NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-12-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: October 12, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. As Israelis wait for the hostage release as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, a U.S.-backed food program in Gaza that faced international criticism appears to be shutting down. As NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv, the future of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is in doubt. According to videos and eyewitness reports in Gaza, the group's sites have been dismantled and abandoned. The group says there may be temporary closures, but it hasn't discussed its long-term plans. With a ceasefire in place, aid and food is expected to flood Gaza now through other channels. The Trump administration helped set up the GHF food program this year and funded it

after Israel blocked food aid leading to widespread starvation. United Nations officials called the system death traps. Israeli troops were stationed nearby, and Gaza health officials said troops killed hundreds of Palestinians as they approached the sites to get food in recent. months. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President Trump says he's identified funds to ensure the active military gets paid this week. The government shutdown meant U.S. soldiers were at risk to miss their paychecks on Wednesday. And peers Luke Garrett has more.

The Pentagon says soldiers will be paid this week. The department says it found approximately $8 billion in unused research and development funds from last year. A source not authorized to speak publicly says these funds will. will pay U.S. troops if the government doesn't reopen by October 15th. The recently identified funds would likely only cover military paychecks this week, leaving future soldier pay uncertain. Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain at loggerheads over government funding. Some lawmakers have proposed a standalone bill that would pay the troops,

but Republican leadership insists on a GOP-back short-term funding bill as the only way forward. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. According to federal census data, more U.S. homes are using electricity for heating, and a smaller share are using natural gas. And Pierce-Jeffradi reports that's significant because climate scientists say the trend will have to accelerate to meet climate goals. Natural gas has been the most popular fuel for heating homes. It's also the cheapest. But Census Bureau data show electricity, often in the form of efficient heat pumps, is becoming more popular. 15 years ago, just over a third of homes heated with electric power, that's climbed to 42%. The share of homes heating with natural gas has slipped two points to 47%. Gas is mostly methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Scientists say to avoid the most damaging consequences of a hotter climate, nearly half the known gas reserves will have to stay in the ground. Around the country, a few state and local governments have passed bans on installing gas in new homes. Jeff Brady, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. An international study called the global burden of disease found death rates have been declining across the globe, but not for adolescents and young adults in some parts of the world. As NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports, the study found a troubling rise in deaths in younger age groups in North America.

There are two age groups that are dying younger in recent years in North America. Christopher Murray is Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the lead scientist of the new study. In the sort of 5 to 19 range, we're seeing death rates go up after long periods of decline, so that's very unusual. The main drivers are gun violence, road injuries, and suicide. The other age group that saw deaths rise in North America is 25 to 39-year-olds, driven primarily by drug overdose.

The study which also found a rise in depression and anxiety in youth is published in The Lancet. Rithu Chatterjee, NPR News. At the weekend box office, Tron Ares took the top spot with an estimated $33 million in ticket sales. The Disney sci-fi film, starring Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges, comes 15 years after Tron Legacy, and it follows a battle between two technology firms facing an artificial intelligence barrier. The film cost of reported $150 million to produce. In second place, Roofman, starting Chanon Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, debuted with $8 million. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.