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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. A critical part of the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security, is shut down and Congress isn't in session to reopen it. NPR's Sam Greenglass reports this after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to restrain the conduct of immigration officers.
It is the third shutdown in as many months, and despite ongoing back and forth between the White House and congressional Democrats, a deal is not close. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said this week that could change.
I think if people are operating in good faith and actually want a solution, that deal space is there. I think this can get done.
But lawmakers have left town for a week-long recess, and though they could be called back, this partial shutdown is more likely to last through the week or beyond. In addition to immigration enforcement, the department also includes FEMA and TSA. Critical functions will continue during the shutdown. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says there isn't a single power plant in Ukraine that hasn't been damaged by Russian air attacks. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference today, he repeated his call for quicker air defense deliveries, saying there are times when missiles would arrive at the last minute before an attack.
While we invest in interceptors and protection, Russia invests in breaking unity between all of us. Our unity with you, unity in Europe, unity in the Euro-Atlantic community. They want to break it.
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Chapter 2: What caused the recent shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security?
Why? Because our unity is the best interceptor against Russia's aggressive plans.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who's also at the security conference, says he doesn't know if Russia is serious about ending its nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine. The U.S. and China have swapped intelligence on combating drugs. Representatives met in the U.S. this week, that's according to Chinese state media.
And Pierce Jennifer Pack reports from Shanghai it comes as both sides try to smooth over trade tensions.
The U.S. and China had in-depth discussions on anti-money laundering efforts, chemical control and management, among other issues, according to Xinhua News Agency. While it says such talks started in 2002, Chinese officials have said cooperation on anti-drug efforts were damaged last year.
That's when President Trump accused China of not stemming the flow of chemicals that can be turned into street fentanyl. He imposed a 20% tariff on all Chinese exports related to the fentanyl issue and added other levies over trade. China retaliated. Both sides have called a trade truce and are working on a meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, potentially in April.
Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Shanghai.
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Pentagon says it's carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean. On social media, the U.S. Southern Command says the boat was traveling along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three people were killed in that strike.
A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. Hollywood's ticket sales are booming this weekend with Valentine's Day couples leading the way. NPR's Bob Mondello has the details.
Usually when a holiday, say the Fourth of July, falls on a weekend, that's bad for cinemas because people have things they'd rather do than go to a movie. But Valentine's Day, with a steamy time-honored romance opening, that's the perfect movie date storm. Why did you leave me? Why did you betray your own heart? Wuthering Heights is expected to take in more than $30 million this weekend.
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