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Tunisia Deploying Nearly 1,400 Armed Security Agents to Hotels, Beaches; At least 4 Died in a Chinese Earthquake; Trump's Controversial Comments. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 03, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:00] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Living in the shadow of terror. We bring you an exclusive report from a Tunisian city that become all too familiar with extremism.

Also, start warning on the sheer scale of Greece's the financial mess as the clock ticks down to a vote to decide the country's fate this weekend.

And a disturbing tragedy coming from Australia, a football coach is murdered and police think his son did it.

And welcome to our viewers around the world. You're watching CNN live coverage. I'm Natalie Allen. Thanks so much for joining us.

Our top story, Tunisia is deploying nearly 1400 armed security agents to hotels and beaches as they step up security around tourist spots. Tunisian Security Forces have now arrested eight suspects, including a woman. This, a week after an attack on a resort that left dozens of tourists dead. Thirty of the 38 people murdered were British.

And Thursday, we saw this, nine more bodies of victims flown to a Royal Air Force base in England. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says there will be two more repatriation flights in the coming days. At noon, local time, the U.K. will observe a nationwide moment of silence.

While tourists flock to Tunisia for its beaches, the mountains of the country provide cover for ISIS terror camps. A senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir shows us there's no shortage of men joining the group's ranks, either by choice or by force.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Chaambi Mountains on Tunisia's border with Algeria, for months now the government has launch campaigns aim at losing out the terror camps hiding in this barracks slopes. This operation may call those before it, failed.

Whining on the foothills of the Chaambi is the road to the town of Kasserine. It was in this poor streets that the spark of the Tunisian revolution caught flame, hoping for better life that never came.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATED): We have nothing, nothing.

ELBAGIR: But something else did. This young man spent two months in a Tunisian jail. He says he was accused of being a terrorist, a charge he denies. We're not revealing his identity for his safety and the safety of his family. "They taught me how to pray, we used to pray together. Then one day, police raided the mosque around they're doing prayer. I stopped going to the mosque. I even stopped praying."

But they weren't done with him. Earlier this year, the threats began arriving over Facebook, it was the man from the mosques. He says they told him they knew where he lived. His sin? He hadn't joined them. A man describing himself as an ISIS commander told him "We've got a job for you." "I knew it was either going to be killed or be a killer."

Western intelligence agencies believe Tunisian fighter swell ISIS ranks in number unmatched by any other nationality. And Tunisian authorities identify Kasserine as a veritable pipeline of recruits.

Many of the mothers we meet here tell us they lost sons to Jihadi ideology, either missing, jailed, or dead. Uzban Zaharas (ph) seen prayed in the same neighborhood mosque. One day last year, he disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (TRANSLATED): After 10 months we were watching the news and we had them say they've been fighting in the mountains. As we sat that we had them announcing his name, Nassir Monsour (ph) and the group with him was killed in the mountains. I heard the interior minister announced it.

ELBAGIR: In spite of the influence of foreign fighters the Tunisian Jihadi battleground are now increasingly here at home, where it talks on soft Western targets grab headlines around the world. Recruitment where told is in the mosques, brazen and in person.

[02:05:00] He said to me, "You, I know your mother, you father, I can take your brother, your mother, I can throw a bomb over your womb."

The Chaambi terror camps are just a few of the training grounds in the mountains of Northwestern Tunisia. It's a contagion spreading across the country and felt far beyond its borders.

Nima Elbagir, CNN, Kasserine, Tunisia.

ALLEN: ISIS, of course, claiming responsibility for the attack in Tunisia, the group is also taking credit for what happened at this mosque in Kuwait City last Friday, a deadly suicide bombing there. All of this has many countries across the Middle East increasing their security.

We are midway through Islam's holy month and ISIS supporters are promising many surprises during Ramadan. Last week, an ISIS fighter from Bahrain threatened an attack on his home country.

Meantime, word to praise from the U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden applauding Iraq's efforts to stop ISIS from gaining any more ground there. Mr. Biden spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Thursday, the White House says he reaffirms U.S. support for Iraq's ongoing effort and the contributions of U.S. military advisers there.

In Nigeria, authorities are looking into a series of brutal raids that have killed well over, 100 people in Borno State. They say Boko Haram militants are to blame.

CNN producer Brent Swails joins us by phone from Abuja with more on what we're learning about these attacks. Brent, hello.

BRENT SWAILS, CNN PRODUCER: Hi, Natalie. Well, the attacks were actually on two separate villages coming an estimated we believe 145 people all in Borno State. All villages near Lake Chad. One local lawmaker says that the -- that basically local mosques were targeted where people were just finishing Ramadan prayer.

Now we were expecting the group to be more active during Ramadan. They heed the call on ISIS in many occasions, then of course, ISIS would call in from more attacks during the holy month. But there also come in a critical time for the new Buhari administration. One of the first thing that the president has done in office is to eliminate many of the military checkpoints in the north.

He wants to see the soldiers taking the fight to Boko Haram and kind of leaving the checkpoints to police. Now when we were just in Khana, which is the Northern Nigeria economic hub. And even here in Abuja that kind of that small act had made a difference in giving people from resemblance of normalcy.

But now you got to wonder with more attacks like this in neighboring Borno State you wonder how long that sense of security will last. Natalie.

ALLEN: Right. A setback perhaps for this new government. And, Brent, what about the government's claim that it did carry out airstrikes after these attacks by Boko Haram.

SWAILS: Yes, absolutely. One military expert did say that they -- they've responded already with airstrikes. That's the official claim. They've also said that there is coming troops to assess the damage. But the challenge here is that, I mean, neither really remote villages along Lake Chad and that's why it's always difficult to get information, and even these attacks were kind of -- the latest one was kind of late Wednesday.

And they're carried by eyewitnesses who often flee that's being, so it's difficult to -- it's difficult to know what's really going on. Natalie?

ALLEN: Certainly I understand that. Brent Swails for us, our producer there in Abuja, Nigeria. Thank you, Brent.

China state news agency reports at least four people have died in the country after a strong earthquake hit the country's Western region. According to the U.S. Geological Survey it was a 6.4 magnitude tremor.

With more now we're joined by meteorologist Karen Maginnis. She's keeping up with this one. Karen. KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Natalie, because it was relatively shallow putting it about 20 kilometers deep, that's why it would be felt more significantly. Also because it is shallow you can have more damage. The deeper it is you're not going to see as much shaking unless it's a very strong earthquake like we saw in Nepal back in April, a 7.8 magnitude. This, 6.4 magnitude.

We may see some adjustment on that, but 20 kilometers deep, about 100 kilometers away from any major city or the nearest major city has about 60 miles away. But here is the epicenter you can already say we've picked up a couple of aftershocks.

Let's go ahead and show you some of the video of what happened after this earthquake, which now has been about three and a half, almost four hours later. There you can see some of the cracks in the walls, very dramatic looking there. But the shaking was definitely felt across this region.

It's very arid here. And there saying that some of the rivers or streams they just magically disappear into this very arid country. And there you can see it's fairly sparsely populated. But nonetheless, already USGS, the U.S. Geological Survey says that already four fatalities and a number of people have been injured as well.

[02:10:09] And the shaking would definitely be felt because of its relatively shallow nature that being about 20 kilometers deep or just about 12 miles deep.

Natalie, we'll stay on top of this. And coming back I'll have the latest information about heat across the globe. Back to you.

ALLEN: Oh, yes, we know about that. Thank you, Karen.

Well, fears appear to be growing over potential terror attacks against the United States linked to Saturday's, July 4th holiday. Those jitters may have contributed to a false alarm at the Navy Yard in Washington on Thursday.

As Pamela Brown reports officials are taking no chances.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: New gruesome details about the ISIS inspired beheading in France at an American owned factory are raising fears about a similar attack in the U.S. around the July 4th holiday.

Today, a French prosecutor said the suspect hung the victim's head from a fence surrounded with two Islamic flags. He also poses for a selfie with the body.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIS's beheading has been a tactic of choice of them in Syria and Iraq. But we're now seeing this tactic spread throughout the Middle East and also to Europe that worries United States is next.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: In the wake of the near simultaneous attacks in France, Kuwait, in a beachside attack in Tunisia that killed at least 38 people. Here in the U.S., the FBI made its 9th ISIS-related arrest this month. Authority say 23-year-old Alla Sadeep (ph) plan to go to Syria to fight.

He is part of a group of ISIS supporters in the New York City area, including a Queens College student arrested recently for allegedly plotting bombings in New York.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I anticipated you're going to see more and more arrests as related to the Fourth of July holiday, and that's to get these people off the streets, so they can't conduct a terrorist attack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: The U.S. counterterrorism officials fear the symbolic July 4the holiday celebrations coinciding with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan will further embolden ISIS supporters who is in the U.S. to unleash attacks.

A threat taken so seriously, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, said had a warning to law-enforcement officials a week in advance of the holiday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terrorist group been historically been interested in targeting the United States on the July 4th holiday because they see that holiday as being very important to Americans, and if something were to happen that this would inflict additional psychological trauma.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Well, the U.S. Air Force had canceled a big July 4th celebration at an airbase in England. It appears that it wasn't because of the specific threat but an overall level of concern for some U.S. targets abroad.

We'll turn now to the Philippines because divers have found more bodies after a ferry capsized Thursday off the central Philippines. Minutes after leaving port, the boat just flipped over, killing at least 42 people, that's the count so far, 11 are still missing.

Most of the 187 passengers on -- and crew on board were rescued. David Santos with the CNN Philippines joins us on the line now. David, any more clues as to what happened, what cause this?

DAVID SANTOS, CNN PHILLIPINES CORRESPONDENT: Well, Natalie, search operations are still ongoing for the remaining missing passengers of sunken ferry here in Ormoc City, where throughout Friday morning, local time, four more bodies have been retrieved from the sunken vessel including that of the 4-year-old boy.

Now there is still about a dozen people believe to be missing and are now the subject of this ongoing search operations. Where base on the -- base on some of the survivors, many of passengers panicked when the boat they were on tilted to one side when it was maneuvering mid-rough waves while leaving the Ormoc port.

Now investigators are also now looking into one possibility that the boat capsize because of the weight, both of the vessel, passengers, and the cargo shifted to one side leading to its sinking.

ALLEN: And as you say the search goes on for the people still missing. David Santos joining us from the Philippines. Thank you for that latest, David.

Well, there is fear and confusion in Greece that is to say the least as people line up to get their cash to get their cash ahead of this weekend's bailout referendum. What will happen to after this referendum to this country?

We'll go live to Athens, next.

Plus, a prominent Australian Rules football coach stabbed to death. And police have charged his son with his murder.

[02:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MAGINNIS: Hello, everyone. This is your CNN Weather Watch. I'm meteorologist Karen Maginnis.

And the heat continues across a good portion of Europe. If anywhere there is a break, it looks like that's going to be from London. Those temperatures, though, still rather steamy, 29 degrees expected high coming up for Friday.

But elsewhere, we look from Berlin all the way to Rome and towards Madrid. Look at Madrid, 39 degrees expected. Is there going to be any relief? Well, at least in the short term, there will not be.

We go to the weekend, and the steamy temperatures are going to remain. London is even going to see those temperatures soar once again. How about across the Middle East, well, typically, this time of year we see the sneeringly hot temperatures, and in particular we saw Pakistan, Karachi, in particular where numerous deaths were reported because of the oppressive heat.

But we'll cross Middle East, Baghdad expecting 48 for a high, plenty of sunshine there, Abu Dhabi is looking at 43 degrees. And what about moisture, well, very little of it is expected. We're looking at mostly dry weather conditions might see isolated dessert storm here and there. Otherwise, we're looking at mostly readings in the 40's.

Have a good day. I'm a meteorologist Karen Maginnis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ALLEN: Welcome back. Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras is promising the country's banks will reopen soon. He says the long lines at cash machines are embarrassing, it's one way to put it, downright frightening is another way to put it, for many of these people not knowing when and how much cash they'll be able to get.

But Tsipras blames Greece's European creditors in all this. The banks have been closed all week and there are strict limits on how much cash people can withdraw from automatic tellers. Mr. Tsipras is urging Greeks to vote no in Sunday's referendum on the country's financial future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): If the yes vote wins the banks will open with the deal which will not be viable, but if that is the decision of the Greek people, either from fear or from pressure or choice, we will respect it. If the no vote wins and the no is stronger, I assure you the very next day I will be in Brussels and a deal will be signed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:19:54] ALLEN: With that vote just days away both sides are out in force. And more rallies for and against the referendum are planned for later today. Mr. Tsipras says, a no vote would not mean Greece will leave the Euro zone. A yes vote on the other hand, would almost certainly bring an end to his time in office.

Meantime, the International Monetary Fund has a grave warning for Greece. It says the country needs an extra $55 billion over the next three years just to stay afloat. On Tuesday, Greece failed to make a $1.7 billion loan payment to the IMF.

Greece's finance minister has some harsh words of his own for the country's European creditors. He spoke Thursday with CNN's Richard Quest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YANIS VAROUFAKIS, GREECE'S FINANCE MINISTER: We fought very hard for the Greek people to have the right to say yes or to say no. If they yes we'll respect it. How are we going to do it and who will be the minister of (Inaudible) is neither here nor there. I've already declared that it won't be me because I am not in the business of extending and pretending.

I was elected, we were elected on a platform of ending the extent and pretend. But if the Greek people under due rest imposed upon them by closed banks from Euro group decide that they want to say yes to institutions, we consider this a kind of quiescence to blackmail.

But if they want to do it that way we shall respect it and we will do whatever it takes politically to make sure that their decision is abided by.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Let's go now to Athens and journalist Elinda Labropoulou is here to help us sort out the latest twists and turns. And certainly, I just can imagine a more dire time for the people there in Greece, Elinda. Tsipras first saying vote no then saying vote yes, then he just changed his mind and flip-flopped, and now people are even confused about what they're voting on.

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is a lot of clarity about what the actual question of this referendum means, and we're only 48 hours before the actual referendum. We have two opposing rallies taking place in Athens tonight, at the same time, with the vote -- with the voters who -- the no voters saying that this is a vote against austerity.

Where the yes voters are saying this is a vote for the country to stay in Europe. So, if you go to ATMs where people are queuing, if you go to coffee shops, this is the only thing that people are talking about.

And you see that still there is confusion about what they're voting for and what this will mean in the long run. What has precipitated really in the events and what's happening is the capital controls. This has really made people realize the gravity of the situation. They've been introduced to stop this bank run and everyone is I think trying to stay calm.

This is one of the things that we've really notice in the last days, just really people staying calm not talking too much and waiting to see what this referendum will bring. The emitted issue of course is the bank. And even before Greeks have said they would prefer a bad deal to no deal to Europe.

So, this is even before the referendum is called then the situation deteriorated rapidly with the capital controls. And now Greeks are left just basically waiting to see what this referendum will bring to see how the story will move forward.

ALLEN: I would understand what they would say a bad deal is better than no bill, when you understand that the country needs an extra $55 billion over the next three years to stay afloat. Heads off to the Greek people as you say that have stayed calm trying to figure out what this means for their future.

We always appreciate your reporting and we'll talk with you again, Elinda Labropolou for us there from Athens. Thank you.

A murderer rocks football in Australia, coming up here. The coach of one of the nation's popular teams is found dead. His son is charged.

Plus, new details about the moment a U.S. border patrol team came face-to-face with an escaped inmate.

[02:25:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: And welcome to our viewers around the world. Thank you so much for watching CNN live coverage. I'm Natalie Allen. We want to update you now on our top stories this hour. In northeastern Nigeria, at least 145 people are dead after Boko Haram militants raided three villages in rural Borno State. One local official says some of the people killed were observing evening prayers in a mosque.

Nigeria's military says it did conduct airstrikes after that attack. Boko Haram also inspired by ISIS.

Colombia's government is offering $38,000 reward for information after two explosions in downtown Bogota. The explosions happened outside the offices of a pension fund management company. No idea while they -- why they were targeted.

The defense minister says, in his opinion, it is definitely terrorism. Eight people were wounded.

At least four people are dead and dozens more injured after a strong earthquake hit Western China, Friday, a 6.4 magnitude quake. The Xinjiang region demolishing homes and causing communication outages, a series of aftershocks followed the earthquake.

Islamist rebels launch a 400-missile assault on government controlled areas of Aleppo on Thursday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights the explosives killed at least four civilians and wounded 70 others.

The activist group says Ansar al-Sharia, a newly formed Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria staged the attack.

An unspeakable tragedy has hit the Australian sports community. The coach of one of the country's most popular Australian Rules football teams was murdered in his home allegedly by his son.

Phil Walsh seen here took charge of the Adelaide Crows the season, the 55-year-old's career spanned decades as both the player and assistant. Police have charged Walsh's 26-year-old son with the stabbing death. As a mark of respect, the league has canceled the Crows game this weekend.

For more on this we turn to Sky News reporter Simon Love. He's at AFL headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. Simon, what more can you tell us about this murder and why they believe the son was behind it?

[02:30:01] Simon, can you hear me? This is Natalie in Atlanta. I'm checking to see if we have our audio connection with Simon. It doesn't look like. We'll try to reestablish our contact with him and get more on that story.

We want to turn now to the U.S. One of the New York prisoners who was on the run allegedly pointed his shotgun at border patrol agents before his death. We're also learning new details of an apparent plot to kill the husband of the woman accused of helping the convicts escape.

Here is CNN's Jason Carroll. JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The federal authorities releasing a bit more information about those final moments between Richard Matt at border patrol officer. That officer telling Matt to put his hands up, he ended up firing on that officer only after Richard Matt failed to put his hands up, instead pointed a 20-gauge shotgun at that officer.

He picked up that shotgun along with that liquor that he found while he was on the run. So as violent as those last moments were they could have been much, much worse if not for the quick thinking of that border patrol officer.

Also, new information coming to us about that alleged murder plot against Lyle Mitchell, Joyce Mitchell's husband, as you know Joyce Mitchell denied she had anything to do at all with that murder plot. David Sweat says that she did.

Well, Lyle Mitchell, Joyce Mitchell's husband weighing into his attorney telling CNN yesterday afternoon quote "Lyle only knows what Joyce has told him and that was that she didn't want to hurt Lyle." Again, Joyce Mitchell telling investigators she had nothing to do with the murder plot, also telling her husband she did not want him hurt and did not want anyone to go through with it.

ALLEN: Well, details from inside the prison, the Clinton Correctional Facility tell more of a soap opera in the day and of a life of a prisoner at a maximum security prison. But he's not the only prison in the U.S. to encounter drama.

CNN's Randi Kaye reports on a prison in Baltimore, Maryland.

RANDI KAYE, CNN'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Before sweeping investigation into the Baltimore City Detention Center, the inmates seem to be running the plates. A deadly gang called the Black Guerrilla family lorded over an empire of drugs and other contraband in the jail.

All at the direction of their leader inmate, Tavon White.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tavon White was wiretapped as part of the investigation on this account that kind of quote, that really stood that way. He said "This is my jail." Something along the lines of, you know, his word is law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: So, how was White and his gang able to gain such a stranglehold on the entire system? Largely through seducing its female correctional officers into sexual relationships. According to the government, White even fathered five children with four different officers, all while behind bars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sexual dynamic of the correction was really important. And what the FBI thinks is that that was a way to establish power over these women to build these relationships to really strengthen these bonds. They really had a playbook for how to use sex essentially to ensure their dominance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: This is one of those guards according to the government. Tiffany Linder seen here eight months into her pregnancy, got into an argument with another guard who was also pregnant with White's baby. According to court documents she said "Did he tell you he was having a son, do you know about our baby?"

The other pregnant guard responded "Don't give up about that (muted) baby. That's you all baby not mine. We're having one, too, so what?" Two of the pregnant guards allegedly even got tattoos of Tavon's name.

Up until the scandal broke wide open back in 2013, 75 percent of the jail, 650 corrections officers were women. And according to one inmate who was a witness for the government, up to three quarters of those female guards were involved in quote "Contraband smuggling and/or having sexual relationships with inmates."

That all began to unravel when the FBI and other law enforcement began to investigate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were able to tap the contraband cell phones of the gang members who are using to build up a picture of the network who is connected to who; who Tavon White had control over and build a case that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The of Maryland's Corrections Department accepted responsibility when charges were first brought and said people will be held accountable. According to the Washington Post, more than 40 people were charged with racketeering related charges, including Tavon White. He pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. And this past February he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Twenty four correctional officers were also found guilty, including Tiffany Linder and three other women who allegedly were impregnated by White.

Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

[02:35:04] ALLEN: What a mess there. My goodness. Well, now I want to go back to that story that we're following in Australia. The coach of one the country's most popular Australian Rules football teams was murdered in his home allegedly by his son.

Let's go back to Sky News reporter, Simon Love, he's at AFL headquarters in Melbourne for us. Simon, what can you tell us about his death and why his son seems to be the accused? SIMON LOVE, SKY NEWS REPORTER: Well, Natalie, I can tell you that the Adelaide Football Club a club of the Australian Foot League which is headquartered just here in Melbourne, Australia. The coach of that club, Phil Walsh, was found dead in his home, in own in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, early this morning, Australian time.

Now, it is alleged that his son, his 26-year-old son was and has in fact, been charged with Phil Walsh's murder. Now this unspeakable, I guess crime, which is I guess under investigation by the South Australian police has got to a wide effect on the Australian football community.

Australian Rules football was a sort of sport that could be the take up of it is the most popular spectator sport in Australia. The take up of it is comparable to I guess the take cup of soccer in Italy, and that sort of thing.

And so, to lose a league coach in such a horrible and unspeakable crime is had a profound impact on the entire football community, not just the players in which that Phil Walsh coach, but all different clubs.

In fact, here at AFL headquarters, if I can just show you now, Natalie, just behind me here. There is seven different footballs scrubs representing seven different AFL clubs that Phil Walsh took part in it as either a player. He played a 122 Australian rules games as player and also as a coach for four different clubs.

He ended his tenure as the senior coach of the Adelaide Crows when he began as coach there earlier this year. Now, as a mark of respect and obviously, given that many of his players grieving his loss, its game that was scheduled to take place in Australian rules football game that was rescheduled to take place on Sunday between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows. That is going postponed out of respect.

And that announcement was made a short time ago by the AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GILLON MCLACHLAN, AFL CEO: We know that the usual fun and passion of their game will not be there. We also know that its clubs members and supporters will gather in a spirit of respectful mourning in support for the family and friends of a great football mad who is loved by so many.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOVE: So, Natalie, as the football community right across Australia mourns the loss of Phil Walsh. The police investigation is continuing. We're told that Phil Walsh's son has been charged with murder. He has faced a bedside hearing over in Adelaide, that capital of South Australia, remained in custody to once again reappear in court later in the year.

But no doubt given that there was a football match schedules to take place this weekend and football matches is scheduled to take place over to the coming days including one tonight, Australian time, there will be many different tributes to Phil Walsh over the coming days.

ALLEN: I certainly understand what a terrible tragedy and a family shattered at the same time. Thanks so much, Simon. We appreciate your reporting for us.

The backlash over Donald Trump's controversial comments continues as another major business cuts ties with the presidential hopeful. We'll have that next.

[02:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: We're getting the first pictures of major damage caused by an explosion at a chemical factory in South Korea. Fire officials say four workers were killed in the blast, two people are missing.

Look at that. That was quite the blast. Initial indications suggest the explosion happened as workers were welding the interior of a wastewater storage facility. The blast tore out the upper structure of the facility at which then collapsed.

BP has reached a historic agreement to settle claims from the giant Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It was five years ago, when we all watch this right here as oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico day and night for weeks on end.

BP has agreed to pay five U.S. states for the damage caused, a total of $18.7 billion. Most of the money will go to the State of Louisiana which suffered the brunt of the damage.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the largest environmental disaster in United States history, 11 people were killed in the initial oil rig explosion.

U.S. presidential candidate, Donald Trump doesn't seem to be losing any sleep over his incendiary comments about undocumented immigrants. But that might be about to change. America's largest mattress manufacturer, Serta says its severing its business relationship with Trump.

Serta carries a line of Trump mattresses. Univision and NBC canceled their plans to broadcast the Miss Universe pageant, and the department store, Macy's has cut its ties with Trump.

He ignited a firestorm when he claimed that some Mexicans illegally entering the U.S. are drug dealers, killers, and rapists. He is showing no signs of backing down.

Well, in less than two years, U.S. President Barack Obama will say goodbye to the White House. His two presidential terms have been full of ups and downs. But lately it seems the Commander-in-Chief is on quite the winning streak, as we hear from Jonathan Mann.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He's in the waning years of his presidency. His s hair has grayed, and a lot of attention has turned to the campaign that will choose his successor. Even so, U.S. President Barack Obama has had quite a streak.

The U.S. economy is growing having 223,000 new jobs last month, according to latest jobs report. While the unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent, the lowest it's been in more than seven years. The recession that he inherited when he was elected is very clearly over.

Add to that, a victory in Congress giving the president fast-track powers to negotiate new trade deals.

[02:45:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHANTING)

MANN: Probably the biggest initiative of his presidency the enormous health insurance reform called the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Its opponents have fought it every step of the way, but for second time the U.S. Supreme Court upheld key provisions.

Obamacare includes a guarantee that sick Americans can no longer lose their health insurance because of illness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: Someday our grandkids will ask us if there was really a time when America discriminate against people who get sick, because that is something this law has ended for good.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: And a huge victory for same-sex marriage. Obama had been slow to embrace the cause but he did and he celebrated the Supreme Court's landmark decision to recognize our right to same-sex marriage nationwide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: This ruling will strengthen all of our communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great land.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Obama joked with reporters when he was asked at a news conference whether he thought last week was his best week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Now my best week I will tell you was the marrying Michelle, that was a really good with week. Melia and Sasha being born excellent weeks. There's a game where I scored 27 points. That was pretty good work.

I've had some good weeks in my life. I will tell you. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: The court victories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, Wisconsin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: The economy all had an impact. A new CNN ORC poll found that for the first time in more than two years, 50 percent of Americans approve of the job he's doing. They also have a positive view of his handling of race relations.

His final term ends in less than two years, when time is running out to achieve his remaining goals. But after a remarkable month, he's checked more of them off the list. And his legacy seems more solemn than ever.

Jonathan Mann, CNN.

ALLEN: A historic flight continues, next. The plane powered only by the sun continues its path across the Pacific. And we'll have a cockpit interview with the pilot for you.

[02:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: An airplane powered only by the sun. The Solar Impulse is on the verge of completing the most demanding part of its journey yet. Pilot Andre Borschberg is more than four days into a grueling flight from Japan to Hawaii, he gets very little sleep. He just constantly flying.

He has already set a world record for the longest solo flight one would hope so. This section over the Pacific is considered one of the more dangerous in this round the world attempt But speaking from the cockpit as he flew the plane, Borschberg believes it's worth it to fire up the conversation over the importance of renewable energy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDRE BORSCHBERG, SOLAR IMPULSE PILOT: To make this airplane fly we had to develop and we used efficient technology. So, a technology which used very little energy. In this technology if you can use them into an airplane, we can certainly use them in our homes; in the way we build homes, in the way we build transportation systems, appliances to reduce energy consumption.

Now we know we have the climate conference in Paris this year for the government and instead of talking about the problems, we should talk about solutions and this is certainly a very solution that we want to push forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ALLEN: How about that, doing an interview and flying a plane at the same time. Well, after touching down on Honolulu, the Solar Impulse's next leg will be to Phoenix, Arizona, about 4700 kilometers or 2900 miles away. Godspeed, Solar Impulse.

Meteorologist Karen McGinnis is here. How about that journey?

MAGINNIS: It is. Yes. And to have the stamina, the willpower, the nerve is really remarkable. You know, about what we think of this is probably what people thought at the time of Lindbergh.

Let's move on. Speaking of Europe, let's take a look at some of the soaring temperatures that we've got over the next few days, not just the heat, it's the humidity. And we've got the big sporting events that are taking place across Europe as well.

Wimbledon being one of them, also the Tour de France which begins on Saturday, starts in the Netherlands at Utrecht and will continue. And it looks like the heat will continue as well with temperatures well into the low to mid-30s. It looks like a chance of an isolated storm towards the end of that first lag.

And we're not seeing a huge inclined here, but nonetheless, the steep temperatures, the humidity is going to make it feel very oppressive. And speaking of oppressive, we look at Wimbledon, a very little underway of relief. Sunday, if anything is going to be the day that will be minimally cooler, will be in and out of the sun and the clouds partly cloudy and only about a 20 percent chance of a shower coming up for Sunday.

Look at the temperatures that we've seen over the previous 24 hours, this was on Thursday afternoon. Frankfurt soared to 35.5 degrees; typical high temperature would be 23 degrees. Amsterdam, 30.2 degrees typical high 21. That's a huge difference all across Europe.

It starts to move a little bit further towards the interior sections of Europe eventually making their way into Eastern Europe. Well, this was as of Wednesday near Paris, 39.7, you have to go back all the way to July of 1947, before you see a hotter temperature. That is over or almost 70 years.

Well, here is the heat and moved across the Iberian Peninsula, even in London we saw those temperatures soar, it moves a little bit further across interior sections. And Natalie, it looks like we will see that searing heat for a number of areas, Warsaw, Paris, and for Madrid over the next 5 to 7 days.

[02:55:02] ALLEN: That is really, really brutal. All right. They're not used to that.

MAGINNIS: No.

ALLEN: Thank you, Karen. Well, there is a mover's van on Sesame Street and it's for one of the show's most beloved characters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OSCAR, SESAME STREET CHARACTER: Oh, hey, Skinny, Ms. Fixit, can you come here?

SKINNY, SESAME STREET CHARACTER: What do you want, Oscar?

OSCAR: Well, you're just the person I was waiting for. I wonder if you could do me a little favor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: They've been waiting for her and talking with her for many years. That's Sonia Manzano or Maria, as you probably know her. She is retiring from Sesame Street after 45 years on the block.

Manzano made her first appearance back in 1971, and has quite literally held the place together running the fix-it shop with her on- screen husband. The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actress has taken to social media to personally thank well-wishing fans, 65 years old and still working on Sesame Street.

Now that's a job. Good for her. She was great. Thank you for watching. I'm Natalie Allen. George is back with me for another hour at CNN Newsroom. Don't go anywhere. Thanks for watching.

[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)