NPR News: 02-17-2025 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – February 17, 2025

Release Date: February 17, 2025 | Host: Dale Willman

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Middle East Tensions: Netanyahu Endorses Trump’s Gaza Plan

In the latest developments from the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated his support for President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Netanyahu described the plan as “the only viable plan to ensure a different future for the region” (00:11).

Ceasefire Fragility and Hostage Crisis

The fragile ceasefire in Gaza remains under significant strain. NPR’s Hadil Al Shalchi reports that the first phase of the ceasefire is set to expire at the beginning of March, with no discussions underway for a second phase. An Israeli official familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that neither side has begun talks on phase two, which were expected to commence a week ago (00:40). Additionally, Israel is intensifying efforts to secure the release of more hostages held by Hamas. Currently, 73 hostages are in captivity, with Israel estimating that nearly half may have perished (00:40).

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European Leaders Convene Amidst Ukraine Crisis Summit

European leaders are gathering in Paris for an urgent crisis summit addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting responds directly to President Trump’s unilateral initiative to negotiate peace talks with Russia, sidelining European nations and Kyiv—an exclusion that has sparked significant anger and disbelief across Europe.

Breaking Down the Summit’s Dynamics

Andrew Harding from the BBC provides insight into the summit’s atmosphere, noting that French officials are striving to maintain a semblance of normalcy. French Foreign Minister emphasized the need to “keep our cool and not be intimidated” during interactions (01:36). However, underlying sentiments of frustration and confusion are palpable among European leaders, who condemn Washington’s approach to potentially exclude critical stakeholders from the peace process (01:36). NATO and EU officials are also in attendance, underscoring the summit’s importance in formulating a collective European response.

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Severe Flooding Devastates the Midwest and Southwest Virginia

The Midwest faced severe flooding over the weekend, with Kentucky experiencing the brunt of the disaster. Tragically, eight lives were lost in Kentucky’s floodwaters. In Southwest Virginia, over 100 residents near the Kentucky state line were rescued from rapidly rising floodwaters.

Heroic Rescues and Community Response

Roxy Todd from member station Radio IQ recounts the harrowing rescue efforts, highlighting the bravery of individuals like 18-year-old Kylie Hensley. In Hurley, Virginia, Hensley shares her experience:

“One of our neighbors ended up having a john boat that we could get to him with and we used a kayak paddle. They had pets and cats and dogs. We was able to save them, too.” (02:34)

A video captured by Hensley illustrates the urgency and danger of the situation, with the sounds of rushing floodwaters accompanying the dramatic rescue. In the aftermath, schools and churches have opened emergency shelters to accommodate displaced residents. With additional snowfall predicted later in the week, emergency crews remain focused on restoring power to thousands affected by the storm (02:27).

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Argentina’s President Faces Impeachment Threat Over Crypto Controversy

Argentina’s political landscape is turbulent as opposition lawmakers threaten to impeach President Xavier Milei following his involvement in what appears to be a cryptocurrency scam. Milei, a far-right libertarian leader, initially endorsed a new crypto coin named Libra, which subsequently crashed shortly after its launch.

The Libra Coin Debacle

On Friday night, President Milei announced his support for Libra on platform X (formerly Twitter), coinciding with the coin’s launch. Initially, Libra surged to nearly $5 within the first hour but plummeted to below $1 by Saturday. Milei quickly retracted his endorsement, deleted the tweet, and distanced himself from the project, attributing the backlash to critics attacking his reputation (03:37).

Echoes of Past Crypto Failures

Observers have likened the Libra incident to a “rug pull,” where developers lure investors and then disappear with the funds. Milei’s actions mirror those of former President Trump, who similarly launched a cryptocurrency days before his inauguration, only to see its value disastrously decline. This pattern raises serious concerns about Milei’s financial judgment and integrity, fueling the opposition’s push for impeachment (03:37).

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Box Office Buzz: Marvel’s ‘Captain Brave New World’ Tops the Charts

In entertainment news, Marvel Studios’ latest installment, "Captain Brave New World," has soared to the number one spot in North American movie theaters this weekend. The film has already amassed an impressive $88.5 million in ticket sales domestically, with Disney projecting international revenues to exceed $190 million by the close of the President’s Day holiday (03:11).

Competitive Releases

"Captain Brave New World" outperformed other notable releases, including "Paddington in Peru," which debuted in second place with a $13 million total, and the slasher film "Heart Eyes," which secured the third spot with $10 million in ticket sales (03:11). The strong performance underscores Marvel’s enduring popularity and the effective marketing strategies that continue to draw large audiences to theaters.

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Notable Quotes

• Benjamin Netanyahu (00:11):

  “The only viable plan to ensure a different future for the region.”

• Kylie Hensley (02:34):

  “They had pets and cats and dogs. We was able to save them, too.”

• French Foreign Minister (01:36):

  “We must keep our cool and not be intimidated.”

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This episode of NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage of significant global events, from escalating Middle Eastern tensions and European diplomatic tensions to severe natural disasters in the United States, political upheaval in Argentina, and the latest successes in the entertainment industry. For listeners seeking a succinct yet thorough update on current affairs, this episode delivers insightful reporting and impactful stories.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Visit pemco.com prevention live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. 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 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 Shalchi, the.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

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]

That's NPR's Hadil El Shalchi reporting. European leaders will meet in Paris today for a crisis summit on Ukraine. That meeting is in response to President Trump's plan to negotiate an end to the war directly with Russia. News that Europe and Kyiv would be excluded from talks this week in Saudi Arabia has been met with anger and disbelief. NATO and EU officials are also expected to join the summit. The BBC's Andrew Harding has more in this report from Paris.

[Andrew Harding]

French officials are trying to make this emergency summit sound almost routine, an informal opportunity for European leaders to discuss a joint response to America's abrupt and unilateral moves to end the war in Ukraine. The French foreign minister told a radio station here that we must keep our cool and not be intimidated. But there is no hiding the anger and the confusion triggered by Washington's suggestion that it may sideline both Europe and Ukraine to cut a peace deal directly with Russia's President Putin.

[Dale Willman]

Heavy flooding over the weekend swept across much of the Midwest. A lot of the worst flooding was in Kentucky. That's where eight people died in the flood waters. Meanwhile, near the Kentucky state line, more than 100 residents in Southwest Virginia were rescued from rising floodwaters. Roxy Todd of member station radio IQ.

[Roxy Todd]

18 year old Kylie Hensley recalls watching a family yelling for help from their front door in Hurley, Virginia.

[Kylie Hensley]

One of our neighbors ended up having a john boat that we could get to him with and we used a kayak paddle. They had pets and cats and dogs. We was able to save them, too.

[Roxy Todd]

In a video Hensley recorded, the sound of rushing floodwaters can be heard as our neighbor paddled to rescue the family. Across Southwest Virginia, schools and churches opened emergency shelters for displaced residents. With more snow expected later this week, crews are working to restore power to the thousands of residents who lost power during the storm. For NPR News, I'm Roxy Todd in Pulaski, Virginia.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Opposition lawmakers in Argentina are threatening to impeach that country's president over his endorsements of what appears to have been a a cryptocurrency scam. The far right libertarian leader promoted and then pulled his endorsement of a crypto coin. It then took a stunning crash just hours after being launched. NPR's Carrie Kahn has more on our story.

[Carrie Kahn]

Friday night, President Xavier Milei posted on X an endorsement of a new crypto coin called Libra. The currency, launched just hours before the president's post, promised to strengthen the Argentine economy. Under an hour of Milei's promotion, the coin rose to nearly $5 in soon it plunged to under $1. Saturday. Milei deleted the tweet, denied relation to the coin and blamed critics for attacking him. Observers say the coin launch is a so called rug pull where developers attract investors, then bolt. Milei's crypto move echoes similar steps by President Trump, a close ally. Days before his inauguration, Trump released a namesake coin which has since plummeted in value. Carrie Khan, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The latest story in the Marvel movie franchise took the number one slot in North American movie theaters this weekend. Captain Brave New World has already brought in $88.5 million in ticket sales. And Disney estimates it will reach more than $190 million internationally by the end of the President's Day holiday. Paddington in Peru debuted in second place with a 13 million dollar total and the slasher movie Heart Eyes was in third with 10 million. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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