anchor: hello. it's 1:00 p.m. in brussels, welcome to our viewers around the world. i am molly hall. here are the headlines. thepean union leaders give go-ahead to brexit talks with britain to move into the next stage, phase two. it will tackle future relations and trade. a sexual abuse investigation in australia finds thousands of institutions failed to keep children safe. the prime minister calls this a national tragedy.

rollregulators vote to so-called net neutrality rules, requiring internet providers to treat all traffic equally. opponents say the move will curb online freedom. now, it is a green light. theresa may was hoping for it. european leaders have given their formal approval to the opening of a second phase of brexit negotiations with britain. just moments ago, the european council president, donald tusk, tweeted during a summit he was chairing, congratulating the british prime minister. the clearance provides a welcome move to may who earlier this parliamentaryy vote, giving lawmakers the final say on a deal before britain

leaves the e.u. in march of 2019. last week, the two sides agreed that the first round of issssues in the brexit talks had advanced sufficiently for now. these involve britain's divorce payment, keeping the border between ireland and northern ireland open, sorting out citizens rights following brexit. coming up a little bit later on, we will cross to brussels for more on what to expect in this second phase of talks. news,ile, in other world u.s. regulators have voted to rollback so-called net neutrality rules. they were established in 2015 and require internet providers to treat all traffic equally. opponents say scrapping neutrality will hurt online freedom, that lawmakers who voted for the repeal disagree. they say it could bring better internet to more americans. internet neutrality. for protesters outside the fcc building in washington, it is crucial for democracy. >> we are out here in the cold

to turn the heat up on the federal communications commission. reporter: in the beginning of this decade, the popularity of streaming video service netflix let internet service providers like comcast demand payments to ensure the necessary bandwidth. that takes a struck a deal, but public backlash led the fcc to declare service providers, and carriers -- esessentially, privately held public utilities. under net neutrality rules in 2015, internet service providers or isps cannot slow down or speed up data delivery or charge --o for certatain content rules thatat are vital foror dedemocrat c commissioners. of today'st misguided action, our broadband providers will get extraordinary new powers. they will have the power to block websites, the power to

throttle services, and the power to censor online content. republicans disagree. they say internet service providers won't censor content or block access, and that unnecessary regulation has hampered investment that could bring faster, better internet more americans. the legend of a cable company trying to break the internet may make a scary bedtime story for , but it is not reality. tendedr: democrats have to challenge their appeal in congress and in courts. molly: for more on this story, i am joined in the studio by anrice, cofounder of organization that focuses on ip security. i would like to ask you. we have this boat which d does scrap ththese net ututrality rules. what is your take on this? i think it is the end

of net neutrality in the united states and the end of a certain kind of innovation in the united states. neutrality,e net every information within the network is treated equally, which means that whether you are looking at youtube or netflix or a small blog, all the information is treated equally. tomorrow, they won't be treated equally. extra to have to pay have youtube, another extra to have netflix. inning that if i want to create a new netflix, it is going to be impossible in the united states. it is going to change the shape of silicon valley, big time. molly: tell us more about where they stood on this come versus big telik medications companies. fabrice: silicon valley needs net neutrality because they need innovation bordering the network. big isps need innovation within the twork and d need to credit volume within the network. the core definition of net neutrality is that the network should not bring any value

added. it is going to be really difficult for isps within net neutrality to create lots of value and become richer. this is why isps do not want to hear about net neutrality, and this is why startups really want net neutrality -- and want net neutrality enforced, and eventually enter the trump administration. molly: have we seen all internet companies react similarly to this net thing, google versus netflix? fabrice: netflix is obviously in dire straits, because you are going to have to pay extra to have netflix, and your isp is going to create netflix equivalents and they will be in competition. of course, the isp will create a cheaper netflix, a more efficient netflix, a more speedy netflix, and your netflix -- especially in france -- might become difficult to watch because your isp will not want you to watch it. it wants you to watch his

netflix. he cannot do this if he does not have to respect net neutrality. mention france. should we expect some links similar in europe? reese: the situation is different. macron, we have a big boost and we want to create innovation bordering the network. if we do not enforce net neutrality in france and in europe, the same thing will happen. big isps will become richer and innovation bordering the network will die. we really need this innovation bordering the network. you just starting to create a really nice ecosystem to create cool innovation bordering the network in france. works on-- my startup a huge project made by an isp to create innovation bordering the network. our current environment is really keen on this kind of innovation. if they were to kill net neutrality, they would kill those products.

i don't think, considering the steaks on a purely economic level, that net neutrality will die in france anytime soon. when we have the lawmakers, republican lawmakers -- when they want to describe net neutrality because it would allow for better inteternet for americanans -- y you are sayingt does not fly? a brief: it does not, -- fabrice: it does not. but if they kill innovation in the united states, it is a big chance for europe. we might not become leaders, but we would become not followers. we could become something big when it comes to internet innonovation because thehe unitd stes i is killing it.. it is a great opportunity for us. molly: very interesting stuff. thank you very much. to an going to cross back ongoing story out of brussels. marks dayere friday two of the key european summit. there is movement in the breaks it talks. let's get the latest from the

european affairs editor, catherine nicholson. this is a big day for the british prime minister. it does seem things are going her way for the moment. catherine: it does seem that way. phase two can begin. we had a confirmation a few minutes ago. the european council president, donald tusk, tweeting his congratulations to the u.k. prime minister, theresa may. he had been in a meeting with the other 27 heads of state of the e.u. member states, where they did give the green light to phase two going ahead. not really a surprise that this happened. we have had an interim deal brought up between the u.k. and he e.u. figures just one week ago. i am sure our viewers remember that predawn kerfuffle with lots of press conferences from important people saying, i think we have got sufficient progress on some very key issues that have been holding things up. remind our viewers, phase two going ahead as of today, that

this is about two months behind schedule. the key sticking points were what seems to happen to the 5 million e.u. citizens in the u.k., and vice versa. what are their rights going to be? what is going to happen on the irish border? will a hard border be there? weatherby no border? and how much is the u.k. going to pay to leave the european union? there are not fixed details at this point. it seems the rest of the european union has said progress has been made in these things, going in the right direction. can move on to that all-important phasase two. molly: walk us through it. what exactly does this phase to involve? two involve? catherine: first, it is not going to start immediately. we are going to let end of your holidays happen. it will start in january. phase two will look at the future relationship the u.k. and european union will have once the u.k. has actually left.

there has been a lot of talk about the trade relationship, but it is not just trade. there are issues of security, cooperation over terrorism, which has been -- been a big issue. things like defense foreign policy, areas where the u.k. and the e.u. are closely bound together at this point. we are going to start off looking at the transition elbow --transition period after the official brexit date. a figure of two years is being knocked about. once that is fixed, the e.u. says it will be a precise transition timetable. as well, the u.k. will have to abide by e.u. laws during that transition, without having the ability to influence any new year laws that might be made. that is quite galling to a lot of people in the u.k., whichever side of the brexit debate they fall on -- the idea that the

u.k. will more or less still be a knee you member state without being able to influence anything that goes on here. , thefor transition talks trade relationship starting to be talked about. that will happen at the earliest as of march 2018. the next european council summit back in brussels -- the u.k. talking about different models for that relationship. will it be what norway has at the moment, or switzerland, or canada? still so many questions. people here saying this is something to celebrate, that we are moving on in this process. but we are behind schedule and it is not going to be easy. molly: thank you for that. catherine nicholson reporting from brussels. next, a sexual abuse investigation in australia has found thousands of institutions failed to keep children safe. minister malcolm turnbull said the inquiry exposed a national tragedy, and the government would consider the report's recommendations.

the 17th volume document is the combination of one of the world's biggest inquiries into child abuse. over the last fiveve years, the royal commission heard testimonies from thousands of victims who suffered abuse in institutions like school, church, or sporting clubs, dating back decades. >> more than 4000 individual institutions have been reported to us as places where abuse has occurred. while some institutions will cease to operate, and others continue to be actively engaged with children. the findings were harrowing. the investigation so multiple and persistent failings of institutions to keep children the importance of secrecy and cover-up, according to the report. any witnesses spoke of ththeir experience for the first time.e. i came fororward under p privatd confidential hearings. >> the churches and charities and institutions putting

pressure on everyone n not to believeve it, that we were lyin, that it t was not true. the royal commission has enabled all of us to step up and say yes . now, people believe us. it is true. reporter: among 400 recommendations, the commission called for a rule to force priests to report cases of child abuse even if they heard them in the confessional, something that challenges the tenets of catholicism. it also ordered the caththolic church to make celibacy voluntarary for clergy, saying t contribubuted to child abuse. >> it is a a celebration. hope as well. the rerecommendations will be passed and b become law, and children tomorrow will be safer because of it. reporter: prime minister malcolm turnbull said the inquiry exposed a national tragedy, and the government would consider the recommendations and respond in full next year. molly: judges at the international criminal court have handed down landmark congoleses to formerr

child soldiers. the warlord is responsible for $10 million in damages. he was found guilty in 2012 of of ducting boys and girls and forcing them into his union of congolese patriots. jailed 14 years and has been transferred to a prison in the democratic republic of congo to serve the rest of his sentence. officials say, they have identified all the victims from thursday's deadly bus accident. a train plowed into a bus which was carrying children aged between 11 and 17. this on a roll crossing near t e town of perp in jan [[ -- south of ther the country. the cause of the accident has not yet been determined. it is time now f for a businesss update. i'm joined in the studio by brian quinn.

there going to start in united states, where the federal communications commission has gutted regulations to protect net neutrality. brian: that is right, the fcc voting 3-2 along party lines on thursday to repeal obama era rules aimed at protecting a free and open internet. --se net neutrality of regulations oblige service providers to treat all data going across their network equally, or venting isps from blocking online content, slowing delivery of competitor websites, or charging more for access to data heavy sites like netflix or youtube. -- the movie is broadly unpopular across the spectrum.-- political 98% of unique comments were opposed to undoing net neutrality. new york attorney general eric snyderman said his office will sue to block the decision. consumer groups are looking to congress. let's take a listen.

shown theye fcc has can more about the telecom lobby than the public, members of congress are going to be more responsive to their constituents, the people that put them in office. aey are going to have to make decision when it comes to this order, which is wildly unpopular with the public. comcast or verizon, or standing with their constituents. brian: turning to venezuela, where the collapse of the bolivar, the main currency, is pushing citizens into the arms of crypto currencies, with many businesses and professionals no longer accepting the boulevard due to run away inflation. venezuelans have turned to bitcoin for the purchase of basic necessities. reporter: as venezuela's inflation skyrockets, both the wealthy and the poor are replacing just converting increasingly worthless all of ours into bitcoin, using it to pay anything from food and beer to doctors appointments.

this follows national crises. after unrest in the u.k. and and greece, bitcoin's popularity soared. venezuela, use of bitcoin is not only widespread, but quite important. people use bitcoin to safeguard the value of assets because they do not trust the bolivar. they know that if assets are in bolivars, they will lose value. reporter: throughout this year, bitcoin's weekly trading volume has surged in venezuela, from 200 $25,000 at the end of 2017 to nearly $2.1 million in the first weeks of december. that is far higher than the value of bitcoin transactions seen in other, more prosperous countries in the region -- such as brazil and argentina. c could beo lifesaving. the health system is deteriorating, but venezuelans can buy essential medicines

abroad online using the crypto currency. unlike the dollar, it does not require a middleman broker to convert currencies. it can be sold peer-to-peer on virtual exchange websites. brian: time for a check on the day's trading action. european indexes mostly thinking on profit taking at the end of a strong year. investors concerned about the tax overhaul plan as some republican senators express continuing doubts. the fray for dax down 0.3%. off.ac in paris the big loser, h&m. shares in the swedish fashion retailer dropping over 13% so far on disappointing quarterly sales. h&m says it is planning more store closures and a revamp of its online business. let's look at more top business headlines. ryanair says it is reversing a long-standing policy of refusing to recognize pilot unions. the budget carrier is trying to

avert increasing strikes and walkouts during the busy holiday season. a ground crew in italy had been planning a four hour walkout friday. that was canceled on news of the company decision. for playmaking mobile he leaving the company in february, stepping down after the european aerospace giant board intervened to settle tensions when the ceo leaves in 2019. he will be replaced by a helicopter chief, amid international fraud investigations over commercial and military sales. finally for business, entrepreneurs talk a lot about the importance of failure on the road to success. now, some of the consumer product world's more notable flops are getting their due. the museum of failure in los angeles -- among the attractions, the colgate brand lasagna, which is probably a better idea than lasagna

flavored toothpaste. headphones for your dog -- i don't see anything wrong with that. this final walkman looks like an accident waiting to happen. the highlight? a display case of american president donald trump in his numerous sometimes questionable endorsements. you may remember's -- for member trump steaks. i take some exception to the make america great again hat being in there. whatever your political affiliation, he sold well over half a million of those at something like $50 a pop. it is maybe one of his better business ventures of all time. molly: perhaps. brian, thank you very much for that. it is time now for our press review. and i am joined by allison sergeant for a look at what is grabbing headlines. you are going to start in the united states.

we are seeing a lot of reaction to the decision to end net neutrality. tell us a bit. allison: media in the u.s. is in arms over this decision. we could start with a cartoon that gives you an idea of what the world might look like without net neutrality, according to some newspapers. this is a cartoon out of newsday from long island, new york. it is a little bit like being stuck in your car behind a very slow-moving truck. that slow-moving truck is your internet service provider blocking your way. if you want them to speed up or get out of the way, you have to pay a bit of money. they have some of those prices listed on the back of that truck. his article from the daily beast summarizes what a lot of papers are saying about this decision. they say it is a blow to consumers and a big win for corporations like verizon and comcast. the daily beast notes the current chair of the fcc used to work for verizon and had been talking about getting rid of net neutrality since the day donald trump appointed him. andas dismissed criticism once joked about being verizon's

puppet. the daily beast says it is not a joke. molly: those defending this change say it will create more equality. allison: right wing paper the wall street journal say the internet is free again. the paper emphasizes, as many on the right do, that net neutrality laws had been put in place by barack obama. the wall street journal said that made the government the gatekeeper to the internet. you can see a very different argument from those on the left, who are worried that service providers are about to become the new gatekeeper. molly: let's turn our attention to france. papers reacting to thursday's tragedy yesterday, when a train plowed into a school bus, killing four children and injuring over a dozen more. allison: this happens not far from the border with spain. the local press only has one word for it, "former." that is the front page of a regional paper. these is the town where students were from.

the bus was literally cut in half. it is a very big story in the national papers as well. it was called a tragedy. they while -- they remind us it is not clear how the bus got stuck on the train crossing. many papers are pointing out this is a recurring problem. every year, 30 people die at train crossings in france, a number that remains stable pretty much every year. the government is investigating and hopefully will find some answers. molly: let's moveve to french politics, a familiar name back in the headlines. allison: francois hollande, you might remember him. he was france's president this time last year. he went on a popular radio show last night, a rare treat. public.ot been very they say he torpedoed france's far left leader, saying he can hardly be counted as opposition. hollande went pretty easy on new president emmanuel macron. he said he is doing well so far, although hollande did credit himself.

he said he left the country in pretty good shape. he says he is working on a book to offer his ideas on how to get the socialist party back into shape. molly: also in the headlines, vladimir putin. papers reacting to his annual speech. allison: perhaps the most exciting moment was when he was questioned by one of his rivals a the upcoming election, journalist and socialite who asked a question about putin's main opposition, who has been barred for -- from the campaign. russia says he cannot participate in the election. putin sidestepped the question and did not mention the balmy by name. you can see what british paper "the times" thanks in this cartoon behind me. we can see clinton making his bid for reelection, but he cannot seem to figure out why no one else is running. if you look behind him, you get a good idea why. this may make some of us laugh,

but "the wall street journal" has a word of warning against the western media. russian political observers say that when the west criticizes putin, it increases the convictions of his supporters back at home. molly: back on the internet. we have reports that many of those who make their living on technology are very strict about kids using it at home. allison: no smartphones before age 14 in bill gates's household. no ipads for the kids of steve jobs. the round up of rules comes from a french channel. many of the big tech giants send their kids to a school in silicon valley famous for being screen free. it shows you the real luxury is not fancy technology. it is freedom from that fancy technology. sometimes technology can bring your spiritual insight. this last story from the bbc -- they are reporting the dalai lama has released a new app. it will allow followers to stay up-to-date. it comes a few years after the roman catholic church released a

map for people to keep track of their sins. another step in religion and spirituality finding their ways into online lives. molly: thank you. for more, you can head to our website

woman: to many outsiders, culture in los angeles is something that begins and ends with the movies. but the city has always bebeen home to radicl voices and new ideas that have stirred things up. in art, in literature, in architecture and urban life. in recent years, the city's artistic profile has grown bigger and brighter, with new w cultural i institutiononsw approaches to art, and new ways of thinking about the landscape. join me as we hit some of the city's most important cultural nerve centers. i'm carolina miranda, culture writer for the "los angeles times," and ththis is "artbound." woman: los angeles is an infinitely inspiring city. it feels l like yoyou can jujust