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Paris Attacks: Deadly Police Raid on Suspects’ Saint-Denis Apartment

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: Deadly Police Raid on Suspects’ Saint-Denis Apartment

At least one person died as French police have raided a flat in the north Paris suburb of Saint-Denis in an operation linked to last week’s attacks.

A female suspect blew herself up with a suicide belt, a prosecutor says. Some reports suggest two suspects died. There were explosions and gunfire in the operation, which is continuing.

Five people have also been arrested.

The focus of the operation is Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged mastermind of the ISIS-claimed attacks that killed 129 people in Paris on November 13.

Roads have been blocked off around Rue de la Republique in Saint-Denis, in the same district as the Stade de France where suicide attackers detonated bombs.

Truckloads of soldiers joined armed police at the scene.

Photo AP
Photo AP

At least five people were believed to have been in the targeted third floor flat in Rue de La Republique, French media report.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the raid started at 04:20 local time and was still ongoing.

A woman inside the apartment set off an explosives vest at the beginning of the raid and died.

Three men who were also in the apartment have been detained by anti-terrorist police.

A man and a woman were stopped and detained close to the apartment, police said.

There are unconfirmed reports that one person remains holed up in the flat. Other unconfirmed reports have put the death toll at between two and three.

Several police officers are reported to have been wounded in the operation.

Earlier, Deputy Mayor Stephane Peu urged local residents to stay indoors, saying “it is not a new attack but a police intervention”.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old Belgian of Moroccan origin, had been thought to have organized last week’s attacks from Syria, but is now believed to have been one of those in the St Denis apartment.

Security sources have said surveillance video showed a possible ninth assailant during the attacks.

The video reportedly shows a third figure in the car carrying the group which attacked several bars and restaurants.

It is not clear if this ninth attacker is one of two suspected accomplices detained in Belgium or is someone still on the run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r6Q37r6dU

McDonald’s China Opens Outlet in Ex-Taiwan President’s Residence

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s China Opens Outlet in Ex-Taiwan President’s Residence

McDonald’s China has sparked controversy after the opening of a outlet in the home of former Taiwanese leader Chiang Ching-kuo in Hangzhou.

Conservationists had called for the villa, a cultural heritage site, to be converted into a museum.

However, officials said the decision to lease the site to McDonald’s was made because they needed to cover maintenance costs.

Chiang Ching-kuo’s grandson and others have voiced their concern over the commercialization of the site.

McDonald’s opened the 100-seat McCafe in the lower storey of the villa, situated by Hangzhou’s West Lake tourist attraction, over the weekend.

The upper storey, also leased out by officials, houses a Starbucks outlet which opened a month earlier.

Chiang Ching-Kuo is the son of revolutionary figure and Taiwanese leader Chiang Kai-shek, who fled to the island in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War.

He later become the leader of Taiwan in 1978.

Chiang Ching-kuo and his family stayed in the villa from October to November, 1948, and it was designated a cultural heritage site by Hangzhou officials in 2003.McDonald’s China Opens Outlet in ex-Taiwan President's Residence

The move has been criticized by Chiang Ching-kuo’s grandson, Taiwanese businessman Demos Chiang, on microblogging platform Weibo.

“I don’t understand, opening a McDonald’s in the villa… how exactly does that adhere to regulations on correct usage of cultural heritage sites?” he said in a post.

In 2000, Beijing saw a similar controversy when a Starbucks outlet opened in the Forbidden City.

It shut in 2007 after officials decided to merge and cut down the number of shops in the palace, following multiple protests over the years about the commercialization of the site.

According to Beijing Youth Daily, the decision to commercially lease out the villa was met with strong resistance, with more than 90% attendees at a public consultation in January voting against it.

Conservationists suggested that the villa be turned into a historical museum promoting China-Taiwan ties.

One of them, Zhejiang University academic Zhou Fuduo, noted that the villa was a symbol of China and Taiwan’s shared history.

“We said that the villa’s sociocultural value outstrips its commercial value, but in the end our proposal was ignored,” he told the paper.

However, officials pointed out that the local government needed money to recoup the cost of maintaining the building throughout the years.

A spokesman for the Zhejiang local government, which oversees Hangzhou city, told the newspaper: “Chiang Ching-kuo stayed in this home too briefly and what is left is just the main structure, the interiors look nothing like they used to when the Chiang family was here… there is not much point in turning it into a museum.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gpNIB3CTiI

White House 2016: Bobby Jindal Drops out Presidential Race

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Bobby Jindal Drops out Presidential Race

Bobby Jindal has dropped out of the race for the White House after struggling for months to gain traction amid a sprawling field of Republican candidates.

Although the Louisiana governor showed some strength in the early voting state of Iowa, he consistently performed poorly in national polls.

Bobby Jindal, 44, was shut out of the main Republican debates, relegated to secondary stages.

“This is not my time,” he said on November 17.

The Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants added diversity to the Republican field, which includes African-American neurosurgeon Ben Carson and businesswoman Carly Fiorina.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

However, Governor Bobby Jindal sought to distance himself from his Indian heritage during the campaign.

“We are not Indian-Americans, African-Americans, Irish-Americans, rich Americans, or poor Americans. We are all Americans,” he told supporters when he launched his campaign in June.

Unpopular in his home state after a budget shortfall, Bobby Jindal had been considered a long-shot for the nomination.

During his campaign, Bobby Jindal sought to appeal to evangelical Christian voters, taking hard lines on gay rights and Islamic extremism.

However, he was courting the same slice of the electorate as rival candidates such as Ben Carson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Bobby Jindal joins former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker who have also suspended their campaigns for president.

Fourteen Republicans remain in the presidential race.

Jamar Clark Dies in Minneapolis Hospital

Nancy Clayson
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Jamar Clark Dies in Minneapolis Hospital

Jamar Clark, the 24-year-old black man shot by police in an incident that sparked large protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has died.

He had been on life support in hospital since the shooting on November 15.

Police say that Jamar Clark was the suspect in an assault case and was interfering with medics who were working on the victim when he was he was shot.

Protesters have camped outside the police station for two days, and blocked a major highway on November 16.

That demonstration led to the arrest of 51 protesters on that night.Jamar Clark dead at 24

Police have released few details about the shooting of Jamar Clark – who some say was handcuffed when he was shot. Police have denied that claim.

The demonstrations came after the mayor’s decision to ask the federal government to launch a civil rights investigation.

Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was asking for the investigation in the “interest of transparency and community confidence”.

While a state agency has already launched a criminal investigation, the mayor said that Minneapolis needs “all the tools we have available to us”.

Two officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave – which is standard procedure after incidents such as this.

The police chief has said that the officers were not wearing body cameras, but would not say whether the squad car or other surveillance video captured the incident.

Protesters have welcomed the federal investigation, but have vowed to continue demonstrating until any video of the situation is released and the officers involved are identified.

The protests began on November 15 and included an overnight encampment at a Minneapolis police station near the scene of the shooting.

At least eight tents were seen at the campsite on the next day, and a few protesters were sitting inside the glass doors of the station – including one who was knitting.

“We’re still not moving until we get that footage,” said Michael McDowell, a demonstrator with the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to police, the incident began on November 15 when police were called to north Minneapolis following the report of an assault.

At the scene, police found Jamar Clark interfering with paramedics who were attempting to help the victim. They attempted to calm him, which resulted in a struggle and a shot being fired, police said.

Jamar Clark’s father told the Associated Press news agency that his son suffered a single gunshot wound over his left eye.

His brother told the AP that family members assembled at the hospital on November 16 to take Jamar Clark off of life support.

A number of high-profile police shootings of black people have sparked protests nationwide about the police use of excessive force against African Americans.

5 Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid in a New City

Roy Siemens
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5 Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid in a New City

Moving to a new city and buying a new home there can be a fun and exciting adventure. Unfortunately, it can also be stressful if you don’t plan it carefully. There is a lot to think about when you buy a new home, but there are even more considerations when you are buying your home in a new city. Make sure you don’t make one of these five home-buying mistakes when you start your search for your new home.

1. Looking Outside Your Price Range

5_Home-Buying_Mistakes_to_Avoid_in_a_New_City

Image via Flickr by DanielSTL

It’s so tempting to look at houses just a little above your price range. Don’t do it. Once you start looking even a little above your price range, it becomes easy to go just a little higher and a little higher. Of course those homes are also going to get nicer, bigger, or have more amenities as well. It’s easy to justify anything, and soon you will find yourself believing you can afford more than you can. It’s also hard to go back to looking at homes in your price range once you have seen better ones, so save yourself the heartache and don’t even peek.

2. Forgetting About the Finances

People make a lot of mistakes when it comes to the financial side of buying a home. Before you even start looking at homes, you need to figure out what you can afford. A good way to do that is to get pre-approved for a loan. Once you have a tentative budget, you need to factor in all the hidden costs of buying a home. Those costs can include taxes, insurance, closing costs, and moving costs. There is a lot of information that is vital to creating your budget and it all needs to be considered.

3. Buying Immediately

When you move to a new city you might be anxious to hurry up and get your new home. Unfortunately, you could wind up in the wrong neighborhood, with a horrible commute, or otherwise unhappy. Although you don’t want to waste a lot of money, consider renting for a couple of months, or stay with a friend or family member to get a feel for the city before buying.

If buying right away is your only option, then make sure you thoroughly investigate the neighborhood at different times of the day, and make your work commute more than once. Neighborhoods could be great during the day or on the weekends and disappointing or even dangerous at night.

4. Not Utilizing Resources

There are so many resources now available, and you should take advantage of everything that is possibly available to you. Hire a good real estate agent that you can trust, but do your homework on the side. There are plenty of websites you can use from home.

When you’re out and about and connected to a reliable network you can use apps on your smartphone to compare listings and prices as you walk or drive through different neighborhoods. You can use the apps to help decide on an offer when you find the right home for you and your family. There might be many opportunities, and you should do all you can to make an educated choice.

5. Looking at Only One Neighborhood

It’s tempting to just look at the neighborhood closest to work, but there could be hidden gems that you are missing out on. Visit different neighborhoods at different times of the day, and keep an open mind about them. You may surprise yourself about what neighborhood has the most to offer. Also spend time talking to the residents in different areas to get their perspectives on whether each neighborhood would be a good fit.

The worst thing you can do when buying a new home, especially in a new city, is trying to go at it alone, without utilizing all the people, websites, and apps that are available to help you make the perfect choice.

4 Critical Home Maintenance Items Not to Fall Behind On

Nancy Clayson
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4 Critical Home Maintenance Items Not to Fall Behind On

It is human nature to look for ways to cut corners. Preventative maintenance often seems to homeowners like something optional, a thing that can be put off indefinitely in favor of something else. Those who follow this philosophy typically find themselves regretting it when the tasks they’ve neglected lead to serious — and expensive — problems. Below, you’ll find several suggestions to make sure you keep up.

Yard Maintenance

4_Critical_Home_Maintenance_Items_Not_to_Fall_Behind_On

Image via Flickr by dotpolka

A visitor’s first impression of your home will be your yard. A wild and unkempt lawn makes its owner seem unwilling to keep up with lawn maintenance. Trim your grass regularly and rake the leaves during the appropriate seasons. Above all, though, avoid using your yard to store random items. Few things leave as bad an impression as an overgrown front lawn filled with auto parts and old home appliances.

Cleaning the Gutters

Nobody likes climbing up to the gutters and getting the gunk out of them. The gutters, however, are a crucial tool to keep your house in working order. They pull water away from the house’s frame, where moisture can cause rot and weaken the structure. Inevitably, these gutters will clog with leaves and other detritus, which can cause them to back up and eventually cease working altogether. While cleaning the debris from the system, you can also take the time to inspect the gutters and downspouts, making sure everything is attached and without major holes or faults.

HVAC Maintenance

Your place’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system is one of the most important facets of home comfort. A broken HVAC can leave you, your family, and guests alternately sweating and freezing at the mercy of the elements raging outside. Changing air filters and cleaning the vents are things that you can do yourself, but other tasks must be handled on a regular home inspection and a regular maintenance visit by an expert. Routine maintenance can extend the life of your system and keep your AC running efficiently for longer, in turn, reducing HVAC energy costs.

Check for Cracks and Holes

Weaknesses in your home’s construction, coupled with the efforts of vermin and other animals, can lead to developing holes in the sides of your home; Rain and snow can do the same to your driveway. This can lead to pests and moisture entering your house and your driveway becoming an obstacle course. Every few months, or at the least once a year, take time to slowly walk the perimeter of your home, looking at the concrete and the facade of the property. Mark off any weaknesses you find and come back with sealing foam for the holes in the house.

Owning a home is a big responsibility. Unlike renting, you take on a great deal of liability for the property. Moreover, any faults that develop will reduce the value of your house, damaging the resale on what is probably the most valuable thing you own. Maintenance is your primary way to diminish the impact of deterioration on your domicile. Keep up on your prevention now, or find yourself paying for it later.

Paris Attacks: French Police Search Suspects Premises

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: French Police Search Suspects Premises

French police have been searching premises they believe were used by the last week’s attackers in Paris.

Salah Abdeslam, the suspected eighth gunman who is now the subject of an international manhunt, rented out an apartment and two hotel rooms.

A car that Salah Abdeslam rented which may have been used to bring the attackers to and from Belgium is also being inspected.

ISIS says it carried out the multiple attacks in which 129 people died.

A Belgian-registered black Renault Clio was found parked near Montmartre in northern Paris. After police sealed off the area and ensured there was no booby-trap, the vehicle was towed away for forensic examination.Paris attacks suspects

Images shown on French media of one of the hotel rooms being examined show syringes and tubes which could be bomb-making equipment.

Salah Abdeslam is believed to have fled across the border to his native Belgium. Belgian police have released more pictures of him.

On November 17, French media reported that a French jihadist, Fabien Clain, had been identified as the voice in a recording issued by ISIS in which it said it had carried out the attacks.

As the investigation continues, and in an effort to prevent more attacks, France has mobilized 115,000 security personnel, according to Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

Meanwhile, Belgium’s government has raised its terror threat level because of the failure so far to arrest Salah Abdeslam.

German media reported three arrests near Aachen, on the Belgian border, in an operation linked to the attacks.

Venezuela: Diosdado Cabello Accuses US of Kidnapping First Lady Cilia Flores’ Nephews

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Diosdado Cabello Accuses US of Kidnapping First Lady Cilia Flores’ Nephews

Venezuela’s National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello has accused the United States of kidnapping two nephews of First Lady Cilia Flores, wife of President Nicolas Maduro.

The two were arrested in Haiti last week and taken by the US Drug Enforcement Administration to New York and charged with drug trafficking.

Diosdado Cabello said the arrests were “irregular” and had been carried out to damage the governing party ahead of legislative elections on December 6.

US-Venezuelan ties have been fraught.

The US and Venezuela have not exchanged ambassadors since 2012 and Venezuela regularly accuses the US of trying to destabilize the Latin American country.

Diosdado Cabello, a powerful figure in the governing United Socialist Party (PSUV), was the first official to speak out about the arrest of the two men on November 10.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

In an interview with Venezuelan TV, Diosdado Cabello said that he did not consider it an arrest.

“A plane went to Haiti with six people and they kidnapped two,” he said referring to the fact that the four other people on board had not been charged.

“It’s the DEA’s normal procedure to kidnap lots of people,” he alleged.

The aim of the arrests, Diosdado Cabello added, was “to hurt the Bolivarian revolution” in the midst of an election.

Some polls suggest that the governing coalition could lose its majority in the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years on December 6.

Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 29, and Franqui Flores de Freitas, 30, were charged with one count of drug trafficking on November 12.

The two are nephews of first lady Cilia Flores and travelled on diplomatic passports.

Diosdado Cabello said they had acted independently: “These are grown men who can do what they want in life.”

Their indictment accuses the men of conspiring to import “five kilograms [11 lb] and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine” to the US.

A US law enforcement source had told Reuters that the two men had allegedly planned to smuggle a much larger amount, 800kg, to the US.

Lawyers for Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Franqui Flores de Freitas said they would plead not guilty at their next court appearance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qotm5BJ859U

Pauley Perrette Attacker Pleads Not Guilty

Sonia Pantiss
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Pauley Perrette Attacker Pleads Not Guilty

David Merck, a homeless man who is accused of attacking and threatening to kill NCIS actress Pauley Perrette, has pleaded not guilty.

David Merck, 45, was charged on November 16 with false imprisonment by violence and making a criminal threat.

The man could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Payley Perrette, who plays lab technician Abby Sciuto in NCIS – was attacked outside her Hollywood home on November 12, telling Twitter followers she thought she was going to die.

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

In a lengthy post, Pauley Perrette said she was hit in the face several times and described her assailant as “psychotic”, adding: “I am shaken and traumatized… I almost died tonight.”

Pauley Perrette, 46, said her attacker “headed towards Hollywood Blvd, with murder in his eyes”.

Her friend tracked down and followed the man until police arrived.

LAPD officer Jane Kim confirmed Pauley Perrette’s account of the assault was accurate.

Pauley Perrette has been with the cast of NCIS since it began in 2003.

Paul Walker Crash: Porsche Blames Actor for His Own Death

Sonia Pantiss
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Paul Walker Crash: Porsche Blames Actor for His Own Death

Paul Walker was responsible for his own death in a high-speed crash of a 2005 Carrera GT, automaker Porsche has said.

The Fast and Furious actor was a passenger in the Porsche driven by his friend Roger Rodas when it hit a pole and burst into flames in November 2013.

Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow, filed a wrongful death case in September claiming Porsche took safety shortcuts.

However, the automaker has said Paul Walker “knowingly and voluntarily assumed all risk” of being a passenger in the car.

The actor was “a knowledgeable and sophisticated user of the 2005 Carrera GT”, Porsche said in legal papers filed last week.Paul Walker car crash

“PCNA [Porsche Cars North America] alleges that Mr. Walker knowingly and voluntarily assumed all risk, perils and danger in respect to the use of the subject 2005 Carrera GT,” said the manufacturer.

It added: “The perils, risk and danger were open and obvious and known to him, and he chose to conduct himself in a manner so as to expose himself to such perils, dangers and risks, thus assuming all the risks involved in using the vehicle.”

Porsche also said in its defense papers that the car in which Paul Walker was travelling, had been “abused and altered” and was “misused and improperly maintained”.

The statement adds: “At the time the subject 2005 Carrera GT was originally manufactured, sold and delivered, it comported with state of the art.”

After a four-month investigation following the crash on November 30, 2013, the police said the Porsche, driven by Paul Walker’s friend Roger Rodas who also died, was travelling at 94mph in a 45mph zone when it hit a lamp post.

Meadow Walker’s legal claim contends the car was travelling much slower when it went out of control and that her father’s seatbelt was defective.

Her legal documents allege the car lacked “features that could have prevented the accident or, at a minimum, allowed Paul Walker to survive the crash”.

In response to Porsche’s defense, a representative for Meadow Walker told TMZ: “It is beyond regrettable that Porsche is trying to deflect its own responsibility by blaming the victim, Paul Walker, for his own death by getting into the passenger seat of its Carrera GT.

“Contrary to Porsche’s assertions, the facts are clear: Paul was the passenger in a car that was not designed to protect its occupants, in a crash on a dry, empty straightaway in broad daylight and at speeds well below the vehicle’s advertised capabilities.”

Roger Rodas’ widow filed a similar case last year, but Porsche said the crash was his fault, rather than down to design flaw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzrAGbFDsO0

Charlie Sheen Is HIV Positive! Actor Confirms on Today Show

Sonia Pantiss
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Charlie Sheen Is HIV Positive! Actor Confirms on Today Show

Charlie Sheen is confirming he is HIV positive as he appears on NBC’s Today show.

“I am here to admit that I am HIV positive,” the former Two And A Half Men star said.

The news bring to an end days of intense media speculation.

“I have to put a stop to this onslaught this barrage of attacks and of sub truths,” Charlie Sheen said, adding he was diagnosed four years ago.

Charlie Sheen revealed he had paid “enough to take it into the millions” to keep people from going public about his illness over the years.

The said when he revealed his HIV status to friends “the truth became treason”, leading to “blackmail and extortion and a circle of deceit”.

“I trusted them, they were in my inner circle and thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason,” Charlie Sheen said, adding a prostitute took a picture of his medication and threatened to sell it to newspapers.

“I think I release myself from this prison today,” he said.

Charlie Sheen admitted that his use of drink and drugs was a “bad decision” but said it was “impossible” that he would have passed HIV on to anyone else.

He said he does not feel any stigma attached to the illness.

“I have the responsibility to better myself and help a lot of other people. With what we’re doing today, others may come up and say thanks Charlie, thanks for kicking the door open.”

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

Speaking about the time prior to his diagnosis, Charlie Sheen said: “It started with a series of cluster headaches and sweating – I was hospitalized I thought I had a brain tumor – after tests they said this was the situation. It’s a hard three letters to absorb.”

Charlie Sheen rose to fame in the 80s with hit movies including Platoon and Wall Street and, in 2011, was the highest-paid actor on TV thanks to his sitcom role.

He has frequently struggled with drink and drug abuse.

Charlie Sheen, who played a hedonistic bachelor in Two And A Half Men, was fired from the show in 2011 after a downward spiral in his personal life that was often played out in public.

Production had been suspended after he entered rehabilitation for reported drug and alcohol abuse.

Charlie Sheen – the youngest son of West Wing star Martin Sheen and brother of actor Emilio Estevez – has also had a troubled personal life and has been married three times.

He first marriage was to Donna Peele in 1995 but they split up after a year. His second marriage was to former Bond girl Denise Richards, with whom he has two daughters. They divorced in 2006 and he married Brooke Mueller, with whom he has twin sons.

Charlie Sheen was then due to marry Scottine Ross, but the wedding was called off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxAniL0JcjY

Sinai Plane Crash: Terrorist Act Downed Russian A321 Airliner in Egypt

Roy Siemens
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Sinai Plane Crash: Terrorist Act Downed Russian A321 Airliner in Egypt

An act of terror brought down the Russian A321 airliner in Egypt last month, killing all 224 people on board, says Russia’s security chief Alexander Bortnikov.

“Traces of foreign explosives” were found on debris from the Airbus plane, FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov told Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin vowed to “find and punish” those behind the attack over the Sinai peninsula. A branch of ISIS said it downed the plane.

Nearly all the dead were Russians.

Alexander Bortnikov said a bomb had been planted on board the Metrojet plane, equivalent to up to 1kg of TNT. The Kremlin website carried a transcript of the meeting.Sinai plane crash 2015

The bomb shattered the plane mid-air on October 31, he said, “which explains the wide dispersal of fuselage pieces”.

Vladimir Putin said that Russia must hunt those responsible “indefinitely, find out who the individuals were”.

“We’ll look for them everywhere, wherever they are hiding. We’ll find them in any corner of the planet and punish them.”

Russia has offered a $50 million reward for information on the Sinai plane attackers.

Sinai Province, a branch of ISIS, said in a statement on October 31 that it had destroyed the plane because of Russian air strikes in Syria.

ISIS also said it was responsible for the multiple shootings and bombings in Paris on November 13 which killed 129 people and wounded hundreds more.

Most of the A321 passengers were Russian tourists flying home from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Metrojet is the brand name of Kogalymavia, an airline based in western Siberia.

Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s air strikes in Syria “must not only be continued – they must be intensified so that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable”.

Russian warplanes are supporting Syrian government forces against various rebel groups, including ISIS and other Islamists.

Russia’s military commanders were also at the meeting with Vladimir Putin and the Federal Security Service (FSB) chief.

Vladimir Putin was speaking after separate meetings at the G20 summit in Turkey, with President Barack Obama on November 15, and UK PM David Cameron on November 16.

The Syrian conflict was the focus of their talks.

The Sinai Province militants have operated in northern Sinai for two years, attacking Egyptian security forces, hundreds of whom have died in the violence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp5R3OuXxX4

Paris Attacks: 115,000 Security Officers Mobilized across France

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: 115,000 Security Officers Mobilized across France

More than 115,000 security personnel have been mobilized in the wake of Friday’s Paris attacks by ISIS, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has announced.

Bernard Cazeneuve said 128 more raids on suspected militants were carried out. French air strikes also hit Islamic State in Syria overnight.

ISIS has said it carried out the attacks on bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and Stade de France stadium in which 129 people died.

A huge manhunt is under way for one of the suspects, Salah Abdeslam.

Salah Abdeslam is believed to have fled across the border to his native Belgium. Belgian police have released more pictures of the wanted man.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Belgium’s government has raised its terror threat level because of the failure so far to arrest Salah Abdeslam.

Bernard Cazeneuve said: “We have mobilized 115,000 police, gendarmes and military over the whole of our national territory to insure the protection of French people.”

He vowed to boost funding for police equipment, which he said had fallen by 17% between 2007 and 2012.

The interior minister added that 128 raids on suspected Islamist militants had been carried out overnight on November 16 to 17. More than 160 raids were made earlier on November 16, with 23 people arrested and dozens of weapons seized.

French media reported that during raids police found a safe house used by the attackers in Bobigny, a suburb of Paris.

Meanwhile France has evoked a previously unused clause in the Treaty on European Union obliging other member states to provide it with “aid and assistance by all means in their power”.

Within minutes, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that all 28 member states had offered “full support and readiness to provide all the aid and assistance needed”.

The measures came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Paris.

Speaking on November 16, John Kerry described ISIS as “psychopathic monsters”.

After meeting French President Francois Hollande on November 17, John Kerry said everyone understood that after Paris and other recent attacks “we have to step up efforts to hit them at the core” and improve border security.

President Francois Hollande is due to fly to Washington and Moscow next week for talks with Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3-TCHiaaDE

Spectre Tops US Box Office for Second Week

Sonia Pantiss
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Spectre Tops US Box Office for Second Week

Spectre has continued to top the North American box office in its second week of release.

The 24th James Bond movie, starring Daniel Craig, made $35.4 million between November 13 and 15, according to estimates.

The Peanuts Movie held firm at No 2, with takings of $24.2 million.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt drama By the Sea failed to make a splash, taking just $95,440 at 10 screens.

Photo IMDb
Photo IMDb

The European art house film stars the real-life couple as a husband and wife struggling to cope in the aftermath of a trauma. The movie was also directed by Angelina Jolie – her third time at the helm of a movie – and the actress also wrote the script.

By the Sea, which marks the first time Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have appeared together on the big screen since Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, has been generally panned by critics.

Despite its poor takings, By the Sea’s limited release is thought unlikely to hurt its film company, Universal, too much since it was made for a relatively modest budget of $10 million.

Spectre‘s takings fell 50% in its second weekend, bringing its North American total to $130.7 million.

That is well behind the $161 million earned by its predecessor Skyfall over the same period.

The Peanuts Movie – the family-friendly adaptation of the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy – saw its second weekend takings drop by 45%, bringing its total in the US to $82.5 million.

The rest of the top five saw Love the Coopers, an ensemble comedy about a family gathering starring Diane Keaton and Alan Arkin, enter the chart at number three with $8.4 million.

Old release The Martian dropped one place to No 4, while at number five was another new release, The 33.

The 33, based on the 2010 Chilean mining disaster, took $5.8 million from 2,452 theaters.

North American box office Top five:

  1. Spectre – $35.4 million
  2. The Peanuts Movie – $24.2 million
  3. Love the Coopers – $8.4 million
  4. The Martian – $6.7 million
  5. The 33 – $5.8 million

Jamar Clark: Minneapolis Protests over Police Shooting of Black Man

Diane A. Wade
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Jamar Clark: Minneapolis Protests over Police Shooting of Black Man

Black Lives Matter protesters have been demonstrating in Minneapolis over the police shooting of Jamar Clark who witnesses say was unarmed and handcuffed at the time.

A state agency is investigating the incident, which happened on November 15. Relatives of the man concerned say he is on life support.

On November 16, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges called for a federal civil rights investigation into the case.

Black Lives Matter gained prominence after the police shooting of a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

That sparked protests nationwide about the police use of excessive force against African Americans.

Jamar Clark, a 24-year-old black man, was shot after police were called to a reported assault, and police say he “interfered” with the paramedics assisting the assault victim.

Police officers have said “misinformation” is spreading about Jamar Clark case, and some have told reporters he was not handcuffed.

On November 15, about 150 people gathered to demonstrate at the scene of the shooting and some camped out outside the police station.

The officer involved in the shooting has not been identified yet but two officers have been placed on paid leave.Black Lives Matter protest Minneapolis

Black Lives Matter organizers are demanding the release of any video footage that may exist of the altercation.

“We have been saying for a significant amount of time that Minneapolis is one bullet away from Ferguson,” Jason Sole, chair of the Minneapolis chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), told Minnesota Public Radio.

“That bullet was fired last night. We want justice immediately.”

Jamar Clark has convictions for making terroristic threats, aggravated robbery and possessing a small amount of marijuana.

In 2013, Minneapolis police shot and killed 22-year-old black man Terrance Franklin, who was suspected of burglary.

Minneapolis is participating in a federal Justice Department program for increasing trust between police and their communities.

Building A Sustainable Economy In Afghanistan

Dana R
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Building A Sustainable Economy In Afghanistan

The nation of Afghanistan has had a long and illustrious history as part of the community of nations, and there are plenty of reasons to assume that it will yet rebuild its economy and infrastructure to a sustainable and competitive level.

However, there are certainly plenty of challenges to be faced and solved, both in the present and the near future. The continuing lack of a centralized, coherent governing structure is presently the issue that stands most in need of correction. Once a stable seat of power is established, the rest of the issues will likely fall in line to be addressed, one by one.

Sustainable Economy In Afghanistan

The Continuing Constitutional Crisis Demands A Swift Resolution

To begin with, it has long been the opinion of many geopolitical experts, as well as political and economic policy makers, that the primary problem facing the nation of Afghanistan is its continuing lack of a viable legislative center. The lack of a strong constitution that governs the nation is a serious impediment, not only to good order but also to economic growth and independence.

While the government has made certain significant moves to address this issue, it will require the help of native born entrepreneurs, such as Ehsan Bayat among many others, who have returned to Afghanistan with the object of doing everything in their power to restore the political and economic independence of the nation.

Laying The Ground For A Successful Restoration Of Free Enterprise

It is true that a constitutional crisis is looming that will require a serious effort and commitment of resources to resolve. However, it is nonetheless also true that the successful restoration of free enterprise in Afghanistan is bound to provide a foundation of stability and sustainability that will be the starting point for further growth and prosperity in the coming decades.

Western Technological Know How Is Still Required In Afghanistan

There is plenty of scope for Western technological know how to be utilized in order to improve the financial, economic, and cultural landscape of Afghanistan. Investment from globally based private firms, along with the many billions of dollars that have spent by Western governments in providing relief to the nation, has resulted in a palpable improvement in the lives of millions of Afghan citizens. However, much more remains to be done.

The development of such companies as Afghan Wireless has been a major breakthrough. These companies, the majority of whom have been founded by native Afghans who have returned from exile after receiving a Western financial and technological education, have restored economic stability in many parts of the country. What is needed for the future is more of this precise sort of infrastructure, with the primary goal being the establishment of a privately owned network of communication that can unite the entire country.

The Continued Growth Of Private Enterprise Is An Encouraging Sign

While these and many other issues remain to be addressed and solved, it is true that the continued growth of private enterprise in Afghanistan is an encouraging sign. The welcome restoration of communication, coupled with the establishment of a truly competitive system of free enterprise, is sure to reap a harvest of progress and prosperity in the future, as long as such timely developments are properly encouraged and nurtured in the present day.

Paris Attacks: France Committed to Destroying ISIS

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: France Committed to Destroying ISIS

Speaking during a joint session of both houses of parliament President Francois Hollande has said that France is committed to “destroying” ISIS after last week’s deadly attacks.

Francois Holland said he would table a bill to extend the state of emergency declared after the attacks for three months and would suggest changes to the constitution.

France’s military campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria will also intensify.

ISIS says it carried out the attacks on bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and Stade de France in which 129 people died.Francois Hollande speech Paris attacks

Francois Hollande said the constitution needed to be amended as “we need an appropriate tool we can use without having to resort to the state of emergency”.

He said he would travel to meet Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin in the coming days to discuss action against the group.

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Paris on November 16 to show support for “America’s oldest friend” against what he called “psychopathic monsters”.

At a G20 summit in Turkey, world leaders promised tighter co-operation in the wake of the attacks.

Barack Obama said the US and France had made a new agreement on intelligence sharing but said US military advisers thought sending ground troops to combat ISIS would be a mistake.

In his address, Francois Hollande reiterated his opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remaining in power but said “our enemy in Syria is Daesh [ISIS]”.

He promised more resources for the security forces and said the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier would be sent on November 19 to bolster the military campaign against ISIS.

On November 15, French aircraft attacked Raqqa, ISIS stronghold in Syria. French officials said 10 jets had dropped 20 guided bombs targeting sites including a command centre, a recruitment centre for jihadists, a munitions depot and a training camp.

ISIS has issued a statement saying the raid targeted empty locations and that there were no casualties.

Paris Attacks: Museums and Tourist Sites Reopen

Sonia Pantiss
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Paris Attacks: Museums and Tourist Sites Reopen

Paris public museums and tourist sites have reopened following the attacks in the French capital on November 13.

Many of Paris’s tourist attractions, including the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay, closed on Saturday amid heightened security.

The institutions reopened at 13:00 local time following a minute’s silence to honor those who were killed.

A total of 129 people died in the attacks by Islamist militants.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

People were targeted in bars and restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and the Stade de France.

In explaining the decision to reopen the venues, France’s Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin said although France had suffered a tragic event, “culture is more than ever this symbolic place of self-discovery”.

Fleur Pellerin added the government would help to boost security measures at public cultural institutions in Ile-de-France, the region immediately surrounding Paris.

Its landmarks include the Louvre, which houses Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa painting, as well as the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Theaters were also ordered to close following the attacks, but most reopened on November 15.

Paris Attacks: Motorhead, Foo Fighters and Coldplay Cancel Concerts

Sonia Pantiss
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Paris Attacks: Motorhead, Foo Fighters and Coldplay Cancel Concerts

More bands have joined U2 in cancelling their concerts in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Foo Fighters, who were due to perform in Paris on November 16, have called off the remaining dates of their European tour “in light of this senseless violence”.

Motorhead, who were scheduled to perform in Paris on November 15, will now play there in January.

Coldplay, meanwhile, called off a live stream of a concert “out of respect for the terrible events in Paris”.

Last week’s attacks in the French capital hit a concert hall, a stadium, restaurants and bars.

Of the 129 people killed, 89 died when gunmen stormed the Bataclan concert venue where rock band Eagles of Death Metal were performing.

Members of Eagles of Death Metal escaped unhurt.

Foo Fighters wrote on the band’s Facebook page: “It is with profound sadness and heartfelt concern for everyone in Paris that we have been forced to announce the cancellation of the rest of our tour.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“In light of this senseless violence, the closing of borders, and international mourning, we can’t continue right now.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was hurt or who lost a loved one.”

Foo Fighters had been due to perform in Turin on November 15, with two dates in France on November 16 and 17.

Motorhead tweeted: “Due to the serious situation in Paris we have to postpone our gig until January.

“We are rescheduling and will give details ASAP.”

Deftones, who had been scheduled to play two shows at the Bataclan on November 15 and 16 and were in Paris at the time of the attacks, have also called off their shows.

The metal band wrote on Facebook: “Thank for all your inquiries on our wellbeing.

“Band/Crew all safe and accounted for at this time. Prayers for those affected in these tragic events.”

Coldplay, meanwhile, called off a live stream of a concert at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles.

The concert was to have been beamed to fans across the world, but was not made available “out of respect for those affected”.

However, Coldplay did play a short, unbroadcast set for those already at the venue on November 14 “so that [their] journey [wasn’t] wasted”.

U2, who had been due to perform in Paris on November 14, instead spent the evening laying flowers near the Bataclan concert hall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sJTp-2a3jI

Paris Attacks Suspects List

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks Suspects List

Suspected Paris attackers:

Salah Abdeslam, French citizen, 26 – urgently wanted by French police

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

Mohammed Abdeslam, brother of Salah Abdeslam – reportedly arrested in Belgium

Brahim Abdeslam, 31 – named as attacker who died near Bataclan concert hall

Omar Ismail Mostefai, French citizen, 29, from near Paris – died in attack on Bataclan concert hall

Bilal Hadfi, 20 – named as attacker who died at Stade de France

Ahmad al-Mohammad, 25, from Idlib, Syria – died at Stade de France (unverified)

Samy Amimour, 28, from near Paris – suicide bomber at Bataclan concert hall

Two other attackers died during the assaults in Paris.

Paris Attacks: 23 People Arrested and Dozens of Weapons Seized across France

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: 23 People Arrested and Dozens of Weapons Seized across France

According to French officials, a total of 23 people have been arrested and dozens of weapons seized in a series of raids on suspected Islamist militants across France following last week’s attacks in Paris.

A police operation is also reportedly under way in Brussels, Belgium, with reports that one suspect was arrested.

France’s PM Manuel Valls said the attacks were organized from Syria.

He added that the authorities believed new terror attacks were being planned in France and other European countries.

Meanwhile two more Paris attackers were named, along with five already identified. One is confirmed to have entered Greece as a migrant earlier this year.

France is to hold a nationwide minute of silence at midday local time for the victims.

Police have named Brussels-born Salah Abdeslam, 26, as a key suspect, and a manhunt is under way. He was reportedly stopped by officers in the wake of the attacks but then let go.

Meanwhile, French aircraft have attacked Raqqa, the ISIS stronghold in Syria.

ISIS has said it carried out the attacks in the French capital.

Manuel Valls said that France was dealing with a “terrorist army”, rather than a single terrorist group.

“We know that operations were being prepared and are still being prepared, not only against France but other European countries too,” he said.

Manuel Valls said more than 150 raids on militant targets had been carried out in different areas of France on November 16.

Photo AP
Photo AP

“We are making use of the legal framework of the state of emergency to question people who are part of the radical jihadist movement… and all those who advocate hate of the republic,” he said.

Police sources told news agencies that properties in the Paris suburb of Bobigny, as well as the cities of Grenoble, Toulouse and Lyon, had been targeted.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 23 people were arrested and dozens of weapons seized, including a Kalashnikov assault rifle and rocket launchers. More than 100 have been placed under house arrest.

Seven attackers died in the assault on the French capital, most of them after detonating suicide belts.

Five were identified over the weekend.

On November 16, another two were named by the Paris prosecutor as Ahmad al-Mohammad and Samy Amimour.

Ahmad Al-Mohammad is the name on a Syrian passport found with the remains of one of the attackers, though the man’s identity has not yet been verified. What has been confirmed is that his fingerprints match those taken by the Greek authorities after he arrived with migrants on the island of Leros in October 2015.

Samy Amimour was said to be facing terrorism charges in France. He was placed under judicial supervision while under investigation for terrorist conspiracy – he planned to go to Yemen. An international arrest warrant was issued against him when he broke bail in autumn 2013. Three of his relatives were among those detained this morning.

One of the main lines of investigation concerns Molenbeek, which has a reputation as being a haven for jihadists. One of Salah Abdeslam’s brothers, Mohammed, was reportedly arrested there when he returned from Paris.

He remains in custody. Belgian police say they have made a total of seven arrests.

Belgium’s PM Charles Michel said the Belgian authorities would crack down on Molenbeek.

France is currently marking a second day of national mourning. A state of emergency declared by President Francois Hollande remains in force. Thousands of extra police and troops are on the streets of Paris.

Saeed Jaffrey Dies Aged 86

Sonia Pantiss
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Saeed Jaffrey Dies Aged 86

Bollywood actor Saeed Jaffrey has died at the age of 86.

The news of Saeed Jaffrey’s death was announced on November 15 by his niece Shaheen Aggarwal on Facebook: “Today, a generation of Jaffreys has passed away. Saeed Jaffrey has joined his brothers and sister and is rejoicing in the lap of his Heavenly Father, eternally.”

Saeed Jaffrey starred in acclaimed Indian movies like Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khiladi (The Chess Players) and more than 100 Bollywood films.

He played high-profile roles in international movies including A Passage To India and Gandhi.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Saeed Jaffrey also acted in TV shows, including Tandoori Nights, The Far Pavilions and The Jewel In The Crown.

Born in the Indian state of Punjab, Saeed Jaffrey began his career as a theater actor, and later went on to work with legends like Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley.

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to drama.

Saeed Jaffrey was married to actress-author Madhur Jaffrey with whom he had three children.

As the news of Saeed Jaffrey’s death spread on November 16, many took to Twitter to mourn the veteran actor’s death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npOxA0euVmQ

China Landslide Kills at Least 25 People in Zhejiang Province

Nancy Clayson
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China Landslide Kills at Least 25 People in Zhejiang Province

At least 25 people are confirmed dead after a landslide hit Zhejiang province in eastern China.

More than 2,000 rescuers are searching for survivors in Lidong village after several days of rain sparked a torrent of mud and rock.

The landslide occurred shortly before 23:00 on November 13 and buried almost 30 houses.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Parts of the village remain flooded, hindering rescue efforts. Reports say 12 people are still missing.

Local officials said one person had been rescued so far and is in stable condition.

As well as rescuers, sniffer dogs and machinery, psychologists have also been dispatched to the area to help family members of the victims, local officials said.

Most of the missing people are children and the elderly, according to local media, which also said that compensation had been agreed for those who lost homes in the disaster.

Ban Ki-moon Set to Visit North Korea This Week

Diane A. Wade
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Ban Ki-moon Set to Visit North Korea This Week

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit North Korea this week, South Korea’s news agency Yonhap reports.

Yonhap cited a senior UN source for its claim, which the United Nations has declined to comment on.

If it goes ahead, it will be the first visit by a UN chief to North Korea in more than two decades.Ban Ki moon to visit North Korea

In May, North Korea abruptly canceled a visit by Ban Ki-moon just one day before he was due to arrive.

North Korea faces heavy UN, EU and US sanctions for its nuclear tests.

The report said it was likely Ban Ki-moon would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his trip. No exact date was given for the visit.

Ban Ki-moon, a former South Korean foreign minister, would be only the third secretary general to ever visit North Korea.

The UN fought on the side of South Korea during the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 until 1953 and led to the division of the peninsula.

Japan Slips into Recession Again

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Slips into Recession Again

Japan’s economy has shrunk 0.8% on an annualized basis in Q3 of 2015 and fell back into recession.

The preliminary data means the world’s third-largest economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, marking a technical recession.

Japan’s economic growth was expected to decline after it fell a revised 0.7% in Q2 on weak domestic demand.

The country has been in recession four times since the global financial crisis.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

On a quarterly basis, growth fell 0.2% in the third quarter from the previous one, weaker than forecasts of a 0.1% decline.

The seasonally adjusted figure was also much lower than expectations of a 0.2% drop.

According to economists, the weak data will put more pressure on the government and central bank to continue to stimulate the economy.

Japanese companies continue to be wary of using their record profits to raise wages and invest in the economy – a major challenge for Prime Minister’s Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” policies.

Business spending fell 1.3%, against forecasts of a 0.4% decrease. It also marked the second quarter in a row of declines.

However, private consumption, which accounts for 60% of the economy rose 0.5% from the previous quarter.

Consumer spending has picked up from the hit it took last year from an increase in sales tax in April, which contributed to the recession in 2014.

Despite the declining growth, the government is positive that a recovery is underway.

In reaction to the growth figures, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 1.1% to 19,372.98 points in early trade in Tokyo.

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