NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-13-2024 11AM EST

Episode Date: December 13, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Cora Vick-Hulman. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is crisscrossing the Mideast to get everyone on the same page on Syria. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports Blinken made a brief stop in Iraq today. Secretary Blinken flew to Iraq to meet the country's prime minister to talk about regional security. Before that, in Turkey, he told reporters there was broad agreement on what an interim government should look like in Syria.

One that is inclusive and non-sectarian. One that protects the rights of minorities and women. One that preserves institutions of the state and delivers services to the people. Blinken says the U.S. is also focused on efforts to keep ISIS in check in Syria and is urging rebel leaders to secure and destroy any chemical weapons they find. The secretary will continue talks with Arab foreign ministers at a gathering in Jordan on Saturday. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, President Biden will attend a virtual meeting today with leaders from the group

of seven nations. They're expected to discuss the situation in Syria and the rest of the Middle East. The Biden administration is finishing rules that more strictly regulate climate-warming methane that leaks from gas utilities. NPR's Jeff Brady reports customer meters outside homes or in basements are the largest source of leaks. Jeff Brady, NPR's Jeff Brady, NPR The Federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, usually called PHMSA, regulates gas utility pipelines all the way up to customer meters.

In the past, the agency focused on safety and preventing explosions. Now, it must also regulate for climate pollution. Methane is the main ingredient in natural gas and a potent climate warmer. Erin Murphy is with the Environmental Defense Fund. PHMSA would require operators to conduct more frequent leak surveys, to use more advanced technologies in those surveys, and to fix the leaks that they find more quickly. Gas utilities say they generally support the rules, which are expected next month. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

The White House says President Biden will consider additional pardons in coming weeks. Yesterday, he commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others. Biden says these were people convicted of nonviolent crimes, demonstrated remorse, and have worked to contribute to their communities. One of the people pardoned is Stavoni Doyle from Utah. She's a former drug addict. I got out of prison in 2006, and then I decided to go back and get my bachelor's of social work

and then get my master's of social work. Having that barrier of having conviction on your record, a lot of people think that there is no chance, and they just continually get re-caught up in the system. So having this removed is extremely important. Meanwhile, Biden is facing criticism for another act of clemency. He pardoned his son Hunter on federal tax

and gun convictions. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A major meteor shower is peaking tonight. This Friday the 13th, the Geminids are known for their bountiful, multicolored meteors. NPR's Amy Held reports they can be viewed around the world under clear and dark skies. The Geminids have special twin traits, frequency and display. More than 100 meteors visible per hour, burning bright fast and colorfully. Meteors are made by dusty debris trails lighting up in our atmosphere.

NASA says it's debatable where the geminids come from, maybe an asteroid or an extinct comet. Whatever it is, NASA says it's weird and rocky. Named Phaethon, it orbits the sun like us. The geminids are named for the constellation Gemini, where they appear to radiate from. They peak annually around this time. This year coincides with some other prods to look up. This weekend is the final full moon of the year amid drone and UFO reports swirling in

New Jersey, reminders to contemplate a shared experience under vast and sometimes mysterious skies. Amy Held, NPR News. New York's governor has declared a state of emergency in about a dozen western counties. That's because some have gotten up to three feet of snow. Forecasters say at least six inches or more of snow could fall today. The National Weather Service says another atmospheric river is headed for the west coast. It will bring torrential rain, snow, and powerful winds to southern Oregon

and northern California starting today. Winter storm warnings are posted for parts of northern and eastern California this morning. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.