News Wrap: Defense minister replacement shows Putin’s desperation, State Department says

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• Amna Nawaz:

  The U.S. State Department says that Vladimir Putin's appointment of a new defense minister shows his desperation to sustain his invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, Putin tapped a civilian economist to replace longtime ally Sergei Shoigu in the post.

  On the ground, Ukrainian officials say some Russian soldiers have advanced across the Kharkiv region. Farther south, Donetsk is also locked in combat.

  Meanwhile, across the Russian border in Belgorod, the death toll from a building collapse rose to 15 today. Russian officials blamed Ukrainian shelling.

  The death toll from ongoing flooding in Brazil has now risen to 147, with more than 100 people still missing and over 600,000 in the Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul still displaced. The downpours have made rescues difficult and left many homes and businesses abandoned. Police patrol the flooded streets to prevent looting and robberies.

• Capt. Rircardo Gruner, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Police (through interpreter):

  Since the first days of the floods, we have been patrolling and policing areas that are difficult to access. Only with boats and jet skis is it possible to provide a response in the fight against looting to the population here.

• Amna Nawaz:

  The heavy rains began in late April and have impacted over two million people across more than 400 cities.

  In Indonesia, officials say 44 people are confirmed dead after flash floods and landslides over the weekend. Monsoon rains on Sumatra Island sent torrents of mud and cold lava from a local volcano into a rivers, causing it to overflow. Rescuers combed through piles of mud and debris today to search for victims. Fifteen people are still missing.

  Smoke from wildfires in Canada prompted health warnings in parts of the Upper Midwest. Authorities in Minnesota issued an air quality alert for the entire state and warned people to remain indoors until midday on Monday. A similar alert was issued for Northwestern Wisconsin.

  Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people have evacuated Fort Nelson, British Columbia, as a fire nears the town. Fires are also burning in Alberta and Manitoba provinces.

  Activists are concerned over the whereabouts of a citizen journalist in China who was due to be released from prison today. Zhang Zhan was serving a four-year sentence after documenting the first COVID lockdowns in the city of Wuhan in 2020. Monday marked the end of that sentence, but one of her lawyers told reporters that he hasn't heard from Zhang or her family.

  In Baltimore tonight, crews have carried out a controlled demolition of the largest remaining section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It's part of a process they call precision cutting. This allows the steel trusses resting on the Dali container ship to fall into the water. They will then be loaded onto barges and carried away.

  Maryland Governor Wes Moore said during a press conference this morning that safety is his top priority.

• Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD):

  We have gotten to this point without a single injury. We plan on continuing this mission without a single injury. That is the standard that we have going forward. The use of precision cuts will help us to preserve our strong safety record on this mission. And I want to remind everybody just how complicated this mission is.

• Amna Nawaz:

  The operation was set to begin on Sunday, but was pushed to today because of bad weather.

  A group of major U.S. airlines is suing the Department of Transportation over a rule requiring them to clearly disclose added fees. Officials say the regulations will help consumers avoid unexpected charges for baggage, flight changes and other services. But, in a statement, the airline said the Biden administration's — quote — "attempt to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace is beyond its authority."

  Melinda French Gates is stepping down from the charitable foundation she created with her former husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. French Gates said that leaving would give her an — quote — "additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families."

  The pair divorced in 2021, but continued their philanthropic work together. And we should note, the Gates Foundation is a funder of the "NewsHour."

  On Wall Street today, stocks close with little change, as investors wait for Wednesday's reading on inflation. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 81 points to close at $39,431. The Nasdaq rose 47 points. The S&P 500 ended the day virtually flat.