NPR News: 02-16-2025 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of February 16, 2025, 11 PM EST Episode

Released on February 17, 2025

---

1. Middle East Tensions Escalate: Netanyahu Supports Trump's Gaza Proposal

Host Dale Willman opened the episode by reporting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Netanyahu declared the plan as "the only viable plan to ensure a different future for the region" (00:19). This move comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza that nearly collapsed the previous week.

NPR's Hadil Al Shoulchi provided further insights, explaining that the first phase of the ceasefire is set to expire at the beginning of March, with no concrete discussions yet on the second phase. An unnamed Israeli official revealed that negotiations on phase two were scheduled to commence a week earlier but have yet to materialize. Additionally, Israel is intensifying efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, currently numbering 73, with Israel believing that nearly half may have already perished (00:40).

2. Global Vigilances Honor Late Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

One year after the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, vigils were held globally across the former Soviet Union, Europe, and North America to commemorate his legacy (01:06). Navalny, who died at 47 in a remote Arctic prison colony, remained a symbol of the fight for a more democratic and peaceful Russia from within incarceration.

NPR's Charles Maynes reported that Navalny's family and allies allege he was murdered on orders from President Vladimir Putin, a claim the Kremlin firmly denies. Regardless of the disputed circumstances of his death, Russian authorities continue to suppress Navalny's supporters, imprisoning many on charges of extremism and forcing others into exile or silence. In Moscow, long queues formed outside Navalny's grave, though police presence limited attendance at other memorials nationwide. Despite these challenges, the persistence of government pressure indicates that Navalny's ideals continue to influence Russian opposition movements (01:25).

3. Violent Incidents and Natural Disasters Affect Austria and Kentucky

Host Dale Willman reported on a tragic stabbing incident in Austria, where a 14-year-old boy was killed, and five others were injured. Authorities suspect the 23-year-old assailant may have ties to the Islamic State group, although he appears to have acted alone. The suspect was apprehended shortly after the attack (02:06).

Simultaneously, Kentucky grapples with severe weather, resulting in at least eight fatalities due to heavy rainfall followed by snow showers. The state has seen over a thousand highway water rescues as emergency crews tackle rising water levels. Stan Ingold of Member station WEKU detailed that Governor Andy Beshear's request for a federal disaster declaration was approved by President Trump, enabling access to essential federal funds for recovery efforts. Ingold highlighted the extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, mudslides, and water systems, estimating repair costs in the millions. This disaster compounds previous flooding challenges Kentucky faced in 2022, making the response and recovery efforts even more critical (02:06; 02:34).

4. Shakira Cancels Concert in Peru Due to Health Issues

Dale Willman delivered news that Colombian superstar Shakira has canceled her scheduled weekend concert in Lima, Peru. Shakira announced on social media that she was hospitalized with an abdominal condition and deemed unfit to perform by her doctors. This cancellation affects her tour's second stop in Latin America, disappointing fans in Lima and beyond (03:15).

5. Advancements in Cancer Treatments Offer Hope for Fertility Preservation

NPR's Yuki Noguchi explored significant progress in cancer treatments that minimize damage to healthy body parts, thereby allowing some patients to retain their fertility. This is particularly impactful for women diagnosed with cancer at younger ages.

She shared the story of Maggie Laukes, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28. Her primary concern was preserving her ability to have children post-treatment. Through the new treatments, Laukes succeeded in remaining cancer-free by age 40 and has since had three children. Noguchi emphasized that such medical advancements provide critical options for young adults grappling with cancer, offering them hope for both their health and personal futures (03:47; 04:06).

6. Box Office Highlights: Diverse Film Successes Across Genres

Dale Willman provided an overview of the weekend's box office performances in North American theaters:

• "Captain Brave New World" has surged with earnings of $88.5 million and is projected to reach over $192 million globally by the end of the President's Day holiday (04:20).

• "Paddington in Peru," the third installment in the beloved franchise, secured the second spot with $13 million in ticket sales across North America.

• The slasher film "Heart Eyes" rounded out the top three, grossing $10 million.

These figures reflect a robust performance across various genres, showcasing audience appetites for diverse cinematic experiences (04:20).

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the NPR News Now episode aired on February 16, 2025. Notable quotes have been attributed with precise timestamps to provide context and depth to the reported stories.

---

Timestamps Reference

• 00:19
• 00:40
• 01:06
• 01:25
• 02:06
• 02:34
• 03:15
• 03:47
• 04:06
• 04:20

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

Support for NPR and the following message come from IXL Learning. IXL Learning uses advanced algorithms to give the right help to each kid, no matter the age or personality. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when you sign up [e-mail] NPR.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is signaling that he is moving ahead with President Donald Trump's proposal to move Palestinians out of Gaza. He called it the only viable plan to ensure a different future for the region. The ceasefire in Gaza, meanwhile, remained shaky after almost collapsing last week. According to NPR's Hadil Al Shoulchi, the.

[Hadil Al Shoulchi]

First phase actually expires at the beginning of March. An Israeli official who's familiar with the talks but he couldn't speak publicly about them told NPR that neither side has actually sat down to talk about what phase two would look like, and those negotiations were supposed to start a week ago. The official also said that Israel is planning to press for more hostages to be released this week. There are 73 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza right now, and Israel believes almost half are dead already.

[Dale Willman]

NPR Saidi Alshalchi vigils were held in cities across the former Soviet Union, Europe and North America today to honor the legacy of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny died a year ago today at the age of 47 in a remote Arctic prison colony in Russia. NPR's Charles mainnes has more.

[Charles Maynes]

Even from jail, Navalny worked for a more democratic and peaceful Russia. For that, his family and allies say he was murdered on orders of President Vladimir Putin, a charge the Kremlin is vehemently denied. What is not in dispute, Russian authorities have continued to persecute Navalny's supporters, jailing dozens on supposed extremism charges and forcing many more into exile or silence. In Moscow, long lines formed outside the cemetery where Navalny's grave lies, but police prevented mourners from attending makeshift memorials elsewhere across Russia in the year after Navalny's death. Russia's opposition has struggled to remain relevant. Yet continued government pressure also suggests Navalny's ideas live on. Charles Maynes, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Officials in Austria say the Saturday stabbing that killed a 14 year old boy and injured five other people was carried out by a man with possible connections to the Islamic state group. The 23 year old suspect was arrested after the attack. Police say that he appears to have acted alone. At least eight people have died this weekend because of severe weather in Kentucky. The state has experienced heavy rain followed by snow showers. Stan Engel of Member station WEKU reports.

[Stan Ingold]

Over a thousand highways water rescues have been conducted in Kentucky as crews respond to rising water levels. Additional help is now available since President Trump granted Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's request for a federal disaster declaration. Beshear says federal funds will be essential in recovering from this weather event.

[Dale Willman]

Think about the damages that we're going to have to our roads, which we're already seeing, the mudslides, our water and wastewater systems. Those will all be in the millions.

[Stan Ingold]

The governor thanked FEMA officials for their help. Some of the hard hit areas are the same ones still recovering from the deadly floods of 2022. For NPR News, I'm Stan Ingold in Richmond, Kentucky.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Colombian superstar Shakira has canceled her weekend concert in Lima, Peru. She said on social media that she's been hospitalized with an abdominal condition, and doctors say she's in no condition to perform. Peru is her second stop on her Latin American. One of the advances in cancer is that new treatments do less damage to healthier parts of the body. And as NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports, that's allowing some patients to preserve their fertility.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Studies show an alarming increase in women getting cancer at younger ages. For many of those young adults, preserving the ability to have children after treatment is a huge concern. That includes Maggie Laukes, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28 and always wanted her own children.

[NPR Sponsor]

After the initial shock of the diagnosis.

[Hadil Al Shoulchi]

That was the most present thing on.

[NPR Sponsor]

My mind, and that was really almost even harder than the treatment for breast cancer.

[Yuki Noguchi]

She's now age 40, cancer free, and has had three children. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Captain Brave New World is breathing some life into North American theaters this weekend. Disney says the film has already earned $88.5 million, and it's expected to bring in more than $192 million globally by the end of Monday's President's Day holiday. Paddington in Peru, which is the third installment in that franchise, took second on its opening weekend with $13 million in ticket sales across North America. And the slasher movie Heart Eyes finished in third with $10 million. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Boland Branch. Change your sleep with Bolen Branch's airy blankets, cloud like duvets and breathable sheets. Feel the difference with 15% off your first [e-mail] with code NPR exclusions. Apply C site for details.