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A recent lawsuit alleges 'excessive' defects at Boeing parts supplier

A plastic sheet covers part of the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 at Portland International Airport on Jan. 8. NTSB investigators are trying to learn why the aircraft suffered a midair fuselage blowout last Friday. Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images hide caption

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Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

National

A recent lawsuit alleges 'excessive' defects at Boeing parts supplier

The lawsuit doesn't specifically mention door plug systems like the one that failed last week. But it adds to the scrutiny of Spirit AeroSystems, which has been linked to other problems.
Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans

The SAVE plan is becoming a key vehicle for President Biden's student loan debt relief efforts. In a Friday press release, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "The Biden-Harris Administration designed the SAVE Plan to put community college students and other low-balance borrowers on a faster track to debt forgiveness than ever before." Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Student Loan Restart

Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans

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U.S. and U.K. strike Houthi targets in Yemen

Image taken from the bridge of HMS Diamond, seen here firing Sea Viper missiles in the Red Sea on Oct. 1. The HMS Diamond along with U.S. warships successfully repelled a large attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea. UK MOD/Sipa USA via Reuters Conn hide caption

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UK MOD/Sipa USA via Reuters Conn

Middle East crisis — explained

U.S. and U.K. strike Houthi targets in Yemen

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As China looms large, two opposing visions face off in Taiwan's election

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Su Chao Hui, left, is seeking another term in office. Jason Hsu, right, a former law maker and current advisor to KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih. An Rong Xu for NPR hide caption

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An Rong Xu for NPR

Asia

As China looms large, two opposing visions face off in Taiwan's election

The two parties that have historically dominated Taiwanese electoral politics are trying to sell voters their visions of the island's future – starting with the issue of China.
$300 million worth of ads have hit voters ahead of the first GOP primary contests

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley arrives at a campaign event at the Olympic Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday. The state's caucuses will be held on Monday. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Elections

$300 million worth of ads have hit voters ahead of the first GOP primary contests

Super PACs play an outsized role in this election's ad-buying spree so far. Nikki Haley and groups supporting her have spent the most, while she's become Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis' biggest target.

$300 million worth of ads have hit voters ahead of the first GOP primary contests

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eBay will pay a $3 million fine over former employees' harassment campaign

eBay, a global e-commerce company based in San Jose, Calif., accepted responsibility for its former employees' actions in a 2019 harassment campaign, federal authorities said Thursday. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Law

eBay will pay a $3 million fine over former employees' harassment campaign

The penalty settles charges against eBay more than three years after then-employees sent spiders and cockroaches, among other things, to a couple over their newsletter's coverage of the company.
Israel defends itself at the U.N.'s top court against allegations of genocide

British jurist Malcolm Shaw, right, legal adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry Tal Becker, left, look on during the opening of the hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Patrick Post/AP hide caption

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Patrick Post/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Israel defends itself at the U.N.'s top court against allegations of genocide

Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel defended its war in Gaza at the United Nations' highest court Friday.
This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

Dr. Seema Jilani treats a baby at al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza. Tarneem Hammad/MAP hide caption

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Tarneem Hammad/MAP

Middle East crisis — explained

This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

Dr. Seema Jilani spent two weeks at al-Aqsa hospital, where she saw horrors that include "the most nightmarish thing I've ever seen."

This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

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This week's news quiz separates the winners from the losers. Which will you be?

From left: Tiger Woods, Ayo Edebiri, Chris Christie. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The NPR news quiz

This week's news quiz separates the winners from the losers. Which will you be?

Barbie lost the Golden Globe, a plane lost a door, Tiger Woods and Nike lost each other, and Chris Christie decided not to lose. There were also some winners this week.
The Emmys are confusing this year, so here's a guide to what is and isn't eligible

We pull back the curtain on Emmy eligibility and explain why the seasons you'd think are up for awards just ... aren't. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Emmys are confusing this year, so here's a guide to what is and isn't eligible

The Emmys ceremony was delayed due to the Hollywood strikes — and that means several shows and actors won't be winning awards for their most recent work. Here's a breakdown of what's in the running.
Closing arguments concludes in Trump civil fraud trial in New York

Former President Donald Trump departs for a break in the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization in New York City on Dec. 7, 2023. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Closing arguments conclude in Trump civil fraud trial in New York

Closing arguments were given today in a civil fraud trial that alleges former President Donald Trump lied about his wealth. A final decision from New York Judge Arthur Engoron is expected in the coming weeks.
Vision Zero marks a milestone, but the goal of ending traffic deaths is still far off

Lizi Rahman puts silk flowers on the white-painted "ghost" bicycle that marks the spot on Queens Boulevard where her son Asif was killed in 2008. Joel Rose/NPR hide caption

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Joel Rose/NPR

National

Vision Zero marks a milestone, but the goal of ending traffic deaths is still far off

It's been a decade since U.S. cities began adopting Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities completely. Despite some local successes, that ambitious goal seems more elusive than ever.

Vision Zero marks a milestone, but the goal of ending traffic deaths is still far off

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Guantánamo Bay is still open. This week, pressure ramped up to close it

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Military Police guard detainees in orange jumpsuits on Jan. 11, 2002 at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Navy/Getty Images hide caption

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Interview highlights

Guantánamo Bay is still open. This week, pressure ramped up to close it

This week, a group of nearly 100 advocacy organizations sent a letter to President Biden urging him to finally close the facility.

Guantánamo Bay is still open. This week, pressure ramped up to close it

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There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT
Laura Gao for NPR

Shots - Health News

There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT

All those daily activities we'd rather avoid — taking the stairs, cleaning the house etc. — have a big metabolic payoff. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis can help manage weight and boost health.

There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT

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Martin Luther King Jr. was once considered 'radical.' Here's how he came to be lauded

During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s views were considered radical by much of the white establishment, including the government. King was the subject of several FBI surveillance investigations, designed to collect subversive material on King. Chick Harrity/AP hide caption

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Chick Harrity/AP

National

Martin Luther King Jr. was once considered 'radical.' Here's how he came to be lauded

As the U.S. celebrates the civil rights icon on MLK Day, here are a few things to know about the holiday honoring the slain activist and his fight against inequality and racial injustice.
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Gov. Bill Lee unveils the ELVIS Act at a gathering on Nashville's Music Row, starting a legislative process to address concerns about artificial intelligence within music creation. Jewly Hight/WPLN News hide caption

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Jewly Hight/WPLN News

From WPLN

A Tennessee proposal aims to protect musicians from AI voice impersonation

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has a message for AI developers: Don't be cruel to artists in the music industry. The ELVIS Act, which stands for Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security, is backed by a wide array of trade and labor organizations.
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