NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-15-2024 1AM EST

Episode Date: November 15, 2024

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This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University performs breakthrough research every year, making discoveries that improve human health, combat climate change, and move society forward. More at iu.edu slash forward. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. President-elect Donald Trump has named former campaign rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ahead the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump praised Kennedy Thursday while speaking at his resort in Florida. We want you to come up with things and ideas and what you've been talking about for a long time and I think you're going to do some unbelievable things.

Nobody's going to be able to do it like you. Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic and critic of U.S. health care policies. He's also promoted conspiracy theories, including claims that COVID-19 was a virus that was created in order to target certain ethnic groups. President-elect Trump has named his personal attorney Todd Blanch to serve as the number two official

at the Justice Department. And Paris Ryan Lucas has more. Todd Blanch is serve as the number two official at the Justice Department. And Paris Ryan Lucas has more. Todd Blanch is a former federal prosecutor. He worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan for several years before moving into private practice as a white collar defense attorney. He represented Trump in several of his recent legal cases, including as the lead attorney in the criminal trial in New York State Court where a jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts. In a statement announcing his decision, Trump called Blanche, quote, an excellent attorney

who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department. Trump has also tapped another former prosecutor who recently worked on Trump's legal defense, Emile Beauvais, for a top job at the department. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. The Biden administration has issued guidelines for using artificial intelligence in U.S. water systems and other critical infrastructure. Private industry would have to adopt and implement the guidelines,

which were crafted with advice from the department's A.I. Intelligence, Safety and Security Board. Department of Homeland Security recommends that A.I. developers evaluate the potential harm in their products. and Security Board. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that AI developers evaluate the potential harm in their products. Negotiators at the UN Climate Conference are trying to hammer out a funding agreement to help developing nations deal with global warming. NPR's Michael Copley reports that the talks are moving slowly. The president of this year's meeting, Mukhtar Babayev, says money is urgently needed to

cut climate pollution and protect people from worsening disasters. We must act now. Failure to do so will have grave human and economic costs. But leaders are struggling to agree on a plan to aid developing nations, says EU negotiator Jacob Wurksman. It's hard to see exactly where the landing grounds lie at the moment. Developing countries want more than a trillion dollars a year from their wealthier neighbors. later Jacob Workman. It's hard to see exactly where the landing grounds lie at the moment. Developing countries want more than a trillion dollars a year from their wealthier neighbors. A sharp increase from current levels, but still just a portion of what researchers say

they need. Michael Copley, NPR News. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell says that inflation is inching closer to the central bank's target of 2 percent. Powell says the Fed will likely cut its key rate in the coming months. Many economists are predicting that Fed rates will be cut another quarter of a percentage point by the end of the year. This is NPR.

Virginia-based meat processor Smithfield has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations of child labor violations. The Minnesota Department of Labor says it found at least 11 kids at the Smithfield plant in St. James from April 2021 through April of last year. The department says the minors ranged in age from 14 to 17. Smithfield denies hiring any minors on purpose. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is moving forward with a plan to impose a fee on motorists who drive in the busiest parts of Manhattan.

Hochul praised the congestion pricing program in June shortly before it was originally set to launch. Stephen Nesson of member station WNYC has more. Stephen Nesson, WNYC News Anchor Governor Hochul paused the original plan, saying with inflation and the high cost of living, a $15 daily toll was too high. Now, she wants to relaunch it and charge vehicles that drive in Manhattan, south of 60th Street, $9 a day. Of course, I understand how hard this is, but this is the law of the state of New York. I'm obligated to follow New York law. And I worked hard to find a creative solution to

relieve the burden on these same individuals who are struggling. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to kill the tolls once in office. In a statement, he says he respects the governor but disagrees with the decision. The tolls are expected to launch on January 5th. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Nessen in New York. U.S. futures are lower in after- after hours trading on Wall Street following Thursday's losses. On Asia Pacific market, shares are mixed at the sour, down a fraction in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

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