Jerusalem crowds thin on Xmas eve

JERUSALEM—Itwas a sub dued Christmas Eve inthe historic birthplace of Jesus on Sunday, with spirits dampened by recent violence sparked by President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Crowds were thinner than previous years, with visitors deterred by clashes that have broken out in recent weeks between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces. Although there was no violence Sunday, Palestinian officials scaled back the celebrations in protest. Bethlehem’s mayor, Anton Salman, said celebrations were toned down because of anger over Mr. Trump’s decision.

Mr. Trump abandoned decades of U.S. policy on Dec.6 by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and saying he would move the American Embassy to the holy city.

Venezuelan Christmas

CARACAS, Venezuela —Marilyn Pitre recalls taking her family on evening strolls at Christmas time through Altamira Plaza in Venezuela’s capital, soaking up the dazzling lights and giant tree made of light bulbs in a display that once drew comparisons to New York City’s Rockefeller Center.

Thatwas before crisis struck Venezuela. Now the 40-year-old mother of two wouldn’t dare set foot in the plaza after dark, fearing robbers. And this season ,for the first time in years, no festive lights will bringit to life.

Middleclass residents have cut back on gifts and struggle to afford basic ingredients needed to cook traditional Christmas dishes.The poor have been hit hardest, some scavenging trash piles year-around to fill their stomachs.

Venezuela, a country of 30million people, sits atop theworld’s largest oil reserves, but global crude prices crashed three years ago, sending the economy into free fall and sparking social unrest. Residents endure shortages of cash, soaring inflation and a lackof medicine.

Earlier this year, protesters upset with President Nicolas Maduro’s government clashed daily with riot police for four months in Altamira Plaza andin streets across the country.

Warming elephants

Whenan unexpectedly coldfront from China descended on parts of Southeast Asia this past week, people in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia bundledup in coats to stave off the region’s unusual weather.

Butwhat’s an elephant todo?

The unseasonal cold weather hit the Winga Baw camp for orphaned elephants in Myanmar, accordingto Sangdeaun Lek Chailert ,the founder of the Save Elephant Foundation, a nonprofit based in Thailand that is dedicated to protecting Asian elephants. Temperatures fell to46 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the country.

“We haven’t had weather this cold in 40 years,” she said.

Workersat the camp scrambled to protect seven orphaned elephants in their care, using straw to keep them warm, she wrote in a Facebook post describing the operation. Butthe camp, in the Bago Region, also had a secret weapon: giant knitted and crocheted blankets.

But how do you even begin to knit for a baby elephant?

An online guide suggests blankets of 47 inches by47 inches for baby elephants, and 47 inches by 63 inches for toddlers.