NPR News: 12-13-2025 10AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 10AM EST - December 13, 2025

Overview

This concise, five-minute NPR News Now update, anchored by Giles Snyder, covers key global and domestic events. Stories include significant prisoner releases in Belarus and renewed arrests in Iran, an upcoming international conference on Gaza, economic developments on Wall Street, severe flooding in Washington State, and an astronomical highlight for the weekend.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Belarus Releases Prisoners; New Arrest in Iran [00:13–01:13]

• Belarusian Prisoner Release
  • Belarus has freed more than 120 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Alice Beliadsky.
  • This move follows negotiations involving an envoy for former President Trump and was part of a broader effort for "sanction relief."
  • Quote: “Belarus has released more than 120 prisoners. A U.S. statement says they include the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Alice Beliadsky.”
    —Giles Snyder, [00:13]
• Arrest of Iranian Nobel Laureate
  • In Iran, human rights groups have condemned the re-arrest of Narges Mohammadi, another Nobel Peace Prize winner known for her advocacy for women’s rights and democracy.
  • Previously released on health leave from a 13-year sentence, she was detained at a memorial for a human rights lawyer. Her current status is unclear.
  • Quote: “Her supporters say Mohammadi was at a memorial for a human rights lawyer when police re-arrested her. It’s unclear whether she will be returned to prison.”
    —Jackie Northam, [00:44]
• Call for Transparency
  • The Nobel Committee demands clarification from Iranian authorities regarding Mohammadi’s whereabouts.
  • Iranian officials have yet to confirm the arrest.

2. US-Led International Conference on Gaza [01:13–02:14]

• Conference Details
  • The US military will host an international conference in Doha, Qatar, next week to discuss a force that will ensure compliance with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Over 25 countries are expected to attend, convened by US Central Command.
  • No troop commitments will be requested at this stage; the focus will be on command structure and security logistics.
  • Quote: “Countries won’t be expected to commit troops at this conference to the international force. That force will monitor compliance with a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which has seen numerous flare-ups in fighting since it was agreed to in October.”
    —Jerome Sokolowski, [01:34]

3. Wall Street Recap: Tech Bubble Fears [02:14–03:12]

• Market Performance
  • Despite the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates as expected and expressing caution, all three major US indices closed down on Friday.
  • Non-tech stocks (e.g., UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson) performed well.
• Tech Sector Volatility
  • Major tech shares, including semiconductor company Broadcom and Oracle, dropped sharply amid concerns of an AI-driven tech bubble.
  • Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s financial standing took a hit due to falling shares, though he remains extremely wealthy.
  • Quote: “Shares in chipmaker Broadcom plunged, as did shares in Oracle, Larry Ellison’s cloud computing company. Ellison’s family is also trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. He ended the week billions of dollars poorer. On paper, though, he’s still one of the wealthiest people in the world.”
    —Maria Aspen, [02:26]

4. Historic Flooding in Washington State [03:12–03:43]

• Governor’s Statement
  • Governor Bob Ferguson reported zero fatalities amid catastrophic flooding affecting western and central Washington, particularly along the Skagit and Cedar Rivers.
  • The region faces record-high water levels, with more rain forecasted and continued risk in the coming days.
  • Quote: “Our prayers have been answered at this time. No loss of life has occurred. The situation is truly historic. Rivers like the Skagit river and Cedar Rivers literally facing historic, experiencing historic levels of flooding. And so this is something that the people of the state of Washington have not faced before.”
    —Governor Bob Ferguson, [03:26]
• Visual Impact
  • Widespread community damage evident in photo and video footage.

5. Upcoming Geminid Meteor Shower [04:08–04:51]

• What to Expect
  • The annual Geminid meteor shower, one of the year's strongest, peaks this weekend.
  • Caused by Earth passing through asteroid debris, the shower offers numerous shooting stars, especially late at night.
  • Viewers are advised to find a dark spot, allow eyes to adjust, and avoid moonlight where possible.
  • Quote: “If you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust, then watch the sky and wait. Some of the best viewing will be late at night before the crescent moon rises or once the moon is up—you can keep your back to it so that its light won’t swamp out your view.”
    —Nell Greenfield Boyce, [04:08]

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Notable Quotes & Segments

• Belarus & Iran Human Rights:
  “Belarus has released more than 120 prisoners. A U.S. statement says they include the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Alice Beliadsky.”
  —Giles Snyder, [00:13]

• Women’s Rights in Iran:
  “Her supporters say Mohammadi was at a memorial ... when police re-arrested her. It’s unclear whether she will be returned to prison.”
  —Jackie Northam, [00:44]

• Gaza Ceasefire Conference:
  “Countries won’t be expected to commit troops at this conference ... That force will monitor compliance with a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.”
  —Jerome Sokolowski, [01:34]

• Wall Street Snapshot:
  “Shares in chipmaker Broadcom plunged, as did shares in Oracle, Larry Ellison’s cloud computing company ... He ended the week billions of dollars poorer.”
  —Maria Aspen, [02:26]

• Washington Flooding:
  “No loss of life has occurred. The situation is truly historic. Rivers ... experiencing historic levels of flooding.”
  —Governor Bob Ferguson, [03:26]

• Meteor Shower Viewing Tip:
  “If you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust, then watch the sky and wait.”
  —Nell Greenfield Boyce, [04:08]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Belarus and Iran Nobel News: [00:13–01:13]
• Gaza Ceasefire International Conference: [01:13–02:14]
• Wall Street and Tech Bubble Fears: [02:14–03:12]
• Washington Flooding Emergency: [03:12–03:43]
• Geminid Meteor Shower Preview: [04:08–04:51]

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This NPR News Now update concisely highlights major headlines with direct reporting and succinct analysis, reflecting both global and local developments as of December 13, 2025, 10AM EST.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Belarus has released more than 120 prisoners. A U.S. statement says they include the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Alice Beliadsky. They release in exchange for sanct Relief follows negotiations with an envoy for President Trump. Meanwhile, international human rights groups are condemning the reported arrest of another Peace prize laureate, Narjez Mohamedi in Iran. Here's NPR's Jackie Northam.

[Jackie Northam]

53 year old Najeez Mohamedi is widely known for her fight for women's rights and democracy in Iran. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while she was incarcerated at Iran's notorious Evan prison. A year ago, the Iranian authorities granted Mohammadi temporary leave from her 13 year sent for health reasons. Her supporters say Mohammadi was at a memorial for a human rights lawyer when police re arrested her. It's unclear whether she will be returned to prison.

[Giles Snyder]

The Nobel Committee is calling on Iranian authorities to clarify Mohamedi's whereabouts. Iran has not confirmed the arrest. US Military will host an international conference in Qatar next week. Its aim is to plan the force that will be deployed in Gaza in the next stage of the Hamas, Israel cease fire. Jerome Sokolowski reports from Tel Aviv.

[Jerome Sokolowski]

A US Official not authorized to speak publicly says the conference will meet on Tuesday in the Qatari capital Doha, and more than 25 countries will be there. It's being convened by the US Central Command, which coordinates military activities with allies in the Middle East. The official says countries won't be expected to commit troops at this conference to the international force. That force will monitor compliance with a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which has seen numerous flare ups in fighting since it was agreed to in October. The US Official says the conference will discuss the command structure and other matters related to the security force. Jerome Sokolovsky, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Giles Snyder]

The week on Wall street dominated by the Federal Reserve and worries about the tech bubble. As NPR's Maria Aspen reports, all three major U.S. stock markets were down on Friday.

[Maria Aspen]

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates again, as widely expected, and said it's entering wait and see mode about the economy. Investors responded by sending the Dow and the S&P 500 to record highs on Thursday. It was a good week for non tech stocks like UnitedHealth Group and Johnson and Johnson, but the big tech companies that have been dominating the markets sparked more fears about an AI bubble. Shares in chipmaker Broadcom plunged, as did shares in Oracle, Larry Ellison's cloud computing company. Ellison's family is also trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. He ended the week billions of dollars poorer. On paper, though, he's still one of the wealthiest people in the world. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Giles Snyder]

And from Washington, this is NPR News. Washington. Governor Bob Ferguson says his state is fortunate there have been no fatalities reported as first responders deal with a flood emergency.

[Governor Bob Ferguson]

Our prayers have been answered at this time. No loss of life has occurred. The situation is truly historic. Rivers like the Skagit river and Cedar Rivers literally facing historic, experiencing historic levels of flooding. And so this is something that the people of the state of Washington have not faced before.

[Giles Snyder]

Photos and videos show widespread damage, with entire communities and neighborhoods flooded around western and central Washington State following a string of atmospheric river storms. Officials are warning that water levels will remain high for days, and there is more rain in the forecast tomorrow. One of the strongest meteor showers of the year will peak this weekend. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

The annual Geminid meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid. That debris hits our atmosphere and produces bright streaks of light. Like the summertime Perseids, this meteor shower produces a good number of shooting stars. It just happens when it's a lot colder outside. Still, if you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust, then watch the sky and wait. Some of the best viewing will be late at night before the crescent moon rises or once the moon is up. You can keep your back to it so that its light won't swamp out your view. Nell Greenfield Boice, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

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