on this Christmas Day.

Black-clad protesters descended on the streets of a busy shopping district.

Riot police used tear gas to disperse crowds.

Meanwhile, hundreds marched through malls chanting pro-democracy slogans.

The city has been upended by more than six months of unrest against police use of force

and mainland China's influence.

New protests erupted in India's capital today over a controversial new citizenship law.

Students, writers and activists gathered at a college campus in New Delhi to denounce

the legislation.

It grants expedited citizenship to migrants illegally in the country, excluding Muslims.

Protesters accused the government of violating India's secular constitution.

MAN: India has been shaken.

The idea of constitution has been shaken by this government.

And when the soul of constitution has been targeted by Indian government, then it has

changed in this regime.

AMNA NAWAZ: Peaceful protests also continued in India's eastern state of Assam.

We will take a broader look at the recent wave of protests around the world later in

the program.

More than 200,000 Syrians have fled an onslaught of violence in Idlib province in recent weeks.

That's according to the Syrian Response Coordination Group, a relief group active in the area.

The exodus continued today, as crammed trucks headed north towards the Turkish border.

Civilians are being pushed out by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces working to regain

control of Syria's last rebel stronghold.

There was temporary relief in Australia today, as cooler weather slowed down the spread of

devastating wildfires.

But forecasters warned higher temperatures are expected to return this weekend.

About 2,000 firefighters spent this Christmas holiday battling more than 70 fires still

burning in New South Wales.

IAN WEDGE, Firefighter: Fire doesn't stop just because it's Christmas.

So, some of the crews have to keep working and monitor the fire.

Luckily, today, we have got benign weather, and not everybody has to be out here.

AMNA NAWAZ: In his annual Christmas address today, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison

paid tribute to two firefighters who died last week battling fires southwest of Sydney.

And this Christmas Day brought a number of celebrations, both solemn and festive, around

the world.

Christians in Bethlehem sang hymns of worship, while, in Germany, brave swimmers dove into

icy waters for their annual Christmas plunge.

U.S. troops stationed in South Korea gathered to enjoy a Christmas feast.

Meanwhile, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, who are celebrating the holiday

in Florida, sent this message to all Americans serving abroad:

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: We say a special prayer for those military

service members stationed far from home.

And we renew our hope for peace among nations and joy to the world.

AMNA NAWAZ: Pope Francis also hoped for peace during his annual Christmas Day message in

St. Peter's Square.

He spoke to the plight of migrants and refugees, and said the light of Christ was stronger

than human suffering.

The pope also issued a separate statement with the head of the Anglican Church and the

former moderator of the Church of Scotland urging South Sudan's rival leaders to form

a coalition government early next year.