NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-24-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me Because the Good Names Were Taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever you Get Your Podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. President Trump is scolding Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia bombed Ukraine's capital last night, killing at least eight people in Kiev and wounding more than 70 others. Writing online, Trump says, quote, Vladimir, stop. Trump says, quote, let's get the peace deal done. Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had just arrived for his first official visit to South Africa when Russia bombed Ukraine. He has now cut short his visit to return home. Speaking through an interpreter before he left, Zelensky called for more attention to

Russia's actions. I don't see much pressure on Russia or any new strong sanctions packages against the Russian aggression for now. We're very hopeful, and this is not an accusation. We're saying this very directly and without any emotion. We believe that if more pressure were applied to Russia, we'll be able to make our positions closer. It was heard on the BBC.

A federal judge is giving the Trump administration another week to provide details about the illegal deportation of a man from the US to El Salvador. As NPR's Joel Rose reports, the reprieve comes a day after the judge accused the administration of flouting her order. Federal District Judge Paul Azines

had ordered the Trump administration to explain what it's doing to seek the return of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia to the U.S. In a scathing order on Tuesday, Zines accused the Trump administration of quote, willful and bad faith refusal to comply with her instructions. In response, the Justice Department filed a sealed motion requesting a stay for seven days. And Judge Zines agreed to extend the deadline for a week. The Trump administration has conceded

that Abrego Garcia was deported last month because of an administrative error, but has argued it cannot bring him back because he is in the custody of El Salvador. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. China is rejecting claims that there are any trade talks underway between Beijing and the U.S. Yesterday, President Trump said

the two countries were talking every day. Stocks opened mixed this morning as the National Association of Realtors reported a slowdown in home sales last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones industrials fell about three points in early trading. Spring is ordinarily a busy time for buying and selling houses but not with mortgage rates near 7 percent. The combination of high borrowing costs and high prices is keeping homes out of reach for many would-be buyers.

The Realtors Association says sales of existing homes were down almost 6 percent last month. The average selling price continues to climb, however. Last month it was just under $404,000. A flurry of new orders for airplanes caused a spike in durable goods orders last month. The Commerce Department says orders for long-lasting manufactured goods jumped a whopping 9.2 percent in March. Stripping out airplanes and other transportation equipment, durable goods orders were flat. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

You're listening to NPR News. Prosecutors in New Jersey have charged a man with arson in connection with a big wildfire that's now burned more than 13,000 acres. It's half contained. New Jersey officials allege 19-year-old Joseph Kling set wooden pallets on fire and then walked away. The blaze is still so large, air quality alerts have been posted today for New York City. Drug maker Eli Lilly, the producer of the popular obesity drug ZepBound, is suing telehealth companies that sell

alternative versions called compounded drugs. Compounding pharmacies are allowed to make what are essentially copies of brand-name drugs during shortages. But NPR's Sydney Lupkin reports those shortages are over. For two years, compounding pharmacies have filled the gap for patients who were unable to get Eli Lilly's Zep-Bound for obesity or Monjaro for type 2 diabetes due to drug shortages. They also afforded access to the drugs for patients

whose insurance didn't cover them by selling them for cheaper. But now that the FDA has declared the shortages over, making these very close copies is no longer allowed. Lilly is suing four telehealth companies selling compounded versions, Mochi Health, Henry Meds, Fela and Delilah Health, and Willow Health. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that Iran must give up all of its programs to enrich nuclear material if it wants to secure a deal with the Trump administration. Rubio spoke during an interview with the online publication, The Free Press. Iran insists that its nuclear enrichment program is for peaceful purposes. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.