NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-27-2024 5PM EST

Episode Date: November 27, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Donald Trump announced that former National Security Aide and retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg will be his special envoy to Russia and Ukraine. NPR's Franco Ordoñez reports Kellogg will lead Trump's negotiations to end the war. Trump said in a statement that Kellogg was with him right from the beginning, and that quote, we will secure peace through strength and make America and the world safe again. Trump has promised to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Kellogg's appointment could shed some light on how he expects to accomplish that. Kellogg wrote a plan for

the America First Policy Institute that suggested establishing a demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine. The plan also includes conditioning military aid for Ukraine on the government entering peace talks. To entice Putin, Kellogg suggests that the president offer to put off NATO membership for Ukraine. The U.S. would also offer to lift all sanctions if Russia signs a peace agreement that is acceptable to Ukraine. Franco Ordonez, NPR News. The Biden administration says its diplomacy with China has paid off and now three Americans have been freed from Chinese jails. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that members of

Congress are welcoming the news. Republican Congressman Chris Smith says he was overjoyed to hear the news that Mark Sweedon, Kai Li, and John Luong have been released from what he calls their unjust detention in China. Smith co-chairs the Congressional Executive Commission on China, along with Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon. I really applaud the Biden administration for putting a lot of diplomatic muscle into this effort at the close of their administration to get these

individuals released." Merkley says there's usually a quid pro quo with these prisoner releases, but the administration has not informed Congress about who or what China gets in return. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. People put away a little more money in October as incomes rose faster than expenses. MPGaurd Scott Horsley reports on the latest figures from the Commerce Department. Personal income rose six-tenths of a percent last month while personal spending increased four-tenths of a percent. People managed to save nearly

four and a half percent of their income, which is up from the previous month, although still low by historical standards. Prices in October were up 2.3 percent from a year ago, according to Commerce Department's inflation yardstick, which is closely watched by the Federal Reserve. Stripping out food and energy prices, which bounce around a lot, annual inflation was 2.8 percent last

month. That's a slightly larger annual price increase than the previous month, and suggest that while inflation has been cooling, it's not yet completely tamed. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Losses by some major tech companies helped pull stocks down at the holiday shortened trading week. The Dow was down 138 points today. You're listening to NPR. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the seizure of more than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars at the Los Angeles Long Beach Seaport.

NPR's Chloe Veltman reports the guitars were likely destined for sale through e-commerce. Authorities recently intercepted the suspected cargo arriving in ocean containers from Asia in what authorities are calling the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record in the Los Angeles area. in what authorities are calling the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record in the Los Angeles area. Gibson estimates the guitars would be worth nearly $19 million if they were the real thing. Beth Hyde is Gibson's chief marketing officer. We are an American-made product with high standard of excellence and these actions not only hurt the consumers, they also can lead to and help fund other crime and hurt

American jobs and American craftsmen. An investigation involving US Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security and the LA County Sheriff's Department is ongoing. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. They've been open since the 11th century, but two of London's most iconic markets are apparently closing shop. City of London Corporation, which is the governing body in the capital city's historic hub, presenting a bill to parliament to bring an end to its responsibilities to operate the Billingsgate Fish Market and the Smithfield Meat Market, both of which have existed for around a thousand years in some form. The announcement comes a day after the corporation decided not to move the historic

markets to a new development east of London. Crude oil futures prices were little changed today, oil ending the session down 5 cents a barrel to settle at $68.72 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.