killed, including an infant a few months old. the ukrainian military reports taking out 17 russian air assets on saturday. it said anti-aircraft missiles shot down three russian aircraft, five cruise missiles, and nine tactical drones. kharkiv, in the north, has been hotly contested as russian forces attempt to push south into the donbas. ukrainian officials, urging residents in the luhansk region to the south to evacuate if they can because of ongoing russian' shelling. now, every day, the scope of russia's onslaught becomes ever clearer. one of the latest examples? evidence of what could be a new mass grave outside mariupol. scott mclean with the details. >> reporter: satellite images and aerial footage has long shown the scale of the destruction in mariupol. it is difficult to know the full human cost of the siege, but now there are new potential clues. new satellite pictures of a cemetery east of mariupol appear to show freshly-dug trenches, some-40 meters long. the mariupol mayor's office says that these are mass graves. cnn cannot independently verify the claim. what is not unclear is the dire humanitarian situation inside the city. new video from the ukrainian military shows women and children taking shelter underneath a steel plant, where ukrainian troops are making their last stand. inside, the russian word for "children" is spray painted on the walls. a ukrainian soldier says he is bringing gifts, candy, and some food. the kids explain how they've passed the time. many of the women and children are the families of plant workers here, and many have been there for 50 days or more. >> translator: i want to get out of here, and see the sun. we've been here for two months now, and i want to see the sun because they switch the lights on and off here. when they rebuild our houses, we can live in peace. >> translator: we all really want to return home. we want to return home alive. we all want to see our parents and families. >> reporter: there is little hope those wishes will come true anytime soon. russian troops have surrounded the complex, waiting for ukrinian soldiers to surrender, as food supplies dwindle. for the rest of mariupol, a humanitarian corridor opened leading west through russian-held territory to ukrainian-held zaporizhzhia. though, the mariupol mayor's office says that russians tricked people into boarding buses bound for a town in russian-occupied territory. cnn could not immediately verify the progress of evacuation efforts in the city. in a press conference in a kyiv underground station, president zelenskyy proposed a trade with russia, in exchange for ukr ukrainian civilians trapped in mariupol. >> we offer as civilized people, we suggest humanitarian solution to the situation. we offer exchange or forgiveness. we offer exchange of the wounded. >> reporter: zelenskyy said he is willing to meet with putin but promised peace talks would be abandoned if ukrainians in mariupol are killed. scott mclean, cnn, lviv, ukraine. for more of what is happening on in ukraine, let's bring in isa soares, who is live for us in lviv. hi, isa. >> good morning, to you michael. well, a two-hour news conference from president zelenskyy in the hours ahead. that has not been confirmed by washington, though. now, visits like these are not usually publicized until after the fact for obvious security reasons. but didn't stop obviously mr. zelenskyy who also had a request for his guests. >> translator: why is it important for leaders to come to us? i will give you a pragmatic answer. because they -- they should not come here with empty handles now. we're waiting not for just presents or cakes. we're expecting specific things, and specific weapons. >> well, i'll like to bring in peter, a well-known face on cnn. he is director of the eurasia democracy initiative and joins us now live from western ukraine. good morning to you, peter. hope you are well. let me start with that announcement by president zelenskyy that u.s. secretaries of state and defense will be visiting kyiv today. if it does go ahead, because of course we haven't had the confirmation from washington thus far, how symbolic would this visit be? >> well, uh, obviously, has huge symbolic importance now that not just the u.s. but, you know, officials from other western countries have announced that they are moving embassies back to kyiv. this is a bode of confidence that kyiv will be able to resist, you know, whatever, um, you know, potential designs russia may still have on it. you know, it's been a -- it's demonstrated convincingly that it can muster a -- a -- the necessary defense. you know, there's still, by the way, shells hitting kyiv sporadically. but now that we have seen this sort of willingness of western officials to visit kyiv, and embassies to move back, i think there is an understanding that russia's blitzkrieg in kyiv has failed. they are gonna try to make -- make our lives miserable elsewhere. they are obviously staging an attack on the east of the country. but the main, i think, symbolism of this visit, as well, is that you know the ukrainians state has survived. >> yeah. and when we hear president zelenskyy say, you know, um, hope they don't come empty handed. with just cakes. i mean, what is it he is expecting here? we have heard the united states in the last few weeks announce $800 million or so of support. i mean, two packages in less than a few weeks. so, what is he expecting? >> well, there's obviously there's you know, there are still critical needs for switchblade drones, for example. you know, the ukraine may do with more javelins. but i think the -- the -- what we have heard from zelenskyy recently is that, you know, there is i think sufficient weaponry by now to be able to withstand the onslaught in the east. ukrainian officials have expressed, you know, increasing confidence that ukrainians will be able to hold down, you know, their positions. and we've already seen as matter of fact, evidence that, you know, ukrainians have been going on counteroffensives in the south and east. and mind you, the russians have not thrown all their forces into the battle for -- for donbas. but from what we hearing, including, you know, from british intelligence is that, you know, russians are still disorganized. they are, you know -- their discipline is -- is low. they're low on morale. they haven't been able to properly regroup and so and as i said in our previous, you know, programs, the date is coming up -- may 9th -- which is the victory day of the soviet union over the nazi germany. and the generals are in a huge rush to provide putin with some sort of victory, and so their hurry will also probably hamper their successes in the -- you know, in the battlefields. >> and speaking of victory really, peter, one city they were hoping to gain was mariupol. they are still holed up there. large significant number ever people, civilians and soldiers inside that azov steel plant. i want to get your thoughts, though, on the situation on the whole of mariupol, where civilians have not just trapped but -- but also being tricks it seems by russian forces. >> well, you know, i have some -- some of these fighters, great fighters and i know some of them. and i have been able to, you know, get in touch with them by phone in the last two days. there does seem to remain at least a thousand civilians in that plant. and i am not going to disclose but a significant number of -- of fighters and the ukrainians have claimed they have been able to resupply them which -- which -- which probably will go down in the history books as another incredible feat. you know? they -- these fighters, i would just say these fighters are the ones that have kept, you know, ukrainians fighting. they have -- they are -- they are -- they're -- they have enabled ukrainians to beat russians back around kyiv by tying russian troops up in -- in -- and around mariupol. they have done an incredible feat there. i mean, they will go down in history books and, you know, it's going to be very, very difficult for the russians to dislodge them. it's been six weeks, already. and so, mariupol is a preview of things to come. there is the towns of kramatorsk and slthey should really think twice before attempting them. >> peter, i would like to keep the conversation going. um, hopefully, we can talk in the next few days. uh, i am very -- interesting the conversations that you are having, of course, with those ukrainian fighters inside the steel plant. but good to hear that they are being resupplied, um, because, of course give the -- the situation is very dire indeed. peter, always great to have your thoughts and insight. thanks, peter. well, after ukrainian officials said russia rejected a holiday-cease-fire, ukraine's orthodox christians are celebrating easter today under, of course, the shadow of war. and despite the dangers, and being separated by fighting, many of the faithful are coming home to spend the holiday with the family. as fighting rages on in the east of ukraine, in lviv, a city that has mostly been spared by russia's wrath, parishioners gather for protection and reflection. a somber affair for many this year. >> translator: it's less festive, this year, this mother of three says. but we want to keep our traditions and we want our kids to understand that god is with us. he helps us. we will win. and in this big day, the victory will be ours. despite calls to stay home, young and old line up with their donned food baskets for a blessing. around the corner -- >> uh-huh. >> kindness shared with strangers. >> oh. mm. very good. >> reporter: an opportunity, too, for many ukrainians to support the troops on the frontline with food donations and prayers. we are both sad and joyful in this day because we believe in our soldiers, this parishioner tells me. we are worried for them. we are praying for them and we are asking god to help all of us. others, though, are still too scared to venture to church this easter. so, we meet a young family that today is also feeling thankful. i think i've never been this happy in my life, tells me this young mother. anna maria says she left ukraine for poland when the war started. alone, nine months pregnant, and carrying a world of worry on her shoulders. when we were separated from each other, it put a huge burden psychologically on us. we were constantly reading the news, she says, and the situation in ukraine, in general, we were very worried. without her husband or family by her side, and while her own country was being ripped apart by suffering, the 25-year-old in her own agony gave birth to her little miracle, baby margarita. and this gushing father couldn't be happier to have his girls by his side. i have realized that my wife is not just a woman. she is a hero, he says, and that if i was in her shoes, i wouldn't be able to. i would have broken down. a family, finally, reunited and counting their blessings this easter. >> and, michael, we have seen so many images of long lines of people making their way back to ukraine to be with their loved ones this easter. despite, of course, that long shadow of war. people coming back for various reasons. uh, because they miss their loved ones, because it's such an important holiday. but also, because they believe they need to be here and that this is gonna be a long flight -- a long fight and they are defiant and adamant to keep supporting the troops and their own country. so incredible bravery but also unity right across this country, this holiday. >> as there has been from the beginning of this conflict. so true. isa, thanks so much. isa soares there in lviv. we will check in with isa, next hour, as well. now, french voters going to the polls in the coming hours to pick their president. next, emmanuel macron and marine le pen go head to head for the second time in five yearsment you are watching "cnn newsroom." we'll be right back. vice, tools and a 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(camera shutters) or the places we didn't go. ♪ ♪ waxed. natural. sensitive. new dove ultimate antiperspirant. our unique water based formula and 6x more glycerin. helps restore skin to its best condition. new dove ultimate. decision day has arrived in france. polls opening in less than two hours with the presidential runoff between the incumbent emmanuel macron, and far-right challenger marine le pen. the two candidates are polar opposites, of course, in their visions for the nation's future. mr. macron wants a free-market oriented france at the head of a powerful eu. while, le pen is pushing for economic protectionism and an overhaul of relationships with allies. traveled to iran to visit his mother in 2017 but what started as a family trip turned into a nightmare as he found himself arrested, and sent to a notorious iranian prison for nearly five years. he was feenlly released by iranian authorities last month. he spoke to cnn's becky anderson about his harrowing ordeal. >> this is the yard and we have two trees here. that is before i had hide that shelter for myself. >> reporter: he showed me the yard inside tehran's notorious prison where he worked hard to create a semblance of normality. >> so i used to sit here, even during winter. and uh, when it was even snowing. >> reporter: it's been just over a month since he was releashed from evan prison, along with the british aide worker ratcliff. at his home in south london, he is far from the iranian prison where he spent nearly five years. >> later, i discovered his skeleton. >> how does it feel? >> fantastic. unbelievable. >> still, i am adjusting to my new environment. i wake up sometimes, and i fear that it may still be a dream. >> it still doesn't feel quite real sometimes. um, because you know it was so unexpected. we didn't have any time to prepare mentally for his return. >> reporter: you left here to go req and see your mum back in 2017. take me back. >> she was living on her own and she needed my help. and as i was walking down their street because my mom lives on the top of the hill in north of tehran, four men jumped out of a car in front of me. and they ask are you anoosheh? and i said yes and the others told me to go to sit in the middle of the backseat. and suddenly took off. >> the charge was? >> spying for israel. >> reporter: it was the beginning of what would be a horrifying ordeal for anoosheh and his family. >> to describe it would be an understatement, really. because every second of the day, is he alived? is he being tortured? is he being interrogated? >> and because i was threatened at my wife and my kids would be harmed so i said if i don't exist any longer, then they will be out of harm's way. i did make -- make -- make a few attempts. you don't need to be physically tortured to go through hell. in fact, psychological torture is more effective than physical torture. >> reporter: as he languished in prison, the uk foreign office advised the family to stay quiet. that diplomacy would be their best chance at freeing anoosheh. >> when we did make that decision, and when we were free to really campaign, i -- i was very, very happy. and that's almost, in a way, therapeutic because you can channel everything that you're feeling into your campaigning. >> started immediately after it was taken. and i -- i honestly urge all families do the same because it is very easy to be forgotten. >> thursdays and fridays, it was closed so we had to do something. >> reporter: he moved out of the interrogation center, and could meet his fellow detainees in what they called the university. forming poetry societies, and creating art. >> this is just fantastic. >> reporter: and how did doing this help you? >> you forgot that you were in the prison because you are so engrossed in doing these things. so to -- to finish a day takes centuries but then very quickly. >> reporter: and it took years for the family to realize that his ordeal was lynched to a decades-old debt the uk owed iran worth more than $5 million. >> what did the foreign office tell you about that debt when you first asked them? do you remember the day you raised it with them? >> the foreign office, up until, i would say, past last year, even maybe later, uh, denied that there was any link between the two cases. between the deaths and the cases of my husband. >> once the uk paid the debt, both were released and on a government plane back home. in a statement after their release, the uk foreign secretary liz truss said in parallel we have also settled the ims debt, as we said we would. iran's foreign minister acknowledged the debt had been paid, but tie dee anywayed there was any link to the prisoner' release. >> when they arrived in britain and i saw ashoori, she burst into tears and i am trying to stop my tears now. ha. and she -- she hugged her daughter. it was -- it was something. and this should happen to -- to all the other people who are there. they should get back to their families. people should not be traded for money. >> are you angry? >> i am obviously angry. actually, i am much angrier than he is, i think. i think he's come to terms with it much better than i have. i am annoyed that we have lost this huge chunk of our lives for nothing. >> yeah. i am angry. hugely. >> reporter: boris johnson said that he would like to meet you. um, is that something that you are prepared to do at this point? >> this is incomplete job. if they are back, then i may consider it. but until that, with two people, you cannot actually call yourself a winner. you have paid who 400 million pounds for two people. what -- what about the rest? >> reporter: the fate remains uncertain as a geopolitical gain between iran and the west continues but for now, one family is trying to move on with normal life. bec becky anderson, cnn, london. iran has, previously, defended its judicial process in ashoori's case and insists it respects the human rights of prisoners. i am michael for our sbraugzle viewers, living golf is up nilkts. for everyone else, i will be back with more news in a moment. our best deals on every iphone - including the iphone 13 pro with 5g. ththat's the one with the amazing camera? 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>> michael, it's nice to talk to you. um, this would be like a hugely ambitious gamble by russia. right now, they are trying to control a small part cranof ukraine's east and what this general came out and said out of the blue on friday, was that they were going to take the entire coastline of -- of ukraine, all the way to moldova, which would be hundreds of miles. they are very far from that. but if they did do that, which is why this became such a big deal and people got very worried, it would put them right next to moldova, at the doorway to europe, and moldova was a country that used to be part of the soviet union. and many people right now are worried that russia's tried to reconstitute elements of the soviet union, so there is a history here of russian' interference in this region and that's why it provoked all these fears. >> and you write in "the new york times" a couple days ago, about how vulnerable moldova is, in that sense. but also, how it had big plans before this invasion. tell us more about that. >> okay. sure. i mean, the vulnerability is really interesting. when doll moldova was created after the soviet union collapsed, it put in its constitution, we will remain neutral which means they won't join nato, they won't join a russian military alliance. they really want to be neutral. part of that, also, today means they have a very small army. they have a national army of, like, 10,000 people. so, they have intentionally tried to stay out of any military conflicts which makes them very vulnerable. at the same time, they have been trying to grow economically. moldova is one of the poorest countries in europe. the per-capita income is something, like, $6,000, which is -- which is very low compared to other european countries but they did have all these plans. i visited a winery. moldova actually makes lots of wine and is some pretty good wine and this winery had all these plans to expand, to build a resort, build a spa. businesses across the country w were really gearing up to join the world and this crisis in ukraine, this war, has grind all their plans to a halt. >> let us a he go back and touch on something you raised earlier and speak a little more about how putin's broader desire to reconstitute a greater russia and -- and an empire plays into this moldovan strategy. it is not about battlefield strategy. it's a -- it's a bigger thing, isn't it? >> it is. it's like this dream. it's this vision. it is this ideology that these countries should be together. and they were together for, you know, 60, 70, 80 years. moldova has a very interesting identity. half the country speaks russian. the other half speaks -- the those are totally different orientation. one part is looking west. one part of the country is looking east. so it's -- it's -- it's vulnerable. it is in this awkward position and it is very small and that he is why go t got sucked into the soviet union in the 1920s and was more solidified as part of russia's sphere of influence until the 1990s and it's never really gotten away. and one other point we discovered being there, was how dependent it is on russia. russia completely controls the energy supplies in moldova. and so while germany and other countries in northern europe are struggling to get out from under dependency to russia for its natural gas, moldova has no hope right now of doing that and that ties their hands. they can't -- they can't come out stroo too strongly against russia or they are worried their entire energy supply will be cut off. >> yeah. yeah. and again, what -- what would moving into -- which is mol do dova, let's face it. what would that mean in the broader picture? >> well, it is a very complicated, little place, which is why i didn't bring it up yet but since you did, i will just explain. it is this little slice of moldova that russia has already taken over. it is very similar to what russia's done in eastern ukraine, where they took little pieces, declare them russian -- you know, russian-speaking territories that are loyal to russia. and they have done the same moldova. so if they were to sort of, you know, further occupy parts of moldova, that would put russian troops, like, right on the edge of europe way more than they are right now. and romania and hungary and all these other countries would then be facing like a wall of russian military, much closer than they had been but that's -- that's still a long shot right now but just the fact it was being discussed openly by a high-ranking commander is what triggered all this -- all these fears and concerns. >> yeah. yeah. i was actually in crimea during the russian' invasion there in 2014, when the little red -- little green men came in. even back then, we talked that putin would probably want a land corridor from donbas to crimea. in -- in -- in -- in a strategic sense, why is that important to him? i mean, if he went around to moldova, i mean, that would make ukraine landlocked. >> exactly. i mean, crimea -- nobody's contesting the russian' dominance of crimea right now. there is lots of troops there. russia holds it very securely, as you know, from -- from your experience there. so now, they have been sort of expanding east into mariupol and that's caused this horrendous suffering, and now they are talking about expanding west along the black sea into -- into, you know, western ukraine and moldova. that would give him dominance on the west sea they don't -- on the -- on the black sea they don't have. the issue, though, is they're struggling. we saw that with this -- this sinking of this big naval ship. and with what they are facing in -- in the kyiv area and parts of eastern ukraine. they are struggling. they're not able to take these large chunks of territory, so that's why i wasn't clear that this threat against moldova, how real is it? was this guy just boasting? saber rattling? or was this like a directive from the kremlin, and he was revealing what the next move is? we really don't know. >> yeah. yeah. jeffrey getleman, a pleasure to speak with you. great reporting there. um, let's talk again. >> thank you. all right. well, evacuations from ukraine's war-torn areas are becoming increasingly difficult. while some were able to evacuate from the port city of mykolaiv on saturday, authorities had hoped to get civilians out of mariupol in a column. but city officials say, that effort was thwarted by the russian military, again. so far, more than 5 million people have fled the fighting in ukraine to other countries. the u.n. says more than 7.7 million are internally displaced within the country. all right. we are going to take a quick break. when we come back on "cnn newsroom," mourning the loss of utah's alongest-serving u.s. senator, orrin hatch, we will look back at his incredible life and legacy, next. own your strength, and sesee how far it takes you. tonal. be your strongest. ♪ if i could be you and you could be me ♪ ♪ for just one hour ♪ ♪ walk a mile in my shoes ♪ ♪ walk a mile in my shoes ♪ do you think any of us will look back in our lives, and regret the things we didn't buy? (camera shutters) or the places we didn't go. ♪ ♪ when it comes to tech, everyone wants the next best thing. now with xfi complete from xfinity, you can get updated wifi technology with the new tech upgrade program. plus, protection from cyber threats at home and now on the go. so staying up to date is easier than ever. you look great by the way. right? unbeatable internet. made to do anything so you can do anything. only xfinity will upgrade your tech after 3 years for a more reliable connection. get that and more with xfi complete. upgrade today. when it comes to tech, everyone wants the next best thing. now with xfi complete from xfinity, you can get updated wifi technology with the new tech upgrade program. plus, protection from cyber threats at home and now on the go. so staying up to date is easier than ever. you look great by the way. right? unbeatable internet. made to do anything so you can do anything. only xfinity will upgrade your tech after 3 years for a more reliable connection. get that and more with xfi complete. upgrade today. ♪ welcome back. former u.s. senator orrin hatch of utah passed away at the age of 88. he was the longest sevening senator in u.s. history, leaving senate in 2019 after serving 42 years on capitol hill. the chairman of the hatch foundation called him quote a man of wisdom, kindent, character, and compassion. cnn ryan nobles now on hatch's life and legacy. >> do you solemnly swear -- >> reporter: he was one of the longest-serving republican senators in the chamber's history. orrin hatch spent more than four decades crafting a legacy of unwavering conservative ideals. grandson of mormon settlers, hatch grew up in a poor mill town outside of pittsburgh. tragedy struck his life early when his older brother died in world war ii. >> i got a white streak in my hair right here because it -- it just affected me so drastically. >> reporter: in the late '60s, hatch moved to ut where he practiced law and raised a family. in 1976, he won seat to the u.s. senate arguing the incumbent three-term senator had served too long but that first term turned into a lifelong career and the senate he said into something of a family. >> we may get very partisan time to time. we may get irritated with each other. we may scream and shout. but, you know, we look towards the person. we looking for somebody who is a member of the family. >> reporter: over his seven terms in the senate, hatch favored corporate-tax cuts, limited government deregulation, and military spending. he consistently voted against gay rights, abortion, and stricter gun laws. but despite his ardent conservatism, haftch occasionaly reached across the oil, supporting aids education, the dream act, and stem cell research. in 2000, he made a bid for the republican presidential nomination. >> the reason i am running for president is because i have more experience than all the rest of these candidates for president, put together. >> reporter: but he lost to george w. bush. as the ranking republican on the senate finance committee, hatch ushered in the 2017 tax cuts and job act. >> this is a great day for america because we gonna pass a pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-america bill. >> reporter: the bill was lauded as the biggest tax code change in three decades and criticized for favoring corporations and the wealthy. >> i come from the poor people. and i've been here working my whole stinking career for people who don't have a chance. and i really resent anybody saying that i am just doing this for the rich. give me a break. >> reporter: critics also blasted him for helping president trump dismantle the bear's ears and the grand staircase national monuments in utah. a devout mormon, hatch was a prolific writer of religious music, composing over 300 songs during his lifetime. >> for over 40 years, i have had the great honor of serving as your senator. >> reporter: hatch announced retirement in 2018 shortly after his hometown newspaper, the salt take tribune, called for him to sthep stepdown. >> i have always been a fighter but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves. >> reporter: orrin hatch, a lifelong public servant who chose a path of faith and tradition. u.s. house minority leader, kevin mccarthy, is leading a group of republican lawmakers to the southern border in texas on monday. all of this coming, amid debate over the biden administration's decision to end a measure known as title 42. a trump-era pandemic restriction that allowed immigrants to be turned away at the border. representative marjorie taylor greene is one of nine lawmakers making that trip. she, of course, coming off an unprecedented hearing in atlanta, focused on whether she should be barred from holding office or running for office because of her role in the january-6th riot at the capitol. now, congressional investigators say the white house was warned the january-6th insurrection could turn violent. but it went ahead with that rally near the white house, where trump spoke which, of course, led to a violent mob storming the u.s. capitol and trying to stop the certification of election results. cnn's melanie zoe anona reports. >> reporter: we are learning new information about the investigation into january 6th. thanks to a new court filing unveiled friday night. former chief of staff mark meadows has refluzed to comply with a subpoena to appear before the select committee, and so the select committee unveiled a trove of damning new details to prove exactly why they want meadows to come testify. among those, an aide to mark meadow, cassidy hutch uponson, testified mark meadows was indeed warned january 6th had the potential to turn violent and yet he pressed ahead with rally and the effort to overturn the election on the floors of congress, anyway. hutchinson also testified that she overheard the white house counsel's office saying that a scheme to use an alternate slate of electors was not legally sound. and yet, trump and his allies were still pursuing that idea, anyway. and finally, she explained just how involved republican lawmakers were in the effort to subvert the election. in fact, congressman scott perry of pennsylvania was frantically texting mark meadows the day after christmas about this plot to replace doj leadership with jeff -- jeffrey clark, someone who was thought to be more sympathetic to trump's election lies, and give him a new deputy. i want to read for you, some of those text messages, which were unveiled for the first time in this court filing. swot scott perry texted on december 26th, 2020. mark, just checking in as time continues to count down. 11 duhs to 1/6 and 25 days to inauguration. we got to get going. then again, on december 26th, perry texted, mark, you should call jeff. i just got off the phone with him and he explained to me why the principal deputy won't work, especially with the fbi. they will view it as not having the authority to enforce what needs to be done. now, it is worth pointing out here, scott perry was also asked to testify before the select committee but he, too, has refused to koomt cooperate. however, unlike mark meadows, the select committee has not yet issued a subpoena to scott perry or any other republican lawmakers, for that matter. i'm melanie zanona. cn washington. >> a man that california was arrested after he allegedly sent threatening online messages to the her yam awebster cop. charged with one count of interstate communication of tlat threats to commit violence. according to a federal criminal complaint, he allegedly used the company website contact us tissue -- that page to send what prosecutors call threatening and despicable messages related to the lgbtq community over gender definitions. now, if found guilty, hansen could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. hong kong opening up the city to nonresidents, starting next month, ending a two-year covid travel ban. but there are still plenty of rules for anyone wanting to go. we will have more on that, next. you are watching "cnn newsroom." , tools and a personalized plan that helps you build a future for those you love. vanguard. become an owner. ♪ we believe there's an iovator in all of us. ♪ that's why we build technology that makes it possible for every business... and every person... to come to the table and do more incredible things. ♪simply irresistible♪ ♪ ♪ ♪simply irresistible♪ applebee's irresist-a-bowls are back. now starting at $8.99. now that's eatin' good in the neighborhood. at jp morgan, the only definition of wealth that matters is yours. it can be a smaller house, but a bigger nest egg. a goal to work toward, or the freedom to walk away. with 200 years of experience, personalized advice, and commission free trades on an award-winning app, we are working for you. planning. investing. advice. jp morgan wealth management. a white house official tells cnn the biden administration will continue its push with lawmakers to secure more covid-19 funding when congress returns from recess next week. negotiators were able to reach an agreement on a $10 billion package, but congress left washington for the easter break without passing the bipartisan bill. the official says congressional inaction is already taking a toll as uninsured americans are now forced to foot the bill for items like covid tests, treatments, and vaccines. hong kong will now allow nonresidents to enter the city starting may 1st ending a two-year ban. visitors will need to be fully vaccinated and provide a negative test before entering state-managed quarantine for at least seven days. hong kong will continue to suspend incoming flights for five days if three or more passengers test positive for covid-19 or have insufficient health records. here in the united states, the justice department is appealing this week's court ruling that struck out the federal government's mask mandate for travelers. some airlines and transit agencies swiftly made masks optional after the ruling. passengers on those carriers are now able to decide how much risk they want to take when they travel. we asked cnn's jacqueline howard what many troflers are wondering, does wearing a mask now really protect you? >> the short answer is yes. wearing a mask scan still give you some protection even if you're the only one masked. but how much protection depends on the mask type. one study released by cdc earlier this year, wearing a cloth mask was associated with a 56% lower odds of testing positive for covid-19. wearing a surgical mask was associated with a 66% lower odds. for the most protection, wearing an n95 or kn95 was associated with 83% lower odds. and that's compared with wearing no mask. i spoke with an expert on aerosol particles about this, chris kappa, and he tells me if everyone else is unmasked, those percentages could go down. that's because more particles from unmasked people could release into the air. the bottom line, if your mask is on, that mask can still filter particles, offering some protection. i'm michael holmes. follow me on twitter and instagram. stay with us, our breaking news coverage of the war in ukraine continues after the break. 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(vo) your family is safer in a three-row subaru ascent. love. it's what makes subaru, subaru. when a truck hit my car, the insurance company wasn't fair. i didid't t kn whahatmy c caswa, so i called the barnes firm. i'm rich barnes. it's hard for people to k how much their accident case is worth.h barnes. t ouour juryry aorneneys hehelpou i was hit by a car get t tand needed help.oiblele. t ouour juryry aorneneys hehi called the barnes firm. that was the best call i could've made. i'm rich barnes. it's hard for people to know how much their accident case is let our injury attorneys know he how much their accident cget the best result possible. this is cnn breaking news. >> hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the united states and right around the world. i'm isa soares live in lviv, ukraine. russian forces continue their brutal strikes in the southern and eastern regions of ukraine. >> i'm michael holms live from cnn world headquarters in atlanta. we are one hour away from the polls opening in the french presidential election. macron versus le pen, the rematch.

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