NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-12-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: October 12, 2025

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In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life. Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors on our new show, Sources and Methods. NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people, helping you understand why distant events matter here at home. Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. National Guard troops are now in Memphis, Tennessee, after being sent in by President Trump and P.R's Debbie Elliott reports. Tennessee National Guard troops are patrolling alongside Memphis police in areas including tourist attractions near downtown. Their fatigues are marked military police.

Unlike cities, including Portland and Chicago, local officials have not sued to block the Guard deployment. Democratic Mayor Paul Young says he didn't request the outside troops. troops and says crime was already on the decline. But he says instead of fighting the deployment, which is supported by Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee, Memphis is instead working to make sure it benefits the community. Young says National Guard troops are limited to a support role and will not make arrests or issue warrants. Debbie Elliott, NPR News. U.S. military forces are at risk of not getting paid next Wednesday because of the government shutdown, but in a social media post-Saturday, President Trump says he has told Defense Secretary

Pete Higgseth to use all available funds in order to meet the payroll. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitkoff, was in Tel Aviv on Saturday to celebrate the ceasefire that went into effect in Gaza on Friday morning. Speaking to thousands of Israelis, he praised their fortitude, and he was joined by Ivanka Trump, who expressed hope for the families whose loved ones are still being held by Hamas. As we stand here together in Tel Aviv, we honor the strength of every family waiting, praying, and believing. Under the terms of the ceasefire, those hostages are expected to be returned as early as Monday. North Korea rolled out its latest military hardware Saturday at a parade in Pyongyang.

M.P.S. Anthony Kuhn reports that North Korea is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the the founding of its ruling workers' party. Trucks rolled through Kim Il-Song Square Friday night carrying hypersonic and cruise missiles, and the new Hua Song 20, an intercontinental ballistic missile, intended to be capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Leader Kim Jong-un had special praise for a unit of troops in the parade that had returned after fighting against Ukraine in Russia. Last month in Beijing, Kim watched a military parade with the leaders of China and Russia. This time it was Kim's turn to host the parade with officials from China, Russia, and Vietnam as his guests. Some analysts are hopeful

that Kim's increasingly confident diplomacy could eventually lead to a resumption of dialogue with the U.S. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Akita, Japan. President Trump has appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino to head the White House Presidential Personnel Office. Trump announced the appointment Saturday night on social media. Skavino replaces Sergio Gore, who's been appointed the new U.S. ambassador to India. This is and PR news. Polls have opened in Cameroon, where the world's oldest president is seeking an eighth consecutive presidential term.

92-year-old Paul Biaz, again the frontrunner in a vote where the main opposition figure was controversially disqualified from running. M.P.R. Emmanuel Akonwatu reports. Paul Bia has been in power since 1982 and could win another seven-year term that would extend his role to 50 years and until he's nearly 100. Bia has run despite widespread calls to step down only attending one campaign rally and continuing to spend extended periods away in Europe. An AI-generated video of him, widely used by his campaign, has attracted further criticism. Insecurity and high unemployment have been major issues in the Central African country, where the median age is 18 and 40% of people under 35 are unemployed.

Bia's main challenges are expected to be two former ministers who recently resigned from his government. More than 8 million people are registered to cast ballots in a single round of voting. Immanuel Akimoto, NPR News. Actor Diane Keaton has died, she won an Oscar for her lead role in Woody Allen's Annie Hall. And in The Godfather, she played the wife of mobster Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino. Michael, why did you come here? Why? What do you want on me after all this time without you can call me in writing?

I came here because I need you, because I cared for you. Please stop it, Michael. Because I want you to marry me. Keaton was 79 years old when she died. I'm Dale Wilman, and you're listening to NPR News.