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Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A vote by Israel's cabinet to implement a ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been delayed, as NPR's Cad Lonsdorf reports. That's come after the deal's mediators, the U.S. egypt and Qatar, announced that a deal had been struck.
Cad Lonsdorf
Israel says that Hamas has gone back on several parts of the agreement at the last minute, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. It said that the prime minister has indefinitely postponed convening the cabinet to vote until all details are agreed upon. The deal has to be approved by Israel's government before a ceasefire can go into effect. In a statement on the group's Telegram channel, Hamas denied it had created obstacles, saying it was, quote, committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators. Two far right members of Netanyahu's cabinet have been very vocal about opposing the deal, threatening to leave the government if Israel agrees to it, a move that could topple Netanyahu's coalition. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Korva Coleman
Several of President elect Trump's picks for his Cabinet will appear for confirmation hearings in the Senate today. They include former Texas state representative Scott Turner to head Housing and Urban Development, former Congressman Lee Zeldin for the epa, and billionaire money manager Scott Besant for Treasury secretary. Another Senate committee will question Trump's choice to be interior secretary. NPR's Jonathan Lambert tells us that Trump's former former political rival, Doug Burgum.
Jonathan Lambert
Burgum was governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2023, when he decided to run in the Republican presidential primary. He was also a businessman and sold his software company to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion.
Korva Coleman
NPR's Jonathan Lambert reporting. Trump's choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, will return for a second day of questioning today. She's been asked about her personal advocacy for Trump. She testified yesterday that the Justice Department has targeted Trump for years. But Bondi says if she is confirmed, she would not politicize the agency. The powerful winds in Los Angeles are subsiding today. That has allowed fire crews to gain the upper hand on catastrophic blazes that tore through the region. At least 25 people have died and more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or lost. Elise Hu reports from Los Angeles. The largest recovery effort in California's history is now getting underway.
Elise Hu
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to expedite the work of cleanup as soon as it's safe. AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather impacts, says the economic loss from the firestorms will reach at least $250 billion. Part of that enormous price tag accounts for the destruction in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. They are home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country. The vast majority of fire evacuees are still not allowed to return to their neighborhoods, and the search for victims continues. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hu in Los Angeles.
Korva Coleman
On Wall street, in pre market trading, Dow futures are lower. You're listening to npr. A new study suggests that eating red meat in large quantities can increase your risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Researchers published a study in the journal Neurology. They found that among the people they studied, those who ate three quarters of an ounce of processed red meat at least once D had a 13% higher risk of developing dementia. That's compared to people who ate a minimal amount. Replacing one serving of red meat daily with nuts and legumes was associated with a 19% lower risk of dementia. Commercial space company Blue Origin launched its massive rocket New Glenn this morning from Florida. Marion Sumrall of Central Florida Public Media reports the rocket has successfully reached orbit.
Marion Sumrall
With seven reusable engines and the ability to carry 45 tons of payloads into low Earth orbit. It is Blue Origin's largest rocket. New Glenn launched from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. Blue Origin attempted to land its first stage booster at sea. The booster separated from the rocket but missed the landing. Back in 2015, Blue Origin's founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos, announced plans for future launches in Florida and developed a facility right outside of the Kennedy Space Center. Now, nearly a decade later, New Glenn is the company's first uncrewed orbital launch vehicle. For NPR News, I'm Marion Summerall in Orlando.
Korva Coleman
Craft store chain joann is back in bankruptcy. It's the second time this has happened in a year. It did well when it sold supplies for masks during the pandemic, but it has since lost money. Now joann officials are seeking to sell the company. This is npr.
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Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.
Korva Coleman opens the episode with breaking news from the Middle East. A significant development unfolded as Israel's cabinet has postponed the vote to implement a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. This delay comes despite mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar announcing that a deal had been reached.
NPR's Cad Lonsdorf provides detailed reporting on the situation:
"Israel says that Hamas has gone back on several parts of the agreement at the last minute," (00:31) according to a statement from the prime minister's office. The prime minister has declared that the cabinet meeting will be indefinitely postponed until all details are meticulously agreed upon.
The agreement requires approval from Israel's government to become effective. In response, Hamas claimed:
"We are committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators," (00:31) as stated on their Telegram channel, denying any obstruction.
Tensions within Israel's government are escalating, with two far-right cabinet members opposing the deal vehemently. These officials have threatened to exit the government if the ceasefire is approved, potentially destabilizing Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition.
Cad Lonsdorf concludes:
"Two far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet have been very vocal about opposing the deal, threatening to leave the government if Israel agrees to it, a move that could topple Netanyahu's coalition." (00:31)
Transitioning to U.S. politics, Korva Coleman highlights key cabinet confirmations for President-elect Donald Trump. Today, several of Trump's nominees appeared before the Senate for confirmation hearings:
Additionally, another Senate committee is set to question Trump's nominee for Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum. NPR's Jonathan Lambert provides background on Burgum:
"Burgum was governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2023, when he decided to run in the Republican presidential primary. He was also a businessman and sold his software company to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion," (01:37) outlining Burgum's extensive experience.
Further into the hearings, Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for Attorney General, is under scrutiny. Bondi returned for a second day of questioning where she addressed her personal advocacy for Trump:
"If I am confirmed, I would not politicize the agency," (01:50) Bondi asserted, despite earlier testimony claiming the Justice Department has targeted Trump for years.
Korva Coleman shifts focus to environmental news, reporting on the severe wildfire situation in Los Angeles:
"The powerful winds in Los Angeles are subsiding today. That has allowed fire crews to gain the upper hand on catastrophic blazes that tore through the region," (01:50). At least 25 fatalities have been confirmed, and over 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Elise Hu provides an in-depth report from Los Angeles:
"Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to expedite the work of cleanup as soon as it's safe," (02:33) emphasizing the urgency of recovery efforts. The economic toll from the fires is projected to exceed $250 billion, with significant losses in high-value areas like Malibu and Pacific Palisades. The majority of evacuees remain unable to return, and search operations for victims are ongoing.
The recovery effort marks the largest in California’s history, underscoring the extensive impact of the wildfires.
In financial news, Korva Coleman notes a downturn:
"On Wall Street, in pre-market trading, Dow futures are lower," (03:07) indicating a cautious start to the trading day.
Shifting to health, a new study published in Neurology suggests that high consumption of red meat may elevate the risk of dementia:
"Researchers found that among the people they studied, those who ate three-quarters of an ounce of processed red meat at least once a day had a 13% higher risk of developing dementia," (03:07) compared to minimal consumers. Conversely, replacing one serving of red meat daily with nuts and legumes was associated with a 19% lower risk of dementia.
A significant advancement in commercial space exploration was reported by Korva Coleman:
"Commercial space company Blue Origin launched its massive rocket New Glenn this morning from Florida," (04:00) confirming the rocket successfully reached orbit.
Marion Sumrall from Central Florida Public Media elaborates:
"With seven reusable engines and the ability to carry 45 tons of payloads into low Earth orbit, it is Blue Origin's largest rocket," (04:00). The launch took place from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. Although Blue Origin attempted to land its first-stage booster at sea, the booster separated but missed the intended landing.
Reflecting on the company's journey:
"Back in 2015, Blue Origin's founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos announced plans for future launches in Florida and developed a facility right outside of the Kennedy Space Center. Now, nearly a decade later, New Glenn is the company's first uncrewed orbital launch vehicle," (04:00) marking a milestone for Blue Origin.
Korva Coleman reports on the retail sector's struggles:
"Craft store chain Joann is back in bankruptcy. It's the second time this has happened in a year," (04:38). The company initially thrived by selling mask supplies during the pandemic but has since faced financial losses. As a result, Joann officials are seeking to sell the company in hopes of restructuring and stabilizing its operations.
This episode of NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive overview of critical global and national events, ranging from geopolitical tensions and significant political appointments to environmental disasters, health studies, advancements in space technology, and challenges in the retail sector. Each segment provided insightful information, detailed reports, and notable quotes to keep listeners informed and engaged.
Notable Quotes:
Cad Lonsdorf: "Two far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet have been very vocal about opposing the deal, threatening to leave the government if Israel agrees to it, a move that could topple Netanyahu's coalition." (00:31)
Pam Bondi: "If I am confirmed, I would not politicize the agency." (01:50)
Elise Hu: "Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to expedite the work of cleanup as soon as it's safe." (02:33)
This summary is intended to provide a detailed overview of the January 16, 2025, episode of NPR News Now for those who have not had the opportunity to listen.