NPR News Now: November 29, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Nora Ram
Podcast: NPR News Now
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid, comprehensive roundup of top global news as of November 29, 2025. The stories cover urgent FDA regulatory changes, major U.S. retail trends during the holiday shopping weekend, aviation safety alerts, unfolding crises in Kyiv and Indonesia, a tragic fire in Hong Kong, and the passing of renowned playwright Tom Stobbard.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FDA Signals Tougher Vaccine Regulation

[00:11 - 00:47]

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to strengthen vaccine regulations, spotlighting newly uncovered evidence of at least 10 child deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Notably, independent public health experts challenge the FDA's narrative, citing the administration’s prior unsupported and misleading statements about vaccines.
• Insight: The FDA's credibility is under scrutiny, and public health communication remains a contentious issue as vaccine safety debates continue.

2. Biggest U.S. Shopping Weekend Sees Robust Turnout

[00:47 - 01:37]
Reporting by Matt Bloom

• At Lakeside Shopping Center in New Orleans, special events (like a "sip and shop" with champagne) are drawing large crowds, with families making holiday memories.
  • Quote:
    "Take your grandma to the mall and make memories with her because it's the best thing to do."
    — Sandra or Lacey Lemoine, Shoppers [01:02]
  • Quote:
    "It's all about memories."
    — Sandra or Lacey Lemoine [01:07]
• National Retail Federation: Nearly 170 million people are shopping in-store or online during Black Friday–Cyber Monday.
• Adobe Analytics reports online sales up over 9% compared to last year, defying economic concerns like rising living costs and tariff worries.
• Insight: Despite financial headwinds, U.S. consumer confidence and holiday spending remain strong, boosted by creative in-store events and robust e-commerce activity.

3. Airbus Issues A320 Safety Modifications Over Solar Radiation Concern

[01:37 - 02:17]

• Airbus orders urgent modifications to its A320 jets after discovering solar radiation can disrupt flight computer operations.
• Expert Comment:
  “Many of the airplanes just require a software update, so that takes about three hours on the ground. There are some airplanes that actually need to change the electronic box that controls the tail surfaces. I believe less than 1,000 aeroplanes are affected out of the 11,500 that are active at the moment in terms of the world fleet. So we could see about a 10% grounding until this is sorted out.”
  — David Gleave, British Aviation Safety Investigator [01:53]
• Insight: The aviation industry is moving quickly, with only about 10% of A320s affected, limiting potential disruption.

4. Kyiv Residents Recover After Russian Missile and Drone Attacks

[02:17 - 03:09]
Reporting by Eleanor Beardsley

• Following lethal overnight attacks, residents of Kyiv are cleaning up shattered homes, restoring services, and supporting each other.
  • Quote:
    “Within a second, very quickly, a drone was flying and we went to the shelter.”
    — Oksana Honahan, Kyiv Resident [02:41]
  • Ukrainian resilience:
    “We're Ukrainian, she says. That's it. No matter how hard they hit us, we will survive, if only to make them angry that we're still alive.”
    — Oksana Honahan [02:54]
• Insight: The spirit and fortitude of Kyiv’s civilians stand out as they persist through hardship and attack.

5. Deadly Hong Kong Apartment Fire Under Investigation

[03:09 - 03:49]

• Investigations continue into an apartment fire in Hong Kong that killed at least 128 people, with 150 still missing.
• Authorities are looking into potential failures in the fire alarm system and the safety of renovations materials.
• Arrests have been made as the inquiry continues.
• Insight: The tragedy highlights ongoing issues with building safety standards and oversight in high-density urban environments.

6. Indonesia Hit by Devastating Floods, Death Toll Climbs

[03:49 - 04:37]
Reporting by Michael Sullivan

• Torrential rains and flooding, compounded by a tropical storm, have caused over 300 deaths in Sumatra, Indonesia, with many more missing.
• Emergency services struggle to access hardest-hit areas due to damaged infrastructure and lack of heavy equipment.
  • The governor of Aceh Province has declared a state of emergency.
  • The head of the National Disaster Management Agency warns the death toll will likely rise.
• Quote:
  "Rescue workers are still trying to reach some of the hardest hit areas... as is a lack of heavy equipment. Relief aircraft have started to deliver aid to some of the worst hit areas."
  — Michael Sullivan [03:49]
• Insight: The scale of devastation is immense, echoing the region’s past disasters and underscoring the vulnerability of Southeast Asian nations to extreme weather.

7. Tom Stobbard, Oscar-Winning Playwright, Dies at 88

[04:37 - 04:54]

• British playwright Tom Stobbard passed away peacefully at his home in southern England.
  • Best known for his Oscar-winning screenplay for "Shakespeare in Love" (1998).
  • No cause of death announced.
  • Remembered as a significant figure in contemporary theater and cinema.
• Insight: The arts world marks the loss of a celebrated creative voice.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [01:02] Sandra or Lacey Lemoine: "Take your grandma to the mall and make memories with her because it's the best thing to do."
• [01:07] Sandra or Lacey Lemoine: "It's all about memories."
• [01:53] David Gleave: “Many of the airplanes just require a software update... less than 1,000 aeroplanes are affected... about a 10% grounding until this is sorted out.”
• [02:41] Oksana Honahan: “Within a second, very quickly, a drone was flying and we went to the shelter.”
• [02:54] Oksana Honahan: “We're Ukrainian, she says. That's it. No matter how hard they hit us, we will survive, if only to make them angry that we're still alive.”
• [03:49] Michael Sullivan: "Rescue workers are still trying to reach some of the hardest hit areas... as is a lack of heavy equipment. Relief aircraft have started to deliver aid to some of the worst hit areas."

Conclusion

In just five minutes, this episode of NPR News Now delivers concise, factual updates on major global developments—a shifting landscape in vaccine policy, dynamic retail trends despite economic pressures, aviation safety urgency, human resilience amid conflict and disaster, and a notable cultural loss. Each story is shaped by voices on the ground and expert commentary, reflecting the world’s interconnected challenges and events on this late November day.