Numerous blasts were heard in Kyiv and other places around Ukraine in the early hours of New Year’s Day, and air raid sirens wailed across the country. There were no reported casualties, but Kyiv’s city military administration said that 23 Russian-launched “air objects” had been destroyed. There were also reports of blasts in the southern region of Kherson and the northern Zhytomyr region.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and a larger nuclear arsenal to counter US-led threats. Kim highlighted the need to secure “overwhelming military power” to defend the country’s sovereignty and security amid cross-border tensions and missile launches, including intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The world welcomed the new year with a packed party in Times Square and fireworks soaring above European capitals. It was a year marked by the conflict in Ukraine, economic stresses, and the effects of global warming. But it was also a year that saw a dramatic soccer World Cup, rapid technological change, and efforts to meet climate challenges.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the United Nations General Assembly vote asking the International Court of Justice to provide an opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories was “despicable” and that “the Jewish people are not occupiers on their own land.”
Venezuela and Colombia will fully reopen their shared border to allow passage of cargo and passenger transport via the cross-border Tienditas bridge on January 1. The countries already reopened their border crossing in western Venezuela in September after improved political ties under Colombia’s new president, Gustavo Petro. Trade between the two countries is worth approximately $580 million, according to official data from Colombia.
Iran’s military launched a drone to warn off a reconnaissance plane trying to approach Iranian war games on the Gulf coast, according to Fars news agency. The report did not specify the nationality of the reconnaissance aircraft, but Iranian forces have had similar confrontations with US forces in the Gulf in the past.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts focused a year-end report on the judiciary on the need for stepped up security for federal judges, amid a surge in threats and as the United States is embroiled in a bitter debate over abortion. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, judges were subject to 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021, up from 926 in 2015.
Brazil’s President-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine in meetings with representatives from both countries on Saturday. Lula, who will be inaugurated on Sunday, also shared Brazil’s wish for “peace and for the parties to find common ground to end the conflict” with Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of Russia’s Federation Council.
In a New Year message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his only wish for the country for 2023 was victory over Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February. Zelenskiy vowed to bring back what has been taken from the country, including soldiers to their families, prisoners to their homes, and emigrants to Ukraine, as well as the return of land and what has been stolen from the country.
Air travelers to Canada from China must test negative for COVID-19 no more than two days before departure, Ottawa said on Saturday, joining other nations that have implemented such restrictions. The temporary measure will be in place for 30 days and be reassessed as more data becomes available.