Ceasefire in Gaza violated; Day 20 of government shutdown: NPR

Good morning. You are reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today’s best stories

The ceasefire in Gaza was tested this weekend when Israel launched an assault on the territory in response to an attack on its troops. The Israeli military said on Sunday that “terrorists” attacked Israeli troops operating in the Rafah area, killing two soldiers. Hamas has denied any involvement in any attack. Gaza officials say dozens of people have been killed in Israeli strikes. Both sides accuse each other of violating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.

• 🎧 Yesterday’s events pose the biggest threat to the ceasefire agreement since both sides signed the deal, NPR’s Rob Schmitz said First. Despite what happened, Hamas and Israel say they remain committed to the spirit of the ceasefire. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are arriving in Israel today and Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive tomorrow to put the ceasefire agreement back on track. The group will attempt to facilitate the return of the bodies of remaining Israeli hostages, which is an important part of the first phase of the deal.

Government shutdown enters 20th day without any serious negotiations being underway to put an end to it. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days and occurred during Trump’s first term in the White House. However, this time it’s different because there’s less pressure to reach an agreement because some of the impacts aren’t widely felt, says NPR’s Deirdre Walsh.

• 🎧 Instead of feeling the pressure to withdraw because their projects are targetedDemocrats are digging into the situation and claiming these are more of the same tactics used by the Trump administration before the shutdown. The Senate voted ten times unsuccessfully on a stopgap bill approved by the House to fund the government. The next vote is expected this evening. Senate Democrats are expected to continue blocking this bill, without renouncing their position that health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year must be extended.

The United States plans to end all subsidies to Colombia and apply new tariffs after the country’s leaderGustavo Petro, said Trump’s attacks on ships from Venezuela constitute murder. US forces have destroyed boats on the open sea in what the government describes as a counter-narcotics operation.

• 🎧 US government says it hit at least seven ships and claims they were loaded with drugs destined for US NPR. NPR’s Eyder Peralta says the big picture is that it’s been decades since the U.S. military took such a stance in the Americas. This has created tensions in the region. Renute Roberts, a fisherman in Trinidad, says he can hear drones circling at night. While Roberts says he believes drugs are a problem, he says Trump can handle it without bombing the boats.

Cost of living

The NPR series Cost of living: the price we pay examines the causes of rising prices and how people are coping with years of stubborn inflation.

Health care in the United States is the most expensive in the developed world, and its price is only increasing. Last year, the average annual premium for an employer-sponsored health insurance plan for a family of four exceeded $25,500. Of this average total, employers contributed about $19,200 and workers contributed the rest. Total premiums have increased by more than 24% since 2019 and are expected to rise significantly next year. Here’s how rising costs affect people and businesses:

• ⚕️ Drug manufacturers, hospitals, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations have driven up the costs of accessing medical care in the United States. For example, drug manufacturers develop more effective drugs, but they charge a lot for them.
• ⚕️ For many of the millions of people with employer-based health insurance, payroll deductions could increase next year by an average of 6% to 7%.
• ⚕️ Some companies cover all insurance premiums. Offering premium-free health insurance can help recruit new employees, reduce turnover rates, and help workers stay focused on their work rather than their expenses.

Hear more about what companies are doing to help pay health insurance premiums, or read a conversation about it. This week, the series will cover the rising cost of entertainment, such as the price of tickets to sporting events. Stay up to date with the latest stories here.

How are rising prices changing the way you live? Fill this form to share your story with NPR.

Image exhibition

Cumbia across Latin America is a visual report covering the people, places and cultures that keep this musical genre alive in six countries.

The first cumbia song recorded in Ecuador in the 1960s had only one verse and was called “Cumbia Triste”. Written by Polibio Mayorga, the song combined the rhythms of San Juanito – traditional Andean music – with rural Colombian cumbia, which arrived in the country via the recording industry. The result marked a new identity for many migrants who came to live in Ecuador’s urban centers. Mayorga laid the foundation for the sound of Ecuadorian cumbia and musicians like Medardo Luzuriaga, who transformed the genre into a national sensation. Luzuriaga has recorded over 100 albums and his iconic cumbias still live on in the collective consciousness of the entire country. Learn about Ecuador’s influence on the music genre and see photos of the culture that surrounds it. You can also read the article in Spanish.

3 things to know before you leave

1. Sam Rivers, bassist for rock band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48. The group said in a social media post on Saturday: “Today we lost our brother.”
2. The Louvre Museum in Paris was robbed yesterday morning. Investigators are looking for four men who took “priceless” jewelry, authorities say.
3. OpenAI users were blocked from making videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora app after his estate complained that “disrespectful depictions” were being shown. Since the app launched three weeks ago, users have made fake, hyper-realistic videos of King saying offensive and racist things.

This newsletter was published by Obed Manuel.