NPR News: 07-26-2026 7AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyon.
What are the latest wildfire developments in Europe and North America?
Deadly wildfires are raging in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people in southern Europe have been evacuated due to the wildfires, which come amid an extraordinary heat wave and drought. Here in North America, tens of millions of people are continuing to endure hazardous smoke from massive wildfires burning across Canada and the western U.S. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports from the fire line in Boise.
Well, it's a huge deal because it means all of the resources have been deployed at all the fires across the country.
How are resources and international crews being deployed to fight the wildfires?
So if we get another big fire, we're in trouble. And that's probably why I'm not seeing a whole lot here outside the center. The center has made a plea for international help. In fact, we're expecting a crew of elite firefighters coming in from Australia to land this weekend and get deployed across the West. International aid could be harder to come by if the situation in southern Europe gets worse and firefighters are going to be needed there, international crews needed there.
That's NPR's Kirk Siegler reporting. Wall Street is headed into a busy week with the Federal Reserve facing a big decision on interest rates, along with earnings from big tech and big oil. NPR's Rafael Norm has a preview.
The Fed is set to hold its latest policy meeting at a time of high uncertainty. Although investors for now believe policymakers will hold rates steady, many are betting the Fed may have to raise them this year if inflation picks up as expected. That's because the continued war with Iran has led to a spike in energy prices.
What market events and Fed decisions should investors watch this week?
We'll also get a first read of economic growth in the second quarter, which covers from April to June. And we have a slew of important tech earnings, including from Microsoft and Meta. Investors will also carefully eye the earnings of Chevron and ExxonMobil at a time of big volatility in the energy markets. Rafael Nam, NPR News.
Russia launched another ballistic missile at Ukraine's capital this weekend, striking a residential building. From Moscow, NPR's Charles Maines reports Ukraine has attacked Russia's largest online retailer ten times in the past week.
Ukraine attacked warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries, a company often considered Russia's version of Amazon.com. This time, drones targeted a Wild Berries facility in Ekaterinburg, the main city in Russia's Ural Mountains. Kiev has justified the strikes by accusing Wild Berries of providing drone technology and other components to Russia's military, a claim the company denies. The attacks have also come in addition to months of Ukraine targeting Russia's energy infrastructure.
How has the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated with attacks on infrastructure and retailers?
In the latest, authorities in the Siberian city of Chumen said drones struck an oil refinery without detailing the scale of the damage incurred. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.
You're listening to NPR News. The United Nations Secretary General is visiting Damascus. This is the first time a head of the UN has visited Syria in more than 15 years. NPR's Emily Fang has more.
The UN's Secretary General Antonio Guterres landed in Damascus and was welcomed by Syria's foreign minister. Guterres' predecessor last visited Syria in 2009. About two years later, a civil war began and consumed Syria for the better part of the next 14 years.
Why is the U.N. Secretary-General visiting Damascus and what did he observe?
Guterres' visit and other visits by heads of state have come as the new government in Syria normalizes ties with the outside world. But Guterres has also expressed concern about two serious deadly bouts of sectarian violence in Syria that left thousands of civilians dead, mostly from Syria's minority groups. And violent attacks by militant groups are down, but they continue. During a visit by the French president to Syria earlier this month, two bombs Syria said were set by ISIS cells went off. Emily Fang, NPR News.
Punch the monkey is one today. The orphan monkey at a Japanese zoo that stole many people's hearts by clinging to an orangutan plush toy has been captivating fans around the world. Zookeepers say Punch has received more than 2,500 birthday cards.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:06
2
What are the latest wildfire developments in Europe and North America?
0:06–0:39
3
How are resources and international crews being deployed to fight the wildfires?
0:39–1:40
4
What market events and Fed decisions should investors watch this week?
1:40–2:44
5
How has the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated with attacks on infrastructure and retailers?
2:44–3:27
6
Why is the U.N. Secretary-General visiting Damascus and what did he observe?
3:27–4:24
7
What lighter human-interest stories rounded out the bulletin (Punch the monkey, gas prices, and podcast promo)?
4:24–5:02