NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-29-2024 12AM EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2024

NPR News: 12-29-2024 12AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to the leader of Azerbaijan on Saturday following the deadly plane crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan. The plane was heading to the Russian Republic of Chechnya. The Kremlin said in a statement that air defense systems were responding to a Ukrainian drone strike in Chechnya's regional capital, but Putin did not take responsibility for the crash.

MPR's Elena Moore explains. 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. A plane with malfunctioning landing gear landed at an airport in southern South Korea on Saturday and then veered off the runway hit a fence and caught fire. The plane was returning from Bangkok with about 180 people on board when the accident occurred. Local news reports say at least 85 people were killed by the fire. The Slovakian Prime Minister says he may stop supplying electricity to Ukraine if Kiev doesn't reverse a decision to block the flow of Russian gas but as 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 FITSO, 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. Protests continued in Tel Aviv this weekend as demonstrators renewed their call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. Sahir Amor has a relative who remains in captivity and he appealed to the incoming U.S. president to move that issue forward. President Trump, sir, please don't let Netanyahu fool you. The only way to end this, the only way to end this regional war is to go for a hostage

deal with a ceasefire. And you're listening to NPR News. Archaeologists have unearthed an astonishingly well-preserved sixth century sword from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury in southeast England. And NPR's Chloe Velpin reports that experts have also found other historically significant objects at the sites. The weapon has an intricately decorated silver and gilt hilt. Its blade is embossed with runic script. Parts of the sword's scabbard, which is made of leather and wood, is lined with beaver fur. Historian Irina Menea spoke about the find this week on her YouTube channel about Viking and Nordic history. Truly an elite object shaping the identity and prestige of the person

bearing it. Other treasures discovered nearby include a golden pendant inscribed with a serpent or dragon. Archaeologists have excavated 12 early medieval graves in the area so far and believe many more exist. The BBC plans to feature the sword in an upcoming episode of the series Digging for Britain in January. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. Gaza's Health Ministry says the Israeli army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. This comes less than 24 hours after they say Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many of its staff and patients outside. Israel claims the hospital director is a suspected Hamas operative and it says more than 240

other people were also detained. Thick fog has once again caused problems for holiday travelers in the UK. At least 40 flights were delayed at Gatwick airport outside London today because of the fog and people flying from Heathrow are being told to check with their airlines for potential delays. Flights from several UK airports faced delays of up to three hours Friday night because of fog. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.