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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. For the second straight year, the city of Bethlehem was quiet on Christmas Day. In years past, thousands of tourists flocked to Manger Square, which Christians believe is the traditional birthplace of Jesus. But this year, the mood there is somber amid the war in Gaza. NPR's Emily Fang has more.
At Christmas Mass, in the Catholic section of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, worshippers and visitors alike crowded into the pews. Nearby, nuns and pilgrims chanted prayers and sang songs in an underground grotto in the church's Greek Orthodox section. This grotto was believed to be the cave where Jesus Christ was born. But the church and manger square in front of it was relatively empty.
Celebrations have been muted to mourn the more than 45,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza. Emily Fang, NPR News, Bethlehem, the West Bank.
Officials in Ukraine say they've received the first billion dollars in promised loans from the United States, backed by proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Empire's Brian Mann reports from Kyiv that the funding comes as part of a $50 billion loan plan created by G7 leaders last summer.
Ukraine's Prime Minister, Denis Shmuhal, said on social media the first billion dollars have arrived. That's out of 20 billion in loans expected from the U.S., with an additional 30 billion in support slated to come from other big industrial G7 countries, including Britain and Canada. We thank our American partners and the World Bank for this important step toward justice, Schmahal said.
The arrangement allows countries to support Ukraine's economy and military with massive loans, with payback coming from revenue from Russia's overseas assets frozen after the 2022 invasion. Russian officials have condemned the arrangement as fraudulent, posting on social media that loans and other support for Ukraine will prolong the war. Brian Mann, NPR News, Kyiv.
New data shows fewer 18-year-olds enrolled in college this fall. NPR's Janaki Mehta reports the analysis comes after the Department of Education delayed its rollout of the Federal Financial Aid Form, or FAFSA.
Five percent fewer 18-year-old freshmen enrolled in college this fall compared to last fall. That's according to data analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Some experts say the decline has to do with the disastrous rollout of the FAFSA last year. That's the financial aid form that allows students to get money from the federal government to go to college.
Others say the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to ban affirmative action contributed. This drop in enrollment was seen widely across the country in 46 states. But the school year is only partway over, so colleges still have time to make up lost ground. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. NASA says its four astronauts at the International Space Station are spending Christmas Day gazing down at Earth, having private phone calls with their families and spending time with their colleagues. NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boyce reports the astronauts also beamed down a holiday message.
The four astronauts gathered together in front of the camera next to a small green Christmas tree. Merry Christmas! Three of them wore red Santa hats. Sunny Williams had on reindeer antlers. She let go of a handful of candy canes, which floated around. One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready.
She and her colleague Butch Wilmore weren't expecting to spend this holiday season in space. They went up in June on what was supposed to be a short test flight of Boeing's Starliner. NASA decided they'll come home on a SpaceX flight, which is now scheduled for late March. Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News.
The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the United States. This after President Biden signed some 50 bills into law. including one that amends U.S. Code to give the bald eagle that special status. Congress adopted the design of the Great Seal with the bald eagle front and center in 1782, but the bird hadn't been legislatively designated as the national bird.
The bill was spearheaded by Minnesota lawmakers, which is fitting since the state has the second highest number of bald eagles after Alaska. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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