NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-13-2024 9AM EST

Episode Date: December 13, 2024

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Oh, oh, oh, Santa here coming to you from the North Pole We're the elves in our podcast division of just completed work on this season's best gift for public radio lovers NPR plus give the gift of sponsored free listening and even bonus episodes from your favorite NPR podcasts all While supporting public media learn more at plus dot NPR dots org Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Russia has launched nearly 300 missiles and drones across Ukraine, targeting its power plants and energy grid as winter sets in. NPR's Joanna Kokissis reports from Kyiv, Russian attacks have destroyed more than half the country's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it one of the largest strikes on the country's energy infrastructure. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky called it one of the largest strikes on the country's energy grid since the beginning of the full-scale war in February 2022. He said Russia attacked with nearly 200 drones and at least 93 missiles, some supplied by North Korea. Ukraine's military said F-16 fighter jets helped shoot down the missiles. Ukraine's energy sector is warning that there will be more rolling power cuts to rationed electricity. The Ukrainian foreign minister said he wants allies to deliver at least 20 additional air defense systems to protect the energy grid. Joanna Kekis, NPR News, Kiev.

President Biden will hold a virtual meeting today with leaders of a group of seven nations. They're expected to discuss the fluid situation in Syria. Rebel leaders say they intend to create a transitional government for Syria. Some U.S. colleges are quietly preparing for President-elect Trump's second term. A handful of schools are advising international students

who are planning to leave the US for the holidays to get back to campus by the middle of January. From member station GBH in Boston, Kirk Carapazza has more. Most colleges aren't saying much, but since the election, some have reached out to international students, urging them to return to campus before January 20th to avoid being disrupted or delayed by any new immigration restrictions.

Harvard contacted its international students this week, suggesting those traveling overseas for the holidays budget time ahead of Martin Luther King Day, which coincidentally is also Inauguration Day. In his first term, Trump issued a travel ban targeting several majority Muslim countries and heightened visa scrutiny. There are no new proposals yet, but on the campaign trail, Trump promised even stricter policies. For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carrapezza in Boston. Lawmakers from New Jersey are demanding answers from the federal government after reports

of numerous drones sailing overhead. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have released a joint statement saying officials have no evidence the drones pose a threat. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that message. We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat. The FBI and the DHS say it appears many of the drones are operating lawfully and are guided, but the agency officials say they are working presently with the New Jersey State Police

to further investigate the drone sightings. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron has named a new prime minister. It is centrist politician Francois Beyrouth. The last French prime minister was ousted by a combined effort by French lawmakers from the far left and right. The French parliament is very fractured. It's divided over a controversial budget proposal. Some French lawmakers say they'll wait to see how the new prime minister governs,

but one far-left French party says it will immediately try to unseat him. The Biden administration is finishing rules that would 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, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady,

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Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, MPR's Jeff Brady, 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 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. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.