World leaders convene for UNGA.
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leaders → convene → UNGA
And, Trump says D.C. arch will be a 'military complex'
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arch → say → ?
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You → read → newsletter
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you → subscribe → day
World leaders convene this week in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
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leaders → convene → Assembly
It will be U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres' last General Assembly before his term ends in December.
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term → end → December
He will open the event on Tuesday morning, followed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and then President Trump.
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He → open → Silva
Here's what NPR will be watching throughout the high-level event, which runs through Sept. 28.
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which → watch → Sept.
Trump has tried to position himself as a peacemaker, but his war against Iran looms over the gathering, NPR's Michele Kelemen tells Up First.
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Kelemen → try → gathering
Iran's president will speak at the event the day after Trump, though interaction between U.S. and Iranian officials remains uncertain.
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interaction → speak → officials
The U.N. has been somewhat sidelined in the conflict with Iran, but it has offered to monitor civilian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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it → sideline → Hormuz
Kelemen says those efforts haven't gained much traction.
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efforts → say → traction
Despite Trump's downplaying of artificial intelligence and climate change, these topics are expected to be big topics of discussion at the event.
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topics → expect → event
Trump has a busy week ahead, including a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
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Trump → have → Wednesday
The leaders meet as their two countries face fierce competition and mistrust over artificial intelligence.
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countries → meet → intelligence
Trump has announced that he wants his proposed 250-foot arch in Washington, D.C., to function as a military complex that features areas for snipers and weaponry.
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that → announce → snipers
The president says these military operations are needed to enhance national security.
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operations → say → security
The arch, which would be twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial, has faced pushback even before the president posted his latest plans on Truth Social.
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president → face → Social
People submitted more than 100,000 comments to the National Park Service, and the arch has also faced legal challenges.
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arch → submit → challenges
NPR's Franco Ordoñez says that the president's plan reflects his push for increased executive power.
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plan → say → power
Trump is bypassing traditional processes and Congress to establish a major national monument by broadly interpreting his executive authority, challenging opponents to stop him, Ordoñez adds.
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Ordoñez → bypass → him
Many people fear he will act swiftly on this plan, outpacing any court responses and making it challenging to reverse the project.
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it → fear → project
Some are also concerned that the president's proposal for the arch, along with other projects like the ballroom and threats to demolish the Kennedy Center, could significantly alter Washington's landscape.
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proposal → demolish → landscape
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing to launch an $875 million AI-powered software overhaul to improve air traffic control efficiency.
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Administration → prepare → efficiency
While regulators and airlines are optimistic about the potential of Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART), critics question its effectiveness.
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critics → question → effectiveness
FAA leaders say that the new tool is not meant to replace human controllers.
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tool → say → controllers
It aims to help employees by minimizing congestion and potential conflicts in the air before they occur, NPR's Joel Rose says.
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Rose → aim → air
SMART is supposed to analyze airline schedules, weather patterns, and other factors to optimize flight plans.
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SMART → suppose → plans
Rose spoke to former air traffic controller Dave Riley, who wasn't worried that the AI tool would lead to problems because humans would still oversee safety.
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humans → speak → safety
But Riley says the tool won't address larger issues like the staffing shortage.
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tool → say → shortage
The FAA still lacks thousands of controllers, leading to mandatory overtime and demanding schedules for those on duty.
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FAA → lack → duty
The Department of Homeland Security said today that it is investigating a shooting involving a federal immigration agent who shot and injured 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez from Venezuela.
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who → say → Venezuela
DHS says that the shooting of "an illegal alien" happened during an Austin operation on Sunday.
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shooting → say → Sunday
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear.
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circumstances → lead → shooting
DHS says that Rafael Garces Perez is in stable condition and in federal custody pending removal.
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Perez → say → removal
His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said that Rafael Garces Perez called his wife to say he had been shot while sitting in his car and was yelling in pain.
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he → say → pain
His wife has legal status to be in the U.S.
Today's listen
You'd be hard-pressed to find a young child (or parent of one) who hasn't heard of Ms. Rachel.
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who → have → Rachel
She and her husband, Mr. Aron, started their YouTube channel, Songs for Littles, in 2019.
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She → start → 2019
Since then, her signature pink headband and engaging singsong voice have amassed more than 17.2 billion views, making her one of the most recognizable figures in children's entertainment.
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her → amass → entertainment
Now, she is releasing her first album.
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she → release → album
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
