NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-28-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky have concluded a meeting they held at Trump's Mara Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports. Both leaders said they made progress as they discussed a peace proposal for the war in Ukraine. Zelensky and Trump said they agreed on several issues but acknowledged that they're still discussing sticking points like withdrawing troops from the Donbos region in eastern Ukraine and also the fate of a Russian-occupied nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine. When asked about how long it might take to come to a full agreement, Trump was non-committal.

So if it went really well, you know, maybe a few weeks, and if it went poorly longer and if went really poorly, it's not going to happen. That would be a shame. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the meeting and told reporters he would also talk to him after the meeting. Danielle Kurtzleben and PR News. China applauded a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia that just took effect as the top three diplomats from all three countries, or the top diplomats rather, met in China today.

And peers Emily Fang reports. China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the ceasefire was, quote, an important step towards restoring peace. Wang Yi is also hosting both Thailand and Cambodia's top diplomats in China's province of Yunnan, which borders Southeast Asia. The on and off again border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has flared several times since this summer. In Thailand, hit Cambodia with airstrikes as recently as this Saturday after weeks of deadly fighting, which killed more than 100 people on both sides. China enjoys close political and economic ties with Cambodia, and Thailand has been curring closer ties with China after the country's

king paid the first ever royal visit to Beijing this past November. Emily Fang and Peer News. As the shortage of primary care doctors gets worse, a handful of major health networks are creating virtual primary care practices assisted by artificial intelligence. From Member Station WBUR in Boston, Martha Bebinger has more. At Mass General Brigham, the largest hospital network in Massachusetts, patients who need primary care can see a doctor remotely 24-7. An AI agent handles the intake and sends the doctor a proposed treatment plan.

Dr. Helen Ireland, who manages the program, says it bridges the gap for patients seeking an in-person primary care provider. We also realize that a certain subset of those patients may say, hey, I actually like this virtual primary care thing. In those cases, we'll offer the patient the opportunity to stay partnered with that PCP for the long term. Some doctors say this cheaper virtual program will erode primary care as we know it and should not be used by patients with multiple chronic or complex medical problems. For NPR News, I'm Martha Bebinger in Boston. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Fri Gardeau, the French cinema sex symbol in the 1950s and 60s has died.

The animal rights group she founded says she died in her home in southern France but didn't provide a cause. She was 91 years old. And peers Elizabeth Blair has more. In the buttoned up in 1950s, Brigitte Bordeaux was a revelation, blonde mane, lush lips, gorgeous figure, and sexually liberated. Oh, yes, I love. Bardo grew up in Paris and studied ballet. She worked with France's most famous directors, including Jean-Luc Godard.

She married four times and had several lovers, including singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg. Bardot became an outspoken animal rights activist. She was also accused of inciting racial hatred for her comments about Islam. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News. Russia sent three Iranian communication satellites into orbit. That's according to Iranian state TV. The satellites have a lifespan of up to five years. Russia occasionally sends Iran's satellite into orbit, highlighting the strong ties between the two countries.

The Trump administration says Iran's satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. U.S. futures contracts are trading slightly higher at this hour. Dow futures are up about 28 points. Nasdaq futures are up about seven points. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington. This message comes from Wise. for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise,

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