NPR News: 02-18-2026 6PM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. U.S.-sponsored peace talks between Russia and Ukraine broke off earlier than expected today in Geneva, Switzerland. However, participants are suggesting that some progress was made. NPR's Charles Mains reports from Moscow.
The Kremlin's lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, gave no explanation for the abrupt end to the meetings, described them as difficult and businesslike, and said they would continue at a later date. Ukraine noted progress in negotiations, a view shared by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, though neither provided further details. Negotiations have bogged down over Russian ultimatums Ukraine surrender territory, including land not controlled by Russian forces, as well as Ukraine's demands for ironclad security guarantees from the U.S. should it even consider a deal. Ahead of the talks, President Trump said the onus was on Kiev to make concessions, saying Ukraine better come to the table fast. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.
The Food and Drug Administration is reversing course and will consider approving Moderna's experimental flu shot after all. The decision comes a little more than a week after the agency refused to review the jab. NPR's Sydney Lupkin has more.
The FDA rattled the biotech industry when it said it wouldn't even look at Moderna's application to market the first mRNA flu shot. Moderna used its mRNA technology to swiftly create and manufacture its COVID-19 shot during the pandemic. The company wants to use the same technology to make a flu vaccine. Initially, the FDA said it wouldn't review the new shot because the company didn't compare it to a high-dose flu vaccine in older people. Now, Moderna says it will take an age-based approach and agreed to add a confirmatory study after marketing begins that will focus on older adults. The company says the new vaccine would be ready for the next flu season pending FDA approval. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News.
The U.S. is becoming more renter-friendly, according to a report from Realtor.com on January's rental market. NPR's Stephen Basaja says more renters have bargaining power.
There are some exceptions where landlords have more power. Coastal cities like Boston, New York City, and San Jose still have few vacancies. But empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down. In the 50 largest metros, the median asking rent in January was a bit under $1,700, down 1.5% from a year earlier. A big reason for dropping rents and vacancies are new apartments being built, especially in the Sunbelt. But the National Association of Realtors is expecting apartment construction to slow down this year, in part because of those vacancies. Stephen Passaha, NPR News.
The share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor's degree increased from 34% to nearly 38% over the last five years. The Durham, Chapel Hill, North Carolina metropolitan area saw one of the largest increases. Springfield, Massachusetts was the only metro area with a decrease. This is NPR. The billionaire behind Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch says he was duped by a world-class conman, his close financial advisor Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement sent to the House Oversight Committee, Les Wexner denies that he knew about the convicted sex offender's crimes or participated in Epstein's abuse of girls and young women. Wexner says he's done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. At the Winter Olympics in Italy, fans have flocked to the rinks and mountains to watch athletes compete.
NPR's Ping Huang has the latest numbers.
The top three sports people have bought tickets to are ice hockey, biathlon, and figure skating. Danny O'Shea is captain of the U.S. figure skating team. He says the crowds help him focus when the pressure's on.
Bring as much joy to the fans and the crowd as you can. And when you go out there with that kind of attitude, the pressure kind of slips away.
Nearly 1.3 million tickets to Olympic events have been sold, according to the Milan Cortina Organizing Committee, which tracks these numbers.
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