Return to Transcripts main page
Hala Gorani Tonight
Chattanooga Victims Mourned; Tennessee Authorities Hold Media Briefing; Marking Anniversary of Malaysian Flight Shootdown; Latest on Greek Debt Deal; Eddie Izzard Takes on Refugee Issue
Aired July 17, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00] HALA GORANI, HOST: Tonight as an American city mourns we are learning new details about the gunman in Chattanooga.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Officials should be providing updates from Tennessee at any moment, we will go there live.
Also this hour a somber day in Eastern Ukraine and around the world. We mark one year to the day since MH17 was shot down.
Plus funny man Eddie Izzard tells me why he is turning his attention to a much more serious topic.
And later one of the world's most beautiful courses looks a little too much like a swamp ahead of a very important weekend in golf.
END VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Hello everyone, I'm Hala Gorani, we're live at CNN London. A lot going on this hour, thanks for being with us. This is the World Right Now.
Now we are waiting for an FBI update on yesterday's shooting at two American military facilities in Tennessee. We'll bring you that news
conference when it begins any minute now. Meantime throughout the day we've been learning more about the gunman and the four marines that he
killed.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Authorities are looking into a trip that the shooter Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez had taken to the Middle East. Abdulazeez died during
the rampage and we now know the names of all four of the marines who were killed. They are; Carson Holmquist, David Wyatt, Skip Wells, and Thomas
Sullivan.
END VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Investigators have uncovered a lot about the man who carried out the deadly attacks in Chattanooga in a short period of time but they still
don't appear to be any closer to finding a definitive motive for the shooting.
CNN's Karen Kiefer has more on the victims and the search for answers.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the concerning thing here is this is somebody that wasn't on anybody's radar.
KAREN KIEFER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Local and Federal investigators are trying to figure out why Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez went
on a rampage Thursday. Police say he opened fire on a military recruitment office then a navy operational support center, both hit within 30 minutes.
In the end, four marines were killed, three others were injured. Investigators are now looking to see if the shooter had any ties to
terrorism.
ED REINHOLD, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: There is no indication at this point that anybody else was involved. Obviously we're still at the beginning of this
investigation. We will explore any possibility and that includes whether or not anyone else was involved in this.
KIEFER: Those who knew Abdulazeez say he was a devout Muslim. They say they never imagined he would be behind such a violent act.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He always, always had a smile on his face, he just -- he never seemed like the type of kid that would do something you know this
(inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I heard it you know I mean literally there were tears in my eyes. He was one of the nicest kids that we trained there.
KIEFER: Family members took to social media to mourn the loss of the former marines. Marine (inaudible) Sergeant Thomas Sullivan reportedly
survived two tours of duty in Iraq and was a Purple Heart recipient.
The family of Skip Wells tells CNN he also lost his life in the shooting. The Georgia native graduated high school just three years ago.
As the victims recover the community also has to heal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sense of sorrow is deep around here in terms of what's happened. This is a great city whose heart is broken right now.
END VIDEO CLIP.
GORANI: Well there you have it. More details about the alleged gunman's past are starting to emerge as well as bring you up to date on what we
know.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: 24 years old Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez described as a former mixed martial arts fighter and a top student known for his sense of humor.
A devout Muslim as well who kept in touch with his roots in the Middle East.
According to law enforcement officials, he was born in Kuwait. He was a naturalized citizen. Jordanian officials tell CNN though that Abdulazeez
was not a citizen of Jordan but of Palestinian decent with Jordanian travel documents not official citizenship.
END VIDEO CLIP.
GORANI: Abdulazeez went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 2012. Now
officials say he was not in any databases of suspected terrorists. IN fact, and this is interesting, his only prior issue with law enforcement
was in an arrest in April for allegedly driving under the influence. Abdulazeez was scheduled to appear in court in relation to that arrest
later this month.
Let's get a closer look at this. The FBI is handling this investigation now. We are joined by Tom Fuentes a CNN Law Enforcement Analyst and former
FBI Assistant Director, and he joins us now from our Washington Bureau.
Tom Fuentes, first of all what is now going on behind the scenes at the FBI do you think?
TOM FUENTES: CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Hi Hala, well what they are looking at is trying to determine and confirm whether or not he was
inspired by ISIS and whether other individuals were involved in this plot to kill these marines, and shoot the military officers.
So, they don't know that yet, they're still digging.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP.
[15:05:08] FUENTES: They're looking at email and phone traffic, conversations with his friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, anybody
that they can talk to to see did he in fact express that he was going to do an attack. More than just saying he you know was a devout Muslim or
supported Islam or even supported the ISIS caliphate, did he in fact express any indication that he would go violent.
GORANI: Right because (inaudible) of course as you well know those things are not related. You can be extremely devout Muslim and not in any way be
involved in this type of criminal activity.
FUENTES: Correct.
GORANI: But domestic terrorism is the term that was used by authorities yesterday at a news conference in Chattanooga. Why was that case
classified as this so quickly do you think yesterday?
FUENTES: Well that was just the United States Attorney in Tennessee making that comment that was not the FBI. And frankly if it turns out to be ISIS
inspired its international terrorism. In the United States terrorism is classified by where the organization, the terrorist organization is based
and if it's Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Shabab, those are international organizations it would be international terrorism.
If he, you know, so it wouldn't actually be domestic terrorism.
GORANI: Right, now the weapon AK47 style, we don't know exactly what specific weapon. Clearly here law enforcement are going to be very
interested in the providence of this particular weapon.
FUENTES: Well the problem is that those weapons are legal in the United States and there's been so much discussion about the availability of
assault rifles and there's nothing in his background to indicate that he would not be eligible to actually buy one. Or he could have bought one at
a gun show. You know the FBI just about a week ago arrested somebody with hundreds of dollars of cash in his pocket on his way to an American gun
show to buy an assault rifle knowing that the gun show exemption means no background check. You can pay the cash and walk out the door with an
assault rifle.
So, this is a very severe problem in the U.S. that law enforcement deals with. The availability, the ready availability of these weapons to just
about anybody.
GORANI: All right, Tom Fuentes as always really appreciate your time. Thanks, for joining us on CNN this evening.
FUENTES: You're welcome Hala.
END VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Well people around - yes people around the world paid tribute to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 today. One year to the day
since the plane was shot out of the sky over Eastern Ukraine.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
GORANI: Mourners in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, laid flowers on the steps of the Dutch Embassy. Take a look.
So many of the victims were Dutch, the flight did take off from Amsterdam and in the Netherlands it was a very emotional tribute to the victims.
The flight was en-route from the Netherlands all the way to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia when it was brought down. 298 people were on board.
A commemoration also took place in Moscow where flowers and paper planes were left outside the Dutch embassy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CNN's Kelly Morgan reported from the crash site in Eastern Ukraine last year and she joins me now live from Moscow.
So, one year on, of course there have been many accusations that this plane was brought down by pro-Russia rebels. What has been the mood in Moscow
Kelly?
KELLY MORGAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well in Moscow as you saw those pictures there of regular Russians going to the Dutch embassy and
paying tribute laying those paper planes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: It's a similar scene that we saw actually 12 months ago when regular Russians went to that embassy and put down cards with I'm sorry,
forgive us. Those kinds of words on it.
So there has been that sort of feeling amongst some Russians but of course the official line out of the Kremlin is that Russia had absolutely nothing
to do with the downing of MH17. Which is what Kiev very early on was suggesting that this plane was shot down by pro-Russian separatists in
Eastern Ukraine with the support, the backing of Russia which as we say they do deny that they've had anything to do with it.
They've expressed their condolences for the victims and we have seen enormous out pouring for the memorials that are taking place around the
world today.
GORANI: Right, we've seen so many elements over the last year pointing toward pro-Russia rebels and a video has emerged of the days after the
plane was brought down. Tell us about this particular footage Kelly.
MORGAN: Yes, well this footage today was released by the Australian News Agency, News Core. It does appear to be similar footage to what was
released by separatists, a longer version than what we have seen in the public domain before.
[15:10:04] And on that video, on that footage we here the separatists talking as they're walking through that - the wreckage and it is really the
moment where they realize that this was a passenger plane not a military jet. You hear one man say two planes. You hear another man say who gave
them the corridor as in who allowed - who permitted this plane to fly through this airspace. They talk about finding the black box, the voice
recorded box.
So as I say this footage has been seen in the public domain before, at least small snippets of it but nothing really to this degree. And the
Australians say that they have passed that video onto the investigators who are heading up the international probe into the crash. We are of course
expecting the full report in October.
CNN sources have seen a draft copy - or sources close to CNN have seen a draft copy of that report and say that the evidence according to that
report it points to pro-Russian rebels filing a missile at MH17 and that is - of course we will wait for the final report to come out before we make
those conclusions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Kelly Morgan is live in Moscow. Thank you very much.
Still to come tonight a positive step forward on a third bailout for Greece.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: But the problem of debt relief could prolong the economic tragedy for that country.
Oh, let's go to the news conference there in Chattanooga, Tennessee, bringing us the latest on the investigation into the double shooting
incident in that city yesterday. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL KILLIAN, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE: First of all, my heartfelt condolences to the four marines who were killed
yesterday. I'm joined on the stage by Capt. Tyler Balzer of the United States Marine Corps. Next to him Chief Fred Fletcher, Chief of Police of
Chattanooga Police Department. Next to him, Steve Gerido, Special Agent in charge of the alcohol and tobacco farms and explosives. Next to him, Ed
Reinhold, Special Agent in charge of the FBI for the Eastern District of Tennessee. I am Bill Killian the United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of Tennessee.
We wanted to rely to you the tales and be as transparent as we can be, and what the law allows us to be. The active shooter situation is being
treated as a terrorism investigation. It is being led by the FBI's joint terrorism taskforce and we will continue to investigate it as an act of
terrorism until the proof shows us otherwise. We will let the facts and the evidence lead us where it may.
The Department of Justice, the FBI, our local state and federal partners are putting all the resources necessary toward this effort. We will not
leave any stone unturned for the victims of this heinous and cowardly act.
I can tell you that we have one common goal that is to protect the safety and the national security of our citizens and our people, and this country.
Chattanooga Police Chief is here and he will detail some unquestionable acts of bravery and heroism exhibited by the Chattanooga Police Department
in the active shooter situation they found themselves.
Steve Gerido will detail the assets and resources of ATF toward the investigation; and Ed Reinhold will detail what he can of the joint
terrorism taskforce led investigation, the resources and personnel of the FBI, and what they have dedicated to this. At that point we will answer
any questions that you have if we can answer them. And I want to thank you in advance for understanding that we can't answer all questions and are
prohibited from actually answering some.
[[15:15:00] First of all I want to recognize Capt. Tyler Balzer with the United States Marine Corps.
CAPT. TYLER BALZER, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: Thank you sir, thank you, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
The Marine Corps thanks the law enforcement and emergency personnel here in Chattanooga for their response yesterday. And to the Chattanooga officials
and community for their heartfelt support.
We will continue to assist the federal and Chattanooga authorities in their investigation. Most importantly, our thoughts, prayers and support are
with the families of our four deceased marines and with the wounded servicemen and police officer.
We remain committed to being a part of the communities from which our marines come and to ensuring balance between the safety of our marines and
remaining accessible to the nation. Thank you.
FRED FLETCHER, CHIEF OF POLICE OF CHATTANOOGA POLICE DEPARTMENT: My heart and the hearts of the Chattanooga Police Department go out to the U.S.
Marine Corps and the families of their victims. For myself and the Chattanooga Police Department, we offer our condolences and we say
(inaudible).
I have the distinct privilege to talk to you all about the bravery of police officers, the bravery of Chattanooga Police Officers today, so
please indulge me.
Yesterday Chattanooga Police Officers stood ready to place themselves between harm and the community just like they do every day. When the call
came out of a gunman police officers immediately responded and began searching for this cowardly and brutal person.
Yesterday was a breathtaking example of that every day courage. That every day bravery that can all too often be taken for granted. Immediately after
those reports of gunfire officers began searching and located the gunman driving down a highway. Chattanooga police officers immediately began
following and chasing that vehicle between the first and second locations.
Eventually officers encountered the suspect at the second location. That suspect soon made his intent, his cowardly homicidal intent clear.
Officers of Chattanooga Police Department did not hesitate. They engaged that person, that gunman immediately, aggressively with the sole intent of
making sure that he harmed as few community members as possible.
That assailant, that gunman struck one Chattanooga police officer with gunfire. As he went down his teammates who were responding equally as
aggressively came to his aid. They put their hands on him, dragged him from under the gunfire and bravely returned fire to ensure that he was safe
and the gunman remained engaged.
Officers continued to return fire and engage the suspect even as officers from around the city began responding. Members of my executive staff
rushed out of Police Headquarters to the scene while the incident was unfolding.
Officers sitting at home threw on their uniforms rushed out the door, came to the city to aid their community and aid their fellow officers. As I've
had a chance to talk to the officers as we've debriefed them, they recount their training, their mentorship but most importantly their commitment to
serve this community. They are all thankful for each other and the privilege to serve this community.
Officers stand willing to risk their own lives for others. They did the day before yesterday, they did yesterday with breathtaking clarity, and
they do today and tomorrow. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Chattanooga police officers prevented loss of life yesterday.
Chattanooga police officers proved themselves in every sense of the word, heroes. They are my heroes.
I have never been prouder to be a police officer than I was yesterday and today. I am extremely proud to be a Chattanooga police officer. Today, as
yesterday, Chattanooga police officers stand ready day and night to face down evil, to face down violence, and do it on behalf of their beloved
Chattanooga.
On behalf of them, we thank you for the privilege to serve. Thank you.
STEVE GERIDO, ATF SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: Good Afternoon. On behalf of the men and women of ATF I would like to express my sincere condolences to
the United States Marine Corps.
[15:20:03] As regarding ATF as it pertains to what we've been doing along with our federal partners and CPD, ATF has conducted urgent firearms traces
and the results have been relayed to the investigative team.
ATF has provided investigative and intelligence resources to augment the investigation. Several agents from our Birmingham office, from our
Knoxville office, from our Nashville office have responded as well as our intelligence resource specialists are here and present and working in a
collaborative effort with all of our partners here on stage today. So we are committed to work as a team and to be here and like the United States
Attorney, Killian said we will bear no expense in making sure we bring this case to a closure for the American people. Thank you.
ED REINHOLD, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: Good afternoon, welcome back. First on behalf of the FBI the Director of the FBI, and all the men and
women who serve in the FBI and our law enforcement partners, I too want to extend our deepest sympathies to not only the United States Marine Corps
but to the families of those lost -- who lost their loved ones in yesterday's horrific shootings. It is difficult to find the words to
express just how sorry we are at your loss.
Now I'd like to pride you with - provide you with a quick update since our last press conference yesterday evening.
This matter continues to be investigated as an act of terrorism by the FBI's Knoxville joint terrorism taskforce along with the Chattanooga police
department and our other federal state and local partners.
Because the investigation is still in its early stages it would be premature to speculate on exactly why the shooter did what he did.
However, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether this person acted alone was inspired or directed and will exhaust all
efforts in determining how and why this horrible act happened.
Because this is an ongoing investigation we are somewhat limited in what we can discuss but I can tell you that as I speak right now, personnel from
the FBI, ATF, HIS, troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Chattanooga Police Officers, and Hamilton County Sherriff Deputies along with other law
enforcement throughout the state of Tennessee and this nation are covering leads that are coming to - into our command center.
Some of those agents are part of our evidence response teams who are highly trained in crime scene processing. They continue to meticulously document
evidence located at the crime scenes. Teams from Knoxville, Memphis and Atlanta along with trajectory experts from the FBI laboratory are working
on both scenes.
FBI agents are partnering with - partnering with state and locals to run down every lead that we have received. Thus far we have covered
approximately 70 leads and as our team continues to develop additional information you may see or hear about FBI activity in other areas of the
state and nation. Victim witness specialists from the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI are assisting the families of the victims.
If you have any information about the alleged shooter, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez and you haven't spoken - and we haven't spoken to you, please
call 865-602-7582. No amount of information is too small or insignificant.
At this time we will open the floor to questions. Please state your question loudly. I would ask that you please tell me where you're coming
from which news agency. And lastly if the question is not for me, please indicate who the question is for. We'll start right over here.
TIM INAUDIBLE, WALL STREET JOURNAL: Can you talk about the weapons that he had in his possess that he fired or (inaudible).
REINHOLD: Yes, I'm not going to go into specifics about what type of weapons he had. I will tell you that he did have at least two long guns
which would be considered rifles or shotguns, and he did have one handgun that we're aware of.
Yes sir.
TIM GOODMAN, CNN: Tim Goodman with CNN. Were the guns purchased legally (inaudible) determine if those guns were purchased legally?
REINHOLD: Again we are continuing to explore these possibilities. Some of the weapons were purchased legally, and some of them may not have been, we
will examine that. Thank you.
Yes Ma'am.
(Inaudible): Since this is now considered as an act of terrorism (inaudible).
REINHOLD: OK, let me - let me clarify your statement. And the question - I need to probably repeat the question so that everyone can hear. I think
the question is since it's been classified as an act of terrorism is there any concern for others in this community.
[15:25:07] First off we have not classified it as an act of terrorism, let me be perfectly clear. What we have decided or what we have determined
that we will treat it as an act of terrorism until it is determined one way or the other as to whether it was an act of terrorism or some other type of
criminal event.
At this time we do not believe that anyone else is in danger in the Chattanooga community. Again we continue to explore all options as far as
other individuals who may or may not be involved. However at this point we do not believe there's an imminent threat to anyone in the Chattanooga or -
area. Yes sir.
TIM (INAUDIBLE): Tim (inaudible). Two questions. One for (inaudible) the U.S. Attorney. (inaudible) yesterday you said that you considered this or
treated this as an act of domestic terrorism, today you left that word out, domestic. Is there a reason for that?
KILLIAN: Tim, well I should - let me address that first. I think I also said yesterday don't get caught up in (monikers), this is an investigation
of terrorism. The investigations to terrorism are at an intent and higher level than a normal criminal investigation. And so if you investigate it
as terrorism and it ends up being a simple criminal act then you've done more extensive investigation than you needed to.
If you investigate it as a criminal act and it becomes terrorism, you may have neglected to perform some investigation. We're investigating it at
the highest level of investigation and I wouldn't get caught up in (monikers) about whether it's domestic, international , this, that. It's a
terrorism investigation.
TIM: Thank you just to address (inaudible).
GORANI: Well that was U.S. Attorney Bill Killian there with that answer the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Saying that this
case, these two shooting events are being treated as terrorism investigations. The police chief for Chattanooga, Fred Fletcher, saying
that after the first shooting the police department chased the suspect, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, they engaged the gunman immediately at the
second location. The gunman was able to injure a police officer and as we now know the police are saying killed four marines.
We also heard from the FBI on this saying it is an act of terrorism investigation and that it is premature according to Ed Reinhold of the FBI
to speculate on motive. Questions out there that we all have as well of course, did this individual act alone. Forensics are working both scenes.
Now, Ed Reinhold of the FBI said at least two long guns, in other words two rifles, and one handgun were involved in these two shooting attacks. Some
purchased legally he said, others may not have been.
Tom Fuentes is still with us from Washington. What did we learn that was significant in this news conference Tom?
FUENTES: Well Hala, the aspect that it's being treated as a terrorism and this is a fine point, it's being treated and resourced as if it was a full
terrorism investigation but it may turn out that they can't substantiate it that it actually was an act of terrorism. If this person was you know a
psychopath and just had a personal grievance against the U.S. military for whatever reason you know it may be that type of criminal act. And the
killing of uniformed military officers engaged in their duty, just as any other federal government employee in the U.S. is a federal violation
investigated by the FBI. And if the people are murdered it carries the death penalty.
So in reality the penalty would be just as severe for the crime of killing these marines as it would be if it was declared an international act of
terrorism.
GORANI: And for investigators this is a difficult case. I mean it's a head scratcher for all of us as well. Because I mean we are learning that
this young man was a model student, that he was a mixed marital arts enthusiast. His coach said you know he was very friendly. In April he was
arrested for driving under the influence which doesn't square off at all with someone who's a devout Muslim by the way.
And then a few weeks later he's accused of murdering four marines at a - at a - at a reserve facility. I mean there are so many elements here that
don't seem to make sense on the - on the surface.
FUENTES: No and that's true. And the problem in these kind of cases if they don't find somewhere where he you know posted something on social
media or another email or spoke to a friend or neighbor or colleague. If he didn't express a desire to commit jihad he may take the secret of this
to the grave with him and we may not know what was going on in his head.
[15:30:01] And that's the unfortunate thing of why it's impossible to stop these because if the FBI can't read your mind, and they can't, you know
this may happen and nobody knows it's coming. And just the sheer fact that in the United States the number of weapons that are available legal and
illegal is unbelievable and makes it even harder to stop that.
GORANI: Tom Fuentes, thanks very much, as always for joining us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with a lot more news on CNN.
(BEGIN COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(END COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back, we'll look at your top stories this hour. Thursday's attack at two military facilities in Tennessee is being
investigated as terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Four American marines were killed, the gunman died, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez was a Palestinian, was born in Kuwait, and was a
naturalized U.S. citizen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Also today the world is paying tribute to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight 17.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: It was one year ago that the plane was shot out of the sky in Eastern Ukraine. The majority of the 298 people who died were Dutch
citizens and today the Dutch flag was flying at half-staff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Explosions targeting Muslim worshipers kill 9 people and injured 18 others in Northern Nigeria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The (method) shocking, the army says a 10 year old girl, and an elderly woman were used as human bombs to carry out the attacks. No-one
has claimed responsibility but Boko Haram certainly is suspected and has been very active in that area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The debate over a third bailout for Greece is dividing Germans. A new poll from the broadcaster ARD shows that nearly 40% of Germans don't
want to negotiate anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: But the German parliament gave the talks the go ahead anyway after Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was necessary to try.
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: (As translated) It would be grossly negligent yes, acting irresponsibly if we do not at least try this route.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Angela Merkel. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has just announced a cabinet reshuffle by the way.
Now he's keeping most of his key ministers just where they are but he is replacing the energy minister who voted against the austerity bill this
week. Now one of the biggest challenges facing Greece is debt relief. Will the creditors pardon some of the debt that Greece owes that is
weighing its economy down.
Nina dos Santos has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After furious demonstrations, endless debates and round after round of deal making Greece
finally won the backing of its creditors to ask for more money.
[15:35:12] After coming to (inaudible) an anti-austerity ticket and bringing back a deal that he himself disagrees with, Prime Minister Alexis
Tsipras managed to convince lawmakers to fast track the harsh reforms required despite protests by his people.
But for those who think that a deal is said and done there is one issue that just won't go away.
With the bank shut for three weeks Greece's economy has been grinding to a halt meaning that its debt is now rising as a proportion of GDP. In fact
the IMF reckons that this country's borrowings could hit as high as 200% of output within the next two years. A situation it calls unsustainable
without some kind of debt relief.
CHRISTINE LAGARDE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, IMF: No matter what form it takes whether it's by extending maturities, providing a longer grace period,
compressing the interest rates on the one hand or through other options such as transfer which I think is not in the cards such as (hair cut). But
one way has to be found in order to release the burden.
DOS SANTOS: And she's not the only one who thinks that. From Jack Lew at the U.S. Treasury to Mario Draghi, the ECB, calls are growing for some kind
of help for Greece.
ALEX WHITE, REGIONAL DIRECTOR EUROPE: We still have a 60% probability of a Grexit in our medium term forecasts i.e. out to 2019. So on balance we
think it's still likelier than not.
We think this has been another can picking exercise. I don't think we feel that we've addressed the underlying issues of debt sustainability, the
ability of the Greek state to actually implement what's being asked of it.
DOS SANTOS: But with Germany steadfast in its opposition to any kind of debt write down it means that even if Greece gets the funds that it needs
for now its current crisis is by no means fully resolved.
Nina Dos Santos, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well debt has threatened to engulf the Greek economy for some time now but today the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, as if he didn't
have enough on his plate actually had to confront an actual wildfire ranging in the mountains around Athens. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: They're burning in the distance in these images behind the Parliament building. Dozens of residents fled their homes as strong winds
and high temperatures fanned the flames. Now wildfires are also raging in the Southern Peloponnese region, several villages had to evacuate there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Back to MH17. Most of the people killed in that crash was from the Netherlands as we've been saying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: One Dutch town is paying its own special living tribute to the victims. They lost 14 citizens in the crash and now residents are growing
sunflowers in their honor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you see here is the 30 plants that will be used to take to the church and given out by the Mayor to families of the victims
and schools and sport clubs et cetera. And it was a really good thought because the seeds they become flowers, they have seeds again, and so on and
on. And you can always -- you can see there's life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: While the memorials take place to mark the anniversary of the crash the investigation into what happened continues. Pro-Russian rebels
are believed to have shot down the plane but that is disputed by Russia who blames Ukrainian forces for the disaster.
Here's Nick Paton Walsh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When 298 souls fell from the sky over (inaudible) they landed in the utter chaos of a war that
rages even now.
As in the fields the bodies were slowly, gruesomely gathered and made their long journey back to Holland. Questions mounted. And now, a year later,
still remain.
A (inaudible) Dutch prosecutor tells CNN they want access to key cellphone masts near this site to establish the whereabouts of "persons of interest"
at the time of the attack. And that the most likely scenario is that a BUK surface to air missile was fired at the plane from eastern Ukraine.
Now a memorial stands with children's toys and a poem that begins stop and pray, feel the minutes run. Dutch police say they have recovered all the
remains from here they can. Piet Ploeg the brother of Alex Ploeg that is one of the hardest parts of the news. Alex's body will never be found
although those of his wife Edith and son Robert were.
His daughters Sandra and Miriam didn't leave with them for a holiday in Kuala Lumpur and still now don't want to talk. And instead they have had
to bury Alex without a body, without closure.
[15:40:10] PIET PLOEG: You want your brother to come back. If there comes a plane with remains of victims you hope your brother will be there.
It wasn't but we didn't know that at that time. But you want to be - you want to be there because you want to wish that your brother will come home.
He didn't come home.
It's very difficult. It's I couldn't - I can't understand very well how is - how it is possible that just two people are finished, blown away. I -
it's a beyond belief. I can't understand it.
WALSH: Incomprehension too from Russia. (Inaudible) separatists accuse of what Holland says might be a war crime.
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: (As translated) We certainly deem it unacceptable for anyone to assume that they have a monopoly of the truth
before such an investigation finishes. Sadly attempts at distorting facts and enforcing versions of what could have happened continue to exist.
WALSH: Dutch prosecutors tell us they believe they will be able to bring a prosecution and arrest the suspect and put them in jail. That is yet
another tough question that has still no answer.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: A year there since that tragic incident and still so much grief in the Netherlands.
This is the World Right Now. When we come back; you're used to seeing Eddie Izzard in full make-up and dress to impress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: But here's what the British comedian looked like this week while visiting a refugee camp in Djibouti. We'll ask him why this cause, Yemen
is so close to his heart.
We'll be right back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(END COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Well the British actor and writer, Eddie Izzard, is best known for his stand-up comedy, of course, but he's also passionate about many other
things, politics for instance. And he's long advocated on transgender issues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Izzard is also a UNICEF Ambassador and something perhaps you didn't know he was actually born in South Yemen when Aden was a British
Colony.
He traveled to Djibouti this week with UNICEF to meet refugees fleeing violence in Yeoman. I spoke to Izzard about the growing refugee crisis in
that country and what he says he wants to do about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:45:00] You want to talk about Yemen; why?
EDDI IZZARD, BRITISH COMEDIAN: Yemen it's I think out of Arabic countries it seems forgotten, down the decades, down the centuries it gets - it
doesn't get talked about that much. It is a complicated country. It has a civil war at the moment. I have been working with UNICEF and we had to go
to Djibouti which is opposite - Yemen's right on the Red Sea, and I was at the other side of Red Sea is Djibouti in East Africa - North East Africa.
And refugees are now trying to get out in their thousands, tens of thousands.
There's still more refugees in Yemen because.
GORANI: So escape route really to Djibouti.
IZZARD: Yes, it is - it is the only escape route and actually a lot of people are still trapped in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
IZZARD: And the Houthi's tribe has come down and I'm working with the ex- president which is bizarre `cause they used to work against each other now they're working together. And it's a very complicated situation.
I think the international community says this is very complicated and Osama Bin Laden's father was in the north of the - in the mountains north east so
let's - Al Qaeda still there - oh I'm not sure what we're doing here but we're trying to help.
GORANI: They think the world's not interested enough, doesn't care enough?
IZZARD: I think - I think they've never been interested. And also Yemen, I was born there. I was actually I say I was born there and if everyone
can see, if they can see that .
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Yes, let's take a look at this because you were pointing at that picture of Aden.
IZZARD: Yes, I think that is the British Cathedral mount on the right you can see there's two little peaks and that far one looks like Cathedral
Mount. And I, over that mountain range there, either just in front of it or the other side of it, that's where I was born in (inaudible).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
IZZARD: And just nobody cares. And my parents met there, they were married there, my brother was born there in 1960, I was born in '62. I
left unfortunately in '63 but my dad was there for a total of eight years. And I try - I'm going to - and my plan is to learn Arabic .
GORANI: OK.
IZZARD: To get back there. I have to learn Egyptian Arabic and then go back there which might be a tricky mix because in Yemen the Arabic's going
to be different.
GORANI: And you want to perform in Yemen?
IZZARD: I want to do my show. I'm already - I perform in 27 countries with my show now, I'm planning to go to about 52. I've already got French,
performing in French this year, doing the first tour in France in French. Then German, I've already got German going.
GORANI: So you're learning all those languages.
IZZARD: Yes Spanish (inaudible - French).
GORANI: (Inaudible)
IZZARD: (inaudible - foreign)
GORANI: (inaudible - foreign)
IZZARD: (Inaudible - foreign) . and so I want to go back there and perform. At the moment I can just say (inaudible) and that's as far as
I've got in Arabic.
GORANI: But that - you want to become fluent enough in Arabic so that you can perform your show .
IZZARD: I don't want to become, I will become. My brother's going to learn it first. He learnt - He's the (market zone), he's the language
expert. He learns - so he's French, German and Spanish pretty much fluent in those three. He's doing Russian now and then he'll learn Arabic and
then I run for Mayor of London or a Member of Parliament.
GORANI: I think you're just about the most determined, the most disciplined entertainer in the industry.
IZZARD: Transgender people we've got to be pretty determined. You know if I .
GORANI: . you ran, OK just so our viewers and many of them who know you and adore you know this already but those who might not
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: 43 marathons in 51 days for Sports Relief in 2009. You want to get 10,000 volunteers to help sports clubs across the U.K. It's a huge
number.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: What drives you to be so ambitious all the time?
IZZARD: I think I have the determination gene. I know we've got this - is this the Mayor of London stuff? I don't know what this is.
GORANI: We're back in London.
IZZARD: This is another (inaudible) city. But if I - I just seem to be kind of determined and I came out 30 years ago as a transgender person and
now - hey we're getting somewhere in America transgender politics America's the capital of transgender politics.
GORANI: What struck you the most as you - in this trip in Djibouti? I mean what is staying with you now that you've left?
IZZARD: It's, there is - we have seen images but we've seen refugees, we've seen things happen before, we've seen explosives happen before. It's
the feeling that the people who have come across the (inaudible) you know the gate of tears and it's a traditional crossing route and they don't know
if they can go back. It's been tough enough for decades, for decades. I mean Aden was a place - Aden, the city of Aden, Aden, the British call
Aden, the British we used to go around in a colonial way and I say that port Hong Kong, I'll have that one then we can put all my ships in there, a
bit like America now negotiates to have airbases round everything that they will logically pay money et cetera except for in Cuba, and that is all
history anyway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IZZARD: But it's a fact that the people who are over there in the refugee camps 240k north of Djibouti City they have to go there to get registered
to be refugees. It's 50 degree heat - it's 45/50 degrees which people you know can't quite imagine. Probably in the south they can. And then the
sand storms every afternoon and they don't know what's going to happen in the future.
GORANI: And you know full well the (inaudible) Ambassador children suffer, also it's the most dire the refugee crisis has ever been with the most -
highest number of refugees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:50:03] GORANI: But let me ask you this `cause this is something when celebrities such as yourself so widely admired around the world raise
awareness. What's the - how do you transform awareness of an issue which is one thing, to having an impact I mean because that's not always the same
thing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IZZARD: No, absolutely. I mean I want - if people are watching CNN has a great global reach, if people can Google UNICEF and get to the website,
look at the Yemen pages, and then they can donate money. It is purely a money thing. We're trying to get 116 - we need 116 million, and we have
about 15 million, we're about 100 million short.
GORANI: Really, OK.
IZZARD: In dollars and so that's a lot of cash that we need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
IZZARD: But it's - I need to draw attention. There are a lot of caring people out there and the U.K. is really good in this way if they can. If
they do have disposal income, if they don't obviously just get on with your lives. But if you do and you do care, and you can care, then just help,
find the website and put some money in.
GORANI: Eddie Izzard there with more on his trip as a UNICEF Ambassador to Djibouti where so many Yemeni refugees end up that and other things and
we're going to check back in with him because he's promised to learn Arabic fluently and hopefully we'll be able to conduct at least part of our next
interview with him in Arabic. It will be really interesting. You can catch some of that interview on our Facebook page.
Now Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: This was the scene in Bangladesh earlier as people scrambled onto trains and boats to head home for the holiday. In Indonesia Muslims went
to mosques for prayers to mark the end of a month of fasting and contemplation.
Jordan put their best face on the holiday despite the hard life they're living there in the desert. A moment of happiness as the Civil War in
their homeland drags on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, we'll be right back, stay with us.
(BEGIN COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(END COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: All right, we've got some news just in to CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Two trains have collided in Johannesburg. One of the trains is said to have come off the tracks. At least 100 people are injured and
being treated by paramedics on the scene.
It is unclear what caused the crash. We're following this story for you and will bring you more as soon as we have more to share with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Now to Scotland where it's rain, rain, rain and it's making things very soggy for golfers and the fans at the British Open.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: A torrential downpour halted play at St. Andrews earlier; you can certainly see why. Part of the course was essentially under water.
Let's get the latest with CNN's Alex Thomas, he joins us now live from St. Andrews.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: I understand you - also you and the team and the crew there up in Scotland there were drenched as well along with everyone else Alex.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hala, we weren't too badly off but we have come down to ground level off our high TV tower because the
winds have been gusting so strongly; up to around 30mph, 50-60 km per hour, we're expecting more tomorrow. And here we are almost 9 o'clock at night
local time and the second round of this British Open Championship still has not finished.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: And it is Dustin Johnson, the American, who's currently leading on 11 under par, 2 strokes clear of a surprise name on the leaderboard.
Englishman Danny Willett who was as surprised as the rest of us when we spoke to him a little bit earlier.
[15:55:12] DANNY WILLETT: This is where you want to be. It's a dream of mine to be leading an open championship. Along the way there it's, you
know, you kind of dream about these things but you've got to tick off your little goals on the way and hope that that can lead to your dream. So,
luckily enough for us we've ticked off a few of them goals for myself. And yes, I guess the dreams kind of come true leading an open but there's still
two days left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Willett certainly isn't the sort of name that even anyone except for the most hardened golf fans will have heard of before Hala, that's for
sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: But just below him there is a whole host of former major winners, a former world number one in England. Luke Donald as well who's had a
terrific round so it's shaping up to be quite an exciting open even though we thought the weather was going to ruin it for us Hala.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, but what about this weekend because it is Scotland after all and rain is never too far away up in Scotland.
THOMAS: Well the leader Dustin Johnson along with Jordan Spieth, the 21 year old American trying to make history by winning the first three majors
of the year will all have to come back tomorrow and start their second rounds, or finish off their second rounds very early.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Play will resume at 7 o'clock in the morning on Saturday. And then when the third round does commence it will be three balls instead of
two balls. The organizers are still confident they can get everything finished and we won't leak on to a Monday finish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Alex Thomas, in Scotland at St. Andrews. And you can stay up to date with all those golf developments go to CNN.com/sports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And also if you're interested in the history of golf fashion you're in luck. Some of it is pretty bizarre. That's at CNN.com/sports.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And a dinosaur discovery with a twist finally. Researchers have just unveiled a new dinosaur in China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: A farmer found it. It's an unusual fossil complete with wings and a long tail in the Liaoning Province.
Now the dinosaur is believed to be a close relative of its famous cousin, the velociraptor. Researchers say they are not sure why the dinosaur even
had wings and feathers because it didn't fly. Its short arms and large thighs would have made it impossible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: That's the World Right Now, I'm Hala Gorani, have a great weekend, I'll see you Monday. Quest Means Business is next.
END
