NPR News Now: December 26, 2024, 5 PM EST

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

1. President Biden Vetoes Federal Judgeships Bill

Overview: President Joe Biden has exercised his veto power against a bill aimed at creating 66 new federal judgeships over the next three presidential terms. This move has sparked debate among lawmakers regarding the management of the judiciary and the ongoing backlog of cases.

Details: The bill, which had garnered strong bipartisan support in the Senate during the summer, faced delays in the House, particularly after Donald Trump's victory in November. President Biden cited concerns over the allocation process of the new judgeships in his veto message, describing the House’s handling of the bill as "hurried" and inadequate in addressing key questions about judge distribution.

Notable Quote: Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana and the bill's lead author, criticized the veto, stating, “Issuing this veto is partisan politics at its worst” [00:38].

2. WHO Director Survives Airstrike in Yemen

Overview: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesa, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), narrowly escaped injury during Israeli airstrikes at Yemen’s Sana'a Airport. The attack has heightened tensions in an already volatile region.

Details: While preparing to board a flight in Sana'a, Dr. Tedros witnessed the airport being bombed, resulting in injuries to a crew member and the deaths of two others. The strike damaged critical infrastructure, including the air traffic control tower and the runway. Dr. Tedros was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and assess the country’s dire humanitarian needs.

Notable Quote: Dr. Tedros recounted the incident, saying, “I was just about to board a plane in the Yemeni city of Sana'a when the airport came under bombardment” [01:28].

Context: Israel has stated that the strikes targeted Houthi leaders and infrastructure in response to persistent missile attacks originating from Yemen towards Israel, escalating the conflict that intensified following last year’s war in Gaza.

3. Nigeria Faces Severe Economic Crisis Amidst Unrest

Overview: Nigeria is grappling with its most severe economic crisis in decades, marked by soaring inflation and widespread hardship. The situation has led to social unrest, including deadly stampedes at charity events.

Details: Despite recent reports of economic growth, the Central Bank of Nigeria has reported an inflation rate of 34%, making essential goods like food and energy increasingly unaffordable for the populace. This economic strain has resulted in public frustration and tragic incidents during charity distributions.

Notable Incident: Local authorities reported that approximately 60 people lost their lives in three separate stampedes at charity events across the country. In Ibadan, a city near Lagos, a charity event intended to aid children turned tragic when around 35 children died amidst the chaos [02:37].

4. Wall Street Closes Mixed; FDA Ends Zepbound Shortage

Overview: The stock market experienced mixed results amid a holiday-shortened trading week, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the resolution of a significant drug shortage affecting obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments.

Market Summary: By the close of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had risen by 28 points, whereas the NASDAQ fell by 10 points, and the S&P 500 declined by 2 points [03:02].

Drug Shortage Resolution: The FDA has lifted the official shortage status of Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro after a lawsuit prompted a reassessment of the situation. Despite some patients experiencing difficulties in obtaining prescriptions recently, the FDA concluded that the shortage has been adequately addressed.

Details: The agency based its decision on comprehensive data, including manufacturer inventory and projected demand. Additionally, the FDA consulted with patients, healthcare providers, and compounding pharmacies, which had been temporarily producing copies of the drugs during the shortage. Moving forward, these pharmacies will cease production of the copies [03:38].

5. Tensions Escalate in the Baltic Sea Over Infrastructure Sabotage

Overview: Finnish authorities have detained a Russian-linked ship amid investigations into damage caused to critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, exacerbating tensions between Finland and Russia.

Details: The ship was apprehended after damaging the S Line 2 undersea power cable, which facilitates electricity transmission between Finland and Estonia. Additionally, several data cables were compromised, disrupting key communications and power supplies. Finnish officials have labeled the act as aggravated vandalism, raising concerns over the security of underwater infrastructure.

Context: This incident is part of a series of disruptions affecting vital underwater cables in the region. Reports indicate an increased presence of Russian ships in both the Baltic and North Seas, intensifying scrutiny over their activities related to the protection and potential targeting of critical infrastructure beneath the ocean’s surface [04:18].

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