NPR News: 12-26-2024 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 26, 2024, 4 PM EST

Hosted by NPR

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Azerbaijan Passenger Jet Crash Investigation

At 00:17, Windsor Johnston introduces a tragic incident involving an Azerbaijan passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, resulting in the loss of 38 lives. Reporter Brian Mann delves into the details, revealing that the aircraft, carrying 67 passengers, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it went down on Wednesday. Of those on board, 29 survived the harrowing crash. Mann describes the unsettling footage showing the plane flying erratically before the fiery impact.

Amidst the investigation, there is significant speculation, particularly from Ukrainian sources, suggesting that Russian anti-aircraft weaponry may have mistakenly targeted the airliner. Andriy Kovalenko, head of a think tank linked to Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, stated at 00:35, "A Russian anti-air system damaged the plane and disabled its systems." However, this claim remains unverified as NPR has not independently confirmed the analysis based on available photographs and videos of the crash.

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20th Anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Switching gears, at 01:16, Johnston marks the 20th anniversary of the devastating magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Indonesia's coast, which triggered a catastrophic tsunami affecting Southeast Asia and East Africa. Margaretta Siragar, an international aid worker, shares poignant recollections from children who experienced the disaster firsthand.

At 01:39, Siragar recounts, "Some of the children told me that they saw the waves, such a giant cobra. The current was just flowing across the coconut trees. It was even higher than the coconut trees and it was kind of like chasing them. And some even said that the clothes that they wore were torn apart by the waves because it was so strong." These vivid descriptions highlight the enduring trauma and memories carried by survivors two decades later.

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Aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina

Three months following Hurricane Helene's impact on western North Carolina's mountain communities, Johnston reports at 02:05 that thousands remain displaced. Jay Price provides an on-the-ground perspective, emphasizing the ongoing struggles faced by survivors as winter weather hampers repair efforts.

At 02:25, Price shares the story of Pinky Anderson and her 14-year-old daughter, who are among over 5,000 storm survivors currently housed in FEMA-managed hotels. Anderson expresses frustration, stating, "It's just gone on too long and we need some help. We are totally forgotten. We're not seen right now." FEMA officials are exploring long-term solutions, including mobile units and rental housing; however, the region's pre-existing affordable housing shortage complicates these efforts. Consequently, FEMA has had to subsidize rents up to twice the fair market value to accommodate displaced residents.

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President-Elect Donald Trump's Stance on Birthright Citizenship

At 03:12, amidst a brief financial update noting the Dow's 28-point increase, Johnston addresses a significant policy proposal from President-elect Donald Trump: ending automatic citizenship for individuals born in the United States. Julia Gillette from the Migration Policy Institute comments on the growing traction of this issue.

Gillette observes at 03:33, "I think that as unauthorized immigration has risen at certain periods of time, there's been more attention to what rights unauthorized immigrants have in the United States, and the right to have a child who's automatically a US Citizen is one of those rights." This proposal challenges the longstanding principle established by the 14th Amendment in 1868, which grants birthright citizenship regardless of parental status.

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Health Concerns Over Microplastics in the Human Body

Shifting to environmental health, at 03:48, Johnston introduces a report by NPR's Will Stone on the growing scientific attention towards microplastics—tiny plastic particles detected in various human organs and tissues. Stone elaborates on the potential health risks associated with microplastics.

At 04:09, Stone states, "The authors conclude that microplastics are suspected to harm reproductive, digestive and respiratory health, with a possible link to colon and lung cancer." While the accumulation of these particles in the human body is well-documented, establishing a direct causal relationship with specific health conditions remains a complex challenge. Tracy Woodruff, a UCSF researcher, adds at 04:40, "But I just want to say, in the field of environmental health, when we have concerning signals, we should be concerned." She highlights that much of the existing data originates from animal studies, making it difficult to directly apply findings to human health outcomes.

Stone reinforces the urgency of the issue, noting at 04:45, "It's already known that some chemicals in plastic can be hazardous to human health."

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Market Update

A brief financial note at 03:12 mentions that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen by 28 points, indicating positive movement in the stock market.

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End of Summary

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the NPR News Now episode released on December 26, 2024. It provides a comprehensive overview for listeners seeking to stay informed without tuning into the full broadcast.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Investigators are learning more about the crash of an Azerbaijan passenger jet that left 38 people dead. NPR's Brian Mann reports. The plane went down on Wednesday in Kazakhstan.

[Brian Mann]

There were 67 people on board when the plane went down while en route from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to the Russian city of grozny. There were 29 survivors. Video shows the plane flying erratically before the fiery crash. There is widespread speculation in Ukraine the airliner may have been hit mistakenly by Russian anti aircraft weapons. In a statement on social media, Andriy Kovalenko, head of a think tank linked to Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said a Russian anti air system, quote, damaged the plane and disabled its systems. His analysis is based on photographs and video of the crash and couldn't be independently confirmed by NPR. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Kyiv today marks 20 years since a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia. The quake triggered a tsunami that washed across the Indian Ocean, devastating parts of Southeast Asia and East Africa. Margaretta Siragar is an international aid worker. She describes stories she heard from children shortly after the tsunami hit.

[Margaretta Siragar]

Some of the children told me that they saw the waves, such a giant cobra. The current was just flowing across the coconut trees. It was even higher than the coconut trees and it was kind of like chasing them. And some even said that the clothes that they wore were was torn apart by the waves because it was so strong.

[Windsor Johnston]

Survivors and families of victims are holding vigils across more than a dozen countries today to remember their loved ones. Three months after Hurricane Helene hit the mountain communities of western North Carolina, thousands of people are still out of their homes. Jay Price reports winter weather is now slowing repair work.

[Jay Price]

Pinky Anderson and her 14 year old daughter are among more than 5,000 storm survivors FEMA still has in hotels. She's applied with FEMA and a charity group for money to fix their damaged house, but doesn't have any word yet. She says many of the 23 others in their small hotel in tiny Newland, North Carolina are in the same fix. It's just gone on too long and we need some help. We are totally forgotten. We're not seen right now. FEMA officials are trying to find longer term options for those who are displaced. It's put a few dozen so far into mobile units and more than 500 into rental housing. But the area already had a shortage of affordable housing, and FEMA is having to offer rent of up to twice the fair market value. For NPR News, I'm Jay Price on Wall Street.

[Windsor Johnston]

The dow is up 28 points. This is NPR. President elect Donald Trump has a long list of issues when he takes office. Ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the US Is one of them. Julia Gillette is with the Migration Policy Institute. She says the issue seems to be gaining traction.

[Margaretta Siragar]

I think that as unauthorized immigration has risen at certain periods of time, there's been more attention to what rights unauthorized immigrants have in the United States, and the right to have a child who's automatically a US Citizen is one of those rights.

[Windsor Johnston]

Birthright citizenship has been enshrined in the Constitution since 1868, when the 14th Amendment was ratified. Scientists are paying more attention to tiny plastic particles known as microplastics. NPR's Will Stone reports. They're detected in many different organs and tissues in the human body.

[Will Stone]

The authors conclude that microplastics are suspected to harm reproductive, digestive and respiratory health, with a possible link to colon and lung cancer. While scientists know these plastic particles are accumulating inside of us, proving a direct link to health conditions remains challenging. The review did include several studies that showed associations with concentrations of microplastics and birth weight, also chronic sinusitis. Tracy Woodruff, a UCSF researcher, says much of the data in their review came from animal animal studies, which can be hard to extrapolate from.

[Jay Price]

But I just want to say, in the field of environmental health, when we have concerning signals, we should be concerned.

[Will Stone]

It's already known that some chemicals in plastic can be hazardous to human health. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Carvana Representative]

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