al jazeera, manchester, new hampshire. >>> thousands of refugees arrived in the greek capital athens after being stranded for weeks on the greece-macedonia border. hundreds of others are arriving having taken boats from turkey. there is increasing concern that the number of refugees who are sleeping on the streets. we have a report from athens. >> setting foot on mainland europe with big hopes and dreams, these refugees have arrived in the greek capital after risking their lives crossing the aegean sea from turkey and landing on greek islands. this iraqi refugee says he had no choice. >> i would definitely die if i stayed in iraq. that's why i took the risk. i want to feel human. >> the syrian couple says their one and a half-year-old son has eye cancer. they want doctors in germany to treat him. i asked his mother if she was happy to be in europe. >> no. i'm not happy. i want syria. i want to return there. i won't forget it. >> most of these refugees will take different route to say germany and elsewhere in europe. many won't make it. >> greece is under tremendous pressure and overw

and that is worrying the local authorities. >> in many parts of athens, scenes like this are common. desperate people with no shelter, many with no money, either. moroccan men outside this temporary center are told by police they lack necessary papers to be allowed in. they returned from the border to the north. hungary has closed its borders and macedonia and other balkan countries have imposed restrictions on who can enter. only syrians iraquis and afghans are allowed in. the rest are seen as economic migrants. at another refugee camp in athens allocated to families and youth desperately seek help. >> we sleep on the roads. >> these pakistanis are tired and hungry. >> this is not paradise. last night we sleep on the road. we have no blanket, no clothes, no food, no water. we are humans. we are humans. >> the mayor of athens is worried the refugees are trapped with no means to live and work. >> i'm expressing my concern because we see so many people going here and there without an organized structure to receive and guide them. it's a problem that concerns first of all every city in

was trackedbaaoud to an apartment in athens, but got away. chris morris has the report.s: abdelhamid abaaoud ringleader of the paris attacks was killed by the police five days after the attacks. the bbc has learned there was an operation to capture him and greece 10 months earlier. it failed. it was supposed to happen before this anti-terrorism operation in the belgian town of verviers. 2 islamic extremists were killed here. they were part of a network stretching to the other side of europe. was directingaoud from al in belgium mobile phone in athens. authorities were on his trail. after the shoot out in verviers 2 apartments were rated. -- were raided. we have been told that this is the apartment he was in. an algerian man was arrested and extradited to belgium. was longd abaaoud gone. across town, this was the second apartment raided. the current occupant gave us a glimpse inside. traces of dna in the apartment match samples of abdelhamid paris.'s body in he is armed police arrive. >> men went in with their guns. people comingere and going from the apartment. speaking

others tightened or closed their borders, thousands of refugees are in athens. that is worrying the local authorities. >> in many parts of athens scenes are common. desperate people with no shelter and no money either. >> moroccan men outside the center are told by police they lack necessary papers to be allowed in. they returned from the border to the north. hungary closed its borders, and restrictions are imposed on who can enter. syrians, iraqis and africans gan be allowed in, the rest seen as economic migrants. at a camp in athens, allocated to family, a new group seects help. >> last night we sleep on the road. these pakistanis are tired and hungry. >> it is not paradise. last night we sleep on the road. we are humans. the major is worried the refugees are trapped with no means to live and work. i express my concern. without an organized structure to receive guidance. it's a problem that concerns, first of all, every city in greece. at the same time every country in roouk. >> this is the first refugee crisis in europe in world war ii. there's no indications

air force base in athens tonight. greek police say that two gunmen riding a motorcycle ambushed an american postal officer as he was driving from the american military mission to the air base. the sergeant was shot in the shoulder and hand. before accelerating away from the attacker. he reached the safety of the base before being rushed to the hospital. his condition is described as good. >> i was hit in the arm, hit in the back. it's been almost 20 months and i still haven't completely recovered physically. i remember looking at the windows, all shattered, hoping that they hadn't hit something that would cause me to bleed to death. the mental scars will always be there. as with any of these terrorist attacks and something totally unexpected, something that you -- you just you think it happens to the other guy. you see it on television, here it on the radio, think -- boy, that is nasty, a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but you never really think it's going to happen to you. you just -- something happens to the o

many parts of athens scenes like this are common.te people with no shelter, many with no money either. and met outside this temporary center are told by police they lack necessary papers to be allowed in. they returned from the border to the north. hungry closed its borders and macedonia and other balkin countries imposed restrictions on who can enter. only syrians, iraqis and afghans are allowed in. the rest are seen as economic migrants. at another refugee camp in athens allocated to families and a new group desperately seeks help. >> we sleep on the road in the camp. >> reporter: these pakistanis are tired and hungry. >> it's not paradise. last night we sleep on the road. we have no blanket, no cloth, no food, no water. we are humans. we are humans. >> reporter: the mayor of athens is worried the refugees are trapped with no means to live and work. >> my concern because we see so many people going here and there without an organized structure to receive and guide them. it's a problem that concerns first of all every city in greece

. >> thousands arrive in athens after turned away from the macedon anyone border. >>> in sport, we'll tell you whether he will be staying or moving inn munich. >>> turkey says it has killed 102 suspected members of the kurdistan workers party or the p.k.k. these separatist fighters were killed in a large scale military offensive in the countries's southeast. almost 10,000 turkish troops are in the province to flush out what the government calls terrorists. there have been months of fighting between the turkish army and the p.k.k., which is demanding more autonomy for the kurds. >>> in iraq, kurdish forces say they've killed more than 100 isil fighters. isil has been launching attacks from its stronghold in mosul in the north. there have been weeks of intense fighting between the armed group and turkish fighters known as the peshmerga. al jazeera has managed to obtain repair footage from the front lines. we have this report from erbil. you may find some of these pictures disturbing. >> these kurdish peshmerga soldiers have just repulsed an isil attack. the soldier can be heard, that is

the greek authorities say they will be accommodated in migration centers in athens.psaropoulos is in the greek capitol. we'll talk about what is going to happen to them long term in just a moment, but the story is they weren't allowed across the border, because they weren't coming from areas of great danger; is that right? >> reporter: well, they are deemed not to be refugees. in other words to qualify for asylum on the grounds that they will being persecuted politically, because of religious beliefs or any other personal reason. it is thought that these countries are economic migrants. some are palestinians, some from deeper in the middle east, and elsewhere. but the point is, if these people want to apply for asylum, they can on an individual basis, but only here in greece. >> john take a look over your shoulder and tell us whether these are the buses arriving from athens from the macedonian border. and tell us what is likely to happen to these migrants now. >> reporter: that's exactly right. these 12, roughly coaches that you see behind me, drove into this parking

in many parts of athens, scenes like this are common. desperate people with no shelter. many with no money either. hungary has closed its borders and macedonia and other balkan countries have imposed restrictions on who can enter. this is not paradise. last night we sleep on the road with no blanket or food or water. we're humans. the mayor is concerned they're trapped with no place to live and work. >> we see so many people going here and there without an organized structure to receive them. it's a problem that concerns first of all greece and at the same time, every country in europe. >> this is the biggest refugee crisis in europe since world war two. there are no indications it will be over any time soon. >> still to come this news hour, the latest on the monumentous night in the spanish election where most votes have now been counted. counted. >> a reminder of our top stories. the antiausterity party has made big gains in the spanish election. these are live pictures at the moment. the ruling conservatives have won the most votes but are just short of a majority. th

thousands arrived in athens. on the border between greece and macedonia, and other refugees flock to the capital of the greek islands in. >> stepping foot on mainland europe, with big hope and dreams. they arrived in the greek capital, after risking their lives. this iraqi refugee says he had no choice. >> i would definitely die if i stayed in iraq. that's why i took the risk. i want to feel human. the syrian couple says their 1.5-year-old son has eye cancer, they want the doctors in germany to treat him. i asked his mother if he was hope to be in europe. >> no, i was not happy. i want syria, i want to return there. i will not forget it. >> most of the refugees take different routes to germany and elsewhere in europe. many will not make it. greece is under pressure, and overwhelmed by the number of refugees arriving on its islands in every day. thousands of people have been registered. and allowed to continue the journey to europe. others tightened or closed their borders, thousands have closed the border. that i

erik: john is in athens. you have spent at least a coumple decades in the middle east and many of the banks that keri covers closely have been sanctioned for money laundering and related activities in the middle east. i could name a couple. b.n.p. paribas for example. and hsbc. to what degree do you believe this still goes on in that part of world? john: that is a great question. i think they have done a lot to improve terrorist financing and money laundering. it is something that the saudis and the rest of the gulf countries are keenly looking at. nobody wants to be accused by the federal agencies in the u.s. that they are laundering money. it is something that has been done over the the last few years and great improvement has been accomplished. erik: john is staying with us from athens. keri geiger is with us in new york. coming up in our next hour, we'll be joined by jonathan miller. rising real estate. not just prices. we are on new year's watch. it is almost midnight in auckland. there is new york city.

. >> in athens, greece, if you have ever been, the motorcycles never stop. they always zoom right between the cars. they stopped in front of the traffic. you might have 15 or 20 of them at one time in front of all the traffic. atthis particular afternoon about 4:20 p.m. in the afternoon, i heard a motorcycle coming. is slowed down. its slow down too quickly. me being the third car from the front. i turned to watch it. they slow down and came right next to my car. there i was sitting and watching them. a guy in the back reached to his belt and pulled out a metallic object. eyesight was a pistol of some kind -- i saw it was a pistol of some kind. >> it sounded like a firecracker. remember thinking that since all of these people screaming and it is nothing but a firecracker. as my eyes opened, you saw nothing but black and smoke everywhere. >> it was like a sound from the inside of your body. is not like you hear it from the outside. is involved the whole entire body. 12 or 70 minutes later is when i woke up and realized the embassy had been hit very hard. >> t

scenes like this are common in athens. people with no shelt or and no money. men are told by police they lack necessary papers to be allowed in. they returned from the border to the north. restrictions have been imposed on who can enter. only syrians, iraqis and afghans are allowed in. rest are seen as economic migrants. at another refugee camp in athens allocated to families, a new group seeks help. >> last night we sleep on the road. please, let me in the camp. >> reporter: these pakistanis are tired and hungry >> it is not paradise. last night we sleep on the clothe with no blanket, food and water. we are humans. >> reporter: the mayor of athens the refugees are trapped with no means to live and work >> i express my concern because we see so many, without an organized structure to receive and guide them. it is a problem that concerns every city in greece, but at the same time every country in europe. >> reporter: this is the biggest refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. there are no indications it will be over any time soon >>> voters in slovenia hav

more from athens.ing food on mainly land europe with big hopes and dreams these refugees have arrived in the greek capitol after risking their lives crossing the aegean sea landing on greek islands. this iraqi refugee says he had no choice. >> i would definitely die if i stayed in iraq. that's why i took the risk. i want to feel human. >> the syrian couple said their one and a half-year-old son-in-law has eye cancer. they want doctors in germany to treat him. >> i asked his mother if she was happy to be in europe. >> no. i am not happy. i want syria. i want to return there. i won't forget it. >> most of these refugees will take different routes to germany elsewhere in europe. many won't make it grease is under pressure and overwhelmed by the shear number of refugees arriving on the islands every day. hundreds of thousands of people have been registered but because others have closed their borders, thousands are stuck here in athens. >> that's worrying the local authorities. >> in many parts of athens,

and in business, we will be looking at athens latest efforts to satisfy international creditors as lawmakers narrowly approve a tough austerity budget. that and more on the way. first our top stories. there has been a dramatic shift in france's political landscape. the far right party one big sunday in the first round of the regional elections. the results came as a shock to some but they were not completely unexpected, especially as the vote was held just three weeks after the terrorist attacks in paris. oliver farry has more. >> it was a historic result for the far right national front. the party topped the polls nationwide. in six of the 13 regions. was a vindication in the face of the political establishment. the reality is that the national front is increasingly gaining the trust of french people. election after election. yesterday's result is not much of a surprise for those who were able to gauge the situation and who are in touch with the public. the national front took 28% of the vote. the best performance in its history. it's hard line on immigration appealed to many in a country w

in many parts of athens. scenes like this are mon. desperate people with shelter. moroccan men are told by police they lack the necessary papers to be allowed in. they return from the border to the north. hungry coast its borders and restrictions are imposed on who can enter. at a refugee camp allocated to family a new group seeks help. the pakistanis are tired and hungry. >> it's not parr kys. >> last night we sleep on the road. there's no blanket, foot or water. we are humans, we are humans. >> reporter: the government is worried the refugees are trapped with no jobs and no means to work. >> we see many people going here and there. without an organized structure to receive and guide them. it's a problem that concerns, first of all, every city in greece. but, at the same time, every country in europe. >> this is the biggest refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. there's no indications that it will be over any time soon. >> voters in the balkan country of slovenia rejected a same sex marriage referred. >> over 63% voted against a bill that would have defined

will they be deported from athens? or? these people need a viable option.ing them from one place to another will not help their situation right now. >> reporter: the greek operation represents a substantial change in policy. because for months, they had helped refugees on their way north. but the greeks' hands were forced by the balkan countries, which had decided that they would only accept refugees from the conflicts in iraq, syria and afghanistan. ( chanting ) >> open the borders. >> no going back. >> reporter: these were the poignant poster boys of the last demonstration about the double anguish of thwarted journeys and reluctance to retrace steps. osman zihra was an airport worker in morocco. weary of what he called bad democracy and insecure employment prospects, he joined the migrant trail. but the thousands he spent to get here so far count for nothing. >> europe needs much more people to work for them, because european people aren't going to work like us. we can work saturday, we can work sunday. we can work after hours, we can work more hours. and

a symbolic gesture as it is nonbinding, more from athens. >> a unanimous vote to recamiers the state> the greek parliament led to promote the procedure, and recommend and state of palestine, and to make every effort for the needed assumption of credibility peace talks between the two sides. ladies and gentlemen, all those accepting the proposal please rise. >> and resolution was prepared by a series party which enjoy as majority and is leading the government. the president of the palestinian authority was watching closely. he welcomed the resident lewis. >>> we call on countries to support a tuesday solution in the palestinian issue. we call on countries that have not recognized the state of palestine, to do so now. to proceed to the recognition now. >> but the resolution is not binding and the greek government is unlikely to adopt it. prime menster sip press met on monday, sip press said greece would take the right step at the right time. he called for a viable two state solution. agrees has economic security ties with israel. the two countries are planning jones energy and infrastr

. >> reporter: the streets of athens, migrants from the middle east can buy whatever they need. including a new identity. in july, greek police arrested haisim kubash, a syrian part of a document forging ring. picture where genuine stolen passports were doctored. a nbc news investigation reveals kubash supplied forged american passports to a man he believed was working for isis. it was a sting. the buyer was a u.s. federal agent. these pictures are from the surveillance video of their meetings. the agent said he wanted to buy four american passports and provided four photographs, explaining they were of isis members. the transaction took place here. and for little more than $11,000, the forger agreed. that was may 29th. five days later, kubash handed the agent the forged passports. but before the u.s. could have him arrested, he was picked up by greek police on other charges. from his lawyer's office, ikubash about his meeting with that american undercover act. >> did he tell you he wanted the passports >> yes. he says that. >> you don't care who you sell the passports to or for

a symbolic gesture that is nonbinding and palestinian authority abbas was present for the vote in athensow the 137th country to recognize palestinian statehood and we report now from athens. >> reporter: when you hear the words of president abbas hailing this moment as a historical one it gives you an idea how the palestinians really feel about it. but the president abbas also said that he feels proud to be at the greek parliament and also says the relations between greece and the palestinians is historical and very, very closed. now of course with the palestinians it's also important to keep the momentum going because over the past year the british and french have called on governments to recognize palestine as an independent state. now it is not expected because it's nonbinding resolutions and therefore the governments are not expected to follow suit and recognize palestine as an independent state. >> government forces continue to fight taliban in afghanistan southern helman district which fell to the taliban on monday. afghan forces have captured a few out posts but the main city is s

in athens, not trying to make athens the worse place in the world. >> it's a business. making money. >> lots of it. they have this issue because all of the refugees and migrants are showing up in athens looking to travel on. so there's a glut. they get them primarily stolen passports so they're stolen passports from hotels, beaches, when people get their handbag stolen. >> right. >> these passports go some place and not just stolen in dwrees greece. stolen in other places. >> funneled in to greece. >> not that expensive. you get the raw passport for 0 3030 to 500 euros. >> that's how much in dollars? >> about the same. >> $700 to $800. $450 for a good one. depends on the expiration date, what they're looking for. the condition of the passport. but that range. and then it costs another couple thousand to do the actual changing to put your names and -- >> wow. >> information. >> i could sit here all day and talk to you about this. you'll be much more reporting on this on "nbc nightly news" and find on your nbc station. richard, thank you so much. >> good to talk to you. >

i was in athens at the start of the month. i met investors and ministers. the optimism is rising.u look at what has been achieved, they've got the next billion. they have done some privatizations, finally. they are going to get some money through privatization. makes next year's target look not so stupid. tsipras says he is going to have a pension reforms built on the block. they've got a plan. one of the ministers said, we're not going to cut pensions. too many greek households are dependent on a single pension income. we can't cut that. ist they are going to do charge a little bit more on those people who are working and hope to make the savings required from just doing that. whether that works economically, don't know. they've already got a problem with shadow workers. that is a bit of an issue. but they are being sensible about how they are doing it and trying to walk this tightrope between objecting to austerity but having been on the edge of coming out of the euro and it terrified them. they do not want to be there again. for all the left-wing rhetoric, i think they are goin

>> i don't ask anybody what you want to do for passport. >> reporter: getting a fake athens, is just a matter of price even for those who say they are shopping for isis. u.s. passports in the hands of isis fighters is a nightmare scenario. they were probably not good enough to get anyone through an airport. they could be good enough to be used through other places where controls are weaker. >> some military families who have lost everything are about to get some well-deserved holiday cheer. 1700 kids and spouses of fallin service members are flying to dallas this weekend. they will spend five days on an all expense paid trip, part of a snowball express and american airlines. the families leaving reagan national this morning will get the special sendoff they so deserve. >> take a look at this picture from an interstate in san jose, california. it was a lucky escape for a man in the bay area after a bizarre accident that left him with only a scratch. a metal tray loader flew off of a truck and went right through the windshield of his bmw. he was able to maneuver his car through traffic

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removing hundreds of refugees and migrants from the macedonian border and putting them buses back to athensnvoys have started to arrive in the greek capital. more than a thousand people in pakistan, morocco have been stranded for weeks after macedonians refused to let them cross. >>> 50 years to the day since the landmark race relations act came in force in the united kingdom. it was drafted in response to a clear discrimination that was in 1960's britains between blacks and asians. here is jonah hull. >> a forum for black entrepreneurs trying to start a business in britain. some are finding that barriers still exist. >> it is still more successel, and it is more behind closed doors. so while some people say that we've moved on, i think that the position is essentially remained the same. >> the race relations act of 1965 transformed the social landscape of britain, a country of empire that attracted migrants from across the commonwealth looking for work following world war ii. prejudice based on color became the norm. in 1958 riots in the over crowded suburb of knotting hill were a catalyst

. >> world peace, because the next thing you know, world war iii is going to happen nd athen i can't have my present. >> do you lie to your parents? >> barely. i don't. ask my parents. i don't lie to my parents. >> what's your favorite thing about christmas? >> presents. >> who gives better presents, mommy or daddy? >> i don't know. they both give the best presents ever. >> if that's the case, they got a candy cane with their very questionable lie detector results? >> because you have been a very good boy, i guarantee you are going to get presents this year. you barely lied. so this is for you. >> christmas, the gift we all want under the tree unless you end up under the tree. this husband and wife, they are to each other. you see the husband in this video leaves the room. the wife is busting. sounds like these cats are getting into a little bit of mischief. she shoos them and they come scurrying and with that scurry comes this. >> that husband comes skidding into the room in his socks. >> in his socks and his boxers. oh, oecht, oh, oh, oh, baby, baby. he comes to the rescue and he s

. >> world peace, because the next thing you know, world war iii is going to happen nd athen i can't have my present. >> do you lie to your parents? i don't. ask my parents. i don't lie to my parents. >> what's your favorite thing about christmas? >> presents. >> who gives better presents, mommy or daddy? >> i don't know. they both give the best presents ever. >> if that's the case, they got a candy cane with their very questionable lie detector results? >> because you have been a very good boy, i guarantee you are going to get presents this year. you barely lied. so this is for you. want under the tree unless you end up under the tree. this husband and wife, they are kind of walking around, talking to each other. you see the husband in this video leaves the room. the wife is busting. sounds like these cats are getting into a little bit of mischief. she shoos them and they come scurrying and with that scurry comes this. >> that husband comes skidding into the room in his socks. >> in his socks and his boxers. oh, oecht, oh, oh, oh, baby, baby. he comes to the rescue and he says in th

. >> so getting a fake passport on the streets of athens is just a matter of price, even for those who say they are shopping for isis. u.s. passports in the hands of isis fighters is a nightmare these forgeries were probably not good enough to get through an american airport but the reality is they are good enough to get through weaker controls. >>> gaps heard by something said by justice scalia, making a remark about a case of affirmative action. we have the audio recording so allow you do hear for yourself. >> the university of texas at austin says to achieve a level of campus diversity that includes learning race must be a factor in admissions. but could it be justice scalia asks that affirmative action harms some students. >> there are those contend it does not benefit african americans to get them into the university of texas, where they do not do well, as opposed to having them school -- a less -- a slower track schooling where they do well. >> he says a study shows that most black scientists do not come from state universities. >> where they do not feel they are being pushed ahe

over london, liverpool, paris, marseille, new york and san francisco, montreal and vancouver, over athensistanbul, over antwerp, and luxembourg. a bond welding the old world and the new. and assurance 450 million people remain free to live their lives as they wished to live them, to protect and preserve by vigilance and readiness, these are the aims of the atlantic alliance, an alliance for peace. >> today, you have heard the distinguished news analysts, edward r. murrow, tell the story of nato, the nato. the united states, as a founding member of this international the, has demonstrated to world the importance we place on the closest association between the members of the atlantic community. this iss is starting -- sergeant stuart green, your host for the big picture. picture is an authentic report for the armed forces and american people. produced by the army pictorial center. by the united states army in cooperation with the station. >> all persons having business before the honorable supreme wert of the united states, admonish you to get their attention. >> we will look at one of the

athens has enacted civil partnerships -- has enacted a bill that allows civil partnerships for same-sex couples. >> today is definitely a day of celebration. noti invite all people, only for same-sex couples, but for all society. this has to do with the entire society. -- the facteece that it did not allow gay couples the same right was considered discriminatory. the bill is seen as a step forward. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people still face frustration in greece. >> we will celebrate. tomorrow, we will set our new goals and continue. reporter: the greek prime minister, alexis tsipras, hailed the day as a victory for human rights. >> golden dawn is against the civil partnerships and will vote against it. we consider that the family is a natural one, one that is blessed by a religion, by the church of greece. reporter: the bill was passed despite strong opposition from the influential orthodox church. it does not allow same-sex marriage or adoption of children. the law does not give them similar pension, labor, or tax rights. celebrating its 200th birthday this ch

so santa has dropped off presents for good little boys and girls in sydney and moscow, athens and cairo, and he's on his way here right now. so hop in those pjs, get to bed when mom and dad said so, so santa can make those special deliveries while you are fast asleep. >>> santa is on time but shoppers are not. many still in stores right now looking for last-second gifts. while they're there, they are likely finding major bargains thanks to those unseasonably warm temperatures. nbc's olivia sterns explains. >> reporter: the race retailers hoping last-minute shoppers would finally come to their stores. >> i have to do it now or it won't get done. >> reporter: after a season where more and more americans are choosing to buy online. about 2 million americans estimated to be picking up at least one last present on christmas eve. 17% of americans had not even started holiday shopping a week ago. the procrastination has paid off. >> we are seeing huge retailers, gap, old navy, ann taylor, putting 50% off signs in their windows and really attracting customers using black friday-esque promotions

brought here from athens. it have -- it has become a familiar tale.hich country do you want to go to? >> germany. thank you. >> this has forced a change in policy. built ande has been the border has now been closed. under the order of the macedonian authority. there have been clashes and square missions, iranian, they can't go forward but they are determined not to go back. as night falls, so does the temperature. many people have been stuck here for two weeks. most are running out of money. -- and his friends from -- don't know what to do. >> we cannot go back. going back would be suicide. [indiscernible] deemed to bee economic migrants rather than refugees, the eu wants to deport them. desperate times for increasingly desperate people. is close to midnight and it is getting pretty cold, not quite freezing but not far off. syrian families are crossing the border but other people are being told they have to stay here. anchor: oscar pistorius could be going back to prison after being found guilty of murder. the decision by an appeals court judge overtu

al jazeera, in the occupied west bank. >>> let's speak now live in athens, a story we have seen is onethe on going stories we see all the time in the region and now we have a vote in the greek parliament that is symbolic but yet very significant. >> yes, nick, absolutely and when you hear the words of president abad hailing this moment as a historic one, historical one it gives you an idea how the palestinians really feel about it. but as president abbas also said he feels proud to be at the greek parliament and also said the relations between greece and the palestinians is historical and very, very close. now, of course with the palestinians it's also very important to keep the momentum going nick because the british, french have called on governments to recognize palestine as an independent state. now, it is not expected because it's nonbinding resolution so therefore the government is not expected to follow suit and recognize palestine as an independent state. >> what about the relations now between greece and israel, what kind of impact will this vote have on that? >> if the greek

they will now go to migration in athens. >>> in islamabad there are discussions much peace and securitys well as territorial dispute over kashmir. >> to make sure that this comprehensive bilateral dialogue moves ahead we've told foreign secretaries of both countries to sit down and prepare schedule and modality, schedules which will be discussed, and modalit modalities of which level will be discussed. >>> the first dengue vaccine will be released in mexico. the french drug company is aiming to have it approved in 20 countries by the end of the year. >>> the government in colombia is close to signing a peace deal aimed to end the war after 50 years. >> farc fighters exercising at dawn, with rifles in hand. but those gathered in this camp are not here to practice how to fight. it's time to start an educational offensive which includes a literary campaign, mathematics, philosophy, econo economy. >> the commander leads the first morning class. part of the farc eastern bloc, the strongest military faction of the group. he tells the rebels that things are about to change in focus. >> recentl

however, the prime minister says athens will judge when the time is right to make the formal move. eeks will no longer refer to palestinian authority on official documents, but to palestine. here is what they had to say. >> it is a day that will be recorded in the history of the palestinian people. it is a step he takes with the decision, which is a step for the support of the palestinian people. said the onse, others efforts were meaningless. rescuers are still searching for survivors after a mudslide in china. government officials have admitted the landslide was caused by the improper storage of waste soil from construction sites nearby. >> staying in china, good news for supporters, but still a major concern for international human riots organizations. pu zhiqiang has been released from detention after receiving a suspended jail sentence. he had been found guilty by a court for inciting ethnic hatred by posts. >> he is one of china's leading defenders of human rights. lawyer pu zhiqiang could have been given a prison term of several years, but instead was handed a suspended sent

they breakfast with the police bussed in from athens and aide workers. in town they have cell phones and they can also buy boats and bus tickets for the journey out of greece. the refugee windfall is evident but they worry this is a partial and temporary replacement of the tourism industry it has chased away. lesbos hotels experienced a 3.5% drop in business for the first time last august. charter companies cut down flights and cruise ships took lesbos off the itinerary. >> it depends on how visitors will react. will they come as volunteers to help? it's positive. are they put off? then we take a loose. >> and there are official costs. the eu defrays the government's migration costs. that's not always true for local government. >> translator: this month i won't pay all the salaries. the burden is enormous. taxes are covering the costs of migrants arriving. >> there's no doubt lesbos is seeing the losses and benefits of becoming a global refugee capital. at the end of the day people say it's the loss of life that touches them, and that's the main reason t

. >> athens saw the most snow ever reported in boston. some wonder whether there is a routine ahead. >> reporter: yesterday alone there were more than 100 flights canceled around the u.s. today we're at 100. chris pollone, news4 new york. manhattan is stopped at the hugh l. carey tunnel, known as the brooklyn tunnel due to an accident. two lanes going out of the tunnel are open. we're waiting for details on the accident itself and a timeline for when it will reopen. >>> still ahead here at 5:30, how one of new york finest saved a man with a hug. >>> also a star from the show "glee" busted today in a disturbing case. who he is and what he's charged with. >>> a fiery scene when a small plane slammed into a building. what investigators are looking at as a possibl cause here. >>> and raphael is in for dave today with a cold look at the forecast. >> there is more rain on the way. does that mean a soggy new year's eve is in store? we'll have the full forecast >>> new tonight, former "glee" star mark sally is being investigated on suspicion of c

buses bring refugees from athens to the border for 25 euros per person. business is good.he driver tells me he transports about 200 people a week. greece says the refugee crisis in 2015 is costing hundreds of millions of dollars. the refugees are helping some greeks and their businesses flourish >>> and, of course, you can keep up to date with all the very latest news and more on the website. there it is on the screen. aljazeera.com. ali velshi. the human growth hormones shipped to peyton manning's. red like cameras. some are rigged in chicago apparently >>> controversy continues to swirl three days after al jazeera