South Korea says the North has again fired artillery shells near their sea border The new round of artillery drills near the two countries’ disputed sea boundary came a day after the North’s similar exercises prompted South Korea to respond with its own firing drills. Read more on NPR

Cities with soda taxes saw sales of sugary drinks fall as prices rose, study finds Soda taxes are meant to discourage people from drinking too much sugar, which is linked to a host of bad health outcomes. Cities that imposed the taxes saw a 33% decrease in the sale of sugary drinks. Read more on…

Many ideas, but little agreement, over what a postwar Gaza could look like After two right-wing Israeli ministers called for “voluntary migration” of Palestinians out of Gaza, Israel’s moderate defense minister presented a postwar plan in which Palestinians remain in charge. Read more on NPR

The new Jeffrey Epstein files have set off a fresh round of conspiracy theories Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, is a favorite of conspiracists because of his ties to the wealthy and powerful and speculation about his death. Read more on NPR

3 novel legal arguments by Republicans that threaten the Voting Rights Act in 2024 Republican state officials are advancing new legal arguments in the courts that threaten to erode the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racial discrimination in the election process. Read more on NPR