Good morning. We’re covering Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack on the Kremlin and the failures of the U.S. strategy in Sudan. |
 | | Two explosions occurred 15 minutes apart over the Kremlin early yesterday morning.Associated Press |
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Dueling accusations over Kremlin explosions |
Russia accused the Ukrainian government of orchestrating a drone attack, which it described it as a deliberate attempt to strike President Vladimir Putin’s residence. The Kremlin said the strike was foiled by Russian “electronic warfare systems,” but did not release any evidence to show that Ukraine was behind the explosions. |
Ukraine strongly denied any involvement. It asserted that Russia had manufactured the incident to distract attention from a looming counteroffensive. A senior Ukrainian official warned that it was an attempt by the Kremlin to set the stage for deadlier strikes. |
U.S. intelligence agencies were still trying to determine what actually happened. “We simply don’t know,” Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, said when he was asked about the incident. “I would take anything coming out of the Kremlin with a very large shaker of salt.” |
Videos: See footage of what appears to be two drones exploding minutes apart about the Kremlin. |
 | | These Sudanese refugees crossed into Chad, as the displacement crisis grows.Gueipeur Denis Sassou/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
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How the U.S. miscalculated in Sudan |
Just a few weeks ago, American diplomats thought Sudan was on the verge of a deal to push ahead on a transition from military dictatorship to democracy. But after fighting erupted between forces led by two rival generals, the U.S. faced questions about its failed diplomacy. |
The big picture: Sudan’s war is creating exactly the kind of power vacuum that the U.S. had hoped to avoid. Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group are among those trying to fill that vacuum, throwing their weight behind one side or another, U.S. officials said. Sudan’s deposed prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, has said that a civil war in Sudan would make the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya look like “a small play.” |
Evacuations: Saudi Arabia has played a central role in helping people leave Sudan, sending naval ships and commercial vessels on more than a dozen trips across the Red Sea. They have evacuated nearly 6,000 people so far, fewer than 250 of them Saudi citizens. |
 | | Some displaced residents of Bikini Atoll live on Majuro, Marshall Islands.Josh Haner/The New York Times |
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In the 1980s, the U.S. created two funds to compensate the residents of Bikini Atoll, who were displaced by the nuclear tests there. After a campaign by Bikini leaders, the Trump administration in 2017 lifted the withdrawal limits and stopped auditing the main fund, then worth $59 million. |
The mayor of the council that oversees the displaced community has made a series of questionable purchases, including $4.8 million for land in Hawaii. He said they were investments, made with an eye toward rising climate threats, but he has acknowledged using the fund for personal expenses. |
No more lifeline: The Bikini community is in crisis. Monthly payments of about $150 to each of the community’s 6,800 members to help cover food and rent have ceased. |
- Astronomers spotted a dying star swallowing a large planet for the first time. Although far in the future, that’s most likely the fate that awaits Earth.
- Weather forecasters say it’s increasingly likely that El Niño will arrive in the next few months. It could bring drought to Australia, Indonesia and parts of southern Asia.
- A study suggested that one dose of the HPV vaccine is effective at preventing infections for at least three years, which could cut rates of cervical cancer and could make distribution easier.
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 | | Andrew Testa for The New York Times |
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Bristol, a diverse city in southwestern England, is younger than the rest of the country. As the coronation of King Charles III approaches, views of the royal family diverge by age, with many younger residents questioning the need for a monarchy at all. |
Candles: Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum. It emits fumes when it burns, which can irritate the eyes or exacerbate respiratory conditions. And wicks can contain lead. Consider beeswax or soy wax candles instead, but read the fine print to make sure there’s no paraffin. |
Plastic containers: Kitchens are full of plastic bags and containers. Some have Bisphenol A, or BPA, which has been linked to all kinds of health issues. (BPA-free plastics can contain Bisphenol S, which is chemically similar.) Consider a glass or metal container with a silicone lid. There are also plastic-free wraps — cotton covered in wax — which are often compostable. |
 | | Chris Simpson for The New York Times |
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That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Amelia |
“The Daily” is about the failing health of Senator Dianne Feinstein. |
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