U.S. votes against U.N. resolution; Colorado River : NPR

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As we speak’s high tales

President Trump has frozen the $4 billion that President Biden put aside to maintain the Colorado River flowing. The river supplies around 40 million people with consuming water, is the muse for a large agricultural economic system throughout the Southwest, and generates important hydroelectric energy.

• 🎧 Local weather change is shrinking the river to document lows. Consequently, the Biden administration informed farmers in the event that they paused rising some crops, the federal government would give them money to help replace earnings misplaced by leaving some water within the reservoirs, says Alex Hager of NPR’s community station KUNC. Some impacted by the funding freeze are confused as a result of it does not appear associated to the Trump administration’s acknowledged priorities. Regular demand for the dangerously low reservoirs will probably proceed with out cash to incentivize water financial savings.

Trump’s administration has been shifting course on Ukraine, main European allies to interrupt with the nation at a United Nations vote. The U.S. opposed a decision demanding Russia withdraw from Ukraine and as a substitute put ahead yesterday a decision calling for peace with out blaming Russia. The Safety Council permitted this decision, with votes in favor from the U.S., Russia, and China. Britain and France selected to abstain.

• 🎧 The U.S. says it is a first step to help a peace decision that may embrace everybody, NPR’s Michele Kelemen tells Up First. The Trump administration’s decision was drafted after Ukraine and its European allies wanted the U.N. to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion by voting on an extended assertion calling on Russia to drag out. Kelemen says the U.S. decision is generally symbolic as a result of it did not really demand something of anybody. It simply known as the battle terrible and implored a swift finish to it.
• ➡️ Listed below are 5 developments over the previous few weeks that spotlight the growing distrust between the U.S. and Europe.

An enormous baby abuse trial in opposition to a once-respected surgeon has commenced within the west of France this week. Joël Le Scouarnec, now 74, admitted to abusing a whole bunch of minors over a long time, most of whom have been below anesthesia on the time. The trial is predicted to final 4 months. Advocates for the victims hope it is going to immediate a radical examination of the systemic failures that allowed such abuse to happen.

• 🎧 Le Scouarnec, who specialised in appendectomies, belly and gynecological surgical procedure, is accused of abusing 299 of his sufferers, each girls and boys, of the common age of 11, in response to NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley. He was flagged in 2004 for possessing baby pornography. Nonetheless, a French choose imposed a four-month suspended sentence with no restrictions on his medical observe and no mandated remedy. He served many hospitals and continued his abuse till 2017, when he was arrested for coaxing his 6-year-old neighbor into his yard and abusing her. He’s serving 15 years for that and faces another 20 for the new abuse cases which have come to gentle because of the meticulous diaries he saved.

As we speak’s pay attention

South African cellist and composer Abel Selaocoe pictured Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Michael Zamora/NPR

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Michael Zamora/NPR

“After I first heard this, I truthfully couldn’t consider what I used to be listening to,” Morning Version host Michel Martin stated to Abel Selaocoe throughout a recent interview. This was my precise thought when listening to snippets of his new album, Hymns of Bantu. Within the songs, South African musician and composer Selaocoe performs the cello, chants, throat sings and extra. He says it’s like being muted if he does not sing. “The way in which I view all of music is extraordinarily malleable and fluid sonic areas.” He says sound will be molded, and that is the liberty he fights for as he tries to flee being labeled a classical or African musician. Take heed to Selaocoe talk about his musical journey and listen to a few of his music.

Residing higher

Individuals who block the web from their good telephones spend extra time on different actions that enhance their wellbeing.

Rob Dobi/Getty Photographs

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Rob Dobi/Getty Photographs

Residing Higher is a special series about what it takes to remain wholesome in America.

Typically, scrolling in your telephone can really feel obligatory and unending. I say this from expertise. Researchers performed a research the place individuals agreed to dam the web from their smartphones for simply two weeks. The outcomes: 91% of individuals felt higher after the break. Researchers have been shocked that the lower in depressive signs was on par or much more important than the reductions documented in research of individuals taking antidepressant drugs. If you’re considering scaling again your display time, here are some helpful tips:

• 📱 Start with child steps. Begin with 30-minute breaks right here and there and work your manner up weekly.
• 📱 Strive connecting extra face-to-face. Select at some point per week once you and your loved ones energy down, apart from wanted communication.
• 📱 Flip off app notifications and restrict your time on sure social media.

Try extra particulars in regards to the analysis findings here.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Mikaela Shiffrin of USA celebrates a primary place through the award ceremony for Slalom 2nd Run of Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere 2025 on Feb. 23 in Sestriere, Italy.

Stefano Guidi/Getty Photographs Europe

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Stefano Guidi/Getty Photographs Europe

1. American Mikaela Shiffrin made historical past Sunday in Italy by becoming the first Alpine skiing athlete to win 100 World Cup races. This comes after her first try on the title resulted in a critical fall in November 2024.
2. Singer Roberta Flack, greatest identified for ballads equivalent to “Killing Me Softly With His Track” and “The First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face,” died yesterday at 88. Her explanation for loss of life has not been shared.
3. Past the Gates, the primary new daytime cleaning soap opera on community TV in 25 years, debuted on CBS yesterday. It includes a household residing in a rich D.C. suburb.

This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.