Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Kyivone.
The deadline to establish peace talks between the U.S. and Iran expired today with no negotiations planned and the status of the Strait of Hormuz still in dispute. NPR Janeraf has more. The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June that called for reaching a final agreement in 60 days.
There have been mediation attempts by other countries, but no U.S. Iranian negotiation since then. Iran says the U.S. isn't serious about negotiating. President Trump has threatened new sanctions against Iran over their restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.
While the June agreement called for the U.S. to begin removing its naval blockade and
“Iran to allow transit through the key waterway within 30 days, neither of those have happened”
either. The ceasefire was broken in July with attacks by both the U.S. and Iran. NPR News, among the head of customs and border protection says the agency has temporarily paused construction for its border security plans and big-bend national park in Texas. Commissioner Rodding Scott is expected to meet with county judges and sheriffs in the region
Carlos Morales has more. In a social media post, Commissioner Scott said he'll begin meeting with local leaders to evaluate the region's rugged and difficult terrain, balancing border security needs and protecting the national park. The last night, I put a pause on all activity in that park, as far as construction goes,
until I can get down there and do a personal evaluation, talk to some stakeholders, talk to work a law enforcement in that area.
The Trump administration's $1.7 billion construction plan for big-bend national park includes
a combination of vehicle barriers, patrol roads and new surveillance technology.
“Opponents say the work that happened before the pause has already caused irreparable damage.”
For NPR News, I'm Carlos Morales, in Marfa, Texas. Water levels in the nation's second largest reservoir have reached a new record low from Member Station KJZZ, Aleksaiger reports lake Powell, is now about 22 percent full. The Colorado River Reservoir covers parts of Utah and northern Arizona. If the water level drops much lower, it could force the shutdown of hydropower turbines
that send electricity to about 5 million people. If it drops further, the dam could have trouble sending water downstream at all, jeopardizing the supply for major cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Just downstream, Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir also hit his historic low last week.
The records are the result of drought, climate change, and steady demand for Colorado River Water. Policymakers are trying to agree on a new plan to rain in demand for the river over the next two years. It's expected to be released in the coming weeks.
For NPR News, I'm Aleksaiger, in Phoenix. Approaching the close and mid-uncertainty about next steps in Iran and the flow of oil that Dow was down 272 points, the S&P 500, off 40, this is NPR News in Washington. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says he is talking to U.S. energy companies about how to pump up refinery performance with the end goal of lowering gasoline prices.
He spoke to reporters in Midland, Texas, the AAA reports the national average of self-serve regular is 406 a gallon. China's exports are booming despite tariffs, but the latest government statistics show the rest of the economy is sluggish, and PR's Jennifer Pack reports. Many economists say China needs its consumers to spend, but the bulk of them have their
wealth in real estate.
Real estate investment dropped 19% in the first seven months of the year, and home prices
remain down. Home owners feel poor, and are more cautious about spending. Retail sales, which is a proxy for consumption, was stagnant last month, growing at just 0.6% year on year. It also didn't help that there were heavy rainfall and strong winds hitting large parts
of China and July, forcing factories and ports to shut, tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. Another reason people hesitate to spend, unemployment remains high at 5.2% in July. Jennifer Pack and PR News Beijing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that kindergarten vaccination coverage
fell in the U.S. during the most recent academic school year. Exemptions for one or more vaccines among kindergartners in the U.S. rose in 41 states, and Washington, D.C. with 24 of the states, reporting exemptions exceeding 5%, the CDC reports the number of kindergartners attending school without MMR documentation was about 280,000.
This week on up first, the mid-terms and the Middle East were tracking major primary elections
in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming, and abroad, the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner pursues a peace plan in Gaza.
“Plus, the U.S. Iran ceasefire hits a crucial 60-day deadline.”
Stay caught up on the week's biggest stories with up first. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
