January 3, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 313 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Reports say the death toll from Sunday’s Ukrainian missile attack on a Russian military facility in Makiivka in the eastern Donetsk region was actually about 63 — significantly less than the 400 deaths originally estimated by Ukraine. [more]
• For the first time, Ukrainian authorities have charged two high-level Russian military commanders with crimes related to attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Russia’s Colonel-General Serhii Kobylash, commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, and Admiral Igor Osipov, former commander of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, were each charged in absentia. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | The 118th United States Congress convenes today, with Republicans controlling the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy faces a noon vote in his bid to become Speaker of the House. [more]

FLORIDA | Federal officials temporarily closed Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park yesterday due to a spike in the number of migrants from Cuba that arrived on the Key West-region cluster of islands over the past several days. [more]

GLOBAL ECONOMY | In an interview earlier this week, Kristalina Georgieva, director of the International Monetary Fund, said that her organization expects that about one-third of the global economy will be in a recession this year. [more]

COVID-19 AND TRAVEL | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning today criticized the move by multiple countries to impose COVID-19 testing requirements on travelers coming from China and suggested that Beijing may adopt similar requirements on travelers from those countries in response. [more]

IRAN | Reports say Iranian forces have tested a new attack drone during the country’s  ongoing military drills near the Strait of Hormuz. State media reports that the new Ababil-5 attack drone successfully hit its target after flying some 250 miles. [more]

KOREA | In an interview published yesterday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that South Korea and the United States are in talks concerning joint planning and training for the management of U.S. nuclear assets in the face of increased North Korean nuclear threats. [more]

JERUSALEM | In a move criticized by Palestinians as a “provocation,” newly installed Israeli Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Jerusalem holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary or Al-Aqsa Mosque today, accompanied by a guard contingent of police officers. [more]

INDIA | Reuters cites unnamed Indian officials as saying the Indian government is aiming to cut spending on food and fertilizer subsidies, which account for about one-eighth of the country’s total budget spending, by up to 26% in the fiscal year that begins in April. [more]

TURKEY | The Turkish Statistical Institute reported yesterday that year-over-year consumer inflation in Turkey rose 64.27% in December — down from an 84.39% increase reported in November and the second straight monthly decline. [more]

U.K. | Under a new plan announced by British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, an estimated 8 million low-income U.K. households will receive an additional £900 in cost-of-living support this year. [more]

NFL | Last night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals was suspended after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during the game. Hamlin is reported to be in critical condition at a Cincinnati hospital. [more]

PELÉ | The funeral of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé will be held today at the Vila Belmiro stadium near São Paulo, Brazil, prior to a private burial at a nearby cemetery. Pelé died last week at the age of 82. [more]

NBA | The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell scored a franchise record 71 points in last night’s 145-134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. Mitchell’s single game point total was the highest by an NBA player in 17 years. [more]

R.I.P. | Fred White, drummer for the musical group Earth, Wind & Fire, died Sunday at the age of 67, according to a statement from his brother and bandmate Verdine White. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1977, Apple was incorporated by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. It later became one of the most valuable companies in the world, known for innovative computer and electronic products. [more history]