News Wrap: Ala. lawmakers approve congressional map without 2nd majority-Black district

Geoff Bennett:

In the day's other headlines: There's still no relief in sight from extreme weather that's plagued much of the nation this month.

Northeastern Ohio was cleaning up today from intense thunderstorms that hit last night. Winds gusting to 80 miles an hour blew down trees and power lines. That came as blistering heat kept much of the U.S. and Europe on broil. Experts warn heat waves will soon dominate at least half the year.

John Nairn, World Meteorological Organization:

We're on trend in seeing a rising global temperatures. So that will contribute to heat waves increasing in intensity and frequency. And what also happens is, they spread across the seasons in time.

We have got quite clear indications that they're already growing out in the spring. It's the area with which we are seeing the strongest growth in heat waves.

Geoff Bennett:

The U.N. agency says current extreme heat is likely to persist and much of the world through August.

Russian forces kept Ukraine's Odesa region under heavy bombardment today. Cruise missiles took out farm storage buildings and pounded grain terminals. On the Black Sea, the Russian Navy practiced firing drills to blockade any Ukrainian grain shipments. Moscow withdrew this week from a U.N. deal allowing the shipments.

Meantime, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it's ready to consider ways to restore the grain deal in cooperation with Turkey.

Sergey Vershinin, Russian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister (through translator):

The format that you propose, a new deal with Turkey, is probably possible, but only after our demands are met. If they are met, we're ready to consider any options. We're ready to consider any variations of a deal that would continue grain supplies to world markets, both grains and fertilizers.

Geoff Bennett:

In New York today, the U.N.'s humanitarian aid chief warned that blockading grain exports from Ukraine means millions of people in developing countries will go hungry.

Back in this country, lawmakers in Alabama have refused to create a second-majority Black congressional district. That move defies an order from the U.S. Supreme Court to redraw their congressional map to give Black voters more of a say in elections. The state's new voting map will likely face a new round of legal challenges.

Several major tech companies have agreed to abide by new artificial intelligence safeguards. President Biden met with executives of Amazon, Google, Meta and others today on the new standards. They include watermarking manipulated content, among other things. For now, the safeguards are voluntary.

And stocks were mixed on Wall Street today. The Dow Jones industrial average gained two points to close it 35228. The Nasdaq fell 30 points. The S&P 500 added a point.

And soccer great Lionel Messi will make his American debut tonight with his new team, Inter Miami of Major League soccer. They will face off against Mexico City's Cruz Azul in a tournament. Messi had his first training season with his new teammates on Tuesday. The World Cup champion for Argentina has a contract that will pay him more than a million dollars per match.

And still to come on the "NewsHour": an investigation finds sexual assault claims against immigration officials are routinely ignored; Jonathan Capehart and Gary Abernathy weigh in on the week's political headlines; director Christopher Nolan discusses his new film about the father of the atomic bomb; and we remember the life and legendary career of singer Tony Bennett.