midnight mass celebrations have benn taking place in the west bank city of bethlehem. hurch in the region. international tourists have been mainly kept away during the pandemic in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. the re—introduction of covid measures have left local businesses disappointed. the procession is being held in the city where christians revere as the birthplace ofjesus christ. to the vatican where the pope has been holding the traditional catholic christmas eve mass. the head of the catholic church urged vatican cardinals and bishops to embrace humility this christmas season, saying their pride, self—interest and the "glitter of our armor" was perverting their spiritual lives and corrupting the church's mission. here's a taste of events at taking place there. they sing the duchess of cambridge has performed at her own christmas carol event, taking to the piano at a special service from westminster abbey broadcast on christmas eve in the uk. kate hosted the carol service as a thank you to he sings. kate hosted the carol service as a thank you to p

a giant christmas tree has been lit up in the occupied west bank city of bethlehem, where christians believe jesus was born the faithful, gathered outside the church of nativity, hoping cove 19 doesn't ruin another holiday season. bethlehem was all what closed last christmas. ah, and let's take you through some of the headlines here now. jesse are now a volcanic eruption and in it, each of most populated island is killed. at least 13 people. thousands of people fly their villages and are in evacuation centers after lava mixed with rain submerged houses. experts say it's unclear how warnings of interruption could have been this.

christmas eve celebrations are under way in the west bank city of bethlehem, where hoteliers hoping forsures. israel's borders have been closed to international travellers because of the pandemic and only a small number of people attended the procession in the city revered as the birthplace ofjesus. tom bateman sent this report. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year. a christmas procession that will follow the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it's a march of faith. but this season's greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy and happiness from nothing. so it's very interesting, very impressive to see

in the west bank city of bethlehem, where christians believejesus was born, the numbers were also lowerisrael closed its borders forforeigners in an effort to rein in the infections. the latin patriarch ofjerusalem led prayers at the church of the nativity�*s ancient prayer hall. the leader of the anglican church, the archbishop of canterbury, praised the work of volunteers helping refugees in his christmas sermon. the christmas story shows us how we must treat those who are unlike us, who have far less than us, who have lived with the devastating limits of war and national tragedy. there have been the volunteers who have been on my mind, welcoming and caring for refugees arriving on the beaches so close to this cathedral, and they do one thing — save life at sea. it is not politics. it is simply humanity. this christmas is also the occasion for a special service for the first time in 30 years at srinagar�*s st lu ke's church. the 125—year—old place of worship in the indian administered kashmir was shut down three decades ago when the separatist violence began. christmas gatherings will

midnight mass celebrations are getting under way in the west bank city of bethlehem. n catholic church in the region. international tourists have been mainly kept away during the pandemic in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. the re—introduction of covid measures have left local businesses disappointed. the procession is being held in the city where christians revere as the birthplace ofjesus christ. and this is the scene is bethlehem right now — where midnight mass is still taking place. we is still taking place. will take a quick listen. 0k, we is still taking place. will take a quick listen. ok, so that we will take a quick listen. ok, so thatis we will take a quick listen. ok, so that is live in bethlehem, where the annual midnight mass is taking place. to the vatican where the pope has been holding the traditional catholic christmas eve mass. the head of the catholic church urged vatican cardinals and bishops to embrace humility this christmas season, saying their pride, self—interest and the "glitter of our armor" was perverting their spiritual lives a

in well celebrations to mont christmas have begun in the city of bethlehem in the west bank . so i'll leave you now with some of the sights and sounds of the traditional christmas celebrations on manger square in front of the church, of the nativity, and the mass held by the senior catholic cleric in the holy lot. have good. oh, [000:00:00;00] i lose . ah, to spend about time ah, it can be measured precisely and yet each person.

the ocean, viking by celebrations, to mark christmas had begun to the city of bethlehem and the west bank. so i'll leave you with some sights and sounds of the traditional christmas celebrations on manger square in front of the church of the rest of the nativity, the mass held by the top catholic. a clerk in the holy lots will do so. the total bill. good. oh, i lose . ah, the sight against a corona's irish pandemic. how has the weight of infection been developing? what does the latest research say? information and context? corona virus.

o celebrations to mark christmas have begun in the city of bethlehem in the west bank. we leave you now with some sights and sounds of the traditional christmas parade on major square in front of the church of the nativity in bethlehem. we'll have more headlines for you at the top of the hour. a marion evans team, thanks for watching. ah, [000:00:00;00] with with, with makes the german here just in the gym love on banning them away, but i'm not even know how to work my own car and everyone with later holes and everything today. just getting are you ready to meet the german can join me. rachel stewart and d w. imagine how many portions of lunch us heard out in the world right now the climate change event story. this is my flex the way from just one week. how much work can really get we still have time to work. i'm doing all in success. subscribe for loneliness like ah ah, is europe's energy crisis shackle to its political crisis with russia, a spike in natural gas prices this week, and russia's frustrations over the certification of a new gas pipeline with germany. have b

have begun in the city of bethlehem and the west bank. so i'll leave you now with some sites and sounds of a traditional christmas parade on manger square in front of the church, of the nativity in bethlehem. more headlines for you at the top of the have a good day. ah hm. with with the landscape. a reflection of a turbulent history. the cities, the mosaic of different people and languages. iran's mountains reveal unparalleled beauty. the scenery is magnificent, but people are warm in our position as actually a special look at a special country. iran from above starts december 27th on d. w. a. ah, is europe's energy crisis shackle to its political crisis with russia. a spike in natural gas prices this week, and russia's frustrations over the certification of a new gas pipeline with germany. have both sides, claiming the other is playing politics. we'll take a closer look also on the show. semiconductors are in short, supply around the world that has automakers rethinking their sourcing, especially as a new crone of ours varian threatens mo

thank celebrations. tomor christmas had begun in the city of bethlehem in the west bank. so i'll leave you with some sites. and some of the traditional christmas celebrations on manger square in front of the church of been a 70 on the mass held by the senior cox. and a cleric in the holy that have a good day. ah ah ah, with oh, i oh, an unequal gain. women and climate change with lower income you, she's a, they are the west effect to fight impact. but women not just going to stand there and watch. they have tangible ideas against the consequences of global warming. eco, india on dw, the show that tackles the issues shaping the continents of d. w. news africa were gone with what's making the headlights and what's behind with the way on the streets, to give you enough reports on the insights, all the try and stuff. my talk to you in 60 minutes on d w. o. in a listen carefully. don't know how with to the goal. ah, feel the magic discover the world around you. subscribe to d w documentary on youtube. with from droughts that destroy crops, the rising sea levels. that's the merg

current polls say will be a tight race celebrations to mar christmas, have begun in the city of bethlehem. in the west bank. we leave you now with them sights and sounds of the traditional christmas parade on manger square in front of the church of the nativity in bethlehem, and marian, i haven't seen from me and the entire news team. thanks for watching. ah hm. with the landscaping, a reflection of a turbulent history. the cities, a mosaic of different people and languages. iran's mountains reveal unparalleled beauty. the special look at a special country round from above. starts december 27th on d. w. ah. russia, the largest country on earth bound since the fall of the soviet union, its population has declined by 5000000 men. here have one of the lowest life expectancies in europe. alcohol, drugs and tobacco are all too often to blame. leading to a clear agenda. imbalance, women make up the majority of the population, 54 percent, placing them under even greater pressure to marry and have children as a young age. xena is marrying her partner carol in a traditional a christian orthodox ceremony. his views

balcony of saint peter's basilica in well celebrations to my christmas have begun in the city of bethlehem in the west bank. so i'll leave you now with some of the sights and sounds of the traditional christmas celebrations on manger square in front of the church, of the nativity, and the mass held by the senior catholic cleric in the holy. lots of good day. ah mm. ah. oh oh, super, i'm kinda tired and in the end is a me, you're not locked up to you anymore. we will send you back. are you familiar with this reliance of the what's your story with women, especially as victims of violence take part and send us your story. we are trying always to understand this new culture. so you are not a visitor, not the guests. you want to become a citizen in so migrants your platform for reliable information. ah. 02021 has been a year of chaos across global shipping route with months of supply chain delays and shortages as christmas celebrations get under way around the world. we look at how that pilot presence under the tree got there. we're almost didn't this year and we take you to feigns every delta we're climate cha

west medice around me. a celebration is to mark christmas with the gun in the city of bethlehem and the west bank. so i'll leave, you know, with some side, some psalms of the traditional christmas parade on manger square in front of the church of been the timothy bath. we have a more world news at the top of the off. i'm good ah hm. with with with take your time for an experiment about time it can be measured precisely. and yet each person experiences it differently as if there are different points of time. a dimension and illusion. about time starting december 31st on d w. ah, in i think i see a ah bonnie it's the day before christmas. a festive day. the day santa claus fetches his reindeer. this is comet, his old companion to day santa will load toys by the thousands on to his sleigh. the words of the children's letters from around the world resonate in his ears as his sleigh takes off through the night sky. towards the many children excitedly awaiting him. santa is used to traveling the world, visiting many countries where he is usually well received. but one night in december 1951 and the fren

city of bethel him in the west bank. we leave you now with some sights and sounds of the traditional christmas parade on manger square in front of the church of the nativity in bethlehem. and we'll be back with more headlines for you at the top of the hour. a marion evans dean from the entire team . thanks for watching. ah mm hm. with a.

>>> the eyes of the christian world have been on bethlehem this weekend as the faithful celebrate jesus' birth in a manger there. more than 2,000 years later, that city now in the west bank lost most of its followers of the cross. as recently as 1950 some 80% of bethlehem's residents were christian. today it's less than 20%. it's not just bethlehem and the west bank, from egypt to syria to iran, the population of christians in the middle east is dwindling fast. janine di giovanni is a longtime correspondent who turned her eye for this issue and new book "faith lost in the twilight of christianity in the land of the prophets." janine, this is such an interesting and important book. what drew you to it? when did you sort of realize yourself this is extraordinarily the big trend not many people have written about? >> yes, exactly. i started working on it really 30 years ago when i started working in the middle east exclusively. and what i found, especially around the time of the fall of saddam hussein in 2003 in iraq was so many of the christians were leaving. they were either fearful of a change of hand, of what would happen when saddam left, and then much later in 2014, o

again, the number of people who could attend was increased from last year, despite a spike in coven 19 cases in the city. 100 gathered for midnight mass in bethlehem in the occupied west bank smaller than usual crowds gathered for the festivities in the birth base of jesus. what is known as a birth based of jesus? no, many christmas says bethlehem busiest tourist season this year. israel, his band, almost all international travel, including 2 occupied palestinian territories. nita abraham pass more. all these people here of gather to welcome the latham patrick of jerusalem. yet the step, if the bad luck is arrival here. and now since the beginning of the christmas celebration here, bethlehem, this is the sound where many balance it is with value is like a way to lafayette is the because many believe that jesus christ was born here in battle now. but back to last year, numbers of people or bill allowed to enter here. the major square is much more. it's a more oppressive season. last year, people weren't even allowed to attend this celebration here in the square. now one elements, many pals, these would tell you is missing his door is in. this is a city that has long depende

city of bethel him in the west bank . we leave you now with some signs and sounds of the traditional christmas parade on major square in front of the church of the nativity in bethlehem. a marion i haven't seen. thanks for watching. ah boone. with blue issue. i mean in a minute. is he going? yes. why didn't guy up costar group? i would say that. what am put concerning, messina, but i'm one. what in, what can i sit on a but i want to plan because he is se for sas in canada go and he said, but i got going on what they're doing, funding, how long does a or an eternity time . it can be measured precisely. and yet each person experiences it differently as if there are different forms of type type a phenomenon, a dimension and illusion. about time starts december 31st on d, w. mm. ah, is europe's energy crisis shackled to its political crisis with russia. a spike in natural gas prices this week and rushes frustrations over the certification of a new gas pipeline with germany. have both sides claiming the other is playing. politics will take a closer look. also on the show. semiconductors are in short supply around the world that has automakers rethinking their sourcing, es

city of bethel, him in the west bank. we leave you now with some signs and sounds of the traditional christmas parade on manger square in front of the church of the nativity in bethlehem, a marion evans dean. thanks for watching. mm . mm mm mm. this is, i mean you may notice he go on yours. why didn't guy up costar group on was to be done. what am for concerning be sooner but i'm one. what im, what can i say i want to plan with.

the city was under locked down for christmas eve. hundreds of people joined midnight mass in bethlehem in the occupied west bank smaller than usual crowds gathered for the festivities in what's believe to be for the birth face of jesus christ normally christmas is bethel ems busiest tourist season. this year. israel has banned almost all international travel, including 2 occupied palestinian territories. now, ge the philippines. our christmas comes at a challenging time. a week after typhoon ry left, a trail of destruction, the storm des space more than 600000 people. and covered 19 has hampered relief efforts. esco live to barnaby. lo, was in manila forest. barnaby. i know christmas is a very important time for filipinos. what's the mood like this year, amidst all the hardships people are facing well, you know, one of the most important things for filipinos during christmas is to be able to gather a family. and last year they weren't able to do this because of the severe cove in 1900 situation and their restrictions that were imposed by the government this year is a different story. although there have been 3

gutmann to thousands of people have come out to celebrate the christmas tree lighting ceremony in bethlehem. in the occupied west bank palestinians are hoping to revive the city's economy, which has taken a hit since the pandemic. neither abraham reports now from bethlehem. a season in 2019 with 50 that had hit that to or is that because bob and people weren't even allowed to do it? then the 4th, 3 lighting ceremony last year. but the day that differ in the thousands and thousands of palestinians are here, that these people are coming from different places from back what they occupied lot back at the city and is ready. this is one of the initiatives this year to revive the economy christmas market where people can sell that product as well as their crafts people. here in bethlehem have depended on tourism for decades. so naturally when tourism stopped, the economy took a hard hit. now, you know, christmas people are looking to buy presents and the things are turning around, at least through the holidays. people are willing to spend more to try and bring some bright brightness and hope into the house and have like a happy holiday. so i think during this time peo

bethlehem celebrated its official tree lighting today in manger square. last christmas, the palestinian city in the israeli occupied west bank was all but closed because of the pandemic, while people are moving about within the region this year, israel as shutout forward travelers for 14 days to try to limit the spread of the omicron variant. before the pandemic took hold the biblical birthplace of jesus hosted 3.5 million visitors during the holiday season. well, this has to be my favorite story . tonight it is about the ca