NPR News: 11-30-2025 2PM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. Ukrainian negotiators are in Florida today meeting with U.S. officials on efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukrainian and European leaders had criticized a U.S.-backed plan as too favorable to Russia. U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff is in Florida for the U.S. He's expected to go to Moscow later this week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican Congressman Don Bacon says he doesn't think Putin is serious about a peace agreement.
We need moral clarity dealing with Putin. He does not want a peace agreement with Ukraine that leaves Ukraine a sovereign country that can be allied with the West, that can be part of the EU and free markets. He wants to control another third of Ukraine He would like to make Ukraine a vassal state.
Bacon was interviewed on ABC's This Week.
What are the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is requesting a presidential pardon. He's asking to cancel his corruption trial for the good of the people and the country. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports.
In a surprise move, Netanyahu is asking Israel's President Isaac Herzog for a formal pardon to end the criminal proceedings against him. Netanyahu is charged with accepting bribes and pursuing deals with media moguls for positive press coverage. His trial has lasted for nearly six years, and now he's being called to testify in court three days a week. In a video statement, Netanyahu said that makes it impossible to handle Israel's security and diplomatic challenges. He said ending the trial would allow him to pursue common interests with the U.S. President Trump also recently called for a pardon. Netanyahu is not admitting guilt, and a pardon before conviction is extremely rare in Israeli history.
The Israeli president's office called it an extraordinary request. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Opposition leaders say a pardon would send a dangerous message that Netanyahu is above the law. Pope Leo arrived in Lebanon today, his second stop in his first foreign trip as pope. He came from Turkey, where he spoke warmly about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports.
Speaking to journalists on the Papal Plain at the end of his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo said the country under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule is, quote, one example of what we would all be looking for throughout the world.
To say that in spite of religious differences, in spite of ethnic differences, in spite of many other differences, people can indeed live in peace.
Pope Leo did acknowledge that Turkey has had, quote, various moments when it was not always the case. But the remarks will be seen as tone deaf by human rights advocates in the face of Turkey's 40-year conflict with the Kurds and President Erdogan's erosion of Turkish democracy, which has also been felt acutely by Turkey's religious minorities. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Beirut.
This is NPR News in Washington. Police in Stockton, California, are seeking the public's help in finding the person who started shooting during a family gathering yesterday. Authorities say four people were killed and at least 10 others were wounded. College football fans are in for a week of intense speculation about which 12 teams will be chosen for the national championship playoff bracket. Some perennial powerhouses are likely in, but the selection committee has difficult decisions ahead. One surprise contender is Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where the team notched several firsts this season. Tony Gonzalez with member station WPLN reports.
Vanderbilt went out with a bang, scoring more points against Tennessee than it has against its in-state rival in more than a century. Their season has been full of superlatives. Vanderbilt had never won 10 games in a season or beaten as many highly ranked opponents. The Commodores briefly reached the AP Top 10 for the first time in a generation.
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