NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-18-2024 12AM EST

Episode Date: November 18, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The Biden administration Sunday said it will now allow Ukraine to use its U.S.-made long-range missiles for strikes into Russia. Officials say the change came after North Korean troops began deploying along the northern

border of Ukraine in support of Russian forces. But NPR's Tom Bowman says the new permission may not offer the game-changer people are hoping for. Ukraine doesn't have many of these long- range missiles, so they'll likely have to pick their targets wisely. Things like oil depots, stocks of munitions, missile launchers and such. Here's the other thing, Great Britain and France also have these long range missiles and they were prevented from using them because they have US components and the Biden administration

had to give its approval. So we could see those countries now get the go-ahead from the U.S. That's NPR's Tom Bowman. President-elect Donald Trump is challenging the Senate to confirm three nominees some Republican senators believe are unqualified. The three controversial nominees are Pete Hegseth to lead defense, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Hegseth is a veteran and a Fox News host.

He would be the least experienced defense secretary in U.S. history and none of the three have experienced running large organizations and Pierce Marlison. Tulsi Gabbard is a former Democratic House member and a Putin apologist. Matt Gaetz is a former Republican House member who's been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for drug abuse and having sex with underage women. There's been some pushback from Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, but some other Republican senators say presidents should be able to have who they want running executive branch agencies.

Republicans will have a 53 to 47 majority in the new Senate, so they can afford to lose three votes. Mara Eliason NPR news Walmart and other big retailers will release their quarterly report cards this week and is NPR as Maria Aspen reports Investors will be closely watching those reports for updates on consumer spending Walmart is the world's largest retailer So its earnings should provide a window into how consumers are feeling about the US economy and what they're willing to spend money on. Target, Lowe's, and TJ Maxx will round out the picture days after the Commerce Department said that retail sales rose more than expected in October. Shoppers are buying

more big-ticket items like cars and electronics. They're also spending more at home and garden shops after hurricanes swept through the southeast. That may help boost Lowe's results as homeowners rebuild and repair the damage. Rival Home Depot last week reported better than expected earnings due in part to what it called hurricane demand. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Hezbollah's chief spokesperson was killed today in an Israeli airstrike on central Beirut.

Israel also bombed several buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs where Hezbollah is headquartered. In Gaza, meanwhile, Israeli strikes this weekend have killed dozens of people. This is NPR News. There were two separate shootings Sunday at a popular parade in New Orleans. Police say two people were killed and 10 others injured in the incidents during what's known as a second line parade. New Orleans Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick said police were on hand when the shootings took place because the parade has had a potential for violence.

We have had history here with this particular second line. It's a wonderful event. There's no doubt about it and we want to keep's a wonderful event. There's no doubt about it. And we want to keep it a wonderful event. Police say it's not clear if the two incidents were related. SpaceX plans to launch its sixth flight test of its Starship spacecraft this week. The launch will take place from a facility in Texas. Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has more.

SpaceX says the launch window will begin at 4 p.m. Central Time Tuesday at the facility in far south Texas at Boca Chica. The test flight will focus on ship and booster capabilities, as well as the chopsticks the company is using to catch its boosters. The main spacecraft will continue towards a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its suborbital flight. The sixth flight test was originally scheduled for Monday but was pushed forward today. SpaceX did not reveal the reason for the change in test launch dates. I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio. Nellie Korda picked up her

seventh win on this year's LPGA golf tour today. She shot a 67 at Pelican Bay Golf Club in Florida. That's where she was playing in her first competition in two months. She ran off five straight birdies on the back nine to pass Charlie Hull for the win. Hull and two others are tied for second place. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.