NPR News: 12-22-2024 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 22, 2024, 3AM EST

Hosted by NPR’s Dale Willman, this edition of NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines and in-depth coverage of current events from around the globe.

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1. Federal Government Budget Deal Prevents Shutdown

[00:20] In a critical move to avert a government shutdown, Congress successfully passed a budget agreement that President Joe Biden signed into law on Saturday morning. The deal ensures continued funding for federal operations until mid-March, providing stability after a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill.

[00:38] Sarah McCammon reports that the budget package not only funds the government but also allocates significant resources towards aiding farmers and offers $100 billion in assistance for victims of recent natural disasters. This includes recovery efforts for the devastating wildfires in Hawaii last year and the hurricanes and flooding that struck the Carolinas earlier this year.

The agreement, which marked the third attempt to secure a budget deal, overcame previous setbacks when President-elect Donald Trump and his close advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, opposed earlier versions. Ultimately, the final bill garnered bipartisan support and bypassed demands to raise the nation's debt ceiling, differing from Trump’s initial requests.

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2. Labor Strikes Shake Up Major Companies

Amazon Delivery Drivers Strike in Four States

[01:15] Amazon delivery drivers have initiated strikes across four states this weekend after the company failed to meet a negotiation deadline set by the Teamsters Union. The union seeks to secure a fair contract that reflects the hard work of its members.

[01:27] Lamont Hopewell, a union member, voiced the frustrations of workers: “We’re hardworking individuals, work hard every day, and I think a billion dollar company could afford to give us the benefits that we’re looking for.”

Starbucks Workers Join the Strike

[01:34] In solidarity, some Starbucks employees are also staging strikes in selected stores across the Western United States, highlighting widespread labor discontent in major American corporations.

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3. Escalating Tensions in the Middle East

Rocket Attack in Tel Aviv

Israeli military officials reported a rocket launched from Yemen on Saturday, which resulted in injuries to at least 16 individuals in Tel Aviv. This attack follows retaliatory strikes by Israeli warplanes targeting areas in Yemen responsible for previous hostility.

[01:34] Additionally, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have tragically resulted in the deaths of twelve children this weekend, escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

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4. Terrorist Attack in Germany during Christmas Market

[02:12] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the nation following a tragic incident at a Christmas market in eastern Germany, where a man rammed his car into the crowd, killing at least five people and injuring over 200 others. The attacker, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist with residency in Germany, was swiftly apprehended.

Chancellor Scholz emphasized unity in the wake of the tragedy: “We must not let this incident divide us. We stick together and remain united. It is not hatred that determines our togetherness, but that we are a community which wants to win the future.” [02:12]

The attacker had expressed grievances on social media about alleged failures by German authorities to combat what he termed the Islamism of Europe, further complicating the national dialogue on integration and security.

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5. Albania Bans TikTok Over Safety Concerns

[02:55] The Albanian government has announced a ban on the popular social media app TikTok, citing concerns that the platform incites violence and bullying, particularly among children. The prohibition is set to take effect next year and will remain in place for at least twelve months.

The decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident in November, where one teenager fatally stabbed another during a dispute that began on TikTok, highlighting the app's potential role in fostering violent behavior among youth.

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6. Maritime Disasters in the Congo

Ferry Collapses Claiming Lives of 38

Tragedy struck the Congo as an overloaded ferry sank while carrying passengers home for Christmas, resulting in at least 38 fatalities and over 100 missing persons. This incident is the latest in a spate of maritime disasters in the country, with another ferry accident previously claiming 25 lives.

Authorities are working tirelessly to locate and rescue those still unaccounted for, as the nation grapples with recurring challenges in ensuring maritime safety.

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7. Historic Moment in Women’s College Volleyball

[03:50] In a groundbreaking development for NCAA Division I women’s volleyball, Penn State is set to face the University of Louisville in today’s championship match. This event marks the first time a woman has coached an NCAA Division I women’s volleyball championship team.

Greg Eklund reports: “In each of the Thursday night semifinals, the team coached by a woman, defeated an opponent led by a man. The Louisville Cardinals upset number one ranked Pittsburgh, and Penn State knocked off last year's NCAA runner-up, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.” [03:50]

[04:11] Nebraska Huskers coach John Cook expressed his support and admiration: “They both were great players. They both won national championships. So this isn't like a fluke. I mean, these guys are winners and they're tough and they're great competitors and their teams play like it.”

[04:21] The coaches, Danny Busboom Kelly of Louisville and Katie Schumacher Cawley of Penn State, have deep ties to their respective programs, further enriching the historic nature of the matchup.

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8. College Football Playoffs Update

[04:33] Excitement builds in the college football realm as the Ohio State Buckeyes secured a decisive victory over SMU with a score of 42-17. Quarterback Will Howard delivered an impressive performance, throwing for 24 completions on 29 attempts and two touchdowns.

Simultaneously, Penn State advanced to the next playoff round with a strong 38-10 win, while Texas triumphed over Clemson, ending the game with a score of 38-24.

Dale Willman concludes with the latest standings as teams advance through the highly competitive postseason.

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for the latest updates and comprehensive analysis on the stories that matter most.

Transcript

[Humana Representative]

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Humana Employees are the heartbeat of your business. That's why Humana offers group dental, vision, life and disability plans designed to protect them, exceptional service, broad networks and modern benefits. That's the power of human care.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The federal government will remain open at least until mid March. Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown late last night, wrapping up a chaotic week on Capitol Hill by approving a budget deal that President Joe Biden signed into law Saturday morning. NPR's Sarah McCammon has more.

[Sarah McCammon]

In addition to funding the federal government for a few more months, the deal includes money for farmers and $100 billion in aid for victims of natural disasters, including wildfires in Hawaii last year and hurricanes and flooding in the Carolinas this year. The agreement approved by the House and Senate, was the third iteration of the bill introduced in recent days. The first deal fell apart after President elect Donald Trump and his close advisor, billionaire Musk, expressed opposition. The final deal ultimately passed with bipartisan support and without an increase to the nation's debt ceiling that Trump had requested. Sarah McCammon, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Delivery drivers for Amazon remain on strike in four states this weekend. Amazon has ignored a deadline set by the Teamsters Union for negotiations to begin. Lamont Hopewell is a union member. He wants to get a contract in place.

[Lamont Hopewell]

We're hardworking individuals, work hard every day, and I think a billion dollar company could afford to give us the benefits that we're looking for.

[Dale Willman]

Some Starbucks workers are also on strike in a handful of stores in the Western U.S. israeli military officials say a rocket fired from Yemen on Saturday injured at least 16 people when it hit an area of Tel Aviv. The attack comes days after Israeli warplanes hit targets in two cities in Yemen. In Gaza, meanwhile, Israeli strikes have killed a dozen children this weekend. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the Christmas market in eastern Germany on Saturday, where a man drove his car into the crowd Friday night. The driver killed at least five people and injured about 200 others. As Terry Schultz reports, the alleged attacker is a Saudi doctor who has residency in Germany.

[Terry Schultz]

Mourners are leaving flowers and candles at a church near the Christmas market in Magdeburg, where a man plowed his BMW into shoppers visiting the scene. Chancellor Scholz said nearly 40 of those injured are very seriously hurt. He urged Germans not to let this incident divide them, that we stick together and remain united. He said that it is not hatred that determines our togetherness, but that we are a community which wants to win the future. German media have identified the driver who was immediately arrested as a 50 year old Saudi psychiatrist. His social media account indicates he's a former Muslim critical of German authorities for what he said was a failure to combat the Islamism of Europe. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Dale Willman]

The social media app TikTok is being banned in the country of Albania. The country's prime minister said Saturday that the app is responsible for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. The ban will begin sometime next year and will last for at least a year. In November, one teen was stabbed to death by another teen in a fight that began on TikTok. You're listening to NPR News. At least 38 people are dead following the collapse of a ferry in the Congo. Officials say the overloaded boat was full of people returning home for Christmas when it Sank. More than 100 people are still missing following that accident less than four days ago. Another ferry accident in that country killed 25 people. History will be made in women's college volleyball later today when Penn State takes on the University of Louisville. There's never been a woman who's been the head coach of an NCAA Division I women's volleyball championship team. Greg Eklund has more from Louisville.

[Greg Eklund]

In each of the Thursday night semifinals, the team coached by a woman, defeated an opponent led by a man. The Louisville Cardinals upset number one ranked Pittsburgh and Penn State knocked off the NCAA runner up last year, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Though Nebraska lost, Huskers coach John Cook says he's happy that history will be made.

[John Cook]

They both were great players. They both won national championships. So this isn't like a fluke. I mean, these guys are winners and they're tough and they're great competitors and their teams play like it.

[Greg Eklund]

Louisville coach Danny Busboom Kelly played at Nebraska and Katie Schumacher Cawley is coaching her alma mater at Penn State. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund in Louisville.

[Dale Willman]

The Ohio State Buckeyes have moved on in the college football playoffs with a decisive win over SMU on Saturday night. Will Howard went 2429 and threw for two touchdowns in the 4217 win. Penn State, meanwhile, also advanced to the next round of the playoffs with their 3810 win over and Texas beat Clemson by a score of 38 24. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[Humana Representative]

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