NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-15-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin's desire for one-on-one talks with the U.S. are part of his global game. Next, Putin will try to get the U.S. president standing on Red Square on May 9th, this year, not as a respected leader, but as a probe in his own performance. Zelensky's remarks came after Putin spoke with President Trump this week and a day after Vice President J.D. Vance used his speech at the conference to attack European democracies,

saying he fears free speeches and retreat in Europe and alleging that European leaders are censoring conservative and right-wing views. Israel released more than 360 Palestinian prisoners and detainees today after Hamas freed three Israeli hostages who've been captive since the beginning of the war in Gaza. The exchange was the sixth coordinated release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under that fragile ceasefire deal between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. MPH Hadil Al-Shalchi reports. Thirty-six of the 369 Palestinian prisoners released were serving life sentences in Israeli prisons.

They were convicted in connection with deadly attacks against Israelis, including suicide bombings in the early 2000s. The most prominent prisoner released is Ahmed Barghouti, a senior aide to the man considered the leader of the Palestinian uprising known as the Second Intifada. Barghouti was in Israeli prison for more than 22 years, convicted for coordinating attacks that killed Israelis. Also released were 333 Gazans who were arrested by Israeli forces during the war that followed Hamas's deadly 2023 attack on Israel.

They will be returned to Gaza. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Amid confusion and anger among federal workers over the Trump administration's sweeping efforts to slash the size of government, Catholic Charities of Dallas has laid off dozens of employees with its refugee resettlement program. The cuts came after President Trump signed an executive order suspending the U.S. refugee admissions program, as Priscilla Rice of Member Station KERA reports. The nonprofit reported 63 layoffs to the Texas Workforce Commission this week. They represent

employees who work to resettle refugees in the area. Everything from providing housing and health care to getting children enrolled in schools and picking up new arrivals from the airport. Attorney and civil rights activist Eric Cedillo says the cuts will have long-term effects. With respect to refugees, it can be a situation that is incredibly daunting, overwhelming, and you've really got nobody to help them if you pull these monies all at once. In the Houston area, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston, Houston laid off 120 employees, about a quarter of its staff. For NPR News, I'm Priscilla Rice in Dallas.

And you're listening to NPR News. Investigators say the crew of the Army helicopter that collided in midair with an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport may have had inaccurate altitude readings. And the National Transportation Safety Board Chair, Jennifer Homendy, says the Blackhawk's voice recorder suggests the crew may not have heard key instructions from air traffic controllers. CBR data from the Blackhawk indicated that the portion of the transmission stating the CRJ was circling may not have been received by the Black Hawk crew.

Everyone on board both aircraft were killed in the collision. Saturday Night Live is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend. Last night there was a concert at Radio City Musical, ahead of tomorrow's three hour live special featuring cast alumni, including Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell. NPRC Elizabeth Blair has more. The SNL celebration on Sunday begins at 7 p.m. Eastern

with a red carpet special co-hosted by former cast member Leslie Jones. Cast members from across the decades are scheduled to appear on the anniversary special, including Adam Sandler, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Curtin, who played one of the Coneheads in the 1970s. I'm Primette. I maintain our home base and enjoy preparing

mass quantities of consumables for my family unit. Saturday Night Live regulars like Steve Martin and Paul Simon are also scheduled to appear. SNL 50, the anniversary special, airs live at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday on NBC and Peacock. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News. And I'm Giles Snyder. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.