NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: December 14, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Jail Snyder. Speaking with reporters this morning, Providence, Rhode Island, police chief, Oscar Perez, confirmed that a person of interest is in custody. Following the shooting at Brown University, the left two people dead and injured nine others. The next process for us is what we do best in our detectives is to coordinate with the prosecutors, to collect evidence, to conduct interviews, and then from there, we'll be able to, when it's appropriate and accurate, to share more details with you all. The shooting yesterday afternoon happened in Brown's Engineering Building during final exams. Providence's mayor says of the nine people who were injured,

one remains in critical conditions, seven are stable, and one person has been discharged from a hospital. In Australia, authorities have declared the Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist attack. The two gunmen opened fire at killing at least 11 people. Police say one of the gunmen was also killed. Scott Mayman reports that authorities say Sydney's Jewish community, was targeted on the first day of Hanukkah. It was a Sunday afternoon and busy at the beach for this time of year,

with a large group gathered for Hanukkah celebrations. One of the gunmen was killed. The other was wounded and is now in custody. Scores of survivors have been taken to hospitals, and local authorities say two police officers are among the wounded. Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, calls the scenes at the beach shocking and distressing. For NPR news,

I'm Scott Mayman in Canberra, Australia. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are in Berlin today and tomorrow to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to discuss a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. Here's MPR's Rob Schmiss reporting. The meeting comes as the Kremlin reaffirms. It will give its blessing for a ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from parts of the Denedsk region that they still control. It's a demand that's likely to be rejected by Ukraine. Whitkoff and Kushner plan to meet with Zelensky as well as key European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Meuts, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Kirstarmer.

In related news, Germany's Meertz declared the era of Apax Americana over in a speech over the weekend, warning of a permanent U.S. withdrawal from Europe after the Trump administration published its national security strategy, a document that heavily criticized European leaders. as being weak and ineffective. Rob Schmitz and Peer News, Berlin. 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

and that it is the best way forward. Both Reuters and the Associated Press are quoting party members as saying some were warned of consequences that the party did not shut down. This is NPR. California is suing the Trump administration over its decision to cancel more than $33 million in federal grants for the state's commercial vehicle safety programs. From Member Station KQED and San Francisco, Juan Carlos Lero reports. U.S. Department of Transportation officials say they canceled the funding because California isn't complying with the program's requirements. In particular, the feds argue California isn't enforcing English proficiency standards for commercial

truck drivers. California says the state tests drivers to ensure they're proficient in the English language before they can get their commercial driver's licenses. But the feds say that's not enough, according to court documents. Lawyers for the state say the grant termination was arbitrary, imperils the safety of drivers in California, and they're calling for the courts to restore the funding. For NPR News, I'm Juan Carlos Lata in San Francisco. 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 forced 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, could dip into the 20s later tonight. American skier Lindsey Vaughn came in forth today in a World Cup Super G at San Maritz, the fourth place finish, came after reach a Lindsey Vaughn reached the podium twice. On Friday, Vaughn became the oldest World Cup winner at age 41. She came in second in another downhill event yesterday. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News.