No trains or planes, belgium grind to a stop as a 24 hour strike gets under way we begin in australia where an armed man is holding an unknown number of people hostage inside a cafe in central sydney. This is the scene in martin place, which has been in lock down since this siege started at 9 45am local time. Its 10 oclock at night, and much of the area remains cordoned off. Well be live in sydney with correspond Andrew Thomas in a moment. First a look at how the events unfolded. Reporter this woman is running from the scope of a hostage taking in sydney. A number of people have escaped from a cafe where they were held near martin place station. Others were trapped inside, and have been all day. Prime minister tony abbott says the hostage taker is politically motivated. This is a disturbing incident. It is profoundly shocking that incident people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation. Reporter here a hostage that escaped is taken away by police. The in
Its world cup bidding corruption report after a unanimous vote. In Northern Iraq kurd irk forces are fighting they say to secure significant gains which they believe they have made against isil in the sin yar mountains. That is where at least 10,000 people from the aagencydy community have taken refuge. Sue has this update on the peshmerga offensive. Reporter the head of the National Security forces in Northern Iraq have announced that the peshmerga, the kurdish fighters have managed to take lands that was originally isil controlled. It stretches from a town just south of the mosul dam all the way to the mountains. This land is made up of pockets of villages and towns that isil has been holding. We know many of these areas are sunni, and they could disappear into those communities, or they could well have retreated into mosul city. And the request is whether there will be a backlash. We have seen their tactics before switching from front line fighting to insurgency fighting. When the p
We begin tonight with iraq and what could be a serious blow to isils top leadership in that country. The pentagon says three of the groups senior military leaders have been killed in recent air strikes. The coalition has expanded attacks on isil and is planning a major offensive next year. Mike viqueira is at the white house with more. Mike . Reporter john since Coalition Air strikes began in august, they number almost 1400 now. And today they say they have taken the lives of several top leaders. Including the leader of isil forces which swept so dramatically out of syria, taking large swathes of area in iraq. And a governor of the disputed area of mosul, which of course still is in the hands of isil forces. In an interview today the pentagon said it has degraded isil significantly. And iraqi forces are still not ready to fight on their own, so how long will that take . Thats right. And top pentagon Officials Say that isil is going on defense now. They are not taking over more territor
California on the sight that was formerly the largest encampments of Homeless People in the united states. We begin in pakistan where the government has stepped up its military campaign against taliban fighters. Intelligent forces tell al jazeera that the mastermind attack on a school which killed 132 people may himself been killed in an airstrike. He took responsibility for the attacks on a video released online. He said more attacks would target military families. Its thought that he may be one of 21 taliban airstrikes in the area. Reporter the Pakistan Military said it has killed a number of taliban fighters including a local commander. The operation took place as days of after an attack on children by the taliban. We want to unite all pakistanpakistan pakistanis against the taliban. Security is tight outside of the armyrun school in peshawar. They killed more than 130 children and injured many others. People now fear more attacks. Children ask me whether theyre safe in school. Kids
Dozen times. Red the a released a statement about the killing of the policemen, making reference to the deaths of eric garner and michael brown. It underscores the dangers. As a nation we must not forget in. Reverent sharpton issued a statement daying saying reaction from the Brooklyn New York community has been outrage, many called the shooting senseless. This is senseless behaviour by anyone. At the end of the day two families are sad for the holidays. What are we, it doesnt happen like this, who does this. The Police Investigation is ongoing. Bill bratton said several times during the press conference. There was no indication. This is the 7th time since 1972 that the Police Partners had been murdered in new york city. Thank you very much. Cuban president. Our people must understand that the announced changes will require a long and hard fight which will require the participation of the International Community and the american society. While the cuban leader welcomed the americans em