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Chapter 1: What updates are there on the Israel-Hamas conflict?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was in Israel today to talk about Syria, Lebanon, and the war in Gaza. And he thinks Israel and Hamas are close to a ceasefire and hostage deal. More from NPR's Michelle Kellerman.
Chapter 2: What is the status of hostages held by Hamas?
Among the hostages still being held by Hamas are seven Americans, three of whom are presumed to be alive. That's according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who says he's trying to close a hostage deal this month.
We've been close before and haven't gotten there, so I can't make any promises or predictions to you. But I wouldn't be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting until after January 20th.
Sullivan says he's been coordinating with the incoming team for President-elect Trump and traveling next to Egypt and Qatar, the countries that have been talking to Hamas. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Chapter 3: What is the significance of Trump's invitation to Xi Jinping?
President-elect Trump has invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to his inauguration next month, and other foreign leaders have been invited as well, as according to a Trump spokesperson, NPR's Deepa Shivram has more.
Incoming White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said on Fox News that Trump has invited Xi, but it's quote, to be determined whether the Chinese leader will attend. This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors too.
Chapter 4: What challenges does Trump face in U.S.-China relations?
Leavitt did not name any other foreign leaders who have been invited. Recently, Trump threatened a 10% tariff on all products from China for the flow of illegal drugs coming in from that country, though it's unclear if that would actually go into effect. In response, the Chinese embassy in Washington has warned that neither the U.S. nor China would win a trade or tariff war.
Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Chapter 5: What policing reforms is Louisville implementing?
And in fact, experts were saying today it is unlikely she would attend. The city of Louisville has agreed to work with the Department of Justice on policing reforms after the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor during a botched raid that sparked a racial justice protest across the country. From Louisville Public Radio, Gazelle Roden reports.
Louisville leaders agreed to a consent decree with the Justice Department. Kristen Clark is the assistant attorney general for the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
No doubt this consent decree includes the strong medicine necessary to cure violations of law and to help promote healing in this community.
A DOJ report revealed many cases of police misconduct in Louisville. This includes excessive use of force, unlawful searches and arrests, and faulty internal investigations. U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton will oversee the agreement. Beaton was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2020. For NPR News, I'm Giselle Rodin in Louisville.
The European Union Central Bank has gotten a jump on its U.S. counterpart, announcing a quarter of a point cut in interest rates today at its meeting in Frankfurt. It's widely expected when the U.S. Federal Reserve's main rate-setting arm meets next week, it will also cut interest rates by a quarter point. This is NPR.
The IRS has made a point of being more aggressive when it comes to tax cheats, and today the agency's leadership presented some facts about how well that is working. IRS Commissioner Denny Werfel citing improvements to the agency that allowed for the recovery of $4.7 billion in back taxes and ill-gotten gains from criminal operations.
The announcement comes as some Republicans have called for rescinding tens of billion dollars of dollars in additional funding for the agency that it got to beef up enforcement. Today, three men filed new sexual assault lawsuits against Sean Diddy Combs in New York, alleging Combs raped them in 2019 and 2020. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports.
The three new lawsuits were all filed on behalf of unnamed plaintiffs. One of the lawsuits states that in 2019, the plaintiff met Combs at a New York club. He says he was invited to an afterparty with several Bad Boy Records employees. There, Combs allegedly gave the plaintiff a drink that caused him to become disoriented.
The lawsuit states that Combs then raped the plaintiff while two other people in the room filmed the assault. The other two lawsuits state that Combs drugged and raped the plaintiffs in 2020. One of the men alleges that other bad boy employees participated in the assault. The other claims to have been formerly employed by Combs. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News.
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