NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-28-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

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As you prepare for the ball drop on 2025, listen to NPR Music's All Songs Considered podcast, as we look back at the biggest songs and albums of the year. From the unmissable hits to the fascinating other stuff you might not have heard. Search for All Songs Considered wherever you get podcasts to hear us run back some of the best of the best of 2025. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stopped in Halifax Saturday in his way to Florida to hold talks with President Trump. As Dan Carpenchuk reports,

while Zelensky was on his way, Russia launched a large air attack on the Ukrainian capital. Zelensky was welcomed to Canada by Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Halifax Airport. Carney confirmed the Russian air attacks and also announced $2.5 billion in additional economic aid to Ukraine. He said Russia's most recent attack on Kiev was barbaric and shows how important it is to

stand with Ukraine. Zelensky said the Russian attack with more than 500 drones and missiles shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a man of war. This attack is, again, Russia's answer on our peace efforts, and it's really the show that Putin doesn't want peace. Zelensky said the U.S.-backed peace plan is about 90% ready, but some sticking points remain such as security guarantees. For NPR News, I'm Dan Carpenchuk in Toronto. Israel is formally recognized the self-declared republic of Somaliland as an independent state that makes Israel the first country in the world to do so.

As Michael Koloki reports from Nairobi, there's been immediate reaction to that announcements. In a swift response, Somalia's government termed Israel's move as an unlawful step, claiming that Somaliland is an inseparable part of Somalia. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but until now, it had not been officially recognized as an independent state by any country. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel recognizes Somaliland as a sovereign state and plans to immediately expand its relations with Somaliland through extensive cooperation in various sectors. Meanwhile, the chairperson of the African Union Commission,

Mahmoud Yusuf, said he rejects any recognition of Somaliland, adding that the African Union had an unwavering commitment to the unity of Somalia. For NPR News, and Michael Kaloki in Nairobi. More than a thousand flights have been cancelled or delayed across the Great Lakes in northeast so far this weekend because of a winter storm, more than four inches of snow fell in New York City where Colby Gray was visiting with his wife. We're from West Virginia, so we're not from here, right? Going here for a three-year anniversary, which was yesterday, we realized it's going to snow like that. We didn't even think it was coming. States of emergency, meanwhile, were declared for parts of New Jersey and much of upstate New York where more than 10 inches of snow fell

in some areas. The National Weather Service was warning travelers to watch out for down trees and power lines as they're out moving around. Voting is underway in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar. It's the first phase of that country's general election, and it's first since the military seized control in 2021 from President Aung San Suu Kyi. Critics are arguing that the election is being used to legitimize military control. The election is occurring in three phases, with the final results expected sometime in late January.

You're listening to NPR News. In Colorado, a warm, dry winter has been herding ski areas, especially the state's smallest. Colorado Public Radio's Stena Sieg reports that several ski huts, ski hills, rather, owned by cities, have opened late this year or not at all. In the small city of Durango, Chapman Hill is open, but only partially. We wouldn't be able to be open if we didn't make our own snow and just hit jumps or something for, you know, for two or three hours. That would have been awesome. Matt Nimitz says mild temperatures have hindered snowmaking, and many city-owned ski hills can't make their own snow. That's hard on their main clientele, local kids. Nimitz says he

wishes he'd had a little ski hill growing up where he could come after school. Municipal ski areas are far less expensive than neighboring large resorts or are even free. For MPR News, I'm Steena Sieg in Grand Junction, Colorado. It's a college football ball weekend with a few other games thrown in for good measure. Chaston Didda threw two second half touchdown passes to lead East Carolina to a 23 to 17 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday. Ethan Grunkmeier, meanwhile, threw for two touchdowns as Penn State beat Clemson by a score of 22 to 10. They were playing at Yankee Stadium. Army beat Yukon, meanwhile, 41 to 16, while BYU beat Georgia Tech 25 to 21. Fresno State beat Miami of Ohio, 18 to 3.

Virginia beat Missouri 13 to 7, North Texas outlasted San Diego State, winning 49 to 47. I'm Dale Wilman and PR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply.