07/12/2012 Newsround

It's Friday, 7th December, and you are live with Newsround, Ricky and

Leah with you, guiding you through the day's big stories.

Coming up: Politicians in Northern Ireland

appeal for calm after the latest violence.

Why there are fewer partridges in pear trees this Christmas.

This is exciting, because we have always wanted to be on Newsround.

We have all the news on the X First to Northern Ireland, where

politicians are appealing for calm after recent violence. It began

after a vote by councillors in Belfast to only fly the British

flag over the main council building on special occasions and not every

day. Today Hillary Clinton, who is America's foreign affairs minister,

has been in Northern Ireland. But what are the chances of a peaceful

solution? We have seen a lot of it lately on

bunting at street parties and around the shoulders of Olympic

medallists. The Union flag is a national symbol for the United

Kingdom, representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland. But this week, a decision to remove it from Belfast City Hall,

in the capital of Northern Ireland, sparked violent protests.

Here in Belfast, there are two broad groups of people, some who

want Ireland to be one country, Northern Ireland and the Republic

of Ireland altogether. There are others who want Northern Ireland to

remain part of the United Kingdom with England, Scotland and Wales.

For them, they are very angry when they look at Belfast City Hall

today and see the Union flag is no longer there. They regard it as

confirmation that they are part of the UK. They are angry that the

flag has gone and are determined to bring it back. The council voted to

only display the flag on a few special occasions a year. But for

the unionists who are protesting, that isn't good enough.

This is the latest in a long history of lock arguments over

centuries. Here in Belfast, there are two broad groups of people -

some who want Ireland to be one separate country, and others want

it to remain part of the UK. After 30 years of violence, in what was

known as the Troubles, leaders on both sides worked hard to find a

peaceful solution. In 1998, they signed the Good Friday Agreement,

which said they would run Northern Ireland together. Things have been

much better since, but the differences are still there and

this week's trouble shows how strongly some people still feel

about their national identity. Ministers in Ireland are working on

a plan to improve community relations, which would include

rules on how and where flags are displayed. But history shows it

will be difficult to make both sides happy.

To Japan now, where an earthquake has struck off the east coast of

the country. It triggered a metre- high tsunami, forcing people to

leave their homes. So far, there have been no reports of any deaths

or injuries. In March last year, the same coastline was hit by a

much bigger earthquake and tsunami which killed nearly 20,000 people.

Christopher, James and Jermaine will battle it out to win the X

Factor this weekend. But it's not been an easy year for the TV talent

show, with falling ratings, contestant drop-outs, and claims

that it's all a fix! So we sent Hayley to find if the show's still

got the X Factor. It is a cold day and just one I

need something to warm me up... The X Factor final in Manchester!

It is the third year the X Factor final has been outside London, so

while I get cosy with the judges, it is a good time to find out who

they think will win. I am excited to see James. He is brilliant. I

would buy his album tomorrow. have looked Germain from day one.

Our I am just grateful to be here. I have enjoyed it showing I am

versatile. That is what music is about. Just do what you can with

what you have. The brother judges and contestants are warming up,

this year's ratings have not been so hot. We have seen the ratings

drop a bit. Have you any idea why? Is it your fault? Yes! You know

what, it goes up and down, but it is still a massive show. The X

Factor has aired six times over the weekend. Collectively, we get a 19

million viewers. That is what the stars thing, but we will have to

wait to find out who takes home the final award.

"A partridge in a pear tree", goes the Christmas carol, except it

seems there are fewer and fewer partridges in any trees right now.

Or turtle doves, for that matter, that other bird mentioned in the

song, as I've been finding out on a farm in Lancashire.

The classic festive Carol 12 braves of Christmas Features turtle doves

12 they are two types of birds wildlife conservationists say are

facing disaster. These Christmas birds have seen major decline in

the past few years. There are concerns for the turtle dove. It is

now the UK's most endangered farmland bird. Experts say unless

something is done, it could be wiped out from the British

landscape. Her these birds need food, particularly in winter. They

need lots of seeds to feed on. And in summer, they need lots of

insects. Her the turtle dove is small, only slightly bigger than a

blackbird. They make a distinctive sound and you might have heard them

in the summer. And this is a grey partridge. Their numbers are also

down by 30%. The current population stands at around 43,000 pairs. Any

partridges on Milan today? I have not seen any today. We are putting

wild bird mix doubt, which is like having a bird table in your garden,

but on a far bigger scale. They will eat the seeds. The number of

wild birds on farmland has fallen by more than 50% in the past 40

years. Conservationists say more needs to be done fast to make sure

our birds are protected. Sport now and UEFA - the

organisation that runs European football - has made big changes to

the Euro 2020 finals. Instead of being held in just one or two

countries, the finals will be held in a number of cities across Europe.

Critics say the new idea will make it too expensive for fans to travel

and see matches, but our reporter says there will be some advantages.

Fans at first were a bit sceptical in terms of travel arrangements and

how they would make it from country to country. But of course, it gives

the opportunity for fans in different countries to see

different teams. It also gives football associations, the likes of

Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the chance to bid for something that in

the past, they might not have had the chance to do.

Now, just because you are one of the most famous names in music,

does not mean everyone knows who you are. That was what the rapper

Jay-Z found out on a subway train That is all for now from the

Newsround team. Head over to the website to find our special Advent