Israel calls up reservists; Hurricane Erin in N.C. : NPR

Good morning. You are studying the Up First publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and pay attention to the Up First podcast for all of the information you should begin your day.

Immediately’s high tales

The Israeli army is asking up 60,000 reservists forward of its expanded army operation in Gaza Metropolis, bringing the whole variety of mobilized reservists to 120,000. A two-month ceasefire supply has been on the desk since Monday. Hamas accepted the phrases of the deal with none modifications, leaving the ball in Israel’s courtroom. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put out statements suggesting he would not just like the supply, NPR’s Daniel Estrin tells Up First.

• 🎧 It is a main crossroads within the battle, and Israel hasn’t selected what strategic course it is going to take, Estrin says. Israel sees Gaza Metropolis as a significant stronghold of Hamas. Israeli troopers have already been despatched to the outskirts of town, the place they’ve carried out strikes in current days. Navy officers say these strikes are the preliminary steps of the brand new operation. The most important offensive would lead to Israel ordering the displacement of many Palestinians to southern Gaza, which support teams warn would exacerbate the humanitarian disaster there.

Pentagon officers have been assembly with their European counterparts this week to work out safety ensures for Ukraine. This effort to assist finish the battle with Russia and stop a future one comes as Russia unleashed one in every of its largest airstrikes in a single day, firing greater than 600 drones and missiles. Amongst them was a Russian cruise missile that hit an American electronics plant, based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Greater than a dozen individuals had been wounded on the location, which is in an remoted a part of far western Ukraine.

• 🎧 Ukrainians imagine that Russian chief Vladimir Putin needs to maintain combating, says NPR’s Greg Myre. Ukraine has had restricted safety guarantees prior to now, they usually have not stopped Russia from invading. Transferring ahead, it needs iron-clad safety ensures. Russia has all the time rejected the concept of a NATO presence in Ukraine to ensure Western troops do not transfer near Russian borders. Myre says that it is presently arduous to see any center floor for compromise.

North Carolina’s Outer Banks are already feeling the impacts of Hurricane Erin, which stays properly offshore as a Class 2 storm. Gov. Josh Stein has cautioned individuals to remain out of the ocean. Forecasters warn that the storm, which is very large in measurement and power, may convey potential coastal flooding, excessive winds and life-threatening rip currents from the Carolinas to New Jersey.

• 🎧 Will Michaels with NPR community station WUNC reviews there is just one important highway on the Outer Banks, and it’s presently closed. Final evening, the storm surge breached the protecting sand dunes and submerged the highway. Michaels says local weather change has accelerated seaside erosion and washed away dunes in lots of areas. In consequence, beforehand protected low-lying areas at the moment are extra prone to flooding throughout exceptionally excessive tides. Many individuals, together with vacationers, evacuated the Outer Banks earlier than the storm hit. Resorts and trip leases may see vital income loss within the two weeks main as much as Labor Day.

Immediately’s pay attention

Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, composed a set of animal character research for the Dover Quartet, Woodland Songs.

Shevaun Williams

cover caption

toggle caption

Shevaun Williams

The Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet has a brand new album impressed by Native American traditions. To compose Woodland Songs, the string quartet teamed up with Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. When looking for the sound, Tate turned to the woodland creatures revered by his personal Chickasaw Nation: squirrels, woodpeckers, deer, fish and raccoons. Hearken to snippets of Woodland Songs which can be sleek like a deer, staccato like a woodpecker and frenetic like a squirrel. And, learn extra about Tate’s composing course of.

Deep dive

An aerial view of the Columbia River is proven on Friday, July 18, 2025, close to Crescent Bar, Washington. KUOW Picture/Megan Farmer

Megan Farmer/KUOW

cover caption

toggle caption

Megan Farmer/KUOW

Information facilities are important for providers like ChatGPT and on-line medical information. The rising demand for extra internet-connected gadgets is driving a surge in information middle development throughout the U.S. This growth presents a pretty alternative for small cities, doubtlessly offering them with new industrial anchors that may create jobs, generate tax income, and produce prosperity to areas which have been ignored by the digital revolution. However these facilities additionally include vital energy and water calls for, which might put pressure on native assets. In Quincy, Wash., recognized for its stretches of information facilities, critics say the pressure is not well worth the financial acquire.

• ➡️ Information middle development creates hundreds of jobs, however these are principally non permanent. In response to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the typical giant information middle employs 150 individuals long-term.
• ➡️ For the reason that first information facilities went up in Quincy, the share of residents dwelling under the poverty degree decreased from 29.4% in 2012 to 13.1% in 2023, based on census information.
• ➡️ Critics argue that whereas the financial advantages are interesting, they’re involved that residents could face blackouts or water limitations earlier than information facilities do, as a result of these facilities deal with delicate data.
• ➡️ With the financial enhance in Quincy, new companies emerged to serve the rising inhabitants and touring development employees. Nevertheless, enterprise homeowners there are involved about the way forward for these institutions as soon as the information facilities not require so many development employees.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Folks have a look at wood Kiruna Church at its remaining location after a two-day transfer from the outdated city to the brand new metropolis middle, in Kiruna, northern Sweden, on August 20.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

cover caption

toggle caption

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

1. This week, two vans gently rolled the 600-ton,113-year-old Kiruna Church in Sweden to a brand new residence to forestall town’s native iron mine from swallowing it up. The three-mile journey throughout town took two days.
2. Surinder Gupta got here down with a excessive fever one winter evening in 1974. After dashing to a 24-hour pharmacy to get drugs, he left to search out that his automobile had been towed. He searched the cellphone guide and located a stranger with a well-known Indian title. Sukhdev Walia listened to Gupta’s story and did not hesitate to assist. The unsung hero gave Gupta and his household a experience, they usually all developed an inseparable bond.
3. The U.S. well being care system might be complicated. Should you need assistance understanding and overcoming the challenges to accessing excellent care, ship your difficult questions to the Well being Care Helpline from NPR and KFF Well being Information. They could be capable of join with a coverage professional and supply the solutions you want.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.