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Chapter 1: What are the key points from Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Slovakia?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Slovakia today after addressing the Munich security conference yesterday. Upon his arrival in Bratislava, he said the U.S. is committed to strong ties with its European allies.
I see it reported yesterday in some places, oh, the Europeans are very upset. They're going to be less dependent on America now. We don't want Europe to be dependent. We're not asking Europe to be a vassal of the United States. We want to be your partner. We want to work with Europe.
Chapter 2: How is the partial government shutdown affecting U.S. airports?
We want to work with our allies. We want to work in cooperation with you. And our point has been and continues to be the stronger you are, both on an individual basis in terms of countries and collectively as an alliance, the stronger the members of NATO are, the stronger NATO is.
Rubio is now in Hungary, where he's to meet tomorrow with President Viktor Orban, considered one of President Trump's closest allies in Europe. Orban has also maintained strong ties with Russia and has opposed sending military aid to Ukraine. Travelers could face delays at U.S. airports this week. The partial government shutdown means TSA screeners are working without pay.
Congress missed a Friday night deadline to pay for the Department of Homeland Security. NPR's Claudia Gersalas reports.
Chapter 3: What challenges are Western states facing with Colorado River water-sharing agreements?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is largely immune from the shutdown due to a major funding boost from Republicans' so-called One Big Beautiful Bill last year. However, other agencies under the DHS umbrella, such as the Coast Guard, the TSA, and FEMA, have to furlough workers while those in critical roles work without pay.
To advance the appropriations bill in the Senate, Republicans need votes from Democrats. However, Democrats want changes to how federal immigration agents do their jobs. But the GOP is not so sure. Even as many lawmakers left town for a week-long recess, leaders argued the bipartisan negotiations will continue. Claudia Rosales, NPR News.
Leaders from western states that use the Colorado River say the deadline for new water-sharing plans will pass without an agreement. The failure of the seven states that use the river to set aside their differences leaves the future of the water supply at risk. Alex Hager from member station KJZZ reports.
Chapter 4: What is the response of Nasser Hospital in Gaza to Doctors Without Borders' claims?
Arizona's top water negotiator Tom Buschotsky said states in the river's lower basin offered a number of good faith proposals, but virtually all of the ideas were rejected by their upstream counterparts.
It is frustrating to me that we haven't been able to bridge gaps. And it's probably frustrating to them, too.
Bushatsky says there's some hope for a deal before the current plan expires in October. He says more involvement from governors of the Seven River states could help break the deadlock. If they can't agree, the federal government would likely force deep cutbacks to water supply that could trigger lawsuits from the states. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hager in Phoenix.
This is NPR News. Nasser Hospital in Gaza is rejecting claims by the charity Doctors Without Borders after it suspended most work there because of concerns about armed men in the facility. Hospital officials say there are civilian police deployed to protect patients and staff.
Chapter 5: How are bird counts being affected by environmental changes in Aspen?
They say the charity's allegations about security breaches are incorrect, irresponsible. and pose a serious risk to a protected civilian medical facility. Participants in the annual Christmas bird count are on deadline to submit their data this month to Cornell University. Aspen Public Radio's Reagan Mertz reports birders in the Aspen area got some help from a ski patrol.
This year, 1,200 birds were counted across 41 species. Rebecca Weiss with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies says there are usually way more. An unusually dry and warm winter is causing birds to behave differently, making it more difficult for birders to find them. Snowmass ski area ski patrollers came through, though.
They spotted the ptarmigan, a rare high alpine bird that Rebecca Weiss describes as camouflaged.
It's kind of hard for people to census ptarmigans because they live so remotely and in such rugged habitat.
Chapter 6: What anniversary is being observed at No. 10 Downing Street today?
Their plumage is pure white.
The Snowmass ski patrollers are some of the only patrollers in the world that participate in the bird count. For NPR News, I'm Regan Mertz in Aspen, Colorado.
London is observing an anniversary today. Larry the Cat arrived at No. 10 Downing Street 15 years ago today. He served under six prime ministers. His official title? Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. I'm Noor Aram, NPR News in Washington.