AP The Morning Wire - September 23, 2024 - by Sarah Naffa - the growing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah; the US Congress avoids a government shutdown; and the politics of immigration play differently along the US-Mexico border

 

By Sarah Naffa September 23, 2024

In the news today: what you need to know about the growing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah; the US Congress avoids a government shutdown; and the politics of immigration play differently along the US-Mexico border. Also, why climbing stairs might be the most effective exercise for you. Smoke rises from Israeli shelling on villages in the Nabatiyeh district, seen from the southern town of Marjayoun, Lebanon, Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) WORLD NEWS Israel warns civilians to evacuate as it strikes wide swaths of southern Lebanon The Israeli military is calling on residents of southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate homes and other buildings where it claims Hezbollah has stored weapons. Read more.

Recent developments: Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes early Monday on southern Lebanon. Residents of different villages in southern Lebanon posted photos on social media of their hometowns that were being struck. The state-run National News Agency also reported airstrikes on different areas. The Israeli military’s Arab-language spokesperson said Israel’s air force was attacking Hezbollah targets in different parts of the country. The two sides exchanged heavy fire on Sunday, with Hezbollah firing over 100 rockets into a wider and deeper area of northern Israel than it has struck previously in months of low-level conflict.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ What to know about the growing conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah Israel raids and shuts down Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah in the West Bank Weaponizing ordinary devices violates international law, United Nations rights chief says POLITICS Congressional leaders agree on spending deal to avert a federal shutdown Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushing final decisions until after the November election. Read more.

Why this matters: Lawmakers have struggled to get to this point as the current budget year winds to a close at month’s end. At the urging of the most conservative members of his conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had linked temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote. But Johnson abandoned that approach to reach an agreement, even as Trump insisted there should not be a stop-gap measure without the voting requirement. In a letter to Republican colleagues, Johnson said the budget measure would be “very narrow, bare-bones” and include “only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.” The final result — government funding effectively on autopilot — was what many had predicted. With the election just weeks away, few lawmakers in either party had any appetite for the brinkmanship that often leads to a shutdown. Temporary spending bills generally fund agencies at current levels, but an additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and additional money was added to aid with the presidential transition.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Republicans in swing states say they see scant signs of groups door-knocking for Trump Party lines blur in election campaign’s last stretch Harris raises $27 million in New York fundraiser, promises economic speech this week POLITICS The politics of immigration play differently along the US-Mexico border As immigration politics have moved to the forefront of this year’s presidential election, they’ve dominated contests across the country for congressional seats that could determine which party controls Congress. Read more.

Why this matters: Three of 11 congressional district races along the southern U.S. border are hotly contested rematches in districts that flipped in 2022 with the election of Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez in New Mexico and Republican Reps. Juan Ciscomani in Arizona and Monica De La Cruz in Texas. Democrats in Congress are promoting border enforcement as seldom before, including a half-dozen bills from Vasquez. He touts his knowledge of the region as the U.S.-born son of immigrants with relatives on both sides of the border where border politics are literally matters of life and death. Federal and local authorities describe a new humanitarian crisis along New Mexico’s nearly 180-mile portion of the border, where migrant deaths from heat exposure have surged and merciless smuggling cartels inflict havoc.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ AP Explains: Migration is more complex than politics show Trump’s goal of mass deportations fell short. But he has new plans for a second term European politicians say migration is out of control. The numbers tell a different story ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Russian strikes: 21 wounded in strikes that hit apartment buildings in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv New president: Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president North Carolina governor: Several Mark Robinson campaign staffers quit as fallout over online posts continues Pennsylvania: The AI boom may give Three Mile Island a new life supplying power to Microsoft’s data centers ‘Johnny Dollar’:  In Iran, an old-time US radio detective returns to the airwaves Today in History: In 1955, a jury acquitted two white men of killing Emmett Till WATCH Rocket strike: Car camera shows Hezbollah rocket hit in northern Israel ‘Join me on the debate stage’: Kamala Harris invites former Donald Trump to debate her again A ‘good’ year: Fall is back, bringing especially vibrant foliage in parts of the United States Blessing of Helmets: Thousands of motorcyclists gather at Our Lady of Fatima shrine A CHANGE OF PACE People walk down stairs at the Kueppersmuehle Center for Modern and Contemporary Art in Duisburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)  Want to burn calories? Climbing stairs might be the most effective exercise for you If you’re trying to lose weight and want a new way to do it, stair-climbing as a regular exercise — or just adding a few flights a day — might be for you. It’s accessible, and research shows it’s more effective than walking on level ground.

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