kate moody reports. kate: this is the alleged aftermath of the russian airstrikes in england - - in idlib. the deals like these were studied by and miss claims that videos like these were studied and amnesty international claims that moscow -- >> we believe they have committed war crimes in syria by directly attacking residential areas, including medical facilities. using inherently indiscriminate cluster munitions. using deadly bonds in populated areas. -- deadly bombs in populated areas. kate: it focuses on six particular attacks and calls on moscow to provide compensation for the civilian deaths and four and independent -- and for an independent investigation to be launched. >> we would like him to acknowledge what he has done. began airstrikes in september, saying it was acting at the request of syrian president bashar al-assad and targeting strongholds of the islamic state group. book -- the strikes have been criticized by the u.s.-led coalition. they have accused moscow of targeting opponents of the

time now for business with kate moody. hi, kate.l here inary france, for unemployment to be taken as seriously as terrorism? from thes is the call rather outspoken head of the made employers union in france. he said to french radio this tuesday morning rather that the government needs to roll out an emergency plan to create jobs in the same vein as the one imposed since last month's terror attacks. he called it a scandal of mass proportions and that with this high rate of youth unemployment, many young voters have been pushed towards the national front. they have been -- -- a critic about far right platform. the -- thiscome as comes as the statistics agency had a gloomy outlook? kate: just 3% growth, in line with what had been predicted before. putting the 19 member bloc on track for that 1.6%. it hasn't had too much affect on the european market, who is following a negative trend that was set in asia. a plunge overnight has been dragging down oil prices. bit, stilla little trading at just under 30 at dollars per barrel. very low fo

newsfor the day's business with kate moody. venezuelans have been given the opposition a majority in parliamentary elections. that is a real change. and the weak economy was cited as one of the most pressing issues. >> this is really seen as a blow to nicolas maduro. he's blamed for overseeing an economy expected to shrink by as much as 10% this year since he took office in 2013 inflation and unemployment have soared. basic goods have been hard to come by. snaking supermarket queues like this one are a common sight in pellets -- venezuela. everything is in short supply. >> there's no milk. i haven't been able to get milk for nine months. i can't get eggs either. look at this line. it's horrible. thehings are available on black market for those who can afford them. but those getting fixed salaries have practically no buying power as the balance whelan -- venezuela currency is almost worthless. of itsounts for 96% exports. venezuela is essentially bankrupt. >> without doubt the economic gouges --- price smugglers. has followed th

emerge as the next prime minister will have to focus on securing the country's economic recovery, as kate moody now reports. kate: an inconclusive result that rattled the markets. -- stock exchange's library a stock or change's lower from monday. the government's cost of borrowing rose on the international markets. the conservative party took a hit as voters expressed frustration with years of austerity. >> people have been suffering for a very long time. the cuts have made people's lives agonizing, so this really needs to change. rajince reggie -- since took office, there has beeno 3.4y -- the unemployment rate decrease from its all-time high new 27% but still topped 21% between july and september. the second-highest in europe. >> they say getting better, but the young people are all leaving. they cannot find jobs here. there are no good jobs. this is not a good way to relaunch the country. you whoever does take power will have to keep the economic recovery on track and stabilize the economy. the rest of the stock market at lunchtime in europe -- at 12:00 gmt, maine european markets were tradi

it is time now for business news with kate moody. hristmas is over, but the shopping season certainly is not, as evidenced by the thousands of shoppers who flocked to boxing day sales in the u.k. kate: initial announcements ported to nearly a 12% increase in shoppers. we do not have the official but some places were -- billion pounds, up 4% department stores shows most profitable our in its 100 year history. in the u.s., about half of u.s. consumers are expected to shop post holiday sales this week, according to the national retail federation. 2/3 of americans are likely to exchange their holiday gifts. while gift cards seem like a often expirey without ever being used. aurore: there is an increasingly popular alternative to the chain stores. >> pop-up stores. several artists and designers can share the cost of renting a space. it also means giving new life to old deserted businesses. catherine takes a look at how they are faring in france. they are made to disappear once again. here in this french town, customers are a lot of new bro

catherine: time to move on now with some business news with kate moody. hi, catherine.atherine: the federal reserve has raised its interest rate. ate: for the first time since means the, which american economy is approaching a return to normal conditions. it is an end to an extraordinary seven-year period. the fed brought the rate down to t in a move toen get the economy moving. to 0.25% to 0% 0.25% to 0.5% does not sound like much, but we expect to see a series of gradual increases over the next year. janet yellen says the bank wants to avoid an abrupt tightening and will continue to adapt to economic conditions. >> the importance of our initial increase in the target range for the federal funds rate should not be overstated. increase, theay's stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting further improvement in labor market conditions and a return to 2% inflation. as we indicated in our statement, the committee expects that economic conditions will involve in a manner that will in ant -- will evolve manner that will warrant only gradual increases

im joined in the studio by kate moody. we are going to start off with the latest of elements for the somewhat controversial ridesharing app, uber. kate:h a fresh round -- total valuation for you is $65.5 billion, making it the world's most valuable private startup. expanding in 350 cities across country -- across the -- across the world is being met with opposition. >> fighting uber at its own -- andhe u.s. company haveeast asia grab taxis formed a made alliance that will affect 50% of the world's population. their union will allow customers to access services through an app collaboration. collectively, they have $7 billion in funding, but it is still less than uber's. one copy has invested in three others. lyft, and partl of the $500 million raised the summer for holacab. companies are fighting back against the dominance of inner city car services. earlier this week, you k's black cab launched its own -- the u.k. 's black cab launched its own operation. in france, a rival app was launched called made in france in october.

some business news now with kate moody. you are talking about whatsapp. it's been quite a puzzle for people in brazil who use this popular messaging app. it was taken off-line and then reactivated all in the space of 24 hours. various judges involved. tell us more. ,ate: a judge ordered whatsapp which is a free, internet-based ed inging app, be block brazil for two days. local media was reporting that the injunction stems from a criminal court case, in which the defense had been allegedly using whatsapp? to organize their crimes. than 12 hours after that ban took effect, another judge overturned it, saying that millions of people should not pay the price for the company's inertia. reporter: message received. whinjunction blocking atsapp? in the country was overturned. 90% of brazil's internet users -- the blockage caused outrage. >> everyone has whatsapp? groups with relative, friends. >> we use whatsapp? for workgroups. it is a tool we got used to. reporter: but the app is less profit of -- less popular with brazil' telecoms industry. the company failed

let's move on now with some top business news headlines with kate moody. the team posting themselves off to space while people around the world are posting christmas cards and packages. there are a bunch of countries that have been accused of wrongdoing at this very crucial posting time of year. >> anyone who has been at the post office this time of year knows how expensive it can be to post a parcel off. have been accused of colluding on how much to charge customers for their passengers -- for their packages. they have been fined a record 672 million euros. >> and unwelcome delivery for transport friends in france. the companies agreed to artificially hike prices in secret meetings occurring between 2004 and 10, a practice the union president recalls only in part. >> i acknowledge there were discussions of a secret nature, but it's all relative. they happened in the room behind me, and there were notes from them published. these were not discussions held secretly in the back room of a restaurant. >> 20 delivery companies have been sanctioned, the biggest

kate: that is interesting. a aaa rating, the most security -- secure rating, there are very few colleges with this. liberal arts schools, s&p only has three.d moody'sub. amherst, their rating is a aaa. they actually have a negative outlook because of this $350 million campus improvement project they are doing. >> i thought all of these ivy's had tremendous endowments that they could give everybody free tuition for 100 years. kate: they do not use their endowment all the time. harvard has almost $40 billion in their endowment. years. tuition for 100 kate: it is the idea of it. you have your credit ratings on one side. then you have your u.s. news & world report's rating. the endowment is a large part of that. you cannot draw down too much on that. that is a huge factor as to why you are so prestigious and delete. -- elite. alix: is there any link between the high borrowing costs and inflation? tocolleges are almost immune what is going on in the larger economy in terms of raising their tuition. there does not seem to be a connection. i was looking at the growth rates of tuitions. you do not really see a dip in 2008, 2009, 2010. always over inflation