Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the for all the news you need to start your day. . The UN’s International Court of Justice is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa will present its case today, and Israel will present its defense tomorrow. ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination last night, days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15. He was a vocal critic of the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. Christie did not endorse another candidate but emphasized that he “in no way” endorsed Trump ever to be president again. Christie’s exit from the primary changes “next to nothing” in Iowa, NPR network reporter Clay Masters reports on Morning Edition. Two of Trump’s remaining rivals — — faced off in a CNN debate in Iowa last night, where they spent most of the night accusing the other of lying. Masters says Trump ultimately walked away victorious by not showing up to the debate. . The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved yesterday almost a dozen bitcoin ETFs or exchange-traded funds. These investment funds track bitcoin prices and will allow people to invest in bitcoin without owning any of the cryptocurrency. An analyst at the financial services firm Morningstar tells NPR’s David Gura that the SEC’s decision will make the barrier of entry to crypto investment much lower. Gura notes that most cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, are volatile, and prices can move up and down a lot in a single day. SEC Chair Gary Gensler emphasized that while these specific ETFs are approved, he and his colleagues are not endorsing bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. . New research shows what’s going on in their muscles. Many patients with long COVID are told to hit the gym and get back in shape when they describe their fatigue symptoms, known as post-exertional malaise (PEM). A new study paints a clearer picture of why exercising with this condition is so difficult. Researchers compared 25 people with long COVID to healthy controls and asked both groups to work out for 10-25 minutes on a stationary bike. The mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in people with long COVID were functioning at a severely reduced capacity, making it hard for the muscles to get enough oxygen. Long COVID patients also had more muscle damage after exercising than healthy participants. Researchers found microclots that carry “trapped inflammatory molecules” that traveled from blood vessels into muscle tissue. Experts warn that exercising can harm those with PEM, and other approaches to recovery are needed. . This year, music critic Sasha Frere-Jones will be five years sober. When he was working through a 12-step program, he rejected the idea that there could be good music about not drinking. To help those who have decided to participate in Dry January, NPR’s Neda Ulaby asked Frere-Jones to identify great songs that explore sobriety. <3 things to know before you go> .
