Christmas In Bethlehem, Famine In Sudan, The Year In Space
This episode appears to contain dynamically inserted ads. Transcript timestamps may be approximate.
For the second year in a row, official celebrations have been cancelled in Bethlehem, the city where Christian tradition says Jesus was born. Famine has spread in Sudan where people are experiencing one of the world's worst starvation crises in modern times. And, a look at the year's biggest stories from space.
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 Andrew Sussman, Miguel Macias, Gisele Grayson, Lisa Thomson and Ally Schweitzer.It was produced by Ziad Buchh , Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima and Ana Perez. We get engineering support from Nisha Heinis. And our technical director is Andie Huether.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
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 Andrew Sussman, Miguel Macias, Gisele Grayson, Lisa Thomson and Ally Schweitzer.It was produced by Ziad Buchh , Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima and Ana Perez. We get engineering support from Nisha Heinis. And our technical director is Andie Huether.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Good morning and happy holidays. Thanks for starting your day with us. I'm Asma Khalid. Whether you're squeezing in a quiet moment before the kids wake up or whether today's work day for you, like it is for me, up first is here for you, no matter what your day has in store. We're here to bring you independent reporting, context, and analysis about the biggest stories of the day. And you can give back to NPR to support the service you rely on. Sign up for NPR+ today and join our mission of creating a more informed public. You'll also unlock sponsor-free listening to Up First and get similar perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts. If you're already a plus supporter, thank you so much. If not, you can sign up right now at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org. Already now on to the news. It's a subdued Christmas in Bethlehem with the war in neighboring Gaza. We need to live in peace and dignity in our land. What it's like for local Palestinians in the city Christians celebrate as the birthplace of Jesus. I'm Asma Khalid and this is Up First from NPR News. Famine has spread in Sudan where people are experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. People are eating peanut shells, animal fodder, grasses. Nearly two years into a civil war, the hunger crisis is getting worse. And with so much going on down here on Earth, it's always good to remember to look up at the stars. We look up at the year in space. Stay with us. We'll give you all the news you need to start your day. It's Christmas in Bethlehem where Christian tradition says Jesus was born. For the second year in a row, official celebrations have been canceled. Palestinian leaders say they cannot rejoice as the war wages on in neighboring Gaza. In Bethlehem, which is located in the Israeli occupied West Bank, people are also hurting and tourism has plummeted since the war began. We go now to NPR International correspondent, Kerry Kahn, who is in Bethlehem. Kerry, what is the mood like in Bethlehem this Christmas? Well, it's difficult to cancel Christmas, but the mood is very somber. Official ceremonies have been very muted here. Usually, Bethlehem is full of lights. These amazing decorations have a huge tree in the center of Manger Square, and there are crowds, crowds and tourists and pilgrims. This year, it is empty, barren. I was here last year, and if it's possible, it feels even more empty and more somber. I've heard from so many people, they're all saying the same thing. We just never thought the situation, the war, would last till another Christmas. So, how are people celebrating this year? On Christmas Eve, there was the traditional parade of the Latin patriarch entering Bethlehem.
Transcription truncated.