News Wrap: Russia says it will hold drills to simulate nuclear weapon use

In our news wrap Monday, Russia publicly announced drills to simulate the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, authorities in southern Brazil say at least 83 people have died in days of heavy rains and flooding with more than a hundred still missing and heavy rain across southeastern Texas began tapering off, but catastrophic flooding left widespread disruption.
William Brangham:
In the day’s other headlines: Russia announced drills to simulate the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine.
It followed French talk of sending its own troops to Ukraine and the U.K.’s approval of Ukraine using British weapons to strike inside Russia. A Kremlin statement on the war games said — quote — “We hope that this event will cool down the hotheads in Western capitals.”
But, in Paris, European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron and said she hopes China will intervene.
Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission:
President Xi has played an important role in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats. And I’m confident that President Xi will continue to do so against the backdrop of the ongoing nuclear threats by Russia.
William Brangham:
Moscow also called in the British and French ambassadors today and warned them against provocative statements.
The U.S. Army confirms tonight that an American soldier has been arrested in the Russian far east. Officials say the unidentified soldier was supposed to be headed home from deployment in South Korea, but was detained Thursday in Vladivostok, accused of theft. The Army has not said whether the service member was considered AWOL, absent without leave.
Authorities in Southern Brazil now say at least 83 people have died following days of heavy rains and flooding with more than 100 people still missing. The downpours hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul, triggering landslides, road closures and widespread power blackouts. Entire neighborhoods in the city of Canoas are underwater, with many houses almost completely submerged. Some people have resorted to driving power boats through the streets.
Back in this country, heavy rains across Southeastern Texas began to taper off, but catastrophic flooding left widespread disruption and closed some schools. People in Harris County around Houston have begun surveying damage and cleaning up. Officials today said they’d been fortunate to escape with no fatalities.
Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County, Texas:
That happens, of course, because of our first responders, but also because of the individuals in the community who heeded our warnings and who took responsible steps in evacuating themselves and their families.
William Brangham:
One death was reported in Johnson County, Texas. A 4-year-old boy was killed when floodwaters swept away the car he was in.
Boeing’s first manned spaceflight on its Starliner capsule is set for launch later tonight heading to the International Space Station. The craft is set to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida with two astronauts on board. They will return to Earth after a week. A successful flight could help Boeing begin catching up to rival SpaceX.
The Pulitzer Prizes for 2023 have been announced. They include the Public Service Award to ProPublica for reporting on billionaires giving gifts and travel to U.S. Supreme Court justices. The Associated Press won the Feature Photography Prize. Its work chronicled migrants traveling from as far as Colombia to the U.S. southern border. The Prize for Fiction went to “Night Watch” by Jayne Anne Phillips, a novel set in West Virginia after the Civil War.
And on Wall Street, stocks added to last week’s gains on some fresh corporate earnings reports. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 176 points to close at 38852. The Nasdaq rose 193 points. The S&P 500 added 53.