News Wrap: Kremlin denies involvement in Prigozhin plane crash

Nation

In our news wrap Friday, the Kremlin denied involvement in the plane crash that likely killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, all 19 people charged in Georgia's election interference case have now turned themselves in, storms in Michigan killed five people and left thousands without power and UNICEF says four million children in Pakistan are still in need of aid a year after catastrophic flooding there.

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  • Geoff Bennett:

    All 19 people charged in Georgia's election interference case have now turned themselves in to an Atlanta jail.

    That includes former President Donald Trump, who surrendered last night and was released on $200,000 bond. A Georgia judge scheduled the first trial for Trump co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro to begin on October 23. Chesebro filed a request for a speedy trial in the case.

    In Russia, the Kremlin denied involvement in the plane crash that likely killed mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. U.S. intelligence believes an intentional explosion downed the plane. They say that's consistent with actions Russian President Putin has taken in the past to — quote — "silence his critics," which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov firmly rejected.

    Dmitry Peskov, Spokesman for Vladimir Putin (through interpreter): There's a great deal of speculation surrounding this plane crash. In the West, all this speculation is presented from a certain angle.

    All of this is an absolute lie. It's necessary to rely exclusively on facts when covering this issue. There are not many facts yet, because they need to be established through an investigation.

  • Geoff Bennett:

    Prigozhin led a failed uprising against Putin in June. Russia's investigative committee says it's now recovered the planes flight recorders. Genetic testing is ongoing to identify the bodies.

    The Russian Defense Ministry says it shot down 73 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours. Most of them targeted military assets on the Russian-held Crimean Peninsula. It was one of the largest known Ukrainian air attacks on Russian territory since the war started last year. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and annexed it in 2014.

    Severe storms in Michigan overnight killed five people and left hundreds of thousands of customers without power. The National Weather Service confirmed at least two tornadoes in the state downed trees and power lines. Days of heavy rain have also flooded highways and streets. Residents are now struggling to clean up.

  • Muqitu Berry, Storm Victim:

    What you see here happened. I can't get out my driveway. Look around. I can't go anywhere. We are out of power. And it's very frustrating.

  • Geoff Bennett:

    Authorities said at least one of last night's tornadoes packed winds of up to 90 miles per hour.

    The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, estimates that four million children in Pakistan are still in need of aid a year after catastrophic flooding there. Last year's record monsoon season put a third of the country underwater, destroying homes, roads and crops. UNICEF says flooding this season has made conditions even worse.

    There were new rulings today in two states over bans on gender-affirming health care for minors. A Missouri judge said that state's ban can go into effect on Monday, as scheduled. Meantime, in Texas, a judge blocked a similar state law after a group of families and doctors sued to protect the rights of transgender minors. The Texas attorney general's office is expected to appeal.

    Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell raised the possibility today that the Central Bank will need to raise interest rates again. He spoke at a conference of Central Bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Powell said that while inflation has gone down from its peak, it still remains too high.

  • Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chairman:

    It is the Fed's job to bring inflation down to our 2 percent goal, and we will do so. We are prepared to raise rates further, if appropriate, and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective.

  • Geoff Bennett:

    The Feds' policymakers are set to meet again in mid-September.

    Powell's remarks triggered a rally on Wall Street today. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 247 points to close it 34347. The Nasdaq rose 126 points. The S&P 500 added 29.

    Still to come on the "NewsHour": writers Sarah Smarsh and Gary Abernathy weigh in on this week's Republican presidential debate; allegations of misogyny roil Spain's Soccer Federation after its World Cup wins; and the Goo Goo Dolls describe what it's like to be back on tour and gaining new, younger fans.

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News Wrap: Kremlin denies involvement in Prigozhin plane crash first appeared on the PBS News website.

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