NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-31-2024 5AM EST

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

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The Indicator is a podcast where daily economic news is about what matters to you. Workers have been feeling the sting of inflation. So as a new administration promises action on the cost of living, taxes, and home prices, The S&P 500 biggest post-election day spike ever. follow all the big changes and what they mean for you. Make America affordable again. Listen to The Indicator, the daily economics podcast from NPR. Listen to The Indicator, the daily economics podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Security is heightened in cities

such as New York and Sydney, Australia, where large crowds are expected to ring in the new year. 2025 will arrive in New Zealand 18 hours before the ball drops in Times Square. Ukraine and Russia say they've exchanged hundreds of prisoners captured in the fighting that followed Moscow's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. As NPR's Brian Mann reports from Kyiv, video posted by Ukraine's government shows Ukrainian soldiers and their families being reunited. The images are powerful, weary-looking men hugging wives and children, some after more than two years in captivity. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that 189 of his country's soldiers

had been freed by Russia in time for the new year, including men who fought to defend Mariupol and Snake Island in the Black Sea, crucial battles that took place early in this conflict. 189 Ukrainians are back home, Zelensky said. He described their families as happy again. Russia's defense ministry said 150 Russian soldiers have been freed by Ukraine and are being provided with, quote, the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives.

Brian Mann, NPR News, Kyiv. An arrest warrant has been issued for the president of South Korea stemming from his decision to declare martial law earlier this month. It's the first time such action has been taken against one of the country's sitting presidents. As NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul, Yoon Song-Yul is charged with insurrection and abusing power. 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. Investigators in South Korea say they will conduct safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft flown by the country's airlines. This follows Sunday's fiery crash of a domestic airliner as it was attempting to land at Muan International Airport. The crash killed all but two of the 181 people aboard.

Officials say on its second landing attempt, the airliner did not have its front landing gear deployed, ran off the end of the runway, and slammed into a concrete wall. The pilots issued a distress signal moments after they received a bird strike warning. This is NPR News. The FAA says it's investigating why a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team was nearly allowed to cross a runway at Los Angeles International Airport

as another flight was taking off. Air traffic controllers at LAX ordered the team's plane, operated by Key Lime Air, to stop as a Delta Airlines jet was taking off. The incident occurred late last week. No injuries were reported. Authorities in Ethiopia say more than 70 people have been killed after a crowded truck plunged into a river. As Emmanuel Igunza reports, most of those who died had been attending a wedding in the

south of the country. Local officials say the truck lost control, veered off a bridge and plunged into the Galana River in Sedama Zone in southern Ethiopia. It was transporting people who were coming from a wedding ceremony, and authorities say some families have lost multiple members. First responders pulled out several passengers who were rushed to nearby hospitals. Some are in critical condition. Police are investigating the accident but say preliminary indications are that the truck

was overloaded. Road accidents are common in Ethiopia where authorities blame bad driving and poorly maintained cars for the frequent road crashes. For NPR News, I'm Emanuel Igunza in Nairobi, Kenya. Wall Street is coming off a down day for stocks. The Dow lost 418 points yesterday, or nearly 1%. The S&P 500 lost more than 1%, as did the Nasdaq. Still, 2024 has been a strong year for investors.

I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.