Up First briefing: Congress avoids government shutdown; Lloyd Austin's hospital stay

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Congressional leaders reached an agreement yesterday that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year and avoid a government shutdown .

The text must now be finalized, and Congress must pass the bills before the Jan. 19 deadline. The top line figure includes $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for non defense spending. Congressional leaders struck an agreement to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown. The deal still needs to get through Congress, where it is likely to face opposition from conservatives.

Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images hide caption Congressional leaders struck an agreement to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown. The deal still needs to get through Congress, where it is likely to face opposition from conservatives. Tensions continue to rise on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where the Israeli army has regularly traded fire with Lebanon's Hezbollah since the Oct.

7 Hamas attack and Israeli offensive in Gaza. A recent killing of a top Hamas leader in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, has added to concerns of a full scale war. Israel has not admitted involvement. Senior White House and Pentagon officials are demanding answers after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to inform them and the president for days about his Jan.

1 hospitalization for complications from a recent elective surgery. Austin remains at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The Federal Aviation Committee ordered the grounding and immediate inspection of about 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes this weekend after an Alaska Airlines aircraft suffered a mid flight emergency.

The plane was forced to land after a door plug blew out midair, leaving a hole next to two unoccupied seats. Respiratory illnesses like the flu, RSV and COVID have climbed after the holidays — though COVID levels are still far below what they were at the height of the pandemic. Many wonder how they've avoided COVID infections while in close contact with roommates and family members.

Here's the science behind the spread : Rana Samara, a Palestinian artist from Ramallah in the Israeli occupied West Bank. Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR Images for NPR hide caption Rana Samara, a Palestinian artist from Ramallah in the Israeli occupied West Bank. Art plays a big role in Israel and the Palestinian community.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas led attacks, many artists have confronted heavy emotions through their craft. Six Israeli and Palestinian artists share stories of fear, anger, sadness and pain with NPR as they reflect on how the war in Gaza has affected their lives. Read their reflections and see photos of what they've been working on.

Check out npr.org/mideastupdates for more coverage and analysis of the conflict. Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, left, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pose with the trophy after a news conference ahead of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game between Washington and Michigan on Sunday, Jan.

7, 2024, in Houston. The game will be played Monday. Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP hide caption Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, left, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pose with the trophy after a news conference ahead of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game between Washington and Michigan on Sunday, Jan.

7, 2024, in Houston. The game will be played Monday. This newsletter was edited by Majd Al Waheidi ..