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Dave Mattingly
In Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. The U.N. general assembly is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. Israel and the US Were among countries that voted against the resolution. The UN Ambassador representing Palestinians said the vote reflected the resolve of the international community. Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes following the UN Action killed more than two dozen people, including at least seven children. South Korea's president is sounding defiant about his recent declaration of martial law. As NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul, the country's president is pledging to continue fighting efforts to impeach him.
Anthony Kuhn
In a televised address, President Yoon Seong Yeol said that his declaration of martial law was an act of governance in line with the Constitution. He doubled down on his allegation that opposition lawmakers are trying to paralyze the government and are aligned with North Korea. Whether you impeach me or investigate me, I will stand up to it, he said. I've already said that I will not shirk my legal and political responsibility for this declaration of martial law. Police and prosecutors are investigating Yoon on suspicion of insurrection. Police raided his office a second time a day after presidential security blocked police from entering. Yoon also faces a second vote to impeach him in Parliament on Saturday. Anthony Kuhn In PR News, Seoul, investigators.
Dave Mattingly
Say they found more evidence linking Luigi Mangione to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. NPR's Maria Aspin reports on what police are saying about a gun found in Mangione's possession.
Maria Aspin
Police arrested Mangione after a five day manhunt for the person who shot and killed Thompson in Manhattan last week. The 26 year old suspect is being held in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges. He is fighting extradition to New York, where he faces charges for second degree murder, but the gun in his possession has been sent to the NYPD crime lab. Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, we were able.
Jessica Tisch
To match that gun to the shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide.
Maria Aspin
She also said that the fingerprints on the gun match the prints on other evidence found near the crime scene in New York. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York.
Dave Mattingly
FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign next month at the end of President Biden's term in the White House. Wray's announcement comes less than two weeks after President Elect Donald Trump said he was nominating Cash Patel to lead the bureau. Wray was chosen to be FBI director by Trump during Trump's first term in office. He still had three years left on his 10 year term. Trump has accused Wray of weaponizing the Justice Department against him. On Wall street, the Nasdaq closed at a record high yesterday, finishing above the 20,000 mark for the first time. This is NPR News. Tesla stock closed at a record high yesterday of nearly $425 per share. The electric automaker stock value has risen almost 70% since early November. Banks and credit unions in the US could face new limits on overdraft fees before the end of next year. NPR's Laurel Wamsley reports.
Laurel Wamsley
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced a new rule that will limit how much big banks and credit unions can charge customers in overdraft fees. These financial institutions typically charge $35 for an overdraft loan, according to the bureaucracy. The new rules will give very large banks and credit unions three options. They can cap overdraft fees at $5, they can set their fee at an amount that covers costs and losses, or they can comply with standards that govern loans like credit cards. Overdraft fees have cost Americans billions of dollars, and they've been one of the so called junk fees that the CFPB has targeted under the Biden administration. The rule is scheduled to go into effect in October 2025, though whether the Trump administration will support the rule isn't known. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News, Washington.
Dave Mattingly
Crews in Southern California are starting to make progress to slow the spread of a wildfire in the Malibu area. Fire officials say containment on the Franklin fire is up to 7%. The flames have blackened more than 4,000 acres since Monday night and driven thousands of residents from their homes. A number of homes have been destroyed by the fire burning near Pepperdine University. The National Weather Service says calmer winds and cooler temperatures are expected today. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.
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NPR News Now: December 12, 2024, 5AM EST – Comprehensive Summary
Hosted by Dave Mattingly
Dave Mattingly (00:18) reported that the United Nations General Assembly has urgently called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Notably, both Israel and the United States voted against the resolution, underscoring their support for Israel's actions.
“The vote reflected the resolve of the international community,” stated the UN Ambassador representing the Palestinians (00:18).
Tragically, Palestinian medical officials have confirmed that Israeli airstrikes in response to the UN's action have resulted in the deaths of over two dozen individuals, including at least seven children.
Anthony Kuhn (01:01) provided insights from Seoul, highlighting the steadfast stance of President Yoon Seong Yeol following his recent declaration of martial law. In a televised address, President Yoon emphasized that his actions were constitutionally grounded governance.
“Whether you impeach me or investigate me, I will stand up to it,” President Yoon declared (01:01).
President Yoon accused opposition lawmakers of attempting to paralyze the government and aligning with North Korea. Despite facing police and prosecutorial investigations for suspected insurrection and a pending second impeachment vote in Parliament scheduled for Saturday, Yoon remains resolute.
Dave Mattingly (01:44) updated listeners on the case of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, who was fatally shot in New York City. Maria Aspin (01:59) reported that authorities have apprehended Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old suspect, after a five-day manhunt. Mangione is currently detained in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges and is contesting extradition to New York, where he faces second-degree murder charges.
“We were able to match the gun to the shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch (02:22).
Further forensic analysis revealed that fingerprints on the recovered firearm correspond with those found on other evidence at the crime scene, strengthening the case against Mangione.
In a significant development, Dave Mattingly (02:39) shared that FBI Director Christopher Wray intends to resign next month, coinciding with the conclusion of President Biden's term. This announcement follows less than two weeks after President-Elect Donald Trump nominated Cash Patel to lead the bureau.
Wray, appointed by Trump during his first term, still had three years remaining on his decade-long tenure. Trump has publicly accused Wray of "weaponizing the Justice Department" against him, adding a layer of political tension to the resignation.
Stock Market Milestones: The Nasdaq achieved a historic milestone by closing above the 20,000 mark for the first time, reflecting robust market performance. Additionally, Tesla's stock surged to a record high of nearly $425 per share, marking a nearly 70% increase since early November.
New Overdraft Fee Regulations: Dave Mattingly continued with financial news, introducing Laurel Wamsley (03:38) who reported on sweeping changes proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The new rule aims to cap overdraft fees charged by large banks and credit unions, which currently stand at approximately $35 per incident.
“Overdraft fees have cost Americans billions of dollars,” Wamsley explained (03:38).
Under the forthcoming regulations effective October 2025, financial institutions will have three compliance options:
This initiative targets the elimination of "junk fees," a focus of the Biden administration's regulatory agenda. The response from the incoming Trump administration remains uncertain.
Dave Mattingly (04:24) reported encouraging progress in combating the Franklin wildfire in Southern California's Malibu area. Fire containment has reached 7%, with the flames having devastated over 4,000 acres since Monday night. The blaze has forced thousands of residents to evacuate and has resulted in the destruction of numerous homes, including properties near Pepperdine University.
The National Weather Service forecasts calmer winds and cooler temperatures today, offering hope for increased containment and eventual extinguishing of the wildfire.
Stay informed with NPR News Now for the latest updates and in-depth coverage on global and local events.