NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-29-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. President Trump is warning Iran against reconstituting its nuclear program saying, quote, will knock the hell out of them. And speaking of Iran, I hope they're not trying to build up again because if they are, we're going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup. So I hope Iran is not trying to build up as I've been reading that they're building up weapons and other things. Trump made the comments as he welcomed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Meanwhile, Iran is experiencing its biggest protests in three years after the currency there plunged to a record low due to international sanctions. The country's central bank governor resigned today. Demonstrations broke out in Tehran and other cities as traders and shopkeepers rallied. Police used tear gas in some areas of the capital. A commission that advises the government about its vaccine injury compensation program is supposed to meet four times a year, but it says it held all four meetings back to back today. NPR's Sidney Lubkin reports.

The Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines convened on December 29th with six new members, two lawyers, three pediatricians, and a parent of a child who said they had some possible complications from vaccines. The Commission, among other things, is tasked with updating the list of vaccines and injuries or conditions that can receive compensation. According to its charter, the commission consists of three lawyers, three health care professionals, and three members of the public. It met virtually, but some members weren't able to make it due to scheduling conflicts. The commission did not vote or make any decisions. Sidney Lubkin and PR News. As fighting continues in Sudan, United Nations personnel say there are few signs of life in the key

western city of Al-Fashir in what was once a vibrant metropolis. Michael Koloki has more. According to Denise Brown, the UN's resident and humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, UN staff who visited the city last week came across only a few people living inside empty buildings and rudimentary camps. Brown, who described El Fasher as a crime scene, said that the UN was very concerned about those within the city who are injured or detained. The paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, captured Elfashir in October this year after besieging it for 18 months. Fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese armed forces has been going on for more than two years now. Last month, the Office of the Prosecutor,

of the International Criminal Court expressed alarm over reports of mass killings in Alfashir. For NPR News and Michael Koloki in Nairobi. A winter storm is barreling across the northern U.S., unleashing blizzard conditions in the Midwest and aiming at the east coast. The storm

has caused treacherous travel and widespread power outages across the plains and great lakes. The cold front left parts of the central U.S., waking up to temperatures 50 degrees colder than the day before. You're listening to to NPR News from Washington.

South Florida Democratic Congresswoman. Sheila, Sheriff Willis McCormick is reiterating that she is innocent as she faces charges of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal COVID relief funds. She was scheduled to be arraigned today, but it was rescheduled to next month. Sheriff Willis McCormick pleaded not guilty and says she did not steal any funds and that she's committed to the people of Florida. A historic theater in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupil has opened its doors more than three years after it was pummeled in a

Russian air strike that killed hundreds. The Moscow installed authorities marked the reopening with a gala concert on the building's new main stage. The original theater was destroyed when it was targeted by a Russian air strike in March of 2022. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is defending the high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup by saying the tournament is attracting unprecedented demand. as Raphael Nomm explains. Fans have reacted with outrage at the ticket prices for the World Cup being held across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Benefentino justified the high ticket prices by saying FIFA had received a record 150 million ticket requests already this month. And according to this video, released at the World Sports Summit in Dubai, where he spoke, most of the proceeds will be invested towards growing soccer.

What is important and what is crucial is that the revenues that are generated from this are going back to the game all over the world. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.