NPR News: 12-08-2024 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now - December 8, 2024, 11AM EST

1. Opposition Forces Seize Damascus, Overthrow Assad Regime

At 00:12, Nora Rahm reports a significant development in Syria as opposition forces officially announce the takeover of the capital, Damascus. This follows a rapid series of offensives that led to the rebels capturing the city within less than two weeks.

Hadil Al Shalchi details the dramatic takeover:

“Dressed in a black hoodie and flanked by eight men, a rebel leader announces the liberation of Damascus and the end of President Bashar al Assad's reign” (00:35). The announcement includes the release of all prisoners and a call for Syrians to protect national properties, culminating in the declaration, “long live a free Syria.”

Additionally, footage shows Prime Minister Ghazi Jalali handing over power to the Syrian Military Operations Command, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirms that President Bashar al Assad has fled the country to an undisclosed location. The Syrian government has yet to issue an official statement regarding Assad's departure.

2. Israel Establishes Buffer Zone in Syria Amid Regime Change

Following the upheaval in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that Israeli forces are now controlling a buffer zone in the region. Speaking at 01:41, Netanyahu calls the day "historic for the Middle East" and attributes the success to Israeli actions against Iran and its proxies, which he believes influenced the collapse of the Iranian-backed Assad government.

An unnamed analyst provides a nuanced perspective:

“The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers” (01:54).

Netanyahu emphasizes the temporary nature of this control, stating:

“Syrian forces abandoned their positions in a buffer zone that was created in 1974. For now, the Israeli military is taking control and will do whatever necessary to secure Israel's borders” (02:02). NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports from Tel Aviv on the developments (02:02).

3. Donald Trump Outlines Bold Agenda for Post-Election Presidency

With the presidential election results pending, Nora Rahm highlights President-elect Donald Trump's commitments to significant policy changes set to commence on January 20th.

In an interview on Meet the Press at 02:19, Trump outlines his plans:

• Pardons for January 6th Rioters: “I'll grant pardons for January 6th rioters”
• Deportation of Undocumented Immigrants: “deport millions of undocumented immigrants”
• Tax Cuts Extension: “I've worked to extend the tax cuts passed in my first term”

Trump also addresses rumors regarding Project 2025, a governmental overhaul blueprint, asserting his disassociation:

“I purposely didn't even want to see it because when somebody like you asked me a question about Project 2025, I can honestly say I've never seen it. I have nothing to do with it. I didn't read it. But I did hear some things in there that I would totally disagree with” (02:47).

This statement comes amid reports that several of Trump’s appointed administration members are writers for Project 2025, raising questions about future policy directions.

4. Ghana's Presidential Election Results Point to Economic Challenges Ahead

Official results from yesterday’s presidential election in Ghana have yet to be announced, but Nora Rahm notes that former President John Drumani Mohamma is emerging as the likely victor after one candidate conceded. Mohamma, who previously led Ghana from July 2012 to January 2017, steps into office during a period marked by the country's worst economic crisis in a generation.

5. El Salvador's Bitcoin Investment Yields Substantial Returns

Ida Peralta reports on President Nayib Bukele's strategic move to embrace Bitcoin, which is now proving lucrative for El Salvador. Since making Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 and investing millions of dollars of public funds into the cryptocurrency, the nation is witnessing a significant return on investment. With Bitcoin's recent rally, Bukele announces that selling all national Bitcoin holdings could generate $333 million, a symbolic but impactful victory amidst El Salvador's $20 billion debt.

“If they sold all the bitcoin the country owns, they would stand to make $333 million. That's not much for a country $20 billion in debt, but this is still a symbolic win for Bukele” (03:47).

6. Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens for Mass After Extensive Renovations

Marking a momentous occasion, Nora Rahm shares that Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris celebrated its first mass since the devastating fire in 2019. The landmark officially reopened after extensive renovations, with the mass attended by approximately 2,500 invited guests from around the world. This event symbolizes both the resilience and enduring cultural significance of one of France's most iconic structures.

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Transcript

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[Nora Rahm]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Opposition forces in Syria made the takeover of the capital Damascus, official with a TV announcement today. It came hours after rebels took the city, the latest since they launched a series of lightning offensives government forces in less than two weeks. NPR's Hadil El Shalshi has more.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

Dressed in a black hoodie and flanked by eight men, a rebel leader announces the liberation of Damascus and the end of President Bashar al Assad's reign. The man says all prisoners have been released from the city's jails and calls on Syrians to safeguard the country's properties. He ends by declaring long live a free Syria. The video announcement was released Sunday on Syrian television just hours after opposition forces stormed the Syrian capital and took power. Another video also released Sunday shows Prime Minister Ghazi Jalali leaving his home escorted by armed rebels and handing over power to the Syrian Military Operations Command. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK Based war monitor, said that President Bashar al Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location. There was no official statement made from the Syrian government about his departure. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces are controlling a buffer zone in Syri. He calls it a temporary move following the fall of Assad's government in Damascus. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports on a visit to the border.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

Netanyahu calls this an historic day for the Middle east, and he credits Israeli actions against Iran and its proxies, which he says had a ripple effect in Syria, where rebels toppled the Iranian backed government.

[Unnamed Analyst]

The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

He says Syrian forces abandoned their positions in a buffer zone that was created in 1974. Netanyahu says for now the Israeli military is taking control and will do whatever necessary to secure Israel's borders. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Rahm]

President elect Donald Trump is promising to make immediate and sweeping changes when he takes office on January 20th. In an interview aired today on Meet the Press, Trump said he'll grant pardons for January 6th rioters and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. He said he'd worked to extend the tax cuts passed in his first term. Trump again disavowed any connection to Project 2025, a blueprint for overhauling the government.

[Donald Trump]

I purposely didn't even want to see it because when somebody like you asked me a question about Project 2025, I can honestly say I've never seen it. I have nothing to do with it. I didn't read it. But I did hear some things in there that I would totally disagree with.

[Nora Rahm]

Several people Trump has named to join his administration are listed as writers to Project 2025. This is NPR News. Official results have not yet been announced in yesterday's presidential election in Ghana, but one of the candidates has conceded. It appears the former president, John Drumani Mohamma, is the winner. He had led the West African nation from July 2012 to January 2017. He takes office at a time when Ghana is experiencing its worst economic CR in a generation. The Salvadoran president is celebrating his country's Bitcoin investment. NPR's Ida Peralta reports that for now at least, the country stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

[Ida Peralta]

Back in 2021, President Nayib Bukele made El Salvador the first country to use bitcoin as legal tender. Then he began buying millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency using public funds. Over the years, as the fortunes of bitcoin ebbed and flowed, critics of Bukele have said he is gambling with money a PO used for education or health. But recently, bitcoin has rallied, and Bukele says El Salvador is looking at a more than 100% return on investment. If they sold all the bitcoin the country owns, they would stand to make $333 million. That's not much for a country $20 billion in debt, but this is still a symbolic win for Bukele. Caida Palta, NPR News, Mexico City.

[Nora Rahm]

Notre Dame Cathedral held its first mass this morning since it was almost destroyed by fire in 2019. The Paris landmark officially reopened yesterday after an extensive renovation. The mass was attended by about 2,500 invited guests from around the world. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

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