
We’ve rounded up all the latest news from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.
1. Islamic State release video threatening more attacks.
A new video from Islamic State has warned countries taking part in airstrikes on Syria that they will suffer France’s fate.
The video, which appeared on a site used by Islamic State to post its messages, begins with news footage of the aftermath of Friday’s Paris shootings in which at least 129 people were killed.
The message to countries involved in what it called the “crusader campaign” was delivered by a man dressed in fatigues and a turban, and identified in subtitles as Al Ghareeb the Algerian.
“We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the centre of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its centre in Washington,” the man said.
The video has not yet been authenticated but it was uploaded on a site used by Islamic State to post its messages.
France has launched its heaviest air strikes yet on Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Syria with Prime Minister Manuel Valls saying “we are at war” against terrorism.
Twelve aircraft including 10 fighter jets dropped a total of 20 bombs in the biggest air strikes since France extended its bombing campaign against the extremist group to Syria in September, a Defence Ministry statement said.
2. Hollande speech at historic sitting of parliament.
French President Francois Hollande has delivered a speech at a special congress of the joint upper and lower houses of parliament where he has confirmed his intention to prolong France’s state of emergency for three months.
It was the first time in more than six years that a French president addressed both houses of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly, convened in a so-called Congress at Versailles. It is a procedure reserved for constitutional revisions and major presidential speeches and has only happened three times in history.
He vowed to intensify strikes on Islamic State in Syria: “We will pursue airstrikes in the weeks to come. Our enemy in Syria is Daesh (IS): it’s not about containing but destroying this organisation”.
He called the US and Russia to join forces to defeat Islamic State.
“I will call both Obama and Putin to unite our efforts and seek a solution,” he said saying he would meet with them both in the next few days.
“The terrorists were targeting a France that is open to the world. “ he said. “Most of the dead were not even 30. They were called Mattias, Quentin, Nick, Noemie, Djamila, Helene, Elodie, Valentin…What was their only crime? To be alive.”
3. The terrorists named.
Police in France have identified a fifth attacker – Samy Amimour, it has been revealed that he was placed on a watch list of potential terrorists after attempting to travel to Yemen three years ago.
He was suspected of travelling to Syria and joining Islamic State.
His father tried to persuade him to return to France, but he refused, saying he had pledged his loyalty to the extremist Islamic group.
Amimour was one of three suspected gunman who took part in the attack on the Bataclan concert hall, he blew himself up before he could be arrested.
The Telegraph reports that in June 2013 Amimour’s father Mohamed travelled to persuade his son to come back to France.
But Amimour refused saying he was fighting for Islamic State.
Amimour said his son had married and adopted the name Abu Hajia – meaning war.
The other attackers named are:
More on the Paris attacks:
3. Adam Hills has apologized after saying that Pauline Hanson should be “hung” from the Harbour Bridge.
Adam Hills: “I do not think Pauline Hanson, or anyone, should be executed, and hanged from any Australian icon,
Comedian Adam Hills has apologised after saying Pauline Hanson should be “hung” from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, for comments she made about the Paris terror attacks.
On Saturday morning Pauline Hanson said on the Today Show “not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslim”.
Hills tweeted in retaliation to the comment: “Australia would send a better message to the world if we just hung Pauline Hanson from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”
In his apology, posted to Facebook said he had been trying to call the politician out for her suggestion that only Muslims were terrorists, but had been guilty of making a bad joke in the process.
“It occurred to me that if we dangled Pauline Hanson alongside the French flag, perhaps it would let Muslims around the world know we don’t blame them for the atrocities of an organisation that claims to represent them” he wrote.
“I do not think Pauline Hanson, or anyone, should be executed, and hanged from any Australian icon, let alone the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I do not condone violence against women. I do not support the ****heads that call themselves ISIS.”
“In my head I saw Miss Hanson in a harness, maybe a trapeze, looking comically chastened, suspended below a girder. I thought it was a funny image.”
“I committed a mortal sin of twitter – sending a tweet and not being clear about what you mean.
“About an hour later I checked twitter and was surprised by the outrage. I mentioned it to my wife, who replied that perhaps people thought I wanted Pauline Hanson executed by having her hanged from the Bridge.
In time I have come to realise that the word “hung”, although technically not the same as the word “hanged”, still puts the same image in people’s heads. For that I apologise. I was in no way suggesting Pauline Hanson should be executed.”
“Here’s what I do think: Statements like “Not every Muslim is a terrorist but every terrorist is a Muslim” are divisive, ill-advised, and simply not true. I think that giving air-time to someone of those views is a cynical way to grab attention and ratings. I think the arsewipes that call themselves ISIS are, well, arsewipes, and not representatives of the rest of the Muslim world.”
“In fact, if I plead guilty to anything yesterday, it is of making a clumsy joke.
“I’ll still aim to ridicule anyone else who speaks narrow-minded bigotry and falsehoods. I’ll just aim to do it with better jokes.”
4. First Syrian refugees to resettle in Perth in the next day.
//
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the new Syrian families in Australia today.. I hope this country will bless you with health, happiness and love….
Posted by Resettled Muslim Communities in Australia on Monday, November 16, 2015
The first group of refugees under the federal government’s special program for Syrians is due to arrive in Australia in the day.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter has said that the of five would soon arrive in Perth. The family are originally from the city of Homs and have spent “very long periods of time in refugee camps”.
Fairfax Media reports that the family would be met by government officials who will help them settle into a new life in Perth.
5. Heatwave to bring early summer conditions across the country.
A heatwave is building across Australia with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting severe and extreme conditions in parts of the country this week.
Temperatures are predicted to rise in all states except Tasmania.
During this time low intensity heatwave conditions are forecast for across the interior of Western Australia, South Australia and extending into south-western NSW and northern Victoria, becoming severe in South Australia and Western Australia.
Darwin will be hit the hardest of all the capital cities receiving temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius until Sunday.
In Sydney temperatures are forecast to 33C on Wednesday, peaking at 38C on Friday.
Temperatures in Brisbane will hit
Author
No Comments
Be the first to leave a comment