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Joe Biden Bolsters Ties To Counter China's Growing Influence; President Joe Biden Meeting With Leaders Of Japan, India And Australia; Russian Soldier Sentenced To Life In Prison For War Crimes. U.S. Voters To Cast Ballots In Five States; South Korean President is Interviewed about Biden Visit; Texas Woman on the Run, Accused of Killing Star Cyclist; Migrants Turned Away at Border as Lifting of Title 42 Delayed; Experts Testify in Depp Lawsuit Trial. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired May 24, 2022 - 00:00   ET

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

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[00:00:56]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, welcome to viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm John Vause, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

And just ahead, the White House walks back Joe Biden's promise the U.S. would intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan, causing confusion and concern ahead of a summit between the U.S. Japan, Australia and India.

Revenge fantasy of all the primary races across the U.S., it's the state of Georgia where Donald Trump wants a win for his endorse candidate. A chance to oust the elected officials who stopped his illegal attempt at overturning the 2020 election.

And a love triangle turns into tragedy, a linked cyclists is dead. And U.S. Marshals now looking for the woman accused of murdering her.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with John Vause.

VAUSE: Right now, the second in-person summit of the Quad this year is underway in Tokyo, leaders of this informal alliance between the U.S., Japan, Australia and India will soon head into a working launch and then one-on-one meetings after that.

Just a day earlier, the U.S. president launched a new partnership aimed at boosting trade ties with several Asia-Pacific countries, which is all part of a push to bolster U.S. alliances in the region and counter China's growing dominance.

But for all the formal meetings and photo ops is what Mr. Biden said when he went off script that's drawing through a raging fury right now, listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You didn't want to get involved in the Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons. Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are?

BIDEN: That's the commitment we made.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Just moments after that, the White House released a statement downplaying those comments, insist the U.S. policy on China and Taiwan has not changed. But Beijing is already pushing back telling the U.S. not to meddle in internal affairs, one Chinese official warns those who play with fire will certainly burn themselves.

CNN covering the story from every angle. Kevin Liptak is following the latest developments in Tokyo we have CNN's Steven Jiang standing by in Beijing with the reaction from China. But we'll start with Kevin.

I'm wondering, Kevin, what has been the reaction there among the three other leaders on this Quad about Biden's comments about defending Taiwan and then the subsequent confusion and walking back that happened?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, they certainly were surprised, because the president's comment seemed to sort of rebut this policy of strategic ambiguity where the United States will provide Taiwan with defensive weapons, but not necessarily spell out explicitly how they might respond if China were to invade.

Now, President Biden was just asked in the last several minutes whether the policy of strategic ambiguity was dead. And he said no.

And he was asked again, whether he would send U.S. troops to Taiwan if China were to invade it, he didn't spell out very explicitly there what he would do, but he did say that U.S. policy hadn't changed.

And so now, as you mentioned, the White House that's walked back that statement slightly yesterday, but I will say today, when you're talking to President Biden's aides, there is not really a lot of consternation about this comment that the president made.

And I think that's because the president and his aides feel like we're in a different environment now. And that's because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And they want China to know that as Russia proceeds with this invasion, and is confronted with this withering set of sanctions, they want that to be seen as a cautionary tale in Beijing, and they don't necessarily believe that it's a negative thing or a bad thing if the president is a little more explicit in his comments about Taiwan.

And you heard the president talk about Ukraine and Russia earlier today as he launched this Quad Summit meeting, he said that the world is navigating a dark hour in our shared history. And he said that this is more than just a European issue, it's a global issue.

So, I think that the president is kind of trying to wrap all of this together here on his final day in Asia, talking to these leaders and trying to make clear that the global environment isn't a different place now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, that the international norms have been breached and he wants to send a very explicit message to China that something similar could happen to them, this withering set of sanctions, this united response, if they were to move forward in Taiwan.

[00:05:28]

VAUSE: Let's go to Steven who is standing by in Beijing, our Beijing Bureau Chiefs. And Steven, the Quad was already seen by Beijing as sort of an Asian NATO if you like, so, throwing the comments about Taiwan, and we know they're not happy.

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: That's why, you know, the response has come quickly and forcefully, as you mentioned, not surprisingly, given Taiwan has long considered the rightest of their so called red lines, even though the ruling Communist Party here has never directly control the island, they do consider that island part of their territory. That's why they said something like you should never underestimate the resolve and capability of 1.4 billion Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

So, this is really a very familiar language, as we have heard over the years, but the real question, I think, on the minds of many people, likely Chinese officials, but also a lot of observers and analyst is what next?

How many of these slips of the tongue, if you will, or gaffes from the U.S. president, what it takes to convince the leadership here that there is a real U.S. policy shift that the long standing strategic ambiguity has indeed been replaced by strategic clarity. And how would that then change the calculations of Xi Jinping and the communist leadership because many have said, it seems this will probably not deter them from invading Taiwan.

If anything, this may accelerate their planning and preparation, because as much as Beijing hates the comparison between Ukraine and Taiwan, one likely lesson they have learned from the war in Ukraine is actually the longer you wait, the harder it may get to take Taiwan over by force, because Taiwan may get more serious about its defenses, and the U.S. may get more serious about helping and preparing Taiwan to fight that fight.

And then of course, the question moves to China's military capabilities. Now, on paper of course, the People's Liberation Army dwarfs Taiwan standing army, there are also thousands of Chinese missiles deployed along its shoreline targeted at Taiwan.

But remember, this is a military that has not been combat tested for over 40 years. The last real war they fought was in 1979 with Vietnam, so a lot of questions about their true capabilities.

But John, one thing for sure, tensions across the Taiwan Strait unlikely to subside anytime soon, John,

VAUSE: That is for sure. Steven, thank you, Steven Jiang our Beijing Bureau Chief there with that. Also Kevin Liptak. We appreciate your update as well from Tokyo.

And we'll have much more on the Quad summit about 20 minutes from now. Well, Ukraine's President --

Ukraine's president says up to 100 people may be killed each day in the eastern part of the country where Russian attacks have intensified in recent weeks. The head of the defense regional military administration is now reporting heavy fighting in the direction of Lyman in Luhansk. At least one civilian has been killed there, four others were hurt. Others nearby towns have been hit by heavy shelling and rocket attacks. This comes as Vladimir Putin faces growing opposition to the invasion, including from a longtime Russian diplomat.

In a rare public protest, a 20 year veteran of Russia's diplomatic service announced his resignation Monday and blasted what he called an aggressive war unleashed by the Russian president.

The U.S. State Department says that resignation shows there are Russians who profoundly disagree with what Mr. Putin is doing, despite all of the propaganda to the country.

But there are still questions over the Russian president's overall strategy regarding Ukraine, with the U.S. Defense Secretary saying that's just unknown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: At the very outset, he envisioned using overwhelming force and speed and power to very rapidly take down the capital city and replace the government.

They failed in that so, we've seen them really proceed at a very slow and unsuccessful place on the -- pace on the battlefield. And you would expect that he would be would seek to use other levers of power.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Well, the initial plan for a quick victory in Ukraine did not work out and now, after three months of horrendous fighting, this war has hit a milestone of sorts. It did not happen on a battlefield but in a courtroom, young Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison for war crimes.

Here's the story now from CNN's Melissa Bell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A blow for the first Russian soldier to stand trial in a Ukrainian court since the start of the invasion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The court found Vadim Shishimarin guilty.

BELL: 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin sentenced by a civilian court to life in jail for killing an unarmed civilian in a village in northeastern Ukraine, four days after Russia invaded the country.

[00:10:04]

IRYNA VENEDIKTOVA, UKRAINE'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR: Today, more than 13,000 cases only about war crimes, and now, we have a first sentence. But it's not enough. It's only beginning. It means that these three months, our investigators and prosecutors properly have done their job.

BELL: Shishimarin confessed to killing the man in court last week but said he'd been under intense pressure. A fellow soldier confirmed Shishimarin was obeying orders and had no choice but to fire the fatal shot. His lawyer says he'll file an appeal.

VIKTOR OVSYANNIKOV, DEFENSE LAWYER (through translator): I believe and continue to believe that a person who carried out an order cannot be convicted under this article.

BELL: The judge said because the crime broke international law, was, "against peace, security and humanity", the court couldn't impose a shorter sentence.

ANDRIY SUNYUK, PROSECUTOR (through translator): This will be a good example for other occupiers who may not yet be on our territory but are planning to come, all those who are here now and plan to stay and fight.

BELL: On Friday, Shishimarin had made a final plea for clemency.

VADIM SHISHIMARIN, RUSSIAN SOLDIER SENTENCED (through translator): I'm sorry, and I sincerely repent. I was nervous the moment it happened. I didn't want to kill, but it happened and I do not deny it.

BELL: The Kremlin says it's concerned about Shishimarin and will seek ways to assist him.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: With us now for more on the latest developments from Ukraine is Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a senior military analyst and former Army commanding general for Europe and seventh Army. General Hertling, good to have you back.

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It's great to be with you, John, as always.

VAUSE: OK, well, now the speed of this first war crimes trial in Ukraine, you know, for bringing charges to the sentencing while the fighting is actually still going on, it seems unprecedented. Could you see other future conflicts following this as an example? While at the same time, is there a risk here that Ukrainian soldiers in Russian custody could face similar treatment or worse, be tried on trumped up or bogus charges?

HERTLING: Yes. And yes, this has been a fast moving crime and judgment on this young soldier, this 21-year-old tanker, who admittedly shot a civilian, but also during his trial, basically gave up his superior saying that he was told to do that.

Now, that's never a defense. But you can tell by his anxiety, his fear, you know, his concern about what might happen to him if he didn't do what he was told to do, is indicative way, the way the Russian army is doing things. Will Ukraine have more of these trials? I think they will. They certainly have a very active group of people investigating war crimes, everything from murder, to rape, to sexual assault, all the things that you see associated with the kind of conflict we're seeing with the Russian troopers.

And that doesn't even start to consider the indiscriminate bombing of cities, and the use of civilians as targets. So yes, I think you're going to see more of the Ukrainian ministries executing these war crimes, trying to put -- trying to put Russian soldiers on trial. Perhaps even trying them in absentia.

But as you just said, it could be challenging for the Ukrainians as well, because we have these hundreds of fighters coming out of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol who are now under Russian control. And they're indicators that Russia is not going to treat them as prisoners of war, which they should be treated, they're uniform soldiers, but instead war criminals.

And will they trump up charges to go against them? So, I think we're in a very dangerous and precarious position right now, John.

VAUSE: Well, the Russian military has proven to be effective at killing unarmed men, women and children, when it comes to real soldiers actually fight back, the track record hasn't been so great.

There's been a flood of headlines in recent days like this from Britain's Spectator magazine, it says inside Russia's military collapse in Ukraine, while Newsweek is calling this conflict Vladimir Putin's forever war. While The National Interest explains why size isn't everything, why Russia's enormous military can't defeat Ukraine.

It's not over until it's over. And the Russians still have an advantage in terms of military capability. But does there comes a time when they run out of missiles or run out of tanks? They run out of soldiers?

HERTLING: Well, that, you know, that's probably going to take a while. Certainly, and there's a lot of -- a lot of individuals, a lot of analysts saying that, you know, the sanctions are already kicking in, it's causing them concerned with weapons systems and parts and supplies and logistics.

But John, I got to tell you having fought in conflicts where we thought the enemy was defeated, and on his back foot, suddenly they keep coming up with more and more ammunition, more and more capabilities.

So, I learned a long time ago in combat, you never, never underestimate the enemy.

VAUSE: And then, he suddenly (INAUDIBLE) address posted on social media. The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy clearly sees this war turning momentum right now with Ukrainian troops, here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[00:15:10]

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The armed forces of Ukraine are deterring this offensive, every day that our defenders take away from these offensive plans of Russia, disrupting them is a concrete contribution to the approach of the main day. The desire day that we are all looking forward to in fighting for it, victory day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Yes, victory day. I mean, we thought it's impossible, you know, just a couple of months ago. But if they are able to inflict these losses on Russia and force them out of Ukraine altogether, what does that mean for the future of Russia?

You know, if Putin has not given an off ramp here, there seems to be some serious consequences for Russia in the world.

HERTLING: Yes, Russia will certainly come out of this fight very different than when they went into it. The other people that are going to come out of it are all the Western leaders and organizations like the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, there is all -- all of those individuals, all of those collective bodies have to have a reckoning in terms of what's next.

This is a new world order, John, this is -- this is not just any more a fight between Ukraine and Russia, there are going to be implications on the world stage for this. And I would suggest that, well, I know for a fact that NATO is addressing those issues. The Biden administration is addressing the what's next. And whereas Mr. Zelenskyy, is, I think, basically trying to stoke the will of his people with some additional speeches that he's been so good at, over the last 89 days.

I don't think he's spiking the ball just yet. But he's certainly showing a different face. And we saw 89 days ago, when there was true concern about the survival of the Ukrainian people and nation.

VAUSE: A lot of questions and a lot of this will not be known for weeks, months or years to come. But thank you for your time, sir. Generally Hertling, good to see you.

HERTLING: Always a pleasure, John, thank you.

VAUSE: Still ahead, Election Day for five U.S. states and one battleground with new voting restrictions is actually seeing record turnout.

Also, another test that Trump endorsed one candidate for governor in Georgia, while his former Vice President endorsed another.

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[00:21:31]

VAUSE: Well, voters head to the polls Tuesday for party primaries and runoff elections in five U.S. States. Donald Trump is not on the ballot, but his influence looms large in these Republican races across the country.

Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is running for the party's nomination for governor in Arkansas. Like many other candidates, she's hoping to capitalize on her ties to the former president.

The Republican race for governor of Georgia will be the biggest test of Trump's influence so far. He endorsed former Senator David Perdue, who's looking to unseat the incumbent Brian Kemp. Former Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Kemp on Monday, Trump accuse his V.P. of parachuting into races in a desperate attempt at relevance. The latest polls show Kemp leading Perdue by about two to one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am here to support Brian Kemp in tomorrow's Republican primary.

I can honestly say I was for Brian Kemp before it was cool. When you say yes to Governor Brian Kemp tomorrow, you will send a deafening message all across America that the Republican Party is the party of the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And voting in Georgia is already breaking records, despite the new election security law which many Democrats predicted would suppress turnout.

Here's CNN Amara Walker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've never been so excited to stand in line. And this has me feeling really good and very optimistic that the numbers are in, people do care and we're putting our votes where it counts.

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Georgia primary voters are turning out early and record numbers.

TIA MITCHELL, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Georgia voters, you know, now they know that the nation looks at them as like a state to pay attention to. WALKER: During the three week early voting period that ended last Friday, more than 850,000 people cast a ballot in-person or by mail and the Georgia primaries, a 168 percent increase compared to the same time period of the 2018 primary. And that increase includes both Republicans and Democrats. It's good news says Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who's seeking reelection this year.

BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE: As you recall, when we passed the election Integrity Act of 2021, everyone said it was going to make it hard for people to vote. Well, the numbers prove them wrong, doesn't it?

WALKER: The turnout defying predictions for many Democrats and voting rights activist that Georgia's new voting law could lead to a drop off in voting.

President Biden and Stacey Abrams who's running unopposed in Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial primary, both likened the bill to Jim Crow last year.

STACEY ABRAMS (D), GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE OF GEORGIA: We have to remember that voter suppression isn't about stopping every voter. It's about blocking and impeding those voters who are considered inconvenient.

WALKER: The controversial election law signed by Governor Kemp in March 2021 imposes new voter I.D. requirements for absentee ballots, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and the hours they're available, restricts how voters can be provided food and water near a polling location. And it adds an additional Saturday of early voting while making it optional for counties to have two Sundays for early voting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This actually expands access.

WALKER: The Republican control Georgia legislature approved the voting law after Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win in Georgia in nearly three decades.

KERON BLAIR, CHIEF ORGANIZING AND FIELD OFFICER NEW GEORGIA PROJECT: We are clear that that was voter suppression. And I intended to intimidate voters.

They are like, whatever they try to do, it's not going to work. We are going to show up and show out.

WALKER: Keron Blair with the new Georgia project of voter registration group founded by Abrams says the new law may be mobilizing voters, but it's still creating obstacles.

[00:25:02]

BLAIR: When we're at the polls tomorrow, how do we hand out ponchos and not get arrested?

WALKER: Well, it's hard to measure the impact of Georgia's voting law, its clear enthusiasm for the Georgia primary remains high. MITCHELL: Yes, there was a lot of hyperbole on both sides about SB 202. The question is, will those tweaks impact voters in ways that could influence the outcome of a close race?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER (on camera): Election officials tell me overall they do expect to see record turnout for a primary. The last time they saw a record was during the 2018 Georgia primary where roughly 1.3 million people cast their ballots. That's according to the Secretary of State's office.

I've been speaking to voting activists and they tell me that they're working even harder this time around to get out the vote because they're concerned about this new voting law. In fact, the new Georgia project says that they're aiming to get 50,000 voters registered by fall.

Amara Walker, CNN, Atlanta.

VAUSE: You can follow all the key races right here on CNN, we're expecting first results Tuesday 7:00 p.m., that's East Coast time here in the U.S. That's 7:00 a.m. in Hong Kong.

Quad leaders are set for a one-on-one meetings any moment now. That includes President Biden and the Indian Prime Minister Modi. They do not see eye-to-eye on Russia.

Coming up, we will head back to Tokyo for a live report.

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VAUSE: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm John Vause. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

[00:30:47]

Yoon Suk-yeol's political career is now off to an incredible start. The new president of South Korea is a foreign policy novice, but he's already been on the world stage after a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden. And just two weeks into the job, he's now tackling the relationship with North Korea head-on. He says the age of appeasing Pyongyang is now over.

He does suggest, however, there is still room to find common ground. President Yoon spoke exclusively with CNN's Paula Hancocks in his first interview since his inauguration.

Paula joins us now, live from Seoul. Quite a couple of weeks for the new president.

PAUL HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, yes. A bit of a baptism of fire, really. Two weeks in, he's already met the U.S. president. And now, President Yoon Suk-yeol is trying to stamp his mark on North Korea. Now, he has said what appears to really be a dual-track approach for North Korea. He believes that the previous administration's approach has failed. He said many called it, quote, "servile diplomacy."

He said that if there is a nuclear test, we understand from the joint chiefs of staff here that preparations for a missile or seventh underground nuclear test have now been completed by North Korea.

He says, if there is a seventh nuclear test, then the response, a coordinated response by U.S. and South Korea, will be stronger and firmer than it has been before.

He also says if Kim Jong-un wants to talk, it's up to him to initiate it. But he does not want North Korea to collapse. he wants North Korea to prosper alongside South Korea.

Now, I also asked him about COVID, as North Korea, just over 10 days ago, admitted that they have their first Omicron COVID outbreak. They say close to three million people believed to have fever at this time. They don't have the testing capability to know for sure that it is COVID-19. They say 68 deaths, but experts believe that the death toll is probably far higher. This is what North Korea is telling us.

But I asked President Yoon Suk-Yeol about his offer to North Korea to provide vaccines, masks, testing kits, pointing out that Kim Jong-un would find it very difficult to accept, publicly, an offer from South Korea and U.S., two countries it considers enemies. And I asked him how he can get around that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOON SUK-YEOL, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): If North Korea accepts these medical supplies to quickly distribute them to its people, we will provide them in any method North Korea wishes. It could be through a third country or an international organization. We are fully prepared.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: North Korea, through state-run media, also saying they believe that the outbreak is being brought under control. But of course, John, as we know, a week or ten days after the first outbreak, in a largely, if not completely unvaccinated population, it's unlikely to be under control.

We've also seen a number of elites dying and having funerals. There was one just a couple of days ago that Kim Jong-un himself was at. He was a pallbearer, and he was not wearing a mask -- John.

VAUSE: Right. OK, well, what can you say. Paula, thank you. Paula Hancocks, live for us in Seoul. We appreciate that.

With that, we'll take a short break here. You're watching CNN. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:37:51]

VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody.

A suspected killer is on the run as authorities in Texas investigate a possible love-triangle murder. Kaitlin Armstrong, seen here on the left, is believed to have shot and killed star cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson, who alleged dated Armstrong's boyfriend, 35-year-old pro cyclist Colin Strickland.

We get more details now from CNN's Ed Lavandera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A manhunt is underway for 34-year-old Kaitlin Murray Armstrong in the suspected murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is snaking through, into the finish. This is Moriah Wilson.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Wilson, known as Mo, was considered one of the best gravel-racing cyclists in the world. Police suspect she was killed in a love triangle gone wrong after Armstrong learned Wilson had been spending time with her boyfriend, fellow cyclist Colin Strickland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The champ is in the house! Yes! Here's Moriah Wilson.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): On May 11, Wilson was in Austin, Texas, preparing for an upcoming race. Austin police say that night, 25-year- old Wilson was found murdered in the bathroom of a friend's home. She was shot multiple times.

According to a police affidavit, on the day Wilson was murdered, she went to a public swimming pool and had dinner with fellow cyclist Colin Strickland. The two had a brief romantic relationship in the fall of 2021 while Strickland was on a break from his relationship with Armstrong, whom he had dated for about three years.

Austin police say surveillance video shows Armstrong's car pulling up next to the house where Wilson was staying around the time she was murdered. And that a gun discovered in the house where Armstrong lived with Strickland is the likely murder weapon.

The police affidavit also states that authorities have learned that Armstrong was furious and shaking in anger when she learned of Strickland's romantic relationship with Wilson in January.

The day after the murder, Kaitlin Armstrong was interviewed by investigators and presented with the evidence. The police affidavit described Armstrong was very still and guarded as investigators detailed what they had discovered.

She then requested to leave. [00:40:04]

A week later, U.S. Marshals announced they were assisting in a search for Armstrong. But the 34-year-old woman has disappeared since her interview through police.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Happy birthday, champion.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Just weeks before her murder, Mo Wilson was celebrating with friends after winning the Belgian Waffle Ride in California.

These are the last images of her competing in a sport she dominated. Wilson is described as a role model, yet shy and compassionate. An athlete who developed an intense passion for cycling while growing up on the bike trails of Vermont.

LAVANDERA: In a statement to the "Austin American-Statesman" newspaper, Colin Strickland says he cannot adequately express his regret and torture that he feels for his proximity to the murder of Mo Wilson.

Wilson's family says they are not commenting on the details of the investigation, only to say that, at the time of her murder, they do not believe she was involved in a romantic relationship with anybody.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: So if you're watching here in the United States, CNN NEWSROOM will be back in just a moment. For our international viewers, WORLD SPORT is next. Hope to see you right back here in about 15 minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:45:33]

VAUSE: Welcome back. The latest now from Tokyo and the Quad summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, leaders from Japan, Australia, and India meeting for their second in-person gathering this year.

Soon, they're scheduled to hold individual, one-on-one meetings in the next few hours. Countering China's influence was meant to be the main focus, but now add Joe Biden's recent comments on Taiwan.

There's also some tension here between the U.S. president and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. Despite good relations with the U.S., New Delhi has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, India has strong military ties with Russia.

Well, tens of thousands of migrants are still waiting to enter the U.S. from the Mexican border, despite a judge's ruling which keeps Title 42 in place.

The COVID-related rule allows border agents to turn migrants away from the U.S. CNN's Matt Rivers has met with some asylum seekers on the Mexican side of the border. He has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) Are you nervous that the authorities are not going to allow you to enter the country?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Yes. Very much so. More than the nurse (ph), it's the uncertainty of not knowing how long we will have to be here, especially for the baby. He's only a year and a half old. So, yes, it's difficult.

RIVERS: Thank you so much for your time. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OK. So, his story there, very similar to other stories that we have heard in this shelter. This shelter is called the "buon pastore (ph)," the Good Shepherd Shelter, and it is completely full at the moment.

The majority of migrants here right now are actually Haitian, but as you just heard from our interview there, he is Venezuelan. There's people from Honduras here, and this shelter, which can hold 80 people, is now completely full.

We can show you some of the -- I want to enter into one of the dormitories here. And just bear with us, because it is a little dark, as we transition from sunlight to darkness here. There's no lights in here.

But you can see just how completely full this dormitory is. It is just bunk bed next to bunk bed next to bunk bed. There are dozens of people that are living in this facility, most of whom are spread out through the facility. They've asked us to respect people's privacy here, so that's why you're seeing empty beds. But there are people who are sharing bunk beds here.

Now, remember, Ciudad Juarez is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico, and as a result, people that come into the shelter can't actually leave unless they have a good reason to do so.

One of those legitimate reasons would have been to apply for asylum at the border. And many people were hoping here that, with the expiration of Title 42, that they could have gone to the border to do that more easily.

Of course, that didn't happen, with the federal judge in Louisiana continuing to allow that policy to be in place. And that's been very disappointing for people here, many of which, many of whom would have gone to the border to try and apply for asylum.

And we spoke to the director of this facility earlier today, who told us that things can't continue like this. He's building another facility just across the street that he says can house more than double of what he can hold right now.

And yet, when that is finished in two months' time, he says he already knows that there won't be enough people -- enough room, rather, to handle all of the people that he says are still going to be in this area.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: That was Matt Rivers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. One other note here: The U.S. Justice Department trying to appeal the federal judge's decision blocking the Biden administration from lifting Title 42.

At least five people were killed when a ten-story building collapsed in Iran's southwest. Twenty-seven were injured, while 80 others left trapped under the rubble, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

State media says the owner of the building, as well as the construction contractor, have both been arrested. The cause of the collapse remains unknown. It's under investigation.

The Red Crescent warned nearby buildings were also unstable.

Health officials are tracking the spread of monkeypox around the world. The virus, typically found in West and Central Africa, now suspected of reaching the U.S.

A CNN tally confirmed cases in at least 15 countries. U.K. and Portugal additional infections on Monday, while Denmark confirmed its first case.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in the process of releasing vaccines from a national stockpile for high-risk people. The virus is not as contagious as COVID-19. Anyone can get it or spread it, but the CDC warns some groups have a greater chance of exposure during this outbreak, particularly the LGBTQ+ community.

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MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, WHO HEALTH EMERGENCIES PROGRAMME: What we are seeing are cases being detected in the communities of men having sex with men, who identify as having sex with men. But as surveillance expands, we expect that more cases will be seen.

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VAUSE: The CDC says monkeypox is a rare but dangerous infection, similar to smallpox. Symptoms may include flu-like illness, swelling of the lymph nodes, an unusual rash on the body.

The virus can spread through contact with body fluids, sores or through contaminated clothing and bedding.

Vaccine makers Pfizer and BioNTech are now sharing new data on their COVID-19 vaccine. Preliminary results from drug trials show three doses of the shot appear safe and promote strong immune response in children from the age of 6 months to 5 years.

So far, children younger than 5 are not yet eligible for COVID vaccines in the U.S. Pfizer's chairman and CEO says heh hops to make the shots available to younger children as soon as possible with authorization.

Pfizer says they'll submit the finished data to the FDA this week.

Week six of the defamation lawsuit between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard kicked off on Monday. Here we go.

Amid the proceedings, came news that model Kate Moss will likely testify on behalf of Depp. That's according to sources close to the actor.

The pair dated during the 1990s and reportedly are still close.

CNN's Jean Casarez breaks down the trial's events on Monday.

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JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Monday, there was a lot of expert testimony in regard to money damages in the Depp case. On the side of Amber Heard, there is an expert witness that testified that the op-ed that Amber Heard had published in "The Washington Post," that it did not ruin Johnny Depp's career, that he ruined it himself.

But there have been witnesses for Depp that have said that three days after that op-ed came out, where Amber Heard said, "I am a public figure, and I am the face of domestic abuse," that Disney sent a communication saying that final decision, they would not be using Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean 6."

Now, in other testimony, because this is a defamation case, credibility is so important. And credibility of Amber Heard is really at stake here.

In Australia in 2015, when Depp was making "Pirates of the Caribbean 5," he testified about his finger being severed, the tip of it. He said that Amber Heard had thrown vodka bottles at him, and that one of them landed on the edge of the bar. It broke, and that they severed his finger.

Well, Heard's team put on an orthopedic surgeon who actually looked at the X-rays. he said that version, it just can't be so. Take a listen.

DR. RICHARD MOORE, EXPERT WITNESS CALLED BY HEARD'S LEGAL TEAM: It's not consistent with what we see in the described injury pattern or in the clinical photographs.

And there are -- there are several elements. There's -- you know, the description was of the hand being flat on the bar and the -- and the bottle crushing the finger from the top. But looking at the images, there's really no significant injury to the dorsal of the finger. And to create the type of injury with that -- with that type of a crush injury, we would anticipate both injury to the fingernail and other parts of the finger.

CASAREZ: Amber Heard testified herself that she doesn't know how the finger was severed, but that there was a phone on the wall and that Johnny Depp actually forcibly got it out of the wall. And somehow, she believes that's how he severed his finger.

But we haven't seen any pictures of any phone or any hole in any wall. And once again, this is all about the credibility.

So, Heard is still in her case in chief. She has not rested. On Tuesday morning here in the United States, the question will be will she rest? And it goes then into the rebuttal case. Or will she keep going?

And the pivotal question is will Johnny Depp get back on the stand, and if so, who will call him?

Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Smiles on Wall Street as the Dow soared on Monday, looking to bounce back from a seven-day losing streak, a losing streak not seen in almost a century.

Strong earnings from JPMorgan Chase and other banks drove the rally, along with comments from President Joe Biden about maybe lifting some of the tariffs on Chinese imports.

The Dow is up nearly 622 -- 620 points, a gain of almost 2 percent. The NASDAQ and S&P 500 also surged.

Let's take a look at the futures right now. There they are. Maybe that rally could be short-lived. We'll see what happens in the coming hours.

Starbucks is the latest major company pulling out of Russia. The coffee chain has been operating there for 15 years, with 130 licensed cafes.

Starbucks says its nearly 2,000 workers will get six months' pay and help finding new jobs.

A group of central bankers and regulators at the World Economic Forum in Davos say crypto currency are not real currencies.

A panel of experts spoke to CNN's Julia Chatterley in Switzerland on Monday. The managing director of the International Monetary Fund says some crypto currencies are actually more like pyramid schemes, because they're not backed by anything real, like assets and stuff.

[00:55:07]

She did back the development of digital currencies, though.

The French central bank governor says crypto is unreliable. The bank of Thailand says its country is experiencing with crypto but doesn't want to see it as a means of payment.

I still don't understand cryptocurrencies. If anyone wants to explain it to me, please do. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. I'll be back with a lot more news after a very short break. See you soon.

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