NPR News Now – Episode: December 29, 2024, 1PM EST

Host: Nora Ram
Release Date: December 29, 2024
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

1. Tragic Plane Crash in South Korea

[00:18] Nora Ram: A devastating incident occurred today as a plane carrying 181 people crashed while attempting to land at Muang Airport in South Korea. Authorities have confirmed only two survivors, both flight crew members in non-life-threatening condition.

[00:37] Jonathan Head (BBC): The Boeing 737, en route from Bangkok, made an emergency landing after a bird strike compromised one engine. Footage captured near the airport depicts the aircraft moving rapidly down the runway with retracted landing gear, engines scraping the tarmac before crashing into a perimeter wall and igniting. The exact reason the pilots couldn't deploy the landing gear remains unclear.

2. Rising Tensions and Leadership Challenges in Israel

[01:06] Nora Ram: In a somber development, the government has declared a week-long national mourning period. Concurrently, Palestinian authorities report that an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza health clinic resulted in at least seven fatalities. Israeli officials assert the building served as a Hamas command center. Complicating matters further, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is undergoing prostate surgery today, forcing him to postpone testimony in his ongoing corruption trial.

[01:38] Emily Fang (NPR): Netanyahu's office announced the surgery was necessary to remove a benign prostate growth and address a urinary tract infection. This isn't Netanyahu's first health setback amidst Israel's multifaceted conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, and Syria. Amid these challenges, Netanyahu, aged 75, has a history of medical procedures, including a pacemaker installation last year and hernia surgery earlier this spring. A Jerusalem court has permitted him to delay several days of his trial testimony due to his medical condition. "This means Netanyahu has had to cancel testimony he was supposed to give this week in a corruption trial against him," Fang reported from Tel Aviv.

3. Surge in Cold-Related Deaths Amid Rising Temperatures in the US

[02:22] Nora Ram: A concerning trend has emerged in the United States, with deaths linked to deep cold nearly doubling between 2017 and 2022, despite an overall rise in annual temperatures. This study, published in the journal JAMA and reported by NPR’s Martha Biebinger from WBUR, highlights the paradox of extreme weather patterns.

[02:35] Martha Biebinger: Counterintuitively, as the atmosphere warms, the US experiences more extreme heat and cold spells. "There’s been a lot of focus on health risks linked to heat, but cold is dangerous as well," explains study co-author Michael Liu. He emphasizes the importance of preparing for winter, noting, "Many, if not most of these deaths are entirely preventable as well." Increased vulnerability is attributed to a growing population aged 50 and above, coupled with rising numbers of Americans lacking stable housing. For NPR News, Martha Biebinger in Boston.

4. Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Downing Airliner

[03:16] Nora Ram: Heightened tensions in the region as Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, accuses Russia of shooting down an Azerbaijani airliner last week, asserting that ground fire from Russia's side caused the crash. While Aliyev stops short of claiming intent, he states, "It's clear the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground in Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare." The crash, which occurred in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, resulted in 38 fatalities out of 67 onboard.

5. Belgium Takes Stand Against Disposable E-Cigarettes

[03:56] Terry Schultz (NPR): Belgium is moving to become the first European Union country to ban disposable electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, effective January 1st. This regulation is part of a broader effort to tighten smoking laws. As of April 1st, the sale of tobacco products at temporary venues like festivals, as well as at large food establishments, will be prohibited starting December 31st.

New restrictions will also enhance existing limitations on smoking in public areas, including parks, sports fields, and around entrances to schools, hospitals, and public libraries. "Authorities want to discourage people from picking up the habit and to protect non-smokers from secondhand effects," explains Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbruch, who is urging the EU to standardize tobacco legislation across all 27 member countries. Reporting from Brussels, Terry Schultz for NPR News.

6. Severe Weather Strikes the Southern United States

[04:39] Nora Ram: Tornadoes have wreaked havoc overnight across Texas and Mississippi, leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power and resulting in at least two fatalities. Meteorologists warn that severe weather will persist today, with the potential for additional tornadoes in Georgia and Florida. Residents are advised to stay vigilant and prepared for continued adverse conditions.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the newsworthy topics discussed in the episode.