thousands of people gather at the church of the that tiff toy celebrate christmas in bethlehem. target is now giving a new warn to go 40 million people's who credit and debit card was stole someone a holiday hacking scam of. united nations is nearly doubling its peacekeeping forces in south sudan as the violence in the african country and the death toll continue to rise. and a federal court clears the way for same-sex marriage to continue in utah. ♪ ♪

it is already christmas day in beth los angele bethlehem, tf people from around the world have garth toerd celebrate the birth of jesus as nick reports, many of the faithful were on hand for midnight mass at the church of the native at this. >> reporter: thousands of pill grahams from all over the world have flocked to that church behind me. it's actually the largest turn out in decades, that's boosting hopes for peace here in this holy city in this little town of bethlehem. here in bethlehem, a solemn celebration of one of christianity's most sacred moments. traditional holtz of birth of jesus took place below this church in the early hours of december 25th. so after 12:00, the sounds of mid night mass filled st. katherine's chapel. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: holland tingeses,

pilgrims, pal still vinnie christians all marking christ's sacrifices and playing for pea peace. >> hope for your homelands and families through the new year. >> reporter: the jerusalem arch wish oven who is jordanian blessed the crowd in six lang wins, telling pal stun wednesday to stoppage fighting, praying for all in the holy land. this is the renovation i see. just a few feet away. their prayer for the future. he is overseeing the church's first face lift in over 600 years. >> it really needed to be renovated. especially the roof. this is water. >> reporter: all water damage, right. parts of this church are 1500 years old, 2 million pilgrims visit each year. but the building has been neglected. >> we would all worried about the situation of the church.

when it starts raining water comes down through the walls and the leaks and it's all over. >> reporter: repairs will begin on the roof's wooden beams, they were last restored in 1498. >> it's okay, but it needs to be protected for another 500 years from now on. and this is our determination to protect this church for the coming generations. >> reporter: he is christian, his family has lived here for as long as anyone can remember. he jokes that one his ancestors witnessed jesus' birth. >> we are here thousands of years, we are not set thinkers, we are not coming from abroad. we are not coming from an ant ac arty ca or anyone else, we are deep rooted here. >> reporter: thousands line up to see the grotto the spot that jesus is believed to have been born. they are trying to bring the church back to generated life

under the fighting. >> the best atmosphere for developing and also protecting our history and our heritage is to end the occupation. >> reporter: this is the world heritage site. the renovation will take four to five years, and by then he hopes the holy land has peace. >> our dignity, our history, our future. it's our aim to live in peace and dignity. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: it's a christmas list from the holy lands and that sake red shrine. part of the reason it might have taken 600 years for the renovations the armenian, greek orthodox and catholic monk who control the church behind me let's just say they don't get along. their stories have been brawling

on the floor of the church but they have come together for the renovation and come together to wish everyone a merry christmas, nick, al jazerra, bethlehem. target shoppers may have a new reason to worry. more than 40 million u.s. customers who had credit and debit card accounted stole nene security beach earlier this month and now some are receiving scam e-mails, the company says all official announcements will be posted on its website soon. meantime the data breach is under investigation. hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating christmas eve by candle light. after a winter storm blew through parts of the central and northeastern united states. and it could be days before the lights come back on. forecasters say more snow is expected to fall through the weekend with temperatures well below freezing. the storm is being blamed for 14 deaths across the region. ♪ ♪

>> meteorologist: merry christmas to you. it's still christmas eve in parts of the country. we are looking for colder weather as we go towards christmas, that is what we did see, a lot of snow push ago cross the northern plains and in to the great lakes, that will be a problem tomorrow, michigan you will see snow on christmas. and but up here towards the northwest, we are looking at some better weather and for seattle, you are going to be seeing some really nice conditions for the next five days. let's take a look at your 5-day forecast. first of all your highs today will be about 42 degrees, this is what it looks like, no rain in your post cast for the next five days. and that for seattle that is some really good news. low temperatures though, will be hovering at about freezing of down towards the southwest, sphrerlespecially in californiad los angeles, we have a major problem the santa ana winds, the temperature is coming up. humidity is low. the gusts mean there are

potentials for wild fires, los angeles 79. inwards we are seeing the temperatures very, very warm. and in to the 80s in areas. gusting up to 35 miles per hour. this is what we are seeing, though, it could be the driest year in history, 3.6-inches in los angeles only. they have seen this year. normally they see over 50-inches of rain in one year, so they are well behind in deficit. going up to about 81 degrees. as we go towards thursday and the temperatures staying in to the 1e67g9 70s as we go towardse rest week. texas you will be dry as well. lower temperatures, highs in dallas reaching 55. san antonio about 61 for you. the united nations has vote today nearly double its peacekeeping troops in south sudan, more than 1300 troops are headed to the region, u.n. relief workers say there is evidence of killings along ethnic lines and at least one mass grave has been found there. the clashes erupted after a

power struggle between south sudan's president and his former vice president. al jazerra has a report on the spiraling violence that has forced many victim to his look for treatment in a military hospital. >> reporter: most injuries in this military hospital are from gunshot wounds. these people were hurt when fighting in south sudan's capital was at its worst. the city is now relatively quiet. but treating in of these patients is still a challenge. >> the other challenges that we are having is concerning things like clothing, water for these patients. also they left everything behind 67 the president says his government soldiers have now recaptured the town of bor. by there is still resistence in some areas, fighting continues in other states. it's not yet known how many soldiers and civilians have died or been injured.

most people were shot here, but there are a few others from elsewhere and it's not just soldiers we have seen, there are women and children in here too. there are reports that mass graves have been found in the capital. >> they have found a mass grave then we will be ready to go and investigate. i have not heard about it. but we heard about deaths. some criminals have targeted some people. people have died. >> reporter: more u.n. soldiers coming to south sudan could help aide workers reach the vulnerable, especially children. >> we wilwe really welcome the decision to sends more troops here. it will give us access to women and children that we cannot reach now. >> reporter: 10s of thousands of saville wednesday arcivilians a. many hope they can find a

peaceful resolution so they can go hope. second of state john kerry called south su sudan's presidet and vice president urging them to end the violence and begin negotiations. an attack egyptian red quarter has left 14 people dead and sparked riots in the city. two powerful exploress ripped through the police red quarters and several other buildings, police say a third bomb failed to detonate and was found in a car nearby. an armed group, which is active in the sinai peninsula is claiming responsibility for the bombings. despite their claim, rioters have been attacking shops and businesses, associated with the muslim brotherhood. israeli air strikes in gaza have left one person dead. al jazerra has learned that's victim was a three-year-old girl who lived in a refugees camp. the air strikes came after an israeli civilian was shot dead on the gaza border. no one has claimed

responsibility for killing the man. it was the first to die on the gaza frontier in more than a year. israel i military says a weapons manufacturing facility and a rocket launcher were among the targets of tuesday's air strikes. a lawyer for an indian diplomat who was arrested and strip searched is accusing u.s. authorities of mishandling the investigation. the diplomat's attorney says the agent who dupe th dupe the chare a key error that led to arrest. the council genoas arrested in new york. and the response has made officials in india angry. paperwork is the only thing standing in front of the freedom of green peace demonstrators jailed three months ago. russia is dropping the charges. peter sharp has more now from moscow. >> reporter: there is a gradual easing of the diplomatic and league log jam that has seen the arctic 30 basically confined to

their hotel in st. petersburg since they were bailed in november. basically, the prosecutor's offers is summoning them one by one. they go there for the offers, they receive a document which proves, an individual document that proves that the charges against them, charges of hooliganism which carry a seven-year jail sentence have, in fact, been dropped. then the next process is that the defendants have to take that document to the federal migration service to get their exit visa put in their passport and only then can they leave st. petersburg. but it's a very time-consuming practice he is. is they were hoping they would be home for christmas, now they are hoping to be back by the new year. they are all going to be released. they are all going to be -- the charges will all be dropped against them. it's just this legal hoops you've got to jump through in st. petersburg to get the process complete today allow them to leave the country because they had no entry

permits in their passport, they were taken a sea and without an entry permit, you can't get an exit permit. so this document that you are getting from the prosecutor's office is really their ticket home. al jazerra's peter sharp reporting from moscow. just ahead, santa under attack. >> merry christmas! >> somebody didn't like saint nick handing out toys to children, the search for a holiday grinch armed with a pellet gun is underway. pope francis had a them hable first year at the vatican and we'll show you how he's won over believers and nonbelievers alike. and how the meaning of christmas is changing for americans from a day of religious significance to a day of strictly cultural celebration. the stream is uniquely interactive television. we depend on you,

>> you are one of the voices of this show. >> so join the conversation and make it your own. >> the stream. next on al jazeera america and join the conversation online @ajamstream.

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on tuesday pope francis delivered a christmas message of love and humility. he range in his first christmas eve mass at the vatican, told church members to choose light over darkness. since becoming pope, he has vowed to reconnect people to their faith. if has been quite a year for pope francis and he continues to make a huge impact on the church and i don't understand. al jazerra's claudia reports on the man who time magazine named person of the year. >> reporter: in st. peters square it may look like any other christmas, the industry towering over the basilica. the faithful are cue, but there is a growing anticipation because the preside over it all, there is one special pope. this was a whirlwind year for the new pope in the space of a few months he went from being a little-known archbishop to argentina to time magazine's person of the year. when appeared on the balcony after his election, only a few

recognized him and are even fewer could pro you nouns his name. everyone however, recognized his chosen name as pope, francis. from day one, he proved to be just as humble as his namesake, francis of a sisi. he became known as the people's pope. he dodged the security to be with his flock and was especially interested in the well being of the displaced, the disabled and children. on his first trip back to south america as pope, he received a hero's welcome. 3 million people came to see h him. turning copa cabana in to a catholic woodstock. francis became an official worldwide icon, but an accessible one. i spock freely to reporters. if christmas is a day for remember, many catholics around the world will look back at 2013

as a dramatic and eventful year, when a march marred by scandal was he jew nateed b rejuvenated. edward snowden has a special christmas message for the crittish, he will deliver channel 4's alternative christmas message it's a take off on the queen's annual televised christmas message in his version, snowden calls for an end to the kind of surveillance programs he revealed six months ago. snowden recorded the message from russia. he was granted temporary asylum there in august. back in the united states, a federal judge is allowing same-s*eubgsex marriages in utao continue at least for now. the court after peels in denver has denied utah's request to halt same-sex marriages until the appeals process over. the attorney general's office says it will appeal to the supreme court on thursday, nearly 700 game couples have been granted marriage licenses

since the ban was lifted eight days ago. a carl judge ruled a teenager be taken off life support but the judge is allowing time for the girl's family to appeal. this comes off a court appointed neurologist testified that the girl is brain dead. hi her family has been fighting in court to keep her on a ventilator. she suffered complications from a tonight lex tummy on the ninth and declared brain dead three days later. a toy give away turned ugly in the nation's capital. xavier hawkins was full of holiday cheer ready to give away presents to 880 children when somebody shot him with a pellet gun. >> oh, yes, merry -- ahhh. >> it happened while he was being interviewed by a local news station covering the charity vent. the shots were apparently fired

from a nearby window. hawkins was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries while volunteers continues to deliver toys. a recent poll by the pugh research center said nine out of 10 celebrate christmas to religious reasons, but for a growing number of reason the season is changing as roxana reports, many see it as a cultural holiday, while others are fight to go keep the chris christness in it. >> reporter: adveritise the season of giving. shopping. and dodging crowds to visit family and friends. >> my name is noel, so i am big on christmas. and just everything about it. >> reporter: polls show that for around half of americans who celebrate christmas, it's about faith. >> i am an elder in the church. i in the presbyterian church. so tomorrow i will be most of the day at church. >> reporter: but for one-third of christmas celebrants it's a

cultural holiday. >> christmas is kind of secular at this points, right? i don't think it's too much of a relidge are lidgreligious holid. mostly just family day off. >> reporter: adults under 30 are less likely to attends christmas religious services, showing a growing number of young americans don't identify with any relidge you can the president of american atheists think the real number that see it as cull a cultural is higher. he put up this to prove that you don't need christmas. do something fun, festive. you will have a better season. >> reporter: but for shoppers at this christian gift shop on long island the season largely about jesus christ. >> come to 76.85. >> reporter: owner sarah ryan says customers bought 600 of these magnets this year, three

times more than last year. >> they want people to understand what it's all about. and that's a good way of letting them know to keep christ in christmas. >> reporter: from native at this scenes and decoration to his calendars and books, these gifts share the same message that christmas is about more than just santa clause and vacations for shoppers here it's about the religious meaning of the holiday. >> as i get older it's not the commercialism anymore and the presents and the toys it's become more about faith and the birth of jesus. >> reporter: but as the face of america changes, so does the approach to christmas. with increasing numbers of americans viewing it as a shared cultural experience outside of church. roxanne, a al jazerra, new york. coming up a holiday mistake, why thousands of u.p.s. packages will not arrive in time for christmas. all aboard a holiday exhibit in the nation's capitol. an inside look at the fantasy train display at the u.s. bow botanical gardens, plus

christians all over the world are celebrating christmas, how the holiday revel recipients changes in different cultures and norad tracking santa's movements right now it looks like he's over rapid city, san diego, lincoln, nebraska and heading towards wichita, kansas. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ sending first-class mail will cost you a little more next year. the price i've stamp will go up 3 cents in late january, making it 49 cents. the u.s. postal service hopes to recoup about $2.8 billion in losses from the increase. the post office has been struggling for years as people have opt for electric i go mail and bill payment p in the last fiscal year the postal service lost more than $5 billion. thousands of holiday gifts will not arrive in time for christmas, u.p.s. says it's been overwhelmed with an unpredictably large number of

packages this year, severe weathers third dallas fort worked area added to the delays, no delivery on his christmas day but workers will sort through items to be delivered on thursday. a fantasy train display is entertaining visitors to our nation's capitol this holiday season, it's now running to the u.s. botanic garden and it's quite a sight to see. al jazerra spoke with the garden's executive direct, to she their aids the story of this year's holiday exhibition. >> reporter: these structures are one of a kind. there are no other structures like them because they are made with plant parts. many of these plant parts are gathered from the woods, things like the acorn caps from oak trees. and the trenc 10 drills from gre vines and leafs from the forest floor are all guard erred to make these amazing structure, we

have been doing this for over six years and now have a regular following and every year we change the theme and this year the theme is world fairs. >> oh, man. >> many people have been to worlds fair, for example we have the globe which was shown at the 1964 worlds fair in new york city. and then we have the fountain which actually is a part of the u.s. botanic garden and it was on exhibit in philadelphia in 1876. people are so happily surprised when they see what can be done with plant parts. and it's really t* reaching all ages even though people might say it's for the children, that's not true. i feel it's a gift to the nation. it gives people a place to come where we are not selling anything, we are not a shopping mall. we are nothing like that. we are really here for the people to make them, you know, excited about the holiday

season, but also inspired about the importance of the plants in our lives. christmas is celebrated in different ways around the world of course. >> al jazerra also tony harris takes us to a few countries to show celebrations in times of war and peace. ♪ >> reporter: billions of christians around. world are celebrating christmas, many take the time to commemorate the day they believe jesus was born with special ceremonies. in afghanistan, american troops mark the day with a candle-lit ceremony. and sang christmas carols. >> i just want to say that i love everyone, i miss you, and hope to see you soon. merry christmas. >> reporter: it is difficult, but they love me and they understand that i am here serving our country. and so it's really not very easy but, you know, it's not easy being away from my familiar lit. >> reporter: syria is another war zone with mooted

celebrations. >> we are trying to bring joy to our children because when we were their age, we used to have very beautiful memories. they'll grow up later and we don't wish them to carry only bad memories. may god wit be with us. >> reporter: in china. a christmas mass at the beijing church. >> i say christmas will be merry because our savior jesus christ has come, when he comes to those close at heart then we will be happy. >> reporter: it's expressed in many ways, called radish night in mexico, a traditional handed down from priests who carved radishs to boost sales now people commemorate christmas commentating radish sculptures. >> radishes. that will do it for this edition of al jazerra america, i am david shuster, remember, news at the top of every hour. thanks for watching, everything, hope you are enjoying the holiday.

>> hi, i'm lisa fletcher, and you're in "the stream." is the war on christmas a myth or a reality? >> our digital producer, raj is here, and raj, it's a weird thing to say this, but christmas is a touchy subject in america. do you say merry christmas or happy holidays or nothing at all? >> we just watched elf and love actually, and paying for overpriced eggnogs, but we have