NPR News: 12-25-2024 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 25, 2024, 10 PM EST

On December 25, 2024, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest global and national events. This summary encapsulates the key stories covered in the episode, providing in-depth insights and notable quotes to inform listeners who did not tune in.

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1. Syria Seeks Peaceful Relations with Israel, Requests U.S. Mediation

Jeanine Herbst opened the segment by highlighting a significant development in Middle Eastern diplomacy. A high-ranking Syrian official expressed Syria's desire to establish cordial relations with Israel, seeking U.S. assistance in mediating this process.

Key Points:

• Governor Meher Marwan of Damascus stated that Syria's new government harbors no issues with Israel.
• The governor acknowledged Israel's fears following the new government's rise but emphasized Syria's intention not to interfere with Israeli security.
• HTS Leader Ahmad Al Sharra previously echoed the sentiment of avoiding conflict with Israel.
• Marwan appealed to the United States to communicate Syria's peaceful intentions to Israeli officials.

Notable Quote: Governor Marwan urged, “Syrians are a people who want peace and not, quote, disputes with Israel” (00:33).

A U.S. official confirmed to NPR that this message has been conveyed to Israeli counterparts, indicating a potential thaw in bilateral relations.

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2. Diverse Christmas Celebrations Across Europe

Eleanor Beardsley reported on how European nations marked Christmas Day with varied traditions and significant events.

Key Highlights:

• Paris celebrated Christmas Day Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, marking the first such event in six years following the cathedral's restoration after the 2019 fire.
• In Britain, King Charles delivered his annual Christmas message from a former hospital chapel instead of a royal palace, expressing gratitude to medical workers who treated him and Princess of Wales during their cancer diagnoses.
• In Rome, Pope Francis addressed thousands in St. Peter's Square, advocating for global peace, the implementation of ceasefires in conflict zones, and urging world leaders to forgive the debts burdening the poorest nations.

Notable Quotes: Pope Francis stated, “…ceasefires be put in place where wars rage and that world leaders forgive the debts that, quote, burden the poorest countries” (01:23).

These celebrations not only honored traditional religious practices but also underscored messages of healing, gratitude, and global solidarity.

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3. NIH Allocates $300 Million for Long Covid Treatment Research

Sarah Boden from WESA detailed the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) substantial investment in combating Long Covid, a lingering aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Details:

• The NIH is committing $300 million over the next four years to study treatments for Long Covid.
• This decision follows persistent advocacy from patients and groups pushing for accelerated research and funding.

Insights from Stakeholders:

• Megan Stone, Executive Director of the Long Covid Campaign, criticized the NIH's pace and funding level, stating, “People have been suffering for years with Long Covid, and patients say that the pace of the NIH's search for new treatments has been too slow and the $300 million probably isn't enough money to produce a new drug” (02:28).
• An unnamed NIH Representative emphasized the need for strategic investment, noting, “What's critical when you have limited funding... the NIH hasn't traditionally funded” Long Covid research (02:45).
• Megan Stone acknowledged the NIH's understanding of the urgency but highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of Long Covid's biological mechanisms before effective treatments can be developed (02:57).

This funding marks a pivotal step in addressing the prolonged health challenges faced by millions post-COVID-19, aiming to expedite the discovery of viable treatment options.

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4. Trump Nominates Ambassador to Panama Amid Panama Canal Fee Dispute

In a segment blending political appointments with international trade tensions, Jeanine Herbst reported on President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of a Florida county commissioner to serve as ambassador to Panama.

Key Points:

• Kevin Marino Cabrera, the nominee, has experience with Trump's 2020 campaign and served as a Republican Florida state director.
• This nomination comes shortly after Trump floated the idea of demanding Panama return the Panama Canal if fee reductions for American ships aren’t agreed upon.
• Panama's President has firmly stated that the ownership and fees associated with the canal remain unchanged, dismissing Trump’s suggestions.

Contextual Insight: The Panama Canal is a crucial maritime route, and any disputes over fees can significantly impact international shipping and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Panama.

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5. Astronauts Celebrate Christmas from the International Space Station

Nell Greenfield Boyce shared a heartwarming account of how NASA's four astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) spent Christmas Day.

Highlights:

• The astronauts engaged in traditional holiday activities, including gazing at Earth, making private calls to family, and interacting with each other.
• They also participated in a festive celebration by releasing a holiday-themed display.

Notable Moments:

• Butch Wilmore expressed his enjoyment of the holiday preparations, stating, “One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready” (04:10).
• Sunny Williams added a playful touch by releasing floating candy canes and donning reindeer antlers (04:19).

Unexpected Developments: Originally slated for a short Boeing Starliner test flight, Williams and Wilmore found themselves in space longer than expected. NASA has now arranged for their return via a SpaceX flight scheduled for late March (04:24).

This celebration underscored the human spirit's resilience and the ability to maintain traditions even in the most unconventional settings.

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6. Asian Markets Experience Mixed Trading on Christmas Day

Closing the news cycle, Jeanine Herbst reported on the financial markets' status during the holiday.

Market Insights:

• Asian markets showed a generally positive trend, with the Nikkei in Japan rising by approximately half a percent and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong increasing by 1% (04:44).
• In contrast, U.S. Futures were trading mixed due to Wall Street's closure for Christmas.

These movements reflect cautious optimism among investors in Asian economies amidst global economic uncertainties.

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Conclusion

The December 25, 2024, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a diverse array of stories, from international diplomacy and health research funding to festive celebrations both on Earth and in space. Notable quotes and firsthand reports enriched the coverage, offering a nuanced understanding of each topic. Whether addressing geopolitical developments or personal human experiences, the episode highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and the enduring spirit of humanity.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. A high ranking Syrian official says his government wants court cordial relations with Israel and would like the U.S. to help mediate that process. NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi has more.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

In a wide ranging interview with npr, the newly appointed governor of Damascus said that Syria's new government has no problems with Israel. Governor Meher Marwan said it was natural for Israel to feel fear when the new government took power, but that Syria does not want to meddle with Israel's security. HTS leader Ahmad Al Sharra has previously said the new government does not want conflict with Israel. Marwan called on the United States to influence Israel to let it know that Syrians are a people who want peace and not, quote, disputes with Israel. A U.S. official told NPR that this message has been relayed to Israeli officials. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Damascus.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Europeans celebrated Christmas in different ways across the continent. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Christmas Day Mass was celebrated at Paris Notre Dame Cathedral. For the first time in six years.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Parisians were able to attend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been restored since the 2019 fire and just reopened across the English Channel. In Britain, King Charles gave his annual Christmas message from the chapel of a former hospital rather than from a royal palace to thank medical workers who helped treat him and the Princess of Wales after they were diagnosed with cancer. In Rome, Pope Francis called for peace in his Christmas blessing to thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square. The pope asked that ceasefires be put in place where wars rage and that world leaders forgive the debts that, quote, burden the poorest countries. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The National Institutes of health is investing $300 million for the study of treatments for Long Covid. The funds will be allocated over the next four years. Sarah Boden from member station WESA reports this after major efforts by patients to pressure the agency to fund more clinical trials.

[Megan Stone]

People have been suffering for years with Long Covid, and patients say that the pace of the NIH's search for new treatments has been too slow and the $300 million probably isn't enough money to produce a new drug. Megan Stone is the executive director of the Long Covid campaign.

[Unnamed NIH Representative]

What's critical when you have limited funding that doesn't yet match. The scale of the problem is that those investments are even smarter, and that includes labs and researchers working on Long Covid that the NIH hasn't traditionally funded.

[Megan Stone]

The NIH says it understands the urgency urgency for Long Covid treatments. But first, scientists needed a solid understanding of Long Covid's biological mechanisms. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Bowden.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall street was closed today in observance of Christmas. US Futures contracts are trading mixed. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President elect Donald Trump is nominating a Florida county commissioner to serve as ambassador to Panama. Kevin Marino Cabrera worked for the Trump campaign in 2020 and was a Republican Florida state director this year. This just days after Trump suggested that the US could demand the return of the Panama Canal if the country didn't reduce the fees it charges American ships for using it. Panama owns the canal, and its president says that's not changing. NASA says its four astronauts at the International Space Station spent Christmas Day gazing down at Earth, having private calls with their families and spending time with their colleagues. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports. The astronauts also beamed down a holiday.

[Sunny Williams]

The four astronauts gathered together in front of the camera next to a small green Christmas tree.

[Butch Wilmore]

Merry Christmas.

[Sunny Williams]

Three of them wore red Santa hats. Sunny Williams had on reindeer antlers. She let go of a handful of candy canes, which floated around.

[Butch Wilmore]

One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready.

[Sunny Williams]

She and her colleague Butch Wilmore weren't expecting to spend this holiday season in space. They went up in June on what was supposed to be a short test flight of Boeing's Starliner NASA. NASA decided they'll come home on a SpaceX flight, which is now scheduled for late March. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Asian markets are trading higher at this hour than Nikkei. The main market in Japan is up about a half percent. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong is up 1%. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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