A potential missile test china south korea and japan hold a special summit. Ok now that. Things arent here playing out. In the media i guess theres from all around the world at one of germanys famous Christmas Markets. Where iraq is great to have you along everyone. Across continents and cultures chris shows around the world get ready to celebrate christmas thousands of pilgrims have gathered and but let him worshippers for more around the world have now packed the biblical birthplace of jesus many congregating in manger square in the center of this west bank town on a traditional Midnight Mass is held in the church of the native any where catholic priests will later preside over Christmas Eve festivities and early year in the day the head of the Catholic Church in the region travel to bethlehem from jerusalem. The catholic archbishop here but tista pizza set off from jerusalem with his convoy around noon and is really on our guard accompanied him to bethlehem just under 10 kilometers away. Once a year and just for the sick asian the wall separating israel from bethlehem and the palestinian territories is opened the conflict in the middle east subsides at least temporarily for christmas. Business but us is cool its sort of great their whole that is still living maybe not in the big institution but in the smaller ones the little ones not all of this is like the Palestinian Christians count to take part in the annual christmas procession that leads to manger square outside the church of the nativity one of the oldest christian structures that was built above whats believed to be the 1st place of jesus the procession drowns tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims from around the world. Would its a good story were really impressed by peoples warmth and the friendly atmosphere here at the square gunston the feeling of the bloodline but not like it if it will. But i guess in that spirit its the same for poland being. Marched bishop its a bamma will celebrate midnight man. This evening in the church of the nativity Christmas Eve when the festivities originated. Oh earlier journalists sami sokol interest and give us a snapshot of the christmas celebrations underway in bethlehem weve seen a Record Number of tourists and pilgrims visiting both best and jerusalem this year and what has added to the festive atmosphere is the fact that the pope francis has given a relic this size a fragment of wood that has been in rome for nearly 1400 years and this is believed to have been part of the major part of the creed where jesus christ lay so it was received you with a great show of ness and the belief here is that it will draw more tourists to visit the city on the as a. Israeli authorities have prevented yet again gazans some leaving and visiting the west bank visiting beslan and visiting jerusalem and even though last year they get a permission for 700 Palestinian Christians to leave the gaza strip and visit this year the number was only 300 so the disappointment in gaza was very high amidst very strong condemnations from the various churches. Some is a whole lot reporting there from traverse them next we turn our attention to syria where there is no end to the misery inflicted on civilians caught in the crossfires of the civil war there and airstrikes have claimed the lives of at least 8 people 5 of them children sheltering in a school and its a process russia is backing president bashar last sods army in his push against rebel forces. Mounted till now min in egypt has become a ghost town People Living here have fled the government offensive against rebels. Shabab people are fed up they fled to live on the leaf trees this is a Vegetable Market theres no one here i havent seen anyone other than journalists taking pictures of me and dogs all roun. Most of those fleeing are heading north towards the turkish border. Ahead and they did not we ran away from the rockets out of a barrel and explosive shells. Were asking for allows mercy and for the United Nations to see what happened to us because of Bashar Al Assad and the russian army. They are killing us. With heavy shelling. And a strikes. Syrian troops have been pushing into it live. And identified syrian colonel said the offensive is to clear the province of terrorism. It was jetted to have sought i left the syrian army cares about civilians lives what that o. M. D. At the abbey and the military calls upon them to leave the areas where the terrorists. Would you hide that they should go to the areas under the control of the syrian army it was come to save them from terrorists and terrorism and i didnt want. More than 40000 people have been displaced by the violence. Its already christmas in north korea and nowhere is the clock being watched more closely than in east asia were appealing and has warned of an unspecified Christmas Gift for the United States u. S. President says hes not worried about what it might be north koreas neighbors are less cheerful they suspect a new weapons test all the leaders of china japan and south korea have been meeting in the chinese city of chengdu in an effort to get the u. S. And north korea talking again. They called it the new era of the 3 kingdoms as the leaders of china japan and south korea met for talks but the one we just setting the agenda for some it was not at the table. North Koreas Kim Jong il after the latest tests of a Missile Launch site earlier this month regional powers are concerned appearing young is about to undo efforts to ease tensions. On the kanada we agreed that peace on the Korean Peninsula was in the common interest of the 3 countries we also agreed to make efforts together to help promote north korea u. S. Dialogue for denuclearization and peace. The possibility of north korea turning into Serious Nuclear threat has become more tangible after february summit between kin and u. S. President on the trump fails to deliver any results. To come and threat of a north korean attack has forced to parent and south korea to overcome their own bilateral tensions over their colonial history. I am willing to improve this important relationship between japan and south korea by all means today i would like to have a frank discussion. China north koreas only ally supports the call for peace on the Korean Peninsula beijing is interested in easing tensions in the region also for you cannot make reasons chinas premier used the opportunity to promote a new free trade zone between the 3 countries. The prospect of more diplomatic and economic unity in east asia is cause for optimism but the dawn of a new era depends on substantial jeev minutes after the talks. Now as the year droste to a close were bringing you some of our most memorable stories from the past 12 months in iraq you know me reporter to research proper visited a cafe staffed by people with down syndrome and autism and she found iranians breaking new ground. In the midst of this completely in his element serving couple chinos to the guests in this cafe to waiting tables this is 1st ever job and the 40 year old is loving every 2nd of it. I like the cafe its big and its nice. Thats why im so grateful. That every night when i go to bed i thank. The others who work here have little chance of finding work elsewhere irans job market just currently in such a bad state that over a 3rd of College Educated young iranians are unemployed for people with special needs its become nearly impossible to find work. For most of those people theres nothing to do once they finish school they just stay at home but were convinced its good for them to show people that they have other abilities not just good for them its also good for their families theyre often sad because they cant do anything but here they can show just what theyre capable of. More than 40 People Living with down syndrome autism work here regularity everybody pitches in doing what they can brewing coffee waiting tables or entertaining the guests with music. They all get paid for their work except for the cafe owner he she runs a deficit every month there are very few Government Programs to support social projects like this one in the Islamic Republic more as. Weve never received support from any kind of organization its a completely independent project founded and finance privately were totally self dependant on negative. Giving up is not an option because every day she sees just how much this work means to him ron and the atlas. Says. I used to just be with my father. But now hes dead. But father look at me now. I finally made it. Well im famous and go through life with my head raised high c. With a positive attitude imran and his colleagues have created an atmosphere found nowhere else in the Islamic Republic. No other can feed a new iran could get away with this level of frivolity in iran and the others making the best out being a little bit different and have transformed coffee down to them into a place thats bursting with positivity. That report by 2 such tropper now here in germany Christmas Markets are among the most popular features of the Festive Season in berlin there are over 70 to pick from and they attract people from all around the world and we went to one of berlins favorite Christmas Markets to hear what visitors enjoy most. In the center of berlin at the diamond market Christmas Market there is no shortage of artists and all crafts. There are butchers and bakers. Even candlestick maker but the principle offering is an atmosphere. Thats hard to find anywhere else. You see that one 1st i mean gentleman in my name but it seems and this is our 1st time experiencing Christmas Market and its really nice its just. It wasnt what i was expecting its better she said it just cheese. Is big its like. We all have these to kind of market in spain its unlike anything we have in the states. Its kind of a its a nice time of year its warm cozy you have warm and hot drinks its my 1st day here in beijing and this market is so nice this. Is that best what. It was or whats your favorite part about this market to eat everything. I think i love it spit so. If the goal is crowds and mary mint then devon marked has it in abundance where a simple stroll also offers a chance to learn holiday greetings in half a dozen different languages now you that. Pretty much go most of. The market on most recent stuff you could pick up. The front garden here quite enough to. Fit in the house. So on and on 100 you move on to. The kind of. A very very Merry Christmas to all of you now reminder of the top stories that were tracking for you this hour. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists have gathered in bethlehem to celebrate Christmas Christians revere the west bank town as the birthplace of jesus a Midnight Mass will later be held in the church of the nativity. Were watching every news from the lead up next our documentary series doc film looks at angels where they came from and how they became a central image of christianity only rocknroll and to see at the top of the hour. The church the most famous naturalist and excuse. To celebration alex on the phone its 250th birthday remarking on a voyage of discovery. Expedition