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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
Chapter 2: What military options is the U.S. considering regarding Iran?
President Trump says he's been weighing military options against Iran, where big anti-government protests continue for a third week. The U.S.-based human rights activist news agency says more than 2,500 people have been killed. NPR's Emily Fang reports Israel has been privately warning the U.S. to hold off on any military action.
An Israeli government source who asked to remain unnamed because they're not authorized to speak to media tells NPR, Israel is concerned Iran's regime is not so fragile yet that a U.S.
Chapter 3: How is NATO responding to Russian threats in the Arctic?
military attack could completely topple it. In Iran, mass demonstrations are going into their third week. And President Trump wrote on social media this week that, quote, help is on its way to Iran without specifying what that meant. The same Israeli government source also told NPR Israeli cabinet members met on Tuesday to discuss Israel's potential response if the U.S. attacked Iran.
Chapter 4: What trends are seen in the U.S. housing market for December?
Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
On a trip to Finland and Norway, Britain's foreign secretary says NATO has to strengthen its defenses in the Arctic in order to counter Russian threats. This as President Trump says NATO should support his effort to make Greenland a part of the U.S. NPR's Lauren Frayer has more.
As polar ice melts, the Arctic is home to more shipping routes and critical infrastructure, including undersea cables. It's also where Russian submarines and other ghost fleet ships have been operating. Last week, the U.S.
Chapter 5: What are the implications of the House Oversight Committee's actions against Hillary Clinton?
military used British military bases in an operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker with ties to Venezuela. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says Russia's actions pose the greatest threat. But that, quote, other state actors are trying to grow their influence in the Arctic as well. President Trump has cited this in his claims for U.S.
Chapter 6: How is the World Health Organization addressing sugary drinks and public health?
sovereignty over the Arctic's biggest island, Greenland, though Britain says that should be up to Greenlanders. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.
The National Association of Realtors says sales of existing homes rose by just over 5 percent in December, closing out a tough year for homebuyers. NPR's Scott Newman reports.
The December numbers represent a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million homes sold.
Chapter 7: What recent economic reports are affecting U.S. wholesale prices?
capping a year that saw a 1.4% year-on-year increase in existing home sales. Sales increased in all regions of the country from November, but for the year, only the South saw increases, while the Midwest and West were flat, and there was a decrease in existing home sales in the Northeast. The NAR says inventory remains tight, with fewer sellers eager to move.
More inventory is expected to come on the market beginning in February, once the weather starts to warm. The median existing home sales price was $405,400, up about $1,700 from the same time last year. Scott Newman, NPR News.
Wall Street's trading lower at this hour. The Dow is down 279 points. NASDAQ down 335. This is NPR News.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee chair, James Comer, says they're planning to hold Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady and former Secretary of State, in criminal contempt of Congress after she failed to appear today for a scheduled deposition as part of the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This a day after the committee said it would seek contempt charges against former President Bill Clinton for failing to show up for his deposition yesterday. The World Health Organization is calling on countries to increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages. It says these products fuel obesity, heart disease, and cancers. NPR's Gabriela Emanuel has more.
Worldwide, the median tax on sugary sodas is just about 2%. That's far lower than the tax on tobacco products, which is closer to 50 or 60% on average. WHO economist Anne-Marie Perucic points to Mauritius, the island nation off the coast of Southeast Africa, as a country that doubled taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages last year.
The evidence is there. We know that taxes do reduce consumption. They generate revenues and they're good for public health.
Since 2013, consumption of sugary drinks has increased by 14 percent globally, while the prices have dropped in most countries, according to the WHO. Gabriella Emanuel, NPR News.
A report delayed by the federal government shutdown says U.S. wholesale prices rose modestly in November. The Labor Department says its producer price index rose two-tenths of a percent from October. This is NPR News.
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