Scrambling to find dozens who are still missing. And christmas preparations get underway in the west bank town of bethlehem but this years festivities are being overshadowed by tensions resulting from the u. S. Shift in its mideast policy. Also coming up to help us all have a merry little christmas. Ah ah. Ah twenty thousand fans the wrong too many on berlin soccer stadium to sing carols and what has become an annual holiday tradition. I have a quote awesome welcome to. The program some two hundred people are dead in the philippines after a Tropical Storm brought devastation to the south of the country rescue operations are underway to find dozens who remain missing tembin is the second deadly storm to hit the country this week alone its wept over the island of mindanao leaving destruction in its wake. Tropical storms rarely hit mindanao in the south of the philippines ten being proved a brutal and deadly exception. The heavy rains caused massive flooding and numerous landslides oh entire villages were swept away. Washed up the like there used to be one hundred three houses here but when the flash flood happened everything was washed out all their homes and livelihoods gone ninety families have been affected in the least that. Towns were deep underwater with people trapped in their homes. Across the affected region at least forty thousand people have been displaced scores a still missing. Emergency workers and volunteers have been searching for survivors and victims. The devastation is widespread endless mud. Flattened crops. And entire communities where people have to rebuild their homes and their lives. Stay in the philippines where people are mourning another tragedy this Christmas Eve at least thirty seven people are feared dead after a fire broke out at a four story Shopping Mall but firefighters have begun recovering bodies and Authorities Say there is no chance of survival for anyone trapped inside crews have now put out the blaze in the southern of the read about it its believed the fire started on the third floor and the cause is not yet known. Christmas celebrations are underway in bethlehem amid heightened tensions this year a procession is taking place as worshippers make their way to the church of the nativity at the spot where christians believe jesus was born among those taking part is the latin patriarch hes the top Roman Catholic official in the holy land and will be celebrating the Midnight Mass later but this years festivities come at a time of simmering anger after u. S. President Donald Trumps controversial decision to recognize jerusalem as israels capital that move has triggered clashes and has been weighing on christians as well as they prepare to celebrate Christmas Day eight pastries not too sweet these palestinian delicacies called mahmoud have a special significance who would be oddly enough to make these a tista because they symbolize christs crown that this year weve decided to make them a christmas as well because the children like them so mom and. The whole family joins in the mans sores are christians living in bethlehem charlie mansoor is a doctor he and his wife breda have three children as christians celebrating christmas in the birthplace of jesus is extra special but this year politics is putting a damper on the celebrations. And. Worried under fraid well probably go to church for christmas and then just stay at home with the family. You can see why at bethlehems town wall palestinians dressed as father christmas taunt Israeli Border guards they retaliate with tear gas its been like this for the last two weeks the tension is getting to the man soars. Christmas is different this year we can even smell the tear gas and tom this is all because donald trump decided to move the American Embassy to jerusalem to see if we can see the jerusalem an arabic city where all religions should coexist in a city to. The more as in calls the faithful to prayer in the center of bethlehem two thirds of the towns thirty thousand residents are muslim one third christian the two faith communities treat each other with respect and in the end of the we celebrate together with our christine presence and day with those there are no differences between us. Was. More and more tourists are coming to bethlehem the Palestinian Authority has stepped up security measures but a feeling of ease remains. At the grotto of the nativities where jesus is believed to have been born a group of pilgrims starts an informal choir a prayer for a peaceful christmas. Now to some of the other stories making news around the world north korea has condemned the latest u. N. Sanctions against the country as an act of war insists it will carry on developing its Nuclear Program to establish a balance of force with the United States on friday the u. N. Security Council Unanimously backed fresh sanctions against north korea in response to its test of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile the result of the kremlin yesterday alexina valma is holding rallies in the cities across russia to back his visit to run in next years president ial election vali is hoping to overturn a Court Conviction that bars him from standing as a candidate a ruling he says. As is politically motivated the is considered the strongest potential challenger to russian president Vladimir Putin in the march vote. A u. S. Judge has partly blocked president Donald Trumps latest restrictions on refugees the court ruled the measures could not be applied to people with a bonafide relationship to a person or entity in the United States the white house had effectively stopped refugee admissions from eleven countries mostly in the middle east and africa. And people in japan are getting ready for two thousand and eighteen with a belly roar this laughing ritual at a shrine in osaka is meant to cast off the bad memories of the past year the rituals dems from a tale of shinto daddies using laughter to lure the sun goddess out of a dark cave. While Christmas Eve is finally here and all some of you may still be doing some last minute shopping to find the perfect presents others appear to be all done and ready to hand them out including santa claus and many kids around the world are hoping to catch a glimpse of jolly old st nick and perhaps some of his reindeer along rudolph as he delivers billions of gifts sounds like a tough job right well he gets a done almost every year and with his journey beginning from the north pole and this is the story that most of us know but just father christmas really come from the arctic thats a question that leon set out in search of by looking for the mythical man with a bright red outfit and white beard she found him in turkey. Its christmas time a reason to celebrate for some people here in eastern. Well as well and like every year curious children want to know where does santa claus come from. Are from somewhere in europe more away. From a snowy place from england. America maybe. From over there. I dont know. Unbelievable but true even many turkish people dont know that good old center is in fact one of their own so states you and we will show you where father christmas really comes from. Its right here the small town of demaris in southern turkey. In the fourth century a bearded man known for his generosity lived here children were especially fund of him because he often gave out gifts it was this man st nicholas. The reading this is the very church in democratic west st nicholas prayed about seventeen hundred years ago he was officially called the bishop of iraq that was the name of this town back then. Was his nicholas. Between Saint Nicholas is important all over the world to some of his good deeds reflected in the frescoes here in this church. Like protecting those in prison and healing the sick you also mention so did he get his. Or even a devoted his entire life to the well being of others yes show moon have. Many such stories surround the legend of st nicholas he was known for sharing his possessions with the poor and filling childrens boots with gold coins pilgrims spread the word of his miraculous deeds over the centuries the persona of st nicholas evolved into the santa claus figure we know today. The most sacred spot of the church in. Demaris and open to meet behind the glass screen people have long believed that this is the last resting place of Saint Nicholas they say his remains were stolen and taken to italy hundreds of years ago. But a team of scientists recently made a fascinating discovery ill take on you clues findings point to an intact burial crypt below the church you clues convinced that this is where the real grave of st nicholas lies still bench and so we should it will take some time before we can prove it but i think the chances are good. You this you think of saloon and it would be a sensation importance of this place will grow a many more people would visit them and of course. Maybe then word will spread that the original center close actually comes from taki. Now Second DivisionGerman Soccer Team oneone berlin have been battling to reach the bundesliga for many areas but it just hasnt happened yet still every christmas the club makes headlines because of a much loved tradition twenty eight thousand fans packed their stadium the thing festive carols. Testifying to sing and started back in two thousand and three now the audio balin fans make the annual pilgrimage to their stadium not for football but for singing their moms would do exactly like we did at the start all or all music all but then fans are much as on the stage and among the crowd really calm thats all part of the charm oneone have become synonymous with christmas in germany not just because they kid has the same color as santa. Who knows where this will lead. You under. The christmas. Caroles have become a Marketing Tool for the club. To take this sons and thats a wonderful stamp it is not its about of flights of young heroes like family thats why it is great to experience at my age. People come from all around the world to take part in the singing like mad to have toys shes from mexico. That was. Really like its a great atmosphere and i really enjoy this that they found way to celebrate christmas. If the team plays as well as their fans sing in could well be in the band as the go this Time Next Year now wouldnt that be a great Christmas Present was. Was. The. And just a reminder of the top story were following for you the death toll from floods and landslides in the philippines has topped two hundred rescue operations are underway to find dozens who are still missing after Tropical Storm ten then slammed into the thout of the country. Youre watching the news on abbey quite often more at the top of the hour with my colleague thanks for watching. Theres no. Managers to go to day nothing. You know the banks pay fines and so was the language of the bank