Chapter 1: What recent developments occurred in Ukraine regarding President Zelensky?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stopped in Halifax Saturday on his way to Florida to hold talks with President Trump. As Dan Karpinchuk reports, while Zelensky was on his way, Russia launched a large air attack on the Ukrainian capital.
Zelensky was welcomed to Canada by Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Halifax airport. Carney confirmed the Russian air attacks and also announced $2.5 billion in additional economic aid to Ukraine. He said Russia's most recent attack on Kyiv was barbaric and shows how important it is to stand with Ukraine.
Zelensky said the Russian attack with more than 500 drones and missiles shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a man of war. This attack is, again, Russia's answer on our peace efforts.
Chapter 2: How has Somalia reacted to Israel's recognition of Somaliland?
And it's really a show that Putin doesn't want peace. Zelensky said the U.S.-backed peace plan is about 90% ready, but some sticking points remain, such as security guarantees. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto.
Israel has formally recognized the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.
Chapter 3: What impact is the winter storm having on travel in the Northeast?
That makes Israel the first country in the world to do so. As Michael Kuloki reports from Nairobi, there's been immediate reaction to that announcement.
In a swift response, Somalia's government termed Israel's move as an unlawful step, claiming that Somaliland is an inseparable part of Somalia.
Chapter 4: What is the significance of Myanmar's recent general election?
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but until now, it had not been officially recognized as an independent state by any country. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel recognizes Somaliland as a sovereign state and plans to immediately expand its relations with Somaliland through extensive cooperation in various sectors.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Youssef, said he rejects any recognition of Somaliland, adding that the African Union had an unwavering commitment to the unity of Somalia. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.
More than a thousand flights have been canceled or delayed across the Great Lakes and Northeast so far this weekend because of a winter storm. More than four inches of snow fell in New York City, where Colby Gray was visiting with his wife.
We're from West Virginia, so we're not from here, right? Going here for our three-year anniversary, which was yesterday. We realized it's going to snow like tactic. We didn't even think it was coming.
Chapter 5: How is Colorado's warm winter affecting local ski areas?
States of emergency, meanwhile, were declared for parts of New Jersey and much of upstate New York, where more than 10 inches of snow fell in some areas. The National Weather Service is warning travelers to watch out for downed trees and power lines as they're out moving around. Voting is underway in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar.
It's the first phase of that country's general election, and it's first since the military seized control in 2021 from President Aung San Suu Kyi. Critics are arguing that the election is being used to legitimize military control. The election is occurring in three phases, with the final results expected sometime in late January. You're listening to NPR News.
In Colorado, a warm, dry winter has been hurting ski areas, especially the state's smallest. Colorado Public Radio's Stena Sieg reports that several ski huts, ski hills rather, owned by cities have opened late this year, or not at all.
In the small city of Durango, Chapman Hill is open, but only partially. We wouldn't be able to be open if we didn't make our own snow and just hit jumps or something for two or three hours.
Chapter 6: What were the results of recent college football bowl games?
That would have been awesome. Manager Matt Nimitz says mild temperatures have hindered snowmaking, and many city-owned ski hills can't make their own snow. That's hard on their main clientele, local kids. Nimitz says he wishes he'd had a little ski hill growing up where he could come after school. Municipal ski areas are far less expensive than neighboring large resorts or are even free.
For NPR News, I'm Steena Sieg in Grand Junction, Colorado.
It's a college football bowl weekend with a few other games thrown in for good measure. Chastin Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes to lead East Carolina to a 23-17 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday. Ethan Grunkmeier, meanwhile, threw for two touchdowns as Penn State beat Clemson by a score of 22-10. They were playing at Yankee Stadium.
Army beat UConn, meanwhile, 41-16, while BYU beat Georgia Tech, 25-21. Fresno State beat Miami of Ohio, 18-3. Virginia beat Missouri, 13-7. North Texas outlasted San Diego State, winning 49-47. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.