NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-27-2025 10PM EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Hirst. Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital overnight, leaving at least two people dead, dozens injured. This says Ukrainian President Zelensky is set to meet President Trump tomorrow in Florida on Russia's war in Ukraine. On the way Zelenskyy stopped in Canada, meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced more financial aid for Ukraine. Dan Carpenchuk has more. Carney said the additional economic aid will help Ukraine unlock financing from the International Monetary Fund. Carney also said, under Zelensky's leadership,

there is the possibility of a just and lasting peace. He also reaffirmed Canada's commitment to Ukraine and the need to maintain pressure on Moscow to negotiate. The Halifax stopover comes after the two leaders spoke by phone on Friday. The Ukrainian leader also said he updated Carney on the status of diplomatic efforts with the U.S. to bring the war with Russia to an end.

Zelensky is set to meet with President Trump on Sunday to talk about a 20-point peace plan which will include security guarantees and an economic agreement. For NPR News, I'm Dan Carpenchuk in Toronto. Bowers have spent much of 2025 trying to keep up with massive changes to the federal student loan system. And peers Corey Turner reports 2026 will bring even more change. Republicans have overhauled a lot from repayment plans to how much Americans can borrow in the first place. Earlier this month, the Trump administration unveiled a proposed, agreement to shut down the Biden-era Save repayment plan. Next year, the roughly 7 million

borrowers in Save will likely have to move to a new plan. Also, big changes passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will kick in, starting in July. Those include borrowing limits for grad students and for new borrowers, replacing all of the old repayment plans with just two new ones. Barrowers are clearly feeling uncertain. The latest data show that 12 million Americans are either laid on their payments or in default. Corey Turner, NPR News. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of the Northeast after a fast-moving storm hit the area last night.

New York City got less than forecast, but more than it's seen in the past couple of years, with around four inches recorded in Central Park, that had some visitors happy, including Jennifer Yokely. I think it was absolutely beautiful. We're from North Carolina, so it was great to come up to New York. and see the snow. But more snow fell to the north with more than six inches in Waterbury, Connecticut. The winter weather is snarling air traffic in the region. Flight aware says more than 1,300 flights were canceled more than 20,000 delayed. Meanwhile, another storm is forecast to

quickly intensify over the Upper Midwest tomorrow through the Great Lakes on Monday. The National Weather Service says heavy snow and ice accumulation is possible. You're listening. You're listening. to NPR News. Many of the most successful movies over the past few months have been driven by female ticket buyers. Movies like The Housemade and Wicked for Good have performed better than a number of films aimed more toward a male demographic.

And here's Netta Ulibe has more. Many of the biggest movies over the past few months brought in men and women in roughly equal numbers. For example, Avatar, Fire, and Ash. Or they were movies for kids like Zootopia, too. But a lot of movies targeting men this season were bombs, like The Smashing Machine, The Running Man, and Him. What did much better? Wicked for Good.

Haven't you heard? I'm the Wicked Witch of the West. With an audience that's been about 70% female. Other successful films over the past few months with a largely female audience include the Last Downton Abbey movie, the romantic drama regretting you, and the Taylor Swift film promoting her album The Life of a Showgirl. Netta Ulii, NPR News. In Egypt, a boat belonging to Pharaoh Kofu is being reassembled at the Grand Egyptian Museum's Exhibition Hall. The cedarwood vessel, one of two found with the king, started coming together this week as visitors watched.

This project is expected to take around four years, that's according to restoration officials. The king ruled more than 4,500 years ago and built the great pyramid of Giza. Experts think the boats were used for the King's funeral or his afterlife journey. The museum located near Cairo houses nearly 50,000 artifacts. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com.

T's and C's applies. Bye.