NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Nick Reiner, the son of slain Hollywood director Rob Reiner, made his first court appearance in Los Angeles today. He's facing two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his parents. Defense attorney Alan Jackson spoke outside of the courthouse just a short time ago. We asked that do you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with a rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity and with the respect that this system and this process deserves and that the family deserves. Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Sunday.

If convicted, Nick Reiner is facing a possible sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The next court date has been scheduled for January 7th. President Trump is expanding a travel ban. It adds more countries to a blacklist, making it harder or even impossible for their citizens to come to the U.S. NPR's Michelle Calliman reports on the administration's efforts to restrict travel and immigration. Earlier this year, Trump named 12 high-risk countries banning or restricting their nationals from coming to the U.S. Now five more countries are being added to the list. Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. According to a White House proclamation, the administration is also banning anyone holding documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

It's also imposing partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, whose teams will be playing in the World Cup next year. The White House says there are carve-outs for athletes and diplomats or individuals whose entry, quote, serves U.S. national interests. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington. Police in Australia have formally charged the surviving suspect in the shooting attack on Bondi Beach and Sydney last weekend. Christina Cucula reports the man earlier identified as Navid Akram, appeared in court by video link from his hospital bed. Police say they have formally charged the 24-year-old with 59 offenses,

including committing a terrorist act and 15 counts of murder. The charges were filed after. Dr Akram woke up from a coma in hospital where he's being treated for injuries. Police allege he's one of two gunmen responsible for the shooting attack that killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more last weekend. Authorities confirm the other suspect his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, was killed in a shootout with police. They say early indications point to a terrorist act inspired by the Islamic State Group.

For NPR News, I'm Christina Kukkoyah in Sydney. the Dow is down 75 points. This is NPR News in Washington. The Senate has given final approval to a sweeping annual military policy bill authorizing $901 billion in defense spending. The measure also pressures Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth to turn over video of U.S. airstrikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in international waters near Venezuela. The National Defense Authorization Act includes a 3.8% pay raise for U.S. troops and drew bipartisan support as it moved through Congress. The global governing body for soccer, FIFA, says it will sell a limited number of $60 tickets for next year's men's World Cup soccer matches. NPR's Rafael NOM reports the move is a response to backlash from fans.

FIFA introduced the cheaper tickets after fans blasted the high prices for the tournament next year. Currently, tickets range from at least $140 for some of the initial games to over $2,000 for the U.S. opening game. And it gets even more expensive for the knockouts, including over $4,000 for the cheapest seats at the final. But the $60 tickets will only be available for fans of the countries that have qualified. And there will only be a limited amount, fewer than 2% of the available tickets for any particular game. In other words, they won't be easy to get. Rafael N.P.R. News. The 26 Men's World Cup is being played in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

On Wall Street, the Dow was down 73 points. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.