Ukraine’s defense costs
Over the New Year weekend, Russia sent about 80 detonated drones towards Ukraine. Officials said the Ukrainian military shot down each one. But military experts wonder if success is sustainablewith some estimates that the cost to shoot down a Russian drone with a Ukrainian missile is up to seven times higher than it costs to launch one.
Ukraine is getting more and more adept at taking down drones, but the Russian attacks are relentless. Analysts estimate that since September, Russia has launched around 600 drones over Ukraine. The campaign, which targeted infrastructure and was accompanied by multiple rocket attacks, has knocked out electricity, heating and water across the country.
Since the start of the war, both sides have used drones for reconnaissance and attack. This is the first time these devices have been deployed so widely in a war in Europe. Military experts increasingly see Ukraine as a testbed for advanced weapons and communications systems that could herald war for generations to come.
News from Russia: Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, has give up pretending that life goes on as usual despite the war, as was evident in the Kremlin’s quick admission of mass casualties caused by Ukraine last weekend.
China reacts to Covid travel restrictions
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China lashed out yesterday against Covid testing requirements imposed on visitors from China by more than a dozen countries, calling the entry requirements unscientific and “excessive” and threatening to take countermeasures. Health experts have said that travel restrictions will not stop the spread of the new variants.
Countries including Canada, the US, France, Spain, Japan and the UK have cited concerns about an increase in infections in China, the risk that new variants could emerge from the outbreak. development and the government’s reluctance to share data about the coronavirus. Restrictions include requiring travelers to provide a negative Covid test result or undergo a mandatory test upon arrival.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said there are ulterior motives behind the restrictions. “We firmly oppose the manipulation of Covid prevention and control measures to achieve political goals and will take corresponding measures according to the principle of reciprocity,” she said.
Detail: China still requires incoming travelers to test negative for polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, testing done within 48 hours of departure.
The irritating visit of a hard-line Israeli minister
Israel’s new extremism national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has issued a yesterday’s brief and provocative visit to the holy city of Jerusalem it is sacred to Jews and Muslims, despite threats of consequences from the militant group Hamas and provokes a backlash from the Palestinian leadership and condemnation from the Arab world. .
The site is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the site of two ancient temples and known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, containing the Al Aqsa Mosque and other important mosques. Palestinians and many other Muslims in the region see such visits by Israeli politicians as part of an effort to change the status of the site and give the Jewish people more rights there. .
Ben-Gvir’s visit, which lasted less than 15 minutes and took place under heavy guard, was the first by such a senior Israeli official in years and went without incident. . It is an early sign of the zero-tolerance approach that the new government of Israel, the most right-wing and most religiously conservative, has taken towards the Palestinians.
quote: While at the site, Ben-Gvir mentioned Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza, saying: “The Israeli government will not surrender to a murderous organization, a vile terrorist organization. ” He continued: “The Temple Mount was the most important site in the world for the Jews. It’s open to everyone.”
LATEST NEWS
Around the world
The pandemic hurts children’s reading skills. Librarians are doing what it takes to connect young people to books — including Dancing routines and dinosaur costumes on TikTok.
At first, librarians struggled to know how to look good. Then came a change in mindset. “Rely on cringe,” one said. She added that teenagers are overwhelmed: “Put a smile on their face.”
SPORTS NEWS FROM Ethics
Argentina teammates want Lionel Messi for next World Cup: Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and the rest of the national team still want Messi by his side when Argentina defends the cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
Erling Haaland’s secret weapon? He is like an owl: The Manchester City striker ran to the ground. A big part of his success comes from how well he scans the game.
Pelé time in the US: Greatest soccer player in the world to New York in 1975 and make a lasting impression on everyone he meets.
ARTS AND IDEAS
Tips for the New Year
The Times’s Well newsletter asked readers for the best advice they’ve received or given in 2022. More than 600 smart, witty responses abound — 20 of which are: featured in the news (plus an extra piece of advice: “Never fry bacon in the nude.”) Here are five of the best.
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“When you are depressed, never make an important decision or change your hair. Wait until you feel better. Then decide.” — J. Alex Sanger, Chicago
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“The best advice I got was to take pictures of my parents doing everyday things because this is how I want to remember them.” — Lori Gosselin, Seattle
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“Never take criticism from someone you don’t want to turn to for advice.” — Leonard Foonimin, Falcon Heights, Minn.
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“I was in a vintage store with my friend Max and saw a sequined shirt. I told him I would have nowhere else to wear such a sparkly shirt in my current life but I love it. He simply replied: ‘Choose a different lifestyle’. I have thought about these words every day since then.” — Monica Tanouye, London
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“Don’t sweat the little things – and don’t pet the sweaty things.” — George Kahn, Potsdam, New York
PLAY, WATCH, EAT
What to cook?
