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Today's top stories
In a narrow majority, Israel's Supreme Court struck down a law approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July that stripped the court of its power to overturn government appointments and decisions. The measure sparked months of protests in Israel at the time. Demonstrators accused the administration of weakening government checks and balances.
The court said the law would cause "severe and unprecedented harm" to Israel as a democratic country, NPR's Daniel Estrin reports on Up First. He adds that while Israel's government is dissatisfied with the ruling, officials suggest they won't do anything further to overhaul the country's judiciary while the country is at war with Hamas.
Israel's military has announced it would withdraw thousands of troopsfrom the Gaza Strip to focus on targeted operations against Hamas. Dennis Ross, a former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, tells Morning Edition the conflict is gradually moving into a different phase. Ross adds that the military is focused on ensuring that Hamas loses political control of Gaza and the means to threaten Israel again, which he says is a more achievable goal than eliminating every Hamas agent.
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the city of Busan. Lee was taken to Pusan National University Hospital and will be transported to Seoul for surgery. The attacker was arrested on the scene. A motive for the attack has yet to be released. The attack comes three months before South Korea's general elections.
At least 48 people have died in Japan after a powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck on New Year's Day. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says police, firefighters and military officials worked through the night to rescue residents trapped in collapsed buildings. Seismic activity still rattles the area near the epicenter. Kishida warns residents to look out for magnitude 7 or bigger aftershocks in the coming days.
Deep dive
Voting for party nominees in this year's presidential election starts in less than two weeks. NPR's Domenico Montanaro has 10 questions about what could determine who the next U.S. president will be, including:
Do perceptions of the economy improve? Despite strong signs like low unemployment and declining inflation, Americans are pessimistic about the state of the economy — and blaming President Biden.
Do third-party candidates gain real traction? Democrats are concerned disaffected voters who would have chosen Biden over former President Donald Trump could split the vote by choosing a different candidate altogether, opening a path back to the White House for Trump.
Can Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis actually give Trump a run? Trump has led by huge margins in polls, making the focus on the GOP nominee a race for second place.
Do younger voters rally to Biden's side despite misgivings? The Israel-Hamas war, voting rights and student loans have all been areas of frustration for young voters.
Picture show
NPR hosted 120 Tiny Desk concerts in 2023. One of the best seats in the house belongs to photographers, who stand in the front row at the intimate venue. See some of their favorite photos — from Sam Smith's heartwarming huddle with their background singers to Olivia Rodrigo's first in-person concert — and read about what it's like to capture a Tiny Desk concert for posterity.
3 things to know before you go
Venice, Italy, will limit tour groups to 25 people and ban loudspeakers starting this summer in order to limit the impact of tourism on the local community.
Steamboat Willie, an early Walt Disney movie featuring the first appearance of Mickey Mouse,entered the public domain yesterday. Newer versions of Mickey Mouse remain copyrighted.
New, high-quality photos of Jupiter's moon Io released by NASA this weekend awed astronomers and stargazers alike.
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony wowed Parisians, fans and most everyone who was able to catch a glimpse of thousands of athletes floating down the Seine to officially begin the Games.
As Vice President Kamala Harris ramps up her campaign for president, Republicans are trying out new — and old — attacks focused on her race and gender, including calling her a "DEI candidate."
The Food Safety and Inspection Service made the announcement Friday. There are 34 cases of Listeria from deli meat across 13 states, including two people who died of Thursday, according to the CDC.
On the day that former President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, we look at the Republican nominee's relationship with Israel.
Ashleigh Johnson is one of the best water polo goalkeepers in the world. NPR's Juana Summers talks to her about her barrier-breaking role in the sport and her expectations for her third Olympic games.
After a decades long man hunt the defacto head of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel is arrested just outside El Paso. What more do we know about his capture and what impact, if any, will this have on the fentanyl crisis here.
The territory hasn't had any polio cases for 25 years but this suggests the virus is spreading. Polio experts are scrambling to figure out the origins and whether or not there are active cases.
The opposition is united against longtime leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who is seeking a third term in this Sunday's election amid the country's gravest economic and political crisis in decades.