The Evening: Bombing kills more than 100 in Iran

Also, at the border, Republicans turned up the heat on Biden.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 3, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. A deadly bombing in Iran House Republicans on a border trip Plus, the race for best picture A photograph released by Iranian state media showing emergency personnel at the blast site in Kerman, Iran. Mehr News Agency, via Associated Press A bombing killed at least 100 people in Iran A pair of bombs exploded into a crowd of people today at a commemoration for Iran's former top general in the city of Kerman, Iranian officials said. At least 103 people were reported dead and another 211 wounded. The attack sowed fear and grief across Iran, which has been on edge for more than a year over divisions between the hard-line government and many of its people. It also heightened concerns of a widening conflict across the Middle East, coming a day after a strike killed several Hamas officials near Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Iranian officials said the bombs had been placed in bags along a road where a procession was on its way to observe the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qassim Suleimani in an American drone strike. The officials said the bombs appeared to have been detonated via remote control. Given the sheer scale of the blasts, the death toll was likely to rise. Iran's president seemed to blame the U.S. and Israel for the attack. But analysts said the blasts, which bore the hallmarks of terrorism, did not fit Israel's usual methods. They said that while it was too soon to tell, there were numerous possibilities for who might have attacked the cemetery, including the Islamic State or Iranian separatist groups. Speaker Mike Johnson, center, in Eagle Pass, Texas, today. Kenny Holston/The New York Times At the border, Republicans turned up the heat on Biden Several House Republicans threatened today to starve the federal government of funding if President Biden and Democrats fail to institute a crackdown on the flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. "Shut the border down or shut the government down," said Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona. Border issues have become central to G.O.P. politics, with Speaker Mike Johnson joining more than 60 House Republicans on a visit today to the overwhelmed border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, to raise pressure on Biden to agree to stricter immigration policies. On Arizona's border with Mexico, a crossing used by thousands of workers each day is set to reopen this week. It had been closed to reduce strain on immigration authorities. Jordan Gale for The New York Times Trump asked the Supreme Court to rule on his eligibility Donald Trump filed an appeal to the Supreme Court today, asking the justices to keep him on the primary ballot in Colorado after the state's highest court ruled last month that the former president had engaged in insurrection and was therefore ineligible to hold office under the 14th Amendment. The move adds to the growing pressure on the court to act, given the number of challenges to Trump's eligibility and the need for a speedy nationwide resolution as the primaries approach. Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times Covid infections are up, but scientists aren't alarmed As in previous years, the number of Covid infections has been rising all winter. The C.D.C. no longer tracks national prevalence, but statewide trends and hospital data suggest that this year's uptick, while large, is less deadly than last year's, and much less than 2022's. Health experts told us there was little reason to worry that this winter's spike would be particularly severe. Still, they urged Americans to wear masks more often and noted that vaccination rates were abysmally low. Only 19 percent of adults have received the latest Covid vaccine, including just one in three people over the age of 75. For more: Many infections are now caused by a new variant, JN.1. Here's why that matters. More top news War: Russia and Ukraine announced a mutual release of hundreds of prisoners of war, the biggest exchange since the start of the war. Crime: An imam was shot and killed outside a New Jersey mosque. The gunman was still at large and there was no sign of a motive. Congress: New accusations of corruption against Senator Robert Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat, put renewed focus on Qatar's attempts to wield influence in the West. Ohio: A grand jury is considering whether to indict a woman who miscarried a nonviable fetus at home and has been charged with abuse of a corpse. Cars: General Motors said that its sales of new vehicles in the U.S. jumped 14 percent last year, a rebound driven by a strong economy and improved supplies of components. New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul is planning to change the way the state's schools teach reading, shifting away from methods that experts say have left children behind. Japan: Passengers who were evacuated from a burning Japan Airlines plane said the absence of panic was what helped the emergency procedure the most. Britain: Thousands of young doctors walked off the job in England, the latest crisis for the country's beleaguered National Health Service. Health: Doctors are debating whether "palliative" approaches to mental illnesses like anorexia are ethical. Education: In an Opinion column, Claudine Gay, the Harvard president who resigned yesterday, said she fell victim to a campaign to unravel trust in "pillars of American society." Music: The Atlanta rapper T.I. and his wife were sued by a woman who accused the couple of drugging and raping her after they met at a nightclub around 2005. TIME TO UNWIND Cillian Murphy in "Oppenheimer," Margot Robbie in "Barbie" and Paul Giamatti in "The Holdovers." From top: Universal Picture; Warner Bros.; Seacia Pavao/Focus Features, via Associated Press A great year for movies With 2023 now in the books, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are considering which films deserve Oscar nominations. This year, the race for the top award, best picture, is fiercer than ever. My colleague Kyle Buchanan, who covers the awards season, had a tough time narrowing down his list. "Oppenheimer," "The Holdovers" and "Barbie" are his most confident picks, while "Society of the Snow" and "Anatomy of a Fall" could surprise. Nathalie Lees Declutter your dating life If you're on the dating scene, consider using the new year as an opportunity to start fresh. You don't need to throw all of your previous progress out the window, but instead use this time to reconsider what you're looking for. Experts we spoke to suggested setting boundaries for dating apps and focusing more on the connections that feel right. The Gunung Padang site in Cianjur, Indonesia. Ulet Ifansasti for The New York Times Dinner table topics World's oldest pyramid? A scientific study fueled a dispute over the age of a site in Indonesia and prompted warnings about the dangers of nationalist mythmaking. Bull's-eye: A 16-year-old darts prodigy is one match away from becoming world champion. Social feed: Brian Valmond runs an account spotlighting gangs and drug kingpins of the 1980s and 1990s and how crime and celebrity often intersect. Lifting and sculpting: Would you pay $1,800 for a facial? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Kelly Marshall for The New York Times Cook: This salmon teriyaki is crisp, tender, sweet and savory all at once. Watch: "The Last of the Unjust" is one of the three best documentaries to stream right now. Read: Frank DeCourten's "The Broken Land" lays the groundwork for understanding Utah. Listen: These five minutes could make you love Strata-East Records. Try: Our writer recommends committing to a bit this year. Here is what he means. Prep: Meals rich in fiber, complex carbs and protein can help prevent fatigue. Look up: The Quadrantids meteor shower will reach its peak tonight. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Willis Gibson during his record game. Willis Gibson After more than three decades, Tetris was defeated From a bedroom in Stillwater, Okla., 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first known person to advance so far in the original Nintendo version of the puzzle game Tetris that the game froze. For years, the limit was thought to be Level 29, when the blocks start falling so quickly that it seems impossible for humans to keep up. When Willis defeated the game, he was at Level 157. Willis started playing Tetris competitively in 2021 and plays about 20 hours a week. Yesterday he posted a video of the feat, "I can't feel my fingers," he said. Have an outstanding evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018