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Four hostages killed at HyperCacher supermarket in Paris

Four hostages have been killed at HyperCacher as anti-terror forces stormed the Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris.

Several hostages were being held by a gunman with links to Charlie Hebdo attack suspects.

It is not clear whether the four hostages were killed before or after the police assault began.

Another four hostages were seriously injured, but 15 were freed alive.

After the police operation started, several hostages could be seen leaving the HyperCacher supermarket.

Two police officers were injured in the rescue operation, AP reported.

In a separate incident, a hostage at the warehouse in Dammartin-en-Goele, 22 miles north of Paris was also freed, while a police officer at the scene was injured, AFP news agency said.

Charlie Hebdo attack suspects Cherif and Said Kouachi have been killed in the incident.

French President Francois Hollande has described the events as “a tragedy for the nation”.

In a national address, Francois Hollande thanked the security forces for their “courage, bravery [and] efficiency”, but added that France still faced threats.

“We have to be vigilant. I also ask you to be united – it’s our best weapon,” he said.

“We must be implacable towards racism,” he added, saying that the supermarket attack was an “appalling anti-Semitic act”.

“Those who committed these acts, these fanatics, have nothing to do with the Muslim faith.”

The police assaults came after three tense days in France.

Twelve people were shot dead and 11 were injured in Wednesday’s attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine.HyperCacher hostages Paris

The unprecedented attack shocked France and there has been an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity worldwide.

The two suspects of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, then went on the run for two days, before being surrounded at Dammartin as night fell on Friday.

French police said they came out firing.

The hostage taker in eastern Paris targeted Jewish supermarket HyperCacher, near Porte de Vincennes. He has been named as Amedy Coulibaly, 32. It is not clear whether he had an accomplice.

He knew at least one of the suspected Charlie Hebdo attackers, a source told AFP news agency.

Amedy Coulibaly had threatened to kill his captives if police attempted to capture the brothers, reports citing police said.

Earlier on Friday, a man claiming to be Amedy Coulibaly told French TV station BFMTV that he was a member of the Islamic State militant group, and that he had “co-ordinated” his attack with the Kouachi brothers.

Amedy Coulibaly was also suspected of being behind the shooting of a policewoman in the southern suburb of Montrouge on January 8.

On January 9, French police issued an appeal for witnesses to that shooting. They said they were looking for Amedy Coulibaly, as well as a woman called Hayat Boumeddiene, 26.

Hayat Boumeddiene’s whereabouts are not clear.

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Reham Khan: Who is Imran Khan’s new wife?

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Reham Khan is the new wife of Pakistan’s opposition leader and former cricketer Imran Khan.

On January 5, 2015, after months of speculation, Imran Khan confirmed marriage with Reham.

The British Pakistani journalist, a former BBC weather girl, currently hosts the current affairs talk show In Focus on Dawn News.

Reham Nayyar was born Ajdabiya, Libya, on April 3, 1973. Her parents belong to Lughmani Pashtun tribe and originally come from Baffa village in Mansehra. They moved to Libya in late 1960s.

She has two sisters and a brother.

Reham Khan did her bachelors in education and postgraduate in sociology.

She married Ijaz Rehman in 1992, when she was 19. Reham had three children with Ijaz Rehman one son called Sahir, and two daughters Ridha and Inaya Rehman. Sahir studies in the University of Southampton, daughter Ridha is also attended University in UK and daughter Inaya now lives with Reham in Islamabad and goes to Froebels School in Islamabad.Imran and Reham Khan wedding

Reham Khan and Ijaz Rehman divorced after 16 years of marriage because she fell in love with another cousin of hers called Sohaib Mufti who came to stay with Reham’s family in UK from Abbotabad. Reham flirted with numerous men during the course of her marriage and that is the reason why her husband Ijaz Rehman could not trust her anymore, and they both had alot of fights and arguments over it and Reham later filed for divorce to marry someone else who she was having an affair with.

In her divorce settlement she got 100,000 pounds cash, a house in the UK, 2000 pounds monthly payments, child support for each of the 3 children, and even a pension account that she will access when she is 65 yrs old. Property in Pakistan and UK was also divided.

Ijaz Rehman has now re-married to another woman called Dr. Samavia Rehman, and has two children with her.
Reham Khan was recently in a relationship with a 21 year old British Man in the UK, but he refused to marry her, so Reham left for Pakistan.

Reham Khan started her career as weather girl at BBC, she also held the position as a broadcast journalist on BBC South.

In 2006, Reham Khan joined Legal TV. In 2007, she began presenting for Sunshine Radio Hereford and Worcester. In 2008, Reham Khan joined BBC as broadcast journalist.

In 2013, Reham Khan returned to Pakistan and joined news channel News One. She later joined AAJ TV.

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HyperCacher hostages released as police storm Jewish supermarket

Explosions and gunfire have been heard at Jewish supermarket HyperCacher in eastern Paris, at Porte de Vincennes, where a gunman had held several hostages.

Reports suggest Amedy Coulibaly was linked to Charlie Hebdo attack suspects Cherif and Said Kouachi.

After the operation started, several hostages could be seen leaving the supermarket.Paris Hyper Cacher hostages

The hostage at the printworks warehouse has also been freed, while a police officer at the scene was injured, AFP news agency said. Charlie Hebdo attack suspects Cherif and Said Kouachi are reportedly dead.

Twelve people were shot dead and 11 were injured in Wednesday’s attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine.

The unprecedented attack shocked France and there has been an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity worldwide.

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Cherif and Said Kouachi Killed as Police Storm Dammartin-en-Goele Hostage Site

Police have stormed two hostage sites in Paris and north of the city.

Gunshots and explosions have been heard at a printing facility in Dammartin-en-Goele, where two suspects in the Charlie Hebdo shootings, Cherif and Said Kouachi, were holding at least one hostage.

French media are reporting that brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi have been killed.

Explosions and gunfire could also be heard at kosher supermarket HyperCacher in eastern Paris, at Porte de Vincennes.

A gunman there was thought to be holding several hostages. Reports suggest he is linked to the Charlie Hebdo suspects.

Several hostages could be seen coming out from the HyperCacher supermarket.

The hostage at the printworks warehouse has also been freed, AFP news agency said.

Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene named as suspects in Clarissa Jean-Philippe killing case

Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene have been named as suspects wanted in connection with the killing of policewoman Clarissa Jean-Philippe in Montrouge on January 8 and an ongoing hostage siege at a kosher grocery in a Paris suburb.

Amedy Coulibaly, 32, and his girlfriend Hayat Boumeddiene, 26, are described as “armed and dangerous”.

The man is also believed to be behind the siege at a kosher grocery in Porte de Vincennes in which two people have reportedly died and at least five people are being held hostage, including women and children.

Amedy Coulibaly reportedly told police: “You know who I am and I’m going to keep these hostages until the siege in Dammartin is lifted.”

Just like the Kouachi brothers, who are believed to be behind Charlie Hebdo attack that left dead 12 people, Amedy Coulibaly was part of the “Buttes-Chaumont network” that helped send would-be jihadists to fight for al-Qaeda in Iraq. Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene

Amedy Coulibaly was named along with Cherif Kouachi in connection with the 2010 prison escape plot for another Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, who bombed the Paris subway in 1995, which injured 30 people.

In 2013, Amedy Coulibaly was condemned to five years in prison for the Belkacem escape plot – but got out of jail just two months ago.

Amedy Coulibaly and Cherif Kouachi were followers of convicted terrorist Djamel Beghal, according to Le Monde. The two visited Djamel Beghal’s home in Murat in the south of France, according to telephone conversations.

Hayat Boumeddiene has been Amedy Coulibaly’s partner since 2010 and lived in his home while he was serving a prison sentence.

Clarissa Jean-Philippe was shot in the vicinity of Amedy Coulibaly’s intended target – a Jewish primary school, CNN reported.

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Paris kosher grocery siege: Nearby schools under lockdown as police orders shops closure

Heavily armed anti-terror teams are mobilized in eastern Paris after a gunman has seized hostages at a kosher supermarket.

Schools near the supermarket are under lockdown, AP news agency reports.

Separately police have ordered the closure of all shops in the Marais, a traditionally Jewish area in the heart of Paris’s central tourist district.

The hostage-taker in eastern Paris – said to have taken up to five people prisoner – knew at least one of the suspected Charlie Hebdo attackers, a source told AFP news agency.

The gunman is suspected to be behind the shooting of a policewoman in Montrouge on January 8.

French police have issued an appeal for witnesses to that shooting. They said they were looking for two people: a man called Amedy Coulibaly, 32, and a woman called Hayat Boumeddiene, 26.Paris kosher grocery attack

The two were thought to be “armed and dangerous”, French police said.

The Charlie Hebdo attackers, named as brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, linked by intelligence officials to militant groups, shouted Islamist slogans during the shooting at the magazine office on January 7 and then fled Paris in a hijacked car, heading north.

Shots were fired during a high-speed car chase earlier on Friday.

It appears the suspects had hijacked another car in the town of Montagny-Sainte-Felicite before travelling on to Dammartin.

The car’s owner is said to have recognized them as brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, the key suspects.

In a televised statement, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed the men being sought on January 9 were those wanted for the Charlie Hebdo attack and said they would be “neutralized”.

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Je suis Charlie: Who is behind viral slogan?

Je suis Charlie slogan appeared minutes after terror attack on Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine on January 7.

The slogan, I am Charlie in English, became viral on Twitter on the same day.

But who is behind those three words?

According to French media, the man behind Je suis Charlie slogan is journalist and artistic director Joachim Roncin.Je suis Charlie author is Joachim Roncin

Joachim Roncin, who was identified as the author of Je suis Charlie by French publication Le Progres, works for Stylist magazine.

He tweeted Je suis Charlie message on January 7, at 11.52AM, less than a hour after the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo offices.

The hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was re-tweeted 619,000 times on the same day.

Je suis Charlie has become a message of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo attack victims and wants to shoe the refusal of being silenced.

On Charlie Hebdo’s website, all cartoons has been replaced by Je suis Charlie banner.

Je suis Charlie meaning: Message of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo attack victims

French hashtag Je suis Charlie, meaning “I am Charlie”, has trended after the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine’s offices in Paris on January 7.

Je suis Charlie is a message of solidarity with the victims of Charlie Hebdo attack, and is also being used as a hashtag on Twitter (#JeSuisCharlie).

Following the massacre of 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo headquarter, the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie has trended in France and further afield.Je suis Charlie meaning

Je suis Charlie is being used by tweeters who wish to show refusal to be silenced by the massacre.

French tweeters started the hashtag by posting a simple image with the text “Je Suis Charlie” on a black background, claiming that the attackers would not take their freedom.

Tweeters from other countries also showed solidarity with France and those who lost their lives in the shooting.

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Harold Hamm divorce: Sue Ann Arnall deposits $974.8 million divorce check

Harold Hamm’s ex-wife, Sue Ann Arnall, has deposited a handwritten $974.8 million divorce check, the Oklahoma oil magnate’s lawyer said on January 8.

Sue Ann Arnall, 58, deposited the check after earlier this week declining the payment and pledging to pursue her appeal of a divorce ruling she viewed as unfair.

In the November ruling by an Oklahoma County Court judge, Harold Hamm, the chief executive of Continental Resources was allowed to keep his 68% stake in the company, now worth about $9 billion, while Sue Ann Arnall was awarded about $1 billion in cash and assets from the marital estate.

The check represents the entire remaining balance of what Harold Hamm owes Sue Ann Arnall based on the November ruling, including interest.

Harold Hamm’s divorce lawyer, Craig Box, said he believes Sue Ann Arnall’s deposit of the check will end her efforts to appeal the case and that Hamm also wants the case resolved.

“We have received confirmation that the check was deposited in an Oklahoma City bank,” Craig Box said.

“We feel this is the end of the case from her perspective. It means she’s done and should dismiss her appeal.” Harold Hamm divorce settlement

A source close to the Hamm case confirmed the deposit, which represents one of the largest divorce awards in US history.

Earlier, Harold Hamm had filed his own appeal, seeking to have Oklahoma’s Supreme Court reduce what he owes Sue Ann Arnall, after a plunge in oil prices shaved billions from the value of his Continental shares in recent months. During a trial last year, the shares had been worth as much as $19 billion.

The Hamm case, initially filed in 2012, has pitted Oklahoma’s most successful oil wildcatter against his former wife of 26 years, an attorney and longtime executive at Continental. The company, a leading oil driller in North Dakota, was dragged into the case but has said it did not affect business.

In an appeal document, Sue Ann Arnall contended a trial judge wrongly allowed Harold Hamm to keep more than 90% of the wealth the couple accrued during their marriage.

Although Harold Hamm owned Continental before the marriage in 1988, the value of his shares surged 400-fold during the union. Sue Ann Arnall has been seeking a multi-billion dollar portion of those gains.

To limit what he would owe, Harold Hamm’s defense sought to show that his company’s growth during the marriage resulted mostly from “passive” factors beyond his control, such as rising oil prices. Under Oklahoma law, only the growth in wealth stemming from the active efforts and skills of either spouse during the marriage is split in a divorce.

Sue Ann Arnall contended that Harold Hamm’s deft management of the firm led to its growth.

Harold Hamm has already paid Arnall more than $20 million during the case, and the parties have spent millions in legal fees.

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Yingluck Shinawatra impeachment hearing begins in Thailand

An impeachment hearing against former PM Yingluck Shinawatra has begun in Thailand’s parliament on January 9.

Yingluck Shinawatra could be banned from politics for five years after her impeachement.

The former prime minister, Thailand’s first woman in this position, was removed from office for abuse of power in May 2014 and days later her government was ousted in a military coup that ended months of street protests against her by her rivals.

Yingluck Shinawatra remains popular among the rural poor who elected her in a 2011 landslide, as does her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and the impeachment hearing could test a fragile calm under military rule.

In her opening statement to the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly, Yingluck Shinawatra said the proceedings were futile as she no longer held any political post.

“I was removed from my position as prime minister. I have no position left to be removed from,” Yingluck Shinawatra told the assembly.

About 20 of Yingluck Shinawatra’s supporters gathered outside parliament despite government warnings to stay away. Some held red roses and tried to raise pictures of the former prime minister until police told them to put them away.

Thailand is under martial law and public gatherings are banned.Yingluck Shinawatra impeachment hearing

The case concerns Yingluck Shinawatra’s role in a rice subsidy program which critics denounced as a wasteful handout to her supporters and which incurred billions of dollars in losses.

A day after she was ordered to step down in May, the National Anti-Corruption Commission indicted her for dereliction of duty in relation to the rice scheme.

The impeachment is the latest chapter in a divisive 10-year struggle for power between the Shinawatras and the royalist-military establishment which Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist former telecommunications tycoon, as a threat.

A guilty verdict would see Yingluck Shinawatra banned from politics.

Her supporters say the case is aimed at barring her from an election the military has promised to hold early next year and ending the influence of the Shinawatra family.

Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives in self-exile to avoid a 2008 graft conviction but remains hugely influential.

The National Legislative Assembly has said a decision could come by the end of the month.

Under the subsidy scheme, Yingluck Shinawatra’s government bought rice from farmers at prices much higher than on the open market leading to huge stockpiles.

Yingluck Shinawatra defended the scheme in her opening statement.

“Please look at the benefits of the scheme and not just the financial cost,” she said.

Yingluck Shinawatra’s hearing resumes on Friday, January 16.

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Paris shooting: Hostages taken at Jewish bakery in Porte de Vincennes

Hostages have been taken by a gunman at a Jewish bakery at Porte de Vincennes in Paris.

There are suggestions that the gunman may be the one who shot dead a female police officer on January 8. Police are now evacuating the area.

Separately, an intense standoff is ongoing between police and the Kouachi brothers suspected of carrying out the massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, on January 7.

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

The gunman, believed to be the same man who killed a policewoman in Montrouge, southern Paris, on January 8 has reportedly stormed a kosher bakery and grocery store in the Vincennes area, taking five people hostage.

Witnesses said the man is heavily armed and opened fire upon entering the premises. Early reports suggest at least one person was injured in the shooting.

Security forces have rushed to the scene and are cordoning off the area.

The hostages are said to include women and children. Vincennes is located on the eastern outskirts of Paris.

Earlier local media named the Montrouge gunman as Amedy C., a 32-year-old radical belonging to the same jihadi cell of Cherif and Said Kouachi, the brothers who allegedly responsible for the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Jyllands-Posten stops printing Prophet Mohammad cartoons

Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has announced that it will not republish Charlie Hebdo‘s cartoons due to security concerns.

Jyllands-Posten already angered Muslims by publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad 10 years ago.

The magazine is the only major Danish newspaper not to do so.

“It shows that violence works,” Jyllands-Posten stated in its editorial on January 9.

Denmark’s other major newspapers have all republished cartoons from the French satirical weekly as part of the coverage of the attack which killed 12 people in Paris on January 7.Jyllands-Posten stops printing Prophet Mohammad cartoons

Many other European newspapers also republished Charlie Hebdo cartoons to protest against the killings.

When Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons by various artists in September 2005, most of which depict the Prophet Mohammad, it sparked a wave of protests across the Muslim world in which at least 50 people died.

“We have lived with the fear of a terrorist attack for nine years, and yes, that is the explanation why we do not reprint the cartoons, whether it be our own or Charlie Hebdo’s,” Jyllands-Posten said.

“We are also aware that we therefore bow to violence and intimidation.”

Jyllands-Posten decided to tighten its security level in the wake of the Paris attack.

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2024 Olympics: US Olympic Committee picks Boston as its candidate city

The US Olympic Committee has selected Boston as its candidate city to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Boston beat domestic competition from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC to be put forward.

“Our goal is to host Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all,” said Boston mayor Marty Walsh.

The deadline for cities to apply to host the 2024 Games is September 15.

The International Olympic Committee is due to make a decision in 2017.

The last time the USA hosted a summer games was in Atlanta in 1996, although Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.Boston to apply for 2024 Games

“I very much want to bring the games to the United States to share the incredible spirit of the games with another generation of Americans, and advance the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” said American IOC executive board member Anita DeFrantz.

The US is the third country after Germany and Italy to officially launch a bidding process.

At an IOC meeting in Monaco in December, a 40-point action plan was voted on to revamp the sporting showpiece.

Potential hosts will find it easier and cheaper to bid under the “Olympic Agenda 2020” reforms and events can be held outside the host country or city.

The 28-sport cap for future summer Olympics has been removed – although there will be no changes to the Rio 2016 schedule.

Instead of a 28-sport limit, each summer Games will be restricted to 10,500 athletes and 310 events.

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4 Ways to Build Team Spirit

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Whether you’re a coach or a team captain, there are plenty of reasons to want improved team spirit. With the opportunity to increase performance, improve camaraderie among teammates, and to create an inclusive and positive experience for everyone involved, it’s easy to see why you should work on team spirit. Even with the best players, fostering a strong sense of community and sportsmanship still requires work. We’ve put together four easy ways you can build team spirit for your team.

Practice Team Building Exercises

When you’re trying to work on your team spirit, there are plenty of team building exercises you can undertake to improve things. Of course, if you’re starting from scratch with a brand new team, basic introductory exercises that help team members get to know one another and foster some conversation are a good place to start.

 

For teams that have been together for some time, try setting group goals for the season, like setting a realistic record of wins or discussing ways in which to improve team cohesion. If you need some help getting started, LiveStrong has some good ideas for team building like developing communication skills through sharing common challenges.

4 Ways to Build Team Spirit
4 Ways to Build Team Spirit

 

Plan a Periodic Dinner

Sometimes the best way to build team spirit is to take the team off the field, the court, whatever it is. Having a weekly or monthly dinner is a good way to encourage social bonds on the team and improve overall morale. When teammates like each other, they tend to perform better on the field as well. Not to mention, this gives you a good opportunity to discuss upcoming changes or make any announcements with everyone present.

 

At the end of the season, it’s always a nice gesture for the coach or the team captain to plan a celebratory dinner to show appreciation for everyone hard work and dedication that went toward making the season a success. It helps to leave everything off on a good note and gets everyone excited to return for next year’s season. If you want to go the extra mile, giving out awards for team members who have shown exceptional dedication or make notable progress throughout the season is always a good way to reward and to encourage future performance.

Design Custom T-Shirts

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but making team t-shirts is a great way for team members to show some pride in the sport, and it can double as a fundraising opportunity for the group. It’s easy to design t-shirts online with a site like RushOrderTees which allows you to pick out a style you like, select your team colors, and upload a logo or choose from the available template options. Once you’ve collected everyone’s size and decided on a design that everyone likes, place your order and you’ll have new team t-shirts in no time.

 

Choose a Team Charity

Engaging your team in charitable activities is a good way to get them involved in a common commitment and external goal. Working together toward a selfless goal is a good way to develop teamwork skills in which athletes focus on the team rather than on themselves. While professional teams like the Boston Red Sox have charities that have donated over $50 million in the past 10 years, your team can aim for a smaller scale goal with the same principles in mind.

If you follow these four tips, you’ll be well on your way to building a stronger, more cohesive, more unified team. And remember, don’t forget to have some fun while you’re building team spirit!

 

ISIS cleric Abu Saad al-Ansari claims Charlie Hebdo attack

Abu Saad al-Ansari, a cleric from the ISIS group, claims the radical militia was responsible for the deadly attack on the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

“We started with the France operation for which we take responsibility. Tomorrow will be in Britain, America and others,” Abu Saad al-Ansari said in a sermon in the Islamic State-controlled Iraqi city of Mosul.

“This is a message to all countries participating in the [U.S.-led] coalition that has killed Islamic State members.”

According to the Islamic State-linked pages on Twitter on January 7, the gunmen who shot 12 French journalists dead at Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris are closely related to ISIS.Charlie Hebdo attack claimed by ISIS

According to tweets, ISIS elements celebrated retaliating journalists who drew caricatures scorning the prophet Mohamed of Islam in 2011.

“Don’t say we defend the prophet through his morals, but say we retaliated the insults of the prophet,” raid a tweet.

According to French official reports, the gun assault on the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine killed 12 and injured 10, 5 of them seriously.

The fugitive suspects are French-born sons of Algerian-born parents, both in their early 30s, and already under police surveillance.

One of them, Cherif Kouachi, 32, was jailed for 18 months for trying to travel to Iraq a decade ago to fight as part of an Islamist cell. Police said they were “armed and dangerous”.

Charlie Hebdo, where journalists were gunned down during an editorial meeting, had been firebombed in the past for printing cartoons that poked fun at militant Islam and some that mocked the Prophet Muhammad.

Cherif and Said Kouachi: Charlie Hebdo Shooting Suspects Surrounded in Dammartin-en-Goele

Police have surrounded a building in northern France where Charlie Hebdo massacre suspects Cherif and Said Kouachi are said to have a hostage.

Shots have been fired and several people are said to have been wounded in Dammartin-en-Goele, 22 miles from Paris.

The development comes nearly 48 hours after the attack on Charlie Hebdo‘s office, when 12 people were shot dead.

The heavily armed gunmen fled Paris by car after the attack.

The attackers, who shouted Islamist slogans, are believed to have been angered by Charlie Hebdo‘s irreverent depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.

They are said to have shouted “We are al-Qaeda, Yemen”, an apparent reference to the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula group (AQAP).

In the US, a senior official has told reporters that one of the two brothers alleged to have carried out the attack, Said Kouachi, spent “a few months” training in Yemen with the group.Charlie Hebdo suspects surrounded

Said Kouachi and his younger brother, convicted terrorist Cherif Kouachi, were on a US no-fly list before the attack, a US counter-terrorism official told the New York Times.

In Dammartin, witnesses say police are protecting people in buildings close to the siege of a printing firm building.

Officers from the elite GIGN unit have told people working nearby to stay inside and turn lights off while the operation is going on.

People in the area say police helicopters began arriving around 08:45 local time followed by convoys of armed officers.

Some of those in premises in the industrial area where the suspects are cornered have been evacuated.

Police and military helicopters continue to hover low over the area, while lines of armed officers are guarding the edge of the national highway were traffic continues to flow.

The security situation at the town of Dammartin-en-Goele has affected flights at the main airport in Paris, which is in the vicinity. Officials at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport say they have changed landing and take-off patterns for aircraft in the light of the security situation.

Meanwhile, police are said to have identified a suspect in Thursday’s fatal shooting of a policewoman in Montrouge, south of Paris.

AFP quotes a source close to the investigation as saying that two people in his immediate circle have been taken into custody.

Jaycee Chan jailed for six months in China

Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee, has been jailed in China for six months for a drug offence.

Jaycee Chan, 32, pleaded guilty in Beijing’s Dongcheng District Court to “sheltering others to use drugs”.

Police raided his home in August and found more than 100g of marijuana. He faced a maximum sentence of three years.

Jaycee Chan’s arrest came amid a drug use crackdown in China which saw several celebrities arrested.

In June 2014, President Xi Jinping ordered police to use strong measures to stop drug use.

Jaycee Chan and Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, 23, were both detained at his Beijing home in August, with police saying they tested positive for marijuana.Jackie Chan's son Jaycee jailed in China

Kai Ko was released after a 14-day administrative detention for drug use.

Jaycee Chan was put under “criminal detention” for the additional and more serious crime of “providing a shelter for others to abuse drugs”, Beijing police said at the time.

He told the court on January 9 that when police came to his house: “I just gave them information and I confessed because I didn’t know how to deal with the marijuana.”

Jaycee Chan was also fined 2,000 yuan ($322), reports said.

Jackie Chan, who was named an official “Narcotics Control Ambassador” by Chinese police in 2009, has said he felt “ashamed” and “sad” over his son’s behavior.

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Cherif and Said Kouachi: Charlie Hebdo Attack Suspects Take Hostage at Dammartin-en-Goele

Suspects linked to the Charlie Hebdo massacre, Cherif and Said Kouachi, have taken a hostage at a business facility in a Paris suburb as French police close in on them.

Shots have been fired and several people are said to have been wounded at Dammartin-en-Goele, 22 miles from Paris, but officials denied reports of deaths.

Negotiations are now under way with police, reports say.Charlie Hebdo attack, hostage taken in Paris

The development comes nearly 48 hours after the attack on Charlie Hebdo‘s office, when 12 people were shot dead.

The heavily armed gunmen fled Paris by car after the attack.

A convoy of police vehicles has been seen heading by highway to Dammartin-en-Goele.

AirAsia plane crash: Sonar pings detected in search for flight QZ8501

Search teams have announced that “pings” have been detected in the Java Sea which could have come from the “black box” flight recorders of AirAsia flight QZ8501.

The pings were heard near where the plane’s tail was found. Officials say the black box could have been separated from the rear part of the plane.

Flight QZ8501 disappeared from radar on December 28 with 162 people on board.

No survivors have been found from the Airbus A320-200, which was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore.

“We received an update from the field that the pinger locator already detected pings,” said Santoso Sayogo, an investigator at the National Transportation Safety Committee.

“We have our fingers crossed it is the black box. Divers need to confirm. Unfortunately it seems it’s off from the tail. But the divers need to confirm the position.”Pings detected in search for AirAsia crashed plane

The “black box” flight data recorders are usually housed inside the rear part of the plane. They are designed to survive a crash and being submerged in water, and contain underwater locator beacons which emit the so-called “pings” for at least 30 days.

Finding them has been one of the top priorities for search teams as they provide crucial clues from the last moments of the flight before it came down.

The cause of the crash is unknown but the plane encountered bad weather and asked for a flight path change before communication was lost.

The rear part of the plane was spotted on January 7 by an unmanned underwater vehicle at a depth of about 30 meters.

Authorities said it was upside down and partially buried about 20 miles from the point of last contact with the plane, off the coast of Borneo.

The commander of the Indonesian armed forces, Gen. Moeldoko said on January 9 the tail appeared to be in broken condition.

Authorities have been pulling bodies and wreckage from the sea but progress has been slow due to high waves and stormy weather.

Forty-six bodies have been retrieved so far. Search teams believe most of the remains may still be inside the fuselage of the plane which has yet to be found.

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Rod Taylor dies in Los Angeles at 84

Movie legend Rod Taylor, who starred in The Time Machine and Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller The Birds, has died aged 84, according to reports in the US.

The Australian actor, who lived in the US, is said to have died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles after a dinner party.

Rod Taylor came to prominence in the 1960s, starring alongside Hollywood greats like Jane Fonda and Richard Burton.

In 2009, Rod Taylor made a cameo as ex-UK PM Winston Churchill in Quentin Tarantino’s film Inglourious Basterds.Rod Taylor dead at 84

He got his first leading role in the 1960 adaptation of HG Wells’ science-fiction classic The Time Machine and went on to star in several hit films in the 1960s and 1970s.

Rod Taylor also voiced one of the Dalmatian dogs in Disney’s animated hit 101 Dalmatians.

He was due to turn 85 on Sunday.

Rod Taylor is survived by spouse Carol Kikumura and daughter Felicia Rodrica Sturt Taylor, a TV presenter.

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Sri Lanka elections 2015: Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat as Maithripala Sirisena wins poll

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s long-time president, has been defeated by Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential election.

Official results showed Maithripala Sirisena, a former ally of the incumbent, had won 51.3% of the vote.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, in office since 2005, said on Twitter he looked forward to a peaceful transition of power.

His supporters credit him with ending the civil war and boosting the economy, but critics say he had become increasingly authoritarian and corrupt.

Maithripala Sirisena had already received promises of support from Tamil and Muslim leaders before the election.

However, the result shows Maithripala Sirisena also picked up a significant portion of the majority Sinhalese vote, most of whom solidly supported Mahinda Rajapaksa in previous elections.

Maithripala Sirisena, who is due to be sworn in at 18:00 local time, was surrounded by supporters and photographers as he left his offices earlier.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

“We must allow all Sri Lankans to enjoy this victory, therefore avoid hurting or insulting people,” he said.

“I ask for everyone’s support to take this process forward with compassion and love.”

Mahinda Rajapaksa was seeking a third term in office after he changed the constitution to scrap the two-term limit.

But before the results were announced, Mahinda Rajakpaksa’s press officer said the president “concedes defeat and will ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people”.

Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena are Sinhalese, the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka.

They were allies until November when Maithripala Sirisena, the health minister in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, announced his surprise candidacy.

Turnout in many areas was above 70%, roughly in line with previous elections, with no reports of major incidents disrupting the voting process.

In Jaffna and Trincomalee, two of the main Tamil strongholds, turnout was higher than previous national elections.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was last elected in 2010 when he defeated his former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was later jailed on charges of implicating the government in war crimes.

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North Korea rejects South Korea’s proposal for new talks

North Korea has rejected South Korea’s call for resuming bilateral talks, after Kim Jong-un made a surprise New Year call for a summit.

South Korea’s parliament called last month for a resumption of negotiations on various issues including North Korea’s human rights, and families still separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

An official at South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said North Korea had rejected the proposal, without giving a reason.North Korea rejects talks with South Korea

South Korea has also proposed inter-Korean talks be held this month, but North Korea has not yet responded to that specific offer.

The rejection of the South Korean parliament’s call comes during a period of heightened tension between North Korea and the US, which is South Korea’s main ally.

On January 8, North Korea warned the US of a “war disaster” if it did not withdraw sanctions imposed by Washington following a crippling hacking attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.

North Korea has denied it had any involvement in the attack.

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US to close 15 military bases across Europe

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that the US will close 15 military bases across Europe.

The Pentagon says the move will save around $500 million a year, and comes as the US military seeks to shift its attention towards Asia.

The US has named RAF Lakenheath to be the first permanent European base for the F-35 aircraft and currently has more than 60,000 troops stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany, Italy and the UK.

The number will remain the same, as the US ramps up rotations within Europe for training programs.

Many of the closures affect smaller bases that were remnants of the Cold War.

US officials also have finalized plans to cut about 500 military personnel from the Lajes military base in the Azores islands, which drew opposition from Portugal.

Chuck Hagel said he understood it would mean job losses and thanked those who had supported the US Air Force.

“I know that this will result in a reduction of our local host nations workforces at some locations. I value the tremendous support they provided us for decades.”

Other countries with closing bases include Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.

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Charlie Hebdo to print 1 million copies next week

Charlie Hebdo will go to print next week, in defiance of yesterday’s apparent militant Islamist attack.

Ten journalists at the French satirical magazine and two police officers were killed when masked attackers opened fire at its Paris headquarters.

Columnist Patrick Pelloux said the decision to continue to publish will show that “stupidity will not win”.

Charlie Hebdo will have a print run of one million copies, compared with its usual 60,000 a week.

It will be half its usual length at eight pages long.

“It’s very hard. We are all suffering, with grief, with fear, but we will do it anyway because stupidity will not win,” Patrick Pelloux told the AFP news agency.Je suis Charlie Islamist attack on Charlie Hebdo

The attack happened during the magazine’s daily editorial meeting when masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles before exchanging shots with police in the street outside and escaping by car.

It is believed to be the deadliest attack in France since 1961.

Magazine editor Stephane Charbonnier, 47, was among those killed, along with his police bodyguard.

Stephane Charbonnier, known as Chab to his friends, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection.

The motive for Wednesday’s massacre is not yet clear, however Charlie Hebdo has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs.

The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo‘s account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Charlie Hebdo‘s offices were burned in an apparent arson attack in November 2011, a day after it named the Prophet Mohammed as its guest editor for the week’s issue.

Tips on How to Have the Best London Student Experience

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Studying in London can be an exciting, if daunting, prospect to those unfamiliar with the city. As well as a world of entertainment and culture on your doorstep, there is the seemingly sky high cost of living and the public transport to familiarise yourself  with. Therefore whether you have come to London from Tokyo or Totness, there will be a lot to get your head around. Here are some tips on how to make the most out of your London student experience.

student accommodation in Central London.

Find the best place for you to live

There are plenty of options for living places in the capital from suburban townhouses to student accommodation in Central London. First you will need to figure out your budget. If you are considering living away from where your university is based you should also take into account the monthly price of public transport. If you want to live close to where you study you will need to decide between private student accommodation and university halls. You may be happy to share facilities and if this is the case you are likely to benefit from a more social time.

Get part time work

Although this may not be the most exciting prospect after a long summer working many hours it is worth doing. Gaining employment whilst at university will give you skills for your CV, give you extra spending money (something very useful in London) and enable you to make new friends. Try to get work which will not infringe too much on your studies and if you can get something connected to your degree, even better.

studying in London

Go on the tourist trail

There is little point in studying in London and not taking advantage of the fantastic cultural offer the city has. Make a list of the top attractions the city has and try and tick one off every weekend. You will have fun visiting Buckingham Palace, going on the London Eye and attending the Natural History Museum.

 

Join a society

As with part-time work, joining a club or society (either one affiliated with the university or otherwise) will improve your social life and gain you skills which will look great on your CV when it comes to seeking post-graduate employment. Most student unions have a wide range of societies from debating to sport. Find one which fits in with your interests or try something completely new.life in London

Budget

To make the most out of life in London, you will need a little money in your pocket. Analyse your monthly outgoings including food shopping, transport costs and rent then see how far your loan and savings will go. You may have to start shopping more smartly or look to invest in a bicycle to save your cash.