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Horrific Discovery of Mass Grave Site in Bucha, Ukraine; U.S. and NATO Leaders Condemn Bucha Killings; Mass Shooting in Sacramento, California; Supreme Court to Decide if Prime Minister of Pakistan Acted Within Constitution; Shanghai Begins New Round of Testing as Cases Surge; Tiger Woods Practices at Augusta National Golf Club. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired April 04, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster.

Now, after the discovery of a mass gravesite in Bucha, Ukraine, authorities say they are still searching for the bodies -- four bodies in the Kyiv region. A warning the images you are about to see are graphic. This is a mass gravesite. Up to 300 people could be buried here according to the town's mayor. The president of Ukraine is accusing Russia of genocide.

Russia wants you to believe this is staged and denies any involvement. But a CNN crew saw it with their own eyes. At least a dozen people, bodies piled here on church grounds. Some people aren't yet buried. Their bodies still contorted on the streets or tied up with their hands behind their backs.

CNN spoke to the mayor of Bucha a short time ago. Referring to Russian troops, he says, quote, they weren't able to take Kyiv, so they vented their frustration on Bucha and the surrounding areas. The mayor went on to say, we will not forgive the Russian people for the atrocities that happened here. They'll never be forgiven on this earth or in heaven. You can see that interview coming up on CNN's "NEW DAY" and that starts in about 90 minutes from now.

From the United States and NATO, swift condemnation to the horrors committed in Bucha and beyond. CNN's Arlette Saenz has details from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The Biden administration expressed shock on Sunday over the horrific scenes emanating out of Bucha. With Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing it, as a punch to the gut. Now, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described it as genocide, both Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg refrained from using from such a term. But both men insisted that Russia must be held accountable for what they describe as a pattern of brutality.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: You can't help but see these images as a punch to the gut. There needs to be accountability for it. But I think the most important thing is we can't become numb to this. We can't normalize this.

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: It is a brutality against civilians we haven't seen in Europe for decades, and it's horrific and it's absolutely unacceptable.

SAENZ: Now, Blinken said that the U.S. will gather evidence and document each of these incidents to help with any investigations into possible war crimes. Of course, the United States last month did say that they officially believe Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine, but there is that official investigation with the International Criminal Court that is still underway.

Now, the next steps to watch is whether the Biden administration might decide to impose additional sanctions on Russia, something that they've said will be on the table. The U.S. is also expected to continue supplying the Ukrainian fighters with additional military equipment, with sources telling CNN that the U.S. is expected to help facilitate the transfer of soviet-era made tanks from allied countries into Ukraine, possibly in the coming days.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Other world leaders also condemning the massacre in Bucha. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russia is acting recklessly as it loses ground in Ukraine.

Saying: Russia's despicable attacks against civilians in Irpin and Bucha are yet more evidence that Putin and his army are committing war crimes in Ukraine. No denial or disinformation from the Kremlin can hide what we all know to be the truth. Putin is desperate. His invasion is failing. And Ukraine's resolve has never been stronger.

And the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is calling for an investigation into the killings in Bucha and an end to the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): I call on President Putin and Russia to finally agree to a cease-fire and stop the fighting. It is a terrible war, a senseless one, one that cannot be justified by anything. It is a war that is causing endless suffering and benefits no one. It must stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: And Bucha isn't the only area under threat. Russia is continuing its devastating attacks on cities such as Mykolaiv. Ukrainian officials there on Sunday said at least one person was killed and more than a dozen were injured and taken to hospital, as CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The city of Mykolaiv came under multiple Russian missile strikes Sunday.

[04:05:00]

The first one just after noon local time when what appears to be cluster munitions slammed into a residential neighborhood in the center of the city. Shortly afterwards, Mykolaiv's Regional Governor Vitalii Kim put out a video of himself walking down the street saying the Russians were trying and failing to panic residents at a time when many people are beginning to return to their homes after having fled the city.

The Russian strikes killed one person and wounded more than a dozen, according to a statement put out later by the governor's office. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk has accused Russian forces of detaining 11 mayors and killing one in areas under Russian control. Although CNN cannot independently verify those claims. She said the Ukrainian government would alert the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and other international organizations to their captivity.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Mykolaiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Still to come on CNN, the U.S. president is asking Congress to act on gun control after another mass shooting. This time in California. And with the latest shooter still at large, the victims' families are still on edge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just to the point right now I don't know what to do. I don't even think this is real. I feel like it's a dream.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARRELL STEINBERG, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA MAYOR: Our city has a broken heart. This is a senseless and unacceptable tragedy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Those words from the mayor of Sacramento, California, following a mass shooting that left six people dead, many more injured on Sunday. Police say there is still no suspect in custody.

[04:10:00]

CNN's Josh Campbell has the latest from Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A manhunt is underway after a deadly night in the California capital. Authorities say shots rang out in downtown Sacramento, just around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday. This was two blocks from the state capital building in an area with several restaurants and bars. Six people have been confirmed dead, at least 12 injured. The city's police chief spoke about the incident Sunday morning.

CHIEF KATHERINE LESTER, SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT: We had officers in the area that heard shots fired, and responded to the area of 10th and K. We found a very large crowd here and they also found that we had a number of people that were shot in the area. Those officers, we know rendered aid to our victims and called for additional assistance.

Right now, we do not a suspect in custody on this and we're asking for the public's help. If anyone saw anything, has video or can provide any information to the police department we are asking for their assistance.

CAMPBELL: Now, at this point, authorities don't know whether they're dealing with one or multiple shooters, and they have not yet released a suspected motive.

There is video circulating on social media that shows a physical altercation, involving a group of people, just as shots ring out. That video has not been confirmed by CNN. However, the Sacramento police spoke about that video, saying they are aware of it, they are asking for anyone who has additional video, to contact authorities.

Sacramento police have assigned numerous officers to help with this investigation, actually calling in resources from neighboring agencies to help respond to new police calls as their investigation and this manhunt continues.

Again, a deadly night, yet another mass shooting in the United States. Six dead, 12 injured, the shooter still at large.

Josh Campbell, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has asked for Congress to renew talks on gun control after the shooting. He says the time for action is now. The president is asking lawmakers to put stricter barriers in place to ban certain weapons, require background checks for gun purchases and for Congress to approve his budget proposal. Which Mr. Biden says, would give cities more funding for crime prevention and intervention strategies.

Now, the Hungarian leader, Victor Orban, celebrated his reelection on Sunday with a jab at European leaders. The right-wing prime minister and Putin ally secured a fourth consecutive term after his party won a super majority in parliament. Mr. Orban said European bureaucrats and Ukraine's president were some of the many opponents he overcame at the polls. He's drawn criticism particularly from Europe and the West over the erosion of democratic rights during his time in office. In the coming hours, Pakistan's Supreme Court is expected to weigh in

on the country's political crisis. Prime Minister Imran Kahn dissolved parliament on Sunday and called for fresh elections. The move came after the deputy speaker blocked a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister which he was widely expected to lose. Opposition lawmakers protested and called on the Supreme Court to uphold the constitution. CNN producer Sophia Saifi joins us now from Islamabad. Thanks for joining us. How will the Supreme Court session affect this, do you think?

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Max, what the opposition party said after the absolute chaos in Parliament yesterday was that the action of the Deputy Speaker to block the vote of no confidence which had been brewing since the 8th of March and which had shown Imran Khan to have a complete minority. And Imran Khan's political position was already quite precarious. And the information that it still went ahead and said that Pakistan was under the grips of a foreign conspiracy. That there were attempts by the United States to change the regime. And that is what compelled the vote of no confidence, calling it for it to be blocked.

The opposition has now gone on to the Supreme Court which is due to begin proceedings any minute now to decide whether this act was unconstitutional or not. And whether moving forward -- the elections are actually going to take place, what happens with Imran Khan's position.

He has been talking and speaking directly to the public for at least ten days now when he brought up the matter of this foreign conspiracy. There is a lot of populist support for Imran Khan. He is as we know a very major cricket superstar in this country. And while there have been critics of his 3 1/2-year long tenure as the Prime Minister, there has been inflation. There are depleting foreign currency reserves in the country. And the opposition has said that they have had enough.

So, we're going to have to wait to see what the Supreme Court says what happens next. Will the vote of no confidence actually take place?

[04:15:00]

Or will the Supreme Court judges decide that this is, A, unconstitutional, but to cleanse the political palate, there will be elections (INAUDIBLE) to take place in 2023 and will now have to take place within 90 days. So, we are all just waiting on tender hooks to see what is going to happen with the Supreme Court judgment in just a couple of hours and minutes -- Max.

OK, Sofia, back with you as soon as we get that. Thank you.

Sri Lanka's central bank governor has resigned following economic unrest and widespread anger across the South Asian island. The police used tear gas there to disperse student protesters on Sunday amid a weekend curfew and state of emergency declared by the government. Shortage of foreign currency from the COVID-19 pandemic are fueling that crisis. The country has seen rising prices, scarce central goods and rolling power cuts.

Now still to come, Shanghai sets out to test all 25 million of its residents as COVID infections surge. How the city is faring against the latest outbreak when we return.

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[04:20:00]

FOSTER: Chinese officials are holding firm to the country's zero COVID policy as cases skyrocket throughout the region. Residents of Shanghai have been ordered to complete another round of COVID testing after a weekend of rising cases. The city reported more than 9,000 new infections on Sunday, the highest daily count to date. Shanghai is effectively under lockdown until Tuesday as officials rush to complete COVID testing for all 25 million residents.

CNN's Selina Wang joins me now from Tokyo with more. It's a massive undertaking, isn't it, putting such a large city under lockdown and then testing everyone. How are they doing it?

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Max, it's hard to overstate the scale here. Shanghai is China's most populist city. It's the financial economic hub, and essentially most of the 25 million residents of Shanghai are all under strict home quarantine and authorities have attempted this ambitious lockdown in two phases. So, one half of the city went into lockdown first for about a week. But that's half of the city now that lockdown has been extended. And now the other half of the city went into lockdown on Friday.

And people are growing more and more frustrated, complaints continuing to grow about lack of daily essentials, the struggle of ordering food, and more and more heartbreaking stories of people struggling to seek medical care. This is a strong test of China's zero-COVID strategy and many are asking at what cost is this being implemented.

There is also outrage growing over photos and video circulating online of young children, and Max, even infants being isolated alone, and hospitals crying, separated from their families.

Now CNN was not able to independently verify those videos, but we did speak to the mother of a 2-year-old who said that her baby was taken away from her after the baby tested positive for COVID-19, and she was not reunited with her child until a week later.

But it's also important to remember here that for many residents of Shanghai, they haven't just been locked down for a matter of days. Many neighborhoods, neighborhood communities went into lockdown weeks before the mass citywide lockdown even went into place. And they are actually confined to their homes essentially indefinitely until their entire community tests negative for COVID-19. So, the frustration and anger for many continues to grow -- Max.

FOSTER: Absolutely. Selina, thank you for joining us from Tokyo.

Now, the Grammy awards on Sunday featured a surprise and special guest. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a pre-taped message. The president appealed to the international community for help sharing the truth of what's happening in Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedo. They sing to their wounded in hospitals, even to those who can't hear them. But the music will breakthrough anyway. We defend our freedom to live, to love, to sound on our land. We are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs, the death silence, fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, following the message, singer John Legend joined Ukrainian performers and musicians and performing his new song entitled "Free" celebrating the power of music in dark times, especially war.

There were some big winners of the night including R&B duo Silk Sonic winning four Grammys for their song "Leave the Door Open."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Leave the Door Open." Brandon Anderson, Brody Brown. Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars -- Silk Sonic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: The Duo won for song and record of the year -- best R&B song, and a tie for the best R&B performance. An incredible night for them.

Disney star Olivia Rodrigo also took home multiple trophies, winning Grammys for best new artist, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album.

Our golf fans are on the edge of the seats wondering if Tiger Woods will play in this week's Masters Golf Tournament. The five times Masters champ tweeted that he will be making a game-time decision after he played a practice round at the course. CNN's WORLD SPORT Patrick Snell has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: It is the big question, will he, or won't he? Will Tiger Woods tee off Thursday at this year's Masters? Speculation reaching fever pitch on Sunday here in Augusta as he arrived at Augusta National to hit the range, to hit the practice range for about 20 minutes or so. And then what happened? He goes to the 10th tee box to play some practice holes here. Really getting those insights going in terms of a feel for the course.

[04:25:00]

Maybe that's going to be the big question here. How will he and his body handle the notorious undulations of the course, a course now playing to around 7,500 yards. How will his body handle it after everything that happened early last year with that horrific car crash and the subsequent surgeries he underwent.

Now of course, if I can go back to last week where we had that viral moment, Woods on the course with his 13-year-old son Charlie and fellow American professional Justin Thomas as well. That's really what got everyone so excited in the buildup to this year's Masters. But I tell you what. I want to just leave you with this note. The fact that Tiger Woods doesn't enter competitions unless he feels he can win. So that is something to be borne in mind as he goes for a sixth Masters title he hopes, and a 16th career major. The big question we're all waiting, will he play on Thursday? It'll be a game-time decision says Woods. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Meanwhile in basketball, in college basketball, there's a new champion in the women's game. South Carolina easily defeated Connecticut Sunday night to grab their first NCAA championship since 2017. The Gamecocks beat the Huskies 64-49. It is the second title under head coach Dawn Staley.

Meanwhile, the men's national title game tips off later today between Kansas will and North Carolina.

Oh, we got some news just coming into us about Ukraine. The head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration is eastern Ukraine. He says, the Russian military has been gathering what he calls a significant accumulation of troops and military equipment. The official described it as an apparent preparation for an offensive push. The Russian military has said it is pulling back its forces from around Kyiv and parts of northern Ukraine to concentrate efforts in Donbas region, and it is to be transpiring today.

Thanks for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. Our coverage of the war continues on "NEW START" with Christine Romans and Brianna Keilar.

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