Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Officials from the U.S., Ukraine and some European countries are in Geneva where they're trying to come up with a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine. They're discussing a 28-point plan from the U.S.
Chapter 2: What peace deal is being discussed for Ukraine?
NPR's Luke Garrett explains some of the major points of that deal.
First, Ukraine would give up some territory to Russia, including in the Donbass, which it controls. It would also have to cede Crimea and Luhansk, which Russia has occupied. Second, Ukraine would have to reduce the size of its army by about 30%, capping it at 600,000 troops. And the deal would block Ukraine's pathway to NATO membership, though it would remain eligible for EU membership.
Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. has expressed serious concerns about the plan, as have a number of European countries. Israel has killed a senior Hezbollah commander in an airstrike in Beirut. According to Lebanese health authorities, the strike in a crowded residential area also killed four other people and wounded dozens. Jane Aref has more.
Hezbollah announced that Haitham Ali Tabatabai was killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday. The group described him as one of the founders of resistance against Israel. Israel has launched almost daily attacks in south Lebanon, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed a year ago. This was Israel's first attack in months on Beirut.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on other countries to intervene to stop Israel's ceasefire violations. Hezbollah has refrained from attacking Israel since last year's ceasefire. But a Hezbollah official called Sunday's attack a new red line. For NPR News, I'm Jane Araf in Beirut.
In Nigeria, officials say 50 of the more than 300 students kidnapped from a boarding school on Friday have escaped and returned home. NPR's Jules Bright reports.
Officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria say the 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped individually after they were taken from their dorms at the St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State on Friday. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and authorities say a massive search and rescue operation is underway.
The attack is one of Nigeria's biggest school abductions since the 2014 kidnapping of 260 Chibok school girls by Boko Hora militants. Nigeria has seen a wave of attacks in recent days targeting schools and places of worship. 25 students were taken from another boarding school in a neighboring state. Gunmen also attacked a church where they killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others.
Nigeria's president announced today that all worshippers abducted in the church have been rescued. Drew Bright, NPR News Vegas.
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Chapter 3: What recent events have escalated tensions in Lebanon?
With what looks like a $150 million opening weekend, it's doing very well. But the story isn't as well known in other countries, so Wicked for Good opening to more than $75 million overseas... Even with stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo doing extensive publicity tours was not a given. The first Wicked film made $758 million worldwide.
so their combined box office will reach a billion dollars in the next few days. Bob Mondello, NPR News.
A new law in Australia banning the use of social media by anyone younger than 16 takes effect on December 10th. Ahead of that deadline, Meta is urging young Australians to download their digital histories before deleting their accounts. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram. The company is the first social media platform to outline a compliance plan. Meta is a financial supporter of NPR.
Gina Titical won the biggest prize in women's golf this weekend. She finished the final round of the LPGA Championship in Florida with a 68 and a four-shot lead ahead of Padre Anan Nan Rukon. That gave her a $4 million paycheck and won her Player of the Year. Nellie Korda came in third and ended the year without a win. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.