Our daily voyage around the world

🇮🇱 Thousands of people gathered across Israel yesterday to protest a government proposal that would reduce the power of the judiciary. Since early January, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have protested against the proposed judicial reforms, which would allow Parliament to override Supreme Court decisions, restrict the Court’s ability to block laws, and give the government full control over appointing new judges. Proponents argue that Israel’s Supreme Court currently has too much power over the country’s legislature, while opponents contend the reforms would upend the checks and balances within Israel’s government and lead to authoritarian rule.

🌎 Democracy around the world declined for the 17th consecutive year in 2022, per a new report from nonpartisan nonprofit Freedom House. The report said that while several encouraging events took place last year – including peaceful transfers of power in Colombia, Kenya, and Malaysia – they were slightly outweighed by negative events like multiple coups in West Africa, and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. But alas! There is some good news: Freedom House researchers said the world appears to be headed towards a “turning point” for improvement, with global democracy projected to increase as soon as 2023.

🇺🇦🇷🇺 Russia fired dozens of missiles into Ukraine yesterday, in one of its biggest attacks this year. Ukraine’s commander-in-chief said Moscow fired eight Iranian-made suicide drones alongside 81 cruise missiles, which killed a total of six Ukrainians and caused the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to temporarily lose power. Officials from both sides said six of the Russian missiles were hypersonic Kinzhal models, which can accelerate to 10x the speed of sound and precisely strike targets at a range of 1,200 miles.