NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 3AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. It's unclear right now what's happening in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, but there's a lot of activity underway, as the BBC's Will Grant tells us. There were numerous sort of near-simultaneous explosions in several places across Caracas. They include military installations, including La Calotta. Now, that's a military airfield right in the center of the city and the main military base called Fuetituna. The blast began around 2 a.m. local time this morning. Columbia President Gustavo Petro, meanwhile, says on social media that's what's happening in Caracas amounts to an attack.

He's calling for an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Firefighters are continuing to battle a massive five-alarm fire in the Cherry Creek area of Denver at this hour. The fire began at a apartment complex under construction, and it spread to cover an entire city block. Nearby residents have been evacuated and a shelter has been opened and nearby Glenville. Police are telling people to stay away from the area. One firefighter has been injured, but so far, there are no other reports of injuries. Officials in Switzerland say they now have a possible cause for a fire and a bar at the ski resort of Cranes, Montana on New Year's Eve. The fire killed at least 40 people and injured 119 others.

Everything leads us to believe that the fire began. from candles or sparklers that were put on champagne bottles and all of this was placed too closely to the roof, or the ceiling, rather. And that's when there was a flashover that took place in this establishment. Local prosecutor Beatrice Pellot says once the fire began, it spread rapidly across the room, investigators are looking at soundproofing on the ceiling that may have not met building regulations. Federal authorities say they stopped an alleged ISIS-inspired attack on New Year's Eve.

The attack was planned for a town near Charlotte, North Carolina. Officials say an 18-year-old suspect is in custody, NPR's Ryan Lucas has more. Authorities say the defendant Christian Sturdivant was plotting to use knives in a hammer to carry out an attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Court papers say Sturdivant had been in touch about his plans with two individuals who he thought were members of ISIS but were in fact undercover law enforcement officers. He allegedly pledged allegiance to the terrorist group as well.

The FBI conducted a court-authorized search of Sturdivant's home where they found knives in a hammer under his bed as well as a document that allegedly contained detailed plans for an attack. He was arrested on New Year's Eve before any attack took place. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News. A grandmother and her five-year-old grandson have died in Gaza after their tent caught fire. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are living in difficult conditions in Gaza using makeshift materials for housing as bitterly cold weather settles over the region.

And aid groups say not enough shelter materials are making their way to Gaza as an Israeli blockade of border crossings into the region continues. Prediction market apps are expected to surge this year ahead of midterm elections. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, the Biden administration tried to shut down election betting, but Trump officials are welcoming the services. Billions of dollars and bets are happening every week on Kauci and Pauley Market. It's mostly sports, but politics is a growing category. The apps are regulated by the Commodity Future Trading Commission after arguing they are not gambling, but a futures contract.

Carl Lockhart is a law professor who studies prediction markets at DePaul University. He says the apps are gambling. under a different name. It's a combination of technology being addictive, and then on top of that, you know, these apps and the actual game of gambling being addictive, right? So you basically have this sort of addiction squared situation. The election watchers say the apps invite rich backers and foreign actors to pour money into an election bet to change opinions, perceptions, or even how people vote. Bobby Allen and PR News. Johnny's electric vehicle maker, BYD, has taken the title as the world's best-selling EV

B-Y-D sold 2.26 million vehicles last year, well more than 1.64 million sold by Tesla. Tesla's sales this year dropped 9% over last year. Updating this hour's top story, explosions are being heard in the capital city of Venezuela. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.