NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

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Noor Ram, NPR News. Noor Ram, NPR News. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Ram. A motorcade is making its way through Georgia carrying the remains of President Jimmy Carter, who died last Sunday at the age of 100. Members of his family are accompanying the flag-draped casket. Former members of the Secret Service, who had protected him during his presidency, are serving as pallbearers.

Steve Futterman reports. Steve Futterman, NPR News. Some people here who have come are carrying signs. I see one sign that says, you were one of us. Other people are carrying American flags. Some people seem to be saying prayers as the motorcade goes by. Just a very solemn moment. As the six days of commemoration begin, the former president's body has left the medical center and is now on its way to his hometown, one last trip to Plains, Georgia for Jimmy Carter. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Americas, Georgia.

Authorities are learning more about the man who slammed a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing at least 14 people before being shot dead by police. Shamsuddin Jabbar was born and raised in Texas and had served in the U.S. Army. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports the FBI now believes he was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group. In a directed attack, a terrorist organization is in contact with a person or a cell of people, say, in the United States and directs them, for example, to attack a specific target.

In an inspired attack, in contrast, there doesn't need to be any direct contact. An individual instead can say, watch or read ISIS propaganda online, come to sympathize with the group's ideology or its worldview, and then decide to carry out violence to act in the group's name on their own. NPR's Ryan Lucas, ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and Hamas are resuming once again. The negotiations taking place in Qatar stalled in recent weeks with both sides blaming each other for the lack of a deal. NPR's Carrie Khan reports from Tel Aviv.

In a rare video statement in English posted on social media, senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim says Palestinians in Gaza are suffering greatly under endless Israeli airstrikes. He called for a permanent ceasefire now to secure And deliver the necessary needs to confront the tragic circumstances, especially in the face of the cold winter season. Israel says Hamas is holding up a deal and has not released a full list of hostages it is holding in Gaza along with other demands. It says any ceasefire must be temporary. National Security Advisor John Kirby says the U.S. will stay engaged in the talks until

President Biden leaves office later this month. Kari Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News in Washington. Evacuations are underway in northeastern Ethiopia, as a long dormant volcano is showing signs of volcanic activity. Steam eruptions from Mount Dothan started Thursday. Volcanic mud flowing from the volcano has caused damage to critical infrastructure, including huge cracks on major roads.

A 17-year-old has become the youngest-ever world champion in darts. It's a sport with an annual world championship tournament. The final was last night in London. NPR's Lauren Freyer reports. A teenager is champion of the world. A former junior world champion, Luke Littler is a darts prodigy. The BBC has been broadcasting home videos of him as a toddler throwing darts before he was out of diapers. After beating a Dutch player in the final, Littler told reporters,

I just can't believe it. Walking around backstage with it, I can tell myself I've won it and it's mine, but it's not something. He's helped popularize the sport of darts. 90,000 tickets for this year's championship sold out in 15 minutes, and many fans attended the final in festive costumes. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he finds it worrying that billionaire Elon Musk supports

the far-right Alternative for Germany party in that country's parliamentary election next month. Musk, an adviser to President-elect Trump, called Scholes a fool when his coalition government collapsed in November. In a magazine interview published today, Scholes says there is nothing new in criticism by rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic policies. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.