berlin where it all began. christmas has come to the historic city of bethlehem where thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the bustling west bank city, the place christianss rerevere is t the birthplace o f jesusus. also coming u up, syryrian airstrikes decimated a town in idlib province again. the assad regime's latest offensive against the country is taking its toll.

five c children are among the dd in a russian attack. children are bearing the brunt of the intensifying violence. and no midnight mass at notre dame in paris for the first time in over two centuries. christmas services will not be held at the landmark cathedral because of renovation work to repair damage from this year's devastating fire. >> phillies navidad -- feliz navidad! >> merry christmas. >> we catch up with visitors from around the world at one of germany's famous christmas markets. ♪ leila: thank you so much for your company to our viewers on the united states in pbs and

viewers around the world, a very warm welcome. across continents and cultures, christians around the world prepare to celebrate christmas. thousands have gathered in bethlehem. worshipers from around the world have packed a major square in the center of the bustling west bank town where christians believe jesus was born. the traditional midnight mass is held in the nativity. earlier in the day, the head of the catholic church in the region traveled to bethlehem from jerusalem. >> the catholic archbishop set off from jerusalem with his convoy around noon. his honor guard accompanied him to bethlehem just under 10 kilometers away. once a year and just for this occasion, the walls separating israel from bethlehem and the palestinian territories is open. the conflict in the middle east

subsides -- at least temporarily -- for christmas. >> celebrate the hope maybe not in the big institution, but the small ones, the little ones, in all the society. >> palestinian christmas scouts take part in the annual christmas procession to one of the oldest christmas structures, built above what is believed to be the birthplace of jesus. the procession draws tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims from around the world. >> we arare really impressed by pepeople's warmth and the frieny atmosphere here in the square. >> not like in finland, but i guess the spirit is the same for hope and peace and love. >> the archbishop of celebrate midnight mass this evening and

the church of the nativity, christmas eve where the festivity originated. >> earlier, a journalist gave us a snapshot of the year christmas celebrations u under w way in bethlehem. >> we seen a r record number of tourists visiting both him and jerusalem this year,, and what was added to the festive atatmospheres s the fact pope francis h has given a relelic te size that has been in rome for nearly 1400 yeaears. this is believed to have been a major part of f the crib where jesus christ lay, so it is receivingg greatat festive m msd the belief is it will draw moree urists to vivisit the city. on the other hand, israeli authorities have prevented dozens from visiting the west

bank, visiting bethlehem, and visiting jerusalem. even though last year, 700 palelestinian christianans lefte gaza strtrip, this year, the number was only 300, so the disappointment in gaza was very high amidst very strong condemnations from the various churches. laila: and his christmas president, german president sean meyer says germans should overcome their differences and address each other as equals. steinmeyer also noted how political debates have become more prominent. he told germans, "we live in highly political times," and added "i really don't think we can complain about a lack of freedom of speech -- far from it, we have not had this many arguments in many years." you can see and watch the german president's christmas address in its entirety on "dw news" on

christmas day. next we turn our attention to serial weather has been no end to the misery inflicted on the last major rebel enclave facing the regime offensive. airstrikes have claimed the lives of at least eight people, five of them children sheltering in school in the idlib province. the united nations is warning that children are now beariring the brurunt of syria's increasingly violent conflict. >> it has become a ghost town. people living here have fled the government offensive against rebels. >> people are fed up. they fled to live under olive trees. this is a vegetable mararket. there's s no one here. i have not seen ananne other ththan journaliststs taking pictctures. >> most of those fleeing are heading north towards the turkish borderr.

>> we raawaway from the rockets, barrel bombs, and explosive shells. we are asking for mercy and for the united nations to see what happened to us because of bashar al-assad and the russian army. they are killing us. >> with heavy shelling and airstrikes, syrian troopops have beenusushing into idlib.. an unidentifified syrian c colol said the offensive is to clear the province of terrorism. >> the syrian army cares about civilians' lives. the military calls upon them to leave the areas where the terrorists are. they should go to the areas under the control of the syrian army who has come to save them from terrorists and terrorism.

>> more than 40,000 people have been displaced by the violence in recent weeks. laila: w want to tell youu n now about some of the other stories making news around the world. a port in turkey has ordered a prominent businessman to remain in prison on charges that he attempted to overthrow the government. he is accused of backing the gacy park protest against then prime minister erdogan. the european court of rights has called for his release, saying there's no reasonable suspicion that he committed a crime. at least 28 bus passengers are dedead after t their vehicle pld off a cliff on the indonesian island of f sumatra. rescuers a are still searching r survivors trapped inside the bus, which veered off the road into a 150-meter ravine. police in new zealand say they are suspending the search operation for the bodies of two people still missing after a

volcano erupted earlier this month. police said crews have done all they could to search the area. 19 people were killed by the eruption or died later from their injuries sustained while visiting the volcano. demonstrators in hong kong have clashed with police in christmas eve protests. via police could be seen firing tear gas as protests swept through a major shopping district, protesters blocking streets and smashing shop windows. the protests in hong kong are now in their seventh month. phphoebe kong sent us this u upe from t the territory. phoebe: ifesestive nigight has descended into c clashes in hong kong witith tearas in ththe streets. lots of protestersrs turned up r demonsnstrations at shopping mas in the city tonight, but right as policice jump in t the shoppg

centerss quickckly to disperse crowds bececause they accususe m ofofttempting g illegal assembls then roundnds and rounds of tear gagas, rubber bullets,, and othr kinds of protest deterrents were shohocked throughgh the ni. hongng kong people definitely he no silent nighght on christmas eve. mama of the shops were closed, and there may be more clashes avenue more -- as more protests are planned on the upcoming holidays. laila: meanwhile, in north korea, pyongyang has warned of an unspecified christmas gift for the united states. president trump says he is not worried about what it might be. north korea's neighbors are less optimistic. days -- they suspect a weapons test.

leaders of japan and south korea have been meeting to an effort to get north korea and the united states to talk again. >> they call it the new era of the three leaders, but the world leaderer setting the agenda at the summit was not at the table. north korea's kim jong-un. after the latest tests of a missile launch site earlier this month, regional powers are concerned pyongyang is about to undo efforts to ease tensions. >> we agreed that piece on the korean peninsula was in the common interest of the three countries. we also agreed to make efforts together to help promote north korea-u.s. dialogue for denuclearization and peace. >> the possibility of north korea turning into a serious nuclear t threat is becoming moe tangible after a february summit between kim anand u.s. president donald trump failed to o deliver results.s. the common threat of the north

korean attack has forced japan and south korea to overcome their own bilateral tensions over there colonial history. >> i am willing to improve this important relationship between japan and south korea by all means. today, i would like to have a frank discussion. >> china, north korea's only ally, supports the call for peace on the korean peninsula. china's premier used the opportunity to promote a new free-trade zone between the three countries. the prospect of more diplomatic and economic unity in east asia is cause for optimism, but the dawn of a new era depends on some stark achievements after the talks. laila: let's bring you up-to-date with other news stories around the world. prince philip has been released from hospital in london.

he spent four nights in the hospital after receiving treatment for what was described as a pre-existing condition. the 98-year-old then flew to spend christmas with the rest of the royal family. australia's prime minister sayas vovolunteer firefighters from te public sector will be compensated with p paid leave. firefighters have been battling wildfires for months now. weather forecasters say very hot conditions are set to continue, and the flames could burn for several weeks more. while people have been donating christmas gifts to the homeless. to the central american state of honduras, which is in shock after two deadly prison riots and just two days. the death toll has reached almost 40 and clashes between the gangs.

authorities have declared a state of emergency. they have failed to stop the violence and may even provoke more. >> despair written on their faces. relatives gather in hunters' capital. their loved ones died in one of the most violent places in the most crime-ridden country on earth. hunter's' jails are notorious, but even by those standards, the past few days have been grimim indeed. >> all of the families are morning today, and the country is in morning. >> after a weekend of violence, many are also outraged at the authorities' failure to prevent the massacres. the prisons are supposedly high-security. when the government declared emergency measures last week, it did so to stop the killing there, but instead, more violence followed.

>> my brother's deathh hurts. he had already served 10 years in a maximum security jail. why did he have to die? >> authorities are defending their policies. they say gangs are trying to stop them cleaning up the prisons. and since the massacres, they have promised to deploy even more troopops too t the countr's high-security jailss t to fighte mafia's influence there. >> all this chaos was planned on behalf of organized crime to avoid us implementing our rereforms. >> it's not clear if getting even tougher will stop the killings or fuel further anger and violence. the united nations is calling for an investigation into these massacres. it says the state must guarantee the human rights of prisoners, especially their right to life.

laila: we would like to take you now to mexico to tell you about a very special orchestra. rose collins grew up in poverty but was given an opportunity she might not otherwise have dreamt of. >> it's the moment just before the performance when excitement replaces nerves, and the audience waits expectantly. this is rosie collins' favorite moment, but her journey here has been anything but easy. [translating] music saved me because before, i had big problems with my family. rosie grew up in extreme poverty in a mountainous area near mexico's my other bravo -- maya

de bravo. her father is a former alcoholic. instead of money, he would bring home lose and anger. >> my mother cried. my children, too. "dad, stay with us," they w woud say, but instead, i would go drinking. >> determined to give her children a chance, rosie's mother enrolled her three children in an orchestra without being able to pay a cent. that decision changed her life. this is the man who can bring out a passion for children -- a passion for music in children. he's not interested in fame, wealth, or professional musicians. >> i'm not interested in the best child. i'm interested in all children. >> he directs an orchestra for poor children funded by donations. none of its musicians have money for lessons or instruments. instead, they have passion and self-discipline.

♪ student turns directing and take on leadership positions. they grow in self-confidence and become more engaged in life. today, the young musicians are about to experience something special. they get to perform in the best vocation in vaya de bravo. >> this means an absolute surge in their self-confidence. >> for rosie, it is an honor to be here. and now for her best moment. ♪ when the children experience what they have achieved

together, being able to spread joy with their work and from an orchestra for the poor, they create wealth for all. ♪ [applause] laila: you are watching "dw news ." still to come, serving up joe with a big smile. teresa visited a place where she found an audience breaking new ground. but first, want to take you to paris where the city's iconic notre dame cathedral will not be holding a christmas mass this year for the first time since the french revolution. the french government pledged to rebuild it immediately after a fire earlier this year devastated the cathedral. that work will now take years to complete and the building is just too unstable to hold religious services. >> the landmark cathedral of

paris still a skeleton of its former self. the work under way now focuses on stabilizing notre dame and preventing its collapse. the fire that ravaged the church's roof and spire broke out on april 15. tons of poisonous lead melted during the blaze. that has caused health hazards and good reason to delay holding christmas festivities inside. >> i think it is incredibly sad they will not be able to celebrate mass, especially because it is such a revered monument for catholics. >> many families have that tradition of going every year for christmas services. >> as long as the renovation work is carried out quickly and well, it is not the right moment to open notre dame. i think people are aware of that and can go to other churches. >> notre dame has held a christmas mass every year since 1803, even during the horror of world war ii.

the last interruptions to the mass came amid the anti-catholic fervor of the french revolution. this year, worshipers are being sent to nearby sites for services. >> to think that i was ill last christmas, and i missed christmas in notre dame thinking that i would go again this year with no problem. i'm missing that already. >> in years p past, thousanandsf worshipers and tourists gathered inside notre dame daily. it is still unclear when they will be able to congregate inside again. laila: as a year draws to a close, we bring you some of our most memorable stories. anaren, teresa visited a cafe staffed by people with down syndrome and autism and found iranians breaking new ground.

teresa: completely in his element serving cappuccino to the guests in this cafe. waiting tables is the first -- is his first-ever job, and the 40-year-old is loving every second of it. >> i like the cafe. it is big and it's nice and warm . that's why i'm so grateful to the owner. every night when i go to bed, i thank her. >> he and the others who work here have little chance of finding g work elsewhere. arent's job market is currently in such a bad state that over a third of college educated iranians are unemployed. for people with special needs, it has become nearly impossible to find work. >> for most of those people, there's nothing to do once they finish school. they just stay-at-home. but we are convinced it's good

for them to show people that they have other abilities, not just good for them, it's also good for their families. they are often sad because they cannot do anything, but here, they can show just what they are capable of. >> more than 40 people living with down syndrome or autism work here regularly. everyone pitches in doing what they can -- and brewing coffee, waiting tables, or entertaining the guests with music. ♪ they all get paid for their work , except for the cafe owner. she runs a deficit every month. there are very few government programs to support social project like this one in the islamic republic. >> we have never received support from any kind of organization. it is a completely independent project, founded and financed privately. we are totally self dependent.

teresa: giving up is not an option because every day, she sees just how much this work means. >> i use to just be with my father. i lived with him, but now he's dead. but, father, look at me now. i've finally made it. i go through life with my head raised high. see? teresa: with their positive attitude, he and his colleagues have created an atmosphere found nowhere else inthe islamic republic. no other cafe here in iran could get away with this level of for a volley. he and the best of being a

little bit different and have transformed the cafe into a place bursting with positivity. laila: the place to be. back here in germany, christmas markets are among the most popular features of this festive season. in berlin, we are spoiled for choice. there are over 70 to pick from and they attract people from all over the world and we went to one of blin's famous christmas markets to hear what visitors enjoy most. >> there is no shortage of artisanal crafts at this christmas market. there are butchers and bakers, even candlestick makers. but the principal offering is an atmospsphere that's hard to find anywhere else. >> this is our first time in germany. i'm in berlin and this is our first time experiencing christmas market. >> it's really nice.

it's just -- it wasn't what i was expecting. it's better. >> it's, like, very christmas. we don't have these kinds of markets in spain. >> it's unlike anything we have in the states. it's a nice atmosphere. it is warm, cozy. you have warm and hot drinks. >> it is my first day here in berlin in this market. it is so nice. this is the best one. >> what is your favorite part about this market? >> to eat everything. >> if the goal is crowds and merriment, then they have it in abundance. a simple stroll also offers the chance to learn holiday greetings in half a dozen languages. >> feliz navidad! >> [speaking foreign language]

>> [speaking foreign language] >> [speaking foreign language] laila: and a merry christmas from us to you and we want to remind you before i go of the top story we are tracking at this hour. thousands of tourists and pilgrims have gathered in bethlehem. christians revere the west bank town is the birthplace of jesus. mass will be later held in the church of nativity. you are watching "dw news." we will be back at the top of the hohour with the e world headlin. for now, thank you so much for your company. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] ♪

. they began the day at to any que. christmas time here in france set for widespread destruction commuters trying to get home for the special. celebrations stations and cancel trains and up in a letter as the strike action of the pension reform will be put on polls and actual supply could be hit next. protests intensify against the citizenship bill in india the knock on effect mode is hard to lose is a key local election. process of the alleged discrimination against muslims enshrined by the new little. christmas