NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-28-2024 9PM EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the government will reach its debt limit by mid-January and will have to adopt special measures to continue paying its bills. NPR's Rafael Nam reports the pressure is now on Congress to take action. Rafael Nam, NPR Secretary General, NPR News, NPR News Sometime between January 14th and January 23rd, the US will hit its debt limit. That's according to a letter sent by Yellen to Congress on Friday. But Yellen says the US can adopt so-called extraordinary measures to continue paying its bills.

These are essentially accounting moves to conserve cash, like suspending some planned investments. Yellen did not say how long the US can do that for. Some analysts believe the U.S. could stretch its money until summer. But it would likely be up to the incoming Republican Congress and the next President, Donald Trump, to raise or suspend the debt ceiling. Otherwise, the U.S. risks a devastating default. Rafa'l Nam, NPR News. Three months after Hurricane Helene hit the mountain communities of western North Carolina,

thousands are still out of their homes. Jay Price from member station WUNC reports winter weather is now slowing repair work. Pinky Anderson and her 14-year-old daughter are among more than 5,000 storm survivors FEMA still has in hotels. She's applied with FEMA and a charity group for money to fix their damaged house, but doesn't have any word yet. She says many of the 23 others in their small hotel in tiny Newland, North Carolina, are in the same fix. It's just gone on too long, and we need some help. We are totally forgotten. We're not

seeing right now. FEMA officials are trying to find longer term options for those who are displaced. It's We're not seeing right now. J.P. Femme, Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph J. Price. Danielle Pletka Ukraine's president has reacted to the Slovak prime minister's statement about a possible winter electricity cutoff for Ukraine. And here's Hanna Palamarenko has more from Kyiv. Hanna Palamarenko Vladimir Zelensky accused Slovakia's prime minister of opening a second energy front against Ukraine on the orders of Russia.

Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his country may stop supplying electricity to Ukraine if Kiev does not agree to resume the transit of Russian gas through its territory. In a statement posted on X, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's need for electricity imports arose only because of Russian attacks on Ukrainian thermal and hydroelectric power plants. He also pointed out Fitsa's decision would deprive Slovakia of $200 million a year. Hanna Palamarenko, NPR News, Kyiv. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, was cremated in New Delhi today after a state funeral.

He died this week at the age of 92. The veteran leader, who was considered the architect of India's economic liberalization, was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States. His body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him. Later, he was transported to a crematorium for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was India's prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Many people are still celebrating the holiday season, but it can be a sad time for others. Stephanie Columbini with Member Station WUSF reports organizations that help kids affected by child abuse are bracing for a spike in reports.

Mike Trepper is with Pasco Kids First, a support agency near Tampa. He says anytime kids are out of structured environments like school, their risk for abuse and neglect rises. Mike Trepper, Pasco Kids First, WUSF Member Station WUSF Where kids are left, sometimes to their own devices are left with people they don't know or forced to be with so and so and that person takes advantage. He says high stress over the holidays plus communal events could increase the risk of threats.

Trepper says his agency typically sees a 10 to 20 percent increase in abuse reports in January. That's when kids return to school and may tell others what's wrong. He says it's critical adults take them seriously. For NPR News, I'm Stephanie Columbini in Tampa. And I'm Janine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.