NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-16-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

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Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off a tour of the Middle East today. He's in Israel where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rubio was due to travel to Saudi Arabia this week amid reports that the U.S. and Russia

will hold talks there on ending the war in Ukraine. Earlier this weekend, Rubio spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart to St.Pierre's Charles Maynes reports. In a call that Moscow said was initiated by the US, Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to maintain contacts on a host of issues including Ukraine. Engagement between the top diplomats comes as both sides prepare for a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with high-level delegations expected to gather

in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. Following a call between the two leaders in the past week, Trump appeared to accede to Putin's demands Ukraine to end its ambitions to join NATO and relinquish territory to Moscow, raising fears the US was cutting Ukraine out of the peace process altogether. In turn, the Kremlin now says its priority with the U.S. is discussing peace, not war. Charles Maines, NPR News. As the Trump administration escalates efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, thousands have been let go, including some 1,500 at the National Institutes of Health and some 1,300, or 10 percent, of the employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

American Public Health Association Executive Director George Benjamin says the firings will ultimately cost more than they save. This is a decapitation of the nation's most important health agencies that have led the world in science, technology and innovation. Separately, the Associated Press is reporting that the IRS could begin to lay off thousands of probationary workers as soon as this week, in the middle of tax season. Heavy rain has led to dangerous flooding in parts of the country this weekend. At least one person has died in Kentucky after trying to drive across a flooded roadway. Karen Zarr with Member Station WUKY in Lexington reports that Kentucky's governor says President Trump has granted his request for an emergency disaster declaration.

Heavy rainfall since Saturday morning has caused flash flooding across Kentucky and dozens of evacuations and water rescues have been reported statewide inside Amy Kennedy's home. Buckets are positioned across the floor to catch rainwater, but she considers herself lucky. Honestly we're doing fine and a lot better than a lot of other people. Governor Andy Beshear has opened state parks for displaced residents. Beshear has also reached out to Homeland Security and FEMA.

For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington. Flash flooding also hit southern West Virginia last night. Damage remains unclear, but photos show water rushing through the streets of the town of Welch. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. A death toll from a stampede in India is climbing. Officials say at least 18 people died, including several children, in a crush at a railway station in the capital, New Delhi.

Media reports say more than a dozen are being treated in a hospital. Officials say many of the victims were pilgrims on their way to a Hindu festival. India's railway minister says an investigation has been ordered. A small group of Afrikaans, South Africans rallied around the U.S. Embassy in Petroia this weekend after President Trump offered them refugee status. Kate Bartlett reports that it's still unclear what processes Afrikaners need to go through to get accepted to the States. Singing the old apartheid national anthem and kneeling in prayer, several hundred Afrikaners turned out to thank Trump.

Make South Africa great again. Recognize the white nation. And we are the rightful owners, signs of the event read. Another noted the influence South African-born advisor Elon Musk has had on the US President's South Africa policy, reading, Elon send the ANC to Mars. The ANC or African National Congress is the political party that liberated South Africa from apartheid. Trump has caused discord in South Africa after falsely claiming the white minority is being

persecuted. This week South Africa holds the G20 foreign ministers meeting which the US is not attending. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg. Today is one of NASCAR's biggest days. The season opening Daytona 500 will get underway early this afternoon. 41 drivers are in the field. President Trump is expected to be on hand. I'm Joel Snyder.

This is NPR News.