NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-25-2024 1PM EST

Episode Date: December 25, 2024

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Windsor-Johnston. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor-Johnston. Russian forces have launched a massive airstrike against Ukraine today, sending more than 70 missiles and 100 remote-controlled drones. NPR's Brian Mann reports the attack appeared to target Ukraine's power infrastructure. The strikes began early in the morning local time, with Ukraine's air defense system knocking down most of the missiles and drones. But in a statement, Ukraine's air force said some missiles got through. In the city of Dnipro, a worker at a thermal power plant

was killed. There were also power and heating outages in some regions of the country. In a statement, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was clear that Russia, quote, deliberately chose Christmas Day for an attack. He added that Russian violence will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas. Officials say engineers are working to restore power as rapidly as possible. This was Moscow's 13th large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy and power grid this year. Brian Mann, NPR News, Keefe. An investigation is underway into an airliner that crashed in Azerbaijan this morning. Officials say dozens of people are feared dead, but more than 30 survived.

The BBC's Paul Moss reports the passenger jet was traveling to Chechnya but was diverted by air traffic control because of fog. We can see very clearly what happened to flight 8243 from Baku. Footage shows the aircraft turn in the air as if preparing for its final approach to the runway. But it then drops one wing and dives into the ground before bursting into flames. A Russian aviation watchdog is reporting that the plane had hit a flock of birds. Other footage shows passengers emerging bruised and bloodied from the rear of the fuselage, which remains relatively intact. We're told the survivors included two children and that they're being treated at a nearby hospital.

That's the BBC's Paul Moss reporting in a statement Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated. The Danish government has increased its budget for defense of Greenland and autonomous Danish territory. Terry Schultz reports the move comes after President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to buy the island. Officials in Greenland have expressed dismay at Donald Trump's repetition of how strategically important the island is and how he wants to make it part of the US. Greenland is ours, said Greenland's Prime Minister Mutte Egede.

We are not for sale and will never be for sale. Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland's foreign and defense policy, also just announced it would be doubling the amount it spends on protecting the island. Danish Defense Minister Truls Linde Poulsen said the boost would be at least $1.5 billion. Poulsen called it an irony of fate that the defense upgrade was announced at the same time Trump was speaking about Greenland. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schultz. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. NASA says that its four astronauts at the International Space Station will spend Christmas Day gazing down at Earth,

having private calls with their families and spending time with their colleagues. NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boise reports the astronauts also beamed down a holiday message. The four astronauts gathered together in front of the camera next to a small green Christmas tree. Merry Christmas! Three of them wore red Santa hats. Sunny Williams had on reindeer antlers. She let go of a handful of candy canes which floated around. One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready. She and her colleague Butch Wilmore weren't expecting to spend this holiday season in space.

They went up in June on what was supposed to be a short test flight of Boeing's Starliner. NASA decided they'll come home on a SpaceX flight, which is now scheduled for late March. Nell Greenfield-Boise, NPR News. Local officials and scientists continued to monitor Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, which was active for a second day in a row on Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey says it's be lava as high as 300 feet, drawing packed crowds to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Officials issued a red alert for the region warning of high levels of volcanic gas.

The eruption took place in an area that's been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazardous activity, including rock falls. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.