NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Ukraine and Russia traded long-distance airstrikes overnight, with both sides inflicting damage on the other. NPR's Greg Myrie has the latest on the fighting from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. A Ukrainian drone hit a large fuel storage tank and ignited a huge blaze in the southern Russian city of Sochi on the Black Sea coast. This is according to Russian officials, who say the Ukrainians fired nearly 100 drones overnight.

Most were shot down. Ukraine regularly targets fuel sites used by the Russian military. Meanwhile, the Russians launched more than 70 drones and several missiles at cities across Ukraine. Officials said at least 10 homes were damaged or destroyed, and several casualties were reported in the northern region of Kharkiv near the Russian border. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Kyiv. Smoke from wildfires burning in Western Canada has prompted special air quality warnings across the country and into the Midwestern U.S. As Dan

Karpenschuk reports, the number of wildfires is growing, with one in three still out of control. In Canada, smoke and haze from the wildfires has stretched from British Columbia into western Quebec. It's also led to air quality alerts in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. Environment Canada is reporting extremely high levels of air pollution. The air quality index in many areas at some of the highest levels.

That can lead to eye, nose and throat irritation and even more severe symptoms including chest pain and severe coughing. Health officials warn that those most at risk from the wildfire smoke are infants, children and seniors as well as anyone with an illness or chronic health condition. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. A coalition of 15 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit last week against the Trump administration's actions related to gender affirming care for transgender youth. As NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, the complaint alleges the White House has mounted

an unconstitutional pressure campaign against doctors and hospitals. There is no federal statute that prohibits providing puberty blockers, hormones, or in rare cases, surgery to transgender youth. These attorneys general say the Trump administration is trying to create a national ban through a campaign of intimidation. The complaint says the Trump administration has targeted doctors and hospitals providing this care by issuing subpoenas, threatening criminal prosecution,

launching investigations, and demanding patient data. It was filed in federal court in Massachusetts. The plaintiff states are places where this care is illegal, including New York, Connecticut, California, and Wisconsin. In a statement, they say they're asking the court to, quote, halt this unconstitutional pressure campaign and ensure transgender youth can continue to access legally protected health care without fear.

Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News. This is NPR News in Washington. Hospital officials and witnesses in Gaza say Israeli forces killed at least 23 people today as crowds surged around food distribution sites trying to obtain food. Israeli officials did not comment on today's incident, but have said troops fire warning shots as crowds gather. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll from malnutrition continues to

rise. In Australia, tens of thousands of people marched across Sydney's Harbour Bridge to protest Israel's military action in Gaza. Christina Kukulila reports. Police say the rally is among the biggest the city has ever seen. Crowd stop traffic on Sydney's landmark Harbour Bridge, braving rain and cold weather to call for a ceasefire and the entry of more aid into Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Police estimate some 90,000 people took part in the protest. Among those to address the crowds was

Jewish Australian journalist Anthony Loewenstein. Sanctions, boycotts and divestment. It is the only way that Israel will stop and our government must be doing that now. Australia's government says recognition of Palestine is a matter of when, not if. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it would not happen imminently. For NPI News, I'm Christina Kukhla in Melbourne. More than a million people gathered in a field on the outskirts of Rome today for the closing mass of the Jubilee of Youth. Young Catholics came from around the world to hear Pope Leo.

He said they were a sign that a different world is possible, where conflicts are resolved not with weapons but with dialogue. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.