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tv   BBC News America  PBS  December 24, 2024 5:30pm-6:01pm PST

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by...
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woman: a successful business owner sells his company and restores his father's historic jazz club with his son. a raymond james financial advisor get to know you, your passions, and the way you bring people together. life well planned. brett: you know as someone coming out of college it can be very nerve-racking not knowing what to expect, whether you'll like your job or not, whether you'll make friends, whether you'll fit in, and here i feel like it's so welcoming and such an inclusive place to work, you just feel like you're valued. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news" s bbc news. s mutated christmas celebrations at the church in bethlehem. protests breakout in syria,
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calling for the protection of minorities by islamist leaders after the burning of a christmas tree. president-elect trump vows to pursue the death penalty for violent criminals after president biden commutes 37 federal death sentences. and we are following santa's journey as he edges closer to the u.k. ♪ thanks for being with us. christians have been gathering at the church of the nativity in the holy city of bethlehem to mark christmas. the latin patriarch of jerusalem told worshipers to remain steadfast, saying he had witnessed destruction in gaza, but also life amidst the ruins. our correspondent joins us from bethlehem. describe the scene for us there tonight. correspondent: hello, and happy
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holidays from here in bethlehem, where the midnight mass has just started and ushered in yet another somber holiday season. i know that you have been covering christmas festivities in bethlehem for many years. you will notice there is a big absence behind me, which is that of the huge christmas tree that normally glistens at this time at night. that is nowhere to be seen. this is your biggest indication that while the ceremonies are happening, it is a very somber mood here. the ceremonies are muted. the big ceremonies have been canceled out of respect, but also out of deep sorrow for what is happening in gaza, yet again for a second year running. the war in gaza has cast a very heavy shadow on this biblical city. earlier you could see session carrying banners, calling for the end of the war on because of.
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-- of the war on gaza. he spoke of the latin patriarch. he spoke to the crowds of worshipers. he's now leaving the midnight mass. earlier he spoke about the christmas mass he held in gaza a day before. he said he saw destruction, poverty and despair, but he also spoke about the resilience of the people of gaza, the fact that they have not given up, that even though they did not have enough food to eat, they were asking for education for their children. he said this is the message i bring you from gaza, do not give up. he also called in pilgrims to come, because many still have not come here as they normally do. he said, we are waiting for you. this is yet another big absence feel here, the absence of tourists, of pilgrims that would normally fill the square behind me. you hear that as well from the local shops at majors square. i was speaking to a local shop owner last year and he said it's becoming worse this year.
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he said not many people can help us, only god can. on this holiday, we pray for peace and hope for a cease-fire. host: we have been covering events in bethlehem for such a long time. used to bringing everyone those images. how much do you think christmas itself, the festivities, the religious festival at the heart of this, matters to people in terms of their daily life, given the huge political trauma that people are seeing around them in that region? correspondent: i have been here for the second year now. you feel this city is a shadow of itself, that people here have been robbed of joy. i also feel that people here are torn between the feeling of the fear of losing their livelihood. people rely here, especially the shop owners, on tourists and
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pilgrims and the thousands who flocked in at this time of year. for a second year running, they have been losing so much. some of the shop owners have said we are really worried about our livelihoods. we've had these jobs for decades and never had something like this happen to us. on another hand, they say it's very difficult to celebrate in times like this. one local woman telling me, how can we celebrate when our brothers and sisters are being killed not far from where we are in gaza? you feel they are conflicted. on one hand, they want their city to come back to life. they want their city in all its glory, because the whole world looks at bethlehem in the holiday season at christmas. they also understand they can't do that with going on in gaza. host: remind us of the significance of the nativity church and what is happening in the services going on.
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correspondent: this is the biblical site where jesus was born. this is where, every year, midnight mass happens, ushers in the christmas day, the christmas season. this is where the message of peace, of hope, is delivered by the patriarch. it is important because it brings the community together. one significant thing i have seen is that there is a sense of unity. when we came into the square, there was a mix of christians and muslims in the square, marking the beginning of the midnight mass. this is a time where there is a message of unity. this is something that the cardinal was saying, not just about being steadfast, not giving up, but also being united
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at this time of sorrow, of somberness, as people mark christmas, but also are very aware that christians in gaza will mark that holiday for a second year in the midst of devastation. host: thank you so much for being there. thank you. now in syria, there have been protests over the burning of a christmas tree in a christian majority town. demonstrators took to the streets of the capital damascus, calling for the new ruling faction hts to punish those responsible. the islamist hts movement promised to protect minorities since coupling bashar al-assad earlier this month. this report from damascus. correspondent: we will sacrifice our souls for our cross, these men chant, as they demonstrate through the streets of damascus.
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they are christians. many fear life in the new syria, despite promises made by the country's latest leaders. these protesters and other minorities are not so short. -- not so sure. this was the catalyst of the christmas eve protest, masked gunmen setting fire to a christmas tree in the main square of a christian majority town in central syria. the incident, captured and shared on social media. a spokesperson from the countries new leaders said foreign fighters were responsible and had been arrested. this transitional phase comes with uncertainties, for many people including minorities. such incidents will increase the fears among them. there are people who have vested interest in spreading those fears and it will take time for the new government to maintain stability and for people in syria to adjust to the new reality.
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hayat tahrir al-sham is the group that brought down bashar al-assad. they begin as a jihadist organization. since taking over, its leaders have vowed to protect the rights of the country's diverse religious and ethnic groups. >> to be honest, we are not protected. we are scared. we need to publicly catch those who are creating problems, and if they are foreigners, they should leave. correspondent: across the country, people have been celebrating the collapse of the 50 year assad regime. but it would be sometime before everyone in syria is convinced. bbc news, damascus. host: also in syria today, hts, which is effectively, in control of much of the country says it has absorbed all armitage factions into the armed forces. syria's de facto leader formed
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an agreement after meetings over the last few days with tribal chiefs. it has emerged that the syrian kurdish factions were not part of the agreement. kurdish led forces to control large parts of northeastern syria. the sense of uncertainty about how syria will progress remains. famine is spreading in sudan, according to a global hunger monitor. the salmon review committee -- famine review committee says warring parties continue to disrupt humanitarian aid, needed to alleviate one of the worst starvation crisis in. . modern times -- crisis in modern times. another five areas expected to fall into famine by may next year. the ipc says 24.6 million people urgently need food aid. i spoke to a unicef
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representative to sudan and asked for his response to the review. >> this is not the news any of us want to hear on the eve of christmas. this is a disaster for sudan and the world. it tells us that the situation is getting worse and worse. we are now almost two years into this conflict and it is critical that we are able to get the systems to all children and people in sudan who need it. >> tell us what your teams are seeing and telling you. >> we are having difficulties getting assistance to those most in need. this is a country at war. it is a country that is in desperate need of food, and for those affected populations, water, health care, education. we need a package of services, but most importantly we need to target those most in need. we need to ensure we can get consistent delivery of food and
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nutrition supplies and health supplies to those populations in need. that has proven difficult. host: we heard a lot about the crisis that sudan is facing. does this review tell you and others something new? >> it tells us we all have to increase our efforts and we need an end to this war. we need to make sure we have consistent, sustained, and predictable deliveries. we have seen pledges to make this happen, but we have not seen the consistent mechanics to make this happen. that is what we need in place. host: the unicef representative for sudan there. joe biden might have from a stay smooth transition to donald trump's second term, but that has not stopped the president-elect from voicing harsh criticisms for the current president to commute the death sentences of 37 prisoners to life in prison.
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donald trump criticized the sparing of what he described as 37 of the worst killers in the u.s.. he added, when you hear the acts of each, that he did this makes no sense. relatives and friends are devastated. it is no secret the two men have completely opposed views of the death penalty. there have been no federal executions during mr. biden's time as president. there will now be just three people remaining on federal death row. during his first term in office, mr. trump brought back federal executions, which had not been carried out for almost two decades. 13 murderers were executed by lethal injection. our correspondent in washington has the latest. correspondent: there are three people who will remain on death row. they are all cases of mass killings basically in the united states. they still could face the death penalty, booked trump does not have the power to undo the commutations that joe biden has given, so those people will be
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removed from death row and will face life in prison without parole. other people on death row could face the death penalty under a trump administration. host: it is because miss eve today, but -- it is christmas eve today, but has there been any reaction to what donald trump has said? correspondent: there was reaction by joe biden in the first place to do this. it splits american opinion. it splits the opinion of some of the families involved in these cases. i think the biden white house was well aware of this would be a controversial decision, and in some ways to preempt that they issued a bunch of statements alongside joe biden's decision from campaign groups welcoming the move, but also from some of the friends and family of those murdered by these people on death row, saying they also supported sentences. however that was not universally welcomed. the daughter of one of the people whose mother was murdered said that as a result of this
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decision, joe biden and his supporters have blood on their hands, to use their words. this is a very divisive issue. the latest gallup poll suggests around 53% of americans support the death penalty in murder cases. it is very divisive. clearly donald trump has firmly stated his case that he plans to bring back the use of the death penalty, and if he can he's keen to expand it as well. host: the former u.s. president bill clinton has been released from hospital in washington dc after being admitted for a fever yesterday. mr. clinton's deputy chief of staff said the former president was grateful for his exceptional care and the well wishes he received at the hospital. after being admitted for tests, he was treated for flu. the former president has had a number of health issues, including undergoing quadruple bypass surgery.
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armed men in haiti have opened fire at medical staff, police officers, and journalists during a media conference to announce the reopening of the biggest public hospital in the country. at least two have been killed and many others injured. journalists were awaiting for the arrival of the health minister in port-au-prince when the shooting started. the site had been recaptured by haiti's government in july after being occupied and destroyed by violent gangs that control much of the city. with me is our news reporter. tell us more. correspondent: journalists arrived around 8:00 a.m. local time, waiting for the health minister, when shooting began around 11:00 p.m. at the general hospital in port-au-prince. this is the largest public hospital in the country. at least two people are killed with at l -- with many injured. this hospital had been closed
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during a surge of gang violence, which the former prime minister ousted from power. it was then recaptured by the government in july after being occupied by gang violence and destroyed in a violent way. this was seen as a huge step forward by the government, who are trying to reengage control of the city - to regain control of society. around 85 percent of port-au-prince is thought to be considered by gangs currently. host: do we know why there is this apparent increase in violence? correspondent: there has been a resurge of violence by gangs. it comes at a time when there has been little response by the international community, which is often condemned by the traditional government of haiti, but very little impact. an international security force led by kenya deployed troops that have been in haiti for some weeks. but they are only in a small area of port-au-prince. yes, that area may be more
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secure, but it is not representative of the wider capital. there are still large parts of this capital and rule areas surrounding it which are destroyed by gang violence. it is thought that around 760,0 00 children are on the break of famine in haiti as hospitals, schools, community kitchens are in disarray. the public health sector, as we have seen with the hospital failing to reopen, is on the break of collapse too. host: for gangs to strike, the opening of a public hospital, you know, do we know whether there was something specific they were trying to send as a message? or is it too soon to glean that information yet? correspondent: the majority of this armed violence is all over the territory, instilling fear in patients in many areas -- in
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haitians in many areas. this hospital was in downtown port-au-prince. it was thought of as a warning sign to the government, saying you have not overrun us, you have not regained this hospital. you may have thought you have, but we are very much still in control of this valuable social service, a real heart of the committee, a public hospital is invaluable in these circumstances. the gangs are sending messages, saying you thought you may have got the upper hand, but that is not the case. host: thank you very much. denmark says it will increase its defense spending on greenland by at least $1.5 billion. the promise came just hours after america's president-elect donald trump repeated his desire for the u.s. to purchase the territory. denmark's defense minister said the timing of the funding announcement was just an irony of fate. the money will pay for two new
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naval vessels, long-range drones, and an approach to the airport to allow it to handle supersonic aircraft. donald trump on friday said the security of america and the world depended on the u.s. owning and controlling greenland. greenland's prime minister responded by saying his country is not for sale. a russian missile has struck a ukrainian city, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen. the strike on president zelenskyy's hometown came as his christmas message was broadcast. authorities say the ballistic missile hit a four story residential building. video showed rescuers pulling people from the rubble. standing outside kyiv's cathedral, mr. zelenskyy said the ukrainians wanted to see a christmas star shining in these guys, not russian missiles -- shining in the skies, not russian missiles. one person grew up with a passion for linkages. he has studied over 30 leg which
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is and speaks many of them -- 30 languages and speaks many of them fluently. we put his language skills to the test and found out which languages were the hardest and easiest to learn, which languages he dreams in, and what advice he has for other linguists. >> this is a japanese grammar book. this is a russian to french dictionary. >> meet a hyper polyglot from ramonda. a hyper polyglot is someone who speaks six leg which is or more fluently -- six languages of more fluently. >> i study 32 differently which is. -- different languages. right now i can speak or use 22 different languages. those are different books which are very useful for me as a hyper polyglot.
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mastering different foreign languages. >> which language was the hardest to learn? >> german. because of some differences in terms of the syntax of grammatical structures. >> which language was the easiest to learn? >> italian. because i already knew french, italian and french are very close languages. >> what inspired you to learn so many languages? >> i have some members of my family who used to study in the former soviet union, so they used it to speak both russian and french. when i heard them speaking both leg which is, i felt extremely happy -- both languages, i felt extremely happy, so i was interested in foreign languages.
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>> which language do you dream in? >> i dream in different language s. because i am a teacher of different languages, sometimes in my dream i find myself dreaming, speaking, for example, arabic, hebrew, greek, japanese, russian. but most of the time i dream in my mother tongue. >> what advice do you have for other language learners? >> find different language partners, especially native speakers, to practice with them a language that someone is studying. because it helps. >> thank you very much for this interview. host: an extraordinary linguist from ramonda -- from rwanda.
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pope francis launched a special jubilee and christmas eve ceremony at the vatican. jubilees take place every 25 years and the pope has marked the start by opening the normally bricked up holy door of st. peter's basilica. over 30 million are expected to make a pilgrimage to rome. the more thick and reagan -- the north american aerospace command repositioned its radars and satellites to track santa claus as he sets out while he continues his worldwide mission to deliver presents to children around the globe. norad, a joint operation between the u.s. and canadian militaries, is responsible for guarding the skies over north america. and later, they will dispatch a fighter jet to greet santa. >> norad tracks santa the same way we do our 365 day coverage of north america. we use a combination of satellites, radar, and fighter
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aircraft. with santa, we pick them up normally on radar first, the northern canada and alaska warning system. as he gets further away from north america, we use our satellites in geosynchronous orbit that are infrared capable. rudolph gives off the same signature. we use that to track him around the world. as they get closer to north america, we launch fighter steps to escort santa as he is delivering gifts. >> norad say santa has been doing this for 16 centuries. so far, no accidents. 4 billion gifts have been delivered. he's somewhat over belgium we believe right now. stay with us on bbc news. ♪
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announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james. announcer: funding was also provided by,
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the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: get the free pbs app now and stream the best of pbs.
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william: good evening. i'm william brangham. amna nawaz and geoff bennett are away. on the newshour tonight, the discovery of mass graves in syria sheds new light on the historic brutality of the fallen regime. a look at efforts to lessen the impact offshore nd

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