NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-01-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: February 1, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Hamas Militants released three men today who had been held hostage in Gaza since October of 2023. Among them was an American Israeli. Here's how it sounded where people had gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to watch when Keith Siegel was released. His wife had been released in the first round of hostage releases in 2023. In exchange, Israel released 183 Palestinians who had been detained in Israel. Venezuela freed six Americans yesterday who had been detained there. The release came after President Nicolas Maduro

met with Richard Grinnell, the Trump administration's envoy for special missions. Grinnell posted a picture of him and the six men getting off a plane saying, we are gone. Several Western nations, including the U.S., do not recognize Maduro's claim that he won last year's election. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaves today on his first overseas trip as the nation's top diplomat and he's staying in his hemisphere with a focus on migration. As NPR's Michelle Kelliman reports. Secretary Rubio is making this region a priority according to U.S. Special Envoy for the Western

Hemisphere, Mauricio Claver-Kerron. From migration to security to commerce, there's no other region in the world that affects individual American lives more on a daily basis than the Western hemisphere. His first stop is Panama, where the president says he's ready to talk to Rubio about trade and migration, just not control over the Panama Canal. That's something president Trump has set his sights on. Rubio has raised concerns about Chinese companies there and he's planning to visit the canal on Sunday. He'll also travel to El Salvador,

Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Officials in Philadelphia confirm everyone on board a plane was killed in last night's crash. At least six people on the ground were hospitalized as flames spread through a heavily populated neighborhood. From member station WHYY, Emily Neal reports. Emily Neal, WKYC News Anchor A pediatric patient, her mother and four other passengers were killed when the medical jet came down and exploded in northeast Philadelphia just a minute into its flight, city officials say. According to the Federal Aviation Administration,

the flight was headed to Tijuana, Mexico, with a planned stop in Missouri. The city says many people on the ground were injured on streets and in parking lots, cars, and homes. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. For NPR News, I'm Emily Neal in Philadelphia. Fire officials in California report two major wildfires that began January 7th are now 100% contained.

Between them, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire had burned more than 37,000 acres in Los Angeles County. This is NPR News. Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities and towns today. Ukrainian officials say at least eight people were killed. This month, Russia's war against Ukraine approaches the three-year mark. Canadians are bracing for 25 percent tariffs on most products promised to go into effect today by President Trump. As Dan Karpachuk reports, the tariffs could mean higher prices for US consumers and consequences for Canada. There would be significant

implications for major industries such as the automotive sector in Canada. With many Canadian products becoming more expensive, American consumers will likely avoid buying them. Canada has promised to retaliate, imposing taxes on American products such as orange juice and wine and spirits. Canadian officials say in retaliation all options are on the table, including energy. The U.S. imports well over $100 billion a year from Canada in this sector. It all comes as the Canadian dollar has already dropped against the U.S. dollar, and economists fear a potential prolonged tariff war would mean higher prices

and job losses and would likely push Canada into a recession. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. The Teamsters Union said today it's reached a tentative agreement with Costco on a new contract. The Teamsters represent about 18,000 workers in six states. They had voted overwhelmingly to go on strike if there wasn't a new deal when the old contract expired at midnight last night. The terms of the proposed new contract have not yet been released. It must be ratified by union members.

I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.