NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-01-2024 3PM EST

Episode Date: December 1, 2024

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If you're the kind of person whose idea of a good party conversation starts with, I heard it on NPR, it might be time to take your superfandom seriously. Deck yourself out in sale NPR swag from t-shirts to ball caps to the almighty NPR tote, all at 25% off through November 27th at shop.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Ram. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Masad Boulos to join his White House as senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos is a Lebanese businessman and the father-in-law of Trump's daughter, Tiffany.

NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Luke Garrett Masad Boulos campaigned for Trump in the swing state of Michigan, meeting with Arab American communities in particular. His efforts proved successful. President-elect Trump ultimately won more support than Vice President Harris in Dearborn, Michigan, home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the country. In 2020, Dearborn overwhelmingly supported President Biden. Trump made the announcement about Boulos on his social media site, Truth Social, saying

Boulos was instrumental in building a new coalition with Arab American communities. The president-elect also said, quote, Masad is a dealmaker and an unwavering supporter of peace in the Middle East, end quote. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Danielle Pletka Trump has chosen Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his elder daughter, Ivanka, to be the ambassador to France. During his first administration, Trump pardoned Kushner, who had been convicted of tax evasion, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations. Syrian and Russian jets are intensifying strikes against rebel-held areas of northern Syria.

Meanwhile, insurgents are still in control of Aleppo. They entered the city Friday in a surprise offensive after 11 years of war against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has been following the latest developments. Ruth Sherlock Well, we're seeing rebel militias inside Aleppo. This is the historic mercantile city in Syria's north, its second most populous city. There are now images and videos of rebel fighters inside the ancient citadel, tearing down pictures of President Bashar al-Assad. north, its second most populous city. There are now images and videos of rebel fighters inside the ancient citadel, tearing down pictures of President Bashar al-Assad and celebrating

this sudden collapse of regime lines in the area. NPR's Ruth Sherlock. China has become a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, as well as other products that fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gases, NPR's Julia Simon reports. Julia Simon – Walk into an electric vehicle showroom in Bogota, Colombia. And in many cases, the EVs on sale were made by Chinese companies. China is the leading global manufacturer of climate solutions like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. While the US is building about 7% of global solar and wind projects, China is building about 64%.

China gets more than half its energy from coal, and coal interests remain a powerful political force. But the average Chinese coal plant is now used about 50% of the time, mostly as backup for renewables. But the average Chinese coal plant is now used about 50% of the time, mostly as backup for renewables. With the growth of renewable energy, many researchers expect China's climate pollution to peak soon, maybe this year or next. Julia Simon, NPR News. This is NPR News in Washington. UN talks in South Korea on how to deal with plastic pollution ended today without an agreement. Negotiators from more than 170 countries were unable to agree on a plan.

More than 100 of them wanted limits on plastic production, while some oil-producing countries wanted to only focus on plastic waste. Since plastic does not biodegrade, much is thrown out and leaks into the environment. Microplastics have been found in food, water, and the air. The endangered Ethiopian wolf is a carnivore that hunts its prey. But NPR's Ari Daniel reports it may also be a pollinator. Fewer than 500 Ethiopian wolves remain in the wild. To conserve them, it helps to understand how they interact with their ecosystem. There had been reports that the wolves occasionally feed on the nectar from a plant called the

red-hot poker. A research group followed half a dozen wolves over several days and photographed the animals lapping up the nectar, suggesting they might be transferring pollen from one plant to the next as they feed. Sandra Lai is senior scientist with the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program. We still would need to confirm, but to have a wolf pollinating flowers is a new thing. She hopes the findings will inform the group's efforts to protect the wolf by preventing further habitat loss and raising the animal's profile. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel. The National Weather Service reports heavy snow and cold temperatures again in parts

of New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Frigid air is expected to cover the eastern third of the U.S. by tomorrow. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.