NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-13-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. European leaders held calls today with President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They're urging Trump to take Ukraine's security into account when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. NPR's Lauren Freire reports from London. In a joint statement with his French and German counterparts, British Prime Minister Kirstarmer says the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. He says meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire, and that in the absence of that, sanctions on Russia should be strengthened. International borders must not be changed by force, the statement says. And it says a, quote,

Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role in Ukraine with a reassurance force. That's a reference to the possible deployment of British and French peacekeepers to certain zones of Ukraine after combat halts. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. The White House says people living on the streets in Washington, D.C. may face jail time if they refuse to go to shelters. NPR's Brian Mann reports advocates for people without housing, say the new policy puts undue pressure on some of the city's most vulnerable residents. With National Guard troops now deployed on the streets of the nation's capital, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said part of the public safety push means people living on the street have to go to shelter. or accept treatment for mental illness and addiction. And if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.

But critics say that's not a solution for people who are severely ill or can't afford the city's high housing costs. Jesse Rabinowitz is with the National Homelessness Law Center. There are very few beds available. There are a handful of shelter beds available in far-flung parts of the city. According to Leavitt, dozens of homeless camps here have already been cleared out. Brian Mann, NPR News, Washington. President Trump says he'll host this year's Kennedy Center honors.

NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports the honorees include singer, Gloria Gaynor, and actor Sylvester Stallone. The other honorees are the rock band Kiss, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and country star George Strait. President Trump said he was heavily involved in the selection process, a break in tradition. The Kennedy Center honors are traditionally selected through a months-long process with input from the general public, board members, and honorees from previous years. Trump spoke warmly of all the honorees. He called Sylvester Stallone a friend. It's very few people that could have taken a name and made it so incredible like Rocky, Rambo, Creed. The Kennedy Center honors gala will take place on December 7th, Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

This is NPR News. An intense heat wave is gripping much of the United Kingdom. Alerts have been issued for many parts of England, including London, with temperatures pushing 90 degrees in some areas. In Scotland, dry conditions are raising the risk of wildfires. Forecasters say this is shaping up to be one of the hottest and driest years on record for the UK. Pediatricians in Florida say they're concerned. about low immunization rates among kindergartners, as doubts about vaccine safety are on the rise.

Kerry Sheridan from member station WUSF reports. The CDC says for highly contagious diseases like measles, 95% of people need to be immunized to prevent outbreaks. Across Florida, only seven out of 67 counties meet that threshold. Dr. Rana Alyssa leads the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It's very scary. and worrisome because the worst is coming. In Sarasota County, rates are among the lowest. Only 79% of incoming kindergartners are up to date on all their shots,

according to the State Health Department. That's about the same level of immunization in areas of Texas where a deadly outbreak of measles killed two children earlier this year. For NPR News, I'm Carrie Sheridan in Sarasota. Grocery deliveries are getting faster. Amazon is rolling out same-day service for paramed. appreciable items like milk, meat, and frozen dinners to prime members in select parts of the country. The perk is aimed at competing with Walmart and Instacart.

I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.