on the way way. break overnight, the leader of south korea's opposition party stabbed in the neck at a campaign event how the attack unfolded and the

latest on his condition. the death toll climbs in japan. at least 30 people killed in the earthquake that shook the island on new year's day. recovery efforts now under quay this morning we'll' we'll have the latest. teens stop vaping, but it's not for the health benefits, why mining is pushing young people to put down the pen. from michigan's mistakes to the rose bowl to the sugar bowl as final ten seconds we'll break down the best plays of the playoffs. and an unlikely bond two tour guides are inspiring others and spreading hope with their message of unity it's tuesday, january 2. "early today" starts right now good morning, i'm frances rivera break breaking overnight, south korean opposition leader lee was

stabbed in the neck in busan the 59-year-old populist was approached b approached by a man asking for an autograph before he was attacked with a knife-like weapon the injury is not life-threatening, lee and his party narrowly lost the 2020 election an investigation was ordered at least 30 people in japan have been confirmed dead after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the country's western coast. it happened in the afternoon on new year's day on the noto peninsula, sparking tsunami warnings it is the most powerful to strike japan since the 2011 earthquake that killed 20,000. let's go to claudio lavanga. do we know how the rescue efforts are going? >> reporter: good morning, frances. yes, thousands of rescuers have

within dispatched, including firefighters, soldiers and police officers dispatched to the most-affected areas on the western coast of japan but they have been really slowed down by severe damage that this quake has caused, the rubble from the collapsed buildings or overturned cars and also wrecked roads. so the prime minister of japan, fumio kishida said this is a race against time to save survivors, especially those who are believed to still be trapped under the rubble authorities also say the rescue effort is hindered even more by the many blazes that were caused by the quakes that were still raging on new year's day on several cities on that coast of japan. about 100,000 were evacuated to higher ground because of the tsunami alert that you mentioned. now the tsunami alert has been lifted even though authorities say at

least 33,000 people are still left without power that's a problem because these days, the temperature drops below zero there. the 7.6 magnitude was the strongest of about 140 quakes that would rock that area all throughout the day and authorities say more quakes may still rock the area in the coming hours or days it was new year's day, so many events were canceled, including the traditional greeting gathering by the emperor and empress who usually wave at well-wishers that is canceled, too. >> claudio, thank you. in a major setback for benjamin netanyahu, the israeli supreme court has struck down a pillar of his controversial overhaul the narrow 8-7 ruling reinstates a so-called reasonableness clause there were mass protests in israel for most of last year against netanyahu's plans, with

the leading newspaper calling it an attempted judicial coup the israeli army is pulling several thousand soldiers out of gaza, a sign it may be shifting to a slightly scaled-back phase of the war that's so far ki killed 22,00 22,000 34ri7bs. >22,000 the start of the new year means the start of new laws. here's ken dilanian. >> reporter: after his father died in a car accident, brian conrad wanted to do something. he began pushing for a new law in tennessee that would boost the penalties for distracted drivers. >> you don't realize it when your last moment is with your mother or dad. >> reporter: starting today, drivers under 18 in tennessee could lose their license for a year if they're cited twice for distracted driving >> that's just one life a year

we save, nigh dmy dad would be honored. >> reporter: a new law in nevada threatens election workers after half left their post amid a wave of harassment and intimidation >> 80% of our election workers are women. >> reporter: the law makes nevada one of the handful of states where 24threats to electo workers are felonies and in california, fines imposed if a store does not offer gender-neutral toy sections >> one newspaper called it california's latest woke insanity how do you respond to that >> this bill was inspired by private sector, following that of major retailers target, and so many others already going in this direction.

>> reporter: plus millions of americans will be getting a pay raise. more than 20 states are raising the minimum wage in several states it will be more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.20 an hour. 14 buses carrying asylum seekers traveling from texas to new york have arrived in new jersey the move appears to be an effort to bypass new york's new rules on when and how migrants arrive in the city. this comes as border crossings hit a record high in december. border patrol agents encountered some 300,000 migrants. and the surge continues at caravan of an estimated 7500 people are headed from mexico toward the border. commuters in california will have a harder time getting to work if they use san francisco's b.a.r.t. system. yesterday a train went off the tracks in east bay nine people were taken to the hospital, but no serious injuries were reported

officials are still trying to determine what went wrong and say they are hopeful to have at least partial service up and running this morning and with new year's behind us, the holiday travel season is wrapping up this morning as our antonia hilton tells us, it was one of the busiest years on record for airports across the country. >> reporter: here at laguardia in new york, 2rtravelers tell m they're feeling pretty good. many thought they would see a part two to what happened last year when southwest had a meltdown and millions were stranded and sleeping in airports for two or three days at a time. but instead, what they're seeing is security moving quickly they are seeing lots of staff helping them get their bags checked and through, and people are feeling good this is coming as aaa estimates 115 million americans have been, about 50 or more miles away from home, taking part in the second-highest travel levels that they've seen since they've

started tracking all this in 2000 and what we are seeing right now is that there are very few cancellations and only a dozen or so delays taking what we saw last year in comparison, au comparison all the travelers are feeling pretty good. and most are waiting until 6:30, 7:00 p.m. when they think they have the smoothest sailing and be less likely to be stuck in traffic. the south getting rain for another year and another system is brewing out west let's check in with angie lassman. >> good morning, frances happy new year we've got rain to talk about, stretched across the south we've got a system that's going to work through and inpact mainly folks across the lonestar state. we'll see widespread rain. as you get to tomorrow, the system works further to the east when it's all said and done, i

think up to anofinch of rain out west we've got another storm system that's going to work onshore and cause likely some travel issues. winter alerts for the mountain ranges so from washington, down central california through the day today we'll pick up rain, snow, and mountain ranges will be difficult to travel with added winds and the snow this stays with us into tomorrow, too. we'll start to see the rain working into the southwest and eventually kick out a little further to the east as wn angelo meanwhile, 40s across colorado, 37 in indianapolis 34 with partly cloudy skies in

chicago. and that's a look at your forecast, frances. >> angie, thank you. coming up, both college football playoff games come down to the wire. and just in time for new year's resolutions, why a wave of young people are snuffing out their vaping habit snuffing out their vaping habit. into prot. for the things you touch, nothing kills more viruses on more surfaces than lysol disinfectant spray. [girl coughs] and when it comes to your laundry, adding lysol laundry sanitizer kills 99.9% of illness-causing bacteria detergents leave behind. lysol. what it takes to protect. [stomach growling] it's nothing... sounds like something. ♪when you have nausea, heartburn, indigestion♪ ♪upset stomach, diarrhea♪ pepto bismol coats and soothes for fast relief when you need it most. a mystery!

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labor. according to humanitarian groups like amnesty international >> i'm quitting vaping the reason it is still happening is because how much we consume >> reporter: she heard about what happens in these mines and says she was so outraged shy to she ha to do something. >> they said quit buying new electronics, which i do, and then they said quit vaping >> reporter: the mining is responsible for electronics and e-cigarettes two-thirds of the supply of the cobalt comes from the democratic republic of the congo, but moist is sent to china where it's refined before it's sent to battery manufacturers and then brand-name companies buy those batteries. >> as brand-name companies, they have a share of responsibility

for the entire value chain and clearly, if they make the ask for addressing human rights concerns in the cobalt supply chain, even as deep down as in ar artis andal mines. >> it can cut into your lungs and cause chronie chronic respi diseases the tunnels can collapse and bury people alive. >> reporter: a u.s. department of labor has also raised the alarm on drc cobalt mining saying children are often forced to work in quote, terrible conditions with lithium ion batteries powering more and more of our lives, the problem isn't likely going anywhere soon. but many taking part in this trend hope the increased

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sets that block up and then gets big yards >> three michigan tight ends in the ball game. first down michigan on top at overtime. >> there they are, the

wolverines overcame some self-inflicted mishaps the squad defeated alabama in overtime and punched their ticket to the national title game and another nail-biter at the sugar bowl washington took control of texas in the second half of the game but the long horns fought back only to fall to the huskies in the red zone the stage is now set for the national championship in less than a week in houston and michigan, look at them, undefeated, with all the problems that harbaugh had, being suspended, and then here they are >> i'm i'm michigangander >> the pacers managed to pull away from the bucks with indiana star halliburton

and kyrie irving returned after missing for injury utah scored 127 on their way to victory against dallas and the new year brought a flu teanew tim team for og. and julius randall put up 39 in the knicks win against the timberwolves perfect for new year's day, rela relaxing on the couch after a busy new year's eve. >> pick your sport, too. nbc announced that snoop dogg will join the prime time coverage for the olympics coverage in paris in july. he will provide one of a kind commentary on the games and make his way around the city of light for sightseeing and mingling with olympic athletes. snoop says he is looking to make

these games unforgettable and smoke the competition. and just when you thought he couldn't expand the brand even more, and he's made appearances on sunday night football on peacock. he's in the right spot >> in 2021 olympics, when him and kevin hart did their commentary, it was one of my favorite parts of the olympics when we come back, someone is waking up to $842 million and richer because of it how taylor swift is making billboard history. swift is mak billboard history. prescriptions, co-pays, lab tests. even with insurance, health care can cost thousands every year. but not for me, because i'm enrolled in va health care. my service was then. my benefits are now. get what you earned. visit choose.va.gov

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we are back with what you need to know "early today. beginning this month, over 71 million americans will see a more than 3% increase in social security checks. recipients will have an average of around $50 more a month taylor swift just broke elvis presley's record for the most weeks at the top of the billboard charts by a solo

artist at 68 weeks lg has released a new smart home robot the mart assistant can walk on two legs, control home appliances on its own and greet you when you get home and keep an eye on your pets. someone in michigan is starting the year off on a high note someone with the winning ticket. . bye, bye cough. later chest congestion. hello 12 hours of relief. 12 hours?! hmmm, ok. not coughing at yoga. antiquing not coughing? not coughing at the movies?! hashtag still not coughing?! aaah. oww! mucinex dm gives you 12 hours of relief from chest congestion and any type of cough, day or night. it's not cough season. it's always comeback season. i love that my daughter still needs me. but sometimes i can't help due to burning and stabbing pain in my hands,

so i use nervive. nervive's clinical dose of ala reduces nerve discomfort in as little as 14 days. now i can help again. feel the difference with nervive. my frequent heartburn had me taking antacid after antacid all day long but with prilosec otc just one pill a day blocks heartburn for a full 24 hours. for one and done heartburn relief, prilosec otc. one pill a day, 24 hours, zero heartburn. the conflict in the middle east has sparked heated protests here in the u.s. now an unlikely duo, one israeli, and one palestinian are trying to lower the temperature to a conversation and

understanding. here's melissa para. >> reporter: cooking dinner together in this harlem apartment is not where colby or azeez thought they would be. but after 13 years, they're pros at working side by side. >> no, no, no, keep that here. >> reporter: colby was born to an orthodox family in israel azeez to a palestinian family. all of that came to a sudden stop on october 7. >> i ran a travel company that ran a lot of trips to israel and palestine, and now we're running zero trips there >> reporter: tourism in the region has been slashed since the war between israel and hamas began, leaving colby and azeez now giving tours of a different kind, around difficult dialog here in the united states. cot young version of either of you ever imagine being here next to each other right now? >> not a chance.

>> for me, i didn't have empath. i didn't even look at them >> i grew up with the narrative, which, you know, israel, every israeli and every jew in the world wants to displace all of us there's only us versus them. >> reporter: today they're taking that history to discussion events of all kinds and this night it's a dinner party. >> we said okay, you're mad, for instance, so much pain, what do you want the other side to tell you? >> so first, welcome, everybody, again. thank you for coming for dinner and a gathering. >> reporter: colby and assize say while their tours have stopped, their work has doubled. >> wha from my muslim sisters, they're walking on eggshells >> we don't connect over

political opinion. that can get us somewhere. >> reporter: their hope, that engaging in tough but civil conversations can move the needle >> we can still sit together and say we don't see each other as enemy. we're not on the opposite side >> reporter: what would success look like for you? >> thousands of young people having the courage to talk to the other side in a way that changes the perspectives >> reporter: melissa para, nbc news, new york >> all about sharing and understanding. we thank you for watching "early today. i'm frances rivera have a great tuesday and a great first week of 2024 first week of 2024.

breaking right now at 5:00, a fiery explosion, a passenger aircraft ignites in flames at an airport in japan, after colliding with a coast guard plane. the emergency