Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday.
Crash investigators are looking at Russian antiaircraft systemsAuthorities in several countries are working to determine what caused the deadly crash of a passenger plane yesterday in Kazakhstan. Russian aviation officials initially blamed birds, but investigators are now focusing on the possibility that a Russian air defense system struck the plane. The jet was flying from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, in Russia's Chechnya republic. At the same time, drone strikes were taking place around Grozny and Russian air defense systems were responding. Of the 62 passengers and five crew members aboard, 38 were killed, local authorities said. Two Azerbaijanis briefed on the country's investigation said that its government now believes that a Russian missile had damaged the plane. U.S. officials also said that there are preliminary indications that the plane had been shot down by a Russian antiaircraft system. And aviation experts said that images of the plane showed holes that appeared unlikely to have been caused by birds. The Kremlin warned against making any immediate judgments about the cause, but some Russian pro-military bloggers have also pointed the finger at the country's air defenses. In related news, Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker today on the suspicion that it was involved in cutting vital undersea cables. They said the ship might have been part of Russia's "shadow fleet," aimed at evading Western sanctions.
Israel bombed an airport and ports in YemenThe Israeli military unleashed a significant air assault today on parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, retaliating for the group's frequent attacks on Israel. At least four people were killed and 21 others injured in an attack on the airport in the capital, Sana, according to a Houthi-affiliated report. In related news: A Times investigation found that the Israeli military issued an order after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that weakened its safeguards meant to protect civilians. The order gave officers the authority to risk killing up to 20 civilians in strikes targeting Hamas militants. One of the deadliest bombardments of the 21st century followed. Israeli military leadership said the change was made because they believed the country faced an existential threat.
Hollywood has struggled to bounce backThe economic outlook of the Los Angeles area, which has a population larger than most states, has been clouded in recent years by events that have upended the entertainment industry. First, there was the streaming upheaval, then the pandemic and finally the monthslong writers and actors strikes. This year, workers hoped things would begin to improve, but for many they only got worse. At the same time, competition from other locales has gotten stiffer. In other economic news: Total spending for this year's holiday season rose 3.8 percent, beating projections. Discounts may have helped.
Some doctors have moved away from the weigh-inSeveral large medical groups have recently eliminated routine weigh-ins in an effort to make visits to the doctor less taxing for obese patients. Proponents of the change say that weight measurements are driving patients away from seeking care. Critics argue that obesity is the top health concern in the U.S. and addressing it should be the No. 1 priority for physicians. More top news
'Squid Game' is backThe dystopian show from South Korea was a surprise worldwide sensation when it debuted in September 2021, becoming the most-watched show or film ever on Netflix. The second season, which premieres today, reunites audiences with Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the "Squid Game" arena in an effort to stop the deadly competition forever. With a far bigger marketing budget this time, Netflix is pulling out all the stops to recapture the world's attention.
The year of Charli XCXAt the beginning of 2024, the pop singer and songwriter Charli XCX was an underground star — a self-proclaimed "cult classic." By the end of the year, she had become a genuine superstar. Our music critic Lindsay Zoladz explained Charli's rise to fame and her next hurdle: how to remain subversively cool inside pop culture's molten core.
Your holiday traditionsWe asked readers about the traditions they are most looking forward to this year. We're featuring their responses this week. Everyone in our extended family provides a list of 10 great things — large and small — from the past year for our Advent calendar. Through December, my husband and I get to read and celebrate these as we open each door. We had several significant deaths in our family this year, so it's been even more poignant to reflect on all the good moments amid all the tough ones. — Elizabeth Lancaster, Prince Edward County, Canada Also: Tell us about your New Year's resolutions.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Molasses and boiled water are a reliable base for a moist, tender gingerbread. Watch: "2073," a documentary-fiction hybrid, visualizes a dystopian San Francisco. Listen: Igor Levit's Brahms concertos made up one of the best classical music albums of the year. Prepare: Here's what to know before you start Dry January. Browse: These Wirecutter-approved picks make travel less of a headache. Hunt: Look back at our favorite home-buying selections of 2024. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
Sounding young at 85When she steps up to a microphone, Midori Kato has the cheerful, slightly nasal voice of a 24-year-old. It's the same voice she has been performing since 1969, when she debuted as the titular character in the popular Japanese cartoon "Sazae-san." Now 85, Kato has voiced Sazae for 55 years — a television record. Her character never ages, and the plot remains frozen in a staunchly traditional era in Tokyo. But Kato still enjoys heading into the studio to record a new episode every week. "I never get bored," she said. "Never." Have a steady evening. Thanks for reading. My colleague Justin Porter will write this newsletter tomorrow. I'll be back in the new year. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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