--:-- Shea Stevens: This message comes from NPR sponsor Rosetta Stone, an expert in language learning for 30 years. Right now, NPR listeners can get Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership to 25 different languages for 50% off. Learn more at rosettastone.com slash NPR.
--:-- [Sound of a news theme]
--:-- Shea Stevens: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Government agencies are slowly reopening and workers are returning to their jobs after a 43-day shutdown. And Jenny Abamu with member station WAMU reports that some federal workers in the Washington, D.C. area are wary.
--:-- Jenny Abamu: Ian Morgan says he's happy to be back at the National Institutes of Health looking for ways to combat antimicrobial resistance. But with Democrats and Republicans still at odds on key issues like health care subsidies, it's hard for him to feel settled.
--:-- Ian Morgan: I got in this morning to saying, well, you know, if since this has only been extended a short period of time, here's some some resources just in case this happens again. So I think people are acutely aware that this could happen again.
--:-- Jenny Abamu: Colleagues are putting together lists of food and monetary support. And with the funding extension ending January 30th Morgan says they have to be prepared.
--:-- Shea Stevens: President Trump has signed an executive order to expand child welfare services Trump says the initiative will provide new resources to help young people transition out of foster care.
--:-- Donald Trump: With this order, I'm directing the heads of the key federal departments and agencies to establish a Fostering the Future program in coordination with our wonderful First lady's office. They're coordinating, and they've already been coordinating for quite some time.
--:-- Donald Trump: Under the initiative, businesses and institutions will sign a pledge to teach, train, and mentor youth who've been in the foster care system.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The Trump administration is sending Border Patrol agents to Charlotte, North Carolina, within a matter of days. President Trump has defended his use of immigration officers in major U.S. cities, saying that they're needed to fight crime and to carry out deportation raids.
--:-- Lauren Frayer: With the ceasefire in Gaza, focus now shifts on the Strip's reconstruction. But the United Nations says Israeli troops are still demolishing residential buildings there.
--:-- Lauren Frayer: Israel now controls roughly half of Gaza, the eastern side, and that's where the UN says Israeli troops are behind daily detonations of residential buildings Based on satellite imagery the BBC says more than 1 buildings have been destroyed since a ceasefire more than a month ago NPR can independently verify that number
--:-- Lauren Frayer: The UN says more than 280,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed since the war began. It also says Palestinians' access to humanitarian aid, public infrastructure and agricultural land all remain restricted or barred altogether.
--:-- Lauren Frayer: The Israeli military says it's dismantled underground infrastructure, tunnels used by militants, but did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment about residential buildings.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Russia has launched a massive attack on Kiev. At least 11 people were injured, two critically. This is NPR.
--:-- Shea Stevens: President Trump has pardoned British billionaire Joe Louis, who pleaded guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York.
--:-- Donald Trump: The 88-year-old heir to a soccer club was sentenced last year but did not serve time in prison after the judge cited his failing health and lifelong contributions.
--:-- Donald Trump: Lewis requested a pardon so that he could receive medical care and visit his grandchildren in the United States.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Technology shares tumbled in a rough day for stock markets Thursday. The Nasdaq fell over 2 percent
--:-- Rafael Nam: As NPR, the declines come after a strong run this year for tech stocks The Nasdaq sank as investors grew a little skittish about whether AI companies have gained too much
--:-- Rafael Nam: Investors are also waiting to see what will happen with the economic data the government was unable to release during the shutdown. And they're wondering whether the Federal Reserve will continue to cut interest rates for a third consecutive time later this year.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The Dow tumbled nearly 800 points after closing Wednesday above 48,000 for the first time.
--:-- Rafael Nam: Rafael Nam, NPR News.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Blue Origin has successfully launched its massive New Glenn rocket from Florida and deployed two NASA satellites to study Mars.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The launch was a crucial test for Blue Origin's hopes to reuse rocket boosters. Blue Origin's rival SpaceX already reuses boosters that have successfully landed after launch.
--:-- Shea Stevens: NASA is hoping to use the New Glenn rocket to someday bury people and supplies to the moon.
--:-- Shea Stevens: U.S. futures are flat and after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR.
