"Life from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
President Trump says he'd love it if Northern Ireland, now part of the UK, reunites with its southern neighbor.
“He made the comment at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland this morning he met”
with the Irish tea shop or Prime Minister in Dublin. And Pierce Franco or Donia's reports, Trump's had tensions with European leaders over trade and military defense." Ireland is not a member of NATO, it's militarily neutral, and it's because of that, it has been able to avoid some of the tensions that Trump has had with NATO allies over
burden-sharing and support for the U.S.
Daniel Mohal, who served as Ireland's ambassador to the U.S. during Trump's first administration,
told me that the military neutrality gives Ireland a different angle to deal with Trump than much of the rest of Europe. And Pierce Franco or Donia's traveling with the President, Trump's now on the west coast to watch the Irish open-edist golf course. Malin voting for mid-term elections are underway in some states, including Alabama, North
Carolina, and Wisconsin.
“This as election officials wait for a Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's push”
for new restrictions, as Pierce Hansi Lowank reports. The Supreme Court is deciding whether to allow the U.S. postal service to refuse to deliver male and balanced to voters in states where election officials do not turn over voterless to the male 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 blocked those requirements after finding the postal service has no authority to impose them. Tending Patrick of the National Association of Election Officials says many voters can prepare now. No matter what has changed in your state or how you decide you want to go invoked, make
a plan early and don't wait until the last day of the polls. Still, Patrick says the U.S.P.S. planned would put some voters at risk of losing the ability to exercise their right to vote, including many disabled voters, and those living in places without polling sites.
“On Z-Lawank, NPR News India's hosting the BRICS summit this weekend with the Presidents”
of Russia, China, and Iran. The group brings together 11 major emerging markets and developing countries to give them a voice to counter the West. And Pierce Omkark, Kondikar, has more. Today, it has expanded to include nearly a dozen countries, and represents around half
the world's population. The block was created in 2009 to collaborate on political, economic, and security issues. But analysts say their internal rivalries and differences on the recent wars in Ukraine and Iran have stymied progress. One thing they do agree on, reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar for trade.
In this year, India plans to push for a special BRICS currency. President Trump has previously threatened 100% tariffs if they try to replace the dollar. The White House hasn't commented on this year's summit yet. Omkark Kondikar and Piat News, New Delhi. You're listening to NPR News.
In New York, there's a grand piano available for anyone to play. It's in a transit hub across from the World Trade Center, Memorial, and Pierce Jennifer Venesco reports it's there thanks to an organization that was founded following the 9/11 attacks. Singapore Hope has placed over 700 pianos around the world in public spaces. The organization started as a way to connect with others devastated by 9/11.
Kimil Zamora and Monica Unis were opera students at Julliard in New York City at the time.
Unis says, "A firehouse around the corner lost 12 first responders, but for a time there
is hope some might return. So what do we do? We brought some friends together in the days after. Went and sang for that firehouse for the people that were still waiting." Zamora and Unis went from community sing-alongs to programming that now includes arts classes, cultural advocacy, and wellness programs. They say it's all about creating a civic infrastructure to encourage connection and community through the arts. Jennifer Venesco and Piaonews, New York.
The Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quiet this year, and as of today, it's the longest start to a season in the Atlantic without a hurricane since the satellite era began, and that's a record. It's thanks to a strong El Nino, which disrupts storm formation over that ocean. No hurricanes have formed yet, and only five week tropical storms have appeared. The Pacific Ocean, though, is experiencing increased storm activity.
I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This is Ira Glass. On this American life, we tell stories about when things change, like for this guy David, who's an entire life took a sharp and expected and very unpleasant
term, and it did take me a while to realize it's basically because the monkey pressed the button.
That's right, because the monkey pressed the button. Sprising stories every week,
