NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-26-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: October 26, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Trade negotiators from the U.S. and China say they've reached a tentative agreement that would head off some of the most onerous tariffs and export restrictions both countries have threatened against each other. NPR's Emily Fang reports. Issues like rare earths and China's refusal to buy American soybeans were top of the agenda. Chinese trade negotiator Li Chengg told reporters in Malaysia where the talks were held that the two countries had a, quote,

substantive exchange. And also that the U.S. presented its views forcefully, but China protected its interests. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Sunday morning talk shows that an extra 100% tariff that President Trump had threatened was, quote, effectively off the table now, as was a potentially punishing export control regime that China was trialing for rare earth materials. Emily Fang and Pierre News. Two weeks into the ceasefire between Israel and Amman, President Trump has warned Hamas, it must return the remaining bodies of deceased hostages. NPR's Rob Schmidt's reports. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said he believes there's a good chance for the peace in the Middle East to be, quote, everlasting.

But he warned Hamas that if the hostages' bodies aren't returned, the countries involved in the peace plan will take action. Among the 13 bodies of hostages remaining in Gaza are those of Itai Chen and Omar Nutra, both Americans. In an interview, the head of Hamas' negotiating teams said they are searching for additional bodies. A search and rescue team from Egypt has been allowed to enter Gaza to look for these remaining bodies, too. Rob Schmitz and Pierre News, Tel Aviv. The partisan redistricting effort President Trump kicked off continues with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lawmakers will be holding a special session tomorrow. NPR's Mar-Eliason reports.

Virginia Democrats will discuss redrawing the state's congressional district maps to favor Democrats. This follows an unusual mid-cycle partisan redistricting effort by Republicans in Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri. After President Trump called on red states with trifectas, that is, with Republican governors and state legislatures in the same state, to create more seats favorable to his party. Three other blue states, California, Illinois, and Maryland have responded in kind, and are looking at ways to increase seats favorable to Democrats. Normally, redistricting happens every 10 years after the census is taken, but that custom appears to be yet another political norm cast aside during the Trump era. Mara Liason, NPR News.

Hurricane Melissa is intensifying as it moves slowly over the warm waters of the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center says it's a category of forest storm and is likely to strengthen more in the coming days. Forecasters warn of potentially catastrophic flooding and destructive winds in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. This is NPR News. In Argentina, voters are set to go to the polls today in high-stakes, mid-term elections, seen as a referendum on President Javier Malay's austerity agenda. His ally, Donald Trump, has offered a $20 billion currency swap to prop up the peso. But Trump's continued support could depend on Malay's performance in the election.

Natalie Alcoba reports from Buenos Aires. lot is at stake for President Javier Milay, a libertarian who imposed a tough program of spending cuts and reforms to curb inflation in a country prone to economic volatility. Half the seats in the lower house of Congress and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs in these elections. A currency crisis has raised serious questions about his economic strategy, with the U.S. intervening with a controversial multi-billion dollar bailout. Many Argentines continue to struggle to make ends meet, but while Milet's popularity has taken a hit, Amid corruption scandals and the threat of a recession, polls suggest the outcome of this election is too difficult to predict.

For NPR News, I'm Natalie Alcova in Buenos Aires. Prosecutors in Paris say they've made some arrests in the jewelry heist at the Louvre one week ago today. They did not say how many suspects are in custody, but that one of them was detained as he was preparing to fly out of the country last night. They also did not say whether any of the jewels have been recovered. Thieves had smashed display cases and within minutes made off with historic crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.