she wrote scores of hits without knowing how to read a note. and spirit of the season. a reminder this christmas day that the smallest acts of kindness can be the biggest gift. >> this is the cbs evening news with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital >> garrett: good evening, everyone. norah is off, i'm major garrett. thanks so much for joining us on this night of good cheer. today christians around the world are celebrating christmas. many gathered in churches, including at the national cathedral here in washington, d.c. at the vatican, thousands of faithful filled saint peter's square to hear pope francis' christmas day message of hope overcoming darkness. and while the view was heavenly, many americans including those on board the international space station spent the day at work. trying to with festive. mola lenghi has more. >> reporter: pope francis called for peace and love in a

christmas message to millions around the world. from saint peter's basilica in the vatican, the 83-year-old pontiff urged for light in the dark corners of the world and the human heart. in the biblical city of bethlehem, thousands of worshipers gathered for christmas morning mass at the church of the nativity. at saint patrick's cathedral in manhattan, mass was standing room only. some people think christmas is just about presents and stuff but it's actually about bringing joy to the world. >> reporter: but there was perhaps a little less joy in paris. the notre dame cathedral was unable to host christmas mass for the first time in more than 200 years, as renovations continue after april's devastating fire. >> merry christmas. >> reporter: on the other side of the globe, it was christmas on the beach near sydney australia as the aussies swapped snow for sand. sleds for surf boards. in london, the serpentine swimming club plunged into freezing waters for their annual christmas day race. >> it was cold, but it was fun. >> reporter: finally, this year, it was an out-of-this-world christmas for four astronauts aboard the international space station.

who are far but apparently not far enough. >> we had to come all the way to space to try to get away from fruit cake but it didn't work, we got some anyway. >> reporter: either way, we got the message. back here on earth, while many people are spending the day with family and friends. at least one statistic we saw shows about one-quarter of all american workers will clock-in on at least one major winter holiday, including christmas day. major? i think we know at least a few of those people. >> garrett: as the saying goes, the work's not going to do itself. mola lenghi, thank you so much. president trump and the first lady spent christmas day in florida, at their mar-a-lago resort. no public appearances. but they did share a video message. >> as we gather with loved ones this holiday, americans across this land are grateful for all the men and women in uniform who keeps us safe. our military, our police, and everyone in law enforcement. >> 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. >> garrett: and in a statement released today, the president said americans "must strive to foster a culture of deeper understanding and respect." christmas arrived with no apparent "gift" from north korea. the regime had threatened to deliver something if the united states failed to restart stalled de-nuclearization talks. but the u.s. is reportedly flying spy planes over the korean peninsula to keep an eye on the regime. barry petersen is in seoul. >> reporter: christmas may mean time off elsewhere in the world, but it's training time for american soldiers in south korea. in these just released pictures from the department of defense, u.s. and south korean commandos staged a counter-terrorism raid. it's another sign of nerves on edge after north korea's kim jong un promised what north korea called a christmas gift. that could be a ballistic

missile or nuclear weapons test. the threat is an apparent tactic to pressure the u.s. into lifting economic sanctions on the north. but after meeting kim, president trump has rejected that until north korea abandons its nuclear weapons program. still, the shadow of that threat could not stop christmas for american soldiers here to defend south korea with sweaters that show a mother's love. >> so this sweater, i got this from my mom, it was a gift for me leaving to come over here. >> reporter: many of these soldiers left family back in the u-s. it makes this a tough and faraway place. reginald hill is from arkansas. >> it's one of those times, especially around, you know, the christmas time. it's festive and you think of family and being separated from my wife is rough. >> reporter: most of the soldiers here are with the army's second infantry division. and with this latest threat from the north, that division's motto

seems ever more appropriate: "ready to fight, tonight." major? >> garrett: barry petersen in south korea, thank you. the body of sergeant first class michael goble arrived today at dover air force base. the 33-year old green beret from new jersey was killed by a roadside bomb. goble was the 20th american to die in combat operations in afghanistan this year. that makes it the deadliest for u.s. forces in that country since 2014. today in britain, the royal family stuck to tradition. many joined queen elizabeth at church although there were some notable absences. the monarch also gave her annual christmas message to the commonwealth. as imtiaz tyab reports, she noted it's been a bumpy year. >> reporter: in her annual christmas speech, queen elizabeth spoke of putting differences aside, of reconciliation, acknowledging this year hasn't been easy.

>> the path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy. >> reporter: not quite a horrible year. which is how she described 1992 when three royal marriages were breaking down and windsor castle were devastated by a fire. >> i think it is more than likely a reference or an encouragement to the country to move on beyond the divisiveness of the political situation. >> reporter: politics aside, the challenges facing the royal family couldn't be clearer than on christmas day. when the queen attended traditional church services with other senior royals. but not her second son, prince andrew. he went to an earlier service with older brother prince charles. andrew gave up public duties last month after this disastrous interview where he tried to distance himself from the victims of convicted paedophile jeffrey epstein. >> i have no recollection of ever meeting this lady. >> well, i suppose one would have to say that he's become something of an embarrassment at the moment to the royal family. >> reporter: this year hasn't

also hasn't been easy for the monarch's grandson prince harry and wife meghan, who have regularly been taunted by the british tabloids and are spending the holidays overseas, in north america. the queen said she and prince philip were delighted by the birth of the couples' son archie, her 8th great grandchild. but it's prince philip who is causing the most concern. the queen's 98 year-old husband was released from the hospital on christmas eve and didn't attend church services today. raising concerns about the health of the royal family's longest serving consort. major? >> garrett: imtiaz tyab in london, thank you so much. political protests. riot police used tear gas to try to break up anti-government demonstrations including inside two shopping malls. some of the protesters were wearing santa hats. the pro beijing leader called the protesters "reckless and selfish." the mayor of

the mayor of minneapolis called for help today after an old hotel used to house the homeless went up in flames. it happened early this morning. the four-alarm fire at the drake hotel forced over 200 people, many of them children, out into the cold. some were given temporary shelter inside transit buses. and some people responded by donating food and supplies, but new housing is the most pressing need. it was anything but quiet early this morning in chicago gunfire from the street wounded two people, one of them a seven year old girl shot inside her very own home. tom hanson reports the girl is now fighting for her life. ( siren ) >> reporter: chicago police say someone shot into this south side home from the sidewalk around 2:00 a.m. christmas morning, the seven-year-old girl was struck in the abdomen. >> the little girl should have been waking up to opening up presents, instead of waking up in a hospital. i mean, she's practically fighting for her life. >> reporter: she was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

a 38-year-old man, who was shot in the leg in the same incident, is in stable condition. chicago mayor lori lightfoot tweeted, "praying for the young girl struck by a bullet in brighton park. c.p.d. will do everything possible to bring the perpetrator to justice. as a city, you have our love and support." the city's latest crime data shows overall murders are down. but a string of shootings involving children under age twelve in 2019 has now climbed to at least 18, according to the gun violence archive. and just this weekend, 13 people, ranging from 16 to 48 years old, were shot at a memorial for another shooting victim. >> our people become numb and we think that this is normal. and this is not normal. >> reporter: in a statement, the family says they're grateful for the outpouring of love and support. investigators say they are asking for any tips to lead them to a suspect and motive. major. >> garrett: tom hansen, thank you. now to the arctic, where a

popular symbol of christmas is threatened by climate change. wild reindeer and caribou populations have dropped more than half in the last twenty years. in tonight's "eye on earth," mark phillips in finland reports on efforts to save them. >> reporter: the reindeer in santa's village in northern finland have to work for a living. it's where rudolph's cousins provide sleigh rides, albeit on the ground. and where you-know-who welcomes children of all ages. but all is not what it seems in this winter wonderland. >> brrrrrrroooom! >> reporter: to find the real reindeer-- and the real trouble- - you've got to go about 250 miles north of santa's village. in temperatures approaching zero. but winter -- even up here -- isn't what it used to be. our guide is andte gaup-jusso, from the ancient sami people who have been herding reindeer since the dawn of time. and the climate here in lapland, he says, is changing. it melts? >> it melts and the next day it freezes.

>> reporter: does it happen more often now, where you have rain or warm weather and then the snow melts? does that happen more in last few years than it used to? >> yeah, the last ten years. >> reporter: and this is the result: reindeer are dying. a big die-off was discovered on the arctic islands of svalbard last summer. and the huge, wild herds of caribou-- same animal-- which roam across alaska and northern canada, have been reduced by half, according to a recent government report. and andte the reindeer herder knows why. >> this is it, what they're looking for. >> right. >> reporter: the reindeer feed, even through the winter, on lichen, a mossy plant that they dig down through the snow to get at, except when all that thawing and re-freezing means they can't. and when the snow turns to ice, what happens to the reindeer? >> we have to feed them. >> reporter: they can't dig for their food? >> no, no, we have to give them extra food. >> reporter: up here in the land

of the northern lights, it's a constant battle. andte lives in a village of just ten houses, and every day he travels up to 60 miles each way through the few hours of dim winter light, to find the herd and check it's okay. to you, your reindeer are your money in the bank? >> my reindeer is my whole worth. >> reporter: they round up 5,000 animals and right now it's reindeer-round-up time. andte and his wonder dog, ben- uh, gather the scattered herd and drive them south, to where they can bring feed to them --- and where a few are sold off to the reindeer meat market. it's how they make their living. it is a gorgeous, if frigid, dance of man, animal and machine. >> reporter: it's very hard work up here. >> yeah, it is, it is hard work some days. >> reporter: why don't you leave and work in the city or something?

>> oh no, this is my life. >> reporter: these reindeer in finland are the lucky ones, they have the sami herders to look after them. for tens of thousands of others elsewhere though, the human influence hasn't been so kind. >> reporter: mark phillips trekking across northern finland, thank you so much. up next, strangers step up delivering christmas cheer to a man who spent the holiday alone for decades. and we remember a legendary songwriter who made a day in september live forever. ♪ ♪ that's why there's otezla. otezla is not a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with... ...an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts

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without getting in your way. ♪ ♪ >> hey, it's melvin, i'm stationed here in bahrain, and i want to wish my family in fort lauderdale, florida, a happy holiday and a merry christmas. i love you family and everybody. >> garrett: happy holidays and welcome back. songwriter allee willis died tuesday in los angeles.

willis was one of the music industry's most colorful characters, who brought a lot of joy to the world. ♪ ♪ willis co-wrote "september" and other big hits for earth, wind, and fire. ♪ ♪ later this song took off on tv and the pop charts. ♪ ♪ the pointer sisters were fans. willis, who grew up in detroit, never learned how to play music, but was inspired to write it hearing the motown sound. >> but that's what i love about my career, and i do always say it's like my hair, one side has nothing to do with the other. ♪ ♪ she won a grammy for the soundtrack of 1984's "beverly hills cop." ♪ ♪ last year, she was inducted into the songwriter's hall of fame. ♪ ♪ willis' partner shared this

photo of willis on instagram with the caption "rest in 'boogie wonderland'" another smash hit. ♪ ♪ allee willis was 72 years old. ♪ ♪ for your protection, the dancing segment of this broadcast has been canceled. up next, the moment the christmas spirit appeared at one man's front door. let's blow out the candles together!thday! ok, let's huff and puff. like you do sometimes, grandpa? well, when you have copd, it can be hard to breathe. so my doctor said... symbicort can help you breathe better starting within 5 minutes. it doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. symbicort helps provide significant improvement of your lung function. symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day.

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this holiday season, help your family discover theirs. >> garrett: finally, tonight, on a day where many of us are surrounded by family and friends, it's good to remember others who are alone. for them, this is not 'the most wonderful time of the year'. as roxana saberi shows us, it's good to share love and cheer -- with a lonely friend. >> since my mother passed, 20 years ago, i've had every christmas on my own, and you do feel it very much

>> reporter: on the bbc breakfast show, 78-year-old terrence admitted, it's not easy celebrating the holidays alone. what would this day be like? >> you'd make yourself a sandwich, and you'd just, well, watch tv. >> if you're out there and you can help terrence get a christmas tree, decorate your house, would you like that? >> yes. >> reporter: yes? we'll sort that for you to make sure this christmas is a great one. >> thank you. >> reporter: the response came quickly. >> well, hello! >> hello, terrence. it's dan walker from the telly. nice to see you again. we made you a promise. can we come in? >> yeah, of course, you can. >> it broke our hearts today when you said christmas day for you was making a sandwich for yourself. >> it was like that for many years. >> and you're not the only one, are you? >> no, i'm not. >> and there are a lot of people from older generations, lots of people are lonely for christmas. >> there are hundreds like me, and it shouldn't be. it shouldn't be.

>> we said on air you didn't have a christmas tree. no. which we promised to sort out for you. >> reporter: moments later, the holiday spirit was at his front door. >> terrence, could i introduce you these lovely people who have come from oldham college? >> reporter: students from a local college came bearing gifts. >> how are you, sir? good evening. >> reporter: then they did more. >> come out here, terrence. >> reporter: singing his famous christmas carol . ( singing silent night ) >> thank you >> reporter: this christmas, terrence says, he won't be alone. a reminder small acts of kindness can be the biggest gift this holiday season. ♪ sleep in heavenly peace >> roxana saberi, cbs news, london. ♪ sleep in heavenly peace >> garrett: togetherness can

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>> on behalf of the west virginia army national guard stationed in kuwait, we would like to wish everybody back home a merry christmas and happy new year! >> garrett: on tomorrow's "cbs evening news," we'll show you how a group of prisoners are getting a second act by performing theater. and, that's tonight's "cbs evening news." for norah o'donnell, i'm major garrett, in washington. for all of us here at cbs news, merry christmas, and good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org

this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm thom hansen and we've got a lot more to tell you about this morning starting with an unseen danger on the road. the holiday season is a time for celebration, and if that celebration includes alcohol, you may be taking a cab home. but how safe is that car you just jumped into. kris van cleave has a look. >> reporter: the baltimore area has nearly 1,000 cabs picking up passengers. now, they're required to get an annual inspection by the state of maryland, but the only way a rider would know if any of these cabs have an open safety raffl for a defect would be to pull the v.i.n. number before they get in. baltimore is not alo