NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-10-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: August 10, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Skiyavone. European leaders are teaming up to support Ukraine, with European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallis calling an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday. This says President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare for their summit meeting in Alaska, slated for this coming Friday. Terry Schultz reports Europeans are concerned that their own security is at risk. if Trump comes to an agreement with Putin without Ukraine present. The leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Commission

begin their joint statement by welcoming Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russia's war of aggression. But after that, their concerns about the U.S.-led process become evident. The leaders say they'll continue military and financial support to Ukraine, as well as tough sanctions on Russia. That last point comes amid reports Trump may consider, loosening the U.S. measures on Moscow. The seven emphasize international borders must not be changed by force. Trump had suggested he supports a swapping of territories between Russia and Ukraine. And the leaders insist no deal can be made without Ukraine. For NPR news, I'm Terry

Schultz. The UN Security Council is due to meet to discuss Israel's decision to expand its military operation in Gaza. The plan has been criticized by the UN at several countries as well as within Israel itself. Tens of thousands of people there protested last night. The mother of Sharon Lifshitz was one of the first hostages to be released, but her father was killed. Lipschus told the BBC that she is opposed. We want this war to end for a comprehensive deal to take place. A partial deal has just collapsed. And for the family of the hostages, this is day 674. It's an awful a long time. Their loved ones are in dreadful condition, and we need them back home. And only a comprehensive deal ending the war will make that possible. In Texas, hundreds of people

rallied in Fort Worth yesterday to support Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled the state capital to prevent passage of newly proposed congressional maps. More from Pablo Arras-Pena with member station KERA. The proposed maps in Texas would potentially give Republicans five new congressional seats. Former U.S. Congressman Beto O'Rourke says Democrats nationwide shouldn't wait for the maps to be redrawn. If we do not win a majority, then a Republican majority, those quizzling, corrupt cowards, they will roll out the red carpet for a third Trump term, and we cannot allow that to pass. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to block O'Rourke from raising funds for the Democratic representatives who fled the state. O'Rourke told the crowd

Saturday that he has countersued. In Fort Worth, I'm Pablo Arauss-Pena. This is NPR. More than 113,000 acres of the Los Padres National Forest have burned, now California's largest wildfire of the year. Authorities say the blaze is 21% contained. At least four people have been injured. More than a dozen wildfires are raging across the state. The canyon fire is about half-contained. In 1978, toxic cane toads from Central and South America were introduced to an island in Japan to control pests. Now, researchers are looking into how eagles there are surviving them. And PR's Regina Barber reports. Many predators that eat these cane toads die of heart attacks. But the critically endangered crested serpent eagles do not. After analyzing

blood and tissue samples from these eagles, the researchers found they have a special genetic adaptation to a these toxins. An adaptation that the studies lead author, Lisa Tobe, says the Eagles had long before they met the cane toads. So by chance, they can feed on them. Eagles aren't the only animal to carry resistance to this toxin without needing it. Some snakes, rodents, and frogs also inherited the adaptation from their ancestors. Regina Barber and PR News. Time flies, as they say, and believe it or not, there are roughly 19 weeks till Christmas. In Northern Europe, they're already making plans as a small town in Finland prepares to receive a small delegation of postal workers from St. Nicholas, Germany. They're biking to Santa Claus Village and amusement park on

the edge of the Arctic Circle to deliver letters and Christmas wish lists the 1800-mile bike trip should take a couple of weeks. I'm Louise Skivoni and PR News.