NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2024 4AM EST

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

NPR News: 12-17-2024 4AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. Russian authorities say Senior General Igor Kirilov has been killed in a bomb explosion in Moscow. Here's the BBC's David Bramford. Russia's investigative committee said that Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov, who was in charge of Russia's nuclear protection forces and his assistant, were killed as they were leaving an apartment building on Ryazanski Avenue, seven kilometers southeast of the Kremlin. Photographs posted online showed the damaged entrance and two bodies lying in the bloodstained snow. The bomb is thought to have been planted on a scooter parked near the entrance. Investigators and

forensic experts are working at the scene together with other emergency services. The BBC's David Banford reporting. The European Union has held talks with Syria's interim leaders on removing EU sanctions, now that long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad is out of power. In his first remarks since fleeing to Russia over a week ago, al-Assad said that he never intended to leave his country. He says he went to a Russian military base in the port city of Latakia to oversee combat operations, but

troops had already abandoned their positions. In Wisconsin, authorities are investigating Monday's shooting at a Christian school in Madison. Police say a 15-year-old girl killed a teacher and another teenager and injured six others. Madison police chief Sean Barnes says the shooter died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A Democratic organizer has become a national political figure, and he's running to be the youngest vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. David Hoggs and his classmates launched a youth-led gun violence group six years ago after a mass shooting at their high school. More from NPR's Elena Moore.

Hogg is vying for one of three at-large vice chair roles within the DNC. In a press release, he said the party needs to improve on its youth outreach and come up with a plan to address issues like rising housing prices and crime. He argued those things are possible if, quote, we take a hard look in the mirror and commit to addressing our mistakes. His announcement comes as party leaders reassess their post-election game plan after losing ground on issues like the economy and with key voting blocks, including young voters. Hogg has made this key to his campaign.

If elected at 24, he says he would be the youngest to hold the position. Elena Moore, NPR News, Washington. At the final Hanukkah celebration at the Biden White House, President Biden expressed unwavering support for Israel. He said the trauma of the October 2023 attack on Israel is still raw, and he's committed to getting all the hostages in Gaza home. I know this year's Hanukkah falls on the hearts that are still very heavy. It's the second Hanukkah since the horrors of October 7th. Over a thousand slaughtered, hundreds taken hostage.

Biden told those gathered to shine the light of optimism and to keep the faith. This is NPR News. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said in an interview with NBC that there is no indication that Luigi Mangione, the man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was ever a client of the company. In New York, NPR's Sarah Ventry has more. Sarah Ventry Andrew Witte is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare.

And in New York Times Op-ed, Witte says, we know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people's frustrations with it. No one would design a system like the one we have, and no one did. It's a patchwork built over decades. Our mission is to help make it work better. Brian Thompson's killing has sparked national discussion about the nature of health care in the United States.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised through crowdfunding for Luigi Mangione's defense. One site alone had more than $80,000 in donations for the accused shooter. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, New York. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coasts of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu earlier today.

A magnitude 5.5 aftershock triggered a tsunami warning that lasted for a couple of hours. There are unconfirmed reports of casualties and widespread damage, but the extent and exact location of the chain of islands is unknown. In Port Vila, a building housing diplomatic missions belonging to the U.S. and other nations is reportedly damaged. Vanuatu consists of 80 islands that are home to some 330,000 residents.