NPR News: 07-26-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 26, 2025

President Trump Visits Scotland Amid Controversy

[00:16] Nora Ramm opens the episode by reporting on President Donald Trump's weekend visit to Scotland, his late mother's homeland. While in Scotland, Trump is actively promoting his golf resorts and engaging in discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about trade and tariffs.

Upon arriving, Trump notably avoided questions regarding his former acquaintance, Jeffrey Epstein:

Donald Trump [00:35]: "I'm focused on making deals. I'm not focused on conspiracy theories that you are."

Despite his promotional activities, Trump's motorcade faced protests from Scottish demonstrators. Some protestors carried signs referencing Epstein, and one notably installed a sign at the entrance of one of Trump's golf resorts stating, "Twinned with Epstein Island":

Lauren Frayer, NPR News, Edinburgh [00:47]: "Scottish protesters lined his motorcade route, some with signs about Epstein."

Escalating Conflict Along the Thai-Cambodian Border

Continuing the international focus, [01:15] Nora Ramm reports on the third consecutive day of fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border. The violence has resulted in at least 32 deaths, the majority being civilians, despite global appeals for an immediate ceasefire.

Michael Sullivan provides insight into the diplomatic efforts:

Michael Sullivan [01:32]: "Thailand's Foreign Ministry says its UN Ambassador told the council it is deeply regrettable that Cambodia has deliberately avoided meaningful dialogue and instead sought to internationalize the issue to serve its own political purposes."

Cambodia's UN Ambassador countered these claims, advocating for peace:

Cambodia's UN Ambassador [01:32]: "Cambodia wants an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful solution."

However, peace remains elusive as new clashes occur near tourist-heavy regions:

Michael Sullivan [01:32]: "For now, peace appears elusive, with the Thai navy reporting new fighting along the border near an area home to several popular tourist destinations."

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza

[02:19] The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. International aid agencies warn that the crisis is worsening daily, with the United Nations World Food Program highlighting that one in three Gazans is unable to eat for days at a time.

Channel Low from the Norwegian Refugee Council emphasizes the urgency of aid delivery:

Channel Low [02:45]: "There are thousands and thousands of tons of aid waiting to enter. We just need that aid to be able to actually go through those crossings and to be able to access it and for Israel to facilitate our movement across Gaza, our access throughout Gaza, in order to be able to deliver."

Operating from Amman, Jordan, Low notes that some of her colleagues in Gaza are currently experiencing hunger:

Channel Low [03:04]: "Some of my colleagues working in Gaza are going hungry."

Russian Strikes Intensify in Ukraine

Ukrainian officials have reported that Russian forces conducted extensive strikes overnight on the Dnipro and Kharkiv regions. The assault involved over 200 drones and 27 missiles, resulting in at least three fatalities and 11 injuries. The attacks also caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and residential buildings.

Breakthrough in Combating Illegal Fishing

New research utilizing satellite technology is shedding light on the pervasive issue of illegal fishing worldwide. Lauren Sommer reports on how satellite-based radar is detecting movements of fishing ships that previously evaded monitoring by disabling GPS transponders.

Referencing studies published in the journal Science, Sommer highlights that:

Lauren Sommer [03:48]: "In protected areas where the restrictions are looser, two-thirds of them had industrial fishing that was previously undetected."

The findings suggest that satellite data could become a crucial tool for enforcing fishing bans and protecting marine environments in the future.

U.S. Postal Service Marks 250 Years Amid Privatization Threats

Celebrating its 250th anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service has become the focus of labor disputes as the American Postal Workers Union opposes potential overhauls proposed by the Trump administration, including the possibility of privatizing the agency.

Nora Ramm underscores the significance of the USPS:

Nora Ramm [04:31]: "The U.S. Postal Service is 250 years old today. It started in 1775 with riders delivering the mail on horseback."

The union's stance is firm against changes that could undermine the agency's foundational role:

Nora Ramm [04:31]: "The American Postal Workers Union rallied this week against talk the Trump administration wants to overhaul the agency and perhaps privatize it."

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a range of critical global issues, from international diplomacy and conflicts to humanitarian crises and environmental challenges. It also touches on significant national topics such as the future of the U.S. Postal Service, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of current events shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. President Trump is spending the weekend in Scotland, his late mother's home country. He's playing golf, promoting golf resorts he owns there and and is to meet with British and European leaders. But issues back home have followed him. NPR's Lauren Freer reports.

[Donald Trump]

Stepping off Air Force One in Scotland, President Trump dodged reporters questions about his former friend Jeffrey Epstein.

I'm focused on making deals. I'm not focused on conspiracy theories that you are.

Trump is promoting his business interests here, inaugurating a new golf course at one of his resorts, and also talking trade and tariffs with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. But Scottish protesters lined his motorcade route, some with signs about Epstein. They also installed a sign at the entrance to one of Trump's golf resorts here, saying it's, quote, twinned with Epstein Island. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, Edinburgh.

[Nora Ramm]

Fighting along the Thai Cambodian border has continued for a third straight day, even as the international community is pleading for restraint and an immediate ceasefire. The two sides say at least 32 people have been killed, mostly civilians. Michael Sullivan reports from Thailand.

[Michael Sullivan]

The UN Security Council met Friday to address the ongoing fighting, the worst between the two neighbors in more than a decade. Thailand's Foreign Ministry says its UN Ambassador told the council it is deeply regrettable that Cambodia has deliberately avoided meaningful dialogue and and instead sought to internationalize the issue to serve its own political purposes. Cambodia's UN Ambassador rejected those allegations, telling reporters after the meeting that Cambodia wants an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful solution. For now, peace appears elusive, with the Thai navy reporting new fighting along the border near an area home to several popular tourist destinations. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai.

[Nora Ramm]

International aid agencies say the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is becoming more dire every day. The United Nations World Food Program says one in three people in Gaza can't eat for days at a time. More than 100 international humanitarian groups are calling on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and allowed food deliveries. Channel Low is with the Norwegian Refugee Council. She says the aid is ready to be delivered.

[Channel Low]

There are thousands and thousands of tons of aid waiting to enter. We just need that aid to be able to actually go through those crossings and to be able to access it and for for Israel to facilitate our movement across Gaza, our access throughout Gaza, in order to be able to deliver.

[Nora Ramm]

Low has been monitoring the situation from Amman, Jordan. She says some of her colleagues working in Gaza are going hungry. This is NPR News in Washington. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces struck the Dnipro region in central Ukraine and the Kharkiv region in the northeast overnight with more than 200 drones and 27 missiles. At least three people were killed and 11 others were wounded. The strikes also damaged civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. New research is revealing how much illegal fishing goes on worldwide. Satellite technology is showing where fishing ships previously went undetected. NPR's Lauren Sommer reports.

[Lauren Sommer]

Most of the global seafood catch is brought in by large industrial ships, basically floating factories at sea that can travel for months or years. It's been tough for marine scientists to figure out if they're fishing in places they shouldn't. Many ships have GPS transponders, but they can be disabled. Now satellite based radar is revealing their movements to. Two studies in the journal Science looked at that data. They found in places where fishing is banned, there's little fishing going on. But in protected areas where the restrictions are looser, two thirds of them had industrial fishing that was previously undetected. Researchers say the new data could help countries enforce fishing bans in the future. Lauren Sommer, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The U.S. postal Service is 250 years old today. It started in 1775 with riders delivering the mail on horseback. And the American Postal Workers Union rallied this week against talk the Trump administration wants to overhaul the agency and perhaps privatize it. It's the financial supporter of npr, and Jenna receives no tax dollars to stay in business. This is NPR News.

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