NPR News: 11-21-2025 2PM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
What recent concerns have European foreign ministers raised about Ukraine?
European foreign ministers are expressing concerns about a new proposal from the Trump administration for ending Russia's war with Ukraine. The 28-point plan calls for Kyiv to give up all land in eastern Ukraine. The French foreign minister calls that capitulation. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris.
EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas said for any peace plan to succeed, it has to be supported by Ukraine and Europe. The U.S.-Russian ceasefire blueprint is said to include highly disadvantageous terms for Kyiv, such as the complete surrender of the Donbass, even though Russian forces have failed to fully take it, and limits on the size of Ukraine's army and weapons arsenal. The release of the lopsided plan coincides with a debate in Brussels on whether to use frozen Russian assets to back a zero-interest loan to Ukraine and amidst intensified Russian strikes on Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
President Trump stands by his assertion that the six Democrats who urge service members not to follow orders deemed unlawful are traitors. He had said that was a knack punishable by death, though the White House says Trump does not want them executed. He says the lawmakers should be held accountable. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters yesterday the group was urging military members to defy Trump's lawful orders. Today, Colorado Representative Jason Crowe disputed that.
Caroline Leavitt lied about what we said. What we said was U.S. law and the Constitution requires that service members only obey lawful orders, which is actually something that we are trained on from the very first days of our military career. The White House, the president, Stephen Miller and others then said the opposite of what we said and claimed that we were saying that they should disobey lawful orders.
Crowe is a retired Army Ranger. The other Democrats who were part of the video posted online this week also had either military or intelligence backgrounds. Most air traffic controllers will not qualify for $10,000 bonuses for perfect attendance during the federal government shutdown. NPR's Joel Rose reports the Federal Aviation Administration announced those bonuses late yesterday.
Only 311 air traffic controllers out of more than 10,000 will qualify for the cash bonuses, according to the Controllers Union. Controllers were required to work without pay during the 43-day shutdown. Some took on second jobs and many called out sick as they dealt with the financial pressure of missing two full paychecks and part of a third. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the bonuses originally suggested by President Trump are intended to reward the patriotic men and women who did not miss a single shift during the shutdown. But some controllers called the bonuses unfair and a betrayal. Their union said, quote, more than 311 of these dedicated professionals were instrumental in keeping America moving.
Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
From Washington, this is NPR News. Miss Mexico has been crowned the new Miss Universe. NPR's Rachel Triesman reports this year's pageant in Bangkok was marked by a series of scandals.
Bosch was a favorite to win. She made headlines earlier this month when she walked out of a live-streamed pre-pageant event after being berated by an executive, who later apologized. In the lead up to the final, two of the eight judges abruptly quit on the same day. One of them accused the Miss Universe organization of creating a secretive informal jury to rig the competition. which it has denied. And in the preliminary rounds, one contestant was hospitalized after falling off the stage. As Bosch began her reign, organizers announced that next year's contest will be held in Puerto Rico. Rachel Treisman, NPR News.
A fire disrupted the COP30 UN climate talks in Belém, Brazil yesterday. Government officials say 13 people had to be treated for smoke inhalation after the fire began near the China pavilion.
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