Chapter 1: What are the latest updates on the Ukraine conflict?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he expects to meet with President Trump on Sunday. The talks will be aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. NPR's Joanna Kikisis reports Russia is examining the latest version of a peace proposal negotiated by the U.S. and Ukraine.
Zelensky wrote on social media that, quote, a lot can be decided before the new year. Territorial issues remain the most sensitive. Earlier this week, Zelensky said he was open to withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the eastern region of Donbass, as long as Russia also pulled back its troops. Ukraine controls about a quarter of this region.
The Trump administration is proposing turning this portion into a free economic zone.
Chapter 2: How is the U.S. responding to ISIS threats in Nigeria?
Volodymyr Polovyi, a soldier whose unit is stationed in Donbass, says Russia has been trying to occupy the region for more than a decade. And during that time, he says, Russia signed peace and ceasefire agreements and did not respect them.
Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev. U.S. forces have launched a strike against Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria. NPR's Scott Newman reports President Trump made the announcement last night on social media.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump suggested that the attack on ISIS militants was in response to, quote, targeting and viciously killing of Christians in the country's northwest. The Pentagon confirmed the strike, which it said was carried out in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities.
Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to stop the persecution of Christians in the country, and last month he said he ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for possible military action against ISIS there.
Chapter 3: What impact did recent storms have on California?
Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims, the country's government says attacks by militant groups are less about religion and more about where the groups operate. In his post, Trump wished a, quote, Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.
A powerful storm system that brought days of heavy rain, wind and snow to California is starting to ease. But as Steve Futterman reports, a number of trouble spots remain across the state.
The latest storms are not expected to be as powerful as the storms the last two days. Those have caused extensive damage. Many roads have been turned into a muddy mess. There have also been numerous rock slides and debris flows. A number of water rescues have taken place and several deaths have been reported.
Chapter 4: What recent wildlife sightings are causing concern in Montana?
By this Sunday, this current series of storms will have passed, but it could be just a brief respite. The forecast calls for more rain next week on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Steve Futterman reporting from Los Angeles. On Wall Street, the Dow is down 48 points. This is NPR. A grizzly bear was seen this week in a southwest Montana mountain range that hasn't seen bears for more than 50 years. Montana Public Radio's Ellis Julin reports the sighting comes as lawmakers consider removing the bear's federal protections.
State wildlife officials confirmed the bear sighting in mountains roughly 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park. The first time a grizzly's been spotted there since bear recovery began in the 1970s. The regions around Yellowstone and Glacier National Park support the two largest populations of bears in Montana.
Chapter 5: Why is Hawaii banning the feeding of feral cats?
As their numbers grow, the bears are seeking out new habitat in their historic ranges. Congress is currently considering legislation to take these bears off the endangered species list. Montana and Wyoming state officials say this population has sufficiently recovered and are requesting grizzlies be delisted. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife last January rejected state's petitions to delist bears in the lower 48. For NPR News, I'm Ellis Ju Lin in Missoula, Montana.
Hawaii's Big Island is banning people from feeding feral cats. It's a move officials say is needed to protect native wildlife. The law is set to take effect in January and allows fines of up to $50 for a first offense, increasing to $500 for repeat violations. Biologists argue the ban is necessary to protect native species from both cat attacks and parasites carried in cat feces.
Chapter 6: What is the current state of the stock market?
But critics of the ban warn it could push feeding efforts underground and leave hungry cats hunting more, not less. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 33 points, the S&P up a fraction. This is NPR News.