Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lynda Kenyan.
U.S. envoy's Steve Whitcoff and Jared Kushner have wrapped up their first round of talks in Kiev, with Ukrainian President Belotamir Zelensky, Whitcoff's spoke to reporters afterward.
“"I would say that we had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we have”
very encouraged, and we look forward to continuing this day as long as it takes." The talks aimed at ending the Russian war against Ukraine, followed yesterday's discussions in Moscow, with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia is calling yesterday's talks highly useful, yet there was no sign of a breakthrough
in the Americans' primary mission, negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, and Piers' Trolls' Mains reports. "Someone aid Yuri Shakov told reporters Whitcoff and Kushner had outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement to the war, without categorizing the proposals or the Russian reaction.
Yet, Ushakov said President Vladimir Putin told the White House on voice of real progress in the Russian military campaign, and again, assured Moscow would achieve its objectives. Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky both ordered a three-day pause in attacks on each other's capitals to allow the Americans safe travel, yet fighting continued elsewhere, with Russia attacking other regions across Ukraine and Kiev targeting oil facilities with
drones in the southern Russian city of Rostov and Don.
"The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court again to clear the way for the U.S. Postal Services Plan to follow an order by President Trump. The order seeks to restrict mail-in voting for the midterm election. SNPR's Hansi Lowong reports, "The administration's request comes days after a lower
“court blocked, key parts of the Postal Services Plan for a second time."”
Under the plan, the U.S. Postal Service would refuse to deliver mail-in ballots to voters and states where election officials do not turn over voter lists to the mailing agency, and do not have certain barcodes on their ballot envelopes. We should note U.S. P.S. is a financial support of NPR. A federal judge in Boston found imposing those requirements is likely illegal, because
U.S. P.S. has no authority to control voting by mail. And a whistleblower report claims the Postal Services systems for enforcing those requirements have not been properly tested and could derail the midterm election. It's not clear when the Supreme Court will decide whether to clear the way for the
Postal Service Plan, but the Trump administration has made a similar request to the first
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and ruling there is expected some time after 5pm Eastern on Tuesday. Hanzi Lowong and NPR News.
“Iran says it's struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the straight-of-war moves.”
The U.S. says it did not, and it dismissed the claim as a total lie. The claim came a day after the U.S. military said it struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to a ballistic missile attack on Navy warships. You're listening to NPR. Church goers around the world might notice a focus on the environment during warship services
today and in the coming weeks. NPR's Jason D'Rose reports on the new, ecumenical season of creation. This new season has its origins with the Orthodox Church in the late 1980s. The world council of churches then took up the cause, bringing along many branches of Christianity. Hopefully the 14th celebrated a mass for the care of creation this week near Rome.
The season's theme this year is living water, a pertinent focus during a time of droughts and fires, storms and floods. The season of creation lasts through early October. Jason D'Rose and PR News. An acrimonious trade war between the U.S. and Canada has had a major effect on tourism.
The number of Canadians traveling to the U.S. plunged after President Trump returned to office and said the U.S. would make Canada the 51st state. More recently the President announced tariffs of up to 50% on many Canadian goods. Some Canadians have reacted to the President's increased tariffs with informal travel boycotts. Made in local tourism officials as well as travel-related businesses are trying to win visitors
back. But some Canadians say no special offers or ad campaigns will convince them to travel to the United States. Meanwhile many American businesses say the tariffs are having a negative impact on their ability to sell American products across the border into Canada.
As the political landscape shifts beneath our feet, we're all vulnerable to a well-funded distraction economy determined to take our eye off the bomb. Our weekly politics series, if you can keep it, is here to help where our focus is not the horse race, but the state. We tackle the big political stories of the day and why they matter for our democracy.
Join me, Todd's Willard and me, Jen White on the one-eight podcast from W.A.M.U. and
