November 22, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 271 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian state-owned electrical grid operator Ukrenergo said in a statement yesterday that up to 40% of Ukrainians are facing power difficulties due to damage to major energy hubs across the country caused by Russian shelling. [more]
• According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 6,595 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and more than 10,000 injured, since the Russian invasion began in February. [more]

RAIL WORKERS | The largest of 12 rail worker unions in the U.S., which mainly represents train conductors, yesterday rejected a contract offer over pay and benefits issues, raising the chance of a freight rail strike if a deal cannot be reached by a December 5 deadline. According to the Association of American Railroads trade group, such a strike could cost the economy up to $2 billion per day and disrupt both supply chains and passenger traffic. [more]

NEW YORK | The first 36 of 175 planned cannabis dispensary licenses were issued by New York state yesterday. Several of the now-licensed dispensaries for recreational marijuana, which were selected from a pool of some 900 applicants, are expected to open before the end of the year. [more]

GEORGIA | A federal appeals court in Georgia yesterday ruled that the state must allow early voting this coming Saturday in the state’s runoff election between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. [more]

CALIFORNIA | The U.S. Department of Energy announced yesterday that California’s Pacific Gas and Electric will receive a $1.1 billion federal award to extend operation of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, which had been scheduled to close in 2025. [more]

INDONESIA | Authorities in Indonesia say the death toll from yesterday’s earthquake that struck the country’s main island of Java has risen to at least 252 and that more than 900 related injuries have been reported. [more]

IRAN | Iranian state media reports that the country’s nuclear authority has increased production of uranium enriched to 60% at its Natanz nuclear plant and has now begun to produce similarly enriched uranium at its plant in Fordo. Iranian officials say the increased enrichment is in response to a recent International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on expanding nuclear inspections in the country. [more]

GLOBAL ECONOMY | The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said today that it expects world economic growth to slow from 3.1% this year to 2.2% next year before accelerating in 2024 to 2.7%, with the European economy being hit the hardest in next year’s slowdown. [more]

GREECE | Greek authorities say naval, coast guard, and civilian ships are taking part in a rescue operation today off the island of Crete after a boat thought to be carrying hundreds of migrants lost its ability to steer and was drifting in rough seas. [more]

MOLDOVA | At an international aid conference in Paris yesterday, donors pledged more than 100 million euros in aid for Moldova, which has suffered power blackouts, as well as energy shortages and increased refugee flow due to the war in neighboring Ukraine. The move follows a European Union pledge of 250 million euros in aid for Moldova earlier this month. [more]

HONG KONG | Six former executives of Hong Kong’s now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper pleaded guilty today to charges of colluding with foreign nations. The executives were charged under Chinese national security laws imposed in response to anti-government protests in 2019. [more]

IRAQ | Reports say an audit of Iraq’s tax authority conducted by the country’s Ministry of Finance has uncovered an embezzlement scheme under which a network companies and taxation officials conspired to steal some $2.5 billion between September 2021 and August of this year. [more]

CRYPTOCURRENCY FRAUD | Reports say two Estonian citizens charged in the U.S. in a $575 million cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme have been arrested by police in Estonia. Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin, both age 37, are expected to be extradited to the U.S. to face trial. [more]

R.I.P. | Latin Grammy-winning singer Pablo Milanés, known widely as an ambassador for his native Cuba’s culture and music, died early today at the age of 79 in Spain, where he had been undergoing treatment for cancer. [more]

WORLD CUP | England beat Iran, 6-2, the Netherlands beat Senegal, 2-0, and the U.S. and Wales tied, 1-1, in yesterday’s World Cup matches in Qatar. Today's matches started with Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, 2-1, with Denmark vs Tunisia, Mexico vs Poland, and France vs Australia coming later in the day. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, while riding in an open car. [more history]