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- Lula da Silva sworn in as Brazil’s president, delivers searing indictment of far-right former leader Bolsonaro
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president on Sunday, delivering a searing indictment of far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro and vowing a drastic change of course to rescue a nation plagued with hunger, poverty and racism. Lula accused Bolsonaro’s administration of committing “genocide” by failing to respond properly to the COVID-19 virus that killed more than 680,000 Brazilians. - Ukraine shoots down 45 Iranian-made Sahed drones fired by Russia in first hours of 2023
In the first hours of 2023, Ukraine shot down 45 Iranian-made Sahed drones fired by Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced. Attacks earlier on New Year’s Eve hit residential buildings and a hotel in Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it targeted production, storage, and launch sites of Ukrainian drones with long-range missiles on New Year’s Eve. - Extinction Rebellion UK announces temporary halt to public disruption tactics, plans to focus on building relationships and increasing attendance at events
The UK branch of Extinction Rebellion, the environmental group known for its disruptive protests, has announced that it will temporarily halt its public disruption tactics in order to grow its membership and increase its influence. The group plans to focus on building relationships and increasing attendance at events, including a planned protest at the Houses of Parliament in April, rather than seeking arrests through roadblocks and other forms of disruption. - IMF head warns 2023 will be tough year for global economy as major engines of growth experience slowing activity
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has warned that 2023 will be a tough year for the global economy as the major engines of growth – the US, Europe and China – all experience slowing activity. The IMF has already cut its outlook for global economic growth in 2023 due to continuing drag from the war in Ukraine, inflation pressures and high interest rates engineered by central banks. - China seeks to reassure public that COVID-19 outbreak is under control, though accuracy of data comes under scrutiny
China is seeking to reassure the public that its COVID-19 outbreak is under control and nearing its peak. However, China’s abrupt U-turn on COVID controls and the accuracy of its case and mortality data have come under scrutiny. China reported one new COVID-19 death on Dec. 31, bringing the total to 5,249, though experts say the actual number of infections is significantly higher. - Pope Francis marks World Day of Peace as Vatican overshadowed by death of Pope Benedict
Pope Francis marked the World Day of Peace on Sunday while the Vatican was overshadowed by the death of Pope Benedict. Benedict’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica and his funeral will be held on Thursday. The funeral will be simple and Francis will preside. Some have praised Benedict while others have criticized his pontificate. - Lula da Silva sworn in as President of Brazil for unprecedented third term, plans to prioritize ending poverty and hunger
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as President of Brazil for an unprecedented third term, following his release from prison in 2019. Lula plans to prioritize ending poverty, ending hunger, and attacking racism, while also rewarding loyal supporters with key cabinet positions. Some investors are concerned that increased social spending and a loyalist cabinet could damage Brazil’s fiscal credibility and lead to increased corruption. - Croatia joins EU’s Schengen zone and adopts euro currency
Croatia has joined both the EU’s border-free Schengen zone and the euro currency as of January 1st, fulfilling its ambition to closely integrate with Europe. The country becomes the 27th country to join the Schengen area and the 20th to adopt the euro. Finance Minister Marko Primorac stated that the adoption of the euro will strengthen the economy, improve the investment climate, and make Croatia more resistant to external shocks. - Clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland leave at least 20 dead
There have been clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. At least 20 people have been killed and dozens injured. The protesters are demanding that Somaliland cede control of Laascaanood, a town in Somaliland’s east, to Puntland, one of Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions. The protesters also accuse security forces of failing to end insecurity in Laascaanood. - At least nine people killed in stampede at Uganda shopping mall on New Year’s Eve
At least nine people died in a stampede at a shopping mall in Uganda on New Year’s Eve. Crowds rushed to see a fireworks display at the Freedom City Mall, located near the capital, Kampala. In the stampede, several people became stuck in a narrow corridor and suffocated to death, according to a police statement. The deceased included a 10-year-old boy. - Anita Pointer of Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters dies at age 74 of cancer
Anita Pointer of the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters died on Saturday at age 74 of cancer. Pointer was surrounded by family at her Beverly Hills home when she died. The Pointer Sisters had a string of pop, country, and R&B hits in the 1970s and ’80s, including “I’m So Excited,” “Jump (For My Love),” and “Fire.” - Combined value of world’s sovereign wealth and public pension funds falls for first time ever by $2.2tn
The combined value of the world’s sovereign wealth and public pension funds has fallen for the first time ever, by $2.2tn, according to an annual study by Global SWF. The value of assets managed by sovereign wealth funds fell to $10.6tn from $11.5tn, while those of public pension funds dropped to $20.8tn from $22.1tn. - Authorities halt flights in and out of Manila on New Year’s Day due to air traffic control malfunction
Authorities in the Philippines halted flights in and out of Manila on New Year’s Day due to a malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound to other destinations from using the country’s airspace. This incident affected around 56,000 passengers and resulted in 282 flights being delayed, cancelled or diverted. The Transportation Secretary blamed a power outage for the breakdown. - China’s home prices fall at faster pace in December amid rising COVID-19 cases and faltering economy
China’s home prices fell at a faster pace in December, reflecting persistently weak demand amid rising COVID-19 cases and adding pressure on the faltering economy, according to a survey by China Index Academy. Home prices in 100 cities declined 0.08% MoM in December, falling for the sixth month in a row. Among the 100 cities, 68 saw a fall in monthly prices. - Iranian police detain top-tier football players at New Year’s Eve party serving alcohol
Iranian police detained several top-tier football players in a raid on a party on New Year’s Eve where alcohol was served in violation of Islamic laws. It is reported that the players were released except for one person who is not a soccer player. A case has been filed against those detained and details will be released later. - Worker killed in incident involving American Airlines regional carrier flight at Montgomery Regional Airport
A worker was killed in an incident involving an American Airlines regional carrier flight at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The flight was operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines. The victim was a ground crew member for Piedmont Airlines, another American regional subsidiary. American Airlines said it was “devastated” by the accident. - Eurozone wages growing more quickly than expected, ECB President Lagarde says
Eurozone wages are growing more quickly than expected, says ECB President Christine Lagarde. The ECB has raised interest rates by 2.5 percentage points since July in a bid to address high inflation and has promised further policy tightening at future meetings as longer-term price growth expectations have risen above its 2% target. Lagarde says the bank must “take the necessary measures” to lower inflation, currently at almost 10%, to its target of 2%. - Acting Brazilian President criticizes outgoing President Bolsonaro for fostering anti-democratic sentiment and environmental backsliding
Acting Brazilian President Hamilton Mourao criticized outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro in a New Year’s speech for allowing anti-democratic sentiment to thrive and for environmental backsliding. Bolsonaro has faced criticism for his silence following his defeat in the country’s most contentious election in a generation, which has led to riots and a foiled bomb plot in the capital, Brasilia. - Taiwan President offers China ‘necessary assistance’ to deal with COVID-19 surge, decries military activities
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has offered China “necessary assistance” to help it deal with a surge in COVID-19 cases, but has said that Chinese military activities near the island are not beneficial to peace and stability. Taiwan and China have repeatedly sparred over their respective measures to control the spread of COVID-19. - Multiple blasts heard in Kyiv and across Ukraine on New Year’s Day, no reported casualties
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. - Kim Jong Un calls for development of new ICBMs, larger nuclear arsenal to counter US-led threats
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. - New Year welcomed with packed party in Times Square and fireworks in European capitals
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. - Netanyahu calls UN General Assembly vote on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories ‘despicable’
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 to fully reopen shared border, allowing passage of cargo and passenger transport
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 launches drone to warn off reconnaissance plane during Gulf coast war games
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. - Chief Justice Roberts emphasizes need for increased security for federal judges in year-end report
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 Lula calls for end to Russia-Ukraine war in meetings with representatives
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. - Ukrainian President Zelenskiy’s only wish for 2023 is victory over Russia in invasion
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 before departure
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. - Russia launches cruise missiles at Ukraine, killing one and injuring at least a dozen
Russia launched more than 20 cruise missiles at Ukraine, killing one person and injuring at least a dozen more, including a Japanese journalist. The attack caused damage to a Kyiv hotel and a residential building, but did not cause serious damage to the national power system.