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Prime Minister Boris Johnson Just Want to Move On; Shelling in Severodonetsk Not Slowing Down; Ukrainian Forces Will Fight Until The End; Bodies Being Identified in Kyiv; War of Words at the U.N. Security Council Meeting; U.S. Seeing Worse Summer of Mass Shootings; Summit of the Americas Invited and Uninvited Guests; Gaokao Exam Postponed in Shanghai; U.S. Warns North Korea; Rafael Nadal Shows Humility. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired June 07, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Paula Newton.

Just ahead here on CNN Newsroom, Boris Johnson is eager to move on after a vote of confidence in his favor but the U.K.'s fate and its prime minister is far from restored.

As Russia intensifies attacks in eastern Ukraine pushing to conquer territory street by street, Ukraine's president vows his country's troop will not cede.

And day two of the Summit of the Americas begins today but the region is focused on the three guest not invited, and the 4th is refusing to attend. The reactions to U.S. President Joe Biden's selective guest lists.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is vowing to move on with governing after surviving a closer than expected challenge to his leadership from his own conservative party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM BRADY, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE M.P.: The vote in favor of having confidence in Boris Johnson is 211 votes, and the vote against was 148 votes. And therefore, I can announce that the parliamentary party does have confidence.

CROWD: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now the vote was brought by lawmakers angry that Mr. Johnson attended, and even hosted numerous parties while the rest of the U.K. was under strict COVID lockdowns. Analysts say his reputation is clearly damaged, and his legislative agenda may be in danger, but the prime minister praised the outcome of the confidence vote, and thank his colleagues for their support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: A very good result for politics, and for the country, I just I do, I -- convincing result, indecisive result, and what it means is that as a government we can move on, and focus on the stuff that I think really matters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Let's go straight to CNN's Nina dos Santos, she is live at 10 Downing Street in London. Nina, good to see you. Behind that door, they are probably just getting over the drama of the last few hours, but I have to ask you what now? I mean, yes, the prime minister one, but it certainly doesn't feel like it, does it?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he managed to hold on to his premiership, but the big question over the next few days and weeks is whether or not he is holding on to power. The first thing on the agenda today is cabinet meeting that is set to take place in about an hour and a half from now, Paula,

And ahead of that, the prime minister is already been busy issuing statements saying that it's going to be an opportunity to remind his cabinet ministers around the table that is important now to draw a line under the sand over this issue of leadership and to focus on the legislative agenda at hand.

And that involves tackling the cost-of-living crisis, reinforcing the National Health System that has been so badly battered and bruised after the pandemic, as well as the long-standing efforts to try and beef up the police forces, and the leveling up agenda to try and spread the economic wealth across this country.

But these are ambitious proposals that have been on the cards for sometimes, and it's going to be very difficult, analysts say, to try and deliver on all of these 38 laws and bills that are going to be announced over this next parliamentary session if you've lost the support of 41 percent of your elected members of parliament, as per that vote of no confidence yesterday evening.

To put this into perspective, this is the worst performance by a sitting conservative prime minister in office since all the way back to the 1980s, even Margaret Thatcher scraped a little bit more in terms of a majority of support through on her no confidence vote in the 1990s, and just two days later she has lost the support of her cabinet and her to resign.

Theresa May managed to cobble together more support in her no confidence vote back in 2019, despite all of the furor surrounding her handling of Brexit, and she had to resign six months later. So, the question here is whether or not Boris Johnson will end up being a lame duck prime minister, and be beset by these question marks over his handling of party gate and also ethics in general.

That is something that as you can imagine, the Labour Party leader is focusing in on and pushing very, very hard at the narrative. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, LEADER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY: The British public are fed up, fed up with a prime minister who promised as big, but never delivers. Fed up with a prime minister who's presided over a culture of lies, and lawbreaking at the heart of government.

[03:05:05]

Fed up with a prime minister who is utterly unfit for the great office that he holds. Conservative M.P.s made their choices tonight. They have ignored the British public.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: And you can expect a fair amount of ruling as some of those conservative M.P.s by the Labour Party on certain issues, as I was saying before that toxic one of ethics. And that is likely to overshadow the next two or three weeks as we head into two crucial by- elections that are going to be seen as a litmus test for Boris Johnson's leadership.

Polls currently predict that Boris Johnson is likely to lose these two keys that are coming up for a challenge and that Labour might win them, one of them in the south of England and one of them in the north. And if that happens despite the fact that in theory according to conservative party rules Boris Johnson can't be challenged for another year, there is already noises being made about changing those rules later on in the year. Paula?

NEWTON: Yes, and it's barely been 12 hours since we had the results of this vote, Nina. Nina, thank you so much for putting that in perspective for us. I appreciate it.

Quentin Peel, an associate fellow in the Europe Programme at Chatham House and a commentator for The Financial Times, and he joins me now from London. Good to see you again. It's been a moment. In fact, the last time you and I discuss British politics when we were discussing Brexit.

So, but I feel like I know you well enough. I'll just put you on the spot first thing in the morning. Will the prime minister be forced to resign before the year is up?

QUENTIN PEEL, ASSOCIATE FELLOW, EUROPE PROGRAMME AT CHATHAM HOUSE: Yes, I think he will, I really can't see how he will survive. Having said which, this is a man who does not throw in the towel easily. He's going to fight for all his worth. But I think it's too late because he has lost the trust of a very significant portion of his own party. And they are reflecting the fact that he has become not a vote winner in the country. But what they see as a vote loser. And that's his problem. He's really lost his mojo.

NEWTON: Yes, mojo lost his mojo. I know we've already had that headline. And yet, we keep going around in circles with this personality. You and I both know, never to count Boris Johnson out. What I want to hear from you though, because I know you have your ear to the ground on these things.

What motivated -- we know what motivated the rebellion was the backbenchers, that's fine. But what convinced some of those senior M.P.s to back Boris Johnson? Because everything you laid out would tell us that it was time to ditch him?

PEEL: Well, I think they don't have a clear alternative. That's their worry. There is nobody in the wings. This was not a coup with somebody standing there already to take over. This was, if you like, a spontaneous coup d'etat from the left and from the right because he has lost the trust.

And the conservative party above all else wants to be the party of power. It wants to win, and that's why they elected Boris Johnson. Because they thought he would win for them. He did win for them. But he's not proved to be a strong leader. He's proved to be all over the place. Even his campaign to survive now was really disorganized. And that's why he looks very foolish.

NEWTON: You know, you make such a good point, that they want to win. That's one of the reasons perhaps why they were so ruthless about Theresa May. She was forced to resign a few months after her so-called vote of confidence.

But if you had to pin it on something, what are they waiting for? Are they really waiting for the next person, the next leader of the conservative party? Are they waiting for the British public to tell them more forcefully that this prime minister must go? It seems to me that if it was going to happen it would have happened yesterday.

PEEL: Well, the truth is this is a party that is still deeply divided. And I hate to say it but the dreaded subject of Brexit is still hanging over them. That split the party. And it hasn't recovered. And they don't know how to get their act together. So, there is a left wing and a right wing going in opposite directions.

The one thing you could say for Boris Johnson was that actually he was a bit of a centrist who played to the right wing. But now they need to find somebody else who can hold the party together because he clearly doesn't.

NEWTON: Now Quentin, I don't have to remind you what Britain is up against in the months, and unfortunately possibly years to come especially given the financial situation. Do you worry that this kind of political drama really will hurt Britain at a time where it can really not afford it?

PEEL: Yes, I think that's very true. I think one very important issue it must be clear that it won't make much difference. On Ukraine, there is very broad support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

[03:10:02]

And that won't change, whether it's a new leader of the conservative party or indeed, a general election and the Labour Party comes in. Having said that, there is a huge economic challenge out there. And you need stable government and a clear sightedness. But the conservative party is at war with itself. And it's very difficult to see how they can provide that leadership at the moment.

NEWTON: Yes. And you have to feel for, you know, people in Britain going into what will be a very tough winter. When you're looking your energy bills and not having, as you said, that clear focus from the party. And instead have the ruling party in turmoil.

Quentin Peel, as always, thank you so much. i appreciate it.

PEEL: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now in a grinding battle for eastern Ukraine. Russian forces appear to be stepping up attack -- attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Heavy smoke could be seen rising from the city of Donetsk on Monday. The area is currently controlled by Russian-backed separatists who blame Ukraine for a missile strike on that city in fact.

But Ukraine says it's Russian airstrikes hammering most of the towns and villages across the east. This is the town of Druzhkivka where officials say one person was killed in an attack Sunday. Meantime, the town is west of Severodonetsk. And that's a city that remains a major target for Russia's offensive in the east. Fierce fighting has raged there for weeks, leaving thousands of civilians trapped inside and a leveling homes and businesses across the city.

Now despite being outgunned, outmanned, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian troops are going to fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Our heroes do not give up positions in Severodonetsk. In the city fierce street fighting continues. But it is the 103rd day of the war, and the Ukrainian Donbas stands, it stands strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is live for us in Kyiv, and good to see you. We just heard from President Zelenskyy there and he maintains his forces are standing strong, in his words. But yet, this is fierce fighting. And Zelenskyy in fact has been quite candid about the losses that Ukraine is taking day-by-day.

I mean, I know that there is some information at the U.K. intelligence that perhaps Russia is losing momentum. But when we've seen this happen before this actually tends to increase the risk of casualties, not just to the military but to civilians.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Paula. As Russian forces of course become more desperate they turn to increasingly more desperate tar -- tactics, rather. That's why Ukrainian forces say that Russian troops are using scorched earth tactics in Severodonetsk. They say they are devoting, the Russians are devoting an incredible amount of resources troops, equipment, to bombing the main access route into Severodonetsk.

Look, the situation there is changing hour by hour according to Ukrainian troops. Last week we heard that Russia was largely in control of that city. Just yesterday Ukrainians claiming that they were able to push them back. But again, these are fierce street to street battles that continue to change the situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, there's 15,000 civilians, and estimated 15,000 still trapped in that city, Ukrainian police trying to pull them out. But again, that access road that main route into the city that provides supplies to the troops inside that tries to pull civilians out of it. It is being bombed, being heavily shelled.

Severodonetsk itself is over 90 percent destroyed. So, these troops are fighting over a sort of wasteland, if you will. So why is it so important? Why is that the city we are speaking about right now? Because consider it the gateway to Kramatorsk. And that is of course, Ukraine's last stronghold in the Luhansk region. A major gain, if Russia is able to step into Kramatorsk if it is able to make against there, if it's able to take Severodonetsk. That is a major step towards President Putin's goal of trying to control the Donbas region.

Now what could change what's happening on the ground, Paula, because this is a kinetic stalemate, if you will. What Ukrainian troops want to see, what President Zelenskyy wants to see is those long-range missiles that have been promised by the United States, and the U.K. Those are on route, they could allow Ukrainian forces to strike up to 80 kilometers away. Hit Russian artillery positions. But it could take weeks for these long-range weapons to arrive. Weeks before troops on the ground are trained.

So, in the meanwhile, you are going to see this grinding stalemate, this back and forth on the ground. And both sides of course, resources being drained, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, thanks for laying it all out for us. It is an incredibly desperate situation on the streets of Severodonetsk to be sure. Salma Abdelaziz for us in Kyiv, thank you.

For more now, we want to bring in CNN's Clare Sebastian. She is live in a London. And Clare, you are following quite closely what's at stake outside of Ukraine now. And that's the fact that this is really tipping into a world food crisis.

[03:15:01]

Has there been any progress on these negotiations between not just Ukraine and Russia but really, a lot of different world bodies trying to get involved?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula. Despite the growing urgency of the situation, particularly when it comes to food supplies to developing countries like Africa. Despite that, there doesn't seem to be a lot of goodwill towards any kind of agreement here. We have the rhetoric stepping up over the past few days. President Putin over the weekend accusing the west of creating this

food crisis. And then on Monday, the likes of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying there were credible reports that Russia was, quote, "pilfering grain from Ukraine and selling it for profit."

We then get a situation at the United Nations where E.U. Council president Charles Michel also very strong language accused the Kremlin of using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries. And then you got this moment, take a look, Paula.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MICHEL, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COUNCIL: Let's get to the facts, the E.U. has no sanctions on the agricultural sector in Russia, zero. And even our sanctions on the Russian transport sector do not go beyond our E.U. borders. You may leave the room, maybe it's easier not to listen to the truth, the ambassador.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So, Vasily Nebenzya who is the Russian ambassador to the United Nations walked out of that U.N. Security Council meeting in protest over those comments. We later got a tweet from the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy, he said we came to listen to the truth, he said, but the E.U. clearly doesn't need it. He accused them of cheeky lies and unsubstantiated claims and goes on to say that it's painful to see such low professional standards and lack of manners from key E.U. functionaries.

But efforts to continue to break this deadlock, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister is expected to visit Turkey on Wednesday. Turkey expected to perhaps play a role in brokering some kind of deal to unlock those Black Sea ports and get the Ukrainian grain back on the global markets. Paula?

NEWTON: Yes, that is crucial, and at least they are talking. And Clare, before I let you go, a new Russian countersanction, apparently, on U.S. officials?

SEBASTIAN: Yes, Russia has named 61 U.S. officials, pretty high- ranking including Janet Yellen, the U.S. treasury secretary, Katherine Tai, the trade representative, heads of airlines, ratings agencies, media companies, things like that, they are on a so-called top list now.

Add that to the 963 people that were named in May as being on this top list. It's largely symbolic. This is a ban from entry to Russia, which is clearly not going to have a huge impact on the lives of these people. But it is in response to what Russia calls the ever-expanding sanctions from the U.S. they are continuing to make an effort to sort of make their response felt there, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. And it certainly goes a long way in their own efforts obviously to encourage their own population about the war and the pace of the war and those counter sanctions. Clare Sebastian for us in London. Good to see you.

Now Ukrainian soldiers and citizens have stepped up to defend their country with the identity of many killed in combat unfortunately remains unknown.

CNN's Ben Wedeman was allowed exclusive access to the central morgue now in Kyiv where crews are working tirelessly to identify the fallen, and trying to give those families some closure. This report contains images some viewers may find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And so, begins on a sunny summer morning, the grimmest of tasks. Workers at Kyiv central morgue examine the contents of 160 dirty, putrid body bags. Containing the badly decomposed remains of soldiers killed during the two-month siege of the port city of Mariupol, and in the city's sprawling Azovstal steel plant where Ukrainian forces made their last stand.

Ukraine and Russia have conducted an exchange of bodies as part of the agreement that ended the siege. Forensic examiner Liliya Filipchuk (Ph) has been on the job for three years. Since the war began, she has had little rest.

We also examined the bodies from Bucha and Irpin, she says, referring to Kyiv suburbs where retreating Russian forces are accused of committing atrocities against civilians. Elaina Tolkachiva (Ph) is also helping. She's affiliated with the Azov brigade, which fought in Mariupol. The brigade is a nationalist militia that was integrated into Ukraine's armed forces.

"The morgue is already full of bodies from Kyiv from Bucha, from Irpin," she says, "so we have to put them in a refrigerator truck."

[03:19:56]

More workers searched the ripped and ragged clothing for documents and tag and bag personal items. This is just the start of a long process. Some of these bodies have no identification, so their DNA will have to be sampled, it may take a month maybe more to find out who they were.

And only then will their loved ones know their fate. For now, again, for the living and the dead will have to wait.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now America's gun violence epidemic is getting worse by the day. We will take a look at the alarming weekend bloodshed, and how the bipartisan gun control talks from Congress are faring.

Plus, the White House says it doesn't want dictators at the summit of Americas meeting the leaders of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela are not invited. The reaction to that decision ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: So, after another weekend of bloodshed, the U.S. is now on track for the worst year of mass shootings on record. According to a CNN tally, at least 17 people have been killed, more than 70 wounded in the last -- I'm sorry, in at least 13 mass shootings, and that's only since Friday. The Gun Violence Archive says more than 1,300 people have been shot this year as of Sunday, that includes more than 270 killed.

CNN's Brian Todd has the latest on this American epidemic now, he is in Philadelphia.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A physical altercation escalated into a shootout Saturday, according to police with bullets flying into the crowd in an entertainment district when police responded.

UNKNOWN: They observed several civilians suffering from gunshot wounds, lying on the sidewalk, and in the street.

TODD: Police believe there were at least three gunmen, and at least four guns were used. Fourteen shot, three killed, one a suspected gunman. In rural South Carolina at a graduation lawn party with 150 guests, police say at least 60 or 70 shots were fired from two cars. Eight people were shot, one of them killed.

MINDY KIND, DAUGHTER KILLED AT DRADUATION DAY: I lift my daughter on the ground. She was out. She had already stopped breathing.

TODD: In Chattanooga, Tennessee at a nightclub shooting, three people were killed, and at least 14 injured, two from gunshots, one struck by a fleeing vehicle.

TIM KELLY, MAYOR, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE: It's going to be a long summer, and we have got to be out in front of it and put us out to it.

TODD: Additional shootings across the country across this weekend, from a Michigan suburb, to a graduation party in Virginia, to a party at a strip mall in Phoenix.

UNKNOWN: A group of people that just started running like every different direction, and I, myself was hiding behind cars because the shots kept getting closer and closer.

TODD: Philadelphia's top prosecutor focusing on guns.

[03:24:55]

LARRY KRASNER, PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We have 120 guns for every 100 Americans, that includes children. And so, we find ourselves in situations where people who are simply having a fistfight can turn a street and a busy entertainment section of town into mayhem. It is disastrous.

(END VIDEO CLIP) TODD: New York's governor signed bills including a ban on body armor sales, and raising the age to purchase a semiautomatic rifle from 18 to 21.

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): When do we become a nation that reveres the right to have the ability to possess the gun over the right of a child to stay alive. When did that happen?

TODD: But in Washington, far less agreement on what to do. The mood in Philadelphia and elsewhere --

UNKNOWN: I don't want to feel like I can't get home from work safe.

TODD: Officials in Philadelphia tell us that businesses along the street have stepped up and given police reams of surveillance footage, so police are still combing through that for more information regarding Saturday's shooting.

For an idea of just how chaotic that was, the D.A.'s office tells us that the two men whose confrontation started the entire thing on Saturday night fired a total of 17 shots at each other.

Brian Todd, CNN, Philadelphia.

NEWTON: Mexico's president says he will boycott the Summit of the Americas this week, which is considered a snub to the host of the event, that is the United States. He is upset Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua were excluded from the summit. But the White House says, quote, "we don't believe dictator should be invited."

CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports now from the Cuban capital.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even before the Summit of the Americas got underway this week, in Los Angeles there was controversy brewing over the guest list. As the United States is the host for this summit, the Biden administration gets to decide who is invited. And fairly early on officials indicated that Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela because of concerns over their human rights track records would not be getting invites sent to them.

That did not sit well with Mexico's President, Andres Manual Lopez Obrador who said that if those countries were not invited, that he perhaps would not attend. There was some back and forth behind the scenes for several days where the Biden administration and AMLO as he's known in his administration -- tried to work out a compromise. But apparently, those negotiations failed as on Monday the Biden administration finally confirmed that Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela would not be getting invites.

The Mexican president said that he himself would be boycotting the summit, but he would send instead a delegation of high-ranking Mexican officials. And then in July he would visit the White House and meet one-on-one with President Biden.

Cuba blasted their exclusion saying that it was undemocratic. The U.S. said that there would be Cuban representation in the form of opposition activists, who they said they would invite to the summit. But some of those activists over the weekend said that they were not being allowed to leave the island by the Cuban government.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

NEWTON: Now as day two of the Summit of the Americas gets underway, we are in fact hearing mixed reactions to the White House decision. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSCAR LOPEZ, PANAMERICAN & CARIBBEAN UNION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (through translator): There is a violation of human rights by these regimes, and this is a democratic form, and they have violated -- well, in fact, the Venezuelan regime has an open case in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Evidently, the U.N. and the organization of American states are organizations of democratic participation of respect for human rights and liberties.

ANAKERAN INIESTRA, INTERNATIONAL ANALYST (through translator): I think that in the end, we see the exclusion of certain countries has been useless. That it's important for everyone to sit at a table for them to be listened to, for them to be confronted, to be able to reach a common dialogue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: The Dominican Republic's environment minister Orlando Jorge Mera was shot and killed in his office Monday. Mera was the son of former president Salvador Jorge Blanco. Ministry of environment employees reported hearing at least seven shots from within the building, the suspected shooter has been arrested and we are learning it's someone that Mera actually knew well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOMERO VEGA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN (through translator): The minister of the environment has died after being attacked in his office with a firearm. Miguel Cruz, the person identified as the shooter was a personal friend of the minister. He's being held in custody by the national police and the public ministry. The motives for the crime are under investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Still to come for us, how students in Shanghai are being impacted by China's astringent COVID measures. We will have a live report just ahead.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: Shanghai's COVID surge is forcing tens of thousands of students to delay taking China's national college entrance exam. Now the test originally scheduled for this month has been pushed back to July. It is yet another impact on China's zero COVID policy on residents.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joins me now from Hong Kong. I mean, you really have to know anything about this exam to really understand the anxiety that students and parents --

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

NEWTON: -- must be going through right now, right? I mean, it is a big deal, right, and it shows how Shanghai is still feeling the effects of COVID.

LU STOUT: Yes, this, the gaokao exam is such a big deal and, but, you know, 50,000 students in the financial capital of China will not be taking part in this nationwide college entrance exam that's taking place today. Instead, they will have their opportunity to take this punishing exam about a month from now.

Look, this exam is such a big deal, it can change your life in China. And as students across the nation sit down to take this exam, I mean, this is a nine-hour ordeal, it spans two days, you need a top score in order to get into a top university in China.

And quite unlike the SAT in the United States, you only get one chance. You cannot retake this exam. But again, students in Shanghai will be able to have their turn at it from July the 7th to July the 9th.

Look, from Wednesday last week Shanghai's been gradually emerging from that punishing and paralyzing two-month lockdown, most of the residents in the city have been able to leave the residential compounds to go out and about. In fact, on Monday, just yesterday, the older high school students in Shanghai were able to resume in-person learning and classes, which is essential for them to get up to speed and to get ready for their turn at the gaokao exam. Again, one month from now.

But, you know, hundreds of thousands of residents still have to take part in these mandatory COVID tests as city officials hunt down every trace of the virus. So much so that we've learned that on Monday, three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed and detected in a community level. As a result, three neighborhoods were put under lockdown for two weeks. So, life is still far from normal in Shanghai. Back to you.

NEWTON: Yes, and as you say, Kristie, the minute that they see any sign of a positive test and those neighborhoods go right into lockdown.

LU STOUT: Yes.

NEWTON: Kristie Lu Stout live for us in Hong Kong, I appreciate it.

LU STOUT: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now the U.S. has a strong warning for North Korea, it's vowing a swift and forceful response if Pyongyang conducts nuclear tests. U.S. deputy secretary of state is calling on North Korea to return to the negotiating table and not take provocative actions. This comes after reports from a nuclear oversight group that North Korea could be preparing to resume nuclear testing.

[03:34:57]

Last weekend, Pyongyang launched eight short range ballistic missiles. South Korea and the U.S. Responded by launching eight surface-to- surface missiles a day later.

OK, fresh of another French Open win, tennis superstar Rafael Nadal weighs in on whether he is the greatest of all time. He has the GOAT. What he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, our own GOAT of course. You'll want to see this interview.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: He is fresh off the court and went right to be interviewed by Christian Amanpour. Tennis great Rafael Nadal says he is proud of his record 22 Grand Slam victories, but he considers himself a normal guy. Nadal, of course spoke to our own international -- chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour in Paris on Monday, and listen to the interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: There is the cup, I mean, there we have it, the great trophy, 14 times, 22 grand slams, a whole load of other, you know, oh U.S. Open, Australia Open, two Olympic gold medals. Are you ready to declare or at least have people say that you are now the greatest of all time? You wouldn't agree when I asked you last time.

RAFAEL NADAL, 2022 FRENCH OPEN WINNER: I honestly don't think much about that. And from the bottom of my heart, I really don't care that much. You know, I mean, I think it doesn't matter, you know. I think we achieved our dreams, I achieved my dream, and I enjoy what I'm doing.

Yes, I understand the question and I know the press and people are always caring a lot about this stuff, but in some way, I know I am in an important part of the history of the sport. And that makes me feel proud, happy, and in the end it doesn't matter much.

AMANPOUR: When you came off the court yesterday, in your on-court speech you said I never thought that at 36 years old, and with all these injuries, that I would be in this position. And we see your fingers bandaged like Muhammad Ali after he takes off his boxing gloves, we see your feet and you're limping today, it is an amazing achievement because you yourself said and you turn to your team saying, I didn't think I would be here. Well, then what made you achieve this?

NADAL: Well, yes, it is unexpected, in the last couple of years have been very difficult, after the pandemic something happened in my foot, and I am not able to manage the pain to play often, and beyond practice. In the past I had a lot of things starting from the foot, for the first time in 2005, then of course the knees have been a big issue for me for such a long time. Then a couple of times I break my wrists.

[03:40:04]

I don't know, but the only thing that I can say is going through all this probably challenges, I always hold the passion for keep going, you know. And I always hold the love for the game, and I always wanted to keep going, and that is probably why I am in the position that I am in today.

AMANPOUR: When you are in the, I don't know, the Australian Open and two sets down and you are playing the guy who won the U.S. Open final, what goes through your mind? Even here you were -- back when you played Felix Auger-Aliassime was there, I watch it.

NADAL: Yes.

AMANPOUR: -- and it was very touch and go. What -- what still trap --

(CROSSTALK)

NADAL: On my mind is normal thing that I lose, but if I lose and let the opponent win me, you know --

AMANPOUR: Beat you.

NADAL: Beat you. Exactly.

AMANPOUR: So, they still have to beat you. You are not going to let him go.

NADAL: I don't have to lose. I don't have to give -- I don't have to put the things easy for -- for the opponent. And in my mind, it is OK, things are super difficult, but let's keep trying to find a solution. You know? Let's keep trying to find a way to play to be better, to make the opponent feel a bit more uncomfortable. I don't know, just try to fight mentally and in terms of tennis of course.

AMANPOUR: You must feel some joy at beating Federer and Djokovic in terms of the Grand Slams.

NADAL: Yes.

AMANPOUR: Can you take some joy?

NADAL: Yes, of course. As I said, of course I want to be the player with more Grand Slams of the history, that's -- that's competition. But it's not something that I am upset at all, and it's not something that honestly change my mind. No, and it isn't -- I didn't --

(CROSSTALK)

AMANPOUR: Maybe that's how you keep achieving?

NADAL: You never know. But honestly, it is something that not bothers if Novak win 23 and I stay with 22. I think my happiness will not change at all, not even 1 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Such an endearing champion. Twenty-two Grand Slams, and he is already thinking about number 23 despite ongoing injuries. Nadal says he wants to beat Wimbledon as long as his body will let him.

Meantime, golfer Phil Mickelson is returning to the sport and will participate in the controversial LIV -- controversial LIV golf series. The inaugural tournament is backed by Saudi Arabia and gets underway this week near London.

Now back in February, Mickelson said he was taking some time away from golf after he was criticized for comments he made about Saudi Arabia's regime. On Monday, Mickelson posted a statement on Twitter saying, quote, "I want to again apologize to the many people I offended and hurt with my comments a few months ago. I have made mistakes in my career, in some of the things I have said and done. I have been engaged in intentional and continued therapy and feel healthy, and much more at peace. I realized I still have a long way to go, but I am embracing the work ahead."

The PGA Tour has threatened disciplinary action against PGA golfers who play in the LIV tournament. And for that reason, we say watch the space. It is going to be quite the tournament.

I want to thank you for your company. I am Paula Newton. Have a great day. Inside Africa is next.

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(INSIDE AFRICA)

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