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/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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Alrighty, 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 Carrie Khan, who is in Bethlehem.
Carrie, what is the mood like in Bethlehem this Christmas?
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