NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-22-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. A UN-backed panel of experts on starvation has declared that Northern Gaza is now suffering from a full-blown famine. The panel says half a million people there are facing, quote, catastrophic conditions. As NPR's Jackie Northam reports from Tel Aviv, this comes after almost two years of war and Israeli restrictions on relief aid entering the devastated territory. The report by the Integrated Food Security Phase classification, or IPC, is half a million people in Gaza are facing the most severe level of hunger crisis, characterized by starvation, destitution, and death. It also warns that another million people, about half the population of Gaza,

are facing severe food deprivation, and that more than 130,000 children under the age of five are at risk of death from acute malnutrition in the coming year. The IPC does not assign blame. Israel has denied there's a hunger crisis in Gaza and has restricted food and medicine going in. to Gaza, saying Hamas steals them and uses them for its own purposes. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

California state lawmakers have passed a measure that would create a method to redraw the state's congressional districts. The goal is to flip five Republican congressional districts to Democratic control and send the Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the measure. He says California is responding to Texas Republicans, who are trying to flip five congressional seats in that state to GOP control. Open your eyes to what is going on in the United States of America in 2025.

That's what this is about. We're responding what occurred in Texas. Texas state senators are considering a similar effort. They haven't yet passed their GOP redistricting plan, but they are expected to do so very soon. Hurricane Aaron is pulling deeper into the Atlantic Ocean and away from North America. It never made landfall. But NPR's Matt Bloom reports, officials on the East Coast are still warning of dangerous conditions. Aaron's eye remains hundreds of miles off the East Coast, but many places are still feeling it. New Jersey's governor has declared a state of emergency due to 50-mile-per-hour gusts and 17-foot waves.

In Virginia, power companies are warning residents not to touch downed lines, as area Hochsteadlers with Dominion Energy. Keep away from those power lines. Sometimes you might see them fall, like come down into the driveway, avoid it at all cost stay inside. High surf and flood warnings remain in effect along much of the New England coastline. Aaron, now one of the largest Atlantic storms on record, is expected to weaken as it moves northeast away from land.

Matt Bloom, NPR News. On Wall Street in pre-market trading, futures are higher. This is NPR. California officials have denied parole to Eric Menendez. He's one of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents more than 30 years ago in a case that drew a lot of attention.

Steve Futterman reports from San Diego. The board met for nearly 10 hours, hearing testimony from Eric Menendez and others, including his supporters and relatives, who urged the board to recommend release. The L.A. County District Attorney's Office also took part, arguing against any release. In announcing the decision, Commissioner Robert Barton said, I believe in redemption, but believe you pose a continued risk to public safety.

He acknowledged the sexual abuse suffered by Menendez at the hands of his father. However, he said there were other things he could have done, including reaching out to police. Eric Menendez can next appear before a parole board in three years, On Friday, his brother Lyle will have his hearing. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in San Diego. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell will give a major speech today. He'll be attending a key meeting of economists and central bankers in Wyoming.

President Trump has been pressuring Powell and the Fed to lower short-term interest rates. Powell's speech will be scrutinized for any clues about the Fed's thinking. Entertainment company Sony says it will sharply increase the price. of its popular gaming consoles, the PlayStation 5. The price is going up by $50. The cheapest PlayStation console will now be about $500. Sony says it's trying to navigate a challenging economic environment. You're listening to NPR.