ery by the group islamic state. that is the chilling claim by amnesty international. the latest report highlights the plight of the yazidi community whose young children are committing suicide rather than endure a life of sexual slavery. >> i work with a group of volunteers who are trying to respond to this crisis to help rescue those women. i can tell you that these accounts that are described in

the amnesty international report are absolutely true and there are many more that we haven't even heard yet. there are thousands of women affected by the situation. but how many women are still in during this and girls are still in during this inhumane treatment? >> the vast majority of women that were kidnapped in the first place are still in captivity. only a small fraction of that number of women have actually escaped. a few hundred have escaped, but there are thousands that are still in captivity. they were located at several areas in the group of volunteers i work with have pushed for months to have a case for action to free those women. that window of opportunity closed prior to this military operation that is happening right now. most of those women were moved into syria and iraq into areas where it is very difficult to rescue them. >> it appears that the system of abduction and rape of these

women has become a central part of the so-called islamic state groups policy. this is not something that was a side effect of the war this is actually central to their policy. >> i think it's something opportunistic that involve sexual gratification that was low hanging fruit, this being a vulnerable area near their area. it's not the primary agenda of this group. their agenda is to conquer the world and establish what they are talking about. this is something that not only was gratifying for the people involved, but it was a means of eliminating the identity of a group that is polytheistic and force converting them to islam. it's a campaign of ethnic cleansing. >> pakistan has seen another

convicted terrorist -- he is the head of a group that has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings targeting shiite muslims. catherine has more. >> visiting the bedsides rum the massacre, the president's poke of -- >> the entire nation has united, even those who felt in the heart that they should be reformed, even they have now realized this cannot be cured. the only solution is for them to be wiped out and pakistan should be cleared of such people. >> the prime minister reinstated the penalty for offenses linked to terrorists is -- terrorism

following the school attack. six militants have since been hanged, though none linked to this case. government officials said 500 convicts would be put to death in coming weeks. >> the whole population of this area condemns the terrorist. they should be hanged as soon as possible. >> however, rights campaigners warn many of the death row inmates are not connected to terrorist groups. >> this is not the solution. the solution is, you have to look into the militants and the mindset of that community. >> not only would executions do nothing to protect civilians they could erupt already high

levels of violence. there are fears the taliban will retaliate against the executions. nigeria says the jihadist who ordered the birder of the -- the murder of the french mountain guide has been killed. he was seized and later beheaded by group allied to islamic state in september. today the body was identified. here in france, dozens of extra troops are being deployed following a spate of attacks across the country. 23 people were mowed down by vehicles and today one of the victims died in hospital. the government says there's nothing to link the violence which comes at a time of heightened fears about islamic extremism. >> three attacks in three towns in as many days. in a bid to quell the growing

unease on tuesday the french prime minister scramble together his cabinet for an emergency meeting. if this series of incidents is shocking and has given rise to concerns among our fellow citizens. we want to protect and reassure the citizens and say to them that all the services of the state are mobilized. the latest attack took place on monday at the christmas market in a western city when the man drove his van into the crowd killing one and injuring nine others before being arrested. the day before it was a different town, but the same technique. a man shouting god is great in arabic cloud his vehicle into a group of pedestrians injuring 13. three police officers were stabbed before he was shot dead.

they both had long histories of mental illness. copycat or not, now all of france is on high alert. >> police patrols will be dispatched in places that are most frequented him alike city centers, shopping areas, train stations, and other transport venues. 200-300 extra military personnel will also be dispatched in the coming hours. on a visit to the overseas french territory, president francois hollande is calling for calm not panic at home. his government is facing criticism it is minimizing the threat with more than 1000 for its nationals thought to be involved in jihad at home and abroad. >> anti-immigration protests have been gaining support in germany. 17,000 people attended the latest rally in dresden protesting against the growing number of refugees in what they

call the rampant islamization of the country. >> a demonstration against religious extremism. that is what organizers of this rally have been claiming. the name of the group is short for patriotic islamicist. they insist they're only protesting to defend traditional christian values. >> it's about the asylum-seekers. they do not make themselves at home here. we have a different culture, and they have to assimilate. >> an important distinction in germany, where people are keen to avoid any comparison to that ideology. >> we are being labeled as nazis and that will not do.

>> thousands opposed to the rally gathered in a counter demonstration. this led to minor clashes with the protesters. >> this is really depressing. germany already did so many terrible things in the past. >> i think this is terrible. >> this was the largest protest in a series of weekly demonstrations that started in october. despite officially denying any political affiliation they have received support from several far right groups, prompting concerns that anti-foreigner sentiment could again be on the rise in germany. >> moving now to the political turmoil over increase, the prime minister has once again to fail lawmakers to back his vote for president. it could trigger snap elections next year.

natalie joins us now. as expected, the prime minister's choice failing to make the grade once again. >> he is respected amid eu circles but it's more about or no contest vote in the parliament. he only has 165 seats majority in the assembly. he needs at least 180 lawmakers to back his choice of candidate. what we saw today is 168 did support him but he is still 12 lawmakers short. that is what we'll have to see in then final round on monday the 29th. >> are we headed for a time of turmoil in greece? all signs in the financial

markets seem to suggest so. >> i think why we're hearing that is a combination of various factors. one is the so-called scaremongering of the current coalition government. second, also because the opposition party which has been so keen in saying that it wants to completely reveal -- repeal the bailout agreement and all the austerity measures. if it will do so in some way that he can come into some sort of agreement with the countries national creditors. then the big question is, how will they actually repay all the money that greece needs to pay in the first month of 2015? also to keep the greeks happy by

ending austerity. there are a lot of questions that have not been answered on that part and that is causing a lot of turbulence and unease in the financial markets. >> thank you very much, natalie, reporting from athens. pope francis used his annual christmas speech to mount a scathing attack on the vatican. the pontiff attacked the central administration of the roman catholic church accusing cardinals, bishops, and priests of hypocrisy. he also said there using their careers to grab power and wealth. >> of christmas speech, but there was little festive cheer in the room. faces worst tony is pope francis lasted what he called the 15 elements of the vatican central administration. -- faces were stony. >> he called for members to

examine their consciences, condemning the evils of gossip and announcing clerics for read and what he termed spiritual outsiders, forgetting why they became priests in the first place. >> they are victims of careers and opportunity. that honor people. they are people who are concerned about what they had to receive, not what they have to give. >> unlike previous pontiffs, pope francis never worked in the cuerria before he was elected. is not the first time he has criticized it, but it is the harshest. but in my opinion, it shows this year to reforms, there is still

a lot of resistance. >> pope francis was elected on a mandate to overhaul the scandal hit vatican. he is planning a revamp of the whole structure. >> earls as young as 10 years old are being forced into sexual slavery by the group islamic state. amnesty international has released a shocking new report on the plight of theyazidi community in iraq. france is deploying hundreds of extra troops to keep the public safe following three separate attacks in as many days. political turmoil in greece there will now be a third vote at the end of this month. let's get to sports now. one name we have not heard much of since the world cup is back

on the php regrets he is back on the pitch even though he is on holiday. it was late for a charity last night. the barcelona star showed everyone that the beautiful game is alive and well, with the skills that showed up during that game. his team won 5-4, so that was a good night for him. now i think he will be able to celebrate christmas and rest a little bit. back in england, as we said before, no time for holiday feast as the premier league teams prepare for boxing day. chelsea managers already focused on friday's game against the team he says must be taken very seriously. >> for a team that everybody was expecting them to fight for

survival i think it is a fantastic achievement. >> we are a better team. we have more creativity. we have more attacking dynamics. they are not a team in this mama just to try not to concede, they also will try to score goals. the game will be very difficult. x arsenal are hoping to put the holidays to good use and climb up in the standings. the gunners are currently 6, 15 points behind chelsea. on friday they will face gprs home before racing off against

southampton. this is the perfect time to turn things around. >> we expect them to come and have a go at us. we have to focus on our performance and especially make sure to take advantage of the schedule we have. we have a good opportunity over christmas to show that we are much better than people think we are. crake staying with the premier league he may have overstated his welcome in england. the french midfielder, it looks like neither team wants to keep him. the newcastle manager had already said that he would never play for his team again.

he added sometimes transfers just don't work. it seems that he has already found a new team, according to french media. he could be signing with nice and return to the french league 4.5 years after leaving it. we now head to the u.s. for wrapup of the nba. we start with the houston rockets with their first win after beating portland. the game starting out well for the trail blazers, but the rockets coming back to the end of the opening quarter with a short lead. the star of the night houston's james harden. he scored 41 points in the first half alone for it total of 41 points, a season-high -- 44 points. he also had seven assists and five steals in this win over portland. he scored at least 40 points in 11 games. the warriors eased past the

struggling sacramento kings 128-108 with a great collective performance. all 13 active players included six in double-digit. indy victory streak and turning the game around with 49 points in the final quarter, a franchise record. derrick rose had 29 points on the night after four straight losses, the san antonio spurs back in the game in a big way. they beat the clippers 125-118, thanks to the fringes on the team. tony parker returning with 26 points and four assists. we finish with what might be the end of an olympic mistry. remember the summer olympics in sydney back in 2000 him a during the opening ceremony cathy freeman, an aboriginal athlete lit the cauldron, a symbol of reconciliation with the indigenous australians.

the body suit she wore that they went missing from her locker room. now, 14 years later, it seems it has been returned anonymously. the police are still checking whether it is the real thing but it looks like it could be it because if you remember in 2000, that bodysuit had cost a little bit of controversy because the olympic rings had been stitched backwards, or upside down. they are saying that it looks like it is upside down, so that could be it every >> that is really curious. we will take a short break. headlines coming up right afterwards. >> hello and welcome to today's web news with our stories making headlines. coming up on today's show two police officers murdered.

the u.s. side jim offers a musical retrospective on 2014 -- jib jab. emotions run high in new york following two police officer shot dead in their police car on saturday. reactions are flooding in online. rexam users feel that by declaring his support for the demonstrators and lashing out at the message the town counselor could partly be to blame for last weekend's tragedy. >> this opinion is expressed in particular by george attacking, the former governor of the state of new york. his opinion that the two murders are related to the -- is void view is shared by many, some of

whom are using the #blood on his hands to slam the new york mayor's attitude. apart from opening criticizing buildable ozzie l on social media, the angry citizens have set up an online petition calling for his immediate resignation. quickly struck a chord with more than 26,000 people signing it and not even 48 hours. while many chose to lash out online, others preferred to do so using shock tactics. these police officers chose to turn their backs on buildable osseo -- on de blasio. they wish to demonstrate their disdain for him. this communication campaign urges men to refrain from

sitting with legs a kim goldman riding the new york subway. the campaign is to prevent -- with legs akimbo. the initiative comes after numerous complaints from passengers who regularly vent their anger on social media about men making themselves too comfortable in the subway or on the bus, sometimes taking up two seats. several blogs have also been set up to do now it's this type of behavior. they have compiled photos of users in new york city as well as other big cities such as london and paris. from sweden to turkey and as far afield as japan and initiatives across the world are known as man spreading. some have food together photo

montages showing things that could fit in the space. some say it is a subconscious way for men to mark their territory. the guilty parties are now defending themselves, explaining is just best suited for their masculine anatomy. a new york-based photographer has undertaken to convince users that pitbulls, often considered a dangerous dog breed, are dangerous, affectionate dogs. he uses -- visits areas animal shelters where he photographs pitbulls wearing flower crowns on their head. >> when selling his car in october 2013, a texas

businessman said he did not expect it to be driven one year later by jihad e fighters in syria. he came across this photo posted online. can still make out the name of his plumbing company. the images circulating online and he has received numerous messages him according to the paper, the daily news. >> rebecca prefers not to discard her old paintbrushes. for the last 15 years, she has agreed fresh life into them by transforming them into women's dresses. they can be viewed on her website. just like every year at this time, the u.s. site jibjab has

published a humorous look at the serious and lighthearted events that marked 2014.

m pacifica this is democracy now. >> only much later did we learn that this information came from libi who was waterboarded, probably in cairo, with no u.s. personnel present. we also learned within days of his heaven given this information under torture, he recanted. >> as calls grow for bush administration officials to be prosecuted