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Argentina's VP Survives Apparent Assassination Attempt; U.N. Nuclear Watchdog Visits Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant; Biden: MAGA Extremism Threatens Country's Foundation; Decision to Appoint Special Master Could Come Any Time; Typhoon Hinnamnor Lashes Asia with Fierce Winds and Rain; Pakistan Envoy Calls for Compensation for Climate Changes; China Puts 21 Million People on Lockdown in Chengdu; Lukoil Chairman Fell from Hospital Window; CNN Reporting Helps Ukraine Identify War Crimes Suspect; Ukrainian Children Return to School amid Trauma of War; Chileans to Decide on New Constitution Sunday; Czech Team Tops Williams Sisters in U.S. Open Doubles. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired September 02, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:13]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, welcome to our viewers joining us all around the world. I appreciate your company, I'm Michael Holmes. Coming up on the program this hour, assassination averted the man who tried to kill the Vice President of Argentina now in custody, we'll have the very latest details coming up.
It is the most powerful Cyclone 2022 has seen thus far, where it's headed when it will get there and how strong is it?
And turning trauma into triumph meet the man who has dedicated his life to helping the youngest victims of war.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: We are following reports out of Argentina of a failed assassination attempt against the country's vice president and it all happened on live TV.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was greeting supporters outside her home late on Thursday, when a man pointed a gun directly at her face and pulled the trigger. You see it about to happen there. For some reason, though, the gun did not fire, the Vice President, unharmed. The suspect quickly taken into custody. Stefano Pozzebon with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: You can see a man was able to get very closer to Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the Vice President of Argentina, a former two terms president of the country and arguably the most famous political figure in the nation at this moment and draw a gun in pointing it literally at no more than 20 centimeters from her face.
The President of Argentina addressed the nation shortly afterward to send a message of calm of quietness but also calling it the most serious attack that the nation has faced since the restoration of democracy in the 1980s. In particular, the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez said that the gun was armed with five bullets, and that he said, and I, "Christina is alive only because for some technical reason that we have not clarified yet. The gun did not detonate, (inaudible) then a clear assassination attempt."
He also called for a day of national holiday on Friday, which is tomorrow here in South America to rally the population around Cristina Kirchner, and calling for a moment of reflection. This is happening at a moment of increased political tension in Argentina, as a fiscal -- prosecutor called for a 12-year sentence against Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, just a few weeks ago. She's facing charges related to corruption while she was the president of Argentina a few years back, and that is why we have seen these moments where this accident, this attack occurred during a rally of her supporters around her house, her private residence in Buenos Aires to support and to protest against this investigation.
So, you can see polarization rising the temperature of the nation is rising. And now this attack which could act as a detonator for further political violence. Alberto Fernandez doesn't want that. And urged calmly -- calm use very strong words to condemn the attack.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Stefano Pozzebon there, reporting for us from Bogota in Colombia. And we'll continue to bring you more information as we get it.
Turning to Ukraine now, and the U.N. Nuclear Watchdog says it's not going anywhere now that its inspectors are inside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency reached the plant on Thursday for the first time since the war began. The organization set its goal is to prevent a nuclear accident after the plant repeatedly took artillery fire in recent weeks in the area of the plant.
A Russian news outlet later showed this video of inspectors inside the facility. Most inspectors left after a few hours. Ukraine's nuclear operator says at this point five of them have remained at Zaporizhzhia, and they're set to stay only until Saturday. But the agency's chief says his goal is to have a permanent presence at the plant.
[01:05:06]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAFAEL GROSSI, IAEA DIRECTOR-GENERAL: There is a lot more to do. My team is staying on. And more importantly and most importantly, we are establishing a continued presence by the -- from the IAEA here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, never before has an IAEA team carried out safety checks at an operational nuclear plant in the middle of a war zone and on their journey to Zaporizhzhia, the facility the nuclear inspectors came within eyeshot of artillery and mortar fire. Here's CNN's Melissa Bell.
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MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The selling began at dawn around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the worst that the town of Enerhodar has seen since it was occupied in March, according to its mayor. Briefed on the situation but undeterred, IAEA inspectors decided to head through the front line, nonetheless.
GROSSI: We are moving now.
BELL: The 14 strong team seeing for itself as it traveled the artillery and mortar fire that led to the shutting down of one of the plants last two functioning reactors. After an hour's long delay on its way the IAEA inspectors arrived, a glimpse at lost into a plant that's been occupied by Russian forces for months.
GROSSI: It is obvious that that the plant and the physical integrity of the plant has been violated several times. And this is something that cannot continue to happen.
BELL: Which is why he said five members of his team had stayed behind to ask more questions and to dig deeper. In a plant controlled by Russian forces but man by workers who say that it's been almost impossible for them to do their jobs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We feel like hostages, we actually can't do our jobs. We can't carry phones, flash drives memory cards. And God forbid, if you look at a soldier the wrong way, you can be thrown into the basement.
GROSSI: The Ukrainian employees, I was with them throughout the day. Of course, they are in a difficult situation, but they have an incredible degree of professionalism. I see them calm and moving on.
BELL: The plan, he said for the IAEA to establish a permanent presence of the plant and to make good on his word to its workers, that the U.N. nuclear watchdog is now there to stay. Melissa Bell, CNN Kyiv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The U.S. midterm elections a little more than two months away now and President Joe Biden hoping to frame the elections as a choice between Democrats and extremists. Mr. Biden says he will not stand for political violence or threats to democracy from Donald Trump and his supporters. CNN's Jeff Zeleny reports.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: President Biden delivered one of the most forceful speeches of his presidency Thursday night in Philadelphia, and taking direct aim at his predecessor, Donald Trump. And what he says is the extremism that is coursing through the Republican Party.
JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: MAGA Republicans that made their choice, they embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth, but in the shadow of lies here, in my view is what is true. MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution.
ZELENY: This message coming nine weeks before the midterm election season underscores how the President and the White House is trying to reframe the conversation, trying to make this a choice between Republicans and Democrats in the fall campaign.
Now giving this speech in Pennsylvania clearly makes the case that this date is one of the most important, a key governor's race, a Senate race as well as assorted House races. But the President went far beyond that in a speech about democracy, he said it is incumbent on all Americans to stand up and protect their freedoms.
BIDEN: I'm asking our nation to come together, unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy regardless of your ideology.
ZELENY: The White House going to great lengths to say this is not a political speech. But there is no question politics was at the heart of the message from the President clearly trying to make the case that Democrats he believes are better stewards of democracy than Republicans. Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Republicans have predictably perhaps a much different view of the midterms in November, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy demanding President Biden apologized for a comment last week comparing MAGA philosophy to "semi-fascism." McCarthy says Mr. Biden has chosen to divide, demean and disparage his fellow Americans simply because they disagree with his policies.
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KEVIN MCCARTHY, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER: When the President speaks tonight at Independence Hall the first lines out of his mouth should be to apologize for slandering 10s of millions of Americans as fascists. What Joe Biden doesn't understand is that the soul of America is in the 10s of millions of hard-working people, of loving families, of law-abiding citizens, who may be vilified for simply wanting a stronger, safer and more prosperous country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Donald Trump remaining cagey as ever over whether he will run in 2024. But on Thursday, he revived a theme from his final days in office, presidential pardons for the January 6 rioters. Trump did not make good on it when he was in office. So, there's good reason to be skeptical, but he claims he's supporting some of those same people financially.
Now, here's what he told conservative radio host Wendy Bell, "I will tell you, I will look very, very favorably about full pardons. If I decide to run and if I win, I will be looking very, very strongly about pardons. Full pardons. They were actually in my office two days ago. It's very much on my mind. It's a disgrace what they've done to them, what they've done to these people."
Now, a decision could come at any time on whether to appoint a special master to review top secret documents seized from Donald Trump's home last month. The federal judge declined to make her ruling at Thursday's hearing, but asked the Justice Department what's the harm? We get the latest now from CNN, Sara Murray.
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SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: No ruling yet as lawyers for Donald Trump and the Justice Department went head-to-head in court today over whether a special master should review documents seized at Mar-a-Lago.
DAVID SCHOEN, REPRESENTED TRUMP FOR SECOND IMPEACHMENT: If the government's case is as they think it is, let's just play it straight. Let a special master come in.
MURRAY: Trump's team saying the Mar-a-Lago search was suspect according to reports from the courtroom and argued a special master should pour over materials that the government says included more than 100 documents marked classified.
Trump's lawyer Jim Trusty described the battle over whether classified materials were illegally kept at Mar-a-Lago is comparable to a dispute over an overdue library book.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was this really a huge library book?
MURRAY: And Christopher Kise, the newest member of Trump's legal team, encouraged the judge to appoint a special master to help lower the temperature in the nation. The judge indicating if she appoints a special master, she may still allow the intelligence community to review the seized documents as part of a damage assessment.
Prosecutors, meantime, arguing the special master was unnecessary and saying Trump's team has offered no evidence there was any disregard for the former president's rights. As the judge asked prosecutors what's the harm in appointing a special master beyond the courtroom, Trump --
DONALD TRUMP, (R) FORMER UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: It's like this was some sinister plot.
MURRAY: Insisting whatever ended up at Mar-a-Lago was the result of hastily packing up to leave the White House.
TRUMP: You accumulate a lot of stuff over a term and then all of a sudden, you're leaving and stuff gets packed up and sent. MURRAY: Trump's team downplayed the documents found at his Florida home and private club without denying they were classified, saying simply put the notion that presidential records would contain sensitive information should have never been cause for alarm.
Trump's team also taking issue with the extraordinary photo the DOJ revealed this week showing a tranche of documents with highly classified markings recovered from Trump's office.
ALINA HABBA, DONALD TRUMP'S LAWYER: They give you this appearance that you walk in. And there's these top-secret documents just strewn about.
MURRAY: Inadvertently highlighting the security risk of hoarding documents and an office with heavy foot traffic.
HABBA: That is not the way his office looks. Anybody that knows President Trump's office. He has guests frequently there.
MURRAY (on camera): Now, the judge also said she's considering publicly releasing a more detailed inventory of the materials that were seized during that search and Mar-a-Lago. We are waiting for her final word on that. And a number of these issues that cropped up during the hearing. She is expected to issue her ruling in writing, no timeline for when that ruling could come. Sara Murray, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Just the head here on the program, mass locked down 150 COVID cases and 21 million ordered to stay at home. China still enforcing its zero COVID policy, a live report from Kristie Lu Stout coming up.
Also, a strong typhoon bringing heavy rain and fierce winds to parts of Asia. We'll take the path of the storm with Derek Van Dam in just a moment.
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HOLMES: Have a look at that water spout, quite a sight for people relaxing in Central Canada off Lake Huron on Wednesday. There were no weather warnings for the area at the time at least one street was reportedly closed because of weather related damage.
Now, parts of Asia are getting hit with heavy rain from Typhoon Hinnamnor. It's not expected to make direct landfall in Taiwan or the northern Philippines but it could impact the southern islands of Japan and the Korean peninsula as it slowly makes its way south.
Let's bring in CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam with the latest on this. So, tell us what you know about how strong it is and where it's headed?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: OK, well, it's no longer a super typhoon that is good. So, it is actually weakened somewhat. But what we're seeing in the latest satellite images we're talking about the last few minutes or so is a little bit more organization as it tries to wrap in on itself. We do expect the storm to re-strengthen actually, as it starts its general progression northward over the coming days, 175 kilometer per hour sustained winds that would be near the center of circulation. But this storm over 500 kilometers in diameter, so the outer rain bands impacting Luzon in the northern Philippines, of the eastern coastline of Taiwan, even the southern Ryukyu Islands into extreme southern portions of Japan.
Now, you can see on our forecast radar how it starts to define a more of an eye or a central low pressure around the cyclone that would where -- that's where we would find the strongest winds, the most intense part of the typhoon, it will strengthen because it's going to move into warmer waters as it does so at the moment. It's got some cooling taking place underneath the ocean because of what is known as upwelling as it takes that cold water from below and brings it to the surface because it's been gangrene over the same areas for so long.
Now look at this, there's actually this planetary dance that's been happening across the Western Pacific. We actually had a tropical depression kind of interact with Hinnamnor earlier this week. And that allowed for this to intrude some drier air to the north side of the storm. They kind of did the handshake and one was absorbed into the other. That's why we have a weakened storm at the moment that in the colder temperatures in the ocean. But as it finally gets its act together move, north we do expect intensification and this will skirt the east coast of China into the southern Korean peninsula by early next week. The main threats here of course being the heavy rainfall over a large population density, Michael.
HOLMES: All right, Derek, good to see my friend. Derek Van Dam there.
Now, in Pakistan relentless floodwaters have wiped away entire villages with the World Health Organization now saying 6.4 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid. The WHO has given Pakistan its most severe emergency rating and is releasing $10 million to treat the injured, bring in supplies and prevent the spread of disease. And relief is reaching some flood victims in the Punjab residents were lining up for food and other vital supplies.
Pakistan's representative to the U.N., meanwhile, made it clear he holds rich countries responsible for policies that over generations have led to mass flooding like this. In an interview with the China global television network on Wednesday. Munia Akram called for compensation.
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MUNIA AKRAM, PAKISTAN'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO U.N.: The industrial countries have been emitting carbon for the last 200 years and they are the ones who have the historical responsibility for the global warming that is taking place. It is not the developing countries which hardly emit small amounts of carbon that are suffering from the impact of actions taken over 150 years by the industrial countries. So, there should be a mechanism for compensation.
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HOLMES: Millions of people are being impacted by the devastating flooding. Find out how you can help if you wish at cnn.com/impact.
21 million people in one city in China are now under lockdown as Beijing enforces its hardline zero-COVID policy. All residents in the mega city Chengdu have been ordered to stay home except for mandatory testing on Friday the city reporting 150 new local cases a third asymptomatic. For more on all of this I'm joined by CNN's Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And it's interesting, isn't it because Sichuan had already been dealing with a lot of drought and heat and wildfires. And now the capital in lockdown. What does it mean for the people there?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, you got 21 billion people who are confined to their homes in Chengdu. This is the largest city- wide lockdown in China since the Shanghai lockdown earlier this year in April, and the parent trigger here was this, on Wednesday Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan reported around 156 new cases of COVID-19. Today, the city reported 150 new local cases of the virus and yet that means 21 million people across this mega city in China are being subjected to mandatory COVID-19 testing. They have been advised to stay at home unless to go out for the COVID test. Only one person per household is allowed to go out per day to fetch groceries. Businesses are shut down all the essential services in Chengdu are up and running. That means supermarkets as well as pharmacies and hospitals.
And Chengdu is not the only mega city or economic engine in China right now. That is ramping up these anti-pandemic measures. We know in the south, the tech hub of Shenzhen, they're the world's largest high- tech market has been closed because of rising COVID-19 cases there.
Also in Dalian, the major port city in the Northeast of the country. There are some 3 million residents are being subjected to a lockdown that's happening right now. And it was just a few months ago in Shanghai or the city of 25 million people, they were subjected to that punishing two-month lockdown that led to food shortages, family separations, disruptions of medical care, it also had a huge toll on the nations and also the world's economy affecting the global supply chain and factory production. And yet, despite the mountain toll of the zero-COVID policy, it appears that the policy remains firmly in place as we're seeing right now play out in Chengdu. Back to you, Michael.
HOLMES: Yeah, indeed. Thank you, Kristie. Kristie Lu Stout there in Hong Kong for us.
And the Chinese government is once again lashing out over the new U.N. report on "serious human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. In China's Xinjiang province, Beijing calls the assessment, "completely illegal and invalid," and says the office of the U.N.'s Human Rights Commissioner has been, "reduced to the role of Hitman." CNN's Anna Coren with our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tears for missing family harrowing details of torture, of imprisonment, and even death.
MEHRAY TAHER, HUSBAND IN DETENTION: The next thing you know your husband is in a detention center and you can't even see him, you can't even communicate with him.
COREN: Now a vindication of some of that pain suffered by Muslim minorities in China's West at the hands of the state apparatus. Four years after stating its initial concerns, the United Nations has documented that abuses are occurring in Xinjiang, and says China may have committed crimes against humanity in its internment of some 1 million people in what Beijing calls vocational education training camps. The damning report published minutes before U.N. Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachele left her post. China vehemently opposed its release.
RAYHAN ASAT, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER AND UYGHUR ADVOCATE: Since World War Two, this is the second time we're ever seeing a government, a powerful government building massive and large-scale concentration camps to collectively punish a population who just being who they are.
COREN: China insistence camps are used to de radicalize religious extremists, and that the facilities are closed, a claim the U.N. says it couldn't verify. Its propaganda paints a picture of violent separatism in the Xinjiang Region.
[01:25:05]
The U.N. says ultimately China's anti-terror campaign has led to the large-scale arbitrary deprivation of liberty, the liberty of people like Ekpar, brother of New York Human Rights Lawyer Rayhan Asat. A successful entrepreneur, Ekpar traveled with the Chinese delegation to the U.S. in 2016 for a month-long trip, even visiting CNN Headquarters in Atlanta.
ASAT: It was in weeks returning from the United States, he was forcibly disappeared by the Chinese government into the shadow of its one of these camps and it's been six years, and four months and still counting.
COREN: China has kept the world away from its alleged crimes in Xinjiang, Bachele herself was not allowed to speak to any Uyghurs in Xinjiang for her report. But for years, rights groups and news organizations, including CNN have uncovered alleged abuses in Xinjiang, including sexual violence, and forced sterilization inside the Xinjiang camps.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't do this, don't do this. I cried. Please don't do this.
COREN: Human rights group says the international community can no longer remain silent.
SOPHIE RICHARDSON, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: States should be going into the Human Rights Council thinking, armed with this report, what best can we do to end violations in that region and find justice for the victims and survivors. That's what should be driving their next actions not blowback from Beijing.
COREN: Despite the mounting evidence, Beijing refers to the Human Rights allegations as the great lie of the century. It says the report is a fast that the United Nations has succumbed to a Western plot to discredit China. The report itself accuses China of intimidating Uyghurs abroad, threatening those brave enough to speak out against the system they say is designed to destroy them. Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Still to come here on CNN Newsroom, Ukraine identifies a war crime suspect from the early days of the Russian invasion. And prosecutors say CNN's reporting played a major role in their probe
Also, children in Ukraine returning for a new school year as they cope with the emotional scars of war. We'll discuss when we come back.
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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.
The chairman of Russia's second largest oil and gas company has died under strange circumstances. State media reporting that Ravil Maganov fell from the window of a Moscow hospital.
He is one of a handful of prominent Russian businessmen who have died this year, a lot of them falling out of windows. And his company Lukoil was a loud critic of Russia's war in Ukraine.
CNN's Anna Stewart explains.
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ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: This death is raising questions. Now according to Russian state media, Ravil Maganov died after falling out of the sixth floor window of a hospital.
A law enforcement source told (INAUDIBLE) this was an apparent suicide.
Lukoil confirmed the death of its chairman with a statement but made no mention of the fall, saying he passed away following a severe illness.
Now one of the reasons the cause of death is being questioned is the company that Maganov worked for. Lukoil is Russia's second biggest oil company, and it took a public stand against the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
In march, the board of directors published the statement, saying they expressed with their deepest concerns about the tragic events in Ukraine, calling for the seamless termination of the armed conflict, "We express our sincere empathy for all victims who are affected by this tragedy. We strongly support a lasting cease-fire, and a settlement of problems through serious negotiations and diplomacy.
The founder, CEO, and major shareholder resigned from the company the following month. Then in May, another Lukoil executive, Aleksander Subbotin died.
Now according to Russian state media outlet TASS he died of a heart attack. His body was reportedly found in the home of a shaman who performed Jamaican voodoo rituals. It was alleged Subbotin was seeking a hangover cure, mysterious to say the least.
Add to that, at least five more deaths of Russian businessmen this year all reportedly died by suicides. Three are also alleged lunched of killing members of their families before taking their own lives.
Four of the businessman had associations with Russian state energy company Gazprom, or one of its subsidiaries.
For now, the international community can only speculate on this latest death of Lukoil chairman.
Anna Stewart, CNN -- London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The Kremlin says the Russian president will not attend the funeral of Mikhail Gorbachev, claiming his work schedule won't allow it. But Vladimir Putin did pay respects on Thursday, laying flowers by the former Soviet leader's coffin.
In recent years Gorbachev had grown more critical of President Putin who in turned blamed him for the demise of the USSR. A public farewell ceremony for Gorbachev will be held on Saturday, the funeral later that day.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin sharing some of his views on the war in Ukraine with a group of Russian school children. On Thursday he paid a visit to a school in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania.
The trip coincided with Russia's traditional back to school day. Mr. Putin telling the students that Russia is only protecting itself as well as people in Ukraine's Donbas region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: On the territory of today's Ukraine, they began to create an anti Russian enclave that threatens our country. Therefore our lads who are fighting there are protecting both the residents of the Donbas region and defending Russia itself.
Of course, this deserves full support from society. This is very important. From young people. The lads fighting there risk their life to do so. Many died. So they must understand what they are giving their life for.
And this is an extremely important thing, for Russia and for the people who live in the Donbas region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Ukrainian prosecutors have identified a Russian war crimes suspect thanks in part to reporting you saw right here on CNN.
Back in May we showed you video of Russian troops gunning down two civilians on the outskirts of Kyiv. Well now prosecutors have announced the name of one suspect saying CNN's reporting played a key role in their investigation.
Sara Sidner with the story. We do warn you, some images in it are graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ukrainian prosecutors say this is the moment an undeniable war crime was carried out by Russian soldiers. This video clip obtained by CNN has yet to be seen by the public. It shows Russian soldiers firing at something alongside a business they have just overtaken on the outskirts of Kyiv.
It turns out, their target is two unsuspecting and unarmed Ukrainian civilians, who they shoot in the back.
We first reported on this portion of the video in May, showing the business owner dying where he falls and the guard initially surviving, but bleeding to death after making it back to his guard shack.
[01:35:00]
SIDNER: Both men had just spent the last few minutes speaking calmly with the Russian soldiers who appear to have let them go, but we now see two of the soldiers return and fire on them.
YULIA PLYATS, DAUGHTER OF VICTIM (through translator): My father's name is Leonid Alexeyovich (ph) (INAUDIBLE).
SIDNER: The guard's daughter Yulia told us then, she wanted the world to know her father's name, and what the Russians did to him.
Yulia, have you seen the video?
PLYATS: I can't watch it now. I will save it to the cloud and leave it for my grandchildren and children. They should know about this crime and always remember who our neighbors are.
SIDNER: And now the Bucha prosecutors office says with the help of CNN's story, it has finally identified one of his executioners, the suspect's name Nikolai Sergeevich Sokovikov (ph).
Ukraine has informed Russia that they're pretrial investigation has zeroed in Sokovikov as the perpetrator of the cold-blooded killings. While prosecutors will not reveal exactly how they identified this particular soldier. We have seen one part of the process being used by Ukrainian officials facial recognition technology.
It is really fast.
The ministry of digital transformation gets an image, loaded it into the program they created, and it scrubs social media looking for a match. Once they have a match of a soldier, dead or alive, they try to corroborate it with friends and family on the soldiers' social media sites.
"We have identified about 300 cases," he says.
The identification of the latest suspect for war crimes was months in the making. But is at least one step towards justice for the families who have had something taken from them they can never get back -- the life of someone they loved.
Sara Sidner, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, Russia's defense ministry has not responded to CNN's request for comment, either to Sara Sidner's story or our reporting back in May.
Children in Ukraine are doing their best to focus on school right now despite the ongoing conflict. The school year got underway this week.
President Zelenskyy visiting a newly-renovated school in Irpin with a message of reassurance for the young learners.
The school in Bucha also welcoming students back to class. During the occupation it served as a bomb shelter and makeshift hospital. It got back to educating children in March, but the bomb shelter remains.
However, in Mykolaiv, most schools remain closed due to safety concerns, only 5 percent are holding in-person classes. Children picking up textbooks spoke of the toll the war has taken on their education.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want for the war to end, because people die during war. It is horrible. I want everything to get back to the way it was before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to go to school, see my classmates and teachers, I want for the war to end so that we can live and go to school as we used to before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now the trauma these children are facing is insurmountable, hard to imagine. A representative for UNICEF put it this way quote, "every one of Ukraine's 5.7 million children have trauma. I wouldn't say that 10 percent or 50 percent of them are ok. Everyone is experiencing it, and it takes years to heal.
Let's talk more about this now with Dr. James Gordon. He is the founder and director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. It's also the author of "Transforming Trauma, The Path To Hope And Healing".
Doctor, it is great to have you here, because you literally have been on the ground in Ukraine dealing with this issue. And actually, at the start, I wanted to read something that you said, and just quoting you here, "60 percent of the kids are no longer living in their homes and all of them wonder if their homes are safe. There is a constant feeling of being worried about what is going to happen. So Doctor, how do those things manifest in kids, what emerges from such an environment?
DR. JAMES GORDON, FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR MIND-BODY MEDICINE: I think it comes out differently in different kids partly depending what their temperament is, what the family situation is. But basically there is tremendous anxiety.
Most of those 60 percent of kids are no longer living with their fathers. They have left home usually with their mothers, often the father staying behind and fighting.
So there is anxiety about where is my dad and how is he going to be. And then, you know, I'm not home. Nothing is familiar around me.
[01:39:48]
DR. GORDON: So they have trouble sleeping. They're anxious. They tend to be clingy. Some of the kids get very aggressive because when you are in that state of fight or flight, it can come out in different ways.
It can come out and kind of retreating and being anxious and fearful and simply having difficulty concentrating. Or it could come out in agitation and anger. So it comes out differently, but it is there in just about every child.
HOLMES: You have in fact created training programs for health professionals for traumatized children and families. And we're talking about Bosnia, Kosovo, Israel, Gaza, Haiti, and also with Syrian refugees. what commonalities have you found? What are the shared experiences for these kids?
DR. GORDON: Well, I think for all of them, there is this colossal sense of uncertainty. What's going to happen in the future. For many, many of them, there are the terrible memories. And when I was just in Ukraine, the kids when I asked them to simply draw what has been happening, they would draw graves, they would draw pictures of dead people, they would draw pictures of Russian soldiers firing guns, or pictures of planes overhead.
So they are tormented very, very often by memories. They have tremendous uncertainty about the future. Many of them feel very guilty. They feel, you know, maybe I'm responsible. In the case of Haiti and the earthquake maybe I should have saved my mom when the house collapsed on her. In the case of Ukraine, it's maybe if I've done something, if I hadn't been so noisy the Russian soldiers wouldn't have come by.
So there is this hyper-developed sense of guilty responsibility that they have for what is going on.
HOLMES: Also, you called it a war on innocents which is very poignant. Can kids ever get over that loss of innocence? Obviously immediate treatment is crucial, but what can be done to assuage the long term effects of living in a war-torn nation as a child?
DR. GORDON: Well, what needs to happen is to first of all, not treat what the kids are experiencing as somehow pathological. There is a Russian dictator, Putin, who has declared war on innocents. 2,000 schools had been shelled by artillery. 270 schools have been totally destroyed. These are not military targets. So I think that sense of vulnerability that the kids they sense somebody is out to get them, it can be healed and the sense of hopelessness.
When we work with them, with our program at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, we give them tools to help bring them back into psychological and physiological balance to relax a little bit so that they can sleep and focus.
We give them physical movement, to let go of some of the tension and the anger and the fear. And then we give them an opportunity to express themselves, not only in words which are sometimes difficult. But in pictures which are often easier for traumatized kids.
So the combination of having a physiological balance, and then being able to use the imagination to express what is going on, and having a sense of support.
One of the things we found most helpful is to work with groups of children and also, adults, but particularly the kids so that they know they are not alone. and they can feel the support and the connection with each other and they can see that other kids are going through something similar to what they are experiencing. All of which can trigger the healing.
HOLMES: It is extraordinary the work that you and I know other organizations are doing too -- psychiatrists, psychologists, organizations are doing internationally, and helping those health professionals on the ground.
It is God's work and thank you for doing it. Doctor James Gordon, we've got to leave it there. Thanks so much.
DR. GORDON: Thank you. Thank you for having me on, giving me a chance to talk about these children.
HOLMES: A big decision for Chileans in the coming days as voters decide whether to approve or reject the broad new constitution. Find out what is at stake when we come back. [01:43:59]
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HOLMES: High school students clashing with riot police in Santiago, Chile on Thursday during a march for better conditions at public secondary schools. Police using water cannons to disperse the protesters, some responding by throwing Molotov cocktails.
The students are demanding improvement including free transportation, comprehensive sex education, and guaranteed internships in technical high schools.
Now the high school protest came just days before people in Chile vote on a new constitution written to address demands made during protests two years ago, the final draft includes text from many groups, and it is so long that one expert calls, it quote, the Christmas Tree Constitution.
CNN's Rafael Romo explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fall 2019, Santiago, Chile.
Turmoil. violence and vandalism. Police clashed almost daily with protesters, demanding an end to inequality. More than 30 people died during the violence that lasted months.
Even a church went up in flames. A promise to rewrite Chile's constitution was part of the agreement that restored peace.
ROBERT FUNK, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF CHILE: The existing constitution in Chile was written originally in 1980 under the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Since then it was amended many, many times, but it always, it was always questioned because it was imposed during a dictatorship.
ROMO: After a year of work by 155 members of a gender equal constituent assembly, the final draft is ready. On Sunday, Chilean voters go to polls to decide if they will reject, or approve it. President Gabriel Boric is asking voters to read the entire draft, but it is not easy.
It includes 380 articles altogether, and if ratified, it would be one of the longest in the world. According to Professor Funk, that is because 155 people representing a broad spectrum of special interest had a hand in writing it.
FUNK: If someone demanded, you know, environmental issues, that went it. If someone demanded regionalization, that went in. If someone demanded (INAUDIBLE), more power for indigenous groups that went in.
So a colleague of mine calls it a Christmas tree constitution.
ROMO: The draft attempts to address many of demands made by protesters in 2019, especially alleviating inequality. Article 50 would guarantee the right to be cared for from birth to death with the state providing the means.
Article 56 says, every individual has a right to be fed adequate, healthy, sufficient, nutritionally complete and culturally relevant food.
Will special agencies be created for these purposes, and ultimately, does Chile have enough resources to pay for all of those new rights if the Constitution is approved if?
FUNK: I think the answer to both questions is nos. I think, many of those kinds of stipulations, the kind that you mention, are going to be very difficult to meet.
ROMO: Some articles are cause for both the business sector and investors. For example concern for both the business sector, and investors.
For example, Article 47 which talks about union freedom gives workers a right to strike for virtually any reason.
ANDRES VELASCO, FORMER CHILEAN FINANCE MINISTER: The genesis of the current text that is being proposed to Chileans in the referendum is a very much, you know, linked to identity politics and populism.
ROMO: Former Chilean finance minister Andres Velasco told CNN's Fareed Zakaria, that if the constitution is approved, it would probably create political gridlock.
[01:49:58]
VELASCO: It would very much diminished the senate. It would create a very powerful lower house. It would reduce the ability of the president to veto legislation. And as a result, it would give you a lopsided kind of politics.
ROMO: One of the goals of writing a new text was to form a more perfect union. But misinformation and the believe that special interests prevailed over citizens' concerns including security and the economy have alienated many voters.
The latest polls show Chileans are evenly split between the two options they will have Sunday. Breaking with the past may not be as easy as it seemed nearly two years ago, when in the middle of the pandemic 78 percent of voters supported an initiative to write a new constitution.
Rafael Romo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his last major policy announcement before stepping down from his role next week. Johnson said on Thursday that EDF Energy's planned Sizewell C nuclear plant will get an investment of more than 700 million pounds, or $800 million.
It's part of a move to make the U.K. more energy independent following Russia's war on Ukraine, but it will be years until the plant is operational.
Johnson also said there will be more cash support from the new government to tackle the cost of living crisis, recognizing the grim economic outlook while reflecting on his legacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, OUTGOING BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think on the whole and look, I'm very proud of a lot of the things we did. I think that we had some very tough things to do. And I think on the whole the country has come through them very well. We have now a way to get to a point of course -- families up and down this country are going to say to -- a very tough (INAUDIBLE).
And you just have to accept that. And I think that what I would say to people is that the government really, really understands the difficulties that you are facing. We totally get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And please, do make sure to join us on Monday for the announcement of Britain's new prime minister. We will have a special CNN coverage throughout the day.
Quick break now. When we come back, Serena Williams suffers a setback in her swansong at the U.S. Open. A look at what could be her last doubles match ever with her sister Venus. That is after the break with Coy Wire.
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HOLMES: One of the most successful doubles teams in women's tennis may have played their last professional match together.
Let's bring in CNN sports anchor Coy Wire to talk more about this.
You know, Venus and Serena, I think 14 slams among them, pretty good.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, great for doubles. And there has been so much talk, Michael, about Serena this U.S. Open, and rightfully so. But Venus has had an epic career of her own, so this was a sweet moment.
After an upset win in front of a sellout crowd Wednesday to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open, Serena was back in action not 24 hours later, this time alongside her sister Venus, herself a two-time U.S. Open champ.
[01:54:54[
WIRE: The two have won 14 major doubles titles together dating back to 1999. Three Olympic gold medals together. But this was their first match together in eight years.
Czech duo Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova won 7-6, 6-4. So it is the end of an era, but the Williams sisters will forever remain champions far beyond the sport early in their careers as black stars in a predominantly white sport. They endured racist attacks, discrimination.
But they left the court Wednesday together likely for the last time to a standing ovation and tearful cheers as two of the most impactful transformational figures the sport will ever know.
Serena has made it clear she is transitioning away from the game but her older sister Venus' future is still unclear having already lost in the singles in New York, have we seen the last of the future hall of famer Venus in action?
Seven-time grand slam champ but she has lost seven others to her sister Serena. You can argue that without Venus there would be no Serena as we know her today. The two have pushed each other. They have persevered so much.
Now as for Serena, we will be seeing her again Friday night under the bright lights in New York facing Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. The gates is wide, the path is straight for Serena to make a magical run to the finals.
This year's Wimbledon runner-up (INAUDIBLE) really the next big name she would face that potential match would be in the quarterfinals.
And no matter what happens Serena wins 27 years of dominance, it is simply amazing and incredible.
HOLMES: Coy Wire, appreciate it. You are absolutely right legends, both.
And now before we go this hour, who amongst us hasn't posted something on social media they wish they could take back. A few people I know.
Facebook and Instagram let you revise or edit your posts, and now Twitter is rolling out a feature to let you edit your tweets. The social media giant tweeted of course about their edit button on Thursday. The company says it has been testing the feature for about a year. Now tweets will be able to be edited a few times for up to 30 minutes. Edited tweets will be labeled as such and marked with an icon.
And also, users can click through a tweet's edit history, which is a good idea, to see the evolution of the tweet. The feature will be available first to subscribers of the paid service Twitter Blue in New Zealand. No word yet on whether or when everyone will get the weather (INAUDIBLE).
Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Holmes CNN.
Stick around, CNN NEWSROOM continues with Kim Brunhuber after the break.
There's also Coy Wire here. It is a trio of anchor standing by. See you tomorrow.
[01:59:46]
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