>> our headlines this hour schoolchildren the target of the deadliest terrorist attack in pakistan history. the taliban claims responsibility and are condemned around the world. even the taliban in afghanistan have called the attacks u nislamic. al qaeda link rebels in theory have seized to keep bases and now control a major highway. australia mourns the victims of yesterday's 16 hour siege at a café in sydney.

the café manager and another three hailed for their bravery. first, 141 victims in the latest assault by the taliban. the vast majority of them schoolchildren the youngest just to your soul. gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed into a school today carrying out the deadliest terrorist attack in the country's history. this report from islam a bad. >> the eyewitnesses said that the attackers have been

confirmed to be seven. they came in wearing suicide vests with automatic weapons and grenades which they hurled inside classes. they lined up students, young students in their early teens and shot them at point-blank range. the way they carried out this it was not just at attack but a assassination of many of these children and the siege went on for six hours. now about a half-hour ago the military handed the school back to the school authorities and they are saying the area is now clear. the majority of dead are children between the ages of eight and 16. >> this unspeakable attack, some people are saying this could actually be a turning point for pakistan because it is so

atrocious what happened today. people might actually unite against the taliban because that unity hasn't actually been there before, has it? >> we have seen a lot of outrage in the country on the roads there have been vigils organized. the local media has been very vocal about condemning this. but at the same time there is a big majority in the country especially because of some political leadership, some political leadership is sympathizing with the taliban and even today we have seen that they are justifying this in the way the attack might be carried

out by foreign forces, and even though the taliban has claimed it openly, there is this obfuscation that is happening. as always you are conspiracy theories that go around. there was -- we saw the similar thing happened divided opinion later on. right now we don't know where the outrage will leave in pakistan. >> the killing of so many children has prompted shock and outrage around the world. the pakistani teenager malala has called today's attack one of cowardice. >> as pakistan reels from the worst terrorist attack in its history, the prime minister said his government would not be

deterred from the military operation it launched against the taliban and in june. >> this operation will continue until we banish this terrorism from our country. and also, we are in contact with the afghan government to fight together against this terrorism. >> u.s. secretary of state john kerry was among those who offered condolences and condemned the attack. >> prime minister sharif said these are my children, it is my loss. this morning, where you live, wherever you are, those are our children, and this is the world's loss. this act of terror angers and shakes all people of conscience and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible. >> schoolgirl and nobel peace prize winner malala yousafzai called the attack atrocious and

cowardly. pakistan's neighbor india with whom it has had strained relations also condemns the attack. >> no word will capture the feeling of deep revulsion and horror we feel about the terror attack against innocent children of the public school in pesce were -- in peshawar. >> the pakistani taliban has carried out thousands of terrorist attacks in the country since 2007 on both military and civilian targets. >> this is by far the most horrific, but today's atrocity is the latest in a long line of terrorist attacks carried out by the pakistani taliban. this report now on how the group was formed, how they operate, and what they want. but pakistan's treacherous

tribal belt lies within these mountains in the northwest of the country. they have been their base since 2007. then some 30 armed groups agreed to come together under one banner, the pakistani taliban. the organization accuse the government of working with united states in its war on terror after nine/11. they say they have been responsible for most terror attacks in pakistan since the group was founded, assaulting in up to 50,000 deaths. >> our movement is not restricted to any single region. it is not only in tribal areas, it is all over pakistan. it's all over the subcontinent. quick in the months after the group formed, the pakistani taliban waged a bloody guerrilla war against islam a bot in response to a military siege where islamic militants have called for the government to be overthrown. in december 2007, the

organization was named responsible for the assassination of the former pakistani prime minister, benazir bhutto, at a political rally. in the weeks after u.s. troops killed osama bin laden in may 2011, the group with those ties to al qaeda launched a series of revenge attacks targeting pakistani security officials. the next march, a french national who had received training from the pakistani taliban went on it shooting spree against jewish and military targets in the south of france. six months later members of the group boarded a bus and attacked malala yousafzai, a schoolgirl and activist for female education in pakistan. among their most airing attacks the storming of the karachi international airport this june. the 12 hour long assault resulted in the deaths of around 30 people. but the group is not as united as it once was. it's former leader was killed in

a u.s. drone strike last november. some factions of the group list after negotiations with the pakistani government earlier this year. other fighters are thought to have left the country altogether , instead choosing to take up arms with the islamic state organizations in syria and iraq. >> 15 children are among 25 people killed and another suicide bomb attack this tuesday. this time in the capital of yemen. the school bus was caught up in an attempt to assess -- assassinate the leader of a group. they have been facing fierce resistance from al qaeda. in theory, groups allied to al qaeda said to have taken control of two key army bases in a northern process -- a northern province. they are now in control of

serious main highway. -- syria's main highway. >> aired on social media, these images purportedly show the capture of two military bases in northwestern syria by radical islamist groups affiliated with al qaeda. they are located -- they were held for two years by moderate rebels who were then driven out. the have yielded to the assault of the jihadist equipped with tanks and heavy weapons. >> the regime was defeated and assad forces left the area because they know longer have the means to defend it. >> according to the syrian observatory for human rights, at least 31 government soldiers and 12 rebel fighters were killed sunday in the battle.

with this victory, it is possible the front could turn its attentions to the last city in the area still in the hands of the assad regime. taking the two military bases also allows them to control a highway from aleppo to hama. a heavy blow to the regime in damascus which claims it is in control of major cities and main highways in syria. >> a brilliant lawyer whose mother -- to his mother to three young children and a café manager put the safety of his staff first. there was a memorial ceremony in sydney australia today for it the victims of yesterday's teach at a café. the gunman was killed in a raid by police. the city is trying to come to terms with what happened. >> the field of flowers in central sydney and tears of grief for the dead, as the city

mourns in the wake of a bloody hostagetaking in a nearby café that lasted for 16 hours. >> we felt for them so much, my heart wrote for them. >> this happens in the middle east all the time. this is terrible. this sort of thing is starting to happen here. >> with state flags flying at half mast him in the café manager and a 38-year-old mother of three were the two who died. the prime minister laid his own bouquet at the impromptu shrine before attending a memorial mass. at a press conference, he praised australians for how they coped, bowing the nation would remain strong. >> we have responded to this in character, with grit stoicism, and equanimity. whatever happens in the days and weeks and months to come,

australia will always be a free and open and generous society. >> at those wounded in the siege recover at hospitals the nation's law enforcement remains on heightened alert. >> a well-worn trend, the former arsenal layer has announced his retirement from football. >> still only 20 years old and champion of the world, he and his teammates lifted the world cup and made french sporting history. 16 years, countless trophies and over 400 goals later, the striker announced on his facebook age he was hanging up his boots. after 20 years in the game, i

have decided to retire from professional football. it has been an incredible journey. it is now time for a different career path. he promised from an early age -- he scored 228 goals. he was elected the clubs greatest ever player and is statue of him was erected inside the stadium. he moved on to barcelona where in 2009 he won six titles, including the champions league. he cause controversy the same year but his former teammates honor his greatness. >> it was at arsenal -- >> after five seasons playing

for the new york red bulls him he will now join a british cable channel. he has not ruled out a return to football someday but as a coach rather than a player. >> schoolchildren were targets of the deadliest terrorist attack in pakistan history this tuesday. the taliban has claimed responsibility and has been condemned around the world. even the taliban in afghanistan has criticized the attack, calling it unislamic. al qaeda link rebels in syria have seized two key army bases and now control a major highway. australia has been mourning the victims of yesterday's 60 hour siege at a café in sydney. the café in sydney. the cafés manager and the mother of three both being held for their bravery. that's get some business news for you now.

kate, the russian government must be pretty worried, given what has happened to the currency right now. the ruble lunching once again despite the best efforts of the central bank. >> it did not seem to have it all the desired effect. the ruble has artie lost most -- more than half its value against the dollar this year. overnight russia's central bank decided to boost interest rates to 17%, huge increase intended to shore up the currency. while it did see a slight spike in the price of the ruble, the result backfired and then went into freefall falling by as much as 20% at one point in tuesday's trading. >> desperate measures to keep the economy afloat. tuesday, the russian currency took its biggest fall against the dollar since the financial

crisis of 1998. this despite the bank of russia's decision to raise its key interest rate i know less than 6.5%. >> without any date -- without any doubt, the situation is difficult and it requires coordinated actions from the government and the central bank. we are ready for such coordination. >> the russian economy has suffered from falling oil prices. two thirds of russia's exports come from oil and gas. western sanctions have further hammered the economy. the foreign minister told trent's four he remains optimistic. -- told france 24 he remains optimistic. >> it is a sign of irritation but i can assure you that russia will not only survive but will come out stronger from this. >> opinions are divided on the streets of moscow. >> i wouldn't say it worries me

a lot, but of course it's not nice. >> look how the price of bread has gone up. the situation is very difficult. >> russia's central bank injected more than $70 billion over the last year buying rubles in the market. intervention has become a near daily routine since the start of the month. a hike in the interest rate is a double-edged sword. while it may persuade investors to keep their money in russia more expensive borrowing could slow down growth even further. >> let's see how that has been playing out on the markets now. moscow rallying after plunging earlier in the session. all closing up over 2%, bouncing back after a difficult start to the week. a mixed picture on wall street, the u.s. manufacturing sector is continue to expand.

the nasdaq slipping into negative territory there and investors also waiting to hear from the federal reserve on wednesday. the european union's top economic prepares -- he prepares to face a parliamentary vote that could topple his pro-bailout government. the party currently leading in the polls, but he wants to scrap the bailout deal they go shed with the eu and imf. it is estimated that athens needs a further 10 billion euros to make it through next year. he encouraged the country to continue on its path of reform. >> we respect democratic choices made by any country in europe. our own preference is integrity of the eurozone, to reform

policies and confidence between europe and the member states. this is true for greece. >> looking at other business headlines today, up to 15 million euros worth of fines in the netherlands if it doesn't change the way it handles personal data. it needs to ask permission and terrify how personal information is transmitted and used among various services. it is proposing changes to the facebook privacy policy. south korea's transportation ministry says korean air will face sanctions for pressuring its employees during a probe. the daughter of the chairman was forced to the back of a plane at jfk airport after what she

called a breach of protocol. she could face suspensions or $1.3 million fine for violating immigration law. another person used to getting what she wants is the former head of l'oreal. she is heading to court in a ski resort town in southern france. she says the smell of the chips is an olfactory nuisance. she wants it moved far away from his luxury chalet. it is it time trying to close down the snack bar. the owner's lawyer said the lawsuit amounts to legal harassment and the couples livelihood is worth more than the former ceo's precious nostrils. >> i'm just amazed he doesn't like the smell of chips.

>> maybe the former head of a beauty empire has other things to think about. >> thanks very much indeed, kate everett time to bring you the best of the internet over the past 24 hours. it is time for web news. >> welcome to the web news. stories making the online headlines. coming up on today show, reaction to the oil spill and bangladesh. justin bieber stands warned the death of his dog. a man employed to get christmas kisses. a week after the collision between an oil tanker and a cargo vessel and bangladesh authorities are struggling to control the oil spill that is spreading to waterways across the world's largest rain forest.

it has received widespread commentary online. many have taken social networks to share their sadness over this ecological catastrophe. a lot of web users feel the disaster could have been avoided if the bangladesh government had imposed a ban on commercial vessels. a number of environmental groups have been protesting for years. photos and videos bear witness to the damage caused by the oil spill. the bangladesh authorities condemned for not doing more to -- prevent this kind of accident. others condemn them for not taking action to contain the spill. urging the powers that be to take immediate, urgent action to prevent the disaster from having an irreversible impact on the region's wildlife. some have taken the campaign to

the streets of bangladesh. a rally was staged near the capital recently. the demonstrators calling on the authorities to address and tackled the problem. whether the government will listen to main study seen. justin bieber's fans have been busy on social media following his announcement that his talk had -- that his dog had died. the news has drawn wide thread commentary on twitter. countless levers have been sending their condolences to their idol. houses have posted under the rest in peace #, a message of support for justin bieber. many saying they share his sadness and know how he must be feeling, having themselves lost pets in the past. for some twitter users the

level of response is annoying. people say they cannot understand how the death of a dog can become so newsworthy when war or disease leave thousands dead across the globe and are barely commented on. giving his treatment of his pet which has been far from exemplary. he was stopped by customs officials back in 2013. the online article goes on to say he has since abandoned his pet pig. life in cairo egypt would even challenge a superhero like spiderman. this is what one photographer is

out to demonstrate in this series of shots available on his youtube channel. we see the comic strip character carrying out all manner of everyday tasks.

m pacifica this is democracy now. >> because the legal justification for torture required the presence of psychologists and psychiatrists and physicians in order to allow the torture to go forward according to the justice department's rules at the time, it was necessary for health professional