NPR News Now — August 17, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman, NPR
Episode Theme:
A concise rundown of the day’s top global and national developments, focusing on Ukraine peace talks, National Guard deployment in D.C., Air Canada labor strikes, Asian markets, flooding in Pakistan, latest on SpaceX Starship, and North American box office figures.

1. Ukraine Peace Talks & U.S. Involvement

[00:15–01:15]
Correspondents: Dale Willman (Host), Terry Schultz (Brussels), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine President)

• Multinational Delegation Visits U.S.:
  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet President Trump at the White House, joined by key European leaders—presidents/prime ministers of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of NATO.
• European Support:
  Zelenskyy thanked EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for solidarity during a meeting in Brussels:

  “It’s very important that you are with us and that we speak to America and we speak together.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy [00:46]

• Peace Deal Expectations:
  President Trump is set to present terms for a peace agreement based on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent proposals at a summit in Alaska. The terms are predicted to be challenging for Ukraine.
• Security Concerns:
  European leaders view Ukrainian security as deeply tied to their own and consider deploying peacekeeping or monitoring forces if a ceasefire occurs.

2. National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C.

[01:15–02:05]
Correspondents: Dale Willman (Host), Luke Garrett (Washington D.C.)

• Deployment Details:
  Over 800 soldiers and airmen are now stationed on D.C. streets, primarily surrounding federal lands and monuments. Initially, troops were unarmed, but the National Guard indicates arming could take place “consistent with their mission and training.” [01:27]
• Escalation & Political Response:
  West Virginia's Republican governor dispatched an additional 350 troops. President Trump declared a “crime emergency,” assuming partial control over D.C.’s police force.
• Historical Crime Context:
  Despite these measures, D.C.’s violent crime rate recently reached a three-decade low (lowest since 1994).

3. Air Canada Flight Attendants’ Strike

[02:05–02:59]
Correspondents: Dale Willman (Host), Dan Karpenschuk (Toronto)

• Labor Dispute Escalation:
  Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants continue to defy a federal “back to work” order, canceling some 240 flights on Sunday. The strike began early Saturday.
• Government Orders & Union Defiance:
  Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered a resumption of operations, but the Canadian Union of Public Employees refused, accusing Air Canada:

  “[Relying] on the government to do its dirty work when talks get tough.” – CUPE Statement (Reported) [02:39]

• Resolution Outlook:
  Air Canada expects up to 10 days before normal operations resume. The dispute centers on wages and unpaid work hours.

4. International & Business Headlines

[02:59–03:48]
Host: Dale Willman

• Asia Markets & Oil:
  Asian stock markets opened positively ahead of anticipated U.S. interest rate discussions. Oil prices slightly declined.
• Pakistan Flooding:
  Catastrophic flooding in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least 274, with many still missing and warnings of more rain and potential landslides.

5. SpaceX Starship Test Flight Update

[03:48–04:29]
Correspondent: Jerry Clayton (San Antonio)

• FAA Clearance:
  The FAA approved SpaceX’s 10th Starship test flight from South Texas, targeting a launch as early as August 24th.
• Addressing Past Failures:
  Both Starship and its booster exploded during the May 27th (Flight 9) attempt. SpaceX claims fixes are in place after an FAA investigation found fuel component problems.
• Artemis 3 Mission:
  The upgraded Starship is critical for NASA’s plan to send astronauts to the Moon (Artemis 3, slated for 2027).

6. Box Office: “Weapons” Maintains Lead

[04:29–04:54]
Host: Dale Willman

• Weekend Top Performer:
  The horror film Weapons leads the North American box office for the second week, adding $25 million (a 43% drop), accumulating to $89 million domestically.
• Runner-Up:
  Disney’s Freak Youk Friday sequel holds second place at $14.5 million.

Notable Quotes

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy (on EU support):

  “It’s very important that you are with us and that we speak to America and we speak together.” [00:46]

• CUPE Statement (on labor dispute):

  “[Air Canada is] relying on the government to do its dirty work when talks get tough.” [Reported at 02:39]

Key Timestamps

• [00:15] Ukraine peace talks preview and context
• [00:53] Zelenskyy’s quote on European support
• [01:27] D.C. National Guard armament update
• [02:19] Air Canada strike and union resistance
• [03:48] SpaceX Starship test flight details
• [04:29] Box office rankings

Summary Tone:
Unbiased, concise, fact-driven, and focused on quick, essential updates for listeners.