NPR News: 02-16-2026 7AM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The United Nations says it hasn't begun major cleanup efforts of explosives left over from the war in Gaza. That's because there's been no agreement on demilitarizing. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv.
The United Nations Mine Action Service is currently clearing explosive ordnance for humanitarian aid workers, but it's not yet systematically removing explosive remnants from civilian areas, so they're not accused of taking weapons away from Hamas before an agreement is reached on disarmament.
What is the current situation regarding cleanup efforts in Gaza?
The U.S. is working on a plan for disarming Hamas. A question remains if Hamas would retain small arms for some time. In new remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would need to give up its assault rifles and said 70 percent of Hamas's tunnels in Gaza are still intact. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Democratic leaders say they're ready to spend millions of dollars on a ballot measure in Virginia. It would allow the party to redraw the state's congressional map. NPR's Ashley Lopez reports it's an effort to help offset President Trump's plans to tilt maps across the country in the GOP's favor ahead of this year's midterms.
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Democrats can put a ballot measure before voters that would pave the way for the party to draw as many as four more seats that would favor them this year. In an interview with CNN, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the party will fight hard to make sure that measure passes.
We will spend tens of millions of dollars to make sure that the Republicans do not successfully manipulate voters in Virginia and that voters have all of the information necessary to make a decision.
GOP leaders in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri redrew their congressional maps at President Trump's urging last year. The special election in Virginia will be held in April. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.
The trial of Colin Gray is scheduled to get underway in Georgia today. Authorities say his teenage son shot and killed two students and two teachers at a high school outside of Atlanta in 2024. Georgia State University law professor Timothy Litton says cases like this reflect a broader shift in how prosecutors approach school shootings.
Colin Gray is being accused of child cruelty by providing a weapon with reckless disregard of the danger that that might pose to other children. And by committing that child cruelty to other children, which resulted in the death of those other children...
Colin Gray is charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he gave his 14-year-old son a semi-automatic rifle for Christmas, despite warnings that the teen could harm someone. Stocks across Asia traded mixed today. Markets in Japan and China closed lower, while shares in Hong Kong posted gains. This is NPR News. A man accused of killing 15 people in a mass shooting at a Jewish festival in Sydney's Bondi Beach made his first court appearance today. Prosecutors say the suspect has not yet entered pleas, including to charges of murder and committing a terrorist act. The judge extended a gag order shielding the identities of victims and survivors who have chosen not to speak publicly. China is now extending its 30-day visa pre-policy to Canadian and British citizens.
Beijing has been eager to attract more tourists to boost its economy and sees this latest action as one way to make that happen. NPR's Emily Fang reports.
Weeks after China's leader Xi Jinping met with the prime ministers from Canada and the United Kingdom, Beijing is welcoming tourists from those two countries to stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Beijing has already extended this privilege to dozens of countries, often after hosting diplomatic visits with their leaders. The United States is notably not among those countries, though a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa, agreed upon back in 2014 when U.S.-China ties were more tranquil, is still available between both countries. Travel between the U.S.
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