NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-30-2024 2AM EST

Episode Date: December 30, 2024

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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. Former President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday after spending almost two years under hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. President Joe Biden is remembering Carter as a friend as well as a globally recognized

humanitarian and Paris Tamara Keith reports. Biden, a young senator at the time, was one of the first national figures to endorse Carter in his bid for the presidency in 1976. I've been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years. first national figures to endorse Carter in his bid for the presidency in 1976. I've been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years. It dawned on me. Biden said it is a testament to Carter's decency and decades of work after leaving office that millions of people all over the world feel like they lost a friend too, even if they've never met him. And his compassion and moral clarity lifted people up and changed lives

and saved lives all over the globe. Biden delivered his remarks after sharing his condolences in a call with several Carter family members. Funeral plans are underway. Tamara Keith, NPR News. 179 people have now been confirmed killed in a deadly plane crash this week in South Korea. Two crew members survived.

NPR's Anthony Kuhn says it's one of the worst aviation disasters to ever occur on Korean soil. The International Departures Hall of the Muang International Airport is full of the friends and family of passengers, government officials, relief workers, and the hall is filled with tents and emergency shelters. About 140 of the 181 passengers aboard the plane have been identified. Their bodies are sitting in a makeshift morgue in a hangar at the airport waiting to be turned over to their families. The country is now in a

week-long national state of mourning declared by acting president chase on mock on Sunday That's NPR's Anthony Kuhn with our story Palestinian authorities say the Israeli military attacked a health clinic in the Gaza Strip on Sunday Seven people were killed in that incident Israel says the al-wafa clinic building was serving as an operating base for militants Israel says the Al Wafa Clinic building was serving as an operating base for militants. MPR's Emily Fang reports that the deadly airstrike comes just one day after another hospital in Gaza was forced to close by Israel. Al Wafa Clinic specialized in physical therapy services in Gaza City, but Israel's military said the clinic was a Hamas command center and accused Hamas fighters of embedding in

civilian buildings. Meanwhile, northern Gaza's last functioning hospital was shut down by Israeli soldiers over the weekend and 240 people there arrested. North Gaza has been essentially cut off since October when Israel launched an ongoing and punishing military campaign in the area that displaced more than 100,000 people. The World Health Organization said it was quote, appalled by Israel's systemic dismantling of the health system there. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv, Israel. And you're listening to NPR News. Weather officials say another strong storm system may threaten parts

of the southeastern US overnight. This comes one day after several tornadoes tore across six states from Texas to Georgia. A tornado in Alvin, Texas on Saturday killed a 47 year old woman after she was thrown from a trailer. Erica Ackerman lives in Alvin. She says going through the tornado was overwhelming. We're all lost and numb and it's really hard to process it's like it it's I know it's real I can see it that it's real but still sometimes it doesn't feel real. The holidays can be a very difficult time for people who are caring for those who have dementia but health experts say there are still things you can do to

help your family enjoy the upcoming New Year festivities. Stephanie Columbini with Member Station WUSF talked recently with a Tampa caregiver about her approach to celebrating holidays with her late mother. Melissa Malone cooked her mom's favorite food and put on music and movies she grew up loving. Just to jounce any bit of memory that she had. So she didn't overwhelm her mom, Malone staggered guests' arrivals. They tried to stick to yes or no questions to limit confusion and didn't shame her if she said something that didn't make sense.

It's okay to be upset at the disease and it's okay to be mad at the disease but you can't be mad at the person. Malone encourages caregivers to take breaks and ask for help when they need it. For NPR News, I'm Stephanie Columbini in Tampa. And I'm Dale Willman. You're listening to NPR News.