NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-26-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: October 26, 2025

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New Zealand is undergoing a huge experiment to try to save its endangered wildlife by killing animals that aren't native. And everyday New Zealanders are getting involved. Though it is a bit gross sometimes, just thinking about it's a bit gross. Flightless birds, sneaky predators, and high-tech traps. Listen now to the Sunday story on the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump is making his first official trip of this term in office to Asia on the itinerary or stops in Malaysia and Japan before arriving in South Korea next week.

And Trump says he's also open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Empires Deepa Shiverum has more. On route to Malaysia, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that if Kim was willing to meet, he'd be open to it. He said that he and Kim had a great relationship, and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader. Trump last met with Kim in 2019 when he made a visit to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. It came together quickly after Trump tweeted and proposed a meeting at the DMZ to shake Kim's hand and say hello. After attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and traveling to Tokyo, Trump will fly to South Korea,

where he's expected to attend events at the APEC summit and meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Deepa Shiverum and PR News traveling with the president. President Trump says he will add an additional 10% tariff on goods from Canada. He announced the move on social media. He's angry at an ad aired by the province of Ontario that was critical of Trump's tariff policies. The ad used in 1987 speech by Ronald Reagan in which he says tariffs are actually bad for the economy. Earlier this week, Trump ended trade talks with Canada. Hurricane Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea and moving toward Jamaica,

where it's expected to make landfall by early next week. It's so slow moving, and Horace Glance of the Red Cross says rainfall is expected to be as high as 35 inches in some places. A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that's going to be bearing down on us. And, of course, more severe winds than would have experienced in previous events. Weather officials say that Melissa could become a category four storm before making landfall, which would mean winds exceeding 130 miles per hour. At least four people have already died from that storm. Citing safety concerns, the U.S. has authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel from the African nation of Mali.

As Michael Koloki reports, the U.S. Embassy in Mali is warning that persistent fuel supply disruptions in the country could affect security there. In a statement, the State Department also authorized the departure of family members of U.S. government employees in Mali and warned American citizens not to travel to the West African nation. Mali's military government has been battling an Islamist insurgency in various regions. Al-Qaeda-backed militants have been trying to impose a blockade on fuel imports. Last month, several fuel trucks were destroyed when militants attacked a vehicle convoy that was heading to the capital Bamako and the military escort. For NPR News, I'm Michael Koloki in Nairobi.

And you're listening to NPR News. The Los Angeles Dodgers roared back in game two of the World Series to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 Saturday night. The best of seven series is now tied one game apiece. Reporter Steve Futterman was at the stadium for the final outs. The star of game two was the Dodger starter, Yoshi Yamamoto. He was brilliant, allowing the Toronto batterers just one run on four hits. The game was close until the seven. inning. The two teams were tied one-to-one in the seventh. The Dodgers got a pair of solo home

runs to take a three-to-one lead. L.A. added two more runs in the eighth to make the final score five to one. After a one-day break, the series resumes in Los Angeles on Monday for games three, four, and five. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Toronto. Russian forces launched drone and missile strikes on Ukraine overnight. At least eight people were killed in the attacks and 20 others were injured. Ukraine's air defenses say they intercepted four missiles and 50 drones. Ukraine's president, meanwhile, renewed calls this week for more Western air defense systems. Ukraine is hoping to purchase 25 Patriot missile batteries from the U.S. in the near future.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels are continuing to crack down on United Nations workers in Yemen this weekend. Two women working for the World Food Program were abducted from their homes in the capital of Sana on Saturday. One of the women is in critical condition after having a premature birth. The Houthis are now holding more than 55 U.N. staffers. The world body has suspended its operations in many parts of Yemen. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. With a major shift in our politics underway in this country, 1A is drilling down on what's at stake for you and our democracy.

In our weekly series, if you can keep it, we put these changes into focus and answer your questions about the impact of the Trump administration. on the U.S. Join us every Monday for If You Can Keep It on the 1A podcast from NPR and WAMU.