Good morning. You are studying the Up First e-newsletter. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hear to the Up First podcast for all of the information it’s essential begin your day.
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 preventing led to the seize of Syria’s second-largest metropolis, Aleppo.
Smoke from preventing billows within the edges of the city of Hama, Syria, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024.
Omar Albam/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Omar Albam/AP
- 🎧 Greater than 100 civilians have died from the preventing 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 principal provide route that Iran makes use of to maneuver weapons to its ally — the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. HTS, which was affiliated with al-Qaeda, is main the offensive. Eyes are on the subsequent massive metropolis — Homs, the place preventing on the outskirts has been reported. If the rebels preserve the momentum going, they’re going to be inching nearer to the Syrian authorities’s seat of energy.
President-elect Donald Trump introduced David Sacks will tackle the function 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 business, NPR’s Rafael Nam says. It is 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 referred to as Metropolis of Sure. It might result in 80,000 new houses over the subsequent 15 years. The town has over 3.5 million houses, however most are occupied, and costs outpace these in practically each different location within the U.S.
- 🎧 The plan has tweaks that may allow extra housing: Some owners will probably 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 can even make it simpler to transform workplaces into flats and condos. Although important, the plan will not remedy the 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 hire help and low-income housing.
Life recommendation
It’s the season for giving, however not everybody has a knack for locating the suitable 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 how you can purchase significant presents for 5 character varieties.
- 🎁 For the sensible individual, take into account a present they may use of their day by day lives. Miller recommends reward playing cards for providers like oil adjustments, automobile washes and canine strolling.
- 🎁 A present card most likely will not minimize it for sentimental family members. Take into account giving them a memento that pertains to a reminiscence you each share. Selfmade 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 leisure and destressing, like therapeutic massage weapons and blankets, are good for the comfortable individual.
- 🎁 What about the one who has all of it? Give them one thing completely enjoyable, completely sudden and heartfelt.
Get extra reward concepts for these 5 character varieties right here.
Weekend picks
Take a look at what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Films: Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani’s new documentary Bread & Roses tells the story of three girls who’re protesting the Taliban’s erasure of girls 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 here 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 the perfect songs of the 12 months. The gathering has one thing for everybody and even lets you uncover songs by way of a single style. Here is a playlist in 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 to date.
❓ Quiz: There was a number of information this week, from presidential pardons to a brand new phrase of the 12 months. Possibly 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 absolutely electrical popemobile on the Vatican on Wednesday.
Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Photographs
cover caption
toggle caption
Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Photographs
- 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 danger of creating Sort 2 diabetes in comparison with individuals who do not devour it.
This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
