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Right now’s prime tales
U.S. particular envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow and is assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the moment. His go to comes as President Trump’s deadline for the Kremlin to finish the warfare in Ukraine or face financial penalties was moved as much as the tip of this week.

On this pool {photograph} distributed by the Russian state company Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin greets US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff previous to their talks in Moscow on August 6.
Gavril Grigorov/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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Gavril Grigorov/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
- 🎧 Trump is threatening secondary sanctions and tariffs on Russian vitality exports, which might penalize nations like China that buy their oil and fuel, NPR’s Charles Maynes tells Up First. Trump’s insurance policies and rhetoric towards Russia shifted when a ceasefire with Ukraine didn’t occur after a number of conferences between the U.S. and Moscow. Putin has expressed that his military has momentum on the battlefield and proven no indication that he plans to again down. With Witkoff’s newest assembly, Maynes says either side could also be in search of a compromise — not the total rapid peace Trump calls for, however an answer that will preserve him from fulfilling his threats on Friday.
Distinguished supporters of the president have just lately intensified their criticism of Israel due to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The Republican Occasion has lengthy been aligned with Israel in its warfare in opposition to Gaza, however now the rift throughout the social gathering is making a political problem for Trump. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia final week known as Israel’s actions a genocide. Former White Home aide Steve Bannon warned of the long-term expense of this battle and Trump’s threat of shedding younger Republicans’ help.
- 🎧 Republican strategist Alex Conant says we at the moment are to start with levels of the lame duck interval of Trump’s presidency. Conant tells NPR’s Franco Ordoñez that there’s a combat brewing to find out what the Republican Occasion will seem like post-Trump, with a powerful push for an America First social gathering. Republican strategist Sean Walsh says the president must concentrate on the midterm elections and interesting to the vast majority of his social gathering, who help Israel, if he hopes to maintain management of the Home.
Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi has reportedly initiated a grand jury investigation into how the Obama administration dealt with the probe of Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election. NPR has not independently verified this info, which was first reported by Fox Information and different retailers. Bondi launching the inquiry suggests a pattern that blurs the road between the Justice Division, which has been largely impartial, and the White Home.
- 🎧 The president has responded to the reviews of Bondi’s actions by deflecting duty whereas praising her efficiency, NPR’s Domenico Montanaro says. Trump has had tensions with attorneys normal prior to now and has proven a willingness to fireside them when disagreements come up. Bondi has taken a unique method with the president. She has expressed outrage on Trump’s behalf earlier than Congress when his ethics have been questioned and has shielded him concerning the Jeffrey Epstein information. Many view her actions towards the Obama administration about Russia as a distraction from the Epstein battle.
Right now marks the sixtieth anniversary of the landmark Voting Rights Act, which was signed into legislation by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson to guard in opposition to racial discrimination. Nonetheless, the lawful efforts to combat in opposition to the dilution of Black voters’ collective energy on the poll field could also be ending quickly, as a new authorized argument progresses towards the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.
Life recommendation

Vertical photograph collage of hand maintain open e book herbarium encyclopedia atmosphere plant care butterfly remoted on painted background.
Deagreez; Pravokrugulnik; paladin13, Israel Sebastian/Getty Pictures; Collage by NPR
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Deagreez; Pravokrugulnik; paladin13, Israel Sebastian/Getty Pictures; Collage by NPR
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Retaining a journal helped author Suleika Jaouad navigate her battle with leukemia at 22, life after therapy and the pandemic. Now, she has launched The E book of Alchemy: A Artistic Follow for an Impressed Life, which expands on her method to journaling. It is a assortment of essays and writing prompts from 100 writers and artists. Jaouad shares ideas with Life Package on the best way to reignite your writing follow when you’re feeling caught, bored, or uninspired.
- ✏️ Set a length of time you propose to journal day by day. Being constant may also help you type surprising and fascinating writing.
- ✏️ Attempt including journaling to a non-negotiable a part of your routine, like if you sit down to your morning espresso.
- ✏️ There isn’t a proper or incorrect technique to journal. You should use a telephone app; do not let expectations like needing a pen and paper hinder your enjoyment.
- ✏️ Do this immediate to get you began: Write a day within the lifetime of your goals a few years out. However achieve this within the current tense.
For extra steering on the best way to begin journaling, hearken to this episode of NPR’s Life Package. Subscribe to the Life Package publication for skilled recommendation on love, cash, relationships and extra.
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Divya Deshmukh of India through the ultimate spherical of the forty fifth Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary on Sept 22, 2024.
Denes Erdos/AP
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Denes Erdos/AP
India is poised to take over the chess world, particularly after 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh’s current victory on the FIDE Girls’s Chess World Cup. This achievement marks India’s 88th grandmaster — a title awarded to the very best gamers globally. Because the pandemic, chess has skilled a big resurgence worldwide. With extra leisure time, individuals started enjoying on-line and watching on YouTube. India has emerged as one of many largest beneficiaries of this increase. Historically, Indian mother and father do not encourage their youngsters to pursue sports activities critically. However chess, which mirrors tutorial pursuits, has gained acceptance. Now, India is ensuring its youth are poised to checkmate with a system created to show “from the grassroots” of the game, in accordance with chess coach Venkat Saravanan. Check out how they’re making strategic strikes.
3 issues to know earlier than you go

A statue commemorating Accomplice Gen. Albert Pike sits on the bottom moments after protesters toppled it late Friday night time in Washington, D.C.
Eric Baradat/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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Eric Baradat/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
A statue commemorating Accomplice Gen. Albert Pike sits on the bottom moments after protesters toppled it late Friday night time in Washington, D.C.
Eric Baradat/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
- The Nationwide Park Service plans to revive and reinstall in Washington, D.C., a statue of Albert Pike, a Accomplice normal and Freemason chief. It was vandalized and brought down through the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020.
- The U.S. Coast Guard issued a 300-page report yesterday stating the deaths of the passengers within the Titan submersible implosion two years in the past have been preventable. It faulted OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who designed and piloted the vessel.
- On TikTok and Instagram, the phrase “clanker” as a catch-all time period for robots and AI has reached viral ranges. Context clues present the time period shouldn’t be a superb factor. The Phrase of the Week collection breaks down precisely what it means.
This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen