AP The Morning Wire by Sarah Naffa - January 18, 2024 : Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes kill at least nine in Iran and more ...

 

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By Sarah Naffa January 18, 2024

In the news today: Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes kill at least nine in Iran; the New Hampshire primaries are sure to stir up drama; and how Biden is looking to combat “junk fees.” Also, dozens of cats and dogs receive blessings from priests in Madrid.   Correction: A story in Wednesday's newsletter “Judge says No Labels can block candidates from running for offices other than president in Arizona” has been updated to clarify that critics of the third-party group are worried it will siphon would-be voters from President Joe Biden, not Donald Trump. The front page of a morning newspaper at a stall in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) WORLD NEWS Pakistan launches retaliatory airstrikes on Iran, killing at least 9 people The strikes, which killed at least nine, including three women and four children, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, follow Iran’s attack Tuesday on Pakistani soil that killed two children in the southwestern Baluchistan province. Read more.

Why this matters: The strikes imperil diplomatic relations between the neighbors, as Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan have long regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks. The attacks have raised the threat of violence spreading in a Middle East unsettled by Israel’s war with Hamas. The risk of escalation remained Thursday as Iran begins a planned air defense drill from its port of Chabahar near Pakistan across its south to Iraq. For both Iran and Pakistan, the cross-border attacks renew questions about the preparedness of their own militaries, particularly their radar and air defense systems.

Related coverage ➤ Who is Jaish al-Adl, the Sunni group that Iran targeted in an airstrike on Pakistani soil? Pakistan recalls its ambassador to Iran over airstrikes by Tehran that killed 2 people WATCH: Iran strikes targets in Iraq and Syria POLITICS Democratic drama and Biden write-ins promise a New Hampshire primary to remember On Tuesday, voters in the Granite State will help kick off the presidential primary season on the heels of Iowa caucuses that began the nomination process for the Republicans. But this year, there’s something different about the traditional first-in-the-nation primary, at least on the Democratic side. Read more.

Why this matters: The Democratic National Committee, which has the ultimate say in how its presidential nominee will be picked, says state party officials violated national party rules by scheduling its contest earlier than allowed. As a result, the primary will have zero delegates at stake on Tuesday. President Joe Biden has decided to skip New Hampshire because of the violations, and therefore he will not appear on the ballot. But some New Hampshire Democrats have mounted an effort to encourage primary voters to cast write-in ballots for Biden. The New Hampshire Democratic Party is nevertheless proceeding with the primary. This earned a sharp rebuke from the DNC, which called the primary both “meaningless” and “detrimental.”

Related coverage ➤ Some New Hampshire residents want better answers from the 2024 candidates on the opioid crisis WATCH: What to know about the primary in New Hampshire Trump, blending legal battles and campaign, tops long day in court with rambling New Hampshire rally U.S. NEWS Overdraft fees could drop to as low as $3 under new Biden proposal The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop under a proposal announced by the White House, the latest effort by the Biden administration to combat fees it says pose an unnecessary burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck. Read more.

Why this matters: Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimating that banks collected $280 billion from the fees in the last 20 years. The banking industry is expected to fight the new regulation vigorously to protect the fee revenue. CFPB research has shown that overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color. Biden has made the elimination of “junk fees” one of the cornerstones of his administration’s economic agenda, while banks have argued that government regulations on overdrafts could cause them to eliminate the service altogether.

Related coverage ➤ What to know about overdraft fees as the White House cracks down on them Banks prepare to take on the Biden administration over billions of dollars in overdraft fees The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet ADVERTISEMENT HAPPENING TODAY The Sundance Film Festival is celebrating 40 years. Israel’s president and OpenAI’s CEO will take part in the World Economic Forum. The U.S. Department of Justice is set to release a report looking at law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting. IN OTHER NEWS Russia-Ukraine war: Top NATO military officer urges allies and leaders to plan for the unexpected in Ukraine The Hague: Israeli rhetoric against Palestinians becomes central to South Africa’s genocide case Extreme weather: Power line falls on car during Oregon ice storm, killing 3 and hurting a baby, authorities say Proud boys: Capitol rioter who assaulted at least 6 police officers is sentenced to 5 years in prison Breeding monkeys: Plan for $400 million monkey-breeding facility in southwest Georgia draws protest AI at the Vatican: A Franciscan friar has the pope’s ear on AI and how it can help — or hurt — humanity Golden State Warriors: Assistant coach, Dejan Milojević, 46, dies in Salt Lake City after heart attack ADVERTISEMENT TODAY IN HISTORY On Jan. 18, 1778: English navigator Captain James Cook reached the present-day Hawaiian Islands, which he named the “Sandwich Islands.” (AP Photo)   A look at what else happened in history on January 18 A CHANGE OF PACE Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, the 1869 edition. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) A scholar discovers stories and poems possibly written by Louisa May Alcott under a pseudonym The author of “Little Women” may have been even more productive than previously thought. A Northeastern University teaching associate believes he found work that Louisa May Alcott wrote under several pseudonyms for local newspapers in Massachusetts. WATCH: Pets receive blessings in Madrid Dozens of dogs and perhaps a couple of cats were blessed outside a church in celebration of the Feast of Saint Anthony of Abbot, Spain's patron saint of animals. ADVERTISEMENT

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