Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Thu, 28 Nov 2024
Tens of thousands of Lebanese are returning to the country's south, where they're discovering homes destroyed by the fighting with Israel. This Thanksgiving is set to be the busiest ever for air travel and there are new rules aimed at protecting customers. And, the science behind why taking a walk after a big meal is good for your health. Join the new NPR Plus Bundle to support our work and get perks like sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes across more than 25 NPR podcasts. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Didrik Schanche, Russell Lewis, Jane Greenhalgh, Lisa Thomson and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Adam Bearne, Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Ted Mebane. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What is the situation for displaced Lebanese returning home?
As a ceasefire to suspend fighting between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, thousands of displaced Lebanese are returning home. But after months of devastating attacks, will they recognize what they find? I'm Rob Schmitz, and this is Up First from NPR News. Chances are you've heard this before.
This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel.
Between new rules for airlines and long security lines, we've got you covered with what to keep in mind if you're heading to the airport. And whether or not you'll be hitting the pavement for a turkey trot, don't forget to also take a little post-turkey walk.
When we move our muscles, they become sponges for the blood glucose that our gut is absorbing into the bloodstream.
More on the science behind the after-meal constitutional. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Tens of thousands of Lebanese are returning to the country's south, where they're discovering entire villages that have been destroyed by the fighting with Israel. A ceasefire has halted the fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants.
And under the agreement, both sides now have 60 days to withdraw to their respective borders. So civilians are being warned to stay away from certain areas to avoid possible confrontations. With me now is NPR's Lauren Frayer, who visited some of those border areas yesterday and is now in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Good morning, Lauren.
Good morning.
So first, we're a day into this ceasefire. I'm curious, were there any confrontations yet?
There have been. Today, the Israeli military issued a map of 10 border villages where it says civilians are prohibited from going, even if they're residents going home. But people have been going home nevertheless and posting video of themselves with Israeli tanks in their villages. The Israeli military confirms it has fired on people who have gone into this zone.
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Chapter 2: What should travelers know for the busiest Thanksgiving ever?
Yeah, there's been a real push at the Department of Transportation with Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the helm to pass new rules that are aimed at protecting consumers, particularly after the big winter holiday meltdown back in 2022. The department issued a record fine to Southwest Airlines over that incident.
And since then, it has pushed for other rules about how airlines have to treat their customers. For example, requiring airlines to automatically provide cash refunds instead of travel vouchers for flights that are canceled or seriously delayed. And Buttigieg argues that these rules are popular.
The passenger protections we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public bipartisan support. The feedback we've gotten from the public has been universally supportive. I just don't run into a lot of people who are against the idea that you ought to get an automatic refund without any hassle.
And Buttigieg says, you know, he hopes that these rules will be durable.
So what about the airlines? What are they saying?
The industry has already fought some of these new rules in court, and it has had some success. For example, suing to block a rule that would have required greater transparency from the airlines about the fees that they charge. Several airline CEOs have already expressed the hope that DOT will be more pro-business when President-elect Trump returns to office next year.
Here's Ed Bastian, the head of Delta, speaking to Bloomberg earlier this month.
We were quite frustrated with the amount of regulatory overreach that we saw continuously through the last four years. And we hope there's a new sentiment that's pro-employee, pro-consumer, pro-business, and a good balance between the three.
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Chapter 3: What are the new airline rules for travelers this Thanksgiving?
Chapter 4: How does walking after a meal benefit your health?
More on the science behind the after-meal constitutional. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Tens of thousands of Lebanese are returning to the country's south, where they're discovering entire villages that have been destroyed by the fighting with Israel. A ceasefire has halted the fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants.
And under the agreement, both sides now have 60 days to withdraw to their respective borders. So civilians are being warned to stay away from certain areas to avoid possible confrontations. With me now is NPR's Lauren Frayer, who visited some of those border areas yesterday and is now in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Good morning, Lauren.
Good morning.
So first, we're a day into this ceasefire. I'm curious, were there any confrontations yet?
There have been. Today, the Israeli military issued a map of 10 border villages where it says civilians are prohibited from going, even if they're residents going home. But people have been going home nevertheless and posting video of themselves with Israeli tanks in their villages. The Israeli military confirms it has fired on people who have gone into this zone.
It accuses them of violating the conditions of this ceasefire. A handful of people have been wounded by either tank or gunfire in different areas and different incidents, including journalists who say they too were shot at by Israeli soldiers. Incidentally, there's also been a lot of celebratory gunfire, which in itself is dangerous and could certainly lead to misunderstandings.
So there have been several incidents, but so far they don't appear to be jeopardizing the wider ceasefire agreement.
Okay, so remind us of what that agreement actually says. What are the terms of the ceasefire?
So this is a 60-day truce. Within that time, Israeli troops have to withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah has to withdraw its fighters and weapons from a zone close to the Israeli border. The Lebanese army is moving in alongside UN peacekeepers, and those movements are underway.
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Chapter 5: What are the terms of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah?
He said an Israeli airstrike hit right across the street from his shop and destroyed everything for a block in either direction. I also saw a funeral underway in a cemetery in Nabatea, presumably for what we hope will be one of the last victims of fighting there.
What's the situation on the Israeli side of the border?
So while there's been this rush back to homes on the Lebanese side, there has been no similar rush on the Israeli side. The Israeli government says there will be a one or two month period of rebuilding before people will return. Many local mayors on the Israeli side opposed this ceasefire agreement. They thought it was a bad deal. They still feel unsafe.
They're worried about the resumption of Hezbollah rocket fire or worse.
So finally, Lauren, what does a ceasefire with Lebanon mean for the other war that Israel is fighting in Gaza?
I mean, the hope is that all efforts now can go toward getting a similar truce with Hamas in Gaza. Israel is staying hush about reports today that an Egyptian delegation is there trying to kickstart ceasefire talks for Gaza, and we'll be watching those.
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Chapter 6: What did Lauren Frayer observe in southern Lebanon?
That's NPR's Lauren Frayer in Beirut. Thanks, Lauren.
You're welcome. Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you. This Thanksgiving holiday is expected to be the busiest ever for air travel. And that's not all that's different this year. There are also new rules in place about how airlines have to treat their customers. But it's not clear if those rules will survive or if the incoming Trump administration will try to roll them back. Joel Rose is NPR's transportation correspondent.
He joins us now with more. Hey, Joel. Hey, Rob. So, Joel, I feel like we say busiest ever every year around this time of year. You know, put these numbers into context for us. How big is the Thanksgiving rush this year?
Well, the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, is forecasting that 18 million people will pass through its checkpoints this week. That is a 6% increase over last year. And that's on top of what has already been a record-setting year for the TSA. Here's Administrator David Pekoske at a recent press conference.
This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel. That's not a surprise given the incredible recovery in air travel in the United States since the pandemic.
Pekoske says the 10 busiest days ever in the history of the TSA have happened this year.
Oh, wow.
Yeah. And I think it's easy to forget, you know, how precarious things were just a couple of years ago. There were questions about how quickly the airline industry would rebound from the pandemic. Clearly, that demand to fly is back.
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Chapter 7: What is the mood among travelers this Thanksgiving holiday?
The passenger protections we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public bipartisan support. The feedback we've gotten from the public has been universally supportive. I just don't run into a lot of people who are against the idea that you ought to get an automatic refund without any hassle.
And Buttigieg says, you know, he hopes that these rules will be durable.
So what about the airlines? What are they saying?
The industry has already fought some of these new rules in court, and it has had some success. For example, suing to block a rule that would have required greater transparency from the airlines about the fees that they charge. Several airline CEOs have already expressed the hope that DOT will be more pro-business when President-elect Trump returns to office next year.
Here's Ed Bastian, the head of Delta, speaking to Bloomberg earlier this month.
We were quite frustrated with the amount of regulatory overreach that we saw continuously through the last four years. And we hope there's a new sentiment that's pro-employee, pro-consumer, pro-business, and a good balance between the three.
It's not clear exactly what kind of regulatory overreach Bastion is talking about here, but we should note the DOT is conducting an investigation of Delta, which canceled more than 5,000 flights after a technology outage back in July.
So Joel, I'm curious, how is the aviation system keeping up with this record demand?
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Chapter 8: How is the airline industry recovering post-pandemic?
There are signs of strain. I mean, there is still a shortage of air traffic controllers. It is so acute in some places that it is causing delays in the system. Newark, New Jersey, for example. United Airlines, which has a hub there, has complained about significant delays this month. Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged that problem and says it's working to hire more controllers.
But that's going to take a while. And airlines will likely continue to push on this as a priority during the Trump administration.
NPR's Joel Rose, thank you.
You're welcome.
It is Thanksgiving, which probably means a very big meal is in your immediate future. But when you've finished feasting, instead of rolling from the table to the television, consider taking a walk. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy is here to explain why. Good morning, Maria.
Good morning, Rob, and happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you. So a lot of people do the turkey trot before the big meal. So are you telling me we should be doing one after the big meal as well?
Yeah, so exercise is always a good idea. But we're talking specifically about walking after meals, which has specific benefits for your gut and your blood sugar. And it's actually something people have done for centuries. They were once called constitutionals.
I assume that refers to inner constitution, these constitutionals. What are the specific benefits of a constitutional diet?
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