History Readings

France spent the weekend coming to terms last week's terror attacks in Paris which left 17 dead. The country mourned and global leaders joined an estimated 3.7 million people on its streets to march in a show of unity.

The US economy appeared to be improving as the country added 252,000 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate dropping to 5.6%. The number of unemployed Americans declined by 383,000, which still leaves about 8.7 million people out of work. December's job report exceeded expectations.

An American terrorism commentator speaking on Fox News has been forced to apologise for describing Birmingham as a "Muslim-only city" where non-Muslims "don't go in". Steven Emerson told the channel that in London "Muslim religious police" beat "anyone who doesn't dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim attire".

New York City will unveil a new municipal ID program that could bring big changes for the city's large undocumented population. Though all residents will be eligible to apply for the new ID, called IDNYC, undocumented New Yorkers are expected to benefit most.

This article describes the boom and bust industry of oil prices: Oil prices tend to be cyclical, so when the downturn comes, the party ends. During the oil price decline of the 1980s, most oil-dependent countries suffered the consequences of the resulting collapse in investment and consumption. A few, such as Oman and Malaysia, were able to compensate for the price collapse by increasing production, but many oil exporters suffered, also due to the production cuts agreed by Opec.

Pope Francis, in a speech to Vatican diplomats on Monday, urged religious leaders to "condemn all fundamentalist and extremist interpretations of religion," following last week's attacks in Paris. Rough Cut (No reporter narration). Video provided by

This article outlines the importance acting NOW to fight climate change: "Ours is the first generation that can end poverty, and the last that can take steps to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. In this 70th anniversary year in which we renew our commitment to the goals and principles of the UN charter, the international community must rise to the moment."

Although both parties agree that the rate should be lowered, they are still at odds about which tax breaks should be discarded or modified, and how. The taxing of offshore income for US businesses, for instance, is a major bone of contention. David Wessel: "There's a lot of disagreement, even among Republicans, about what tax reforms are supposed to do and what it would accomplish."

Similar to the article Molly posted, this one describes the hacking of the Twitter account for US military forces in the Middle East and South Asia. @CENTCOM, the account used by the US Central Command, tweeted out messages purportedly from the Islamic State (Isis) or its sympathizers threatening attacks on US military personnel.

Despite the deaths of nine contributors, including celebrated cartoonists known as Charb, Cabu and Wolinski, the magazine will be created solely by members of the original team. "We will not give in otherwise all this won't have meant anything," he told France Info radio on Monday, from the magazine's heavily guarded temporary offices at Libération newspaper.

Typically, the Obama administration takes a dim view of the importance of "optics" in such circumstances, but the incident threatens to rekindle criticism among political opponents that Obama's foreign policy has become too isolationist.

The front lines in eastern Ukraine have moved very little in recent weeks as Russia-backed separatists and government forces hunker down for winter and a World War I-style impasse sets in. Ukraine appears on its way to becoming the latest "frozen conflict," a case of territorial aggression loudly condemned by an outside world unwilling to intervene and change it.

Posted: PARIS (AP) - France on Monday ordered 10,000 troops into the streets to protect sensitive sites after three days of bloodshed and terror, amid the hunt for accomplices to the attacks that left 17 people and the three gunmen dead.

Posted: The Twitter account for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) was hacked on Monday by individuals claiming to be part of the Islamic State, the militant group formerly known as ISIS. "ISIS is already here, we are in your PCs, in each military base," read a message posted to CENTCOM's account by the hackers.

"We can confirm that the U.S. Central Command Twitter account was compromised earlier today. CENTCOM is taking appropriate measure to address the matter," a defense official told CNN. A series of unusual tweets were published with apparent warnings from ISIS, as well as links, images and Pentagon documents that reveal contact information for members of the military.

As terrified villagers scattered into the bush in Baga town and surrounding villages, the gunmen unloaded motorcycles from their truck and chased after them. Residents hid under scant brush. Bullets pierced through them. Some sought refuge in their homes. They were burned alive.