NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-22-2024 2PM EST

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

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Since the beginning of women's sports, there's been a struggle to define who qualifies for the women's category. Tested from NPR's Embedded podcast and CBC takes you inside that struggle. Listen to Tested, the series that was named one of the 10 best podcasts of 2024 by Apple, Vulture, and the New York Times. It's season 20 of NPR's embedded podcast. Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahlai Saikow-Tow. A government shutdown was averted this weekend, but as NPR's Mara Lyson reports, the process suggests President-elect Trump

may have a hard time passing spending bills through the House. Before Republicans finally came up with a bill that could pass, 34 Republicans helped defeat the bill Trump wanted, a bill that would have, among other things, raised the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the amount of money Congress allows the government to borrow to pay for spending Congress has already approved. Trump's plans, including tariffs, tax cuts, and deportations, are estimated to add as much as $7 trillion to the national debt, and Trump didn't want the debt ceiling in his way But even if Trump doesn't care about deficits there are still about three dozen Republicans in the house that do and that means Trump may

Have difficulty convincing Congress to approve all the expensive things he wants to do next year Mara Eliason NPR news Ukraine is facing diplomatic pressure from European countries over a decision to cut off the flow of cheap Russian natural gas at the end of this year. Despite Russia's invasion nearly three years ago, gas still flows through pipelines that cross Ukraine, NPR's Brian Mann reports. During a visit to Brussels, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he won't extend a deal that currently allows Russian gas to flow through Ukraine despite the bitter war.

Here's Zelensky speaking through an interpreter. We would not prolong the transit of Russian gas. We will not give the possibility of additional billions to be earned on our blood, on the lives of our citizens. At least three European countries, including Austria, still rely heavily on low-cost Russian gas. Slovakia has protested Ukraine's decision, and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a press conference he's mediating talks, hoping to extend the deal, which expires

in 10 days. Brian Manon, PR News, Kyiv. Syria's new leader, Ahmad al-Sharah, has told Lebanon's Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, that his country will respect its smaller neighbor's sovereignty. Speaking after talks in the Syrian capital, Damascus al-Sharah, wearing a rare suit and necktie, said he hopes to build a close strategic relationship with Beirut. The BBC's Sebastian Asher reports. Syria's involvement in Lebanon under the Assad's was at one time overpowering with its troops stationed there for several decades until 2005,

while Damascus exerted political control over its smaller neighbor. The troops finally left under huge pressure from mass protests following the assassination of Ra'athe Qureiri, but Syria has continued to exert influence, especially through its involvement with Hezbollah. A reset between the two countries would be a major shift in the region, as well as bolstering the new Syrian leader's efforts to be seen as someone the world can do business with. The BBC's Sebastian Usher in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

You're listening to NPR News from New York. Advances in artificial intelligence may soon significantly reduce income for at least some people working in the music industry. NPR's Ned Ulubi reports on a new study predicting some music creators could lose nearly 25% of their revenue within the next five years. Perhaps you enjoy listening to mood playlists on streaming platforms like Spotify. That's when you pick a category like relaxing music

and just let it wash over you. These passive consumption playlists are increasingly curated by artificial intelligence. AI sometimes creates the music as well. AI can write lyrics, generate melodies, find samples, clone voices, and figure out how to best market the music as well. AI can write lyrics, generate melodies, find samples, clone voices, and figure out how to best market the music it makes. That will cut into the paychecks of people doing that work, according to a study from the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers. It predicts ballooning revenues by 2028 that will largely benefit

tech companies. Neda Uli, NPR News. New details are emerging about the suspect in Germany's latest Christmas market attack that killed at least five people, including a nine-year-old boy. The Associated Press reports local government officials were aware of previous alleged criminal acts by the Saudi doctor who has not been publicly named by police. Authorities were reportedly aware of threats he made over medical examination results from a decade earlier. The 50-year-old man was apparently a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

He's now in detention, being investigated by police. I'm Dwahili Saikoutal, NPR News in New York City.