News Wrap: Violence in Iraq kills dozens, U.S. says Iran tried to steal its drone

Amna Nawaz:

The last leader of the Soviet Union has died.

Russian officials say Mikhail Gorbachev passed away in Moscow today after a long illness. He took power in 1985 and introduced sweeping reforms, but he could not prevent the collapse of the Soviet state and its communist empire at the end of 1991. At his death, Mikhail Gorbachev was 91 years old.

We will look back on his life at the end of the program.

The United Nations is calling for $160 million in emergency funding to help Pakistan cope with catastrophic flooding. The U.N. secretary-general made his appeal in a video message today. He cited the scope of a disaster that's killed more than 1,160 people, displaced millions, and destroyed roads and crops.

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:

Pakistan is awash in suffering. The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids, the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding. Livelihoods are shattered, critical infrastructure wiped out, and people's hopes and dreams have washed away.

Amna Nawaz:

The appeal came as flood victims lined up for food and water distributed by volunteers. Floodwaters have begun to recede in places, but more rain is expected.

We will return to this later in the program.

A tense calm has returned in Iraq's capital city after the worst violence there in years. Fighting between rival factions left at least 30 dead and dozens more wounded.

Simona Foltyn is in Baghdad and has this report.

Simona Foltyn:

After a night of deadly clashes between Iraq's Shiite factions, a sudden reversal today, as followers of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr began withdrawing from the Green Zone, home to embassies and government institutions in Central Baghdad.

Ahmed Ahmed, Protester (through translator):

As members of Sadrist movement, we follow what our leader orders. The leader asked us to withdraw.

Simona Foltyn:

In a televised address, Sadr ordered his supporters and militia to leave.

Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraqi Political Leader (through translator):

I still believe that my supporters are disciplined and obedient. And if in the next 60 Minutes, they do not withdraw, as well as from Parliament, then I will abandon these supporters.

Simona Foltyn:

Sadr's call for de-escalation came after weeks of unrest, during which he tried, but ultimately failed to force his will onto his political rivals.

Moments after he announced his withdrawal from politics on Monday, hundreds of angry supporters stormed the government palace. The protests quickly turned into heavy fighting, and armed wings of Iran-aligned parties who oppose Sadr forcing the cleric to back down.

Muqtada Al-Sadr (through translator):

I had hoped for peaceful protests, with pure hearts, hearts filled with love for their country, not ones that resort to gunfire. This saddens the revolution.

Simona Foltyn:

The clashes stoked fears that the country could descend into a fresh cycle of violence.

Nour Al-Moussawi, Iraqi Civilian (through translator):

This dangerous situation and the overtaking of the government's property or storming the highest authority, which is the Republican Palace, will destabilize the economic situation, as well as our daily lives.

Simona Foltyn:

All of this played out against the backdrop of political deadlock. Sadr's party won the largest share of seats in last October's parliamentary elections, but not enough to form a government.

His refusal to negotiate with Shia rivals has left the government, and the country in limbo. The curfew has now been lifted and life in the Iraqi Capitol is slowly returning to normal, marking the end of Baghdad's bloodiest day in recent years.

But a dangerous precedent has been set and, for now, the rifts over government formation that sparked the armed clashes remain unresolved. In the absence of a clear path towards a political solution, there's a risk that the two sides may once again resort to settling their scores in the streets.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Simona Foltyn in Baghdad.

Amna Nawaz:

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy and Iran have had a run-in in the Persian Gulf over a sea drone. The Navy says Iran's Revolutionary Guard tried to snatch the unmanned surveillance vessel in international waters last night. The Iranians released the drone after a four-hour standoff. The incident followed U.S. airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Syria last week.

Heavy new fighting raged today in Southern Ukraine, a possible sign of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kyiv claimed its forces broke through Russian lines around Kherson, a strategic port city that sits on the Dnieper River. Eyewitness video showed what appeared to be munitions exploding under artillery fire. Ukraine said it destroyed bridges and ammunition depots. The Russians said they repelled the attacks.

President Biden tore into Republicans today over political violence. He traveled to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and he denounced GOP lawmakers who've attacked the FBI for searching the Trump estate in Florida.

Joe Biden, President of the United States: It's sickening to see the new attacks on the FBI, threatening lives of law enforcement agents and their families, for simply carrying out the law and doing their job.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Joe Biden:

Look, I want to say this as clear as I can. There's no place in this country, no place, for endangering the lives of law enforcement.

Amna Nawaz:

The president returns to Pennsylvania on Thursday for a speech in Philadelphia.

We will have more on his gun policy agenda later in the program.

Meanwhile, fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 cases in China have prompted new lockdowns in several major cities. Workers in Shenzhen put up red barricades today to seal off housing compounds. Visitors will need to show proof of a negative test to enter. Lockdowns also affected half of the six million people in the port city of Dalian.

And, on Wall Street, strong economic data reinforced fears that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates to control inflation. Major indexes were down 1 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 308 points to close at 31790. The Nasdaq fell 134 points. The S&P 500 shed 44.