News Wrap: Israeli, Palestinian officials try to de-escalate violence

John Yang:

Good evening, I'm John Yang. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its second year, Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country cannot ignore the nuclear capabilities of both the United States and NATO countries.

In an interview he repeated his claim that NATO and others want to see Russia suffer a strategic defeat.

His comments came as Russian state news released drone footage showing devastation to the city of Bakhmut, where frontline fighting has been fierce. The Ukrainian military says battles there are going on and Russia has been unsuccessful in its offensives.

Meanwhile, in a weekend marked with war commemorations, Ukrainians gathered in Odesa to remember volunteer soldiers who have lost their lives over the past year.

Tetyana Vdovichenko, Mother of Fallen Soldier (through translator): He decided on his own to join the Territorial Defense Battalion. He worked for eight years as a sailor, but he then told me his nerves couldn't take it any longer. I said, Son, we're at war who told you to join the battalion. He told me who else would defend you mother if not me.

John Yang:

Later in the program, a look at Ukraine's efforts to rebuild in the midst of war.

There was fresh violence in the West Bank today even Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Jordan to try to de-escalate growing tensions. Earlier today a Palestinian shot and killed two Israeli brothers. And then by tonight, Israeli settlers want a violent rampage through the West Bank, setting cars and homes on fire. It's the worst outbreak of settler violence in decades.

It comes after the Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs meeting and Jordan agreed on steps intended to calm the surging violence ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and a statement issued by the host country. Jordan said Israel agreed to put a four to six-month freeze on authorizing new settlements in the occupied West Bank.

President Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan welcomed the meeting call it — calling it a starting point.

In Nigeria voting extended into a second day in the nation's closely contested presidential race. In some places where the polls had already closed ballot counting was underway. In other places where technical glitches and logistical challenges caused delays, voters were still lining up. The country's election commission says they expect to have a final vote tally within five days.

Up the coast of Southern Italy, at least 59 people aboard a migrant boat died this morning when their wooden craft smashed against rocky reefs in stormy weather. Debris from the boat littered the shoreline as Italian coast guard and police searched for bodies.

Searches were also underway at sea and from the air for survivors. The boat left Turkey several days ago. Many of its passengers were from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia. The Italian coast guard said at least 80 people survived.

The long running comic strip Dilbert is disappearing from a number of the nation's major newspapers. The cancellations come after Dilbert creator Scott Adams publicly referred to black people as members of a hate group and urged white people to get away from them.

The Los Angeles Times, the San Antonio Express News and the USA Today network are among those calling the remarks racist, hateful and discriminatory and are dropping the script.

And an update, the Howard University men's swimming and diving team that we told you about last week has won its first conference championship in 34 years. Howard's the only historically black university with a swim team.

Still to come on "PBS News Weekend," why the use of sleeping pills is on the rise and a Missouri gun law creating confusion for police.