NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: December 14, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. A manhunt in Rhode Island. Hundreds of police officers are searching for a gunman who killed two people and wounded nine others at Brown University yesterday afternoon. The school shooting, not the first for Brown University students, Zoe Weissman. She attended middle school, next to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High and Parkland, Florida, the scene of a school shooting in 2018. Now there's more kids like myself who've been through two school shootings, and I think that's kind of just representative of the situation that the inaction of Congress has put us in. The Brown University campus was locked down overnight, and the mayor of Providence urged residents to shelter in place. Police have released surveillance video of the suspect dressed in black. The suspect's face so is not visible. In Australia, police say two people are in custody following a mass shooting in Sydney's famed Bondi Beach. Officials now say 10 people were killed and around a dozen wounded when government opened fire during a Jewish holiday event. Australia media say one of the government is among those killed. Australia's

prime ministers calling the shooting shocking and distressing. Germany is hosting ceasefire talks with Ukrainian, the U.S. delegations this weekend. The talks come ahead of a summit with European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin on Monday. Asmi Nicholson reports. President Trump's envoy Steve Whitkoff and son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner are meeting delegations from Ukraine, Germany, France and the United Kingdom in Berlin. According to media reports. It is seen as a strong signal that the U.S. is eager to iron out differences in its peace deal for Ukraine and Russia. Trump had said that he would only send officials to Berlin if he felt enough progress would be made. German Chancellor Friedrich Mitz is keen to keep Trump

on side by showing him Europe is serious about defense, but there is still disagreement over ceasefire terms, particularly when it comes to Kiev seeding territory. For NPR news, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin. The Israeli military says it has killed a senior Hamas commander saying he was one of the architects of the October 7th attacks on Israel. The strike took place near Gaza City on Saturday, and Pierre Hadeel al-Shalchip reports. The Israeli military said it has killed Ra'ad, a Hamas senior official who Israel says was the second in command of the group's military wing. A video released by the Israeli military showed an airstrike on a vehicle they said Saad was riding in. Sad's killed.

would be the highest profile assassination of a Hamas leader by the Israeli military since a ceasefire deal was reached in October. He was a close ally of Azaddin al-Haddad, who took over Hamas's military wing after Israeli forces killed Mohamed Sinwar last May. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President Trump is promising retaliation after two U.S. service members and one American civilian were ambushed and killed by a gunman this weekend in Syria. Three other service members were wounded.

the U.S. is blaming the Islamic State Group. This is NPR News. The Pacific Northwest remains on guard following severe flooding. Another round of wind and rain is to move into the region, following record-setting high water that force thousands from their homes. Meanwhile, a blast of Arctic air is spreading into the U.S. Extreme cold warnings are up today for portions of Illinois and Indiana, and forecasters say temperatures as far south as Montgomery, Alabama,

but could dip into the 20s later Sunday night. Early last week, President Trump announced a $12 billion plan to help farmers across the country. The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program is a one-time payment meant to help farmers make it to the next growing season as the Gulf States newsrooms Drew Hackens reports. Farmers have been hit hard this year. James Davis, a row crop farmer in North Louisiana,

says tariffs have made it hard for farmers to export their commodities, making it harder to pay their bills, including health insurance. He and his wife are able to pay for their health insurance because of enhanced premium tax credits through the Affordable Care Act. Without subsidies, you can't afford it. Bottom line. After a Democratic proposal to extend those subsidies failed last week, they're set to expire at the end of the month. For NPR News, I'm Drew Hawkins in New Orleans. Hong Kong's last opposition party has voted to disband. Hong Kong's Democratic Party has been the city's biggest pro-democracy party for more than 30 years. But the party chair said today that the vote.

to disband and inter-liquidation was overwhelming in that it is the best way forward. Both Reuters and the Associated Press are quoting party members as saying some were warned of consequences if the party did not shut down. I'm Giles Snyder. NPR News.