March 29, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 398 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said yesterday that he feels a deal with Russian and Ukrainian officials to create a formal protection zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is “close.” [more]
• Amidst growing anticipation of a counteroffensive against Russian forces, Ukraine struck a railway depot and knocked out power today in the Russia-occupied city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia province. [more]

TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS | The Associated Press cites unnamed sources as saying a federal judge has ruled that former Vice President Mike Pence must testify before a grand jury investigating alleged efforts by former President Donald Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. [more]

WAR POWERS | The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote today on a measure that would repeal war power measures from 1991 and 2002 that gave U.S. presidents broad authorization for use of military force in Iraq. The measure is expected to pass in the Senate, but support in the House is less clear. [more]

SEATTLE | Citing successful reform efforts, U.S. Justice Department and Seattle city officials asked a judge yesterday to terminate the 2012 civil rights-related consent decree that imposed federal court oversight on the city’s police department. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill into law yesterday that gives the California Energy Commission the power to penalize oil and gas companies if it finds the companies to be involved in price gouging. The measure also requires oil companies to disclose information on their pricing models and policies to state regulators. [more]

TAIWAN | Officials in China’s Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday warned of “resolute countermeasures” if Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen meets with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as scheduled, during her 10-day visit to the Americas, which begins today. [more]

MYANMAR | Myanmar’s ruling military government today dissolved 40 political parties in the country, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, for what it said was a failure to meet a registration deadline ahead of yet-unscheduled elections. [more]

NATO | Reports say a statement posted on the website of the Russian embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, says applications from Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance make the Nordic countries “a legitimate target for Russian retaliatory measures, including those of a military nature.” Swedish officials say they intend to summon Russia’s ambassador to complain about the statement. [more]

RUSSIA | In a statement released today, Russia’s defense ministry says the country’s military has begun scheduled exercises involving some 3,000 troops and 300 pieces of equipment associated with its nuclear-capable Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system. [more]

ISRAEL | In response to U.S. President Joe Biden’s suggestion that he “walk away” from controversial judicial overhaul plans for his country, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel “makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends.” [more]

ECUADOR | Authorities in Ecuador say the death toll from a landslide in the Chimborazo province city of Alausi on Sunday has risen to 11 and that more than 60 people remain missing. [more]

FRANCE | Reports say as many as 13,000 police officers were deployed to cities across France yesterday in anticipation of mass demonstrations against the government’s plan to raise the national retirement age. Officials say the new wave of demonstrations and strikes is expected to affect public transport, universities, schools, and other public services. [more]

CRYPTOCURRENCY | A newly unsealed indictment charges failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried with directing $40 million in bribes to one or more Chinese officials to unfreeze crypto trading accounts seized in China in 2021. [more]

NFL | Reports say two groups of investors -- one led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and the other by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos -- have submitted fully financed $6 billion bids for the Washington Commanders NFL franchise. [more]

SOCCER | In a 7-0 win over Curacao yesterday, Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Argentina. Messi, 35, scored three times in the game — his ninth hat trick in international play. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1867, with the British North America Act, the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada were united as the Dominion of Canada, and the province of Canada was separated into Quebec and Ontario. [more history]