Judy: In the day's other news,
Russia insisted that Ukraine,
understand quote, "The real
situation" and accept Moscow's
demands.
Those include ceding swaths of
land.
In eastern Ukraine, Russian fire
pounded dozens of towns, leaving
debris and smashed homes.
Ukrainian officials conceded
their troops face an extremely
difficult time.
>> As of today, the aggressor
conducts intensified fire along
the whole line of contact and
the positions of our forces in
the donetsk operational region.
The situation is difficult and
there are signs of escalation.
The enemy has used all resources
to capture our territory and
surround our forces.
Judy: Separately, Russia's
president Putin suggested his
naval blockade of Ukraine's
ports could ease if western
sanctions are lifted.
The blockade has largely stopped
Ukraine's grain exports.
The Biden administration called
today for the bloc of nations
confronting Russian aggression
to join in challenging China.
Secretary of state Antony
blinken criticized beijing's
aggressive moves abroad and
increased repression at home.
He said China poses an even
greater danger to global order
than Russia does.
>> While our policy has not
changed, what has changed is
beijing's growing coercion, like
trying to cut off Taiwan's
relations with countries around
the world and blocking it from
participating in international
organizations.
And beijing has engaged in
increasingly provocative
rhetoric and activity.
Judy: At the same time, blinken
said the U.S. Is ready to work
with China on climate change and
other issues.
Meanwhile, China's top diplomat
began a tour of eight pacific
island nations.
It came amid growing concerns
over beijing's spreading
military and financial influence
in the region.
The Chinese foreign minister led
a large delegation to their
first stop, the Solomon Islands.
The two nations have signed a
sweeping new security pact.
The ousted prime minister of
Pakistan, imran khan, called off
a mass sit-in outside parliament
today.
Thousands of protesters had
clashed with police in
Islamabad, calling for the new
government to resign.
Khan demanded new elections, or
warned he'd be back with three
million supporters.
>> I am giving the government
six days to announce a new
election date, announce election
dates in the month of June,
dissolve assemblies.
If you do not, then I will come
back to Islamabad with all of my
men.
Judy: The current prime minister
signaled is open to talking with
khan, but he said any decision
about elections has to be made
by the parliament.
Back in this country, a state
appeals court in New York ruled
that former president trump must
answer questions under oh in a
civil probe of his financial
dealings.
His son Donald junior and
daughter ivanka are included in
the order, first issued by a
lower court.
Mr. Trump could still appeal the
state's highest court.
He also still faces a parallel
criminal investigation.
New census estimates that eight
of the 10 largest American
cities lost population in the
first year of the pandemic.
New York dropped by more than
300,000 people.
Los Angeles and Chicago also
made the list.
San Francisco lost more than 6%
of its pre-pandemic population,
the largest rate of decline.
On Wall Street, strong earnings
reports from retailers gave
stocks a boost.
The Dow Jones industrial average
gained 517 points, more than
1.5%, to close at 32,637.
The NASDAQ rose 306, more than
2.5%.
The S&P 500 added 79, 2%.
And after ray Liotta, best known
for his roles in goodfellas and
field of dreams, has died.
His publicist says he passed
away in his sleep overnight in
the Dominican Republic as he was
filming a movie.
Ray Liotta was 67 years old.
Still to come, why North Korea
conducted missile chests --
missile tests shortly after
president Biden's trip to Asia.
And the first black winner of
the Pritzker prize for
architecture explains his
innovative work.