Daily briefing

Trees are reflected in raindrops on a car windshield during a rainy day in Prospect Heights, Ill., on Tuesday. The Associated Press
Nation
New York
Police identify subway arson victim
NEW YORK — New York City police say they’ve identified the woman who died earlier this month after being set on fire while asleep in a New York subway train.
The victim is 57-year-old Debrina Kawam of New Jersey. She had worked at the pharmaceutical giant Merck from 2000 until 2002, but New York’s social services department said she recently had briefly been in a city homeless shelter.
North Carolina
Governor commutes death sentences
RALEIGH — In one of his final acts in office, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of first-degree murder to life in prison without parole.
The outgoing Democratic governor said Tuesday that he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.” North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday.
New York
Jail staff blocked woman’s treatment
NEW YORK — City correction officers repeatedly blocked medical staff from administering care to a severely ill woman held at Rikers Island weeks before the 23-year-old died of apparent organ failure, a jail oversight board found.
Charizma Jones was receiving treatment for a possible case of scarlet fever when she was transferred to an infirmary unit May 4 for worsening symptoms. But when medical personnel attempted to check her vital signs, they were stopped from entering her cell on six separate occasions.
World
Ukraine
Russian attack hits multiple targets
KYIV — Russia launched an aerial attack on Ukraine, striking the capital and other regions with multiple missiles and drones.
Minutes after Ukraine’s air force reported a ballistic missile threat overnight on Tuesday, at least two explosions were heard in Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces successfully struck a Ukrainian air base and a gunpowder factory, and that air defenses shot down 68 Ukrainian drones over several regions.
United Kingdom
Weather spoils New Year’s festivities
LONDON — Revelers in the U.K. may have to wring themselves out as they ring in the New Year.
A storm system bringing high winds, heavy rain, the possibility of snow and the threat of flooding washed out plans Tuesday for several fireworks displays — in some cases more than 24 hours before the stroke of midnight.
Serbia
Thousands skip partying to protest
BELGRADE — Instead of traditional street partying on New Year’s Eve, tens of thousands of protesters led by university students have gathered overnight in Belgrade and other Serbian cities to demand political reforms and justice in the Balkan country.
The protesters have been actively demonstrating following the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy in norther town Novi Sad’s central train station on Nov. 1, which resulted in 15 fatalities.