NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-11-2024 5PM EST

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

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52 years ago, the federal government launched a program to support the poorest elderly and disabled Americans. But an NPR investigation has discovered a very different reality. They come to me and say, you owe $20,000. How a program designed to help the most vulnerable is trapping them in poverty. Listen now on the Sunday story from the Up First Podcast. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. FBI Director Christopher Wray made it official today, saying he intends to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The announcement coming a week and a half after Trump announced he would nominate loyalist Cash Patel for the FBI post. Vermont Democrat Peter Walsh, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he finds the choice of Patel worrisome. But the big concern I have is his public statements where he wants to use his authority to go after people that disagree with him, that he regards as political opponents or journalists who wrote what he regards as bad stories. There's no place to abuse the authority of high law enforcement powers to go after people because you disagree. So that's a concern.

Ray's decision comes despite having three years left in his term and announcing his intention to step down. Ray said he wanted to quote, avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray. Arab states are denouncing Israel's seizure of Syrian territory borders after armed fighters toppled the regime, leaving military posts unmanned. Israel's also been striking hundreds of weapons depots, naval ships, and military aircraft across Syria, more from Emperors Ibrahim Trawi. Egypt was among the first to condemn Israel's seizure of a buffer zone with Syria, including

the Syrian side of the snow-capped Mount Hermon in the Golan. Egypt says Israeli troops there constitute an occupation of Syrian territory and that Israel is exploiting the security vacuum to impose a new reality on the ground. Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, and Israel's closest regional ally, the UAE, have also denounced it, with Abu Dhabi saying the occupation violates international law and exacerbates regional tensions. Israel's ambassador to the UN says his country has taken limited and temporary measures in Syria, focused solely on safeguarding Israeli security. Israel's military says it will continue to operate and position itself there as long as necessary. Ayah Patraoui, NPR News, Dubai.

The Biden administration says it is doubling tariffs on some products from China that are used to make solar panels. MPR's Michael Copley reports the move is aimed at supporting U.S. manufacturing. Supply chains for the global solar industry are largely controlled by China. The U.S. wants to change that. A law signed by President Biden provides tax credits for U.S. solar manufacturing. Now it's raising tariffs to 50 percent next year on Chinese polysilicon and silicon wafers, the building blocks for most solar panels. The office of the US trade representative

says the taxes could initially increase prices domestically, but that they're needed to make US manufacturing more competitive. Michael Copley, NPR News. The government's main inflation gauge heated up a bit last month, posting its biggest rise since April, the consumer price index,

which measures the cost of a market basket of goods up 2.7%, compared to the same period a year ago, still the increase, not enough to worry economists the Fed will hold off on raise or cutting interest rates when it meets later next week. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Drugmaker Apple is hoping that adding more AI to its latest iPhone offerings will pump

up sales during the busy holiday shopping season. Apple offering a new software update for its latest models and includes a feature that lets users create customized emojis. The release of the software comes as Apple is playing catch up in the AI space. Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, the selection celebrated in the kingdom but criticized by human rights groups. More from NPR's Becky Sullivan. The Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman has worked for years to bring big sporting events to the kingdom as part of his effort to lift Saudi Arabia's international

reputation. The 2034 World Cup is now his crown jewel. 15 stadiums and five host cities will see more than 100 games, millions of fans, and billions in revenue. Saudi Arabia was the only country to bid for the 2034 event. The selection process drew scrutiny because of limits on who was eligible to bid and how expedited the deadlines were. Critics say it shouldn't have gone to a country

with Saudi Arabia's record of human rights violations and with thousands of migrant workers needed to build stadiums, labor groups say they could be at risk of abuse. Becky Sullivan in PR News. And the winner of this year's Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, a red squirrel whose front end is stuck in a train whose rear is protruding out

with feet in the air, toe claws fully splayed. Photo entitled Stuck Squirrel taking top honors from among the 9,000 submitted. The picture taken in a park in Italy by Milko Marchetti. He'll win a Safari in Kenya surprise. Other photos included a white-tailed eagle ruffling its feathers and a frog with its head in a bubble. You're listening to NPR.