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Right now’s prime tales
Syrian opposition forces stormed Hama metropolis in central Syria yesterday as a part of their largest offensive in years towards President Bashar al-Assad’s authorities. The insurgent push began final week when combating led to the seize of Syria’s second-largest metropolis, Aleppo.
Smoke from combating billows within the edges of the city of Hama, Syria, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024.
Omar Albam/AP
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Omar Albam/AP
- 🎧 Greater than 100 civilians have died from the combating between the insurgent forces and pro-government factions, that are backed by Russia and Iran, NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi tells Up First. Hama has regional significance as it is a predominant provide route that Iran makes use of to maneuver weapons to its ally — the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. HTS, which was once affiliated with al-Qaeda, is main the offensive. Eyes are on the subsequent huge metropolis — Homs, the place combating on the outskirts has been reported. If the rebels maintain the momentum going, they will be inching nearer to the Syrian authorities’s seat of energy.
President-elect Donald Trump introduced David Sacks will tackle the position of the White Home AI and crypto czar. Sacks, a longtime Silicon Valley enterprise capitalist, would information the administration’s insurance policies towards these applied sciences. The choice comes after Bitcoin hit $100,000 this week for the primary time.
- 🎧 Trump has promised to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and to appoint regulators pleasant to that trade, NPR’s Rafael Nam says. This can be a very completely different strategy from the Biden administration. Cryptocurrencies are extremely risky. Critics like Dennis Kelleher of the advocacy group Higher Markets are involved the most recent rally round crypto might create a short-term increase over the subsequent couple of years however might result in a catastrophic monetary disaster.
Officers in New York Metropolis are taking steps towards addressing its housing disaster by approving a housing plan known as Metropolis of Sure. It might result in 80,000 new properties over the subsequent 15 years. Town has over 3.5 million properties, however most are occupied, and costs outpace these in almost each different location within the U.S.
- 🎧 The plan has tweaks that can allow extra housing: Some owners shall be allowed so as to add an additional unit on their properties, and builders can construct larger buildings close to subway stations, based on David Model of WNYC, an NPR community station. The plan will even make it simpler to transform places of work into residences and condos. Although important, the plan will not clear up town’s housing issues, particularly for the lowest-income New Yorkers. Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams says zoning alone does not create inexpensive housing, which is why she received the mayor to commit extra funding for lease help and low-income housing.
Life recommendation
It’s the season for giving, however not everybody has a knack for locating the appropriate reward for his or her family members. Editor-in-chief of SELF Journal Rachel Wilkerson Miller and actress and content material creator Asia Jackson share recommendation on easy methods to purchase significant presents for 5 persona sorts.
- 🎁 For the sensible particular person, take into account a present they may use of their day by day lives. Miller recommends reward playing cards for companies like oil modifications, automotive washes and canine strolling.
- 🎁 A present card in all probability will not lower it for sentimental family members. Think about giving them a memento that pertains to a reminiscence you each share. Home made items are additionally nice choices.
- 🎁 For individuals who get pleasure from experiences, take into account activity-related items like cookbooks, Lego units or perhaps a membership to an area museum.
- 🎁 Items that encourage rest and destressing, like therapeutic massage weapons and blankets, are excellent for the comfy particular person.
- 🎁 What about the one that has all of it? Give them one thing completely enjoyable, completely sudden and heartfelt.
Get extra reward concepts for these 5 persona sorts right here.
Weekend picks
Try what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Motion pictures: Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani’s new documentary Bread & Roses tells the story of three girls who’re protesting the Taliban’s erasure of ladies from political and public life.
📺 TV: In Netflix’s The Insanity, Colman Domingo performs Muncie Daniels, who finds himself on the run after he discovers a brutal homicide and is framed for the crime.
📚 Books: NPR workers and e-book critics weighed in on their favourite titles for the annual Books We Love information. Listed below are a dozen novels they’re excited to share from this 12 months.
🎵 Music: NPR Music has rounded up a listing that includes 124 of one of the best songs of the 12 months. The gathering has one thing for everybody and even means that you can uncover songs by a single style. Here is a playlist on your streaming pleasure.
🎮 Video games: From cozy puzzles to multiplayer sensations and grand adventures, NPR workers and contributors share their favourite video video games of 2024 up to now.
❓ Quiz: There was lots of information this week, from presidential pardons to a brand new phrase of the 12 months. Perhaps that’s the reason I received a barely passing rating on this quiz. Do you suppose you are able to do higher?
3 issues to know earlier than you go
Pope Francis (proper) appears on as he is introduced a brand new totally electrical popemobile on the Vatican on Wednesday.
Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Photos
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Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Photos
- Pope Francis goes electrical in a brand new eco-friendly G-Class Mercedes-Benz popemobile for the 2025 Jubilee processional.
- A federal decide in Texas has rejected a proposed plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. Justice Division stemming from the lethal crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019.
- A brand new examine finds individuals who eat a small, day by day dose of darkish chocolate have a decrease threat of growing Sort 2 diabetes in comparison with individuals who do not eat it.
This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
