Global Courant
A large dam has been destroyed in Ukraine
The Kakhovka dam and power station in southern Ukraine were destroyed yesterday, sending streams of water through the breach and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the disaster, but it was not immediately clear who was responsible. Kiev officials said Moscow forces blew up the Russian-controlled dam on the Dnipro River in the early hours of the morning.
More than 40,000 people could be in the path of flooding, according to a Ukrainian official. Here’s a map of the damage.
Downstream, residents described watching in horror as the water rushed by, dragging trees and debris from washed-out homes with it. More than 1,300 people were evacuated, officials said, as conservationists warned of a massive and long-lasting environmental disaster. Waters are expected to peak today, according to an expert.
“People here are shocked,” said my colleague Marc Santora, who was in southern Ukraine. “They’ve gotten used to all kinds of Russian bombings, all kinds of horrors, but this is so much bigger, both in scope and in the repercussions it will have across society.”
The dam’s destruction came a day after US officials said it appeared a Ukrainian counter-offensive had begun. President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed “Russian terrorists”. The Kremlin spokesman said Ukraine had carried out a “sabotage” attack.
The dam provides water for drinking water and agriculture, and to cool reactors and spent fuel at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but the UN’s nuclear watchdog said there was “no immediate risk to nuclear safety”.
Analysis: The dam is far from the intense fighting in the eastern Donetsk region. But its destruction could divert both sides’ resources from the counter-offensive.
Other concerns: The destruction could also wash away underground mines that Russian and Ukrainian troops have planted on the banks of the Dnipro, creating new dangers in once-safe areas.
“It’s hard to overstate how surprising this news is,” writes my colleague Kevin Draper. The PGA Tour and LIV have battled and sued each other for the past two years. Some in the PGA had sharply criticized LIV, both for dividing golf and for associating it with Saudi Arabia and its poor human rights record. All court cases now end between the formal rivals.
Yet much is still unknown about the new golf company, which was founded so quickly that it was announced before it even had a name. One thing is certain, LIV has gained a foothold that guarantees its great influence in the future of the game. The governor of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund will be the chairman of the new company.
Background: LIV lured some of the world’s most prominent players, some with contracts reportedly worth $200 million, and offered tournament prizes that were the richest in golf history. Tiger Woods, who turned down a nine-figure offer from LIV, has belittled the league’s competitive approach.
Saudi ambitions: The kingdom’s wealth fund has bought a Premier League team and is sponsoring Formula 1 races. Saudi Arabia is also bidding to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Harry has his day in court
Prince Harry took the stand in a London court to accuse the Mirror newspaper group of hacking into his mobile phone more than a decade ago. He spent five hours venting grievances to the tabloids.
Harry said some journalists “have blood on their hands” and characterized their behavior as “extremely mean” and “criminal”. He said he suffered from “depression and paranoia” from the news coverage. His testimony will continue today.
The trial was in many ways a new chapter in what has become a life of litigation: Harry and his wife, Meghan, are plaintiffs in no less than seven cases against the tabloids and other news media organizations. Harry has also made claims against the Home Office in connection with the loss of his police protection while in Britain.
THE LAST NEWS
Around the world
Rising seas and coastal erosion threaten D-Day sites on France’s beaches. Historians now wonder: Can the memory be preserved if the Allied invasion landing sites disappear?
“If I don’t have the site, I lose the history of what happened here,” said a battle memorial superintendent. “You might as well stay home on the couch and read a book.”
Lives lived: Astrud Gilberto sang “The Girl From Ipanema” and helped popularize Brazilian bossa nova in the US. She died at the age of 83.
ART AND IDEAS
From Blackpink to ‘The Idol’
The first two episodes of HBO’s new drama “The Idol” were panned for their graphic sexual content. The network is leaning into the controversy, marketing the star-studded series, about a pop star whose life takes a turn after a breakdown, as the “sloppier love story in all of Hollywood.”
Jennie van Blackpink, the blockbuster K-pop girl group, is making her acting debut as a backup dancer for the show’s aspiring idol, who is played by Lily-Rose Depp. On TikTok or Twitter, the number of posts criticizing the show probably matches the number of posts praising Jennie’s performance.
PLAY, WATCH, EAT
What to cook
Tomatoes, salmon and herb butter provide a quick and tasty dish pasta dinner.
What to read
In Dorothy Tse’s ‘Owlish’, set in a fictional city that replaces Hong Kong, an adulterous professor fails to see the social decay around him.
What to listen to
John Mellencamp’s new album, ‘Orpheus Descending’, is a disdainful look at America.
Fashion
If you’re packing shoes for travel, consider a “sleaker,” the dressy sneaker that’s suitable for both city walks and rural hikes.
Health
How often should you wash your hair?
Now time to play
Play the mini crossword and a clue: high praise (five letters).
