Hollande calls for broad coalition to fight against IS ADVERTISING Hollande calls for broad coalition to fight against IS MOSCOW (AP) — French President Francois Hollande called for forming a broad international coalition against the Islamic State group, using his
Hollande calls for broad coalition to fight against IS
MOSCOW (AP) — French President Francois Hollande called for forming a broad international coalition against the Islamic State group, using his visit to Moscow on Thursday to try to unite France, the U.S. and Russia on a response to the Paris attacks that killed 130 people.
IS claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, as well as deadly bombings in Beirut and the downing of a Russian airplane Oct. 31 that killed all 224 passengers over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
“We need to take the lead so that there can be actions against terrorism that must be intensified,” Hollande told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the start of their talks at the Kremlin.
Hollande and Putin agreed on increasing intelligence sharing, intensifying their airstrikes against IS in Syria and cooperating on selecting targets.
Russia strikes back at Turkey with economic sanctions
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia plans to retaliate against Turkey for the downing of a warplane by imposing sanctions, cutting economic ties and scrapping major investment projects.
Since the plane was shot down, Russia already restricted tourism, left Turkish trucks stranded at the border and confiscated large quantities of Turkish food imports.
On Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered his government also to draft sanctions against Turkey within two days in response to what he described as an “act of aggression against our country.”
The sanctions will include “restrictions and bans on Turkish economic structures operating in Russian territory, restrictions and bans on deliveries of products, including foodstuffs,” as well as on labor and services.
3 Palestinians die in clashes; Israel toughens fence
JERUSALEM (AP) — Three Palestinians were killed in separate clashes with Israeli security forces Thursday in the West Bank as Israel announced plans to strengthen a fence near the flashpoint city of Hebron in an effort to contain a two-month spate of violence.
The Israeli military said a clash erupted after troops raided the village of Qattana overnight to search for ammunition and arrest suspected assailants. The Palestinians hurled firebombs and stones at troops, according to the army.
Yehya Taha, 21, was shot in the head and later died, according to Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Awawdeh. Later in the day, Israeli border guards shot and killed a Palestinian attacker wielding a knife near the city of Nablus.
