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- [00:01]
Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Berlin today. He's talking with German Chancellor Friedrich Meertz about ways to bring an end to Russia's war in his country. Esme Nicholson reports Ukraine is looking for increased support as Russia's bombing campaign intensifies.
- [00:18]
Esme Nicholson
Speaking to journalists after a one on one meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Friedish Merz said Germany and Ukraine have agreed to start the joint production of long range missiles. Merz said cooperation on an industrial level will place both in Ukraine and in Germany. The German leader raised hopes earlier this week that he would greenlight the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, but stressed in the press conference with Zelenskyy that such decisions will not be discussed in public. Matz did promise to continue and expand Germany's military support for Ukraine. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.
- [00:54]
Korva Coleman
The federal government will no longer recommend that healthy pregnant women or healthy children get routinely vaccinated against COVID 19 for federal health officials have not explained why they changed the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NPR has learned. It appears the decision was made without consulting independent advisors to the CDC. NPR's Rob Stein says it's not clear how easily people who want Covid shots can pay for them.
- [01:23]
Rob Stein
One big question is will insurance companies still pay for the shots and will people be able to afford it if they don't? Because if the vaccines aren't recommended, insurance companies may very well not pay for them.
- [01:33]
Korva Coleman
NPR's Rob Stein reporting. Stocks opened lower this morning after some positive earnings news from big retailers. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped about six points in early trading.
- [01:46]
Scott Horsley
Department store giant Macy's delivered better than expected results for the most recent quarter. Sales and profits were down from a year ago, but not as much as forecasters had predicted. Macy's says shoppers are cautious, but the chain reaffirmed its sales forecast for the year. Macy's is projecting lower profits, however, partly as a result of the president's trade war. Sales at Dick's Sporting Goods. Sporting Goods also topped forecasts for the most recent quarter, and the company's profits were in line with expectations. Earlier this month, Dix announced plans to buy the rival sporting goods retailer Foot Locker later today. Investors will be listening for computer chip maker Nvidia's latest earnings report. The company is a darling of the tech sector and a barometer of demand for artificial intelligence. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
- [02:27]
Korva Coleman
U.S. automaker General Motors says it will invest nearly $900 million into a plant near Buffalo, New York. GM will produce V8 engines used in its next generation of full sized SUVs and trucks. The mammoth GM investment comes as President Trump is pressuring American automakers to produce vehicles within the US or face steep tariffs on parts and autos made outside the country. On Wall street, the Dow is now down about three points. You're listening to NPR News. The World Health Organization says that high or record levels of heat will continue for the next five years. That could endanger efforts to cut global warming and even put those efforts out of reach. Liz Bentley is the head of Britain's Meteorological Society, a contributor to the WHO Report.
- [03:19]
Liz Bentley
Even with the current warming that we've seen, we're getting more frequent and intense heat waves, more extreme rainfall events, more devastating droughts. Our oceans are warming, sea ice and land ice are melting, and sea levels are rising. So we will see all of those being exacerbated as the global temperatures continue to rise.
- [03:41]
Korva Coleman
She spoke to the BBC. Hawaii now has the country's first ever green lodging tax. The green fee is intended to share with tourists the financial burden of paying for climate change. Starting next January, tourists in Hawaii will see an added cost of 3/4 of 1% to their hotel bills or short term rentals. Hawaii Governor Josh Green says the revenue will go to protect the islands from wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, among other disasters. The Texas Legislature has passed a bill limiting the definition of gender to male and female based on reproductive organs at birth. The legislation passed overnight by the Texas State Senate now goes to Governor Greg Abbott. And this legislation will affect transgender people who got court orders in Texas to change their legal documents. These can include birth certificates and driver's licenses. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.