Good morning. We're covering the killing of a Russian general and the latest from the Middle East. Plus: The hunt for a lost Van Gogh.
Ukraine said it assassinated a Russian general in MoscowA Russian general was killed yesterday by a bomb on a Moscow street. Ukraine claimed responsibility for what appears to be one of the most brazen assassinations since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. The general, Igor Kirillov, 54, died along with an aide after an explosive device planted in a scooter was detonated yesterday morning, Russian authorities said. Kirillov was the head of Russia's radioactive, chemical and biological defense forces. Earlier this week, Kyiv had blamed him for the "massive use of banned chemical weapons" in Ukraine. Ukraine has increasingly carried out deadly covert actions. Last month, Ukraine took credit for a car bombing that killed a senior Russian commander in Crimea. But while other Russian generals have died during the war, Kirillov is the highest-ranking military official to have been killed inside Russia. A senior American official said the U.S. was not informed about the assassination ahead of time and warned that the killing might be counterproductive by inciting a reaction from Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. North Korea: The U.S. has seen "indications" that the North Korean forces that have been sent to Russia to help in the war in Ukraine have suffered their first casualties. Related: With Donald Trump poised to take office, the era of U.S. military support for Ukraine is coming to an end.
Netanyahu vowed to keep Israeli troops in SyriaPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel vowed yesterday that Israeli troops would remain in territory seized by the country in Syria for the foreseeable future, or "until another arrangement is found that guarantees Israel's security." The prime minister's trip to the area was likely to be viewed as provocative by Syria's new leadership, which has criticized Israel's expanded military presence across the de facto border. The military of Israel has pushed beyond areas that the country controls in the Golan Heights and has captured land that includes the summit of Mount Hermon, in what Israeli officials have described as a temporary security measure. Separately, the leader of the rebel coalition that seized power in Syria said that all armed groups in the country would be dissolved and their fighters brought under the authority of the Defense Ministry, according to the country's state news media. In Gaza: Hamas said that "serious and positive talks" were taking place to reach a deal with Israel to finally end the war and free the remaining hostages held there. Here's what we know.
Luigi Mangione faces a first-degree murder chargeLuigi Mangione, who is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare's chief executive, was formally charged yesterday with first-degree murder, a charge that branded him a terrorist. Mangione's actions, prosecutors said, were "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population" and to "affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder." The killing of the executive, Brian Thompson, on Dec. 4 in Manhattan set off a dayslong manhunt and captivated Americans, many of whom vented their frustrations with health insurance companies. Some voiced their support for Mangione and rooted for him to elude capture. Details: Mangione, 26, also faces two counts of second-degree murder and weapons charges in New York. If convicted on the highest charges, he faces a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Hungry for in-person interaction and offline joy, Gen Z and millennial players are joining old-fashioned board game clubs to play chess, mahjong and other pastimes.
The search for a lost masterpieceVincent van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet," painted just weeks before his suicide, is one of his most prized works. The painting sold at auction in 1990 for $82.5 million — a record at the time — and experts say the work may now be worth $300 million or more. But since selling to a private collector, it has all but disappeared, and the work's whereabouts have become one of the art world's greatest mysteries. A team of Times reporters went on a mission to find the masterpiece. Here's what they found. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Cook: Make this warming Mexican pork stew. Listen: Paul Krugman delivers some parting words after 25 years as a Times Opinion columnist. Socialize: Here's how to relax at parties without drinking. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know the works of Charles Dickens. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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