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This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply details@capital1.com Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst.
Jeanine Herbst
President Trump says last night's strikes targeting ISIS in northwest Nigeria were a powerful and deadly response to militants there attacking and killing Christians. The Christmas Day strikes were done in cooperation with Nigeria's government, but Nigerian authorities say militants launched strikes against all religious groups. An insurgency has gone on in the country for more than 10 years, killing thousands of both Christians and Muslims. Imperial's Emmanuel Akinwotu has more.
Emmanuel Akinwotu
Really, the most dominant factor for insecurity is geography and not religion. That's not to say that Christians don't face specific threats. Christians are definitely being targeted. It's definitely been a very difficult period for Christians, especially in north and central Nigeria, as insecurity in the country has gotten worse. But whether they are being targeted more than other groups are, I think that's heavily disputed.
Jeanine Herbst
Empira's Emmanuel Akinwotu from Lagos, Nigeria. Israel has become the first country to recognize Somaliland, according to a breakaway region of Somalia. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Other countries in the region, though, are denouncing the move.
Michelle Kellerman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the leader of Somaliland to visit Israel and says he'll seek immediate cooperation on agriculture, health and technology. The two have also agreed to exchange. Ambassadors Somalia, Egypt and Turkey condemn the move, arguing that recognizing a breakaway region is a threat to international peace and security. Somaliland broke away in as Somalia descended into civil war, Somaliland's leader says he will join the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals with Israel that started in the first Trump administration. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Jeanine Herbst
The deadline for buying individual health insurance on healthcare.gov is still a few weeks away. Enrollment so far is only slightly lower than this time last year, but as NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, the final enrollment numbers could still change because of spiking premiums.
Selena Simmons Duffin
In 2025, enrollment on the Affordable Care act exchanges hit a record 24 million. But enhanced federal subsidies are expiring at the end of December, which will force millions to pay more out of pocket for their coverage. In a post on X, Federal health official Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote that enrollment on healthcare.gov stands at 15.6 million, a small drop compared to last December. Oz did not mention the expiring subsidies, although that's been a political battle for months. He said that anti fraud measures expl the slight decrease. Health policy experts point out that many people have let their enrollment automatically renew, but they may drop their coverage in January if they find they can't afford their new premiums. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.
Jeanine Herbst
You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Virginia, Dominion Energy is asking a judge for a temporary restraining order, part of its lawsuit against the Trump administration over its order to halt construction of their offshore wind project, along with four others over national security concerns. The Richmond based company says the government's order is arbitrary and capricious and unconstitutional. Dominion says its wind project is essential in meeting the growing energy needs of dozens of new data centers. U.S. district Judge Jamar Walker said a hearing on Monday on Dominion's temporary restraining order request. Musician Perry Bamonte has died for decades. He played bass, guitar and keyboard in the seminal goth band the Cure. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento has more.
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento
Perry Bamonte was a roadie and guitar tech for the Cure for years before he became a full time member of the band in 1990. He played keyboard and six string bass on several albums, including the 1992 commercial hit Wish. Vimonte parted ways with the Cure in 2005, but he reunited with his bandmates in recent years. He performed his last concert with the group in the fall of 2024. Vicure shared the news of Amonte's death on its website, writing that he was, quote, quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News, Wall street.
Jeanine Herbst
Lower by the closing bell, the Dow down 20 points. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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This message is from Give Directly, a nonprofit that sends cash directly to the world's poorest people. Pods Fight Poverty is supporting 700 families in Rwanda, with donations matched through December 31st. Visit GiveDirectly.org podcast.
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Length: 5 minutes
Date: December 26, 2025
Format: Rapid-fire update on top news stories
This concise NPR News Now episode delivers major global and national headlines, highlighting overnight military action in Nigeria, international diplomatic developments concerning Somaliland, U.S. healthcare enrollment challenges, legal battles over Virginia wind projects, and a tribute to a late member of The Cure.
[00:20]
[01:14]
[02:10]
[03:12]
[04:07]
[04:47]
"Really, the most dominant factor for insecurity is geography and not religion... that's not to say that Christians don't face specific threats."
— Emmanuel Akinwotu, [00:49]
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the leader of Somaliland to visit Israel and says he'll seek immediate cooperation on agriculture, health and technology."
— Michelle Kellerman, [01:31]
"He played keyboard and six string bass on several albums, including the 1992 commercial hit Wish."
— Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, [04:07]
This NPR News Now episode provided a rapid yet nuanced look at urgent world events, political dilemmas, and pop culture losses, maintaining the network’s calm and factual tone.