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Greek Voters Go To Polls Sunday Morning; Fifty Nine Dead In Philippines Ferry Sinking; Security Ramping Up Amid July 4th Terror Threats; Day Of Remembrance For Tunisia Massacre Victims; Division In Greece Ahead Of Referendum; At Least 25 Syrian Al Qaeda Members Killed; Syrian "Malala" Helps Keep Refugee Girls In Syria; Motown Singer Enjoying Renaissance. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired July 03, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNNI: Yes or no. It's morning in Greece where thousands are sharply divided over how they will vote in a referendum that will decide the future of their country.

In the Philippines, the death toll rises as rescue workers find more victims from a capsized ferry.

And a worldwide terror alert for American Independence Day. Why U.S. authorities are ramping up security for the 4th of July.

And happy 4th to you and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Natalie Allen and this is CNN NEWSROOM.

It is 10:00 a.m. in Greece less than a day before Greeks begin casting their votes in a referendum that may determine the country's future in Europe's single currency. Tens of thousands of Greeks demonstrated in Athens on Friday.

Here you see Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attending one of the rallies. He is encouraging people to vote no in the referendum, which would essentially mean that Greece does not accept the austerity- driven terms of a bailout plan offered by European leaders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, GREEK PRIME MINISTER (through translator): On Sunday, we are all sending a message of democracy and dignity to Europe and the world. We are resending a message of hope to the people because on Sunday, we do not simply decide to stay in Europe. We decide to live with dignity in Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: And a short walk away from that rally was this. A huge crowd of demonstrators gathered to support a yes vote. A ballot cast for the yes camp endorses the expired bailout terms. Mr. Tsipras came to office promising to end harsh austerity measures. But many people say he has put Greece's future in jeopardy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BENOS, PRO-EUROPE SUPPORTER: We will vote yes. We have seen what the government has done to us. In these five months they have taken us back ten years at least.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: One poll shows a razor thin margin between voters with the yes camp at 44 percent and the no at 43 percent, but 12 percent of responders say they are undecided. Journalist, Elinda Labropoulou joins us from the capital, Athens.

Elinda, it certainly has been a very loud and ruckus run up to this vote. What do you think or what are people saying about Sunday's referendum?

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, JOURNALIST: Well, at the moment, the last exit polls that we had showed that the two sides are neck and neck, but the question really here is they are partly seemed to be voting for different things.

So those who are supporting the no votes seemed to be voting for an end to austerity and following the prime minister's message, which is that by voting no, Greece strengthens its position in terms of negotiations with the Eurozone for better bailout terms.

But those in the yes camp say that this is Greece's only way to stay in the Eurozone and potentially Europe as well. There is a lot of unclarity on actual question which is base on a proposal that is actually no longer on the table on a past proposal by the creditors to Greece.

So this all happens in a fairly confusing and polarized environment, we are looking at a referendum that could determine Greece's future in Europe and at a time that the banks have remained shut for a week.

At a time where we know there is only sufficient money to go around until Monday. We've had that confirmed by the banking association. So Greeks really go to the polls with a hell of a lot at stake if you want to put it that way.

ALLEN: Well, that is putting the way it is, Elinda, for sure. And so what if Greeks say yes? Who takes over the country?

LABROPOULOU: Well, depending on what happens at the referendum on Sunday, the financial minister has already said that he would not be prepared to sign a deal with the creditors unless the issue of debt relief is addressed.

This has been a key issue all along in these negotiations. Greece has asked for debt sustainability and debt relief to be addressed before it can sign a new deal saying that Greece's debt is simply unsustainable.

[03:05:00] A new IMF report seems to suggest that this is the case. But Europe is saying they want to see reforms first and then discuss the issue of debt sustainability. So depending on what happens at the referendum, we could be looking at a lot of political changes, a lot of political developments ahead on who heads these negotiations and under what terms.

But what is certain, Natalie, is that a solution is needed soon because simply without the banking system, right now the economy is completely frozen. Most transactions are frozen. We are hearing about problems in supplies.

We know that people are having trouble getting the daily allowance out of ATMs. So really whatever happens on Sunday, some solution really needs to be found very fast or we are going to be looking at a dire, dire economic situation.

ALLEN: We hope it doesn't come to that. Elinda Labropoulou for us, thanks so much as always. We'll talk with you again on Sunday.

While Greek and European officials argue it's the country's regular citizens who are paying the highest price. Supermarkets say that supplies could soon begin to run short and Greek banks remain shuttered for almost an entire week, leaving people in retirement with little access to their money.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They don't give money to us. They gave me 120 euros the first time, the day before yesterday and I went and bought my medicine because I have heart problems, and I had to pay 77 euros. Now they tell me to come back in a week. How will I live this week?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Very sad. The crisis in Greece has ramifications all over the world. It affects markets virtually everywhere and impacts your money. Our reporters explain how and why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Greek banks are closed for one very simple reason. There are too many depositors, too many people trying to take out too much money. Before long they are going to completely run out. For the last few weeks, the European Central Bank has been funneling money out the backdoor and it is going straight out the front. It couldn't continue and now there is no more money coming in, they had to stop it going out.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: If this is happening in Greece, why are world marks in turmoil? It all depends on how much exposure there is to Greece and how fearful investors are about the outcome. In the U.S., there is little direct exposure, but it's the uncertainty that investors don't like. And the fact that the safety net of the ECB is no longer available to give emergency money to Greece, that's keeping investors on edge.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Greece continued to queue that queue going further down. Many people sheltering from the rain. The majority of people have been able to take out the limit of 60 euros. But we have spoken to several pensioners who said they have not been able to eke out a single euro. The reality of the crisis may set in the next couple of days.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Why does Greece matter for my money because a run on a bank in a modern economy is bad for everyone. If you are a traveller, it means bring a lot of cash to Greece. You cannot rely on the banking system. That could hurt tourism for Greece going forward.

For everyone else, it matters to your money and your 401(k). If stocks fall around the world, that hurts your retirement. If Europe becomes destabilized because of what is happening with Greece that affects anybody who makes or sells a product in the United States to Europe. The Eurozone is America's largest trading partner.

QUEST: What's happens next to the banks really depends on the bigger picture. The Greek banks need to know that there is more money coming towards them from the European Central Bank. Depositors need to know their money is safe. Once depositors know that they can get their money back, that there isn't a banking crisis and the money is safe then they stop demanding it. It's a really difficult problem trying to stop a bank run but that's what they have to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: When the Greek people make their choice on Sunday, CNN will be in Athens. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. local time across the country. Our day of special live coverage will include the first exit polls and the result itself as Greece decides on its economic destiny.

We turn now to a developing story out of the Philippines. The Coast Guard now confirms 59 deaths in Thursday's ferry sinking, 140 people survived after the boat overturned just after leaving port in the central part of the country. Searchers recovered more bodies on Friday.

[03:10:10] CNN Philippines reporter, David Santos, joins me now by phone from Ormoc City with the very latest. David, hello.

DAVID SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Hi, Natalie. The passenger boat which capsized in Ormoc City has finally been lifted from water. Now this allows maritime authorities here to start their formal investigation on the sea mishap.

Salvage operations for Team Nirvana took overnight Friday local time. There are still a handful of bodies being recovered from under the vessel. Local officials were saying that the death toll is at 59 with more than 140 survivors.

If you add them together that sums up to more than 200 when authorities here are saying that the allowed capacity of the boat is only 173. Now investigators will also look into the cargo that the vessel was carrying at the time of the incident. Initially reports say the boat was carrying about 100 sacks of cement and other construction materials. These are some of the details that investigators are now looking into to determine the possible cause of the sea mishap.

ALLEN: David Santos for us from Ormoc City, Philippines. Thank you, David.

In the U.S., security officials are on guard against possible terror attack for the 4th of July holiday weekend. About 3 million people are expected to attend Independence Day celebrations in New York City alone.

Seven thousand police officers will be there backing up thousands of regular patrols. Around 700,000 visitors are expected along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., another high value city for terrorists. Rene Marsh has more on how officials are trying to protect the so-called soft targets.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the nation's capital alone, 600,000 people are expected to take subways while 2 million flyers per day are also traveling to 4th of July celebrations. But as Americans move from point A to point B, law enforcement remains on high alert for terrorists on U.S. soil.

LT. ALLAN GRIFFIN, U.S. PARK POLICE: We prepare for worst case scenarios and we have contingencies in place should they occur.

MARSH: Those reassurances being echoed ahead of celebrations across the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Philadelphia is already part of an enhanced security network.

MARSH: Despite the assurances, there is only so much authorities can do to secure so-called soft targets.

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: What I fear the most is what we saw in Tunisia last weekend, which is one or two people with automatic weapons and they go into a place where it's crowded or on a bridge where traffic is stopped or a tunnel and just simply taking out 40, 50 people. That would be as effective as any large-scale bomb.

MARSH: And ISIS has been encouraging followers to launch attacks wherever they can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the most iconic image of America. We know that it's something that someone who doesn't like us would like to make a statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you have a gun and are willing to die for their beliefs. MARSH: Authorities say the best thing anyone here can do is be aware of their surroundings and if they see something that doesn't look right, alert authorities immediately.

(on camera): Well, the perimeter extends three blocks from the capitol and Capitol Hill police says they've strategically placed their officers throughout capitol grounds. The canines are out.

And if you look along the National Mall, there are miles and miles of link fencing as well as cement and metal barriers. You certainly get the feeling that the nation's capital is on high alert. Rene Marsh, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: There is another threat this holiday weekend and it comes from the sea, sharks. Multiple attacks across the U.S. east coast and beachgoers wary of the water. We'll have more on that coming up later in the hour.

Thirty of the 38 victims in last week's Tunisia attacks were from Britain. See how the U.K. paused and took a moment to honor them as we continue here.

Plus a Syrian teenager helps refugee children get an education despite many parents not wanting to send them to school. We'll have her inspiring story ahead.

And later --

(VIDEO CLIP)

[03:15:05] ALLEN: An interview with the legend behind "Brick House" and so many other classic RNB hits, the one and only Lionel Richie.

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[03:19:05]

ALLEN: The bodies of more victims from last week's deadly massacre in Tunisia arrived back in England on Friday. The majority of those killed were from Britain, but Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Portugal also lost citizens in this shooting spree.

Eight suspects including one woman have been arrested in connection with the attack at a luxury hotel in Tunisia according to Tunisian government officials. Three additional suspects believed connected to the attack remain on the run.

There was a moment of silence all throughout Britain as the country paused to honor the victims. Max Foster has more on Friday's services.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The bells of Big Ben rang out at midday, beginning a minute of silence for a nation in grief. A moment of reflection led by Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister David Cameron.

[03:20:07] In schools and workplaces across the country people stopped to think about those so ruthlessly slaughtered. At the football club where one of the victims worked, friends and families gathered. At Wimbledon, play was stopped as mark of respect.

In Tunisia, the British ambassador laid a wreath in memory. Tourists gathered only the stretch of sand where just one week earlier a gunman murdered 38 souls, 30 of them British.

All have now been officially named and the death toll is not expected to rise. Later, an Air Force plane touched down in Oxfordshire carrying the bodies of eight victims including those of Sue Davey, Scot Chalkly and Angie and Ray Fisher.

Tragically, their families didn't get confirmation their loved ones died until several days after the attack. Formal inquests into several of the victims' deaths have now begun and British police have mounted the biggest investigation since the 7/7 terror attacks in 2005 when dozens were killed on a bus and three tube trains almost exactly 10 years ago.

(on camera): Flags have been flying at half-staff across including here at Downing Street where they are considering the wider response to the Tunisia attacks and one is possibly to go against ISIS at home in Syria with air strikes. But this has turned into a fight not just against a group, but against an ideology. Max Foster, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: There is new fighting reported in Nigeria against the terrorist group, Boko Haram. But there is word of possible international help for country. Local residents are reporting the militants are trying to move into the capital of Borno State.

Residents say Boko Haram gunmen are engaged in a fierce battle with Nigerian troops. Now, French President Francois Hollande says he is ready to organize a summit of nations willing to fight the terrorists.

While visiting the president of Cameroon he offered several African nations intelligence assistance including images from French flights that fly over territories Boko Haram controls.

Iran's foreign minister says a deal over his country's nuclear program is close. He expressed hope on Friday even though make or break gaps are still unresolved. Iranian and western officials have been trying to finalize an agreement in Vienna.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIZ, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: At this 11th hour, we have never been closer to a lasting outcome.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ALLEN: That is a positive statement. Also on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said negotiators will work all weekend to try to work out remaining issues before Thursday's deadline. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We have a lot of work to do. We have some tough issues, but there is a genuine effort to be serious about this and to understand the time constraints that we're work under. So we'll continue to work tonight, tomorrow, Sunday. And we certainly both want to try to see if we can arrive at a conclusion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The IAEA, the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency wants Iran to resolve some outstanding issues before a deal is reached.

Greece's future in Europe could come down to the choice of one little word, yes or no. Ahead, we look at what happens there next, whatever voters decide in Sunday's bailout referendum.

Also coming up --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He does not mean an end to a life. On the contrary you have to be stronger to help the country and help the people you love.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: She is called the Malala of Syria. Meet the woman who has made it her mission to help refugee children get an education.

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[03:27:56]

ALLEN: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is CNN NEWSROOM on the 4th of July. Happy Independence Day. I'm Natalie Allen. Here are the headlines.

Fifty nine people are confirmed dead in Thursday's ferry sinking off the coast of the Central Philippines. The country's coast guard says 140 people survived. The ferry capsized minutes after leaving port. Investigators are trying to understand why.

Security is tight in the U.S. and abroad for American Independence Day celebrations. Officials warn the large gatherings could be terror targets. There has been chatter about terrorist threats for the holiday weekend but nothing credible or specific.

Greeks go to the polls on Sunday for what is a polarizing referendum on how to handle the country's staggering debt. Thousands rallied in Athens on Friday ahead of the vote. A yes vote supports the debt relief plan. A no vote opposes the plan's terms. The Greek's prime minister wants citizens to vote no. Here's the question that will be on the ballot papers. It is not simple and straight forward. Should the draft agreement submitted by the ECB, IMF at the euro group on June 25th, which consists of two parts that make up their full proposal be accepted? And that's the question.

And the first document is reforms for the completion of the current program and beyond and the second is preliminary debt sustainability analysis. Yes.

Nina Dos Santos takes a look at what happens no matter what the Greeks answer to those questions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yes or no, one of these two words will decide Greece's destiny and with it the future of the single currency itself. Unable to find common ground with creditors, Athens asked its people whether they accept or reject reforms set out as part of the country's second now expired bailout.

[03:30:05] The Eurozone and the IMF have made it clear they want a yes. Greece's government lobbied for a no. Either way the stakes couldn't be higher.

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT (through translator): Even in the case of a yes vote we have to face difficult negotiations. In the case of a no vote, the Greek position will be dramatically weak.

DOS SANTOS (on camera): If Greece votes yes, the chances of a deal with its lenders would be higher. The prime minister and also the finance minister, though, could fall on their source and instead give way to a new government, which would enter fresh talks with the creditors.

Based on how those go, Greece may eventually get the money it needs to urgently open up its banks and pay back its debts and also to think about a fresh package in aid from here. This scenario makes a Greek exit from the Eurozone less likely, but do expect swift austerity as part of the conditions.

ALAN MILLER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, SCMDIRECT.COM: We have seen a small element of what can happen of not being able to get money out of banks in small amounts. It's incredible what ramifications could be and nobody can really say how it would work out under that scenario.

DOS SANTOS: If Greece votes no, all bets are off. Hard line in the (inaudible) ruled coalition would feel their hands strengthened and pushed for renewed negotiations and concessions on debt relief. The banks would remain shut and the country could find itself kicked out of the euro. A parallel currency might have to be issued before going back to the drachma leaving its people poorer and the markets pray to uncertainty.

VINCENT JUVYNS, JP MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT: A no vote is associated to a painful situation. The situation is already painful in Greece at the moment. I believe the bank will remain shut for a longer time. It will trigger the support of the ECB to the Greek financial sector. You might expect a collapse of the economy. I do not think that the euro group and they have made it clear that a no will hurt negotiation.

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Greece's leaders have pitched this referendum as a decision on austerity. Europe instead used it as vote on the membership of the euro. Whatever it means to each side, Athens could be words away from a dramatic rescue or financial disaster. Nina Dos Santos, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: We want to show you what the Greek people are dealing with, the raw emotion of one Greek citizen directly affected by this crisis. These images of a clearly desperate elderly Greek man struck a chord with our team here.

He was lining up outside a bank. Some banks in the country have opened doors to pensioners who don't have bank cards to use at ATMs. You see him here sitting defeated on the ground. He is being assisted by a police officer and staff member of the bank.

You can certainly see the distress on his face. He could withdraw at most 120 euros from this bank. His future, like so many others, seems uncertain. That is heart-wrenching.

To Syria now, an explosion at a mosque killed 25 al Qaeda members. It happened in Idlib Province. A London-based monitoring group says the dead were part of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra front.

The blast happened as they gathered for a meal where Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan. So far no one has claimed responsibility, but supporters of Nusra front blamed rival ISIS militants.

Well, so much of the news out of Syria is all about war, death and destruction. But our next story shows how something extraordinary can always rise up from terrible loss. A Syrian teenager whose family escaped to Jordan now spends her time making sure other refugee girls stay in school. She has earned the nickname, the Syrian Malala.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I left Syria two and a half years ago for various reasons and problems in all of life's aspects in education, making a living and freedom of movement as well as other related difficulties, which led to being unable to stay in our own time or move to another place in Syria.

Therefore we decided to leave and move to Jordan. Being a refugee does not mean an end to a life. On the contrary you have to be stronger to be able to help your country and the people you love. Even if you are a refugee you is to be strong to face these problems. I notice that a lot of people don't like education and because I really like education I decided I should start to advice people even if they don't take my advice. I might fail the first time, but I might succeed in the second and the third time I will get more people.

[03:35:12] And the fourth time, I will get even more so I will be more effective. And I started to notice an absence of girls daily from school and others would drop out. Then I realized that most people want their daughters to drop out of school and get married and want their sons to find jobs.

If we get opportunities to get education in the refugee camp, we should seize the opportunity. We shouldn't waste it to chase other things that we can achieve later in life. Education will solve a lot of problems in our lives.

We can want do much in our lives if we are not educated. We can't help others. We cannot help our country. We will not be able to solve many problems in the present and the future if we are not educated.

With education we can protect ourselves at any time, in any place, and we can achieve our goals. We should not lose hope no matter how difficult life is we have to be optimistic. The future is unknown to us and we should look to the future with hope and ambition.

If we manage to raise a generation of educators and knowledgeable people, people who protect their unity, their ambition and their dreams, whether here in the camp or inside Syria, then Syria will have a bright future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: More power to her. What a remarkable young woman.

There are some 60 million refugees in the world. Imagine the children who aren't getting an education. Amnesty International calls the world's refugee crisis the worst since World War II. To learn how you might help, go to CNN.com/impactyourworld.

When we come back, incredible video, man versus shark. He hooked one. A kayaker knocked out of his boat by a shark. We'll tell you how he got away. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:28]

ALLEN: A series of gruesome shark attack along hundreds of miles of U.S. beaches have many people and swimmers on alert this holiday weekend. Take a look at what one man landed on North Carolina's outer banks, a two-meter long shark about six and a half feet.

As CNN meteorologist, Jennifer Gray, tells us it's just the kind of thing that has made people wary about getting to the water.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): New video out of Florida shows a kayaker fishing for grouper and getting a bigger bite than he bargained for, a bull shark. Frantically swam for safety as others circled nearby. Close encounters with sharks have holiday beachgoers on alert this weekend especially on the east coast.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw about a five-foot sand shark and it was within eight feet of me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are around us more closer and moving around.

GRAY: At least ten attacks in the Carolinas since June, seven in North Carolina alone. That's more than the yearly average for both states in just the past month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people are utilizing the beach and this time of year we have the migration of coastal species.

GRAY: Experts say that along with shark migration, a buffet of nesting sea turtles and warmer saltier water could attract sharks to the beach. In South Carolina, fishermen are now reeling in sharks from the pier in Myrtle Beach. Babies (inaudible), but mom is not far off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have seen the bigger sharks out here.

GRAY: The victims of the ten recent bites range in age from 8 to 68 with two teenagers losing limbs after their encounters.

CHRISTIAN PANKO, MARINE CONSERVATION LAB, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI: Any shark bite is a rare occurrence to have all these bites occurring recently is very unusual.

GRAY: Unusual and unintentional. Experts say humans are not targets for sharks and these attacks are unfortunate accidents.

PANKO: When your hands and feet are splashing it looks like fish bellies to them. They realize they made a mistake and spit us out again.

GRAY: Still those looking to soak up the sun here have mixed feelings about sharing the water.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I was just trying to put the shark thing off my mind and tried to enjoy it. But I did also be careful.

GRAY: The beaches will remain open. Life guards on duty saying the sharks are not the biggest danger this weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm more concerned about driving down to the beach and getting in a car wreck on the way down here than having an incident with a shark.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ALLEN: That was Jennifer Gray reporting. And again, the sharks are migrating so there are just more there near the beach.

France has rejected a request from Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange for what he called protection from political persecution. He wrote an open letter on Friday claiming his life is in danger after exposing government secrets on his web site. He did not specifically ask for asylum and he is still hold up in Ecuador's embassy in London. He is not in danger, but is under a European arrest warrant.

Cycling's most prestigious race kicks off in a few hours. The Tour De France begins in the Netherlands with an individual time trial over a 14-kilometer long course, about 8.5 miles, 198 riders from 22 different teams will compete in the legendary. It ends in Paris on July 26th.

These cyclists are in terrific shape, but they have to fight against the heat they are going to encounter as temperatures in Europe are unseasonably high this weekend. Here is Karen Maginnis following that for us -- Karen.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Natalie, it has been an amazing past seven to ten days where these temperatures have all been in the mid- to upper-30s and 40s across western sections of Europe even in London. We saw Wimbledon there was a ball girl who collapsed because of the heat. Those temperatures are moderating just a bit.

But elsewhere it is spreading across the interior and into sections of Eastern Europe, so from Lithuania, Estonia extending down to Ukraine and the Czech Republic. We will see temperatures over the next five to ten days that are going to soar towards that 40-degree mark.

[03:45:02] There is a heat wave all across this western portion of Europe and take a look as we go into Saturday afternoon and Paris is looking at temperatures in the low 30s.

Now that may not sound dramatic, but these are way above normal for this time of year. And Madrid the temperature there is expected around 38. In Paris, the temperatures over the past seven to ten days have been near record-setting levels.

Always a nice time to be in Paris, but you have to go back to 2003, about 15,000 people died across France because of the extreme heat wave there. We are seeing temperatures that rival that although there are heat wave emergency situations that are put in place so those numbers, perhaps, will not be seen because of the heat wave that we're seeing there right now.

For Madrid take a look at the past seven days, 40 degrees. That was on Monday. Now typically in Spain we do see the exceptionally hot temperatures, but it has persisted for so long now and the jet stream has a buckle in it. As a result it's further to the north.

That warm, moist air coming up from the south and this begins to shift to the east each day. And look at Paris we may see a dip by the middle of the workweek, but the temperatures go back up into the low 30s. The average high in Paris is around 23.

In London things are faring a lot better, but some of the temperatures that we saw in the past 24 hours, the average high temperature there at 26.

All right, I want to take a look at this. This is out of Belgium where people are trying to cool off in a different way. Now watch it. They're going to be, yes. This is what happens. It's all fun and games until somebody brings out the water guns. Looks like a good time to cool off there.

ALLEN: Super soaker should do the trick.

MAGINNIS: Exactly.

ALLEN: OK, Karen, thank you. How about this one? Soul singer, Lionel Richie is back on the charts thanks to his performance at a top British music festival. We'll tell you what that performance has done to his resurging career.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:51:22]

(VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: You remember that one. A hit love song by Motown great, Lionel Richie. "Hello" went to number one in the U.S. and the U.K. in 1983. Well, Richie is enjoying a renaissance after last weekend's performance in England. Well more than just a bit.

And I love that one. The singer's definitive collection soared to the top of the U.K. charts this week and the sales have jumped nearly 700 percent since the set. It's an incredible turn of events for the veteran performer and his excitement was clear. And CNN's Robyn Curnow reached him recently in Munich, Germany.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIONEL RICHIE, SINGER (via telephone): I was trying to find some way to explain to my children what I do for a living. They missed the Commodores and the '80s. This is helping me out tremendously. When 120,000 people say we love you, Lionel. That's helps tremendously with my credibility in the house.

Other than that I can only say that the generation that was with the Commodores and the generation that came right after the Commodores in the '80s produced kids that fell in love with the same songs that mom and dad and grandma fell in love with. Here we are again. This is four generations later.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I want to read you some of your classics. They're very simple, aren't they? All night long all night long all night long, that's one chorus, and of course, what a feeling we're dancing on the ceiling. These are simple lyrics why do you think they still mean something to people? RICHIE: Well, first of all, it's what the lady told me in China. I played China idol, 453 million viewers. And in the audience were kids and I said to the producer, how is it that the kids know -- they know all the words? And they said in China, we teach English on your music. Why is that? It's simple phrasing that everybody says every day.

Hello, is it me you're looking for? I love you truly. You follow me? It's simple but I -- but those words people repeat every day. And for whatever reason it stuck.

CURNOW: Do you get sick of people walk up to you and saying hello, is it me you're looking for?

RICHIE: It's worse now. Hello is it tee you're looking for or brie you're looking for? And I heard -- they had a big poster of me and I was Shrinel Richie and I put a t-shirt that said, hello, is it mud you're looking for? Those shirts blew off the shelf in 5 minutes.

CURNOW: So it has propelled you again. What will happen if you end the week at number one?

RICHIE: After that I'm going to get back on the phone with you and talk about really celebrating. Now that is what 20-some-odd years later a record comes from way in 49th place, seas biscuit comes back to number up, are you kidding me?

[03:55:07] CURNOW: We got to end, but please, do you mind singing a little something for us as we say goodbye.

RICHIE: Yes. I sometimes see you pass outside my door hello is it me you're looking for, now come on, Robin.

CURNOW: You rock, man.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: All right, Lionel Richie, don't you love it? Thanks for watching CNN. I'm Natalie Allen. George Howell is up next with another hour of news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A nation divided. We take you live to Greece where there is a vote on the economic future.

U.S. security authorities are on alert as the nation celebrates its Independence Day. There are fears of a terror threat this 4th of July.

And a perfect landing caps off a record flight all without a drop of fuel. The Solar Impulse team sets it sights on the next grueling leg.

From CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta, I'm George Howell. This is CNN NEWSROOM. Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. We begin this hour with the Greek economic crisis and that question for Greeks with huge implications, either way this vote of yes or no to more austerity.

It's a question that is becoming more and more polarizing as Greeks face a vote on reforming their country's enormous debt. We saw dueling rallies on Friday draw huge crowds ahead of Sunday's referendum. Those voting no oppose a bail out with more strict austerity measures from the nation's creditors.