NPR News: 12-25-2024 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 25, 2024, 12 PM EST – Detailed Summary

Nora Ramm hosts the latest edition of NPR News Now, delivering a comprehensive overview of significant global and national events. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and structured for clarity.

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1. Christians Celebrate First Christmas After Assad’s Fall

Nora Ramm introduces a poignant story from Damascus, Syria, focusing on the Christian community's experience during their first Christmas since the fall of the Assad regime.

• Dia Hadid reports that "the pews were barely half full in one of Syria's most important churches." ([00:35])

• The diminished attendance raises concerns about whether Christians are avoiding church out of fear or due to a long-term exodus caused by nearly fifteen years of war.

• The conflict ceased abruptly in December when Muslim rebels, led by the group HTS, overran Damascus. Ahmad Al Shararra, leader of HTS and Syria’s interim ruler, has assured that minorities, including Christians, "will be safe and protected."

• Despite official assurances, Christians remain apprehensive about potential targeting by extremists within the rebel factions.

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2. Azerbaijani Airliner Crashes in Kazakhstan

Nora Ramm reports a tragic aviation incident involving an Azerbaijani airliner.

• The flight, carrying 67 passengers from Baku to Grozy, Kazakhstan, crashed, resulting in 32 survivors and over 30 fatalities. ([01:18])

• Russia’s aviation watchdog suggests a possible bird strike as the cause of the crash.

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3. President Biden Commutes Death Penalty Sentences

The administration takes a significant step regarding federal prisoners on death row.

• President Biden has commuted the sentences of dozens of federal inmates, altering their status to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. ([01:18])

• Era, Executive Director of Death Penalty Action, emphasizes the impact on victims' families:

  "That's the problem with the death penalty and what it does to victim families. Where there's a death sentence in their case, it forces this ongoing revisit of that most painful moment in their lifetime and it forces them to live in that space." ([02:01])

• Era further comments on the broader implications:

  "He says there are still some people eligible for execution whose lives should be spared." ([02:16])

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4. Low Uptake on Pardon for Gay Veterans

Nora Ramm explores the challenges faced by gay veterans seeking pardons for being discharged from the military.

• The Biden administration introduced a pardon in June for veterans expelled due to homosexuality, a consequence of policies repealed in 2011 that led to thousands of discharges without benefits or honors. ([02:16])

• Quill Lawrence reports:

  "Advocates say only a handful of veterans have accessed the pardon since it was issued in June because of daunting Pentagon red tape." ([02:35])

• The Pentagon has not disclosed the exact number of pardons granted. Conversely, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a more accessible process for veterans to claim healthcare and benefits earned during their service.

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5. National Menorah Lighting Marks First Night of Hanukkah

Celebrations take place in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the first night of Hanukkah.

• Jason DeRose details the event:

  "Prior to the Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse, there's a short concert featuring, among others, the musical group the Three Cantors and the Jewish pop rock group the 8th Day." ([03:27])

• A musical performance includes the song:

  "Blow smoke in the face of darkness. Set fires to burn up the night. Tell everyone, tell all your stories. Be a miracle of light." ([03:36])

• This marks the 46th annual National Menorah Lighting, privately sponsored by Chabad, featuring activities like dancing dreidels and essay contest readings titled "What Hanukkah Means to Me."

• For accessibility, the event is also live-streamed, ensuring broader participation. ([03:45])

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6. Weather Forecast for Christmas Day

Nora Ramm provides an overview of the expected weather conditions across the United States.

• Contrary to the last white Christmas nearly fifteen years ago, the National Weather Service indicates limited regions will experience snowfall this year. ([04:06])

• Likely snow regions include:

  • New York
  • Northern New England
  • Areas around the Great Lakes
  • Northern California
  • Utah

• The majority of the country is anticipating milder than average temperatures.

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7. Astronauts Celebrate Christmas on the International Space Station

An extraordinary Christmas celebration unfolds aboard the ISS with four NASA astronauts.

• The crew, including two who had not anticipated an extended stay, arrived in June aboard Boeing's Starliner for what was intended to be a short test flight.

• Technical issues have prolonged their mission, now slated to return in late March via a SpaceX flight. ([04:06])

• This unexpected extension highlights the challenges and unpredictabilities of space missions, as the astronauts make the most of their time in orbit during the holiday season.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and insightful coverage of global and national events, ensuring listeners remain informed and engaged.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Christians in Syria are celebrating their first Christmas after the fall of the Assad regime. For many, it's a time of uncertainty, as NPR's Dia Hadid reports from Damascus.

[Dia Hadid]

The pews were barely half full in one of Syria's most important churches. It wasn't clear if worshippers were staying away out of fear or whether the bare pews simply reflected a years long exodus of Christians from Syria amid nearly a decade and a half of war. Syria's war ended abruptly earlier in December after Muslim rebels led by group HTS overran Damascus. The group's leader and Syria's interim ruler Ahmad Al Shararra, says that Syria's large minorities, including Christians, will be safe and protected. But Christians worry that extremists among the rebels will target them and their churches. Dear Hadid, NPR News, Damascus.

[Nora Ramm]

An azerbaijani airliner with 67 people aboard crashed in Kazakhstan today. Officials say 32 people survived and have been rescued. It's feared more than 30 people people died in the crash. The plane was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozy. Russia's aviation watchdog says the plane may have encountered a bird strike. President Biden has commuted the sentences of dozens of federal prisoners on death row. They'll now serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

[Dia Hadid]

Era.

[Nora Ramm]

He is executive director of Death Penalty Action, which opposes capital punishment. He says the death penalty hurts the victims families as well.

[Era]

That's the problem with the death penalty and what it does to victim families. Where there's a death sentence in their case is it forces this ongoing revisit of that most painful moment in their lifetime and it forces them to live in that space.

[Nora Ramm]

He says there are still some people eligible for execution whose lives should be spared. The Biden administration has been touting a pardon back in June for veterans kicked out of the military for homosexuality, but but very few vets have been able to use it. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports.

[Quill Lawrence]

Before laws were repealed in 2011, tens of thousands of Americans got kicked out of the military for being gay, leaving them with no military benefits or honors. In connection with other clemency granted this month, the White House has mentioned a blanket pardon of gay vets, but advocates say only a handful of veterans have accessed the pardon since it was issued in June because of daunting Pentagon red tape. The Pentagon did not respond to NPR's query about the exact number. The Department of Veterans affairs has a relatively much easier process and has encouraged gay veterans of any era to contact va, where they can likely qualify for health care and benefits they earned for serving in the military. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News. The National Manora Lighting takes place this afternoon in front of the White House, marking the first night of Hanukkah. NPR's Jason DeRose reports.

[Jason DeRose]

Prior to the Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse, there's a short concert featuring, among others, the musical group the Three Cantors and the Jewish pop rock group the 8th Day.

[Unknown]

Blow Smoke in the face of darkness. Set fires to burn up the night. Tell every, tell all your stories. Be a miracle of light.

[Jason DeRose]

This is the 46th annual National Menorah Lighting. It's sponsored privately by Chabad. The celebration also includes dancing dreidels and readings by winners of the what Hanukkah Means to Me essay contest. For those who can't make it to the event in person, the National Menorah Lighting is also being live streamed. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The last time a large portion of the US had snow on Christmas Day was almost 15 years ago. The National Weather Service says it's not happening this year. Forecasters say New York, northern New England and areas around the Great Lakes are likely to have a white Christmas, as well as parts of Northern California and Utah. Other parts of the country are expecting mild than average temperatures today. Four NASA astronauts are celebrating Christmas Day in space aboard the International Space Station. Two of them hadn't expected to still be there. They flew there in June on Boeing's Starliner for what was supposed to be a short test flight, but problems kept them on the space station. Now they are to return in late March on a SpaceX flight. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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