making news in america this morning -- siege in sydney. breaking developments as a gunman takes hostages at a popular cafe, forcing them to hold an islamic flag against the window. some able to escape. ores left inside. breaking overnight, the last escapee from an alabama prison break now captured. the help of a 24-hour tip line led to the catch. a coach grabs the player by the hair and throws her across the floor. why did she get kicked off the team while he's still coaching? and barbara walters' ten most fascinating people of the year. who made the cut? and why her number one locked down more than just the top spot.

good monday morning to you, i'm reena ninan. >> and i'm t.j. holmes. a popular cafe in sydney under siege. a horrifying hostage ordeal at the hands of what appears to be a lone gunman. >> after six hours, some of the hostages made it out of the building. they ran to the safety of police officers. >> the hostage drama paralyzed the busy financial district. all of it not far from the famed opera house. the coverage begins with lizzie per pearl with the latest. >> reporter: we don't know if the gunman let those people go or if, in fact, they escaped. one of them is believed to be quite an elderly gentleman who may have been suffering health problems. this is an unfolding situation. a lot of people are walking around with shocked looked on their faces. this is not something we see in

sydney. we see this in other locations. we watch it from millions of miles away knowing we're safely a long way away. our prime minister has spoken earlier today saying it's too soon to speculate on the motivation behind this gunman's actions. >> we don't yet know the motivation of the perpetrator. we don't know whether this is politically motivated. though obviously, there are some indications that it could be. >> reporter: we know that we have seen those terrifying images of hose hostages holding the black and white flag in the window there on the lindt cafe. those images have been beamed around the world and continue to do so. and certainly, a lot more to unfold. hopefully, the rest of those hostages will also be brought out safe and well. lizzie pearl, abc news, australia. >> we want to turn to hamish

macdonald. what do we know about the suspect if anything? >> reporter: a lot of information is starting to emerge. some of the broadcasters are saying the identity of the gunman is known to the police. we can't verify that. certainly, we're starting to gather more information about what planning has gone into the attack. the flag that he's holding is not the isis flag. it's the wrong flag. he's issued questions for an isis flag to be delivered. beyond that, no hostage, as far as we know, have been injured. this has dragged on for at least nine hours. that will give authorities hope. the police are remaining relatively calm. they feel they can bring this to a peaceful end. >> the video are the hostages making a break for it, escaping through the back or one of the side doors. what can you tell us about the location of the siege? how rare is this for australia? >> incredibly rare. australia is a relatively safe

country. this sent shock waves through the community. the location is interesting. it's martin place, the busiest stretch of public space in sydney's city center. it's opposite channel 7, which has a program called sunrise. imagine our "gma" setup, it's almost identical. the set of that breakfast program backs on to this public space. across the road is this cafe where the siege is taking place. a lot of the analysis already emerging. i've been talking to counterterrorism experts. they say the location is deliberate. in the view of the studio and the cameras because they want the attention. >> hamish macdonald, thank you for your perspective. meanwhile, president obama, the british, other nations keeping an eye on what is happening there. >> and americans in australia are receiving a sober warning. susan saulny has more. >> reporter: president obama was

among the first of the world leaders to be breefd on the hostage crisis as it unfolded. getting the details from the top counterterrorism adviser after the first family attended an annual christmas concert. key staffers at the consulate in australia continue to work in a secret location. americans are urged to stay away from the financial district and remain vigilant throughout the city. a statement released that our hearts and prayers go out to those held hostage. >> thank you, so much, susan saulny. you can stay with abc news as we continue our coverage of the siege in sydney. more details ahead on "good morning america." breaking news from alabama. the last of three escaped inmates back behind bar. the three men, inclupding two murder suspects, overpowered their guard, sprayed grandmothe.

a third picked up at an associate's house before m midnig midnight. >> scandinavian airlines is denying a near miss. the russian jet came dangerously close to a passenger jet. a spokesman for scandinavian airlines says the incident has been blown out of pro portion. no doubt about what forced an emergency landing in baltimore late friday. flames shooting out of an ingeneral injeengine on a southwest flight. the pilot came on the intercom and told them they had a bird strike. >> when we finally landed, even applauded the captain. multiple times. and, yeah, i was sure to look him in the eye, shake his hand,

say thank you. >> the faa says the number of bird strikes is soaring. more than 1100 last year. no ings juries to anybody on bo. now to wild weather including ware december tornadoes across the heartland. one of them was seen touching down in southern kansas. no serious injuries. it was so unsettled this yesterday. residents along the northwestern edge of kansas were getting snow. a tv news chopper was flying over central oklahoma. at least two tornadoes were reported there. neither of them resulted in damage or injury. some areas saw golf ball-sized hail. a wet commute in san francisco. today's storm and another one later this week won't bring as much rain to the area as last week's storm. for today, the weather from

across the nation, snow for the northern rockies and plains. showers along the gulf coast. clear and mostly mild along the east coast. >> boston, 42. here in new york, 45. 77 in miami. slightly cooler than that is new orleans. seattle reaches 50. and mid 60s in the southwest. when we come back, is the worst yet to come? a stern warning from the group behind the sony pictures e-mail hack. and bill cosby breaking his silence. what he's saying. and the breaking news in australia. chilling images of people fleeing a hostage situation. stay with us for the latest.

the hacker grup that has attacked sony pictures is warning that a quote christmas gift is coming. they claim it will put the company into a worse state. the company already in chaos over stolen e-mails involving a-list stars and company execs. the social security numbers of some 47,000 people have also been stolen. we gear up to the holidays. today is expected to be the busiest mailing day of the year. today, they plan to process more than 640 million cards, letters, and packages.dicting the busiesy ever. america loves its pets. investors love petsmart. it's agreed to be sold to an investor group for $8.7 billion.

several suitors had been trying to buy the company. stock is up 7% since friday. the box office. "exodus gods and kings" took first by bringing in $24.5 million. the hunger games was second with $13.2 million. the penguins of madagascar in third. new details about the suspect arrested in a killing of a football player. and caught on camera, a girls' basketball coach grabs player by the hair and throws her across the court. why the player is the one in trouble.

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suburban detroit reduced to a pile of rubble and dust. it took seconds for a demolition crew to implode this 17-story building. the property was owned by a local college. it auctioned off the chance to blow up the building to the highest bidder. a recent graduate got the opportunity. rain for the windy city. clear commuting along the east coast. if you're flying, no surprise. airport delays possible? chicago, minneapolis, and san francisco. recapping the top strorry. the hostage situation in sydney. >> a gunman is holding people hostage. five people have come running out of the building to police. some hostages were seen earlier holding up an islamic flag. hours later, the motives of the gunman still unclear. more fallout of the abuse scandal for bill cosby. a professorship has now been

rescinded. cosby and his wife gave the college $20 million to fund a chair there in the '80s. >> he said he expected the black media to uphold ethics. there's been an arrest in the death of an auburn university football player. an argument apparently led to the shooting of jakel mitchell. his girlfriend said he was arguing with man in the parking lot when a third man pulled a hand gunn and just started shooting. the nhl's biggest star is also the newest player to be diagnosed with the mumps. sidney crosby of the pittsburgh penguins is in isolation. he was held out of games friday and saturday after coming down with symptoms. he's been ruled out of tonight's game. about a dozen players from four teams have been diagnosed with mumps. a girls' basketball player

says she's been treated unfairly after a game. a fight erupted at a game. when the girl ran on to the court, the coach grabbed her by the hair, tossed her several feet. she says she was going to tad of the teammate. her mom accuses the school of handling the situation incorrectly. >> there was no i'm sorry. i didn't mean to. it was an accident. >> i got no respect at all from none of the administration. none of them asked if i was okay the next day. >> she's been suspended from school and thrown off the team. the coach who tossed her aside was not disciplined. no charges will be filed. the school considers the case closed. the upcoming super bowl is scheduled for sunday, february 1st, in arizona. there will likely be no game unless congress acts to renew what is called the terrorism risk insurance act. it accomplished a risk-sharing partnership between the government and insurers. it expires at tepid of the year.

if no action is taken, there would be no insurance for the game, which means there wouldn't be a game. >> that's not going happen. >> we boept know that won't happen. too much money involved. >> somehow we bet the game will go on, right? as for some of last night's sports action, let's turn to our guy at espn. welcome up side "sportscenter." i'm john buccigross. entering sunday night's game, kobe bryant needed nine points to pass michael jordan for third all-time on the nba scoring list. there's kobe. he would pass michael jordan at the free-throw line. minnesota owner glen taylor comes out to give him the ball. later, kobe over rookie andrew wiggins. the lakers beat minnesota. so here's the all-time scoring list. he didn't think he'll play long enough to pass karl malone or

kareem abdul-jabbar. on sunday night, first place on the line, cowboys and eagles. tony romo and the cowboys lost on thanks giving night to the eagles at home. go on the road, they haven't lost all year. romo hit dez bryant three times in the end zone. the cowboys win. ♪ that music means "monday night football" a must-win for the saints. they go the chicago against the bears. it all kicks off at 8:15. well, bradley cooper was actually trending on twitter during that eagles-cowboys game last night. >> wow want to know why? he proved he's the ultimate philly fan. >> yep, that's him. cooper singing the eagles fight song after a touchdown. he was sitting next to eagles

team owner j eer jeffrey lurie. >> and also sparking interest, jerry jones' guest is chris christie. he's a cowboys fan. a lot of people have taken to twitter to blast his allegiance with a rival team. coming up, the big reveal. barbara walters' most fascinating person of 2014. and designing star. she's 4. "the pulse" is next. a few stops later, and it looks like big ollie is on the mend. it might not seem that glamorous having an old pickup truck for an office... or filling your days looking down the south end of a heifer, but...i wouldn't have it any other way. look at that, i had my best month ever. and earned a shiny new office upgrade. i run on quickbooks. that's how i own it.

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with abreva. topping "the pulse" the most fascinating people of 2014, according to our barbara walters. her 20th installment last night. number three on the list, george

r.r. martin, the guy who gave us "game of thrones." second place, my girl. just love me taylor swift. she's 25 years old now, by the way. >> drum roll please. the woman who tamed the world's most eligible bachelor. the former amal alamuddin. elusive. the choice, totally spot on. how could you not pick her? >> i love the list every year. this is not barbara's last. let's say it. >> she says it will be. >> like she did last year. next up, the newly crowned miss world. a 22-year-old medical student. her name is roline strauss. slooes from south africa. >> she won last night in london. she'll focus on education, particularly in her homeland in the coming year. she says she's going to keep the new crown on as long as possible, paying close attention it doesn't mistakenly fall off during the celebratory hugs she's likely to receive.

>> that's a heck of a crown. >> yeah. next up, j. crew's 4-year-old designer. >> this is a fashionista. she goes by the name mayhem. we showed her in "the pulse" earlier this year with paper dresses re-creating celebrity outfits. >> she flew to new york recently to give j. crew bosses some of her designs for a new children's line that will be out in the spring. >> congrats to her. another youngster here. an "a" for effort. watch her on the right side of the screen here. [ laughter ] >> we know about her, her name is haley. she's 4 years old. part of a dance troupe, doing the song "let it go" from "frozen." >> you go, girl. do you thing. >> for some of you, your locale news is next.

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>> hello, everyone, i'm matt o'donnell, it is 4:27 monday, december 15. police officer shot a man in the city's mayfair neighborhood an hour ago, we're on the scene gathering information and bring you live updates out the morning. breaking overseas, gunman is holding people hostage in a cafe for nearly half a day. could you tell boys get revenge from the thanksgiving beating from the eagles, we have brand new reaction from the teen. controversy on a tweet sent by a certain city council member and we're tracking the forecast. his mom and dad sharing three new photos of their first born. an early christmas present to

fans and journalists. >> chubby cheeks there. >> reporter: a mischievous look from a young prince now almost 18 months old. the official photographs released for christmas. not the work of a photographer. the photos where taken by ed lain fox, prince harry's private secretary. the young prince is pictured in a courtyard at kensington palace. they were released as a thank you for the british media. there have been just a few problems with paparazzi pictures with their son. they're grateful that hair wish for him to grow up without pictures is being fold. the duke and duchess of cambridge said they understand the public interest in their son. while he's young, they want him

to lead as ordinary a life as possible. on tour with his parents in australia and new zealand earlier this year, a chance to see a growing young prince who had developed a mind of his own. this latest set of pictures of a child who is of interest to so many, the toddler who will one day be king. >> he's adorable. >> he is. it's great to hear they're respecting boundaries. you don't hear that a lot. he's kind of being left alone. >> the outfit he wore is sold out before the pictures came out. the prince george effect. >> a popular little kid already. but, it is -- and a great strategy as well. here's a thank you to the journalists. we'll give this to you for christmas. merry christmas to you. they're working well. good to hear. >> that's what's making news in america this morning. >> stay with us for "good morning america." thanks for being with us this morning. have a good monday.

>> we are following breaks news on this monday december 15. >> philadelphia police have shot anticipate killed a man in the city's mayfair section we're live on the scene. moore breaking news a gunman in australia has been holding several people hostage for ten hours. >> the clock is ticking for the taj mahal casino, today is the deadline to keep the casino open. >> good morning, to karen rogers, and matt pellman, good morning to all of you. >> reporter: good morning, we