News Wrap: Former police officer sentenced for his role in George Floyd’s death

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: A judge in Minnesota sentenced the last former police officer convicted of state charges in George Floyd's death.

Tou Thao was given 57 months for aiding and abetting in manslaughter. He held back bystanders as Floyd was pinned by the neck. In court today. Thao told the judge — quote — "I did not commit these crimes. My conscience is clear." The judge said he'd hoped Thao would show more remorse.

In Niger, leaders of last month's military coup have closed the country's airspace and they're warning against any violations. They'd refuse to reinstate the elected president by Sunday, a deadline that was set by the West African bloc known as ECOWAS. Late last night, a coup spokesman said the group should tread carefully.

Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, Niger Army (through interpreter):

Information in our possession indicates that forces of a foreign power are preparing to attack Niger and its people in coordination with ECOWAS and armed terrorist groups. We warn against interference in Niger's internal affairs, as well as the disastrous consequences for the security of our region.

Amna Nawaz:

The ECOWAS nations' next step is unclear. They announced plans today for a summit in Nigeria on Thursday.

And, in Washington, the U.S. State Department said more than $100 million an American aid to Niger is on hold.

Russian shelling in Ukraine struck a series of towns near the war's front lines today, killing at least seven people. The Donetsk and Kharkiv regions were hit, along with Kherson. Meanwhile, Moscow dismissed weekend talks in Saudi Arabia; 40 nations discussed a Ukrainian peace plan, but Russia was not invited. Another meeting is scheduled in six weeks.

A looming tropical storm is forcing mass evacuations at the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. The two-week event is being held on a vast coastal campground and a heat wave had already caused hundreds of scouts, mostly teens, to fall ill. Today, organizers said the jamboree will continue in new sites around Seoul.

Kim Sung-Ho, South Korean Vice Minister For Disease and Safety Management (through interpreter): Through cooperation between the government and local authorities, we plan to secure administrative facilities and private educational facilities, primarily in the capital region, which is not directly within the typhoon's impact zone.

Amna Nawaz:

The storm is expected to hit the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday.

In economic news, "Barbie" has broken the billion-dollar mark in movie ticket sales in just three weeks. That makes Greta Gerwig the first woman to solo-direct a billion-dollar film. In modern history, only 53 movies have earned more than a billion, not counting for inflation.

And on Wall Street today, stocks bounced back from last week's losses. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 407 points, or more than 1 percent, to close at 35473. The Nasdaq rose 85 points and the S&P 500 added 40, almost 1 percent.

And Oscar-winning director William Friedkin, a major name in 1970s Hollywood, has died in Los Angeles. He scored first with "The French Connection" starring Gene Hackman as a New York detective hunting a heroine overlord. The car chase is still regarded as one of the greatest in film history. Then came "The Exorcist," with a head-turning performance by Linda Blair. It was so scary, many moviegoers left before it ended.

William Friedkin kept working until his final years. He was 87 years old.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": questions arise about the future of freight, as a trucking company that received millions of pandemic dollars files for bankruptcy; the secretary of Veterans Affairs discusses compensation for veterans affected by so-called burn pits; an award-winning poet gives her Brief But Spectacular take on forgiveness; plus much more.