted at once. This is a necessary condition. Of course, when it comes to executing the sanction relief, that might take more time. Both the implementation of restrictions and the execution of lifting the sanctions may take longer. But from day one, it must be declared that the sanctions will be lifted. And inspecting our military facilities is a definite red line.
PLEITGEN: Presumably, you've already spoken to Foreign Minister Zarif about how the negotiations are going. How confident are you that an agreement can be reached?
BOROUJERDI (through translation): Both sides must show serious will for an agreement. And considering the fact that we have accepted restrictions on our program, we believe the Islamic Republic of Iran has done its part. Now it's the other side that has to make a decision. And the other side, especially the United States, wants to put on a show as they have done in the past when they reneged on previous agreements with Iran. PLEITGEN: If these negotiations go well, if there is an agreement,
could that lead to better relations with the United States, for instance, also better cooperation in fighting terrorism, fighting ISIS? And what do you think will be the consequences if this fails?
BOROUJERDI (through translation): We are witnessing a new atmosphere, which includes long-term discussions, longer than ever before. The two foreign ministers talked for countless hours. And even though this was just about the nuclear issue, Iran considers this a historical test for the United States, because we still do not trust the U.S. At this sensitive juncture, the U.S. must show it wants to bring down this wall of distrust between us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: That was senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, interviewing the chairman of the Iranian Foreign Policy Committee.
Now back to Tunisia. It is still coming to terms with a deadly terror attack at a beach resort which killed a number of tourists.
CNN Phil Black spoke with a couple who survived that attack and decided to stay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The coastline is misleading. It doesn't look like the scene of a massacre. There are still many tourists enjoying this holiday playground. But not here.
The beach front of the Imperial Hotel, this is where most of the 38 victims were killed as the gunman first opened fire on a crowd of people lying in the sun.
(on camera): This patch of sand in front of the hotel is now a somber place. But what's really striking is how contained it is. The gunman would have had a clear field of view. And the people, once they realized what was going on, had almost nowhere to run. Few options for escape, just that narrow gate at the back. And those who were lucky enough to make it through were followed by the shooter.
[01:40:08] (voice-over): That gate is now chained and locked and guarded.
But we were allowed inside to meet the Imperial Hotel to meet a British couple in Tunisia to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary. They lived through the attack and decided to stay.
DAVID REPETTIS, BRITISH SURVIVOR OF BEACH SHOOTING: We're probably about 30 yards, 30 meters away from the gunman, which was near enough, anyhow. And the -- and I was frightened.
BLACK (on camera): What do you remember most about the gunman?
REPETTIS: All I saw him do was firing. I saw three people laying on the floor. I have no idea now whether they were dead. BLACK (voice-over): They survived by running from this courtyard and
hiding in a small room. They know many others weren't so fortunate.
David says his hardest moment since the attack was visiting the beach.
REPETTIS: Never having seen people in such a, a terrible emotional turmoil. I say, it wasn't us that was suffering. It was other people that were suffering. And to come to terms with their terror and their grief has taken us a lot of time.
BLACK: The Repettises say staying on feels right. The hotel is now a crime scene, but it's also a place where survivors are trying to make sense of what happened here.
Phil Black, CNN, Tunisia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
The U.S. Supreme Court says same-sex couples can get married in all 50 states, but some are still trying to stop that from happening. More on who's pushing back, ahead.
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[01:45:00] HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell. The deadly racially motivated shooting inside a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Myrick Thompson, one of the nine killed in that tragedy, has been laid to rest. Thompson's funeral was held in the very building where her life was taken from her, the church known as Mother Emanuel, this historic Emanuel AME Church. She leaves behind a husband and two children. Thompson was 59 years old.
In the wake of that deadly shooting, investigators are looking into a series of fires at African-American churches in the southern part of the United States. The fires happened at places of worship in North and South Carolina, in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. So far, investigators have found that two of the five fires were intentionally set, but no hate crimes are suspected. Another is believed to have been caused by lightning. Two of the church fires remain under suspicion at this point.
Switching now to the U.S. Supreme Court. It has made a number of key rulings lately. On Monday, it upheld the use of controversial drugs for lethal injection in executions. Three death row inmates brought the challenge, arguing they violate the eighth amendment ban on cruel or unusual punishment. They also put on hold a ruling to close abortion clinics in Texas.
The U.S. Supreme Court also made same-sex marriage legal across all 50 states. Most states that previously banned those marriages said they will respect the ruling, but some are pushing back.
CNN's Jake Tapper reports.
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JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT & CNN ANCHOR, STATE OF THE UNION (V0): The jubilant crowds at pride parades in cities this weekend were hard to miss.
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TAPPER: Less enthusiastically, some stalwart states that upheld same- sex marriage bans, accepted the decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frankly, our reaction to the decision is one of disappointment.
TAPPER: But a nation that was divided before the ruling is not all rainbows and kisses today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The court of --
TAPPER: Some continue to oppose same-sex marriage, citing conflicting state laws, religious freedom and even paperwork issue.
In Mississippi, state officials say, not so fast. The right to wed will have to wait for a lower court's approval, despite approval by the highest judges. The governor added that the new marriage standards are, quote, "So out of step with the majority of Mississippians."
In Louisiana, a 25-day waiting period is suggested for county clerks before they begin issuing marriage licenses. Attorney General James Caldwell wrote, quote, "There is not a legal requirement for his state to issue them."
In Alabama, same-sex couples are tying the knot in Montgomery. But in some more rural counties, licenses have been halted for all couples, the only way around the Supreme Court's decree.
Voters across the country have repeatedly rejected same-sex marriage when it's been put to a vote. But courts have ruled in the opposite direction and polls indicate that there has been a sea change in public opinion on the issue in recent years.
BRIAN POWELL, PROFESSOR, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: Right now, more people are in support of same-sex marriage than the percentage of people who voted for Reagan in 1984.
TAPPER: Professor Powell has been studying trends for years, and he's predicting push back will not last long.
POWELL: Today, people who in Mississippi and Louisiana, in the south, where opposition is still the greatest, their support for same-sex marriage is on par, where other states were just a few years ago.
TAPPER: Many holdout counties and clerks are putting religious liberty front and center. In Texas, the attorney general has told officials they do not have to uphold the new Supreme Court ruling, writing that, "The reach of the court's opinion stops at the door of the First Amendment and our laws protecting religious liberty."
In Harris County, Texas, Friday, the clerk says he didn't have the correct applications forms for those in line.
STAN STANART, HARRIS COUNTY CLERK: If you look at the current form, it says "man and woman" on the side of it, and it has some fields that are specific to, like, maiden names.
TAPPER: Interestingly, Powell says coverage over the debate is what will lead to more acceptance of it, even the pockets pushing back.
POWELL: What's happened is people are basically getting used to the idea. And then they're getting more comfortable with the idea. So they're shifting their views from, why should that happen to why not.
TAPPER: Jake Tapper, CNN, Washington.
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[01:49:37] HOWELL: It was a historic moment in the United States, that Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. A hot-button issue in politics. And with the 2016 presidential election around corner, candidates are weighing in. You can see what they're saying on our website, CNN.com. See how they're sounding off.
You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Ahead, Donald Trump fires back after the Donald got dumped by NBC over immigration comments. Find out why he says the network is weak, next.
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HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
In an already crowded field, the U.S. presidential election could be getting another candidate. Chris Christie is set to jump into the race at his alma mater.
NBC Universal has severed ties with Donald Trump after he described illegal immigrants from Mexico as drug dealers and rapists. He made the comments at the launch of his presidential campaign. Until Monday, NBC jointly owned the Miss Universe and USA Pageant with Donald Trump. And now the network says it won't air them.
Trump is standing by his comments.
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DONALD TRUMP, CEO, TRUMP GROUP & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Somebody has to come out and tell it like it is. Politicians are all talk and no action.
We have to be less politically correct. And we have to be strong.
And, you know, you take beatings. You really take beatings when you tell the truth.
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[01:55:05] HOWELL: Donald doubling down there. In a statement, Trump said, quote, "If NBC is so weak and so foolish to not understand the serious illegal immigration problem in the United States, coupled with the unfair trade deals we are making with Mexico, then their contract-violating closure of Miss Universe will be decided in court." NBC has not commented on a possible lawsuit.
Sometimes it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day. But today there will be enough seconds. That's because a single extra second of time, known as a leap second, will be added today. The atomic clocks that keep universal coordinated time will read 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, then 23 hours, 59 minutes and 60 seconds. July will begin, as usual, back to zero.
I can hear the producers telling me that I'm running out of seconds.
We thank you for watching this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
My colleagues, Zain Asher and Errol Barnett, are next on deck with news around the world.
You are watching CNN, the world's news leader.
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