February 10, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 351 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian officials say Russian forces resumed widespread attacks on infrastructure sites in overnight missile attacks, with electrical and water facilities targeted by missile strikes in Ukraine’s eastern, southern, and western regions. [more]
• Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today that his country will cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day — about 5% of its output — in March following the imposition of price caps on Russian oil and oil products by Western nations as part of sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine. [more]

SURVEILLANCE BALLOON | The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously yesterday to condemn the recent flight of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the United States as a "brazen violation" of U.S. sovereignty, and reports cite government officials as saying the balloon was equipped to gather signals intelligence as part of ongoing Chinese military surveillance operations. [more]

U.S. AND BRAZIL | Safeguarding democracy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, insecurity in Haiti, migration, and climate change are expected to be among the main topics of discussion today when Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with U.S. President Joe Biden today in Washington, DC. [more]

TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS | The Associated Press cites an unnamed source as saying that former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed to provide testimony as part of the investigation by special counsel Jack Smith into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. [more]

JANUARY 6 | Kevin Seefried, 53, of Laurel, Delaware, was sentenced in federal court yesterday to three years in prison for his actions during the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Seefried, who was seen in video footage threatening a police officer with a Confederate battle flag, was convicted earlier on riot-related charges that included obstructing an official proceeding. [more]

TURKEY AND SYRIA | Reports say the death toll from Monday’s earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria has risen to more than 21,000, and that more than 75,000 others have been injured. Turkish officials say more than 12,000 buildings collapsed in the quake and that some 120,000 rescue workers, including nearly 7,000 international workers from 60 countries, are taking part in recovery and relief efforts. [more]

NICARAGUA | Some 220 political activists were released from prison in Nicaragua and deported to the United States yesterday by the administration of President Daniel Ortega. Nicaraguan officials say those deported, who U.S. immigration authorities say will be allowed to stay in the United States for at least two years, were behind anti-Ortega street protests in 2018. [more]

PERU | Thousands of people are reported to have taken part in a march yesterday in the southern Peruvian city of Juliaca to mark the one-month anniversary of anti-government protests in the city during which 19 people died. Reports say at least 50 people were injured in yesterday's demonstrations when protesters clashed with police near the city's airport. [more]

KOREA | South Korea today announced its first-ever sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities related to cybercrimes that are allegedly being used to fund North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. [more]

COVID-19 | South Korea says it will resume normal issuing of short-term visas for visitors from China starting tomorrow, a month and a half after it stopped issuing non-essential visas due to high rates of COVID-19 in China. [more]

AUSTRALIA | Report say the Australian government has, for the first time, rejected an application for a new coal mining operation based on environmental law. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected plans for coal excavation by the Central Queensland Coal Project that would have taken place about six miles from the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast Australian coast. [more]

SPACE EXPLORATION | Private space company Blue Origin was awarded a NASA contract yesterday to carry NASA ESCAPADE research platforms into orbit around Mars in late 2024. [more]

R.I.P. | Composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach, best known for his easy-listening works such as “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Walk on By,” and “That’s What Friends Are For,” died yesterday at the age of 94. [more]

NFL | Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the AP NFL Most Valuable Player at last night's 2023 NFL Honors ceremony. New York Giants coach Brian Daboll won AP Coach of the Year, and Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott received the Walter Payton Man of the Year community service award. [full list of awardees] [more]

SOCCER | Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League yesterday to surpass the career milestone of 500 club goals scored. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov began a six-round match against Deep Blue, a chess-playing computer built by IBM, in which Kasparov claimed a 4–2 victory (though Deep Blue won a rematch the following year). [more history]