Loading summary
Carvana
This message comes from Carvana. With Carvana Value Tracker, you can track your car's value anytime, anywhere. Carvana will even let you know when your car's value changes with updated emails. However you value your car, know its worth with Carvana Value Tracker.
Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Syria's interior ministry says 14 of its forces have been killed in an ambush by loyalists of the former Assad regime. It happened in an area dominated by the minority Alawite community. NPR's Dia Hadid reports from Damascus. It is widely seen by other Syrians as loyal to the Assads.
Dia Hadid
This is among the most serious violence between Syrians since rebel forces led by Muslim group HTS overran Damascus in early December, toppling the decades old Assad regime. The Interior ministry said the 14 men were ambushed while, quote, performing their duties. It came after protests raged across Syria in areas dominated by Alawites who were angered by a video that showed militants desecrating an Alawite shrine and killing the men who worked there. Facebook groups for Syrian minorities shared video that claimed to show at least some Interior Ministry gunmen in Alawite areas using slurs to refer to their community. They also shared a video of a man bleeding on the street as gunmen shout at other men. Dia Hadid, NPR News, Damascus.
Korva Coleman
President Elect Trump says there are issues he'll take up the day he's sworn into office. That includes immigration. Trump says he wants to overturn the constitutional right of citizenship given to people born in the US the move appears to be aimed at those born in the US who became citizens by birthright but whose parents are living illegally in the U.S. julia Gillette is with the Migration Policy Institute. It's a nonpartisan think tank that examines migration trends worldwide. She says one effort considered by Trump allies could affect all Americans who want to get a passport.
Julia Gillette
The incoming Trump administration is saying that they might start requiring that applicants for passports or other federal documents that are issued to citizens prove that at least one of their parents was a US Citizen or a legal immigrant when that person was born.
Korva Coleman
She spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. This month, Congress passed a major bill to help military veteran caregivers. As NPR's Quill Lawrence reports, the bill will cost about a billion dollars over the next decade.
Quill Lawrence
Named for senator and military family caregiver Elizabeth Dole, the act vastly expands caregiver benefits, especially for elderly or sick veterans who prefer getting help at home. Advocates say loved ones can often do a better job than hospitals or nursing homes. Work done by military family home caregivers is estimated to save the VA tens of millions of dollars each year in recognition of the relentless nature of the work. The act also adds services for the caregivers themselves, including mental health support. The measure had been held up since last spring because it also expands access for veterans to get reimbursed for private medical care outside va. In the incoming Trump administration, use of private care outside the VA system is expected to increase. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
Korva Coleman
On Wall street, the Dow is down about 27 points. This is NPR. Today marks the 20th anniversary of a massive earthquake and tsunami that rolled across the Indian Ocean. More than 230,000 people were killed in about a dozen countries, mostly in Southeast Asia. The tsunami was so powerful, it rolled across the ocean and crashed into East Africa, killing some 300 people in Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. In Nigeria, at least 10 people are dead and more injured after after a military plane bombed two villages in the country's north. Local officials say the strike was an accident, but military officials insist only armed militants were killed. As NPR's Jewel Bright reports, officials in.
Jewel Bright
Nigeria's Sokoto state say the military jet dropped several bombs on Gidan, Bissa and Runtuwa villages in the north of the state. A spokesperson for the state government says the airstrike was targeting armed groups operating in the area, but accidentally hit civilians. Nigeria's military have refuted these claims, saying instead that only militants and their accomplices were killed in the strike. There have been no reaction from Nigeria's federal government to the conflicting accounts of the incident. Riot groups have previously accused Nigeria's military of indiscriminately attacking civilians in its fight against armed groups, a charge the military has denied. Joel Bright, NPR News, Lagos.
Korva Coleman
In the US Last evening, celebrants marked the first night of Hanukkah by lighting the national menorah in front of the White House. Speakers at the event discussed hopes for peace during this holiday, including in the Israel Hamas war. They also cited the need to come together in the US in unity to address antisemitism. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.
Carvana
Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now@plus.npr.org that's plus.nl npr.org.
NPR News Now: December 26, 2024, 11 AM EST
On December 26, 2024, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest global and national events. Hosted by Korva Coleman, the episode covered significant developments ranging from conflict in Syria to policy changes in the United States, legislative advancements for military caregivers, economic updates, and notable commemorations.
[00:17] Korva Coleman opened the episode with alarming news from Syria. She reported that the Syrian interior ministry confirmed the deaths of 14 of its forces in an ambush by loyalists of the former Assad regime. Reporting from Damascus, Dia Hadid provided context to this escalation:
“This is among the most serious violence between Syrians since rebel forces led by Muslim group HTS overran Damascus in early December, toppling the decades-old Assad regime.” [00:38]
Hadid highlighted the tension within the Alawite community, a minority group perceived by many Syrians as supportive of Assad. The violence followed protests ignited by a disturbing video showing militants desecrating an Alawite shrine and killing its staff. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook groups for Syrian minorities, circulated footage depicting Interior Ministry gunmen using derogatory language against the Alawite community and scenes of gunfire in public areas. This unrest underscores the fragile security situation in Syria post-Assad.
[01:23] Moving to the United States, Korva Coleman discussed President Elect Donald Trump’s agenda, particularly his stance on immigration. Trump has indicated plans to challenge the constitutional right to citizenship for individuals born in the U.S. to parents residing illegally. Julia Gillette from the Migration Policy Institute explained the implications:
“The incoming Trump administration is saying that they might start requiring that applicants for passports or other federal documents that are issued to citizens prove that at least one of their parents was a US Citizen or a legal immigrant when that person was born.” [01:57]
This proposed policy could affect millions, potentially requiring proof of parental legal status for obtaining passports, thereby targeting birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants. The Migration Policy Institute emphasizes that such measures might not only impact immigrants but all American citizens seeking federal documentation.
[02:12] In legislative news, Coleman announced the passage of a significant bill aimed at supporting military veteran caregivers. Quill Lawrence from NPR detailed the provisions of the act, named in honor of Senator Elizabeth Dole:
“The act vastly expands caregiver benefits, especially for elderly or sick veterans who prefer getting help at home.” [02:26]
The Elizabeth Dole Caregiver Support Act allocates approximately one billion dollars over the next decade to provide comprehensive support to family members caring for veterans. Benefits include enhanced financial assistance, expanded services, and mental health support for caregivers. Advocates praised the measure for recognizing the critical role of home caregivers and the potential cost savings for the Veterans Affairs (VA) system by reducing reliance on institutional care. The bill also facilitates reimbursement for private medical care, anticipating increased use under the Trump administration.
[03:10] Shifting to economic and international news, Coleman reported a slight downturn in the stock market:
“On Wall Street, the Dow is down about 27 points.” [03:10]
Additionally, the podcast marked the 20th anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which claimed over 230,000 lives across Southeast Asia and reached as far as East Africa, causing significant casualties in Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya.
In conflict-related news, Nigeria experienced a tragic incident involving a military aircraft. Jewel Bright reported:
“Nigeria's Sokoto state says the military jet dropped several bombs on Gidan, Bissa, and Runtuwa villages in the north of the state. A spokesperson for the state government says the airstrike was targeting armed groups operating in the area, but accidentally hit civilians.” [03:54]
The Nigerian military has contested these claims, asserting that only militants were affected. This incident has sparked ongoing debates about the military's conduct and its impact on civilian populations, with no official response from the federal government to the conflicting reports.
[04:34] Concluding the episode on a cultural note, Coleman reported on the first night of Hanukkah celebrations:
“Celebrants marked the first night of Hanukkah by lighting the national menorah in front of the White House. Speakers at the event discussed hopes for peace during this holiday, including in the Israel-Hamas war. They also cited the need to come together in the US in unity to address antisemitism.” [04:34]
The lighting ceremony emphasized themes of peace and unity, reflecting broader societal efforts to combat antisemitism and support stability in conflict zones such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas tensions.
Conclusion
NPR News Now’s December 26, 2024, episode provided listeners with a succinct yet thorough overview of pressing issues globally and domestically. From the volatile situation in Syria and potential shifts in U.S. immigration policy to new legislative support for veteran caregivers and commemorative cultural events, the broadcast encapsulated a wide array of topics essential for understanding the current news landscape.