NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-26-2024 2PM EST

Episode Date: December 26, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Investigators in Kazakhstan are working to determine what caused an Azerbaijan Airlines jet to crash on Wednesday. 38 people died and 29 survived. NPR's Russell Lewis reports video of the wreckage shows numerous punctures on the exterior of the fuselage. The Embraer 190 took off from the Azerbaijani capital Baku for a flight to Grozny in Russia. This area has seen numerous drone attacks fired from Ukraine and anti-aircraft artillery used

by Russia. Yesterday, as the plane approached Grozny, the aviation tracking site Flight Radar 24 said the jet encountered significant GPS interference. Survivors of the crash said they heard an explosion and then the plane began to buff it. For the next 75 minutes, the pilots wrestled the aircraft as it climbed and descended uncontrollably before crashing near an airport in Kazakhstan. Video of the debris showed numerous holes on the rear of the aircraft, punctures that

happened outside the jet. As the investigation continues, Azerbaijan Airlines have suspended all flights from Baku into Grozny. Russell Lewis, NPR News. Japanese carmakers Honda and Nissan have started talks to pursue a merger. NPR's Rafael Nam reports a potential deal could create the world's third largest automaker. A combination would make sense. It allows the two companies to pull their expertise

and their production together. And the hope is that they will become stronger. It's why both companies said this week they are exploring a merger and talks have started. Although both Honda and Nissan are well known, they're not among the very, very top players in the industry. A merger though would change that. That's NPR's Raphael Nam reporting. A fight led to a triple shooting at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport last night. Christina Estes from member station KJZZ reports. It happened near a restaurant outside the security checkpoint. Two men were shot along with a woman whose condition is described as life-threatening. Sergeant Myra Reeson says everyone involved knew each other

and police detained two suspects. We do not believe that there's any suspects out there outstanding. I want to put everybody at ease. Of course this is scary. It was Christmas evening. Everybody's trying to get home. You know, I, 100 percent, the community was pretty concerned for this. A security checkpoint was temporarily closed, but airport operations are back to normal. For NPR News, I'm Christina Estes in Phoenix. Tributes are being held today to mark the 20th anniversary of the

massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia and East Africa. More than 230,000 people in more than a dozen countries were killed. This is NPR. Congress passed a major bill this month that would help military veteran caregivers. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports the legislation will cost about a billion dollars over the next decade. Named for Senator and military family caregiver Elizabeth Dole, the act vastly expands caregiver benefits, especially for elderly or sick veterans who prefer getting help at home. Advocates say loved ones can often do a better job than hospitals or nursing homes.

Work done by military family home caregivers is estimated to save the VA tens of millions of dollars each year. In recognition of the relentless nature of the work, the Act also adds services for the caregivers themselves, including mental health support. The measure had been held up since last spring because it also expands access for veterans to get reimbursed for private medical care outside VA. In the incoming Trump administration, use of private care outside the VA system is expected to increase. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. A major power cable on the floor of the Baltic Sea has been interrupted. Officials in Finland say the power line runs to Estonia.

The cable power supply vanished on Wednesday, just weeks after two international cables were severed in northern Europe. Finnish authorities say its electricity supply and telecommunications connections are working. The Syrian government says 14 of its troops were killed in an ambush by loyalists of the former Assad regime. The attack took place in an area dominated by the minority Alawite community which is widely seen by other Syrians as loyal to the Assad's. It's NPR.