NPR News Now - 9am ET, October 07 | The latest headlines from NPR

Episode Date: October 7, 2026

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This is NPR News Now. The latest headlines every hour. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Khorovac Coleman. When President Trump announced his MAGA-Inc Super PAC would start paying for ads promoting his administration, it wasn't clear what that would mean for the ads that had already aired. NPR's Tamara Keith reports that's now coming into focus. The White House insisted the ads were public service announcements, meant to promote patriotism. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized taxpayer dollars going to what looked like

political advertisements. On Monday, Trump announced MAGA Inc. would take over funding the ads. But a White House official not authorized to speak on the record confirmed that didn't mean the super PAC would reimburse taxpayers for the ads that have already aired. According to Ad Impact, the U.S. government has spent more than $11.5 million to air the ads, wide. Tamara Keith, NPR News. The head of the World Health Organization reports Russian authorities have denied any cases of the plague in Siberia. A female lab worker died there of pneumonia last week. Meanwhile, Stefan Dujarak, the spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General, says the UN also wants to know more.

The WHO has been in touch with the Russian authorities. My understanding, my understanding is that they have, they contacted the Russian authorities who responded. They are in the lead for the UN systems. He encouraged all health authorities to be responsible in reporting on this manner. This year's Nobel Prize in chemistry has gone to two researchers for their work involving a unique property of certain molecules. NPR's Ari Daniel reports. Put one hand on top of the other. They look alike, but they're not identical. A molecule with this property, where it can't be superimposed on its mirror image, is called chiral. Certain key molecules of life are chiral, like amino acids and DNA.

The Nobel Committee recognized two chemists for their separate experiments explaining and amplifying this molecular asymmetry, with repercussions for drugs, flavors, and novel materials. Kenso-I, now Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Science, is one of the recipients. Of course, this is one of the most exciting days in my life. A speaker at today's ceremony called So I's work, quote, probably the coolest experiment in organic chemistry. Ari Daniel, NPR News. The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Isayas has formed in the Gulf of Mexico.

It's nearly 600 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Its top sustained winds are at 40 miles per hour. Tropical storm Issaeis is expected to pick up, strength, it could be a significant hurricane in a few days. You're listening to NPR. Today is the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel. This killed about 1,200 people. Israel launched the war on Gaza the following day, and more than 74,000 people there have been killed. Today, many Israelis have turned out at memorial sites to remember the people who were killed on October 7th, Many are pressing the Israeli government to launch a full inquiry into what happened.

In the U.S., consumers are feeling the rising cost of borrowing money. Treasury yields remain near record highs. As NPR's Stephen Bissaha reports, that is being felt in everything, from mortgages to car loans. Kerry Goldstein wants to move to a more walkable suburb near Cleveland. You know, the mortgage rates being what they are above 7% now, and the house is just generally getting less for your money. money, the square footage, you know, you just can't justify the move. She also can't justify a new car.

Interest rates for car loans typically follow the Federal Reserve's benchmark rate, which move up last month. That adds to the car price sticker shock. You can't go and get a car for 150 or 180 bucks anymore a month. The Fed will meet later this month to decide if it will raise rates again. Policymakers have signaled that could happen before the end of the year. Stephen Besahop and PR News. Oscar winning actress, even more.

Marie Saint has died at the age of 102. She played memorable roles in films such as on the waterfront, for which she won an Oscar. Later in life, she won an Emmy Award in 1990. This is NPR.