NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-27-2024 4PM EST

Episode Date: November 27, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. There was sound of celebratory gunfire in Lebanon today. Thousands of people are traveling back to their homes after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hezbollah militants today. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says several steps are being taken to ensure that the deal holds up. So over the next 60 days, the Lebanese armed forces, supported by the United States and France and other of our allies, will actually go into southern Lebanon, take up the positions that have previously been occupied by Hezbollah, and ensure that no terrorist group returns to that region in force.

The Lebanese army says it's deploying forces near the Israeli border as a U.S.-backed truce between Israel and Hezbollah militants begins to take effect. The State Department has revised its travel advisory for China for the first time since the pandemic. NPR's John Ruich says the move comes after reports of a deal between Washington and Beijing that secured the release of three Americans from a Chinese prison. The travel advisory was lowered to level two, which advises Americans to exercise increased caution when traveling to China. It had been one notch higher at level three,

advising would-be travelers to reconsider trips to China. The level 3 warning was put in place early in the pandemic, when the virus was spreading and China started imposing lockdowns. It was kept in place, though, after Beijing dropped COVID controls in late 2022. The State Department cited arbitrary enforcement of laws and wrongful detentions in China. The level 2 advisory still says arbitrary enforcement of local laws is a problem, including in relation to exit bans. But the change is significant. China had been struggling to attract visitors, and this may make it easier for American students and others to

travel to China. John Ruch, NPR News. The Department of Energy has announced major loans this week to support renewable energy and electric vehicles. NPR's Kamila Dominovski reports the department doesn't have much time to finalize these loans. Loans announced just this week include six billion dollars for an EV plant in Georgia and nearly five billion for a Midwestern transmission line. Those loans are conditional with financial requirements and the Biden team's environmental and pro-union stipulations before companies access funds. But if they're not finalized by President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, they face an uncertain fate.

The Vakramaswami, who will be recommending budget cuts, said on X it was insane to fork over billions of dollars to create thousands of jobs. The loan program's office gives loans and charges interest. Overall, the program has made money for the government. Camila Dominovski, NPR News. At last check on Wall Street, the Dow was down 138 points. This is NPR News. Airports in Atlanta, Boston, and Denver

are reporting flight delays on this busy day of travel in the U.S. The day before Thanksgiving is usually one of the busiest days of the year at airports and on the nation's highways. AAA says regular gasoline is about 18 cents a gallon cheaper on average than one year ago. The first online auction of alcohol confiscated from closed criminal investigations is underway in Kentucky.

John McGarry from Member Station WEKU reports the proceeds will help fund efforts to prevent alcohol abuse. Through December 11th, some rare and valuable examples of Kentucky's signature drink are up for auction through the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's website. Before this new law, alcohol confiscated after criminal investigations had to be destroyed. The ABC now has the authorization to auction off confiscated alcohol as long as it's in its original container and hasn't been tampered with. That's Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which backed the new

law. Proceeds from the auction will support programs promoting responsible alcohol use on college campuses and elsewhere. For NPR News in Versailles, Kentucky, I'm John McGarry. People shopping for a home are finding slightly lower mortgage rates this week. The finance giant Freddie Mac reports the fixed rate for a 30-year mortgage ticked down 6.8 percent. Fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgages increased slightly last week to 6.1 percent.

I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.