Your Friday Briefing: More strikes on Ukraine

Plus, the week in culture. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4Q_AWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZwcm9kdWN0Q29kZT1NQkUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGOGU5N2M2YzUtMmQ1Ny01ZjU3LThmOTItYTMyYjNhMGI3Zjk1JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjIxNzcyJmxpPU1CRSZtPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnA9TUJFXzIwMjIxMjMwVwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ [Morning Briefing, Europe Edition](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VyaWVzL2V1cm9wZS1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) December 30, 2022 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvbmF0YXNoYS1mcm9zdD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) By [Natasha Frost](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvbmF0YXNoYS1mcm9zdD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Writer, Briefings Good morning. Russia has launched still more strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, and Vivienne Westwood and Pelé have both died. Rescuers at the site of a house damaged during a Russian strike in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district on Thursday.Laura Boushnak for The New York Times More strikes on Ukraine Russia launched what appeared to be one of its biggest strikes to date on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, pummeling [Kyiv and other cities and towns](~/AAAAAQA~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~~). Several regions reported power outages. The attacks combined a swarm of drones and a volley of cruise missiles. Authorities were still assessing the damage, though an official in the Kharkiv region said two people had died there. The strikes were the latest in Russia’s three-month infrastructure attack campaign, which military analysts say is an effort to plunge Ukraine into cold and darkness and to demoralize the population. Lviv’s mayor said that electricity had been lost for 90 percent of the city, and Kyiv’s mayor said that 40 percent of the capital was without electricity. The attack comes as Kyiv is striking more boldly at targets deep in Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry said this week that [three servicemen were killed](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yNi93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvcnVzc2lhLWRyb25lLWF0dGFjay11a3JhaW5lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) after air defenses shot down a Ukrainian drone as it was approaching Engels air base, near Saratov. Engels is home to some of Russia’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers that are used to fire cruise missiles at Ukraine. In other news from the war: - Russia’s economy, despite Western sanctions, [fared better than expected over the last 11 months](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4RBAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMi8xMi8yOC93b3JsZC9ydXNzaWEtdWtyYWluZS1uZXdzL3J1c3NpYXMtZWNvbm9teS1mYXJlcy1iZXR0ZXItdGhhbi1leHBlY3RlZC11bmRlci11a3JhaW5lLXNhbmN0aW9ucz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnNtaWQ9dXJsLXNoYXJlJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). - Russians are flocking to a Turkish resort town, turning it into a [Moscow on the Mediterranean](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvYW50YWx5YS1ydXNzaWEtZW1pZ3Jlcy13YXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands with Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security, after being sworn in at the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, in Jerusalem on Thursday.Amir Levy/Getty Images Israel’s new government Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in once again as Israel’s prime minister, as [the country’s new hard-right coalition took control](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjkvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pc3JhZWwtbmV0YW55YWh1LWdvdmVybm1lbnQtc3dlYXJpbmctaW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) yesterday. The coalition will test Israel’s ties with the U.S. and Europe. Many fear that Netanyahu’s partners will undermine Israel’s liberal democracy and stability. Some expect increased tensions with Palestinians. The coalition has declared the Jewish people’s “exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the land of Israel” and pledged to bolster settlement in the occupied West Bank. Others foresee the undermining of Israel’s democratic system. Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption, and his new administration is pressing for a [contentious overhaul of the judiciary](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QZAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjIvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pc3JhZWwtbmV0YW55YWh1LWdvdmVybm1lbnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlYXJjaFJlc3VsdFBvc2l0aW9uPTEmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), changes that critics say would curb its power. Both moves could [complicate Israel’s relations with Europe and the U.S.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QMAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjgvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pc3JhZWwtZmFyLXJpZ2h0LW5ldGFueWh1LWluYWd1cmF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), perhaps its most important ally. President Biden said he looked forward to working with Netanyahu but stressed that the U.S. would continue to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. American Jews: They are some of Israel’s strongest supporters abroad, but many identify with [more liberal streams of Judaism](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTEvMjAvbnlyZWdpb24vaXNyYWVsLW5ldGFueWFodXMtYW1lcmljYW4tamV3aXNoLWNvbW11bml0eS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) than some of the new government’s policies on religion. Passengers, including one wearing full-body protective gear, at the Shanghai Railway Station this month.Qilai Shen for The New York Times How bad is China’s outbreak? Scientists around the world are [looking for clues to determine the size, scope and severity of China’s Covid surge](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9oZWFsdGgvY2hpbmEtY292aWQtb3V0YnJlYWstcHJlZGljdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). But they no longer have credible information from the government about how quickly the virus is spreading, how many people have died or even whether the country could be the source of a new and dangerous variant. Any personal anecdote or social media report from China — scarce medicines, overrun hospitals, overflowing crematories — is possible fodder. One team is trying to use passenger data from Beijing subway lines to determine the potential spread. China’s official death count of 12 deaths this month is almost certainly an undercount. The government has said that it would count as Covid deaths only those who died from respiratory failure directly linked to an infection. One doctor in Beijing said that colleagues had been urged to “try not to write respiratory failure caused by Covid” as the primary cause of death. Forecasting: Some worst-case scenarios suggest that Covid could kill as many people in China in the next four months as it has Americans during the entire three-year pandemic. Related: [China responded apathetically](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLWNvdmlkLXVzLXRyYXZlbC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to the new U.S. rule that all travelers from the country would need a negative Covid test to visit. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjIxNzY5JmxpPU1CRSZtPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnA9TUJFXzIwMjIxMjMwVwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Agence France-Presse — Getty Images - Pelé, a transformative 20th-century soccer player who was revered as a national treasure in Brazil, [died yesterday at 82](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9zcG9ydHMvc29jY2VyL3BlbGUtZGVhZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in São Paulo. Look back at his [career in photos](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9zcG9ydHMvc29jY2VyL3BlbGUtcGhvdG9zLXNvY2Nlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and watch [a short video](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL3ZpZGVvL29iaXR1YXJpZXMvMTAwMDAwMDA4NzAwNDg1L3BlbGUtc29jY2VyLW9iaXR1YXJ5LXZpZGVvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) about his life. - Vivienne Westwood, the British fashion designer who defined the look of punk, has [died at 81](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9mYXNoaW9uL3Zpdmllbm5lLXdlc3R3b29kLWRlYWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). - Elon Musk has [cut services to reduce Twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS90ZWNobm9sb2d5L3R3aXR0ZXItZWxvbi1tdXNrLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) to a bare-bones operation, and employees are under a “zero-based budgeting” mandate to justify any spending. - At least [19 people died in a fire](~/AAAAAQA~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~~) at a casino hotel in Cambodia, near the Thai border, yesterday. Other Big Stories - The Jan. 6 committee [withdrew its subpoena](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjkvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvamFuLTYtY29tbWl0dGVlLXRydW1wLXN1YnBvZW5hLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) for Donald Trump, conceding that U.S. lawmakers had run out of time. - Exxon Mobil has tried to [block a windfall tax imposed by the European Commission](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjgvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2V4eG9uLW1vYmlsLWV1cm9wZWFuLXVuaW9uLXdpbmRmYWxsLXRheC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) as part of efforts to ease the sting of soaring energy prices across the 27-nation bloc. - New York State has begun [licensed sales of recreational cannabis](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9ueXJlZ2lvbi9ueS13ZWVkLXNhbGVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). The Week in Culture Vincent Tullo for The New York Times - The Met Opera in New York, battered by pandemic woes, will [withdraw up to $30 million from its endowment](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjYvYXJ0cy9tdXNpYy9tZXRyb3BvbGl0YW4tb3BlcmEtZW5kb3dtZW50LWNvbnRlbXBvcmFyeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and stage more popular, contemporary works. - Maya Ruiz-Picasso, one of Pablo Picasso’s daughters and an authority on his works, [died at 87](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yNS9hcnRzL21heWEtcnVpei1kZWFkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). - Look back on the [best party looks](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9zdHlsZS9iZXN0LWRyZXNzZWQtbnljLXBhcnRpZXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) of the year. - In 2022, male stars including Harry Styles, Jack Harlow and Bad Bunny offered more [complex approaches to gender](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjIvMTIvMjcvYXJ0cy9tdXNpYy9wb3AtbWVuLWhhcnJ5LXN0eWxlcy1qYWNrLWhhcmxvdy1iYWQtYnVubnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). - A slate of public events and exhibitions at Princeton starting in February will [celebrate the author Toni Morrison](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOC9hcnRzL2Rlc2lnbi90b25pLW1vcnJpc29uLXByaW5jZXRvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). A Morning Read SpaceX Journalists typically are not allowed in the control room where SpaceX guides its rockets to space and back to Earth, but [our reporter was allowed to observe a sequence of launches, landings, dockings and deployments](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS9zY2llbmNlL3NwYWNleC1sYXVuY2gtbWlzc2lvbi1jb250cm9sLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) this fall. Before humanity can colonize Mars, spaceflight must become as normal as air travel, with multiple flights every day, one top executive said. “What people have to understand is that it takes a lot to get there, and we’re not anywhere close yet,” he said. On Tech: The annual Good Tech Awards column looks back on the many [noble, clever and socially valuable tech projects](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yOS90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2dvb2QtdGVjaC1hd2FyZHMtMjAyMi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that made progress this year. SPORTS NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC Inside World Cup star Cody Gakpo’s transfer: Liverpool [pounced to sign the Netherlands forward](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy5jb20vNDA0MTMyMS8yMDIyLzEyLzI4L2NvZHktZ2FrcG8tbGl2ZXJwb29sLWluc2lkZS1kZWFsLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in a $44.5 million transfer deal done in just five days. Mbappé unbothered by Martinez’s “futile” taunts: Kylian Mbappé said he [won’t “waste energy on such futile things”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy5jb20vNDA0Mjc4NC8yMDIyLzEyLzI5L21iYXBwZS1tYXJ0aW5lei13b3JsZC1jdXAtZmluYWwvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) when asked about Argentina’s taunts after the 2022 World Cup final. This was a disastrous year for soccer: The year 2022 [saw two soccer stadium disasters](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy5jb20vNDAzOTk0OC8yMDIyLzEyLzI5LzIwMjItZGlzYXN0cm91cy15ZWFyLWZvci1mb290YmFsbC8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and another near-disaster, and the deaths of migrant workers building Qatar’s World Cup venues. ARTS AND IDEAS How to comfort someone when they’re sad When a friend, partner, family member or co-worker is upset, you’ve probably wondered how best to make the person feel better. Let them vent? Offer a chocolate bar? Give them space? [Here’s a research-based guide](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMi8yMy93ZWxsL21pbmQvc2FkLWVtb3Rpb25hbC1jb21mb3J0LXN1cHBvcnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) for supporting loved ones in times of need: - Validate their emotions. One consistent finding from the research is that telling people they shouldn’t feel so bad typically makes them feel worse. - Help them strategize. Phrases of validation can help people feel better in the moment but won’t necessarily help them in the long run. So if they’re open to it, talking through how to overcome a particular hurdle or repair a conflict may give an upset friend a sense of control over the situation. - If they welcome problem solving, frame it carefully. Tell them that you understand why they feel the way they do, or that you would have reacted similarly. Studies have found that people are more receptive to advice after they have been made to feel emotionally supported than if they haven’t received any validation at all. - It’s the thought that counts. Although it can be hard to know how best to help someone, we should be confident that our attempts will be appreciated — even if we don’t know what we’re doing. Subscribe Today We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. [Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD05OVE5OSZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjIxNzY2JmxpPU1CRSZtPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnA9TUJFXzIwMjIxMjMwVwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ PLAY, WATCH, EAT What to Cook Yunhee Kim for The New York Times Soba noodles are a [traditional New Year’s Eve dish](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly9jb29raW5nLm55dGltZXMuY29tL3JlY2lwZXMvMTI0MTEtc29iYS1ub29kbGUtc291cD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in Japan, where they represent longevity. Travel Spend [36 hours in Essaouira, Morocco](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjIvMTIvMjkvdHJhdmVsL3RoaW5ncy10by1kby1lc3Nhb3VpcmEtbW9yb2Njby5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). From Wirecutter Our pick of [the best strategy board games](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vd2lyZWN1dHRlci9yZXZpZXdzL2Jlc3Qtc3RyYXRlZ3ktYm9hcmQtZ2FtZXMvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Now Time to Play Here’s [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), and a clue: Playfully goofy (five letters). And here are [today’s Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [You can find all our puzzles here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Wishing you a great end to the year. I’ll see you in 2024. — Natasha P.S. Two Times podcasts from Serial Productions — “The Trojan Horse Affair” and “We Were Three” — made Vulture’s [list of the year’s best podcasts](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnVsdHVyZS5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS9iZXN0LXBvZGNhc3RzLWluZHVzdHJ5LXN1cnZleS0yMDIyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). “[The Daily](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdGhlZGFpbHk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjIxMjMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTgxNDA2Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyMTEyMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY6Gffq5jyDC1NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)” is about post-Roe America. You can reach Natasha and the team at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing@nytimes.com?subject=Europe%20Briefing%20Feedback). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-tracking_unit-2) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmVfMjAyMjEyMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODE0MDYmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1ldXJvcGUtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTIxMTIyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjoZ9-rmPIMLU2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlkQOfP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iZV8yMDIyMTIzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04MTQwNiZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWV1cm9wZS1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjExMjImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmOhn36uY8gwtTZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) for assistance. 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