NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-17-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: February 17, 2025

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This message comes from Wondery. At 24 years old, Monika Lewinsky was in a scandal that defined who she was for the entire world. And now, she's ready to draw from her own experience on what it means to redefine yourself on her new podcast, Reclaiming with Monika Lewinsky. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Several European leaders will meet in Paris on Monday to try to come up with a response to U.S.-led negotiations on a peace plan for Ukraine. Terry Schultz reports that Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg has told Europeans not to expect to be a party to the negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited leaders from Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK, NATO and European Union institutions to brainstorm about their approach to the US-led peace process for Ukraine. Christine Brezina with the German Marshall Fund says there's a lot to assess. What is a spending plan and a capability plan that they can do for themselves? What is their recommendation to Ukraine? The US says European governments will be expected to monitor any potential ceasefire. So Brazina says they have reason to be displeased about being excluded.

For Washington to sideline Europe in this process is a deep insult. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also wants Europe involved in negotiations. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. As the Trump administration effort to drastically cut back government continues, criticism is growing over the role of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, an entity known as DOJ. One concern comes from the lack of documentation of its work, as NPR's Deepa Shivram tells us.

There has been pretty much little to no transparency about how Elon Musk is going about doing any of this. I went to the DOJ government website and under the tab that says savings, it says receipts coming over the weekend. There haven't been any receipts posted at this point. And in the meantime, there have been a lot of blocks from federal judges and courts this week. 14 states have sued Elon Musk and Doge and the president saying that these cuts to government

spending are unconstitutional. That's Deepa Shivram reporting. The man accused in the December fatal shooting of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson is expected back in court this week for state charges in New York. And as NPR's Ava Puchach reports, a legal fundraiser for Luigi Mangione has so far raised more than $400,000. On a website set up by his attorneys to provide updates on the case, a statement from Mangione reads, quote, I am overwhelmed by and grateful for everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support.

Pennsylvania's governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, and other lawmakers have said that Mangione should not be treated like a folk hero. Mangione pleaded not guilty to 11 charges in New York, including first-degree murder. He also faces charges in federal court as well as in Pennsylvania. While New York has abolished the death penalty, prosecutors could pursue it in the federal case. Eva Pukach, NPR News. William Bryan won his second straight Daytona 500 victory tonight. He's become the first back-to-back winner since Denny Hamlin five years ago. He came from a ninth position with one lap remaining for the win.

You're listening to NPR News. A new world record has been set in the half marathon. Jacob Kiplomo from Uganda finished under 57 minutes Sunday in Barcelona and became the first person to do so in a record eligible race. MPR's Juliana Kim has more on that story. This isn't the first time Jacob Kiplomo claimed the world record for a half marathon. He earned the title back in 2021, but it was taken from him last year by a runner from Kenya who beat his record by just one second. On Sunday, Kiblamo ran with a vengeance and finished under 57 minutes. He beat the previous record by 48

seconds. World Athletics called it the greatest single improvement on the men's world half marathon record. To achieve such a feat, Kiblimo averaged about 4 minutes and 20 seconds per mile. On Instagram, he said the day was perfect. Now he'll be training for his full marathon debut, which will be in London this April. Julianna Kim, NPR News. Rebels backed by Rwandan troops are now fully in control of the Congo city of Bukavu. The M23 is the most prominent group fighting for control of the country's eastern region, which holds trillions of dollars in mineral wealth.

News reports from Lebanon say Israeli troops opened fire Sunday on a group of residents who were attempting to return home to the village of Hula in the southern part of that country. At least one woman was killed and several other people wereula in the southern part of that country. At least one woman was killed and several other people were injured in the incident. That incident comes just two days before the deadline to implement a ceasefire agreement that ended the latest war between Israel and Lebanon. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

Technologist Paul Garcia is using AI to create photos of people's most precious memories. News.