NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-28-2024 12PM EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2024

NPR News: 12-28-2024 12PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Noor Aram, NPR News. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Aram. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized today to the leader of Azerbaijan after the deadly plane crash of an Azerbaijan airliner in Kazakhstan bound for the Russian Republic of Chechnya this week. The Kremlin said in a statement that air defense systems were responding to the Ukrainian drone strike in Chechnya's regional capital. But Putin did not take responsibility for the crash.

NPR's Elena Moore reports. In a Kremlin readout of the call, Putin characterized the crash, which killed 38 people, as a tragic incident, apologizing that it happened in Russian airspace. It comes a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby addressed Russia's potential involvement. We do have have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems. Kirby added that an investigation conducted by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is ongoing and the U.S. has offered its assistance.

Elena Moore, NPR News. The Slovakian prime minister says he may stop supplying electricity to Ukraine if Kyiv doesn't reverse a decision to block Russian gas flows. Terry Schultz reports the European Union supports Ukraine's decision to halt the Russian gas delivery. As of January 1st, Ukraine says it will stop allowing the transit of Russian gas through its territory, as long as Moscow continues waging war. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to maintain his country's gas supply from Russia and says if Kiev goes through with the cutoff, Slovakia may stop providing electricity which Ukraine desperately needs with Russia destroying its energy infrastructure. Fico asked the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, to get involved, but the Commission

declined as it doesn't want EU countries to continue buying fuel supplies from Russia. Slovakia cut off military aid to Ukraine under the leadership of Fico, who visited Russian President Vladimir Putin a week ago and is offering to host peace talks between the two sides. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schulz in Brussels. New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a video yesterday of a man who was fatally beaten in a New York prison this month. 43-year-old Robert Brooks died December 10th. The body camera footage showed correctional officers punching and kicking him while he

was handcuffed. James called it shocking and disturbing. I do not take lightly the release of this video, especially in the middle of the holiday season. But as attorney general, I release these videos because I have a responsibility and duty to provide the Brooks family, their loved ones, and all New Yorkers with transparency and accountability. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for the 14 employees involved be fired. This is NPR News. In London, dozens of flights have been canceled and delayed because of thick fog.

Weather forecasters say the poor weather conditions could last into tomorrow. The disruption comes on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, after Christmas and before New Year's Day. Severe weather is disrupting holiday travel in the U.S. FlightAware says more than 3,700 flights have been delayed in the U.S. so far today. NPR's Kristin Wright reports Mucha, Louisiana is under a tornado watch. Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana, Mobile and Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi are among cities under serious threat. National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira

says destructive long range tornadoes could cause major damage in the south. It could be long, long track tornadoes meaning they could stay on the ground for quite a while and it could be very strong tornadoes, EF3 which is really significant. Large hail and damaging winds are also creating adverse conditions, as many set out in cars and planes to ring in the new year soon. Kristen Wright, NPR News. President-elect Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to delay a possible ban on TikTok from going into effect. The court is set to hear arguments on January 10th on whether a law is constitutional

that would ban the video app if it's not divested from its China-based parent company. Trump's lawyers are asking for more time to allow the incoming Trump administration to pursue a political resolution. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.