NPR News: 10-26-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – October 26, 2025, 12AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise snapshot of significant global and domestic events as of October 26, 2025. Major headlines include President Trump’s diplomatic trip to Asia with possible engagement with North Korea, escalating US-Canada trade tensions, the looming threat of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, security upheavals in Mali, World Series developments, and deadly attacks in Ukraine and Yemen.

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Key News Highlights and Insights

1. President Trump’s Asia Trip

[00:17–01:20]

• First official trip of this term: President Trump departs for Asia, with planned stops in Malaysia and Japan before heading to South Korea.
• Open to Meeting North Korea:
  • Trump indicated willingness to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, referencing their “great relationship.”
  • Last encounter: 2019 at the DMZ, prompted by a spontaneous Trump tweet.
  • Asia itinerary includes ASEAN summit (Malaysia) and APEC summit (South Korea), plus a meeting with China's Xi Jinping.

Notable Quote:

• “He and Kim had a great relationship and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader.” — Deepa Shivaram ([00:41])

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2. US-Canada Trade Tensions

[01:20–01:37]

• 10% Tariff Announced: President Trump to impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods.
• Reason: Prompted by a Canadian provincial ad critical of Trump’s tariff policies, which reused a 1987 Ronald Reagan speech about tariffs’ negative economic impact.
• Latest Development: Early termination of trade talks with Canada by Trump.

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3. Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica

[01:37–02:07]

• Situation: Hurricane Melissa, currently in the Caribbean, is slow-moving toward Jamaica, expected to make landfall early next week.
• Danger: Potential to intensify to Category 4 (winds >130 mph). At least 4 deaths so far.
• Rainfall: Extreme rainfall up to 35 inches in some areas anticipated.

Notable Quote:

• “A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that's going to be bearing down on us and of course, more severe winds than we'd have experienced in previous events.” — Horace Glantz, Red Cross ([01:56])

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4. US Safety Measures and Crisis in Mali

[02:07–03:13]

• US Pulls Personnel: Authorization for the departure of non-emergency staff and family members from Mali due to security and fuel supply concerns.
• Context:
  • Mali's military government is battling an Islamist insurgency.
  • Al-Qaeda-backed groups have imposed blockades and attacked fuel convoys.
  • American citizens advised against travel to Mali.

Notable Quote:

• “Mali's military government has been battling an Islamist insurgency in various regions. Al Qaeda backed militants have been trying to impose a blockade on fuel imports.” — Michael Kaloki ([02:46])

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5. World Series: Dodgers Tie the Series

[03:13–04:06]

• Game 2 Recap: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–1 to even the series at 1–1.
• Key Player: Dodger starter Yoshi Yamamoto excelled, conceding only one run on four hits.
• Turning Point: Two solo home runs in the 7th inning; two more runs added in the 8th.
• Next: Series resumes in Los Angeles after a break.

Notable Quote:

• “The star of Game 2 was the Dodger starter Yoshi Yamamoto. He was brilliant, allowing the Toronto batters just one run on four hits.” — Steve Futterman ([03:33])

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6. Missile and Drone Strikes in Ukraine

[04:06–04:34]

• Attack Details: Russian forces launched overnight missile and drone strikes; at least 8 killed, 20 injured.
• Ukrainian Defense: Four missiles and 50 drones intercepted.
• Call for Help: President of Ukraine asks for 25 additional Patriot missile batteries from the US.

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7. Houthi Crackdown on UN Workers in Yemen

[04:34–04:56]

• Recent Incident: Two World Food Program women abducted in Sana'a; one critically ill after premature birth.
• Scope: Over 55 UN staffers now held by Houthi rebels; UN operational suspensions continue in parts of Yemen.

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Memorable Quotes

• On North Korea:
  “He and Kim had a great relationship and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader.”
  — Deepa Shivaram ([00:41])

• On Hurricane Melissa:
  “A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that's going to be bearing down on us and of course, more severe winds than we'd have experienced in previous events.”
  — Horace Glantz, Red Cross ([01:56])

• On Mali’s Crisis:
  “Mali's military government has been battling an Islamist insurgency in various regions. Al Qaeda backed militants have been trying to impose a blockade on fuel imports.”
  — Michael Kaloki ([02:46])

• On World Series Game 2:
  “The star of Game 2 was the Dodger starter Yoshi Yamamoto. He was brilliant, allowing the Toronto batters just one run on four hits.”
  — Steve Futterman ([03:33])

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Timestamps of Noteworthy Segments

• President Trump in Asia / North Korea Overture: [00:17–01:20]
• Canada Tariff Announcement: [01:20–01:37]
• Hurricane Melissa Threat: [01:37–02:07]
• Mali Crisis & US Departure: [02:07–03:13]
• World Series Update: [03:13–04:06]
• Ukraine Airstrikes: [04:06–04:34]
• UN Worker Abductions in Yemen: [04:34–04:56]

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This episode concisely covers urgent global situations, economic policy moves, a major sports update, and humanitarian conflicts, offering listeners a quick yet substantive news briefing.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump is making his first official trip of this term in office to Asia. On the itinerary are stops in Malaysia and Japan before arriving in South Korea next week. And Trump says he also opened a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. NPR's Deepa Shivram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

En route to Malaysia, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that if Kim was willing to meet, he'd be open to it. He said that he and Kim had a great relationship and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader. Trump last met with Kim in 2019 when he made a visit to the demilitarized zone between north and South Korea. Korea. It came together quickly after Trump tweeted and proposed a meeting at the DMZ to shake Kim's hand and say hello. After attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and traveling to Tokyo, Trump will fly to South Korea, where he's expected to attend events at the APEC summit and meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, traveling with the.

[Dale Willman]

President, President Trump says he will add an additional 10% tariff on goods from Canada. He announced the move on social media. He's angry at an ad aired by the province of on that was critical of Trump's tariff policies. The ad used a 1987 speech by Ronald Reagan in which he says tariffs are actually bad for the economy. Earlier this week, Trump ended trade talks with Canada. Hurricane Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea and moving toward Jamaica, where it's expected to make landfall by early next week. It's so slow moving and Horace Glantz of the Red Cross says rainfall is expected to be as high as 35 inches in some places.

[Horace Glantz]

A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that's going to be bearing down on us and of course, more severe winds than we'd have experienced in previous events.

[Dale Willman]

Weather officials say that Melissa could become a Category 4 storm before making landfall, which would mean winds exceeding 130 mph. At least four people have already died from that storm. Citing safety concerns, the US has authorized the departure of non emergency personnel from the African nation of Mali. As Michael Koloki reports, the US embassy in Mali is warning that persistent fuel supply disruptions in the country could affect security there.

[Michael Kaloki]

In a statement, the State Department also authorized the departure of Family members of U.S. government Employees in Mali and warned American citizens not to travel to the West African nation. Mali's military government has been battling an Islamist insurgency in various regions. Al Qaeda backed militants have been trying to impose a blockade on fuel imports. Last month, several fuel trucks were destroyed when militants attacked a vehicle convoy that was heading to the capital Bamako under military escort. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. The Los Angeles Dodgers roared back in game two of the World Series to beat the Toronto Blue Jays five to one Saturday night. The best of seven series is now tied one game apiece. Reporter Steve Futterman was at the stadium for the final outs.

[Steve Futterman]

The star of Game 2 was the Dodger starter Yoshi Yamamoto. He was brilliant, allowing the Toronto batters just one run on four hits. The game was close until the seventh inning. The two teams were tied one to one. In the seventh, the Dodgers got a pair of solo home runs to take a 3 to 1 lead. Louisiana added two more runs in the eighth to make the final score 5 to 1 after a one day break. The series resumes in Los Angeles on Monday for Games 3, 4 and 5. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Toronto.

[Dale Willman]

Russian forces launched drone and missile strikes on Ukraine overnight. At least eight people were killed in the attacks and 20 others were injured. Ukraine's air defenses say they intercepted four missiles and 50 drones. Ukraine's president, meanwhile, renewed calls this week for more Western air defense systems. Ukraine is hoping to purchase 25 Patriot missile batteries from the US in the near future. The Iran backed Houthi rebels are continuing to crack down on United nations workers in Yemen this weekend. Two women working for the World Food Program were abducted from their homes in the capital of Sana' A on Saturday. One of the women is in critical condition after having a premature birth. The Houthis are now holding more than 55 UN staffers. The world body has suspended its operations in many parts of Yemen. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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