Up First from NPR Folgen

President Trump’s Asia trip kicks off with peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand and a trade framework with China, before meeting with President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The massive U.S. military build up in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Venezuela is causing concern from Caracas to the U.S. Congress, Venezuelan troops conduct drills on their beaches this weekend. And federal workers face growing financial strain as the government shutdown threatens holiday travel and food benefits.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Tara Neil, Kelsey Snell, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle .It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher ThomasWe get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Correction: In a previous audio version of this episode we refer to Venezuelan Minister Diosdado Cabello as Minister of Defense instead of Minister of Interior.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In New Zealand, a nationwide extermination campaign is underway. It's one of the most ambitious in the world. The country is home to more than four thousand native species that are threatened or at risk of extinction. To protect its biodiversity, New Zealand has embarked on an experiment that aims to eradicate all invasive species by the year 2050. Can the country pull it off? And how far should humans go to reverse the damage we’ve caused?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Some members of the House of Representatives are using down time during the shutdown to connect from their constituents back home - we'll tell you what they're hearing. We'll also preview President Trump's trip to Asia, which will be dominated by his administration's at times contentious relationship with China. Plus, the U.S. is ramping up its military presence in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says it's to counter drug traffickers - we'll tell you how the move is being seen in the region.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy