NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-31-2024 1AM EST

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. New York officials on Monday tested the crystal-covered ball that will descend down a pole in Times Square to ring in the new year in less than 24 hours. This as officials laid out their plans for the big event. New York's Mayor Eric Adams says security will be tight. We will make sure each one of those who come here to visit and enjoy the ball drop will be safe. There will be officers in uniform and out of uniform.

We're going to make sure we have the omnipresence of the blue uniform would always bring that level of security, but there are many officers that have plain clothes assignments to give the element of surprise. City officials estimate as many as one million people will pack Times Square for the big event. A South Korean court has for the first time issued an arrest warrant for a sitting president. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that the impeached president, Jung Sung-yeol, is charged with insurrection and abusing power during his brief declaration of martial law this month.

A Seoul District Court issued the warrant after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning. The court rejected claims by Yoon and his lawyers that investigators have no jurisdiction over insurrection cases. Yoon was suspended from his official duties after Parliament voted to impeach him on December 14. Detaining Yoon may prove difficult, as his security detail has blocked investigators from executing court-approved searches

of his office and residence on the grounds that they contain military secrets. By law, Yoon has immunity against criminal prosecution, but that does not include charges of insurrection or treason. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. The World Meteorological Association is warning that this year's record-breaking heat is likely to continue in 2025, speeding up climate change. Lisa Schwenn reports from Geneva the WMO is calling for urgent action. WMO reports 2024 is set to be the warmest year on record. The United

Nations Weather Agency says climate change has increased the number and impact of extreme weather events in all regions of the world. That included Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida, causing widespread flooding and wind damage. Historic flooding across West and Central Africa killed more than 1,500 people. Raging wildfires and severe drought have caused irreparable suffering and huge economic losses to countless millions. WMO is urging nations to slash the use of fossil fuel and promote renewable energy. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Schlein in Geneva. On the second to last trading day on Wall Street for 2024, all three indexes are likely

to finish the year with double-digit increases. The Nasdaq is up almost 30 percent, the S&P 23 percent, the Dow Jones is up 13 percent. You're listening to NPR News. Former President Carter's funeral will be held next Thursday, January 9th at the Washington National Cathedral. Before returning to Washington, Carter will lie in repose in Atlanta at the Carter Center, January 5th and 6th. His close friend, President Joe Biden, will deliver the eulogy at the funeral. He will also lie in state next week at the U.S. Capitol. The 39th President of the United States

will be buried next to his wife Rosalyn in Plains, Georgia. Early next year, a probe called the Lunar Pathfinder is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral headed to the moon. Joe Palka reports then it will go into orbit to measure the amount of water there. It's important to remember that water comes in many forms. When we talk about water

on the moon we're not talking about lakes or oceans or any body of water that you could jump into and take a swim in or even a puddle you could splash around in. Bethany Elman is a professor of planetary science at Caltech. She's Lunar Trailblazer's principal investigator. She says the water could be in the form of ice or possibly water vapor or it could be individual water molecules bound to rocks. Lunar Trailblazer will also make detailed maps of where the water is. Knowing the location and composition of the water is important if future astronauts hope to use it for extended missions to the Moon. For NPR News, I'm Joe Palca.