Witkoff in Moscow for peace talks. And, the Voting Rights Act faces new threats

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At this time’s high tales

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

• 🎧 Trump is threatening secondary sanctions and tariffs on Russian vitality exports, which might penalize international locations 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 searching for a compromise — not the complete fast peace Trump calls for, however an answer that might maintain him from fulfilling his threats on Friday.

Outstanding supporters of the president have just lately intensified their criticism of Israel due to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The Republican Celebration has lengthy been aligned with Israel in its struggle in opposition to Gaza, however now the rift throughout the celebration 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 dropping younger Republicans’ help.

• 🎧 Republican strategist Alex Conant says we are actually to start with phases of the lame duck interval of Trump’s presidency. Conant tells NPR’s Franco Ordoñez that there’s a battle brewing to find out what the Republican Celebration will seem like post-Trump, with a robust push for an America First celebration. Republican strategist Sean Walsh says the president must give attention to the midterm elections and interesting to the vast majority of his celebration, who help Israel, if he hopes to maintain management of the Home.

Lawyer Common 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 development that blurs the road between the Justice Division, which has been principally impartial, and the White Home.

• 🎧 The president has responded to the reviews of Bondi’s actions by deflecting accountability whereas praising her efficiency, NPR’s Domenico Montanaro says. Trump has had tensions with attorneys basic up to now and has proven a willingness to fireside them when disagreements come up. Bondi has taken a unique strategy 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.

At this time 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. Nevertheless, the lawful efforts to battle 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 Court docket.

Life recommendation

Vertical picture collage of hand maintain open guide herbarium encyclopedia setting 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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Conserving 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 Inventive Apply for an Impressed Life, which expands on her strategy to journaling. It is a assortment of essays and writing prompts from 100 writers and artists. Jaouad shares ideas with Life Package on how one can reignite your writing apply in case you’re feeling caught, bored, or uninspired.

• ✏️ Set a length of time you propose to journal each day. Being constant will help you kind sudden and fascinating writing.
• ✏️ Attempt including journaling to a non-negotiable a part of your routine, like whenever you sit down in your morning espresso.
• ✏️ There isn’t a proper or incorrect method to journal. You should utilize a cellphone 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 accomplish that within the current tense.

For extra steerage on how one can begin journaling, hearken to this episode of NPR’s Life Package. Subscribe to the Life Package publication for professional recommendation on love, cash, relationships and extra.

Image present

Divya Deshmukh of India in the course of the closing 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 Ladies’s Chess World Cup. This achievement marks India’s 88th grandmaster — a title awarded to one of the best gamers globally. Because the pandemic, chess has skilled a major resurgence worldwide. With extra leisure time, folks started enjoying on-line and watching on YouTube. India has emerged as one of many greatest beneficiaries of this increase. Historically, Indian dad and mom do not encourage their kids to pursue sports activities significantly. 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, based on 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 evening in Washington, D.C.

Eric Baradat/AFP through Getty Pictures

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Eric Baradat/AFP through Getty Pictures

A statue commemorating Accomplice Gen. Albert Pike sits on the bottom moments after protesters toppled it late Friday evening in Washington, D.C.

Eric Baradat/AFP through Getty Pictures

1. The Nationwide Park Service plans to revive and reinstall in Washington, D.C., a statue of Albert Pike, a Accomplice basic and Freemason chief. It was vandalized and brought down in the course of the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020.
2. 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.
3. 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 will not be factor. The Phrase of the Week sequence breaks down precisely what it means.

This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen