News Wrap: Putin vows to continue Ukraine invasion, Obamas unveil White House portraits

Judy Woodruff:

This has been another scorching day across much of the American West. Utility operators in California issued a new statewide alert, urging consumers to conserve electricity. The state avoided blackouts on Tuesday, despite energy demands hitting an all-time high.

We will take a closer look, right after the news summary.

Police in Saskatchewan, Canada, have taken a man suspected of stabbing 10 people to death into custody. Myles Sanderson disappeared after Sunday's attacks at the Cree Nation Reserve and the village of Weldon in Saskatchewan. His younger brother was found dead earlier this week at the reserve.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is defying pressure to halt the war in Ukraine and insisting that Moscow will forge ahead. He spoke today at a forum in Vladivostok and mocked Western sanctions. Instead, he said Russia's economy has weathered the worst.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President (through translator):

I am sure that we have not lost anything and will not lose anything. When it comes to the gains, I can say that the main one is the strengthening of our sovereignty. Everything that keeps us from moving forward will be abandoned. We will gain momentum, as will the pace of development.

Judy Woodruff:

Putin also threatened to cut off energy supplies to Europe if the European Union imposes a price cap on Russian natural gas.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, shelling resumed near the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The U.N. nuclear agency called Tuesday for a protection zone around the site.

On the pandemic, the World Health Organization reports that new COVID infections fell 12 percent worldwide last week. But, in China, 65 million people are now under lockdowns, as the government enforces its zero COVID policy. That includes 21 million in Chengdu, where authorities kept people in their apartments even during an earthquake on Monday.

Back in this country, the governor's race is set in Massachusetts after another primary win by a Trump-endorsed candidate. Geoff Diehl defeated a more moderate Republican on Tuesday, and will face Democrat Maura Healey in November. Healey is favored to flip the seat in favor of Democrats and to become the state's first gay governor and the first woman elected to the office. We will take a closer look later in the program.

The Obamas were back in the White House today to unveil their official portraits. The former president and first lady pulled back coverings to show their likenesses. And Michelle Obama appeared to tie the ceremony to former President Trump's rejection of the 2020 election results.

Michelle Obama, Former First Lady:

Traditions like this matter, not just for those of us who hold these positions, but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy. You see, the people, they make their voices heard with their vote. We hold an inauguration to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Judy Woodruff:

Former President Obama's portrait is by Robert McCurdy. Mrs. Obama's was painted by Sharon Sprung.

Public schools in Seattle canceled their first day of school today in the face of a teachers strike. The walkout centers on demands for higher pay, mental health support, and better teacher-pupil staffing ratios for special education. Contract negotiations are continuing.

On Wall Street, stocks showed some life, as tech shares rose and oil prices fell. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 436 points, more than 1 percent, to close at 31581. The Nasdaq rose 247 points. That's 2 percent. The S&P 500 added 1.8 percent.

And former NPR foreign correspondent Anne Garrels has died, after fighting lung cancer. She joined NPR in 1988 after working for ABC and NBC News. Over the years, she covered conflicts in Chechnya, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. And she was one of a handful of Western journalists who reported live from Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. Anne Garrels was 71 years old.