• Herbie Hancock Announces International Jazz Day for Paris, to Bring Relief After Charlie Hebdo Attacks

    UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and music icon Herbie Hancock announced that Paris would play host to the fourth annual International Jazz Day, the fourth annual date dedicated to the most influential genre of the 20th Century. Organizers gave twofold reasoning for the selection of the city, noting that the French capital was largely relevant in the European jazz scene following World War I and hoping that the event would restore some light to the city rocked recently by the Charlie Hebdo massacre and other violence.

  • 5 More Arrested in French Terror Raids

    The massacre at "Charlie Hebdo's" French offices two weeks ago have been the catalyst for terror raids across Europe like nothing we have ever seen before. Terrorism seems to be a topic at the front of nearly everyone's mind. Suspected sleeper cell members have been captured in Belgium and Germany with officials believing that they stopped a major attack with only a few hours to spare. French SWAT teams have also been scrambling to track down and round up potential suspects, and this morning, Jan. 20, they arrested five people of Russian decent who were accused of plotting an attack.

  • Shots Fired Outside Vice President Biden's Home

    In the last few weeks, it seems like most of our attention has been focused overseas when it comes to news. The massacre in France, the terrorist roundup in Belgium that prevented a new rash of terrorist attacks and al-Qaida in Yemen's involvement has dominated newscasts, momentarily making the U.S. forget that things happen here, too. At least, until late last night when a drive-by shooting occurred near Vice President Joe Biden's Delaware home. Luckily, he and his wife were not home at the time, but they have been fully briefed on what could have easily been a deadly incident. The Secret Service and New Castle County Police are currently investigating the situation, which according to the Associated Press began shortly before 8:30 p.m. last night, Jan. 17.

  • Celebs Nervous About Attending Paris Fashion Shows Later This Month

    Usually, Paris's Couture Fashion Week is loaded with A-listers vying for a seat in the front row. Not only is it about being there to check out the latest collections first, but stars like Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga want to be photographed there. It is almost as if being in attendance proves that you are a fashion maven and in a class by yourself. At least, that is how it usually goes. Unfortunately, this January is different, and Paris is one of the last places celebrities want to risk traveling to right now. According to a report by Page Six, what is usually the hottest ticket in town is looking like it will be a dud later this month. We are hearing that fewer fashion editors and clients will be making the journey to France for the upcoming shows, which include Chanel, Versace, Christian Dior and Valentino. Fashion editors such as "Vogue's" Anna Wintour and Anna Dello Russo are usually spotted there, as well as celebrities from Kardashian to Gaga. Organizers have said they are having harder times trying to fill seats for their presentations. We are told security issues are a concern, with some skittish to fly to Paris after the terrorist attack on "Charlie Hebdo" last week.

  • Survivor's Issue of 'Charlie Hebdo' Sells Out as France Arrests 54 in Roundup

    Renald Luzier, the cartoonist who drew the cover of the Survivor's Issue of "Charlie Hebdo" is an incredibly lucky man. Had he not overslept last week, he would have attended that ill-fated editorial meeting that was ambushed by two gunmen in Paris. As one of the surviving members of the staff, he stressed the importance of designing the kind of cover that the terrorists did not want them to create. As "Charlie Hebdo" has managed to continue on, French police and investigators have now made 54 arrests across the country in connection with the most devastating attack on French soil in 50 years. French prosecutors have been ordered to crack down on anyone spewing hateful speech, anti-Semitic tones and those who are blatantly glorifying terrorism. Twenty people died, including the three gunmen, in last week's horrific wave of violence, and the French government believes it is necessary to take a pro-active approach now. Obviously, something was overlooked before because all three militants were supposedly known to the French and U.S. governments butt no one realized what was being planned. There is a chance that they were part of a sleeper cell that was lying dormant with an already-established plan for three years. Once they were activated, they would have already known what to do. By making arrests now the French are likely hoping to clip the wings of people who could be a significant problem later. The French people have remained united throughout everything and many countries across the globe have joined in supporting them. The newest issue of "Charlie Hebdo" sold out in minutes this morning, Jan. 14.

  • New 'Charlie Hebdo' Issue Features Muhammad on Cover Holding 'Je Suis Charlie' Sign

    After two Muslim extremist gunmen killed 12 people last week in a massacre at "Charlie Hebdo's" French offices, it vowed that it would not be the end of the satirical publication. Various members of the French media worked together to help the surviving staffers put out this weeks' issue on time, and the new cover just dropped this morning, Jan. 13, and it is as button-pushing as ever. On a bright green background, the Prophet Muhammad is depicted crying and holding up a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the words: "All is forgiven." The world has literally united after this terrorist attack, and last weekend a million people marched in Paris for peace and unity, plus the refusal to walk in fear. Obviously, it is important for "Charlie Hebdo" not to be silenced because freedom of speech is its right. The newest newspaper will be available Wednesday, Jan. 14, and there are 3 million copies of this special "survivor's issue" being produced.

  • State Secretary John Kerry Defends Not Traveling to France Until Later This Week

    The U.S. has found itself under heavy criticism for not sending any senior officials to Paris for its Unity March and Rally that had more than 1 million supporters Sunday, Jan. 11. The relationship between French and U.S. officials is thought to be solid, so it came as a surprise to many that while 40 world leaders were on hand to support the French people after last week's terrorist attack, no one was there to represent the States. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry happens to speak fluent French and visits the country often — in fact he will be heading there later this week to meet with leaders and pay tribute to the 17 victims of last week's attacks. When asked why the U.S. did not send a senior official as a show of support, Kerry insisted that our country has been in constant contact with the French government from the moment it became clear it was under attack. Kerry himself has also been criticized for delaying his trip to France, and he addressed the issue this morning. "As everybody knows, I have been here in India for a prior planned event. I would have personally very much wanted to have been there but couldn't do so because of the commitment that I had here and it is important to keep these kinds of commitments. That is why I am going there on the way home and to make it crystal clear how passionately we feel about the events that have taken place there. I don't think the people of France have any doubt about America's understanding about what happened, about our personal sense of loss and our deep commitment to the people of France in this moment of trial. I want to emphasize that the relationship with France is not about one day or one particular moment. It is an ongoing, longtime relationship that is deeply, deeply based in the shared values, and particularly the commitment that we share to freedom of expression," explained Kerry.

  • Two 'Charlie Hebdo' Gunmen Cornered, Prepared to 'Die as Martyrs'

    After a few days of hunting, french police finally have 32-year-old Cherif Kouachi and 34-year-old Said Kouachi cornered in a printing company Northeast of Paris. The two men are believed to be responsible for the massacre at Charlie Hebdo's offices on Wednesday that left 12 people dead. The brother's are reportedly involved in a standoff with police and have taken at least one hostage. They also have no intention of surrendering, instead saying that they "want to die as martyrs".

  • NBC Blames Sources for Inaccurate Reporting About Gunmen in 'Charlie Hebdo' Massacre

    If you were tuned in to either NBC or MSNBC last night, Jan. 7, as your source for learning what was unfolding in France, then you no doubt were shocked when the network actually was reporting completely inaccurate information for at least an hour. While there has been major police activity in Paris and various parts of France, NBC claimed there had been a shootout about 90 minutes north of the City of Lights that killed one suspect in the terrorist attack on the offices of "Charlie Hebdo." Supposedly, the other two gunmen were in custody, tying up the manhunt with a nice, neat bow. Unfortunately, none of it was true. French police did capture the youngest suspect, 18-year old Hamyd Mourad, but even as of now, Said and Cherif Kouachi remain on the run. Once NBC realized its huge mistake, its representatives issued retractions of their earlier reporting. The network told Deadline, "NBC News issued an earlier report based on intelligence from two consistently reliable U.S. counterterrorism officials in different government agencies. As soon as it became evident that our sources doubted their information, we immediately updated our reporting across all platforms and continue to do so as this fast-moving story unfolds." At the time, NBC was saying that a senior security official was the source of their information. Even though the network acknowledged their misinformation as soon as they were made aware of it, it never actually apologized for its part in passing on misleading information in something as serious as a manhunt following a terrorist attack.

  • French Media Cos. Offer to Keep 'Charlie Hebdo' Running

    Less than 24 hours after two gunmen walked into the Parisian offices of "Charlie Hebdo" and opened fire, killing 10 key staffers, the French media is working together to figure out how to keep the publication running. The publication takes a weekly satirical look at hot button political and religious issues — something everyone does not always appreciate. In fact, the offices were fire bombed back in 2010, leading to a regular police presence around the perimeter of the building the newspaper was located in. While not everyone agrees with the content that has been produced by "Charlie Hebdo," the right to produce it has been widely supported, especially in light of this tragedy. According to a report by "The Hollywood Reporter," the French media is beginning to work together to align itself so "Charlie Hebdo" will continue, exactly what the gunmen still on the loose did not want to see happen. "TV giant France Televisions, Radio France and newspaper 'Le Monde,' in a joint statement late on Wednesday, [Jan. 7,] vowed to offer human and material support needed to keep 'Charlie Hebdo' alive. They didn't immediately detail how much staff and what other help they would make available. "The three groups invite all French media who have mobilized since this morning to meet to preserve the principles of independence and liberty of thought and expression, the guarantors of our democracy," said an official statement that was announced this morning regarding the future of "Charlie Hebdo."

  • 12 Dead in Terrorist Attack at Satirical Newspaper 'Charlie Hebdo' Offices in Paris

    What an awful story to begin the day, as we have learned that two gunmen stormed the offices of "Charlie Hebdo," a French satirical newspaper, and opened fire during an editorial meeting. As of now, 12 people are confirmed dead and at least 10 more are injured. The shooting reportedly went on for five minutes and, in spite of having a shootout with police, both gunmen are still on the loose. The publication has been vilified for years because of its portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad and its offices were actually fire bombed once before. The publication had been seen as so much of a target that up until recently there was a strong police presence outside of the offices. Sources have said that it was only recently that the building became less protected. According to Chris Parsons of Yahoo News UK, French President Francois Hollande visited the site of the attack and has since called an emergency meeting. "Charlie Hebdo" has a history of causing controversy with cartoons of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Speaking to the BBC after its office was firebombed in November 2011, the paper's editor-in-chief, Stephane Charbonnier — who is said to be among the dead today — said the incident had only confirmed that it was right to take the stance it did.
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