NPR News: 10-28-2025 2AM EDT

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NPR News Now 4 min 4 speakers 6 chapters transcribed

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What did President Trump and Japan's new leader discuss during their meeting?

Shea Stevens 0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump has heaped praise on Japan's new leader, Sanae Takeuchi, during their meeting in Tokyo. Trump said Takeuchi would be one of the great prime ministers and welcomed her pledge to accelerate Japan's military buildup and to buy U.S.-made defense equipment. The two leaders signed deals on trade in critical minerals, and the BBC's Tokyo correspondent Shama Khalil has details.

Unknown 0:28

First, it was the implementation of the agreement toward a new golden age for the U.S.-Japan alliance. And this agreement, which has been described in the document as a great deal, all caps, will help both countries to strengthen economic security, promote economic growth. And then we also know that Takeuchi and Trump signed a document of cooperation over critical mineral supplies. Again, a very crucial point between the two countries, given the The tight spots that many countries are in, including the United States, because of the restrictions on exports from China.

Shea Stevens 0:59

The BBC's Shima Khalil in Tokyo.

How is the government shutdown affecting food assistance programs in the U.S.?

Shea Stevens 1:01

More Americans are seeking help from food pantries as the government shutdown enters Day 28. Federal food benefits under the SNAP program will not go out on November 1st. And state food programs for low-income women and children runs out of money next week. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that private industry could be next.

Unknown 1:22

Small businesses are the largest employers in our country. For many of them, federal contracts have been frozen, SBA loans and support have dried up, and business has dropped off due to uncertainty in the markets.

Shea Stevens 1:37

Republicans are demanding the passage of a clean, continuing resolution to end the shutdown. Democrats are insisting on an extension of health care subsidies that expire in two months. Jamaica is bracing for catastrophic conditions from Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm packing 175 mile-per-hour winds. Strong winds storm surge up to 10 feet.

What should we expect from Hurricane Melissa as it approaches Jamaica?

Shea Stevens 1:58

Landslides and flooding are expected. Melissa is expected to pass over Jamaica overnight, becoming the first storm of that size to impact the island.

Rebecca Herscher 2:06

It's packing a lot of storm surge and rain. And honestly, those water hazards are at least as scary as the wind, if not more so. Here's what we know. We're expecting 10 feet of storm surge or more in some parts of Jamaica. And the storm is moving really, really slowly, like it's crawling over the water of the Caribbean. And it's not going to speed up as it hits land. So it will linger over Jamaica, dumping huge amounts of rain. And I just, I can't overstate how much rain we're talking about here.

How did Argentine stocks react to the recent midterm elections?

Rebecca Herscher 2:35

Melissa is expected to bring multiple feet of rain to some parts of Jamaica. That is way more water than the ground can absorb. It will cause massive flooding.

Shea Stevens 2:44

NPR's Rebecca Herscher. Game three of baseball's World Series best of seven has gone into overtime after being tied at five in the seventh inning. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers each have one win. You're listening to NPR. Argentine stocks jumped over 20 percent Monday after President Javier Mele's party won Sunday's midterms. The victory comes a week after the U.S. promised a $40 billion bailout for Argentina contingent upon Mele's victory.

Why is Finland experiencing a decline in birth rates despite generous parental benefits?

Shea Stevens 3:14

President Trump had threatened to withhold the money if Mele's party had lost. Argentine investors and depositors were dumping pesos last week in order to hedge against possible defeat. As birth rates decline around much of the world, Finland is seeing some of the lowest numbers in Europe. Researchers are now trying to figure out why, since Finland offers generous benefits for new parents. More from NPR's Sarah McCammon.

Sarah McCammon 3:40

Many European countries are known for providing paid time off and other benefits for new parents, but the region's fertility rate has been falling for more than a decade, well below what's needed to sustain the population. Anneli Miettinen with Finland's social insurance agency Kela says the trend raises economic and social concerns.