NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-16-2025 2AM EST

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says there is progress in the ongoing effort to end Russia's war in Ukraine following another round of peace talks. NPR's deepest shibiram has the latest. Trump sees himself as a global peacemaker and his inability to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, which started in 2022, has been a point of frustration for him. But now the president is signaling progress in negotiations. that took place in recent days in Berlin. They're closer now. We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia.

And I think we're closer now than we have been ever. U.S. officials say that as part of the peace deal, Ukraine could get some NATO protections, though they would not be joining the alliance. But that and other measures are still under discussion. Dipa Shiverham, NPR News, Washington. Australia is seeking international help in its investigation into a mass show.

shooting on a Jewish celebration in Sydney. As Christina Kukalum reports, 16 people were killed in the attack, including one of two suspected shooters. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia has requested help from the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, which are part of the so-called Five Eyes Group. Certainly reaching out to Five Eyes partners, our security partners internationally as well, to see precisely if there are any links there. Albanese says the government has received information that the two alleged gunmen, a father and son, acted alone.

He says the son, who is the surviving suspect, was previously known to Australia's domestic intelligence agency but was determined not to be a threat in 2019. For NPR News, I'm Christina Kukoya in Melbourne. Hollywood is reeling over the murders of 78-year-old actor-producer and director, Reiner and a 68-year-old wife, Michelle. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald says a suspect was arrested hours after the couple were found on Sunday. We have our robbery homicide division

handling the investigation. They work throughout the night on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner, a suspect in this case. He was subsequently booked for murder and is being held on $4 million bail. 32-year-old Nick Reiner has had a history of mental health challenges and drug abuse. He made a 2016 film with his father called Being Charlie, containing some elements of both their lives. Crews are using sandbags to shore up a damaged earthen levee situated along a swollen river south of Seattle.

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for hundreds of homes and businesses in three counties, amid the threat of flash flooding brought on by back-to-back story. You're listening to NPR. The Pentagon says the U.S. military has struck three more alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific. U.S. Southern Command says eight people were killed in the latest attack. The Trump administration has carried out 25 strikes on boats suspected of hauling drugs in the Caribbean and East Pacific. Ford is discontinuing its F-150 lightning electric truck, citing low demand. The automaker is shipping.

shifting its focus to hybrids, smaller EVs, and making batteries for utilities and data centers. Details from NPR's Camilla Domenoski. The F-150 Lightning won awards and outsold other electric pickups, but Ford lost money on everyone that it sold. Andrew Frick is the president of Ford Model E. Ford is following the customer. We are looking at the market as it is today. And today's market includes lower than expected sales and President Trump stripping away support for EV. Ford will make an extended range F-150, a form of plug-in hybrid, which can run on gas, as well as a smaller all-electric pickup in the works.

That leaves Ford with more battery factories than it needs for its trucks, so it'll use them to supply batteries for the electric grid and data centers instead. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. Hotels and other accommodations located in the Grand Canyon South Rim are reopening this week over one week after multiple water pipeline breaks. At least five venues in the area will resume accepting overnight visitors Wednesday, but some campground water spickets remain shut off. A $208 million rehabilitation of the area began in 2023. This is NPR. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.

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