• Homeland Security Warns of Threats Made to Mall of America

    It seems like every few days there is a new video released by Islamic militants threatening to take aim at Western targets, and the latest one is threatening shopping malls across the U.S., Canada and Europe. The idea of lone-wolf attackers targeting softer targets such as shopping facilities is nothing new overseas, but here it has the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stepping up police presence and asking shoppers to be extra careful. The Mall of America, in Minnesota, was one of the targets mentioned by name, and this morning Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson was interviewed on CNN about the warning that has been sounded to consumers in middle America.

  • 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.

  • 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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