Gaza ceasefire violated; Government shutdown day 20 : NPR

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Today's top news

The truce in the Gaza Strip was tested this weekend when Israel launched an attack on the territory in response to an attack on its troops. On Sunday, the Israeli military said “terrorists” attacked Israeli troops operating in the Rafah area, killing two soldiers. Hamas has denied involvement in any attacks. Gaza officials say Israeli strikes have killed dozens of people. Both sides accuse another of wrongdoing ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

• 🎧 Yesterday's events pose the most serious threat to the ceasefire agreement. since both sides signed the agreement, NPR's Rob Schmitz reports Up first. Despite what happened, Hamas and Israel say they still 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 J.D. Vance is expected to arrive tomorrow to get the ceasefire back on track. The group will try to facilitate the return of the remaining bodies of the Israeli hostages, an important part of the first phase of the agreement.

Government shutdown enters day 20 without any serious negotiations to end it. The longest suspension lasted 35 days and occurred during Trump's first term in the White House. This time, however, is different: There's less pressure to get a deal done because some of the impacts aren't being felt widely, says NPR's Deirdre Walsh.

• 🎧 Instead of feeling pressured to quit because their projects are being targetedDemocrats are digging in and saying these are more likely the same tactics the Trump administration used before the shutdown happened. The Senate voted unsuccessfully 10 times on a House-approved stopgap government funding bill. The next vote is expected this evening. Senate Democrats are expected to continue to block this billwithout backing down from its position that health subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, need to be extended.

The US plans to end all subsidies to Colombia and impose new tariffs after the country's leaderGustavo Petro said Trump's attacks on ships coming from Venezuela amount to murder. The US military destroyed the boats in open waters in what the government calls an anti-drug operation.

• 🎧 The US government says it hit at least seven ships. and claims they were loaded with drugs sent to NPR correspondent Eider Peralta says that the overall picture is that decades have passed since the US military has taken such a position in America. This created tension in the region. Renute Roberts, a fisherman from Trinidad, says he hears drones circling at night. Although Roberts says he believes drugs are a problem, he argues that Trump can deal with the problem without bombing boats.

Cost of living

NPR series Cost of Living: The Price We Pay explores what drives rising prices and how people cope with years of stubborn inflation.

Healthcare in the US is the most expensive in the developed world, and its price is only rising. Last year, the average annual employer-based health plan premium for a family of four was more than $25,500. Of that average, employers contributed about $19,200 and employees contributed the rest. Total premiums are up more than 24% since 2019 and are expected to rise next year. Here how rising costs affect people and companies:

• ⚕️Drug manufacturers, hospitals, insurance companies and other commercial companies have raised the cost of access to health care in the United States. For example, drug manufacturers develop more effective drugs but charge more for them.
• ⚕️ For many of the millions of people who get health insurance through their employer, their paycheck deductions could rise by an average of 6% to 7% next year.
• ⚕️Some companies cover all insurance premiums. Offering zero-deductible health insurance can help recruit new employees, reduce turnover, and help workers focus on their jobs rather than costs.

Find out more about what companies are doing to assistance with health insurance paymentsor read the conversation about it. This week's series will focus on the rising costs of entertainment, such as ticket prices for sporting events. Stay up to date with the latest news Here.

How does rising prices change your lifestyle? Fill in this form share your story with NPR.

Picture show

Cumbia throughout Latin America is a visual reportage highlighting the people, places and cultures that support this genre of music in six countries.

The first cumbia song recorded in Ecuador in the 1960s contained only one verse and was called “Cumbia Triste”. Written by Polibio Mayorga, the song combines the rhythms of San Juanito – traditional Andean music – with rural Colombian cumbia, which came to the country through 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 Ecuadorian cumbia sound and musicians like Medardo Luzuriaga who turned the genre into a national sensation. Luzuriaga recorded more than 100 albums, and his iconic cumbias still live in the collective consciousness of the entire country. Find out more about Ecuador's influence on the genre music and see photographs of the culture surrounding it. You can also read the article in spanish.

3 things you need to know before your trip

1. Sam Rivers, bassist of the rock band Limp Bizkit, died at 48. On Saturday, the group said in a social media post: “Today we lost our brother.”
2. Yesterday morning the Louvre in Paris was robbed. Investigators looking for four men who made off with “priceless” jewelry, officials say.
3. OpenAI users were blocked to shoot video Martin Luther King Jr. on his Sora app after his estate complained that “disrespectful images” were being circulated. Since the app launched three weeks ago, users have created hyper-realistic fake videos of King saying offensive and racist remarks.

This newsletter has been edited Lunch Manuel.