NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-10-2024 8AM EST

Episode Date: December 10, 2024

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Tis the season for rich meals, twinkly lights, and New Year's resolutions. At LifeKit, NPR's self-help podcast, we're here to help you make those resolutions less of a December and January thing and more like a year-long affair. We've got shows that'll help you draw up plans to meet your goals, whatever they are. Get the tools you need all year round with the LifeKit podcast from NPR. Janine Herst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herst. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a Tel Aviv courtroom taking the witness stand in his own corruption trial. He's long tried to get the trial delayed because of his ongoing war with Hamas but was ordered to court today. Security is tight. He's in

a fortified courtroom underground. The trial is expected to court today. Security is tight. He's in a fortified courtroom underground. The trial is expected to take weeks. And it's been a night of intense Israeli bombardments in the Syrian capital Damascus and the surrounding region that follows the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. And Piers Ruth Sherlock has crossed from Lebanon into the Syrian side of the border and has more. Here at the border with Syria some people are trying to cross from Lebanon into Syria but the vast majority are trying to flee. The access road to Lebanon is gridlocked with traffic. Some people are walking along the side of the road

carrying suitcases and children. Others are sleeping in the dirt on the side on the banks on the side of the road. They've been waiting here since the early hours of the morning. Many of those trying to escape are from the Syrian minority sects like the Alawite sect, the same sect as the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Now that an Islamist insurgency is in Damascus, they live in fear for their lives. They're trying to cross the border, but many here are poor. They say they have nowhere to go, but they feel that crossing is the only way

to try to keep themselves and their families safe. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Lebanese Syrian border. The 26-year-old suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is now charged with murder in New York City in addition to charges in Pennsylvania on forgery and weapons charges. Luigi Mangione was captured in Pennsylvania yesterday with a ghost gun, fake IDs, and writings allegedly linking him to the murder. He's being held there without bond. On X,

the Ivy League grad's family said they are shocked and devastated by the news. Parents of two minors in Texas are suing a company that develops popular chat bots over what they describe as abusive and violent responses. As NPR's Bobbi Allen reports, it's the latest legal challenge over AI chat bots that go rogue. Character AI develops chat bots popular with teenagers. They're known as companion bots. You can customize their names, avatars, and help shape the bot's personality. But a new lawsuit

says the Google-backed chatbot encourages teens to carry out self-harm. Then in one instance, allegedly hinted that a teen should murder his parents. The defective product lawsuit is seeking damages and asking that Character AI's bots be taken off the market. Character AI said in a statement that it is working to limit teens' exposure to sensitive or suggestive content. Google, which has invested billions into Character AI, said it does not own the AI firm and that user safety is among its top priorities. Bobbi Allen, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

New Zealand says it's banning greyhound racing over concerns about the number of injuries and deaths of the dogs. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says the ban is in the best interest of the animals. It takes place in 2026. Commercial greyhound racing is legal in just a few countries around the world, including the U.S., Australia, Britain, and Ireland. But the industry has come under growing scrutiny recently over treatment of the racing dogs. Greyhound racing officials say the new ban is a blow to their industry.

A new study is suggesting that moderate to vigorous physical activity can boost scores on memory tests up to a day after a workout. In Peter's Allison Aubrey reports, the findings add to the evidence that exercise can have beneficial effects on cognitive performance. The study included men and women 50 and older who were healthy and active. On days when they did a lot of physical activity, their scores on memory tests, taken the next day, improved. Study author Michaela Bloomberg says the improvements were modest, but the findings from the small

study add to the evidence that a daily exercise habit can have a lot of different benefits. We're a bit surprised that we could see this clear improvement. Short-term benefits aside, a body of research shows regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of stroke and dementia. One study finds cognitive decline is nearly twice as common in people who are inactive. Alison Aubry, NPR News. U.S. futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour. Dow futures down about one-tenth of a percent. NASDAQ futures are up nearly two-tenths of a percent.

I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.