Ahead. If i werent involved they would be talking about literature a. U. S. President takes credit for the upcoming talks between north and south korea. Surviving the war but will they survive the cold winter a plea for help from syrias and totally displaced and looking to renew their Alliance German chancellor Angela Merkel is set to open a new round of colonization talks in a bit to form a government. Protests against the Greek Orthodox patriarch of jerusalem have overshadowed orthodox christmas celebrations there edge say of church lad as ready spot the tense scene says muhammad reports from bethlehem. The protests were unprecedented in a display of anger toward the Greek Orthodox patriarch of jerusalem demonstrators attacked the convoy of the office the third as it made its way to bethlehems manger square in the occupied west bank behind all this recent news reports alleging the patriarch has been involved in property sales to foreign tax havens and those properties may end up in the hands of israeli businesses. Protesters believe the allegations and say it will make it harder for palestinians to establish their own state but the live now to mount a clear and simple we want the patriarch to resign we want to reform the patriarchate and assign a Legal Committee to evaluate the situation representatives of the Greek Orthodox church of jerusalem deny the allegations and the handle of the snow. We did not as they claim to sell our lands to the Israeli Occupation those are old deals the patriarch wants to rectify and clarify because all those old deals are detrimental to the rights of the patriarch eight and its congregation while this is not the first time the church has been accused of selling some of the numerous properties it owns in jerusalem the outrage now is far greater than it had been before. In manger square despite the marching bands and music a truly festive atmosphere was hard to achieve. The arrival of the patriarch wasnt just protested local officials also gave him a Cold Shoulder when they refused to welcome him to the square another issue overshadowing celebrations this year is the decision by u. S. President donald trump to recognize jerusalem as israels capital in the months since that decision was made there but numerous protests in the occupied west bank and its really contributed to a growing sense of hopelessness amongst Palestinian Christians forty year old george was sad says hes never witnessed such a song or mood at christmas as a lot of the ha ha ha if things remain as is opie pool seek to leave whod stay here if you see it being so and the city is sad have you ever seen. Bethlehem like this thousands would usually be here christmas muslims would show up even before christians Palestinian Christians in the west bank are worried their relatively small number will continue to do windell and according to a recent study by the daughter of a University College twenty eight percent of Palestinian Christians said theyd leave this region if given the chance highlighting yet again the growing feeling of despair at a time of year when there is usually at the very least a small semblance of hope. Bethlehem the occupied west bank now jordan says the arab league will Seek International recognition of a palestinian state to Donald Trumps decision on jerusalem well some members of the league met in the jordanian capital amman jordan has seen a wave of protests against the u. S. And israel following trucks decision to move the American Embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. Our goal is to overturn the american decision to recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel and to assert that it has no it legal effect. We have specific requests the most important of which is the recognition of the palestinian state with jerusalem as its capital according to the june the fourth nine hundred sixty seven borders if they want to other news now and us president has reacted to accusations that he is mentally unfit for office describing himself as a stable genius follows publication of a book that questions has ability to do his job and claims that his stuff you have as infants as john hendren reports from washington translate his attacks on have again overshadowed his policy agenda. And i did a quick interview with him a long time ago having to do with an article this book clearly has donald trump rattled the suggestion in fire and fury that cabinet members and allies to question trumps intelligence and his fitness for office have gotten under the president s skin the book has driven a wedge between trump and his one time closest adviser Steve Bennett but i dont know this man i guess sloppy steve brought him into the white house quite a bit and it was one of those things thats why sloppy steve is now looking for a job as Republican Leaders met the president to discuss their legislative agenda for twenty eighteen began his day with a barrage of morning tweets he wrote throughout my life my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being like really smart and he said that winning the presidency qualifies him as not smart but genius in a very stable genius at that in defending himself against the allegations in this book President Trump was knocked off message in it steve bannon says hes lost his stuff media mogul Rupert Murdoch calls him an idiot and staffers describe him as a semi literate fool but what the republicans who met with trump on saturday wanted to talk about with their plans for twenty eight teen and Immigration Reform candidate Donald TrumpsSignature Campaign promise and we are building a wall on the southern border we need safety we need cameras and i will have mexico pay for that wall it turns out he might have that half right the administrations plan for an immigration overhaul would spend eighteen billion dollars over ten years and add five hundred five kilometers to an existing border with mexico and the u. S. Congress would pay for the bill is expected to restore some protection for the socalled dreamers children of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the u. S. By their parents trump recently rescinded an obama era rule protecting them but democrats fear the new immigration funds could be used to deport dreamers who registered for the program or their families they dont have resources. Eight hundred thousand dreamers its not at all clear that the information that the dreamers volunteered to the government to establish their. Legal work at work and otherwise could be used to identify. The dreamers but immigration was not the top question trump addressed on saturday john hendren. Washington well as well as proclaiming his genius the u. S. President said hes open to talking to north korea also said hes hopeful next weeks meeting between north and south korea will go beyond the participation in the Winter Olympics. I would love to. Talk you know. Its a big if i werent involved they would be talking about a. Much more serious well tension on the Korean Peninsula had constant preparations for the Winter Olympics next month but as host south korea get ready for talks with the north on tuesday many are hoping for Foreign Relations before the games and the next part of our series looking ahead to the stories set to make headlines this year. Reports from chang the Mountain Town of. The site of south koreas first ski resorts and its preparing for chiefland to host the countrys first olympic and paralympic will take. Some of these slopes closed. For the event across town finishing touches of being made and people are looking forward to the Opening Ceremony in february. Im excited and a bit nervous that ill be able to watch such a big event taking place here. Its been such a long time since south korea hosted an olympics event its a Good Opportunity to promote the country and especially this area it could also be a chance to improve into korea relations north korea has recently said it may send its athletes to take part in the event something south korea says it welcomes but security concerns over the norths Nuclear Weapons development remain organizers however say this isnt the first time a huge sporting event is held against the backdrop of heightened tensions but of course again safety and security are part of all of the Olympic Games and so its a part of our preparations that we do but every other Olympic Committee has also had the same measures in place so were working to ensure that everything is in place in time for the games. But an even more unpredictable factor is Mother Nature for costa temperatures on the day of the Opening Ceremony could make it one of the coldest in thirty years and the stadium has no roof a deliberate design to save time and money Officials Say to counter the cold theyre installing when she and will give out hot packs and blankets to spectate. This is a hot tub a pocket sized portable heater to give it a good shake the chemicals inside react this packing generates heat for at least ten hours put in your pocket. Warm and toasty. For those willing to brave the cold its now easy to get to the venue with a new high speed train from seoul to p. R. China. South korea also plans to use the upcoming olympics to showcase what it says will be the most technologically advanced game. Theres a camera placed on the home and to competitors spectators can watch the event from the perspective in real time on this tablet which uses five g. Technology. No efforts being spread to make the two thousand and eight Winter Olympics and paralympics a success florence. South korea and in the next part in our series well be reporting from moscow and on course for a fourth term as president will examine why russian politics is still a one man show you can see that right here on aljazeera on monday. The Italian Coast Guard says at least eight migrants have died and eighty six others have been rescued from a boat off the coast of libya rescue agencies say many more still missing and put the death toll as high as twenty five the International Organization for migration says the Mediterranean Sea is the worlds deadliest border it says almost one hundred twenty thousand refugees and migrants arrived in italy by sea last year. Now talks between germanys two major parties to form a new Ruling Coalition are resuming on sunday a potential Sticking Point between anger miracles question democrats and social democrats as the refugee crisis they are divided over whether to allow relatives of people who are already in germany to join them from the varia dominic cain reports. Its time for nine year old Michael Michael to do his homework and as in many families his big brother is on hand to help in fact twenty two year old math mord is more of a father to michael than an elder brother. Because as yazidi refugees these two have been granted asylum in germany but for the past two years their parents and siblings have been stuck in a holding camp for migrants increase. The news of the view of marco germany told them they could come join us here but then a few months ago we were told they could not go the official said you have no documents that prove your brother is related to your parents paid for the papers to compromise then they said they needed to test michaels d. N. A. And theyll finally theyve said that ok your parents can come. But the brothers hopes of a reunion have been dashed twice before and their situation is not unique since twenty sixteen germany has put a temporary hold on reuniting the families of people who are not classed as refugees the Bavarian Christian Social Union and go to medical system party in the Southern State says while genuine refugees should be allowed in those with subsidiary protection and these claims for asylum are rejected should not we are objecting to their right to offer socalled subsidiary. Except that if you choose to bring their family to terminate because to be honest this would. Exhaust our capacities what makes this view more interesting is that stefan meyer speaks on this issue not just for his party but also for angle americans christian democrats but this particular point of view is not shared by the social democrats and with Coalition Talks between the three parties now intensifying in the new year the question is might this issue be a Sticking Point because the social democrats believe that where possible families who qualified to be reunited should be allowed to do so the political fight in germany is now about how to bring a government together from parties with such differing views from mahmoud and Michael Matta long its how to bring their family back together dominic can aljazeera in bavaria. Still ahead on the bulletin near wesson saudi arabia eleven princes are detained after ever protests at a palace in riyadh and millions of Orthodox Christians celebrate christmas around the world. From a fresh breeze. To watching the sunset on the australian outback. Welcome back as we look at weather conditions around the eastern side of the mediterranean and western parts of asia weve got a few showers to contend with on the Southern Side of the caspian sea but for its around its ten degrees and largely dry season temperatures for kuwait and baghdad indeed its looking rose to the fine around the eastern side of the mediterranean and heading through into monday not a great deal of change eighteen and bright in beirut so lets head down into the Arabian Peninsula where its a largely fine picture much as youd expect but having said that so a chance one or two showers down towards the southern end of the red sea woman off in mecca thirty two degrees plus enough in doha twenty four enough a breeze to show we have no visibility problems and then heading through into monday turn a little bit cooler highs of twenty two here in just eighteen four riyadhs now as we head into southern portions of africa we have this circulation this Tropical Cyclone aver which is working its way very slowly only east coast of madagascar it is has got a lot of moisture within it and its dropping a vast amount of rain in excess of a meter of rain in some areas of flooding has got to be an issue houseware fine conditions across much of south africa through botswana and into the verbier northern parts feingold through into zambia seeing a few showers to come southward into zimbabwe should be fine with highs of twenty nine degrees in harare. The waiver sponsored by qatar. In two thousand and eight aljazeera documented a groundbreaking scheme. Preparing some of indias poorest children for entry into its toughest universities. Ten years on we return to see how the students and the scheme a helping change the face of india. Super thirty at this time around zero. Zero am. Good to have you with us on aljazeera these are our top stories protests against the Greek Orthodox patriarch of jerusalem have overshadowed Orthodox Christian the son of russians and bethlehem the alleged tale of church land israeli spot tense things demonstrators say that could make it harder for palestinians to establish their own state u. S. President all trond says hes open to dialogue with north Korean Leader kim jong un it follows a recent escalation and rhetoric between the two leaders trump added that his heart for the progress of next weeks talks between north and south korea and the Italian Coast Guard says at least eight while girls have died and eighty six others have been rescued from a boat off the coast of libya rescue agencies say many more still missing they put the death toll as high as twenty five. Series of airstrikes by the Saudi Led Coalition has targeted a fruit and Vegetable Market and gas facility in northern yemen witnesses say the strikes killed one person left three others injured areas under the control of iran backed rebels who fought a Ballistic Missile into the territory on friday. At least fourteen people have been killed in their strikes and artillery attacks in rebel held suburbs near damascus theres been a spike in violence in eastern and recent weeks activists say its coming under a near daily bombardment. Why mr breton got in as an advisor to a coalition of medical charities and sylvia he says there are currently more than one hundred twenty children needing Urgent Medical care in rebel held areas under attack the last. Record. Christmas and new year period weve seen over ten hospitals. Commission in. The damascus say. We currently have one hundred twenty point children and four hundred. We absolutely need syria is aziz. Seriously injured. As well elsewhere in syria paper her fled the fighting and are facing a battle of a different kind surviving the cold winter me baka has more. In syria Southern Province of daraa those displaced by war face a new threat the weather. This is ours i assume camp one of the largest in the region Omar Abdelrahman and her grandchildren arrived here after escaping fierce fighting between syrias armed opposition groups and i saw a water logged field is now home if the rain continues and we forced to leave where can they go and i mean didnt plan on my mind when i left on homes without any possessions you can see the rain water around us you can see for yourself how bad conditions are what can we do helpless the camp likes basic infrastructure there are no paved roads no drainage people feel forgotten there are you rubble this used to be farmland it was unfit for people to settle on in the first place the camp hasnt been supplied with any of the basic services and no one has lent his or will lend a helping hand none of the relief agencies either syrias long civil war has triggered one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history eleven million syrians have been displaced by fighting heart of the whole population most around six million are internally displaced it is a bleak existence. Parka aljazeera. Saudi arabia says eleven princes have been detained and they are after staging a protest outside the royal palace theyre being held in a toy a high security prison which is in contrast to dozens of other high profile figures who were detained in a luxury hotel last year during what the crown prince called an anticorruption drive pizza shop has more. The eleven saudi princes were arrested outside the royal palace in riyadh where theyve been protesting about the kingdoms decision to make saudi royals to pay their water and utility bills as part of a wider austerity plan. The princes were transferred to the high security prison of a high yeah and i expected to go on trial the leg. Oafish they were arrested because they were complete about the fact that there are scores of city school water and electricity for some reason you were denied all the reports. Back there were presence of brits who was executed in october two thousand and sixteen and come to us who are you sure its very conflicting at this point we dont know exactly what is going on saudi arabia has introduced a string of austerity measures to boost revenues and cut spending as the global slump in oil prices led to balloon ing budget deficits slapping a five percent sales tax on food clothes electronics water and electricity and raising fuel prices significantly ex patrick workers who also caught up in the price rises but careful not to complain and spend seven hundred sixty eight something. In the city though the five percent thats the amount think that this is. Probably something. Theyre helping so there may be. More than two hundred princes were arrested in november in an Anti Corruption led by the crown Prince Mohammed bin solomon which also served to strengthen his power many of the countrys richest and most influential princes struck deals for their release while a few remain here at the palatial ritz carlton in riyadh described as the most luxurious prison in the world saudi arabias Oil Based Economy has taken a battering with the fall in oil prices balancing the books will be a long and protracted task that will not prove popular with ordinary people here or at very least ordinary princes peter shop al jazeera the ecuadorian government has elected a new vice pres. And to replace jorge glass whos been jailed for corruption Vice President of the cornea is seen here on the left a pretty decisive was sentenced to six years in prison and connection with a bribery scheme brazilian construction giant owed bresh has admitted to handing out bribes worth nearly eight hundred Million Dollars to secure lucrative public contracts. Perots recently pardoned former president has tweeted that hes dreaming of a future for his country without bitterness Alberto Fujimori called on peruvians to let go of the resentment triggered by the decision to pardon him on medical grounds president Petro Papa Kaczynski announced the pardon just after surviving an Impeachment Vote with the support of the son fujimori had been serving a twenty five year sentence for human rights violations. There have been long queues outside supermarkets in venezuela after the government ordered them to slash their prices prices were just the same as last month a rampant inflation in venezuela has risen to above one thousand percent and thats led to widespread shortages of food and medicine president Nicolas Maduro the economic crisis on an international conspiracy. You know something we arrived but we couldnt get in the prices were much lower last night but today the price is a normal they were dickey less prices elevated compared to the income of venezuelans well most venezuelans. In we understand that supermarket chains have a right to increase prices because its relative but not in such an exorbitant manner three hundred percent i think there should be a bit of control and if there were some control we could purchase things now it is christmas for Orthodox Christians around the world thousands have attended Midnight Mass from about a verse to ethiopia but Orthodox Christians for the julian calendar and celebrate the birth of jesus christ on the seventh of january salma been reports. The him from whats perhaps the largest cathedral in the middle east i should in Midnight Mass. This Egyptian Church with a capacity of one thousand people open its door for orthodox christmas many of the faithful prayed for a better year ahead after multiple attacks from adoption christians in recent months and that. We hope peace will prevail over the world in general and especially in egypt and that will get rid of terrorism and troubles. In egypt and all the region to live in peace and god to protect us from any kind of terrorism or anything which might hurt us. Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across egypt to ensure safe celebrations and there were reassurances from the president more than one hundred christians have been killed in attacks in recent months the latest just a few days ago. You are our family you are part of us we are all one christians and muslims and no one can ever divide us. From below to stay with the opiah the orthodox follow the old julian calendar and celebrate christmas on january sixth and seventh. Each celebration is unique to celebrate the tradition of burning of old frenchs and dried leaves many preserve some pagan traditions inviting dead ancestors to their homes. I knew green for instance some fabricate a straw dog with the ancestors of the state some families also spread straw to emulate the nativity scene. To dance. Thousands attended Midnight Masses across russia home to more than a third of the worlds Orthodox Christians russian leaders including president Vladimir Putin but in attendance. Fears were also held at the church of nativity in bethlehem in the occupied west bank a place at the heart of many conflicts in the middle east and beyond and here they were prayers for better times some of injury the aljazeera hundreds of people have marked the third anniversary of the attack on france the terrible magazine Charlie Hebdo that left twelve people dead. A response ability for the attack saying magazine was targeted for printing cartoons off the Prophet Muhammad which is about to rule i do not always agree with it and i do not find it always very funny but i defend challis of those freedom of expression. Its a special day of commemoration and also of testimonials from civilians elected officials writers and politicians who come to explain what charley is to them what is this freedom of expression and criticism that must be preserved. Now the first man to command a Space Shuttle flight has died at the age of eighty seven john young was the ninth man to walk on the moon and was the only astronaut to fly into space on the gemini apollo and Space Shuttle programs young died at his home in Houston Texas following complications from pneumonia the u. S. Space agency nasa has recorded data showing that the earths protective as a covering the Scientists Say the thirty year global ban on the use of certain chemicals is producing some Great Results and a hostile explains finally a rare good news concerning the environment nasa Scientists Say ozone depletion is going down is a lair is a protective gas in the atmosphere that shields us from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun this is the source of the good news and thats the satellite that monitors the hole in the ozone layer which was first detected at the end of the one nine hundred seventy s. Thats what were excited about is that we see for the first time chlorine levels are definitely going down and ozone levels are responding to it manmade chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons or c. F. C. s left chlorine in the atmosphere the destroyed ozone molecules the damage from the ozone layer has been blamed for an increase in skin cancers because the harmful ultraviolet radiation gets through and this is the effect it has on plants c. F. C. s were found in products like aerosols pesticide sprays packing materials and refrigerants and they were banned globally in one thousand nine hundred seven nasa has released images that show the changing in concentrations since the c. F. C. s were phased out the montreal protocol has been a Great Success once the protocol was signed in those the regulations went into effect we saw at the surface levels of both on depleting substances going down but scientists warn that full recovery will take decades because of c. F. C. s could remain in the atmosphere for another fifty to one hundred years. As there. Theres a problem in doha with the headlines on aljazeera protests against the Greek Orthodox patriarch of jerusalem have all the shadowed orthodox christmas celebrations and better him the alleged sale of church land to israelis sparked ten scenes demonstrators say that could make it harder for palestinians to establish their own state and jordan says the arab league will Seek International recognition of a palestinian state after Donald Trumps decision to recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel or some members of the league met in the jordanian capital amman jordan has seen a wave of protests against the u. S. And israel following trumps decision to move the American Embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. Donald trump says hes open to dialogue with north Korean Leader kim jong un it follows a recent escalation in rhetoric between the two leaders trump also said hes hopeful next weeks meeting between north and south korea will go beyond the norths participation in the Winter Olympics. Id love to see them take it. We have a very Good Relationship with south korea i would love to see your troops absolutely. Right no joke you are worse its a story its a big story if i werent involved they wouldnt be talking about olympics right during a few words it would be much more serious the Italian Coast Guard says at least eight migrants have died and eighty six others have been rescued off the coast of libya rescue agencies say many more still missing and put the death toll as high as twenty five the International Organization for migration says the Mediterranean Sea is the worlds deadliest border at least fourteen people have been killed today as strikes and artillery attacks and rebel held city suburbs of damascus theres been a spike in violence in eastern guta in recent weeks activists say its coming under the near daily bombardment about four hundred thousand people remain trapped under a government siege running out of food and medicine ivan princes have been detained in saudi arabia after protesting austerity measures at the royal palace the being held in a toy a high security prison in contrast to dozens of other high profile figures who were detained at a luxury hotel last year during what the crown prince called an Anti Corruption trial those are the headlines on aljazeera do stay with us so thirty is coming up next. We understand the differences. And the singularities of cultures across the world so no matter how you take it aljazeera will bring you the news and Current Affairs that matter to you as iraq