NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-17-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: August 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Several European leaders are planning to join Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, for talks of the White House tomorrow. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. The last time Zelensky was in the Oval Office in February, he got lectured by President Trump and the vice president. But he'll have some high-powered support this time, including European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen

and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the NATO Secretary General. Trump has shifted course from demanding a ceasefire and is now calling for negotiating a broader peace deal, which is Putin's preferred choice. Trump has also made clear that he was going to push Zelensky to make a deal, and that is likely going to be hard for Zelensky to do. He has emphatically said that Ukraine will not give up land to an occupier. Franco Ordonez. NPR News. In Israel, protesters are blocking highways and staging a labor strike. They're demanding the Israeli government reach a deal with Hamas to release hostages from Gaza.

Families of the hostages are helping lead the protest. They failed to convince the National Labor Union to declare a nationwide strike. But major companies are allowing their employees to go on strike. Many municipalities and universities are supporting the day-long strike. Major theaters and cinemas are closed for the day. Israeli government ministers say protesters are playing into the hands of Hamas. Police are trying to clear the roads of protesters. Israel's military is prepping to expand the war by taking control of Gaza City but says it's open to a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel's military struck a power plant in Yemen's capital, retaliating for Houthi missile attacks on Israel. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

The head of the D.C. National Guard says some of the Guard members patrolling Washington streets may be armed. Army Senior Master Sergeant Craig Clapper says they may have weapons consistent with their mission and training. He said their presence is focused on supporting civil authorities and the safety of the community. A Pentagon Press spokesperson had said last week that guard members would not be armed but that conditions could change. New York police are investigating a shooting at a crowded club in Brooklyn this morning. Three people were killed and eight others were wounded. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the shooting started at the taste of the city lounge just before 3.30 a.m.

What we know preliminarily is that there was a dispute inside of the crowded club that led to the shooting. We have multiple shooters involved in this shooting, and we have recovered at least 36 shell casings so far from what appears to be multiple guns. Tish said the shooting is not typical that gun violence in the city is at a record low this year. You're listening to NPR News in Washington.

The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Hurricane Aaron to a category three hurricane with the maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. The storm center is now about 200 miles north of San Juan Puerto Rico and is moving west-northwest. Aaron is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season in what's expected to be an unusually busy one. Scientists say it's likely climate change is causing the rapid intensity vacation of hurricanes in the Atlantic. A national women's soccer league match started almost three and a half hours late last night because of extreme heat. Greg Eklan has more.

When the match between the Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current finally got underway, the kickoff temperature was 91 degrees. The extreme afternoon heat had been predicted 24 hours before, but the league decided to leave the original kickoff time intact. Izzy Rodriguez, the starting defender for the current, says the player, were puzzled. I don't know necessarily what goes into those decisions, but for us it was, they might make decisions different in the future. The league said in a statement that, while forecasts guide planning, we primarily rely on real-time on-site weather data. The temperature

was at 96 degrees at the scheduled afternoon kickoff time. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eclan and Kansas City. Air Canada says it will take several days before its operations return to normal. Flight attendants went on strike early yesterday morning. The government ordered both sides to binding arbitration, and they ordered the flight attendants back to work. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.