Festivities are being overshadowed by anger in the region over washingtons new middle east policy also coming up. The philippines reels from a powerful typhoon more than two hundred people are now known to have died in the devastating storm rescue as a scrambling to find those still missing. The residents of belgrade are upset about the hefty price tag of a large Christmas Tree and its not even real the purchase has triggered corruption allegations against the city mayor. Welcome to the Program Christmas celebrations are under way in the west bank town of bethlehem and made to heighten tensions this is festivities come much a time of simmering anger of to 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 still the celebrations are happening. Christmas eve in bethlehem the town where the it is the birthplace of jesus is infested
Critic aleck son of ani has held rallies across russia to back his bid to run in next years election hes considered the strongest potential challenger to president Vladimir Putin but a Court Conviction bars him from running. Plus david versus goliath in the Natural World conservationists in south africa are turning to one of the worlds tiniest creatures in their effort to contain damage caused by one of the biggest. Im maya schwager welcome to the program. We start in the vatican where pope francis is leading Christmas Eve mass thousands of roman catholics morale in the world have gathered in st peters basilica for the traditional late Evening Service it teleports their belief in the birth of jesus christ over two thousand years ago. And this version christians to find a quiet moment to reflect on the meaning of christmas. And christmas celebrations are also underway in the west bank city of bethlehem but among heightened tensions this years festivities come at a time of simmering ange
Christmas message germanys present urges germans to not lose hope in times of uncertainty as the country continues to struggle to form a new government punggol to steinmeyer expressed confidence that political leaders can end the deadlock over a new coalition and is this the most expensive plastic Christmas Tree in the world all some people in serbia certainly seem to think so we find out how its branched out into a full blown political controversy. Thank you very much for your company christians around the world are celebrating christmas and as this custom pope francis has given that or be blessing from the balcony of the basilica overlooking st Peters Square its one of the most sacred addresses in the catholic calender. But then these. Days. Its free. Some ten thousand catholics and to risk of that outside st peters to hear the popes traditional blessing be at or be means to the city and the world and the pope also had a worldly matter on his mind in his address francis repeated call
Christmas message germanys president urges germans to not lose hope in times of uncertainty as the country struggles to form a new government bungalows or steinmeyer expressed confidence that political leaders can end the deadlock over a new coalition. And that is this is the most expensive plastic Christmas Tree in the world on some people in serbia certainly seem to think so well find out how its granted out into a full blown political controversy. Her rock is great to have you along. Christians around the world are celebrating christmas and as as custom pro presses as given the. Blessing from the balcony of the basilica overlooking st Peters Square its one of the most sacred addresses in the catholic calendar its been a v. Day of new putting these. Its really. Hate speech to find. One just before that the pope used his christmas message to call for a negotiated two state solution to end the Israeli Palestinian conflict on this festive day let us ask the lord for peace for jerusalem