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Today’s prime tales

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Israel right now because the Biden administration continues to induce Israel to extra rigorously goal Hamas and its leaders and keep away from civilian casualties in its army offensive. Nearly 19,000 individuals in Gaza have been killed, in keeping with Gaza’s well being ministry. An prolonged communications blackout was partially lifted final evening after about 4 days.

A protester with pink paint on his hand marches by means of the streets after demonstrating outdoors the Israel Defense Forces headquarters on Friday in Tel Aviv, Israel. Earlier, the IDF had mentioned its forces unintentionally killed three hostages being held in Gaza when it mistakenly recognized them as potential threats.

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

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Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

A protester with pink paint on his hand marches by means of the streets after demonstrating outdoors the Israel Defense Forces headquarters on Friday in Tel Aviv, Israel. Earlier, the IDF had mentioned its forces unintentionally killed three hostages being held in Gaza when it mistakenly recognized them as potential threats.

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

• Protests in Tel Aviv following the deaths of the three Israeli hostages have elevated calls for a new hostage deal and cease-fire, NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf stories on Up First. On Friday, three Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli troops in northern Gaza. Demonstrators are “camping out 24/7” in entrance of the conflict cupboard constructing till a deal is reached.

Check out npr.org/mideastupdates for extra protection and evaluation of this battle.

The U.S. Senate postponed its winter break to present lawmakers extra time to succeed in a deal on immigration. Congressional Republicans say they may approve funding to Ukraine and Israel in change for tighter U.S. border safety coverage.

• If a deal is made, it might be the most important change to U.S. immigration coverage for the reason that late ’90s, one skilled tells NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben. Kurtzleben provides immigration will likely be essential to Biden within the 2024 election. Republicans will criticize him for it, and progressives might be indignant with him, relying on how a lot he compromises.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered Southwest Airlines to pay a $140 million civil penalty for its operational meltdown during the 2022 holiday season. A significant winter storm final December disrupted hundreds of flights. Southwest canceled 16,900 flights, stranding greater than 2 million passengers. Under the settlement, the Dallas-based airline is required to ascertain a $90 million compensation system for future passengers affected by vital delays and cancellations.

A landmark nationwide safety trial for the pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai opens right now in Hong Kong. Lai was arrested in 2020 and spent greater than 1,000 days in detention underneath China’s National Security Law. His pro-democracy newspaper, the Apple Daily, was shut down in 2021. He now faces a most sentence of life in jail for prices of collusion with overseas forces.

• Lai has turn into a “symbol of opposition against Beijing’s control” of Hong Kong, NPR’s Emily Feng stories from Taiwan. His son, Sebastien, says his father’s case is being turned into a political show for Beijing to point out how aggressively it should punish dissenters. Independent media retailers in Hong Kong have principally shut down, and some individuals who have not been arrested have moved overseas, Feng stories. 

Life recommendation

Studies present when individuals are given one thing they’re extra possible to present again.

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ArtistGNDphotography/Gettyimages

Studies present when individuals are given one thing they’re extra possible to present again.

ArtistGNDphotography/Gettyimages

There’s empirical proof that generosity and the act of giving boosts our happiness. Yet, Christmas procuring can typically really feel annoying and rushed (who else is doing all of it final minute?). Try some of these gift-giving tips to really feel heat and fuzzy as a substitute of anxious and angsty this season:

• Be intentional. Think concerning the individual you are shopping for for and seize presents all year long that remind you of them.
• Try gifting an expertise like present tickets or a museum membership as a substitute of fabric presents.
• Be current to see the reward receiver’s response once they open it. 

Enlighten me

Hrishikesh Hirway says the reason for his author’s block was a “whirlpool of self judgment.”

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for VOX Media

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Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for VOX Media

Hrishikesh Hirway says the reason for his author’s block was a “whirlpool of self judgment.”

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for VOX Media

Enlighten Me is a particular collection with Rachel Martin about what it takes to construct a lifetime of which means.

Musician Hrishikesh Hirway’s podcast Song Exploder has turn into common listening for Rachel Martin’s family. Martin and Hirway mentioned intimacy in 2020 earlier than Song Exploder debuted on Netflix. As the podcast nears its tenth anniversary, Hirway returns to speak about concern, creativity and the significance of boredom to the inventive course of. Listen to the dialog here or read the interview.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

The Confederate Memorial in Section 16 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., is slated to be eliminated.

Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army picture by Elizabeth Fra

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Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army picture by Elizabeth Fra

The Confederate Memorial in Section 16 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., is slated to be eliminated.

Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army picture by Elizabeth Fra

1. A monument to Confederate troopers on the Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled to be removed this week underneath a regulation that requires the Department of Defense to have a look at eradicating “names, symbols, displays, monuments, or paraphernalia” commemorating the Confederacy.
2. A robust storm system is making its method up the East Coast, inflicting flooding and heavy winds for elements of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. 
3. The FDA is investigating whether or not lead present in three manufacturers of cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches was added intentionally.

This publication was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.