NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-15-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

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NPR covers the stories that shape our world. Whether you're here for news or culture or good conversation, we're proud to be here for you. Federal funding helps keep the public radio network strong and available to all for about a dollar and sixty cents per person each year. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to learn more about safeguarding public media's future. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called today for the creation of a European army.

He told the annual Munich Security Conference the continent can no longer be sure of US protection. Three years of full-scale war have proven that we already have the foundation for a united European military force. And now, as we fight this war and lay the groundwork for peace and security, we must build the armed forces of Europe so that Europe's future depends only on Europeans and decisions about Europe are made in Europe. Danielle Pletka He also said that Ukraine will not accept any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. That's made behind his back. President Trump spoke

by telephone this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin before speaking to Zelensky. Three Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been released. The sixth group freed as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Israel that nearly collapsed this week. In exchange for the released hostages, Israel is releasing more than 350 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. NPR's Hadil El-Shelchi reports from Tel Aviv. The three male civilian hostages released are 36-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen

Sagih Dekelkhen, 29-year-old Russian-Israeli Alexander Trupanov, and 46-year-old Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horne. The hostages were brought onto a stage where a slogan on a large poster alluded to President Trump's plan to transfer Gaza's entire population to neighboring countries. The banner said, No migration except to Jerusalem. The three hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khan Yunis, a city in South Gaza. Among the 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed by Israel on Saturday are 36 who served

life sentences in Israeli prisons convicted for deadly attacks against Israelis. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Stocks gained ground this week despite stubborn inflation and a lackluster report on retail spending. NPR's Scott Horsley reports all the major indexes rose by more than half a percent. Stocks aren't the only things getting more expensive. The Labor Department said Wednesday that consumer prices were up 3 percent in January, a bigger annual increase than the month before. With sticky inflation and a solid job market, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told

lawmakers this week the central bank does not have to be in a hurry to cut interest rates. Shoppers dialed back their spending last month. Retail sales fell by nine-tenths of a percent. While the Trump administration threatened higher tariffs in the not too distant future, investors seemed relieved that most of the import taxes have not kicked in yet. For the week that Dow gained more than half a percent, the S&P 500 index rose one and a half percent, and the Nasdaq jumped more than two and a half percent.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Serbia today, calling for an end to corruption. The protests began after a roof collapsed at a newly renovated train station three months ago, killing 15 people. The student leaders of the demonstrations have been joined by teachers, farmers, and other workers. They blame the tragedy on corruption and nepotism within

the Serbian government. African leaders are meeting in Ethiopia this weekend for their annual summit, with conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan topping the agenda. Heavy fighting continues in both countries. In the DRC, rebels have seized another strategic city in the east. Immanuel Agunza reports from Nairobi. African leaders arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels have seized Bukavu, the second largest city in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, amid heavy fighting with the Congolese army. In Sudan, the national army continues to gain ground against the paramilitary rapid support forces,

with both sides refusing peace talks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is at the African Union summit, has urged leaders to propose solutions to conflicts that have displaced millions. Several side meetings will discuss US President Trump's freeze on foreign aid, which has severely impacted American-funded programs for health,, water and agriculture across the continent. For NPR News, I'm Emanuel Igunza in Nairobi. NURRAH RAM, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, NPR NEWS. The National Weather Service is warning that the combination of thunderstorms and melting

snow this weekend could bring flash floods to Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas. I'm Nurah Ram, NPR News in Washington.