ion. the meeting gets underway in brussels. on the agenda, how to hit the militants' finance and stops foreign fighters from joining them. the founders of hong kong costs occupied movement -- hong kong's occupy movement surrendered to police. and revving up for a bitter election cycle. snap elections will be held on march 17.

benjamin netanyahu has fired two ministers. he says he cannot leave the country in the current state of affairs. the government has promised to not raise taxes again before 2017. we'll have details in about 20 minutes. and switched at birth -- it is every parent's first nightmare -- wosrst nightmare. we will have more on two french families now suing for 12 million euros. all that and more coming up. we go straight to brussels where u.s. secretary of state john

kerry is hosting the first high-level meeting of the coalition trying to combat the islamic state militant group in iraq and syria. kerry is meeting with leaders from countries at the nato headquarters to discuss the best strategy against the group as well as looking at how to stem the flow of foreign fighters joining the jihadists. >> in opposing these terrorists, our diversity is, in fact, a source of remarkable strength. it gives us the credibility and the breath of reach to move against them not only in iraq and syria am about to counter any support that might exist for it around the world -- iraq and syria, but to counter any support that might exist for it around the world. >> the pentagon announced washington's longtime foe had

conducted airstrikes against islamic state targets in eastern iraq in recent days. a senior official has said they did not launch any strikes. both tehran and washington have dismissed talks of cooperation. >> using american-made jets similar to these iran has reportedly stepped up its fight against the islamic state group a military intervention the u.s. has indirectly confirmed. >> we have no indication the reports are not true, that iranian aircraft have conducted airstrikes against isil targets in eastern iraq. >> the pentagon was quick to point out the u.s. was not involved in any way. that is in line with the long-standing policy laid out by the u.s. president last month. >> we do have a shared enemy in

isil. i've been very clear publicly and privately we are not coordinating with iran on isi i'll -- on isil. >> iran is keeping any military involvement under wraps. the intervention is seen -- seen as a shia country helping another shia government. there have been signs of iran's involvement. an iranian commander was caught on camera celebrating the liberation of the embassy. to hope iraq push back the islamic state trooper -- to help iraq push back the islamic state troops, they are effectively fighting on the same side. >> the hong kong leaders urged protesters to go home, saying

protesters -- saying to surrender is not to fail. they have not been charged. the protest was declared illegal. the three were joined by dozens of supporters planning to turn themselves in. their actions may have little impact on student protesters. for more analysis, we are joined by our international affairs editor. why now? >> they are older. they get more weary of protests. they're not going to go as far. i say that tongue-in-cheek. the people may have had the idea to protest beijing's decision not to reform the election process to keep vetting

candidates. they were taken over by tens of thousands of younger, mostly students, who came out into the streets. they lost control of the movement they started. it's been the students at the forefront and the backbone of the movement. the leaders of occupy central said, their objective, they can't really escalate. they don't see the opportunity to escalate their actions. the police will just keep pushing back. they warned the students they would be doing this. they urged them to go home. this is a movement which as many different heads, a little bit like a hydra. the fact that they are turning themselves in, it is symbolic, in a sense. the people who started this will thing in the first place now saying, guys, let's be reasonable. now we've made our point. but the younger ones are going to carry on the cause. it is not tens of thousands, not

100,000 anymore, but it is still several hundred. they are still determined. >> how much longer can they hold out? >> that's the question. that's the rub as well. within the student movement, it's not monolithic. those protesters have divisions among themselves. one group will be caucusing among themselves, consulting among themselves, trying to figure out how much further are they willing to go at what price. how much longer do they want to hold out? their parents are saying coem -- come home, it has been long enough. this movement has never really had a leader. they have a figurehead that the media in the west latched onto. the end of the females -- he and other female members of the group are having a hunger strike.

the initial talks are fruitless. they went nowhere about a month ago. they want beijing to budge, which beijing has not done. they want them to scrap those plans do that the candidates -- those plans to vet the candidates. >> thank you for the analysis. israeli political leaders are holding snap elections -- have decided to hold snap elections next march following a crisis. the israeli prime minister call for early elections on tuesday after he fired two ministers accusing them of hatching a plot to overthrow him. parliament has approved preliminary motions to disband itself to pave the way for elections, which will be israel's second in just over two years. cracks and netanyahu's coalition started over the 2015 budget --

cracks in netanyahu's coalition started over the 2015 budget. gallagher fenwick, how are the media reacting to the snap elections? >> this news, of course, as expected, all over the israeli papers. the campaign has started referring to that very dramatic speech given by the israeli premier last night which basically every paper and everyone out here was -- it officially launched the campaign that will lead up to the early elections next march. referring of course to the fact that this started with the israeli premier firing two of his key ministers, pictured on the front page. there is a quote saying that

netanyahu is acting ave to be held accountable by israelis for his actions. another premier also fired. very harsh accusations. saying we didn't even dare look her in the eye to break the news to her that she was being dismissed. how will he have the guts to deal with much bigger threats than myself? that's a reference to the accusations made by the israeli premier, saying he is acting as a coward. much more favorable coverage of the prime minister's decision in the widely distributed daily which belongs to a rich friend of netanyahu. in says that after the dismissal , the work to dismiss -- the verb "to dismiss" is being

conjugated in just about every form here. it reminds everyone who is the current boss in government. she is fired, he is fired. the members of the centrist party, who resigned out of solidarity with the head of their party, they basically fired themselves. both were taken from that speech given by mentioning netanyahu -- by benjamin netanyahu, saying that -- they were busy organizing a takeover behind closed doors accusing both of them of rejoicing over the different episodes of international condemnation of israel. so, the accusations launched by netanyahu -- by his fore -- his former ministers.

we will look at "the jerusalem post" in its english edition headlining with a decision leading up to the elections. and the second part of the front page, there is a small reference to the votes. it reminds everyone that the french parliament did encourage the french government to vote yes on recognizing palestine, but french institutions are asking members of the french jewish community -- french-jewish community not to react rashly to this, but rather with dialogue. and the major left-leaning, opposition paper states that the next election is nothing more

than a referendum vote on netanyahu's popularity. >> thank you very much for that look at how the israeli rest are reacting to that news of a snap election. let's look at some other world news. the somali islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for a car bomb on wednesday that left three people dead. it was a protected human base in the city thomas hit close to the airport gate -- in the city, hit close to the airport gate. an emotional funeral has been held for the australian cricketer who died last week from a freak injury. former and current players from around the world where there to pay tribute, as well as many australian dignitaries. it was a celebration of his life. despite his early death at the

age of 27. it is every parent's worst nightmare. your nerve -- your newborn is based -- placed into an incubator next to another child with the same condition. when your baby is returned, you insist it is not your child. it is not until years later that tests prove that your child was indeed swapped for another. two families are suing the hospital that made the error. >> the story began in july 1994, when she gave birth to a girl in the french riviera. her baby was put in an incubator to treat jaundice. when she was handed back, she looked different. >> she had more hair. i asked, and i even felt stupid to point out the problems.

but the nurses told me it was normal, that the lights in the incubator had made her hair grow faster. >> now 20 years old, she bears no resemblance to her parents. a dna test eventually confirmed the family's worst fears. she is not their biological child. two baby girls were switched at birth. >> i feel like they stole my child from me. i was distraught, especially by the comments people made, like how could you not recognize your own baby? >> i became a teenager right afterwards, and it was hard. i had lots of questions and doubts. where was i from? where did my features come from? you cannot build your identity. >> she raised her like her own. they are closer than ever.

they are bringing the lawsuit against the clinic to know what happened and who is responsible. the families of both girls met their module article -- met their biological child years ago , but decided not to switch back and even to end any relationship. >> let's remind you of the top stories. coming together to crush the islamic state organization. the first high-level meeting of the u.s.-led coalition fighting with jihadists gets underway in brussels. how to hit the militants's finances and stop -- militants' finances and stop foreign fighters from joining them. in hong kong, student protesters are vowing to stay on the street until they have caused political reform. revving up for a bitter election battle. snap elections will be held on march 17 after prime minister benjamin netanyahu fires two key ministers and says he cannot

leave the country in the current state of affairs. let's check in with -- to what is grabbing headlines around the world. we are going to start with israel. a lot of focus on that today with prime minister benjamin netanyahu having sacked two key ministers, declaring he wants parliament dissolved. how are the papers reacting? >> this is a big story. it's on the front page of the "wall street journal." benjamin netanyahu said that his finance minister and his justice minister were planning a-- planning a -- against him. "i will no longer tolerate opposition within the government cope a lot of people -- within the government." a lot of people are saying this

was brought down by mutual loathing. netanyahu has had enough of his divided coalition and wants a more manageable government, made up of right-wing allies and the ultra-orthodox. you can see the headline. netanyahu is apparently confident that he will win more power. >> what about the media? >> the prime minister is drawing quite a lot of criticism across the board. he is drawing criticism in more mainstream papers. according to this article, the prime minister has sent the israeli political system into a tailspin. you can see the headline, "when israel needed unity, netanyahu went to a divisive vote." the article doesn't have much hope for the future. it says that however dismal the current situation is, we can be sure that the next netanyahu government will only be worse.

the left-leaning paper goes even further, even more alarming in its editorial, saying if netanyahu wins again at the pilot talks -- at the ballot box, israel's future is in danger. the relative peace that israel enjoys today is -- the headline of the editorial says vote against netanyahu save israel. >> in france, the french parliament officially recognized the palestinian state, a lot of papers focusing on that as well. >> big news in the papers today a lot of papers applauding the decision by 2/3 of lawmakers in parliament yesterday. it is a historic, symbolic vote. it's not going to be constraining for the government, but it is still drawing a lot of praise in the french press. mps in france just voted on this.

mps in britain and spain have already passed similar motions. belgium could be next. if we take a look at the front page of the belgian paper, it focuses on the fact that belgium could very soon recognize the palestinian state. parliament is set to debate the issue next week. in its editorial, it applies the fact that parliament is going to be debating this -- it applies -- it applauds the fact that parliament is going to be debating this. >> papers in britain are focusing on the remains of richard iii. they are 99.99% certain. >> these bones were discovered about tw's ago. there was some doubt as to whether or not they belonged to richard iii -- about two years ago. there was some doubt as to whether or not they belonged to

richard iii. they think he had blue eyes and blond hair, which goes against what most portraits of him suggest. this is "the guardian. -- "the guardian." they have reimagined one of his most famous portraits. another juicy detail is that there is evidence of infidelity in his family tree. scientists say there was a false paternity event. this could affect the ancestry of the windsors and the current queen, elizabeth ii. >> let's end with a very serious story. >> is the week of the french fries -- it's the week of the french fries chips. fries are a signature dish in belgium.

belgians have come together to try to win unesco's world heritage status for the fry. there is a dispute over who invented the fry. americans often called them french fries. there is a big dispute, a very serious one. you can read about it in the french press. the belgians hope they will get the unesco world heritage status. >> what's making headlines? >> time for a look at the day's business news. we are going to start with what looks like good news for the french government over the budget. >> next year's budget deficit will be less than had been expected. the gap between what the french government is taking in and what it is paying out will be 4.1% of gdp instead of 4.3%. that will help in france's

budget battle with the european commission. >> in the tug-of-war with brussels over the budget, a piece of positive economic news. next year, the gap tween how much the french government is spending and how much it is taking in will be 4.1% of gdp down from this year's four 14% and less than the 4.3% -- this year's 4.1% and less than the 4.3% -- the french government is caught in a delicacy -- in a delicate balancing act. the 3.6 billion euros in savings will come partly from the fact that france's contribution to the eu budget is less than expected. with new, record low borrowing costs, interest payments are also lower. the rest of the savings come from measures announced in

october, including cracking down on companies and intervals -- and individuals that avoid paying sales tax, the government also scrapping a system of -- local authorities will be able to raise taxes on some second homes. french finance minister -- the french finance minister reiterated the government's pledge that there will be no new tax hikes before 2017. a welcome announcement, and one of hollande's campaign promises he is vowing to keep. >> latest on russia scrapping plans to build a pipeline. >> they have rejected claims of -- that eu objections were behind the project falling through. the pipeline would have brought russian gas to europe viable gary instead of ukraine -- via bulgaria instead of ukraine.

the commissioner says that russia did not want to follow the rules. >> i think that our russian partners know very well that what we wanted was the respect of the rules of law, our competition practices, and so-called fair package. we would have been ready to negotiate with them. we explained the conditions that have to be respected by every single energy company in europe. what happened unfortunately was that instead of a continuation of the negotiations, the russian side took europe and our energy legislation to the wto in geneva. m you can hear more of that on saturday. -- >> you can hear more of that interview on saturday. >> it's a mixed picture in the middle of the trading day. most of it fairly flat.

oil and gas shares back in the red. shares in royal mail are down 2%. royal mail hope they could shield the service from competition. the dax is eking out some gains. they have approved the airline's plans to expand its low-cost carrier. it was at the center of a 14-day strike. the company is continuing to develop. the finance minister is expected to announce a reform of business taxes in an effort to boost the flagging retail sector. he will be giving his speech in just a few minutes.

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e world's toughest issues. can a story change the world? see for yourself. this is link tv's "viewchange," a new documentary series. >> we left as the sun reddened and dropped, and we directed ourselves to the desert. we had been told by the villagers that we were close to ethiopia, that all that was left was to cross the desert, that in a week's time we would find the end of sudan.