Washington D.C. Shooting and Refugee Policy Review
A 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, has died from injuries sustained during a shooting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. President Trump confirmed her death. Another Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, also sustained injuries in the incident and remains in critical condition. The shooting occurred while both individuals were on patrol near the White House. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been identified as the alleged gunman.
Following the shooting, the Trump administration announced a "reexamination" of thousands of refugees and migrants who have been granted green cards in the U.S. Lakanwal previously served with U.S. forces in Afghanistan as part of a counter-terrorism unit. He applied for asylum during the Biden administration and was granted protection in April of this year under the Trump administration. President Trump has publicly advocated for efforts to "denaturalize migrants" and "deport" foreign nationals.
Sources, including the nonprofit group AfghanEvac, have indicated that Lakanwal would have undergone multiple scrutiny processes in Afghanistan and prior to his arrival in the U.S. Experts note that while the vetting process for Afghan refugees was audited and identified as imperfect, it was thorough. They also emphasized that the majority of refugees from Afghanistan residing in the U.S. do so peacefully.
Hong Kong High-Rise Fire
At least 128 people have died following a substantial fire that engulfed a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong. The incident occurred from Wednesday to Friday. The affected complex houses approximately 4,600 residents. Authorities have indicated that the death toll may increase, making this one of the region's deadliest blazes in decades. Police have arrested three individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire.
NPR's Annual Book Recommendations
NPR released its annual "Books We Love" recommendation tool, which includes over 380 book titles. Featured selections include:
- The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, described as a dystopian novel exploring mass surveillance.
- King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby, a crime fiction novel centered around a family-run crematorium becoming involved with a local drug gang.
- Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy, a memoir reflecting on the author's complex relationship with her mother.
- Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green, which examines the historical and contemporary aspects of tuberculosis.
Holiday Season Retail and Advisories
Fairplay, a children's safety organization, alongside other child and consumer advocacy groups, has advised against the purchase of AI-enabled toys for children this holiday season. The advisory cites concerns that these toys may exploit children's trust and disrupt human relationships.
Muralist Maxx Moses hosted the "Black Friday Artists Market" at the Graffiti Gardens in San Diego. The event was organized to celebrate Black culture, community, and economics, showcasing a diverse group of emerging and established local artists.
Retailers are anticipated to offer significant discounts during the current holiday shopping period in an effort to stimulate consumer spending. The National Retail Federation predicts a record-breaking season, with Americans projected to spend over $1 trillion on gifts, food, and decorations, representing an approximate 4% growth rate consistent with the previous year.
Additionally, guidance for individuals experiencing car sickness during travel was provided by NPR's How To Do Everything podcast.
Weekend Entertainment and Lifestyle Recommendations
NPR offered the following recommendations for the weekend:
- Movies: Sentimental Value, a film focusing on a filmmaker's efforts to reconnect with estranged daughters and the interplay between art and parenthood.
- Television: The final season of Netflix's Stranger Things, including an analysis of its conclusion.
- Books: A selection of four new book releases from the current week, covering topics from crosswords to a posthumous collection of short stories.
- Music: Access to a special collection of holiday music streams from across the NPR network via the NPR app.
- Food: Recipes from Chef Kathy Gunst for repurposing Thanksgiving leftovers.