a renowned risk taker, now, about to reach the edge of space. how richard branson's journey kicks off a commercial-space race. and the other billionaires he is beating to get there. also, ahead. england helps to leave 55 years of hurt behind them. and they beat formidable opponent, in the euro 2020 final. and excessive heat is smothering millions along the u.s. west coast. we will tell you just how high the mercury will go today. live from cnn world headquarters in atlanta. welcome to all of you watching us here, in the united states, canada, and around the world.

i'm kim brunhuber. this is cnn "newsroom." we begin with a short flight to space but a big leap for tycoons who want to turn the great beyond into a tourist destination. in less than four hours, billionaire richard branson is set to take off in a space plane built by his company virgin galactic. well, if he succeeds, he will be the first businessman to do so in a spacecraft, whose development he funded. a short time ago, he tweeted this mission statement for his upcoming flight. >> my mission statement is to turn the dream of space travel into a reality. for my grandchildren, for your grandchildren, for everyone. >> so, how does branson feel before potentially making

history? well, he opened up to cnn's rachel crane. >> reporter: the countdown is on, and in just hours, entrepreneur richard branson hopes to become the first person to ride a self-funded rocket into suborbital space. >> astronaut 001, richard branson. >> reporter: a launch nearly-two decades in the making. tell me, how do you feel? >> um, well, i managed to avoid getting excited for 17 years, since we've started building spaceships and mother ships and space ports and all these things. and i finally got the call from our chief engineer saying that every single box had been ticked on the safety aspect. and that i was -- um -- um -- would -- would i like to go to space? and i hit -- i hit the roof, i was so excited. >> reporter: the virgin galactic rocket-powered space plane is set to take off sunday from new mexico. the mother ship will release the spaceship at around 40,000 feet.

the rocket will ignite and take branson, two pilots, and three others, on a 2,400-mile-per-hour ride, more than 50 miles up, to touch the inner edge of space, as defined by the u.s. military and nasa. the crew will experience a few minutes of weightlessness, before gliding back to earth. >> when you are up there, the spaceship will turn -- turn over and -- and enormous windows, one's going to be able to float around and look back at earth. >> reporter: if successful, the space barren will edge out fellow billionaire and world's richest man, jeff bezos, who is set to ride his own company's rocket into space in the coming days. the two men have jockeyed for the astronomical bragging rights that come with being first. branson has insisted that there's no space race with bezos, and that the missions are different. >> the kind of experience you're going to get with the two -- the two companies will -- will -- are -- are almost as different as -- as chalk and cheese. so, we don't see ourself as a direct competitor. >> two, one.

>> reporter: while bezos's flight will be after branson's, his rocket system, new shepherd, will go even higher. past the carmen line, which is the altitude internationally recognized to be the demarcation in space. his company, blue origin, taking a shot at branson's trip tweeting, their rocket was, quote, designed to fly above the carmen line, so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. >> if you fly 50 miles or 62 miles, you're in space. i mean, you're not going to notice the difference between those 12 miles. neither of these vehicles go into orbit, by the way. they touch space and then they come right back down. >> reporter: both space companies have had successful suborbital test flights over the past decade. but with space travel comes inherent risk. in 2014, a co-pilot for virgin galactic was killed during a test flight of a previous model of their spacecraft. >> i like to say that you can do risky things, safely, if you know the risks you are taking. you know the controls you have in place. and you verify that they are active. and -- and we do just that. i don't think the risk of this

flight is -- is high. it's not zero. >> two, one, zero. and liftoff. >> reporter: in the ten years since the launch of atlantis, nasa's final space shuttle mission, the privatization of space flight has, quickly, expanded. today, the commercial aerospace company, spacex, founded by yet another billionaire, elon musk, regularly takes nasa astronauts as it flies in into orbit at a fraction of the cost of the space shuttle. so far, nasa has been supportive of the billionaires' endeavors, especially after the successes of spacex. >> we are seeing the result of these billionaires, that you call them, putting their wealth into the research and development of a space program. we're seeing a lot of advancing of technology, which is good for our country. it's good for building american jobs, as well. >> reporter: if sunday's mission is successful, it could launch yet a new era of space travel

and the final frontier could, soon, open to space tourism. so far, hundreds of people have signed up for future virgin galactic flights. some paying more than $200,000, each. branson hopes that someday will be soon. >> i've had to wait almost a lifetime to be able to go into space. hopefully, we can speed that process up for -- for many, many others. >> billion-dollar view. >> reporter: here, at space port america, they are in their final stages of preparation for this hotly-anticipated space flight. but it's important to remember, that this is, still, a test flight. virgin galactic is taking extra safety precautions, as a result. all the passengers will be wearing parachutes and supplemental oxygen will be onboard. in new mexico, i'm rachel crane. so, as you just heard, much is being made of the so-called rivalry between branson and bezos to see which of the two billionaires can be first into space. well, the amazon founder is setting that aside in a post on

instagram, saturday, he wished branson and his team a safe and successful flight. now, earlier, i spoke with space commentator and lecturer, david livingston, and i asked him what doors this journey could open in terms of commercial-space flight. here's what he said. >> this is all commercially done. this is not government money, government technology, although it's built, of course, on what the government did in the past. and the people that are going up are -- are private citizens. just ordinary people, that want to fly to space. so, it's opening some new doors. it's beginning of a what is potentially going to be a very [ inaudible ] industry. hopefully, in the too-to-distant fu not-too-distant future, as prices come down and a long time coming. branson's been working on this, which was almost 17 years ago. >> so, one giant step for space

tourism. i want to play something that neil degrasse tyson said speaking to our jim acosta here. let's play that. >> launching from new mexico, space port. okay? that word feels a little weird but is it any weirder than the first people who heard the word airport? okay. just think about that. space port. airport. so, it could be as routine as what time does the train leave? or what time does the plane leave? what time does your rocket leave, in the future? >> so, i mean, he -- he was talking about how this is helping to launch a whole, new industry. i know, from what you just said, you are a huge supporter of commercial-space travel. what are the advantages that -- that space tourism and commercial-space travel might bring? >> there -- it's opening doors to innovation and technology and to all sorts of different opportunities. space manufacturing, resource usage. things that can really make life

different, here, on earth. and -- and better for people, not just countries that have a spaceport located in it. [ inaudible ]. more opportunity we have for creative innovation, for success, for problem solving, for things back here on earth. that were very limited when all we had were space-shuttle flights and government-astronaut flights. >> but then, on the other hand, i want to share, maybe, a more cynical take from one of our writers zachary wolf. he recently wrote this competition doesn't have any of the patriotic energy of the space race that led to the moon landing. he -- he wrote this -- this year's race between the billionaires features none of that national pride or opposing ideas. it's tax-averse tycoons who want to sell high-priced tickets to

rich people interested in experiencing weightlessness. i know you said elon musk, founder of spacex, has single-handedly saved the space industry. isn't there a chance that something is -- is lost here when -- when practically the whole industry is in the hands of the mega rich? and it isn't a truly-national effort, as it was in the past. >> well, i would absolutely disagree with all of that. and also, i think the -- the comparisons are really erroneous. we went to the moon, as a result of the cold war. does -- does your author of that statement want to have us relive the cold war now, maybe with china? does he want us to do duck-and-cover drills again in school, like i had to do when i was an elementary-school kid? we're going to space, now, for what space can do for humanity. and the -- the government can't do this. it is not possible for the government. it's not part of nasa's mission. but the private sector can do this.

[ inaudible ] elon musk, bezos, branson, and other people. they're kicking it off. it's not just about their being able to sell tickets and make money. it's about the innovation that's going to come out of this. >> the delta coronavirus variant is ripping through the united states putting unvaccinated communities in extreme risk. we'll talk about that, next. plus, haiti is grappling with chaos and confusion as the motive behind the president's assassination is, still, unknown. we will have the latest from the nation's capital, coming up. stay with us. - had enough? - no... arthritis. here. new aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. you're strong. you power through chronic migraine - 15 or more headache days a month, ...each lasting 4 hours or more. botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. so, if you haven't tried botox® for your chronic migraine,

...check with your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if samples are available. effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, ...speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness... ...can be signs of a life- threatening condition. side effects may include allergic reactions... ...neck and injection site pain... ...fatigue, and headache. don't receive botox® if there's a skin infection. tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions... ...and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. most patients may pay as little as $0 for botox®. so, text to see how you can save. botox® has been preventing headaches and migraines before they even start for 10 years. so, ask your doctor about botox® today. ♪ most bladder leak pads were similar. until always discreet invented a pad that protects differently. with two rapiddry layers. for strong protection, that's always discreet. question your protection.

try always discreet. i'm not always on my game. but lately, my uncle is, especially with his type 2 diabetes. with once-weekly trulicity most people reached an a1c under 7%. plus it could help you lose up to ten pounds. trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. it isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. it's not approved for use in children. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, and may worsen kidney problems. ask your doctor about once-weekly trulicity. this is the sound of an asthma attack... that doesn't happen. this is the sound of better breathing. fasenra is a different kind of asthma medication. it's not a steroid or inhaler.

fasenra is an add-on treatment for asthma driven by eosinophils. it's one maintenance dose every 8 weeks. it helps prevent asthma attacks, improve breathing, and lower use of oral steroids. nearly 7 out of 10 adults with asthma may have elevated eosinophils. fasenra is designed to target and remove them. fasenra is not a rescue medication or for other eosinophilic conditions. fasenra may cause allergic reactions. get help right away if you have swelling of your face, mouth, and tongue, or trouble breathing. don't stop your asthma treatments unless your doctor tells you to. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection or your asthma worsens. headache and sore throat may occur. this is the sound of fasenra. ask your doctor about fasenra. if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help.

the u.s. is seeing a surge of new covid cases, as the highly-contagious delta variant spreads. friday marked the fourth day in a row the u.s. recorded more than 20,000 new covid cases. the last time that happened was back in may. with fewer than half of americans fully vaccinated, health experts are warning that trend could continue, especially as the delta variant becomes more dominant. even some areas with higher-vaccination rates are seeing a surge. los angeles county is reporting that new cases jumped by more than 150% over the last week.

dr. steven parodi joins me from san francisco. he is the associate executive director with the permanente medical group at kaiser permanente. thank you so much, for joining us, doctor. so we are seeing the rise of the delta variant, mostly in the south and places like missouri where the vaccination rate is extremely low. but also, in california, where it's now the dominant variant -- um -- probably, the best example is l.a. county. it's reported the highest number of cases, in months, now. you know, in fairness, it's still way lower than what we saw during the peak. but i guess, it's the rate, at which it's increasing that's worrying experts. so, the many hospitals that you help manage that treat millions of patients across the state. so you get a great overview of what's happening. so, what are you seeing? >> well, you know, it's really clear that the delta variant is much more transmissible than before. you know, we were talking about it, as an abstraction about a month ago. and now, it's become the predominant strain in the united states and is, quickly, going to be that in california, as well.

in california, i can say that, because we've got higher-vaccination rates, while we've seen increases in hospitalizations. um, we're at really 10 to 15% of where we were, at the peak, back in january. that's different and in contrast to other parts of the country, where we're seeing, you know, particularly in missouri, as you called out, running out of hospital beds. or running out of ventilators. so the key message here, when it comes to the delta variant, is that if you're unvaccinated, you're at high risk for getting infected. and getting hospitalized and potentially dying from it. if you're vaccinated, we are seeing, you know, lack of illness. and lack of hospitalization. in fact, 99% of the hospitalizations that are occurring right now, in our kaiser permanente system, are in people that are unvaccinated. >> yeah. that's a very important point to make. and i think that 99% is -- we're -- we're seeing that

practically across the country. but, you know, if it weren't enough, the delta variant. now, there's, in california, the epsilon strain to worry about which seems to make the vaccines dramatically-less effective. so as -- as an infectious-disease specialist, yourself, what can you tell us about that? >> well, you know, so this virus is doing what viruses do. um, if they're allowed to circulate around, they form new mutations. so the epsilon variant is, yet, another version of that. fortunately, even with the early studies -- um and we know that the epsilon variant has been around in california since may -- it has not become the predominant strain. and neutralizing antibodies are, still, made, even with the vaccines. so, my key message here is that the way to get this under control is to get vaccinated. um, and even if there are fewer antibodies made, you still have protection with the currently-available vaccines we have. >> yeah.

i mean, getting vaccinated is the key there. sort of different ways to sort of reach those people who haven't been vaccinated. some say going door to door to encourage people to get vaccinated. um, other people are -- are suggesting that -- um -- getting the vaccines fully approved by the fda would -- would help. what -- what do you think would make the most difference? >> i think what i've been finding is that it's, literally, making those personal connections. at this point, everyone's heard the messaging. and it's really reaching people, where they are. so it's either getting the vaccine into the community, directly, where people have transportation issues, still. and/or the ability to access healthcare. but more importantly, when it c comes to the hesitant populations, it's actually listening to their stories and understanding where they're at. maybe -- >> before we go, sorry. i just want -- before we go, i don't have much time but i did want to get -- get your input on

this because this -- this has been a big story this week. the confusion over the boosters that we heard pfizer's ceo announce its vaccine loses efficacy over time. so we'll definitely need the booster. cdc and fda came out, quickly, and said no need for a booster. so there -- there's been a lot of confusion created in -- in a public already confused about mixed messages over covid. so, what -- what's your -- what's your -- do you have any fears here that this might sort of undermine public confidence in -- in the shots? >> my take on this is that the boosters are something that is really going to be something we're using, later on. when there is a true-vaccine variant that escapes. right now, we've got vaccines that are effective. the durability of the vaccinations are up to a year, and perhaps even longer. so right now, our focus needs to be on getting people, who haven't gotten vaccinated, vaccinated. and when we get that emergency-use authorization for those children, the

six-month-old to 11-year-olds, especially since they're going back to school, getting them vaccinated. that's really the order of the day. >> absolutely. all right. that is all the time we have. really appreciate having you on, dr. steven parodi. thanks so much for being with us. >> thank you so much. haiti is plunging deeper into political chaos and uncertainty, as the motive and masterminds behind the assassination of president jovenel moise remains unknown. a special unit of colombian police are now in haiti to help authorities with the investigation. at least 28 people are suspected in the killing. 26 are colombian nationals. cnn's matt rivers has more from the haitian capital. >> reporter: well, the manhunt here, in haiti, continues in earnest for the remaining suspects in the assassination of haiti's president. with haitian authorities not really having updated their official numbers, in a little while now. 20 suspects have been detained. three suspects have been killed, officially. and five remain on the loose, at this time.

we know that there's 2 -- 28 suspects, in all. 26 of which are colombian nationals. two of which are haitian-americans. but that's about all the information that we really have from haitian authorities that's very solid. what we don't have is a motive. why did nearly 30 foreign nationals come here to haiti to kill this country's president, as haitian authorities say they did? who financed them? who armed them? how long have they been in this country, before the assassination took place? that's all answers, that we don't have, right now. and in the absence of official information, there is a lot of theories floating around the haitian public. about why and how this was allowed to take place. meanwhile, the political instability in this country continues, in earnest. it was on friday night that haiti's senate elected the senate president to serve as the interim president of haiti, overall. the swearing-in ceremony was supposed to take place, according to the senate, sometime during the day on saturday. now, that didn't happen and it was in the evening, on saturday,

that the senate president tweeted out that the swearing-in ceremony had been postponed, without really elaborating as to why that is. it's, also, not clear that had that happened, other political factions all around the the country would have expressly recognized that fact. it just goes to show how unstable, right now, the political climate is here, in haiti. this is a place that political unrest -- it -- it's not something that hasn't happened for a long time. there are a lot of protests over politics, that happen in this country. some of them do turn violent. that hasn't happened, yet. but we are going to watch and see how this plays out over the coming days and weeks. matt rivers, cnn, port-au-prince, haiti. meanwhile, the u.s. is investigating an indirect-fire attack in eastern syria on saturday. it happened near an area with oil and gas fields. it is one of several locations in syria where u.s. troops operate to help local partner forces fight isis.

the u.s. defense official says no one was hurt in the attack. it comes about two weeks after president joe biden ordered air strikes on iranian-backed militia groups in the border region between syria and iraq. in afghanistan, another link to the outside world may have fallen to the taliban. the militants say they have cut off a key highway to pakistan as they lay siege to kandahar. cnn's anna coren reports from kabul. >> reporter: the taliban is continuing its offensive across afghanistan. targeting strategic road and border links as an embattled afghan security forces desperately tries to hold ground. the militants claim to have cut the main highway between the southern city of kandahar and the border with pakistan. saying that all army outposts in a nearby town have been overrun. they, also, claim to have the city of kandahar, the birthplace of the taliban, under siege. in recent days, the taliban has taken control of one of the country's main-trading gateways with iran.

the dry port is where millions of dollars worth of fuel and supplies cross, every day. customs officials, also, confirmed the militants took control of a border crossing with turkmenistan. the afghan ministry of defense said its forces had killed almost 200 taliban fighters, in 24 hours, in operations across afghanistan and will continue ground offenses and air strikes to recapture lost tare story. territory. as the fighting rages, the u.s. special representative is still campaigning for peace talks. he is struggling to cpakistan ad uzbekistan to meet with regional stakeholders in an attempt to advance these stalled-peace talks. but many here in afghanistan are convinced the taliban is not interested in peace or sharing power. anna coren, cnn, kabul. a man charged with illegal voting in texas is reportedly out of jail.

the nonprofit, bail project, says it put up the money to have hervis rogers released after bail was set at $100,000. rogers was arrested on wednesday. he spoke to cnn in 2020 about waiting for six hours to vote in the democrat primary. authorities say he also voted in 2018. well, all that would be fine, except texas says rogers was on parole, after burglary charges in the '80s and '90s and that would make his votes illegal, under state law. the american civil liberties union has taken up rogers' case. the aclu says laws shouldn't intimidate people from voting, and it'll push back on efforts to restrict voting rights. soccer passions are at fever pitch ahead of the euro 2020 final. we will look at why england and italy, both, have something to prove in today's clash of the titans at wembley. and later, we will give you an update on how pope francis is doing after his surgery last week. stay with us.

ugh, these balls are moist. or is that the damp weight of self-awareness you now hold in your hand? yeah-h-h. (laugh) keep your downstairs dry with gold bond body powder. open talenti and raise the jar. to gelato made from scratch. raise the jar to all five layers. raise the jar to the best gelato... you've ever tasted. talenti. raise the jar. what's on the horizon? the answers lie beyond the roads we know. we recognize that energy demand is growing, and the world needs lower carbon solutions to keep up. at chevron, we're working to find new ways forward, like through our venture capital group. backing technologies like electric vehicle charging, carbon capture and even nuclear fusion. we may not know just what lies ahead, but it's only human...

to search for it. of course you've seen underwear that fits like this... but never for bladder leaks. always discreet boutique black. i feel protected all day, in a fit so discreet, you'd never know they're for bladder leaks. always discreet boutique. i've lost count of how many asthma attacks i've had. but my nunormal with nucala? fewer asthma attacks. nucala is a once-monthly add-on injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. not for sudden breathing problems. allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. infections that can cause shingles have occurred. don't stop steroids unless told by your doctor. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. may cause headache, injection-site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. ask your doctor about nucala.

find your nunormal with nucala. another day, another chance. it could be the day you break the sales record, or the day there's appointments nonstop. with comcast business, you get the network that can deliver gig speeds to the most businesses, and you can get the advanced cybersecurity solutions you need with comcast business securityedge. every day in business is a big day. we'll keep you ready for what's next. get started with a great offer and ask how you can add comcast business securityedge. plus, for a limited time, ask how to get a $500 prepaid card when you upgrade. call today.

welcome back to all of you watching us here, in the united states, canada, and around the world. the excitement is building for soccer fans ahead of today's highly-anticipated euro 2020 championship between england and italy. the italian players are hoping to reclaim the european title their team last won in 1968. they have played strong throughout the tournament beating spain by penalty shootout to reach the final. meanwhile, the english squad is hoping home-field advantage will bring them an historic victory. it's their first time ever in a

euro final and the first appearance for england's men's team in a major final, since they won the world cup in 1966. well, queen elizabeth was there, 55 years ago, to present the world cup to the national team. she sent this letter congratulating the three lions, as they're known, and wish them luck ahead of today's match. well, cnn world sport's don riddell has a preview of today's showdown at wembley. >> reporter: a tournament delayed by a year, and then played by 24 teams across 11 different countries will finally be settled on sunday night. when england play italy at wembley stadium in london. these are two countries, who are both craving success after the emotional pain of covid-19 and the lockdown. and on the field, both teams will have something to prove. italy are no strangers to success. this will be a tense-major final for them. a team that won this title back in 1968. and have won the world cup, no less than four times. however, by their own standards, italy have kind of been in the wilderness.

they failed to qualify for the 2018 world cup. but they haven't lost a game, in the three years since. >> translator: we need both attributes tomorrow because you can't survive a final at wembley against england, without a warm heart. and nor, can you do it without a cool heads because there will come times when we need to be a little bit more daring. when we need to go for it. and there will, also, be times when we need to be a bit more cooler, and try to keep the situation under control. >> reporter: england have ridden a wave of euphoria to the final, playing five of their six games, so far, in london to reach their first-major final, since 1966. that was the year they won the world cup. their only trophy, to date. and their fans dreaming of lifting another trophy, some 55 years later. >> before is not unimportant because we recognize the contribution other people have made and we're respectful of that.

but the -- the near misses and the -- the -- um -- the -- the tournaments that haven't gone so well weren't important for this team. and over the last four years, they have knocked down so many barriers. and they've come through so many different challenges, different ways to win matches. had to come back from being behind. had to go through extra time. had to go through penalty shootouts. so, they're resilience and experience as a team have really prepared them well for this moment. >> reporter: well, italy have consistently excelled over the years, england have really struggled. a series of tournament blowouts or heartbreaking near-misses have become so infamous and so painful that the misery and yearning for success are almost now part of the national psyche. all of that heartbreak was captured in a song, back in 1996, three lions. and the fans have been singing

it throughout the tournament. they will be singing the chorus, it's coming home, again, at wembley on sunday. is the trophy coming home? or is it going to rome? we'll, soon, see. back to you. last hour, i spoke with cnn world sport contributor, darren lewis, about today's big euro final. and i asked him, can england handle the pressure against powerhouse italy after years of failure? here's what he said. >> yes, they are a squad packed with players. they've won tournaments at their club, at the highest level of european football. now, they've got a chance of ending those five and a half decades of hurt for english football by doing so with their clubs. yes, there is pressure. but they've coped with that pressure superbly to win four of their five matches, so far. and there's huge optimism, as you've been saying, kim, here in england that it can create the biggest-sporting story, certainly, of my lifetime by making it five wins out of six at wembley, tonight.

>> all right. so let's widen out the -- the -- the focus here and look at the tournament, as a whole. taking place, obviously, in the context of covid. it's -- it's being largely hailed as a success, i'd say, as much for giving the fans or even -- even people who don't regularly follow soccer, a reason to cheer, again, together. often, in person. it -- it's importance seems to be a bit larger than the sport, itself, is that fair? >> absolutely, fair. you know, it kicked off in rome on june the 11th. and that was quite symbolic, in a way, because italy was a country on its knees over the coronavirus crisis, just like england. it had been hit hard over the past 18 months. so, to have the italians and england in the final, after everything that has taken place over the last 18 months, is quite something. it comes readily, of course, after they failed to qualify for

the world cup in 2018. they are a tough side. it will be a tough assignment but as i say, the story of their resurgence, in particular, really has been beautiful. >> all right. before you go, i am going to put you on the spot. i said, on the air, before the tournament started, italy was going to win. who do you think's going to win the match? >> well, kim, do you know what? i tipped england, right at the start of the competition and at the time, i kind of felt like jeremy mcguire when he gets fired and wants people to come join him at his new company. but since then, england have proven me right. they just need to do it one more time. and i think they will. i really do. argentina is celebrating a big win in the copa america championship. they beat their bitter rivals, brazil, 1-nil, on saturday at rio de janeiro. maria scored the lone goal at the 22-minute mark. it's the first-major title for

superstar lionel messi, with argentina and ends in nearly-30 year drought for the national team. they last won copa america in 1993. australia's ashleigh barty won her first wimbledon title on saturday. the world number one defeated in three sets. barty is the first aussie woman to win the wimbledon's single title in more than 40 years. she won the french open, in 2019. and less than four hours from now, the men's final gets underway, when novak djokovic takes on italy's matteo berrettini. if djokovic wins, it will be his 20th grand slam singles title and that would tie him for the issue most all time with roger federer and rafael nadal. a brutal heat wave is blanketing the western u.s. so how long will these hot temperatures last? we'll get the latest from our meteorologist, when we come back. please, do stay with us.

[swords clashing] - had enough? - no... arthritis. here. new aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. cookies and breyers. that's like getting two desserts! wait... do we have to thank our moms twice? i don't know... (laughs) breyers. 100% grade a milk and cream, and loaded with delicious cookie pieces. better starts with breyers.

frank is a fan of fast. he's a fast talker. a fast walker. thanks, gary. and for unexpected heartburn... frank is a fan of pepcid. it works in minutes. nexium 24 hour and prilosec otc can take one to four days to fully work. pepcid. strong relief for fans of fast.

in surfside, florida, the official-death toll at the collapsed condo has increased, as more bodies were recovered saturday. they include family members of paraguay's first lady. the country's foreign minister says they identified the first lady's sister, brother-in-law, and one of their three children. they also identified their 23-year-old nanny. so far, 86 people are confirmed dead, with 43 people, still, unaccounted for. the grim job of recovering bodies is moving at a faster pace, after the demolition of the remaining tower. but it comes with a personal toll on the recovery crews. >> i feel like i'm -- i'm physically digging. um, but i'm also, emotionally, digging for more strength to

continue. i think the first time it really hit me was when i found a passport with a baby in it. and -- and then, i found the entire family of passports in there, as well. those are the moments that i -- i take a deep breath and kind of am very in my head, in that moment. >> one positive development, binx, a cat that lived on the ninth floor, has been reunited with family members. the woman holding binx is related to two people who lived in the building. more than 30 million people across the western u.s. are under heat alerts. another historic heat wave is baking the region from the canadian border all the way down to the mexican border. temperatures are running 15-to-25 degrees hotter than normal, for this time of year. and more than 100 record-high temperatures are forecast to be broken, through tuesday morning. meteorologist derek van dam joins us, now. so, as i said, derek, we're

seeing these long-standing heat records falling. how worried should we be? >> yeah. it should be raising alarm bells, when you open up your front door and it feels like you are opening up your oven to check on a pizza. we have had multiple record-high temperatures broke, just in california, nevada, utah, and arizona. this is the latest numbers we have for you. look at that. 117 in las vegas. that ties their record-high temperature. and when we talk about extreme-weather events, like hurricanes and tornados, there's still limited evidence on that direct correlation to climate change. when we're talking about coastal flooding, in especially extreme-heat events, the frequency and the duration of these heat events have a direct link to climate change and a warming planet. what happens is we get this atmospheric, almost-traffic jam that creates a very stagnant air mass. that sets up over one location, we thaul a heat dome and it creates this incredible, incredible heat. in fact, triple-digit heat for

many locations, including las vegas, 117 degrees for you. those are the 30 million americans under excessive-heat alerts over the great basin. that excludes the coastal areas of california. good news, though. we're going to start to moderate our temperatures, to more seasonable values coming up later this week. so something to look forward to. kim, before i let you go, you have to see some of this footage coming out of tokyo. this was just sent to us, from our olympics' crew. the cnn olympics crew stationed in tokyo. of course, the olympics not starting until the 23rd of this month but they captured a time-lapse of a storm front or a thunderstorm that moved into the region creating quite a scene over downtown tokyo. you can see some lightning and, of course, the heavy rainfall that, basically, obstructed the entire skyline of tokyo. they have been walloped with heavy rainfall. in fact, some locations in kagoshima received over 473 millimeters of rain, within the past-24 hours.

that's over 18 and a half inches of rainfall. so they have landslide alerts and warnings in place for much of the -- for much of japan. >> yeah. let's hope it doesn't lead to more mudslides, as we saw. derek van dam, thanks so much for that. appreciate it. well, the heat wave on north america's pacific coast has had a surprising and smelly side effect. clams and other shellfish are literally being cooked alive on the hot rocks exposed to the sun on western canada's beaches. now, a professor from the university of british columbia found dead, rotting mussels with shot shells popped open at a beach in vancouver and he says he could even smell it, before getting there. well, pope francis is about to lead his sunday angelis prayer and it is the first time he will be doing it from the hospital. he is recovering from a recent surgery. we'll head over to rome, live. plus, artwork looted long ago is now set to be returned to

the democratic republic of congo. wooden statues, musical instruments. but there's a catch. stay with us. it's dry. there's no dry time. makes us wonder why we booked fifteen second ad slots. i'm morgan, and there's more to me than hiv. more love, more adventure, more community. but with my hiv treatment, there's not more medicines in my pill. i talked to my doctor and switched to fewer medicines with dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with just 2 medicines in 1 pill, dovato is as effective as a 3-drug regimen... to help you reach and stay undetectable. research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato.

don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor, as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash and other symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato. do not breastfeed while taking dovato. most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. so much goes into who i am. hiv medicine is one part of it. ask your doctor about dovato-i did. ♪

you're strong. you power through chronic migraine - 15 or more headache days a month, ...each lasting 4 hours or more. botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. so, if you haven't tried botox® for your chronic migraine, ...check with your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if samples are available. effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, ...speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness... ...can be signs of a life- threatening condition. side effects may include allergic reactions... ...neck and injection site pain... ...fatigue, and headache. don't receive botox® if there's a skin infection. tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions... ...and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase

the risk of serious side effects. most patients may pay as little as $0 for botox®. so, text to see how you can save. botox® has been preventing headaches and migraines before they even start for 10 years. so, ask your doctor about botox® today. ♪ in just a few minutes, pope francis is supposed to lead a

sunday angelus prayer from the university hospital in rome. he is recovering there from the scheduled surgery, he underwent last week. cnn's delia gallagher joins me, live, from rome. so, delia, the pope's appearance, today, is that proof that he's well on the road to recovery? what's the latest? >> well, kim, it's definitely one of the things that we're looking for. you know, this is the first time that we'll see the pope in a week since he went in for major colon surgery. he's 84 years old. that surgery was under a general anesthetic. the vatican has been giving us updates, all week, saying that the pope is recovering well. he's walking. he's eating. even managed to have dinner with some of the doctors and nurses that have assisted him. but this is going to be the first time that we will see him, in about ten minutes from now. i don't know if you can see, behind my shoulder, there is an open window up there. the top floor of the balcony. those are where the pope will be coming to the window for what is really a traditional-weekly

address. you know, the angelus. we are used to seeing him from the window of st. peter square. so this is an appointment pope francis obviously doesn't want to miss. but it becomes even more important, given the events of the past week. there is a bit of a precedence for this kind of thing, kim. john paul ii used to do this when he was here at the hospital. this is a hospital, which has taken care of popes, for decades. but this is the first time that we will get to see pope francis, we'll get to hear from him. and -- and obviously, be able to check that he's doing well. the prognosis, last monday, kim, was that the pope would spend seven days of recovery in the hospital, barring any complications. we haven't had an update on that, yet. but that would mean that he would be expected to be released tomorrow, on monday. kim. >> okay. so then, if he is released, will he have time to recuperate once he gets back to the vatican? or -- or does he basically --

heads straight back to work? >> well, there is some downtime for the pope. this is july. this is a time when, anyway, he doesn't have public appearances. you know, usually, at the vatican, on wednesday, goes out with all the crowds and speaks to them. but he doesn't do that, anyway, during july. so, he does have a little bit of downtime. as i said earlier, this is an important surgery. doctors stressed to us that an important part is also the recovery, afterwards. just to make sure that all the organs are back working and that the pope gets time to rest. so actually, july is a good time for him to get a little bit of downtime. but then, he's got to be back up and going. he's already got a trip planned to hungary and slovakia in september and of course all the other things the pope has to take care of at the vatican. kim. >> all right. thanks so much for that update. cnn's delia gallagher, in romement appreciate it. in charlottesville, virginia, two confederate monuments have, finally, been taken down. the city removed statues of generals robert e. lee and stonewall jackson, on saturday. debate over lee's statue removal

ignited the so-called unite the right event almost four years ago and it ended that bloodshed when a white supremacist killed a counter-protestor by driving a car into a crowd. the white house was asked about president biden's reaction to the statue's removal. here's what a spokesperson said. the president believes that monuments to confederate leaders belong in museums, not in public places and welcomes the removal of the statues today. well, lee and jackson weren't the only statues to come down in charlottesville, on saturday. the city council also voted to remove a monument to american explorers meriwether lewis, clark, and their native american guide, sackagawea. belgian officials made a blunt acknowledgment. in their words, it doesn't belong to us. so they will begin returning art looted during the colonial era to the democratic republic of congo but won't happen right away, as cnn's eleni giokos reports. >> reporter: over many decades of colonial rule, belgian and

other european explorers and soldiers stole artwork from what is now the democratic republic of congo. thousands of wooden statues, ivory masks, musical instruments, and other artifacts taken by force and, eventually, displayed in the africa museum near brussels. now, belgium says it will return the stolen art. >> translator: the approach is very simple. everything that was acquired through illegitimate means, through theft, through violence, through pillaging, must be given back. it doesn't belong to us. >> reporter: belgium will transfer legal ownership of the artifacts to the drc but it will not, immediately, ship the art, itself, to the country, unless the work is specifically requested by drc authorities. that way, the museum can keep the works on display, and pay a loan fee to the drc. >> i have no problem, whatsoever, to transfer the ownership to the congolese to

who it rightly belongs. it's a moral question. and then, negotiate, a, we would like to use it in an exhibition. under what conditions can happen? we pay you a loan fee? will you just leave it here, for the time being? or what is the condition? >> reporter: the museum will also spend time determining if it is not clear which items were stolen and which were obtained legally. >> i guess, that in five years with a lot of resources, we can do a lot. but it could also be a work for the next 20 years to, basically, be absolutely sure of all the objects that we have. that we know the precise circumstances, by which it was acquired. >> at the opening of the drc's national museum in 2019, the president called for congolese artifacts to be gradually returned in an organized way. now that work appears to be underway. eleni giokos, cnn.

former-u.s. president jimmy carter and his wife, rosalynn, are celebrating a record-setting anniversary. the couple marked 75 years of wedded bliss in their hometown of plains, georgia, on saturday. surrounded by friends and family. carter thanked his wife for staying by his side through the years. the carters are the longest-married president and first lady in american history. congratulations, to them. that wraps this hour of "cnn newsroom." i'm kim brunhuber. for our viewers in the united states and canada, "new day" is just ahead. for everyone else, it's "connecting africa." ♪

is that gouda shaped like a foot? or maybe you're just projecting your own insecurities? what? (sniffs feet) ohhhh yeah keep your feet fresh with gold bond foot powder.

my nunormal? fewer asthma attacks with nucala. a once-monthly add-on injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. nucala reduces eosinophils, a key cause of severe asthma. nucala is not for sudden breathing problems. allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue or trouble breathing. infections that can cause shingles have occurred. don't stop steroids unless told by your doctor. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. may cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. ask your doctor about nucala. find your nunormal with nucala. your skin isn't just skin, it's a beautiful reflection of everything you've been through. that's why dove renews your skin's ceramides and strengthens it against dryness for softer, smoother skin you can lovingly embrace. renew the love for your skin with dove body wash.

[ "me and you" by barry louis polisar ] ♪ me and you just singing on the train ♪ ♪ me and you listening to the rain ♪ ♪ me and you we are the same ♪ ♪ me and you have all the fame we need ♪ ♪ indeed, you and me are we ♪ ♪ me and you singing in the park ♪ ♪ me and you, we're waiting for the dark ♪

of space. >> and there is a race to vaccinate parts of the country here. what health officials are doing it to reach vaccine skeptics as concerns over the delta variant are rising. plus, we are learning more about the emotional toll this work i