Deadly bombing in Pakistan; trucking company Yellow shuts down; grieving a lost pet

Plus, how climate change threatens indigenous communities.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen July 31, 2023 Good morning. Last week's massive Powerball jackpot went to a lucky person in California. But the rest of us have another chance: The Mega Millions jackpot has risen past $1 billion — and the next drawing is tomorrow. Here's what else we're following today. A massive bombing at a political rally near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border killed at least 54 and wounded nearly 200 on Sunday. NPR's Diaa Hadid says the attack spotlights how "violence has been spilling over into Pakistan since the Taliban seized Afghanistan nearly two years ago." Mohammad Sajjad/AP 🎧 The Taliban has been killing suspected Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, and the Islamic State has been fighting back, Hadid says on Up First this morning. But she says this attack was "politically sensitive" because the targeted party is part of the current Pakistani government coalition. Pakistan is preparing for elections this fall, and Hadid reports that the stakes are high, as voting will be difficult if political parties are targeted like this.    Ukrainian forces have recaptured the southeastern village of Staromaiorske during their counteroffensive against Russia.  🎧 A Ukrainian soldier tells NPR's Joanna Kakissis that progress has been slow and hard-fought, but reclaiming the village was a strategic win, as it's one line of attack that aims to cut off Russia's resupply routes. Russia has also blamed Ukraine for recent drone attacks. Though Ukraine hasn't officially claimed responsibility, Zelenskyy has said the drone attacks are "absolutely fair" considering Russia's attacks. The shipping company Yellow is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as today. The move would put some 30,000 jobs at stake, according to the Teamsters union. Yellow received a $700 million federal loan and was deemed essential to national security during the pandemic. Here's everything we know about the situation so far. 🎧 The expected shutdown would be the largest trucking bankruptcy in U.S. history, an analyst tells NPR's Camila Domonoske. Legal filings say the Teamsters union intentionally "triggered a death spiral" by blocking Yellow's restructuring efforts and scaring away customers with threats of a strike. The Union blames gross mismanagement at the company. Domonoske adds that a Congressional Oversight Board raised red flags about the loan given to Yellow and why it was deemed essential. Ashley Hemmers, the tribal administrator for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, got heatstroke while driving to a meeting to present her people's concerns about climate change. She didn't make the meeting, but tells NPR's Leila Fadel how climate change is impacting indigenous communities.  🎧 "For us, it's one of the highest threats," she says on Morning Edition. "If we keep extracting from our environment, it won't just be heat stroke and second and third degree burns — it's going to be losing people's lives."       Newsletter continues after sponsor message  Karl Ohiri The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is showcasing work from living West African artists for the first time as part of an ongoing series the museum says will focus on "specific art scenes across the globe." The current collection of photographs captures the colonial past, beautiful beaches and boisterous protests of Lagos, Nigeria. The exhibition runs through Sept. 16, but if you can't make it, you can see some of the photographs and read about them here. Kaz Fantone/NPR When Keisha "TK" Dutes lost her cat Feisty Misses Peabody, she wasn’t prepared for the grief she felt. She spoke with her friend Alexander Hardy about how to cope with pet loss. 🐈 Give yourself space and time to process the loss. 🐈 Don’t go through it alone, and find a way to channel your grief. 🐈 Don’t forget the good times, and honor your pet in a way that resonates with you. 🎧 Listen to Dutes and her friend discuss losing pets you grew up with, what to do when you’re anticipating the death of a pet and more on Life Kit. Or, read their conversation here. This story was mentioned in last Friday's email subject line but was not included in the email. You Make NPR Possible Your financial support is the NPR Network's greatest strength. Do your part to ensure the reporting and shows you love are here for you and your community. Help make it possible today, and for generations to come. Please donate now.    Hannah Bialic Soccer fans in Malawi might see a person dressed as a colorful tsetse fly on the field. But it's not a team mascot — the fly's performance teaches residents about sleeping sickness. Scientists revived a tiny roundworm frozen in Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years. The remarkable discovery could help researchers understand how other animals adapt to extreme temperatures. Jeffrey Gibson, a multimedia artist who fuses together American, Native American and queer perspectives in visual culture, will be the first Indigenous artist to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Venice Biennale, a prestigious international arts event.  Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi. Anandita Bhalerao contributed. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Up First emails. 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