NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-18-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: August 19, 2025

NPR News: 08-18-2025 10PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodemir Zelensky and the leaders of several European nations at the White House. today. The meeting comes just three days after Trump met face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump says that meeting laid the groundwork for a broader deal to end the war in Ukraine. The Alaska Summit reinforced my belief that while difficult pieces

within reach, and I believe that in a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is one of the key points that we need to consider, and we're going to be considering that at the table also. Trump is also calling for a three-way summit between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. So far, the Kremlin has not agreed to take part. The president is also calling for the release of more than a thousand Ukrainian prisoners as part of a potential deal. The FBI is adding Missouri's Attorney General to its ranks.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports. Andrew Bailey comes to the investigative. agency after a controversial tenure. Bailey is resigning in September to become the FBI's co-deputy director alongside Dan Bongino. After getting appointed as Missouri's Attorney General in 2022, Bailey attracted nationwide controversy after he unsuccessfully sought to bar transgender adults from accessing gender-affirming care. He's also sought to preserve Missouri's abortion restrictions after voters there passed a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. Bailey is joining the FBI amid a firestorm over its handling of files related to convicted

sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum and St. Louis. The Texas Health Department says the measles outbreak in the state has ended. Gabriela Alcorda Solario from Texas Public Radio reports. The outbreak of measles in West Texas reached 762 cases before the state declared the outbreak over. It originated in a West Texas County in January, and the cases quickly rose, but now it has been more than 42 days since a new case was reported. Two children died in connection to the outbreak. Both were not vaccinated against measles. 99 people were hospitalized. Texas officials say just because the outbreak is over here,

the threat is still very real due to ongoing outbreaks across the country and globally. Monitoring for new cases will continue. I'm Gabriela Alcorta Solorio in San Antonio. Stocks traded mixed on Wall Street today. The Dow was down 34 points at the close. The NASDAQ up 6, the S&P, down a fraction. This is NPR News. House Democrats in Texas have ended their two-week walkout.

They return to the state capital today to take part in a special session. Republicans have introduced a bill that would redraw congressional maps. The plan is aiming to put five more Republicans in the U.S. House and next year's midterms. Democrats had tried to block the effort by fleeing the state. In northern Pakistan, families are mourning after torrential rain and a sudden cloudburst unleashed landslides and flash floods, uprooting trees. sending boulders crashing down mountain sides and swallowing entire villages. NPR's Diyah Hadid reports at least 300 people were killed. Over half the fatalities occurred in one alpine area called Bonaire. Residents there have told NPR and other media outlets

that they were given no warning of the impending disaster. One man, Abdul Wahid, who only has one name, said people were sheltering in their homes and they were carried away when the water came. Abdul Wahid says about half the village has been destroyed and some 145 residents are missing or dead. The government is now warning that the extreme rains are likely to continue for several more days.

And now there is a threat of flooding further downstream. Deh Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai. The World Health Organization has announced that Nepal has eliminated Rubella as a public health problem. Rubella is a highly contagious viral infection that impregnant women can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and a number of births effects. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.

When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply.