NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. 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 Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. 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. Russia and Ukraine traded attacks overnight ahead of a visit to Moscow by White House envoy Steve Witkoff today. Last week, President Trump said Witkoff's trip is aimed at pushing

Russia to agree to a ceasefire. Trump has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Wicoff is traveling to Moscow following a trip to the Middle East where he met this weekend with family members of hostages still being held in Gaza. In Australia, tens of thousands marched across Sydney's Harbour Bridge to protest Israel's military action in Gaza. Christina Kukulje reports. 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 NPR News, I'm Christina Kukalja in Melbourne. A manhunt ongoing in western Montana for an army veteran suspected of fatally shooting four people in a bar on Friday. Here's NPR's Matt Bloom.

Multiple state and federal agencies have spent the weekend searching a mountainous area of the state, including in helicopters. They also released more information about the suspect, posting a security camera photo online of Michael Paul Brown fleeing the scene barefoot, wearing nothing but black shorts. On Saturday, law enforcement searched Brown's residence next door to the Owl Bar. Town of Anaconda Police Chief Bill Sather called it a stressful and tragic time. We're keeping everyone affected in our thoughts and prayers. Please stay alert, stay safe and condom.

Many local businesses have been allowed to reopen, but authorities say Brown is believed to be armed and dangerous. Matt Blum, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. Investors are already having a rocky August after a weaker than expected jobs report sent major stock indices plunging. NPR's Maria Aspin reports that Wall Street is hoping for more reassurance from big companies this week.

August is a historically weak month on Wall Street, and this one is starting off in the red. A weak jobs report raised new alarms about the impact President Trump's sweeping tariffs are having on the US economy. Unemployment is ticking up while employers are creating fewer jobs than expected. Investors had largely been shrugging off the tariffs noise after the president paused and softened some of his initial taxes. But now Trump has announced more of them on

imports from dozens of countries. Now investors will be listening closely as more big companies weigh in on the economy, hiring, and the tariffs fallout. Disney, McDonald's, and Marriott are just some of the companies reporting quarterly results this week. Maria Aspin, NPR News. Volcano in Russia's Far East has erupted for the first time in hundreds

of years. Russian news agencies quoting the head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team as saying the eruption overnight of the Krasnoyanokov Volcano is the first since 1463. Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services in Kamchatka says the volcano sent an ash plume more than three miles into the sky. At the Swimming World Championships in Singapore, the U.S. has several chances to win gold today, including in the men's and women's 4x100 medley relays. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.