NPR News: 12-28-2024 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of December 28, 2024 Episode

Release Date: December 28, 2024
Host: Dale Willman
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

1. Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Hospital

Timestamp: [00:19] – [00:44]

In a concerning escalation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the United Nations reported that the Israeli military launched an airstrike targeting the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza governorate overnight. UN spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay stated:

“An airstrike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in north Gaza governorate last night reportedly killed dozens of people, including health workers. Today, we are also told by our colleagues that staff, patients and their companions were forced out of the facility.”
[00:28]

Further details from the Gaza Health Ministry revealed that Israeli troops compelled patients and hospital staff to evacuate the premises and remove their clothing. In response, the Israeli military asserted that the hospital was being used as a base by Hamas fighters, a claim lacking concrete evidence. Hospital officials have vehemently denied these allegations and highlighted that the facility has been subjected to multiple attacks over the past three months without substantiating the military's claims.

2. U.S. Homelessness Reaches New High

Timestamp: [00:44] – [01:43]

The United States is grappling with a surge in homelessness, with the latest federal count revealing over 770,000 individuals experiencing homelessness—a record high reflecting an 18% increase from the previous year. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reported:

“The homelessness count is up a whopping 18% from last year.”
[01:24]

Jeff Olivet, who recently resigned as head of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, commented on the persistent struggles faced by families and individuals:

“A lot of families, a lot of households, a lot of individuals are still struggling. I think we're still in for deeply poor people, a real recovery from the pandemic.”
[01:34]

Despite the grim numbers, Ludden noted that the January count might not fully capture recent improvements. Factors such as a reduction in migrant influx following President Biden's policy adjustments on asylum seekers and stabilization or decrease in rising rents in cities like Denver and Chicago may have contributed to a potential decline in homelessness since the count.

3. Stock Market Ends Week Slightly Up Despite Tech Slump

Timestamp: [02:07] – [02:19]

The stock market concluded a notably quiet week with modest gains, even after a slight downturn on Friday. NPR's Rafael Nam provided insights into the market dynamics:

“Many investors are off during the holidays, and those who remain are mainly paying attention to whether markets will experience the Santa Claus rally.”
[02:19]

While the period between Christmas and the New Year traditionally favors a Santa Claus rally—characterized by positive stock performance—this year's outlook remains uncertain. Although the markets initiated the week on a strong note, momentum waned towards the end, primarily due to a retreat in technology stocks. Nevertheless, major indices ended the week on an uptrend, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average breaking a three-week losing streak.

4. Fatal Traffic Collision in Mexico's Gulf Coast

Timestamp: [02:58] – [03:44]

A tragic accident occurred on Mexico's Gulf Coast when a bus collided with a truck near the state Capitol highway. The collision resulted in eight fatalities and left 27 individuals injured, who are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals. Authorities are actively investigating the causes of this devastating incident.

5. Holiday Travel Disruptions in the UK Due to Fog

Timestamp: [02:58] – [03:44]

Holiday travelers navigating through the United Kingdom faced significant delays on Friday due to widespread fog conditions affecting three major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick in London, and Manchester Airport. Despite the challenging weather, a spokesperson from Manchester Airport assured passengers that most delays were brief and manageable, minimizing prolonged disruptions.

6. Olivia Hussey, Star of "Romeo and Juliet," Passes Away

Timestamp: [02:58] – [04:30]

The entertainment world mourns the loss of Olivia Hussey, the Argentinian-born actress renowned for her iconic role as Juliet in the 1968 Shakespearean classic "Romeo and Juliet." Steve Futterman reported:

“Hussey burst upon the big screen in 1968 as a fresh teenager. She was just 15 years old when she was cast to play Juliet in the Shakespeare classic oh Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo? It was a worldwide success.”
[03:44]

Hussey's performance earned her a Golden Globe for Most Promising Female Newcomer. Her illustrious career included roles in films like the cult classic "Black Christmas" and "Death on the Nile." In recent years, Hussey had stood by the integrity of her groundbreaking yet brief nude scene in "Romeo and Juliet." However, she was also involved in a significant legal battle last year, being part of a $500 million lawsuit against Paramount Pictures alleging sexual harassment and abuse, which was ultimately dismissed.

7. College Sports Highlights: Vanderbilt, Navy, and More Triumph

Timestamp: [04:30] – [04:58]

In the realm of college sports, several teams secured notable victories:

• Vanderbilt celebrated its first winning season since 2013 with a 35-27 triumph over Georgia Tech, featuring Diego Pavia's impressive three touchdown passes.
• Navy's Blake Horvath set a school record with a 95-yard touchdown run, leading the midshipmen to a close 21-20 victory over Oklahoma.
• Syracuse dominated Washington State with a 52-35 win.
• Arkansas overcame Texas Tech decisively, ending the game 39-6.
• USC edged out Texas A&M in a high-scoring match, finishing at 35-31.

These victories mark significant achievements for the respective programs, highlighting outstanding individual performances and team resilience.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key news segments from NPR's December 28, 2024, episode, providing listeners with an informative overview of the day's major events and developments.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The UN Says the Israeli military launched an airstrike in north Gaza overnight and troops raided a hospital.

[Stephanie Tremblay]

An airstrike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in north Gaza governorate last night reportedly killed dozens of people, including health workers. Today, we are also told by our colleagues that staff, patients and their companions were forced out of the facility.

[Dale Willman]

That's UN spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay. The Gaza Health Ministry says once the patients and staff were taken outside, Israeli troops forced them to remove their clothes. Israel's military says the hospital is used by Hamas fighters as a base, but it's not offered any evidence of that. Hospital officials have denied the charge. Hospital officials also say the facility has been hit many times in the past three months. The number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has hit another record high, reaching more than 770,000. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, the annual federal count cites high housing costs and the recent surge in migrants as key factors behind that rise.

[Jennifer Ludden]

The homelessness count is up a whopping 18% from last year. Jeff Olivet recently stepped down as head of the U.S. interagent Council on Homelessness.

[Jeff Olivet]

A lot of families, a lot of households, a lot of individuals are still struggling. I think we're still in for deeply poor people, a real recovery from the pandemic.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Still, the count is made in January, and the federal housing agency that puts it out says it's likely the numbers have come down since then. Denver and Chicago, for example, saw a big drop in migrants after President Biden limited asylum seekers at the border. And in some places, they note, rising rents have finally stabilized or even dropped. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

Stocks ended a very quiet week with mild gains despite falling on Friday. As NPR's Rafael Nam reports, the period between Christmas and the start of the new year is traditionally a good one.

[Rafael Nam]

Many investors are off during the holidays, and those who remain are mainly paying attention to whether markets will experience the Santa Claus rally. Stocks have usually done well in the last five trading sessions of the year and the first two of the new year. But so far the picture is mixed on whether we'll see a Santa Claus rally this year. Although markets started the week strongly, they lost momentum as the week ended, mainly as technology stocks retreated. But the main indexes still rose for the week with the Dow Jones ending a three week losing streak. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Police in Mexico are investigating what caused a bus and a truck to collide Friday morning on Mexico's Gulf Coast. Eight people were killed in that accident and 27 others were injured and are being treated at local hospitals. The collision took place in a stretch of highway near the state Capitol. You're listening to NPR News. Holiday travelers to and from the UK Faced some major delays on Friday. Widespread fog was affecting air travel at three major airports here, Heathrow and Gatwick in London and Manchester Airport. A spokesperson for the Manchester airport, though, says most of the delays were short. Argentinian born actress Olivia Hussey, who first gained fame as a 16 year old in Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 73. We have more from Steve Futterman.

[Steve Futterman]

Hussey burst upon the big screen in 1968 as a fresh teenager. She was just 15 years old when she was cast to play Juliet in the Shakespeare classic oh Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo? It was a worldwide success. Hussie won a Golden Globe for most promising female newcomer. She would appear in numerous other films, including the cult classic slasher film Black Christmas and Death on the Nile. Although for years Hussey defended a brief nude scene in Romeo and Juliet, last year, she was part of a $500 million lawsuit accusing Paramount Pictures of sexual harassment and abuse. The lawsuit was later dismissed. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Dale Willman]

Vanderbilt got its first winning season since 2013 with a 3527 win Friday over Georgia Tech. Diego Pavia threw three touchdown passes in the win. Blake Horvath, meanwhile, set a record for Navy with 95 yard touchdown run as the midshipman beat Oklahoma 21 to 20. Syracuse beat Washington State 52 to 35, Arkansas beat Texas Tech 39 to 6 and USC beat Texas A&M 35 to 31. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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