NPR News: 12-07-2024 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 7, 2024, 2PM EST

On December 7, 2024, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on pressing global events, ranging from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East to cultural celebrations in Paris. Below is a detailed summary of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and notable quotes.

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1. Syrian Rebels Advance Toward Damascus

Host: Norah Rahm
Reporter: Daniel Estrin
Timestamp: [00:20] - [01:45]

NPR began the episode with a significant development in the Syrian conflict. Syrian rebel forces have intensified their offensive, advancing toward the capital city of Damascus. This strategic movement follows the swift capture of major cities, including Aleppo on November 27 and Hama. The latest target is the city of Homs, whose fall would strategically sever the connection between Damascus and Syria's coastal region.

Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv, shedding light on Israel's response to the escalating situation. The Israeli military has pledged support to United Nations forces in the Hater area following an attack on a UN post. Additionally, Israel has ramped up military exercises and increased troop presence near the Syrian border to bolster defenses.

Estrin highlighted the strategic maneuvers by both Syrian rebels and Israeli forces:

“The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says Syrian regime and Russian forces have withdrawn from Quneitra, the border area next to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. There are reports Syrian rebel forces have swept into that area.”
— Daniel Estrin [01:01]

Israel's leadership is actively consulting on the implications of these rapid advances by the rebels, indicating a heightened state of alert in the region.

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2. Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens in Paris

Host: Norah Rahm
Reporter: Eleanor Beardsley
Timestamp: [01:45] - [02:30]

Shifting from conflict to cultural restoration, NPR reported on the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Five years after the devastating fire in April 2019, the landmark has been meticulously restored, marking a momentous occasion with world leaders in attendance.

Eleanor Beardsley detailed the restoration efforts:

“The cathedral's roof was rebuilt with some 2,000 oak trees shaped by hand and axe. But to clean the cathedral's interior, artisans covered it in a layer of latex, which gently seeped into the stone's pores and removed centuries of grime without doing damage.”
— Eleanor Beardsley [01:59]

The restoration honors traditional craftsmanship while incorporating innovative techniques to preserve the cathedral's historical integrity. The reopening event includes a religious ceremony steeped in centuries-old traditions, with the first mass scheduled for Sunday morning.

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3. President Elect Donald Trump Endorses Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

Host: Norah Rahm
Guest: Pete Hegseth
Timestamp: [02:30] - [03:11]

In a notable political development, President Elect Donald Trump attended the Notre Dame reopening in Paris and shared his endorsement of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the position of Secretary of Defense. This endorsement comes ahead of Hegseth's upcoming network television interview on “Meet the Press.”

Trump expressed confidence in Hegseth's qualifications:

“It looks like Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little bit concerned. He's a young guy with a tremendous track record.”
— Pete Hegseth [02:49]

Hegseth elaborated on his credentials, addressing past allegations and emphasizing his dedication to the military:

“He went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student at both. But he loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. So we'll be working on his nomination along with a lot of others.”
— Pete Hegseth [03:00]

Despite previous allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct, Hegseth maintains his stance against these claims, positioning himself as a strong candidate for the defense role.

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4. South Korea's Opposition Party Attempts to Impeach President Yoon Sung Yeol

Host: Norah Rahm
Timestamp: [03:11] - [03:44]

NPR highlighted political tensions in South Korea, where the opposition party is seeking to impeach President Yoon Sung Yeol. The motion stems from Yoon's recent efforts to impose martial law, a move that has sparked significant controversy.

However, the impeachment attempt faced setbacks as Yoon's party boycotted the vote, leading to a failure in obtaining the necessary quorum to advance the measure. This maneuver reflects deep divisions within South Korea's political landscape and underscores the fragile state of governance amid national security concerns.

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5. British Parliament Embraces American English Terms

Host: Norah Rahm
Reporter: Vicki Barker
Timestamp: [03:44] - [04:33]

In a cultural shift, Britain's Conservative Daily Telegraph reported a notable increase in the use of American English within the British Parliament. Vicki Barker explored this linguistic trend, attributing it to the influence of American politics and media on British lawmakers.

Key observations include the frequent use of terms like “reach out” and “leverage,” and even the adoption of “laundromat” instead of the traditional British “launderette.” Barker notes that this shift began in the early 20th century with the influx of American pulp fiction but has accelerated in recent years as British politicians mirror their American counterparts' speech patterns.

“The linguistic rot first began setting in to general English usage in the early 20th century with the import of American pulp fiction novels, analysts believe this latest trend is because the current generation of British lawmakers is particularly fascinated with American politics and American politicians and has picked up some of their speaking styles.”
— Vicki Barker [03:44]

This phenomenon has sparked consternation among traditionalists who view the change as a dilution of British cultural identity.

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6. Auction for Judy Garland's Ruby Slippers Reaches High Bidding

Host: Norah Rahm
Timestamp: [04:33] - [04:59]

Concluding the episode, NPR reported on a high-profile auction for the iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." The memorabilia, which were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, are now attracting intense interest from collectors.

As of the latest update, online bidding has surged beyond $3.5 million, highlighting the enduring legacy and cultural significance of Garland's role in the classic film. The auction, concluding that day, promises to be a landmark event for fans and collectors alike.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a diverse array of stories, from international conflicts and political maneuvers to cultural restorations and significant auctions, delivering a comprehensive snapshot of current events on December 7, 2024.

Transcript

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[Norah Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Norah Rahm. Syrian rebels are advancing towards the capital Damascus, after taking over some of the largest cities in Syria. The fast moving offensive began Nov. 27 when insurgents captured the northern city of Aleppo and then the central city of Hama. They're now moving toward the city of Homs, which, if captured, would cut the link between Damascus and the coastal region. The Israeli military says it's assisting UN Forces in the hater area in Syria after an attack on a UN Post there. It has also conducted exercises and boosted troops near the border with Syria. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv.

[Daniel Estrin]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says Syrian regime and Russian forces have withdrawn from Quneitra, the border area next to the Israeli controlled Golan Heights. There are reports Syrian rebel forces have swept into that area. Israel says it has sent troops to the Golan Heights to reinforce the border zone with Syria. And Israel carried out military exercises in the area, Syria drilling rapid forces, deployment by land and air to prepare for emergency scenarios such as a sudden storming of the border. Israel's leadership has been holding consultations in recent days in light of the swift gains of Syrian rebel forces against Syrian government forces. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Norah Rahm]

Dozens of world leaders are in Paris attending reopening celebrations for a Notre Dame cathedral this weekend, five years after a devastating fire. NPR's Elnor Bearsley reports. The cathedral has been restored by some.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

2,000 craftsmen following the fire in April 2019. The cathedral's roof was rebuilt with some 2,000 oak trees shaped by hand and axe. But to clean the cathedral's interior, artisans covered it in a layer of latex, which gently seeped into the stone's pores and removed centuries of grime without doing damage. Saturday, there will be a religious ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition to reopen the cathedral, and a first mass will be celebrated Sunday morning. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Norah Rahm]

President Elect Donald Trump is in Paris for the event. He had his first network television interview since the election yesterday to air on Meet the Press tomorrow. The network provided an excerpt in which Trump says he's confident former Fox News host Pete Hegseth should be as secretary of defense and will be confirmed.

[Pete Hegseth]

It looks like Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little bit concerned. He's a young guy with a tremendous track record.

[Norah Rahm]

Actually.

[Pete Hegseth]

He went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student at both. But he loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. So we'll be working on his nomination along with a lot of others.

[Norah Rahm]

Hegseth has denied allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct. This is NPR News. The opposition party in South Korea says it will try again next week to impeach President Yoon Sung Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law this week. The motion failed today after Yoon's party boycotted the vote and denied the quorum needed to advance the measure. There's some consternation in Britain over changing linguistic styles in British politics. Vicki Barker reports from London.

[Vicki Barker]

Britain's conservative Daily Telegraph newspaper reports that the use of that colonial upstart American English has exploded in Parliament since the turn of the century. The most frequently used offending words and phrases gotten reach out and leverage. The word laundromat has even been used instead of the English launderette. Although the linguistic rot first began setting in to general English usage in the early 20th century with with the import of American pulp fiction novels, analysts believe this latest trend is because the current generation of British lawmakers is particularly fascinated with American politics and American politicians and has picked up some of their speaking styles. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[Norah Rahm]

The bidding ends today at an auction for a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland during the filming of the wizard of Oz. The shoes had been stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018. Online bidding opened last month. At last checked, the bidding was up to more than $3.5 million. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

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