NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-01-2024 7AM EST

Episode Date: December 1, 2024

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Giles Snyder 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. Giles Snyder Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have lost two main sources of food over the past 24 hours.

The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into Gaza because of looting by armed gangs. And the charity World Central Kitchen says it's again pausing operations in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike hit one of its vehicles this weekend. The Israeli military says a Hamas militant was traveling in the vehicle at the time. Gaza's health ministry says at least five people in total, including three aid workers, were killed.

As Willem Marx reports. In a statement, World Central Kitchen said its organization was heartbroken but that it was working with, quote, incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. The Israeli military said a Hamas operative previously under intelligence surveillance had been in the vehicle and it was only fired upon after credible information indicated he was inside it. The military said the man, Hazmi Qadi, had taken part in the attack on a kibbutz close to Gaza last October and Israeli authorities were now demanding details from the charity about its hiring practices.

World Central Kitchen said it had quote, no knowledge that anyone in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7 attacks. For NPR News, I'm Villam Marx. The Syrian army says it's strengthening its defensive lines, preparing a counterattack against the rebel forces that have captured Aleppo. Russia has reportedly carried out a series of airstrikes as the Islamist rebels continue to advance south on the road toward Hama. The BBC's Lina Sinjab reports a foreign minister of Iran, Syria's closest ally, is due in Syria

today to discuss the crisis. This is the first time in years that we see the opposition advancing and capturing a big city and it's also taking the government by surprise at a time where both its allies are busy. Russia is busy in Ukraine. And Hezbollah and Iran are weakened by Israeli attacks, both in Syria and Lebanon. So it's definitely changing the dynamics on the ground.

And there are lots of diplomatic movements to discuss the situation and find a way to stabilize it. President-elect Donald Trump has selected longtime ally Cash Patel to lead the FBI, even though the current director Christopher Wray's 10-year term does not end until 2027. MPR's Windsor Johnston has more on Patel's background. Patel has been an outspoken critic of the FBI. The former prosecutor and public defender has called for shutting down the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters and firing its top leadership. If confirmed, Patel would replace current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has three

years remaining in his 10-year term. Wray would have to resign or be fired to create a vacancy. Trump also says he's nominating Hillsboro County, Florida, Sheriff Chad Chronister to head the Drug Enforcement Agency. This is NPR News. China is protesting a visit to Hawaii by Taiwan President Lai Qingde. Lai arrived in Honolulu yesterday for a two-day visit that is officially a stopover on the way to a tour of three Pacific Island nations.

China claims Taiwan as its territory. Beijing says it has complained to Washington for arranging Lai's transit through U.S. territory, saying it has lodged stern representations. Voters in Romania are going to the polls today in a parliamentary election amid uncertainty over last week's presidential race, in which a far-right candidate won the most votes in the first round. The campaign has been dominated by voter concerns over the budget and the cost of living. Hollywood is having a stellar Thanksgiving holiday weekend as NPR's Bob Mondello reports. In the trade they call it over indexing. Everything is

doing better than it's supposed to. Last week Disney was predicting that Moana 2 might post a record-breaking 135 million dollars over the holiday weekend. It has already sailed past that number and is now expected to earn up to 220 million. Wicked was expected to drop substantially when Moana! It has already sailed past that number and is now expected to earn up to $220 million. Wicked was expected to drop substantially when Moana started competing for the same audience of women and girls. Instead it is up slightly. Gladiator 2 is plugging along in third place at a pace that would normally have it leading the pack.

And this rising tide is lifting all boats. The Entertainment Industry News site Deadline is reporting that the total for all films this weekend will exceed the previous Thanksgiving holiday record by roughly $100 million. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.