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Japan's Longest-Serving P.M. Mourned And Honored After Murder; Police Investigating Suspect's Motives For Murder; Sri Lanka Will Elect A New President On July 20; Webb Telescope Captures Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet; Interview with European Space Agency Markus Kissler-Patig; European Heat Wave; Coronavirus Pandemic; Surging Cases Due to Omicron BA.5 Now Dominant in U.S.; Wildfire in Yosemite National Park; January 6 Committee Hearing. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 12, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:36]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. And I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead. Japan pays its respects and farewells former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe days after his stunning assassination.

Sri Lanka's president and prime minister are resigning. We will see where the country goes from here amid political and economic chaos.

Plus. Say hello to your cosmic neighbors. The deepest image of our universe ever taken. We will speak live this hour with one of the scientists behind that project.

And thank you for being with us. The funeral for Japan's longest serving prime minister is now over. And the procession of sorts is underway. You are now looking at live images from Tokyo. A city in mourning four days after Shinzo Abe's murder. The hearse carrying his body is passing by party and government buildings where Prime Minister Kishida and other officials have been standing outside to pay their respects.

Abe's body will then be cremated. And this was the scene in Nara, Japan where Abe was assassinated on Friday. And you can see people lining the streets, they've been bowing and placing flowers and mementos. Nara Police say a 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami has confessed to shooting Abe. The alleged assassin is being held at the Nara Police Department while awaiting normal charges or formal charges we should say.

He's scheduled to appear in court on July 19th. NHK reported a short time ago that Yamagami told investigators he made up his mind to kill the former prime minister one year ago. And that he used a firearm instead of explosives because Abe was his only target.

So, let's go live now to Tokyo and CNN Blake Essig who's standing by there. So, Blake, Japan's longest serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being mourned and honored four days after his shocking assassination. What is the latest on his funeral and of course the legacy of Shinzo Abe?

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, look, you know, Japan is in warning. They're saying goodbye and laying to rest its longest serving prime minister. A man who a first served in Parliament. That building right behind me there in 1993 and will go on to become both popular and polarizing figure here in Japan in terms of legacy internationally. Abe will be remembered as a strong figure who is deeply admired as well as a skilled global statesman domestically.

He'll likely be remembered for boosting defense spending and pushing through the most dramatic shift in Japanese military policy in 70 years. He's a man who is most certainly responsible for the Japan that exists today. Now earlier today, as you had mentioned, the funeral service for Shinzo Abe was held at the Zojoji Temple here in Tokyo, similar to last night's closed door vigil.

The funeral service was held -- was held only for close friends and family. Abe's body currently traveling in procession to the prime minister's office, the (INAUDIBLE) the Diet and the LDP headquarters before heading to the funeral hall where his body will be cremated. He's visiting those specific locations because in Japanese culture, sometimes the body will be driven by places where the deceased has been heavily associated to bid farewell.

And where we're at right now, the Japanese parliament, the (INAUDIBLE) step up screen just for a moment. You can see hundreds of people lining the streets, those people that are across the way our Diet police and Diet members all waiting for the procession to come by here. There are dozens and dozens of journalists, cameras, their school children that were touring the Diet that are out here as well as people who look like they've just stepped away from work to come say goodbye to the former prime minister as he makes his drive to the funeral hall.

Now despite the proceedings being closed off to the public, people have I've been visiting the public side of the temple where the funeral is being held -- it's being held today, excuse me, to lay flowers, to express their condolences at a small memorial that had been set up.

[02:05:11]

That started yesterday. A similar scene, playing out Nara for days at the location where the former prime minister was gunned down while giving a campaign speech and then obvious hometown of Yamaguchi, people are also laying flowers, burning incense. For the past several days, Rosemary, we've talked to people on the street and like them or not every single person we talked to, you know, shocked, saddened and horrified that such a violent act could be carried out against one of the most powerful people in Japan in broad daylight in a country where gun violence essentially does not exist.

This is very much a country of mourning, a sad day and I'm going to step outside because it looks like we're actually going to see the procession go by right now. And there it is. There's the hearse carrying Shinzo Abe passing Japan's Parliament. There you go. It's heading down the street. Right now leaving Japan's Parliament in its rearview mirror. Again, Rosemary, a sad day here in Japan and even the weather seems to be reflecting the mood here. Gray skies, a little rain as the country lays to rest its longest serving prime minister.

CHURCH: Yes. A very sad and somber day, as you say. And of course earlier, as you were speaking with us, we did see again that hearse carrying the body of Shinzo Abe passing by and it's his final farewell before he heads off and is cremated. So, Blake, a lot more detail is also coming to light about the suspect in Abe's assassination. And even a possible motive. What more are you learning about all of that?

ESSIG: Well, Rosemary, for days, we've reported that the suspect targeted former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe because he held a grudge against a group that he believed Abe had ties to that was linked to his mother and we've now learned that that group is the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification more commonly known as the Unification Church which was founded in South Korea in the 1950s.

The church's chairman issued a statement that said the suspect's mother is involved with the group that the suspect claimed to have a grudge against. CNN has not been able to confirm this with the mother. But the statement pointed out that the suspect's mother attended church monthly, remains a member and that the suspect -- or believed to have murdered the former prime minister was never a member of the church.

And we're also learning more about the suspect's motives. NHK, Japan's public broadcaster citing investigators while reporting that the suspect in Abe's assassination, as you'd mentioned earlier, made up his mind to target Abe a year ago and the reason he believed that the former prime minister's grandfather extended a religious group that he had hated again, that Unification Church.

So the suspect is at this point I was also told police, the reason that he used a firearm instead of explosives which police were able to find in his home was because Abe was his only intended target, Rosemary. And I anticipate that we will continue to learn more details about motive in the days to come.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. Blake Essig joining us live there from Tokyo on this very sad day for the country. Many thanks.

Well, since Abe's funeral and wake were private events, hundreds of people have gathered in other locations to lay flowers at memorials. CNN's Matthew Chance visited one of those sites right near where the former prime minister was killed.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as Shinzo Abe is laid to rest in Tokyo you can see that people here in the western city of Nara are also turning out to pay their last respects at this makeshift shrine in the city where Japan's longest- serving politician was assassinated just four days ago. You can see people here, very emotional, saying their prayers. Putting flowers down, giving little offerings for Shinzo Abe in his afterlife as a -- as a mark of respect. And weathers like in Tokyo but here you can see it is absolutely torrential rain but that hasn't turned people because this line of mourners stretches back as far as you can see. Hundreds upon hundreds of people have turned out to give this last farewell to a very controversial politician.

Shinzo Abe was very nationalistic. He was very militaristic. He believed in the rejuvenation of the Japanese armed forces which is a very controversial position in this country.

[02:10:00]

But he was all so immensely popular serving for years as prime minister as again the longest period in office of any Japanese leader in modern Japanese history. Now the man who is suspected of, you know, creating all of this, through his actions, the suspected assassin is in custody. He's a 41-year-old from the city of Nara. He says he acted alone. And the police say that he said he did it because he was motivated by hatred of a certain group as the police say.

A religious group believe to be a South Korean religious organization called the Unification Church. His mother was a member of that church or is a member of that church and had made financial contributions to it leaving the family in some financial difficulty. And the suspected assassin says that he believed Shinzo Abe and Shinzo Abe's family and ancestors had been associated with that religious group.

And that's why he decided to carry out the attack. We've speaking to police here in Nara. And they say the suspect is cooperating with them. That is -- he says he operated alone. There are no other suspects at this stage. But he's also expressed absolutely no regret for his actions. Of course, that's not a view shared by the vast majority of people here in Nara, and here in Japan as they mark the passing, the assassination of Shinzo Abe.

Matthew Chance CNN in Nara, western Japan.

CHURCH: And we want to go now to CNN's Beijing bureau chief Steven Jiang who has reaction from China. Aand Steven, due to the controversial relationship between China and Shinzo Abe, there was initial celebration on the internet when news spread of Abe's base assassination. But the formal line coming out of China now is very different. What has been said by the leadership there?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Rosemary. The initial public reactions were very controversial to say the least as you said on China's very much regulated and heavily censored social media platforms. Users were free to post messages of cheer and tongs and some reportedly posting images of them celebrating this occasion at restaurants and other public venues.

And actually the official reaction initially, also very muted and vague with a foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on the overwhelmingly negative reactions from Chinese social media users but also declined to really did not condemn this act of violence either. But of course a day later last Saturday, much later than other world leaders Chinese president eventually did send messages of condolences to both the current Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and Mr. Abe's family.

And noting briefly that Mr. Abe's "positive contribution" to the improvement of bilateral ties now is indeed one thing Mr. Abe insisted on, that is despite his increasingly hawkish views on China, he wanted to maintain regular high level exchanges with the Chinese. He Mr. Xi multiple times last time in 2019. And Mr. Xi was actually supposed to visit Japan on a state visit in 2020. That was derailed by the pandemic of course.

But, of course, you know, almost by default any Japanese Prime Minister especially from the political right, is a controversial figure or even despised figure here because of the two countries wartime history from the Chinese perspective, the Japanese have never atone enough for their wartime atrocities, and Mr. Abe was no exception in their eyes. And they have -- the Chinese actually have set a symbolic red line for Japanese politicians.

That is the Yasukuni Shrine in the center of Tokyo that honors Japan's war dead, including some convicted war criminals. But despite strong warnings from Beijing, Mr. Abe go there and paid a visit in 2013. That, of course -- that of course caused relations so with China to really, you know, raised tensions considerably with China. And another key source of friction during his tenure, of course, was the two countries territorial dispute in the East China Sea over this group of islands that a Japanese call Senkaku and the Chinese called Diaoyu.

And after the Japanese government nationalized these islands, tensions really have been heating up ever since with increasingly frequent and intense clashes between the two sides. Now, Mr. Abe's most enduring legacy, as many have noted, of course, is his role as the architect of the Indo-Pacific strategy. That is -- he was trying very hard to expand the geopolitical map, the strategic map of this country to include the Indian Ocean and shifting the center of gravity around away from China.

Some would say he was quite successful, but that obviously was much to the anger and dismay of the Chinese leadership. So, you know, after he stepped down from the prime ministry, he also became increasingly vocal and critical of China's role regarding Taiwan.

[02:15:00]

So, all of that as you can imagine made him a controversial and popular figure here and despite many people around the world are mourning today his passing and considering him a very respected visionary in geopolitical regions. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Steven Jiang joining us live from Beijing. Many thanks to you.

Well, protesters occupying the homes of Sri Lanka's president and prime minister, refused to leave until the two men are out of office. Now that may happen soon as the country's parliament is set to elect their replacements next week. Nominations for the top post will be presented to lawmakers in the coming days. And these dramatic moves come after the president and prime minister agreed to resign on Wednesday and a mounting pressure.

Sri Lankans have been pushed to their breaking point over a crippling economy. On Saturday tens of thousands of protesters stormed the leaders' residences and the streets of Colombo. And CNN's Paula Hancocks is following this story for us. She joins us now live. Good to see you, Paula. So, will these two resignations be sufficient do you think to placate protesters and activists enraged by the state of the country's economy?

And of course, the policies of the nation's leaders and what happens next in terms of leadership alternatives?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, this is the first step. This is what protesters wanted, first of all, as they believe that the prime minister and the president are guilty of gross economic mismanagement, and that is why the country is in such dire financial straits at the moment, that the fact is that the issues that Sri Lanka is going through economically will take a lot longer to solve.

At this point, many people are struggling to be able to buy fuel, medicine, food, the absolute basics. The fuel shortage means that people are queuing for hours on end to try and then get any kind of fuel. We understand that there have been skirmishes as well with police and with military in those queues, as tensions are running high. And really the sheer number of people that came out onto the streets over the weekend was unprecedented.

Really showing how this anger is spilling over into physical action and into trying to make something changed. Now after they did take over, the presidential compound, the prime minister's compound, they did manage to secure the resignations, as you say, of those two individuals. Now what happens now is the parliamentary speaker will effectively take control for the interim for up to 30 days as is in the constitution.

But as you say, July 20th, there will be a new election. A new president will be picked and that president will see out the remainder of the two-year term of this particular administration. But as I say, that is just one step in many steps in trying to revive the economy of Sri Lanka. We understand that the officials are in talks at this point with the IMF, the International Monetary Fund to try and figure out how they can revive the economy that the parliamentary speaker is quoted as saying that those discussions are difficult at this point obviously.

Sri Lanka not coming from a position of strength to be able to negotiate some kind of package to help them saying that the country is close to bankruptcy. And this is really affecting daily lives of people, which is why the months of protests that we have seen really escalated over recent days into what we saw some remarkable images of protesters running over those compounds.

You could see them inside the compounds hanging banners from the stairs, and they have managed to get the men out of power. Of course now the difficult job of reviving the economy starts. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Paula Hancock surge joining us there with that update. Appreciate it.

Ukraine says it's massing a million strong fighting force to retake Russian-occupied territory in the south. It comes as Ukrainian troops have been stepping up counter attacks in the Kherson region. Video from social media shows a series of explosions rocking a Russian-held town on Monday night. Russian state media reports at least six people were killed. Ukrainian officials says the strikes were aimed at an ammunition depot.

Ukraine is also urging civilians to evacuate occupied parts of her son, warning that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating and accusing Russia of escalating terror against civilians. But the heaviest fighting is still in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces they're ramping up attacks in Donetsk as they look to capture the entire Donbas region. The death toll is rising from Saturday's brutal rocket attack on an apartment 1building near the frontlines in Donetsk.

[02:20:04]

Ukrainian officials say at least 31 people were killed and another nine were rescued from the rubble.

Well, still to come. Reliving a nightmare. The mothers of students who survived the Texas School shooting explain how the tragedy is affected their children. And we hear from one of the students who witnessed it all.

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CHURCH: Well, the seventh hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection is set for Tuesday. The focus will be on right-wing extremist groups and their ties to associates of former President Donald Trump. And at least two witnesses are expected to testify. And you can watch our special coverage of the hearing starting at noon Eastern 5:00 p.m. in London.

Well, families of the victims of the Texas School shooting want answers over what they call a botched police response to the massacre. A committee in the Texas Legislature hopes to release a preliminary report about the May shooting, as well as surveillance footage from inside the school. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz spoke with mothers of several of the children who survived and one of the students.

A warning though what they have to say is graphic and very difficult to hear.

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KASSANDRA CHAVEZ, MOTHER OF A.J. MARTINEZ: He said he just saw that the shooter come to the door and told his teacher goodnight and shot her. And then -- and then he just announced are you all ready to die and just went crazy. SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For Kassandra Chavez, Azeneth Rodriguez and Jessica Orona, mothers of children who survived the Robb Elementary shooting, life will never be the same.

CHAVEZ: I know what they endured those hills 77 minutes. They shouldn't have.

PROKUPECZ: Teeth scattered on the floor, pools of blood so thick to a child that look like red Jello. These moms see the pain of that day live on through the eyes of their sons.

JESSICA ORONA, MOTHER OFNOAH ORONA: One of the little girls that he was lying by, you know, all he could hear was her gurgling because she was trying to breathe but she couldn't because, you know, she was shot and you could just hear her, you know, choking pretty much.

PROKUPECZ: He told him there's nothing.

ORONA: Nothing that they could do.

PROKUPECZ: Witnesses to one of the country's worst school shootings and victims of a failed police response. For these mothers guilt, regret, frustration. Now the realization that healing will be a long and difficult process.

ORONA: He could be fine one minute and then another minute. Totally, you know, change --

(CROSSTALK)

PROKUPECZ: It's just -- differently it's --

[02:25:02]

CHAVEZ: It's like a switch that kicks on in them like --

ORONA: Immediately.

CHEVEZ: And, you know, we can be something that we miss said to them or, you know, something drops or, you know --

ORONA: A smell.

CHAVEZ: A smell like --

ORONA: We were actually in barbecueing the other day and it's like, what does that smell, the burnt smell? And I was like, what is wrong? And he just said, I smell that smoky smell and that's the way we were in the classroom. Yes. Because it was, you know, smoky in the room and he -- that's what it was, the gun -- all the gunpowder.

AZENETH RODRIGUEZ, MOTHER OF JAYDEN CANEZALES: I feel like my son's not going to be normal for several years, because he's going to remember what happened that day. And it's going to stick to his head for the rest of his life. PROKUPECZ: Azeneth Rodriguez's 10-year-old son Jayden hid under a table in room 112.

JAYDEN CANEZALES, SURVIVOR: Me and my friend were scared and we didn't want to talk for nothing. And we covered our ears. So we won't hear the gunshots.

PROKUPECZ (on camera): You covered your years. Were you hearing a lot of gunshots?

CANEZALES: Me and my friend didn't have a lot of space. So we just tried not to move so he won't see us.

PROKUPECZ: And were you wondering what was going on? Why you had to be there for so long?

CANEZALES: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: What were you thinking?

CANEZALES: I was thinking what was going on and I wanted to see but I didn't want to -- the gunman see me.

PROKUPECZ (voice over): Seven weeks after the attack. Parents in Uvalde are still begging for clear answers. They want to know why police waited in the hallway outside the classroom while their children were terrorized for more than an hour by the gunman.

CHAVEZ: He was like mom, I heard him outside mom, they were yelling and telling the shooter to come out. He was talking and laughing to himself walking around. And whenever he heard, I don't know what little girl was called out. Officer -- like when the officer called out she's like I'm in here. He went over there and shot her.

PROKUPECZ (on camera): So the police were close enough to the door?

CHAVEZ: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: Where? Your kids could hear them?

CHAVEZ: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: And then the girl answers back. We're in here.

RODRIGUEZ: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: And then he kills her.

RODRIGUEZ: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: And the police never go in?

CHAVEZ: There were still lives. That could have been more saved if they would just gotten there faster. We just gone in. Like you wear a badge, you have a gun. RODRIGUEZ: They shouldn't be scared

CANEZALES: When they got there, they were still outside waiting for a little bit. I was telling my friend, I was whispering to my friend I was falling asleep.

PROKUPECZ: Is there anyone in particular you miss?

CANEZALES: My cousin Rahelya (ph), my best friend Chase (ph).

PROKUPECZ: They die? You miss them? What kinds of things would you guys do together?

CANEZALES: When we would have recess, we would always play together and play hide and seek or tag.

PROKUPECZ: Do you feel comfortable talking about what happened? And is it helping you? Yes?

CANEZALES: I feel a little bit happy because my friends are in the -- my friend and my cousin are in a better place.

PROKUPECZ: in a better place? Where?

CANEZALES: In heaven.

PROKUPECZ (voice over): Shimon Prokupecz, CNN, Uvalde, Texas.

CHURCH: And we'll be right back.

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[02:30:00]

CHURCH: NASA has released the first color image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. And as one former astronaut put it, it is giving us a new view of space. And fundamentally changing our understanding of the universe. CNN's Rachel Crane has more now on what makes this telescope so groundbreaking.

RACHEL CRANE, CNN BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT: We are seeing the very first image released from the James Webb telescope released by President Biden at the White House. Biden talking about the significance of this moment. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: It's a new window into the history of our universe. And today, we're going to get a glimpse of the first light to shine through that window. Light from other worlds, orbiting stars, far beyond our own. It's outstanding to me when I read this. And saw the -- I mean, it really is.

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CRANE: And in this first image, we see those other worlds, other galaxies, other stars. NASA saying that this is the deepest and sharpest infrared image we have ever seen of our universe. So, really, an incredible historic image there. And this is just the start.

NASA will be releasing several of their images in a batch of images from the James Webb telescope. We know that we're going to see nebula which are essentially stellar nurseries. We're going to see additional galaxies. We're even going to get to see an exoplanet and not just the exoplanet itself, which is the planet that orbits another star, but we're going to be able to peer into its atmosphere if it has one and get a sense of what that atmosphere is comprised of.

So, James Webb, this is the most ambitious telescope humanity has ever created. And it's more than just a telescope. This is really a time machine. We're going to be able to see back in time to just a few hundred million years after the big bang. This is really, you know, it sounds like a long time ago but it's really the moment where the universe is just turning its lights on. We're going to be able to see the formation of galaxies. The formation of stars.

And scientists are most excited about what they can't even imagine what James Webb is going to reveal about our universe. We know that the Hubble Telescope taught us endless amounts of lessons about our universe. We know that our universe is expanding at an accelerating rate because of Hubble. We know that there are a hundred billion galaxies out there. There were more when we thought that they were just a fraction of that before.

So, Hubble is the predecessor to James Webb telescope. And what we are going to learn from this extraordinary telescope has just yet to be seen. Rachel Crane, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: And for more on this very exciting story, I'm joined now by Markus Kissler-Patig. He is the head of the Science and operations department of the European Space Agency and he joins us now from Sweden.

It is great to have you with us.

MARKUS KISSLER-PATIG, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY: Thank you. Thanks for having me on the show.

CHURCH: So, we're of course looking forward to more NASA images being released in the coming hours. And, of course, you worked on this. So, what was your reaction when you saw this first full-color image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope showing the first glimpse of the deepest view of the universe and it how it appeared 13 billion years ago? What all do you see when you look at that image?

KISSLER-PATIG: It's a -- it was wow effect. What is -- one of this once in a lifetime effects that -- I've seen the images in black and white, our team prepared them. But seeing them in color, the one that's displayed behind me, was just mind-blowing. Especially when you realize that just in a few hours, Webb had been able to do what Hubble sometimes needed weeks to be done. And it's sharper, it's deeper. We're going to explore the universe like we've never done before. So, I mean, I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled for myself that for all of the generation of scientists which can now access this data and we explore the universe for humankind in a completely new way.

[02:35:00]

CHURCH: Yes, I mean, it's exciting scientifically. It also looks like a piece of artwork. I mean, it's so exquisite, isn't it? And given the James Webb Space Telescope is able to observe the earliest galaxies, created after the big bang, what could we potentially learn from this and how groundbreaking will it likely be ultimately?

KISSLER-PATIG: Oh, I think it will reveal -- it will be yet another step in our understanding of where we came from. Really, the Webb was designed to peek all the way back to the beginning of the universe. We want to understand how structure formed when the first stars assembled. Stars as the factories which create the chemical elements which then eventually formed the basis for life.

So, in fact, that she's looking all the way, understanding when the structure formed in the universe when the stars formed gives us an indication of when possibly the first life in the universe could occur. And that's what it was designed to do for. And this first image really shows the power that, actually, this telescope has us actually surpassing our expectations.

CHURCH: It is just extraordinary. And what might we learn, do you think, from observations from inside the atmospheres of exoplanets which can also, apparently, be seen by this telescope?

KISSLER-PATIG: So, I think as a sneak preview can tell you that we have observed one exoplanet is going to be one of the reasons later today. And indeed, what we are looking there are signs for life. To actually search for life beyond our solar system. The only trace we have is actually looking at the atmospheres of exoplanets. See whether the life, as it did on Earth, has changed the atmospheres of these plants. And whether, actually, from the chemical composition of the atmospheres, we can actually work back what type of life, if there is life first, and what type of life can be there.

So, we will be looking for any chemistry which will give us indications of anything life-like, like what we call life. We, of course, know only one who carries on Earth. And now, we'll explore what we can see on other exoplanets and whether life is, maybe, even unique. We have never seen a second trace of life in the universe, or whether it's a big universe and there's life everywhere.

So, that's one of the, of course, big questions we want to answer. And from the first images of Webb we see that we have actually a good chance to answer that question in the next decade.

CHURCH: Wow. That -- I mean, that is a question a lot of us want to know the answer to. And it is an exquisite image that we're looking at there. I mean, tell us what you see when you look at that. What stands out to you? KISSLER-PATIG: So, I mean, as you said, it's beauty, really. It's a piece of art. I've already commissioned it to be framed and put in my bedroom. But this particular image, really, we're looking at the galaxy cluster. That's a number of galaxies. So, every galaxy contains tens of billions of stars. A cluster of galaxies, there's actually hundreds of these galaxies. That's an enormous mass in space-time.

And as Einstein already described, the moment you put an enormous mass in space-time it walks space-time. And in fact, in this case, it created a lens. So, not only was Webb designed to look all the way back into the universe, but with a lens, we can now have a magnifying glass. And what we're really seeing as the galaxies behind this galaxy cluster magnified. And that gives us the possibility to actually study the very early -- the very first galaxies in the universe, magnify it in great detail. And helps us to understand exactly this, you know, what type of galaxies were there and when did the universe form stars, how do they behave, how do they assemble to form these galaxies? Like, we have the Milky Way in which we live. And that's -- in one glance.

And they haven't finished exploring it. It was late last night when it was released. I followed the release live, of course. I had the first peek at the images. I zoomed in but I'm going to continue, probably all day, just staring at it and being awed.

CHURCH: It's so exciting. I mean, I could continue talking with you for hours. Markus Kissler-Patig, thank you so much. And we're all very excited about seeing more images in the coming hours. Appreciate talking with you.

KISSLER-PATIG: Thank you very much. Thanks for having me on the show.

CHURCH: Thank you.

And still to come, the heat is on in parts of Europe which, once again, baking under record high temperatures. We will look at how long this heat wave could last when we come back. Do stay with us.

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[02:40:00]

While parts of Europe are sweltering under a heat wave right now, the hot dry weather has led to wildfires in Portugal. The EU Commission is sending its firefighting air fleet to help. Spain is also experiencing record high temperatures with its second heat wave of the season. And heat alerts and warnings are in place for parts of England and Wales this week. And for more, let's bring in Meteorologist Gene Norman.

And Gene, we are dealing with these extreme weather conditions again and again.

GENE NORMAN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Exactly right. More of the fingerprint of climate change. These longer-lasting heat waves, Rosemary. And yesterday, in Spain, we had over 40 locations hit 40 degrees or high, about a half dozen locations in Portugal, and even Southern France got in the act with a couple of areas getting close to 40 degrees. And that trend is going to continue for the next couple of days.

In fact, heat alerts are in effect for the Iberian Peninsula as we head into the rest of this afternoon and they'll probably be extended throughout the rest of the week. Here's what's going on, we have an area of high pressure that's keeping Western Europe nice and hot. It's not moving any time soon. Now, there is a weak front that will move across the UK today to give them a bit of a reprieve from the high temperatures but it won't last very long. Watch what happens over the next couple of days, that heat build back as we head toward the end of the week and the weekend and that's when temperatures are really going to soar.

Take a look at what's going to happen in Sevilla, in the mid-40s right through the end of this week. Even Paris gets into the upper 30s. And then in the UK, an Amber alert has been issued. It's only Tuesday, but they've issued it already for this coming Sunday because they're expecting those temperatures to get close to 40 degrees into what's called a Level 3 heat alert. So, it's going to be pretty nasty by the time we get to the end of the week, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Unbelievable. Thank you so much, Gene Norman, bringing us up to date on that situation. Appreciate it.

And thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. World Sport is coming up next. Then I'll be back with more news from all around the world in about 15 minutes. You're watching CNN.

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LEMON: OK. So, blanketed in red. That's the coronavirus community transmission map from the CDC that shows much of the U.S. in high transmission areas. This is a part -- in part, I should say, due to the new BA.5 Omicron variant. The most transmissible yet which is now the dominant strain in this country. The new variant is able to partially escape the immunity provided by the vaccine or prior infections. That, as a study shows, that due to the prevalence of at- home testing, the U.S. is undercounting the number of COVID cases. That is a very good point. And I know a lot of people tested home and they don't really give it to officials. CNN now -- well, joining me now, CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner.

Doctor, am I right? A lot of people who tested at home and they don't really report it, correct?

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST, DIR., CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION PROGRAM, GW UNIV. HOSPITAL, AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY'S CARDIOLOGIST: Yes. Right now, we're reporting about 100,000 cases per day. The Institute for Health Metrics at the University of Washington estimates that, perhaps, the real number of cases is seven times that. So, probably somewhere around 700,000 people are getting infected every day, Don.

LEMON: Yes, that's the thing. It seems like everyone I talked to has either just had COVID, knows someone who does have COVID. And if you look at that map, let's put it up again, it shows how the whole country is in red. And that's just the cases that we know about since I said a lot of people aren't testing. A lot of people aren't testing. What is going on with this new variant, Doctor?

DR. REINER: Well, it's about as contagious as measles. And it has the most immune evasion of any variant we've seen. And, you know, while, sort of, a lot of people claim victory in February and municipalities dropped their mitigation mask mandates, the virus kept mutating. And it mutated and it mutated. And now this is BA.5.

And our vaccines aren't really very good with preventing you from getting infected. Thankfully and luckily, they're still really good at preventing you from getting super sick or needing to be hospitalized or even die. So, our vaccines have really helped for that but they haven't really helped very well for infection. And if you have not had COVID in the past, and you go into a crowded place now, you are likely to come out with BA.5.

LEMON: Wow. So, right now, they're working to allow us a second COVID booster for adults, you know, that fourth shot. But considering how evasive this variant is to the vaccine and prior infection, how much, do you think, it's going to -- that fourth shot will help?

DR. REINER: Yes. What I think it will do, and I think what we know it will do, is help prevent serious illness. What we're really trying to do is prevent people from being hospitalized. And over the last month, hospitalizations have increased. Basically, doubled over the last month. And over the last couple of weeks, we've seen deaths start to creep up as well.

And although we're nowhere near where we were, you know, back in December or January, still, about 300 people are dying every day, up 2,000 people a week. And adding to the ability to, sort of, boost antibodies in people under the age of 50 who have not yet gotten a second booster should help that group prevent serious illness and hospitalization or deaths. So, I think it's a good idea.

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In the fall, we'll see -- we'll probably see a new version of the vaccine, which includes protection against BA.5 but that won't be here until the fall, probably.

LEMON: Well, that was my next question, given away my age because I've already had four shots. I've had two boosters, right.

DR. REINER: Right.

LEMON: I'm over 50.

DR. REINER: Me too.

LEMON: So, we're going to get a fifth show? We're going to have a fifth shot?

DR. REINER: Yes, probably. You know, I wouldn't get so wrapped up on the number of shots, you know, going into --

LEMON: I don't really care as long as it helps. I was just asking, I mean --

DR. REINER: Right, exactly. So, those of us who get a flu shot every year, get a flu shot every year. And, you know, what I tell my patients is that even though the flu vaccine may not prevent you from getting influenza every year, it will prevent you from dying. And that's what we are telling and need to tell the population. So, if you need a COVID shot every year to prevent you from getting seriously ill, and make this virus more like a seasonal flu or cold, then that's what we will do.

LEMON: Thank you, doctor. Appreciate it. See you soon.

DR. REINER: My pleasure.

LEMON: Be safe.

Firefighters in California battling to contain a raging wildfire in Yosemite, and they're doing everything they can to save the park's famous sequoias.

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You got to look at the video that -- look at that. Tonight, hundreds of firefighters in Yosemite National Parks, Mariposa Grove, working feverishly to save more than 500 giant sequoias from a raging wildfire. Officials say that Washburn fire doubled in size over the weekend to more than 2,300 acres. But the firefighters are hopeful the giant trees can be saved. The wildfire is now 22 percent contained.

They say that the prescribed burns and a program to clear out brush are helping battle the blaze. Now, they've also installed a sprinkler system to dampen the ground near a sequoia known as Grizzly Giant. There's Grizzly Giant, look at that. Grizzly Giant stands at 209 feet tall. Firefighters also say that giant sequoias are naturally fire- resistant which is why some of them have been believed to have stood in Yosemite for more than 2,000 years.

The January 6 Committee looking to connect the dots between the extremist groups and people in Trumps' orbit. We're going to tell you what to expect in tomorrow's hearing, next.

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