News In Brief
AFP, Paris
French police have identified the first of seven gunmen who killed at least 129 people in a wave of carnage claimed by the Islamic State group, as international investigators stepped up their probes into Paris’s worst ever attacks.
French authorities Saturday named the first attacker as 29-year-old Omar Ismail Mostefai, who was identified from a severed finger found at Bataclan concert hall, scene of the worst of the bloodshed.
UK Muslims seek own path in
countering jihadism
AFP, London
Feeling unfairly targeted by the government’s anti-radicalisation drive, Britain’s Muslim community is rallying to find its own response to extremism and take a greater role in the fight against terrorism.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has planned a series of conferences around the country where community leaders, activists and others will speak out against jihadist ideology, but also government security measures they say alienates Muslims.
Philippine forces on alert, assure APEC summit’s safety
AP, Manila
Philippine forces went on the highest alert Saturday following the deadly attacks in Paris, in a bid to ensure the safety of President Barack Obama and other Asia-Pacific leaders who will gather in Manila for an annual summit next week.
National police chief Director-General Ricardo Marquez said extra security steps, including a gun ban in metropolitan Manila, will reinforce the security of thousands of delegates, including 19 heads of state, attending the Nov. 18-19 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit at a convention complex by Manila Bay.
N Korea prepares for possible
missile launch
Reuters, Seoul
North Korea has declared a no-sail zone off its east coast in a sign it could be preparing a missile launch, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday.
The warning covers all movement of ships from Nov. 11 to Dec. 7 for an area off the North’s central coast, the agency said, quoting an unnamed government source. “We are observing closely whether North Korea will launch a Scud missile or a new model of ballistic missile because the area under the warning is quite vast,” a government source was quoted as saying by Yonhap.
4 IS militants shot dead in Turkey
AP, Istanbul
Turkish soldiers killed four suspected militants of the militant Islamic State on Saturday and authorities detained 11 demonstrators a day before leaders of the G-20 group of economic powerhouses meet for a summit overshadowed by the slaughter in Paris.
The Anadolu Agency said two cars believed to be carrying IS militants approached an armoured military vehicle, ignored warnings to stop and opened fire on the soldiers.
