A train has derailed near the French city of Strasbourg, killing five and injuring seven, the Daily Mail repots.
Photographs of the wreckage show its carriages half submerged in the water outside Eckwersheim, Strasbourg.
Rescue workers were seen approaching the mangled train on rubber dinghies and tending to the wounded by the side of the canal.
It is not known what caused the test TGV to come off the tracks or whether the death toll is expected to rise.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has issued a statement on the terrorist attacks in France.
“Armenia stands by France. We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris. We express our condolences and support to the friendly people of France. The fight against terror is the fight of the whole civilized world.”
A number of buildings and monuments in cities across the globe were lit up in the blue, white and red colors of the French flag in a show of solidarity and support after the deadly attacks claimed the lives of 127.
At least 18 people have been killed in several shootings in the French capital, Paris, as well as explosions at the Stade de France, the BBC reports.
At least one man opened fire with an automatic gun at the Petit Cambodge restaurant in the 11th district.
Liberation newspaper reports four deaths. It also reports shootings near the Bataclan arts centre.
Three explosions are also reported outside a bar near the Stade de France, where France were hosting Germany.
Reports say French President Francois Hollande was watching the match and has been moved to safety.
“This is not human,” Pope Francis said after a night of terror in Paris left more than 120 people dead and more than 200 people injured, The Catholic News Service reports.
As French authorities investigated the almost simultaneous attacks Nov. 13 on at least six different sites — inside a concert hall, outside a soccer stadium, and at four cafes and restaurants — Pope Francis spoke briefly Nov. 14 with the television station of the Italian bishops’ conference.
“I am shaken and pained,” the pope said. “I don’t understand, but these things are difficult to understand, how human beings can do this. That is why I am shaken, pained and am praying.”
The director of the television station recalled how the pope has spoken many times about a “third world war being fought in pieces.”
“This is a piece,” the pope responded. “There are no justifications for these things.”
On social media, Islamic State militants claimed responsibility, but Pope Francis insisted there can be no “religious or human” excuse for killing innocent people and sowing terror. “This is not human.”
Photos by Social Bite
Hollywood star George Clooney visited a sandwich shop which helps homeless people during a visit to Edinburgh, the BBC reports.
The actor visited the Social Bite cafe, which donates all its profits to homeless people, leaving $1000 at the cafe for the cause.
He stayed at the cafe for around 15 minutes, and greeted the 200-strong crowd who were waiting outside.
Mr Clooney shook hands, posed for selfies and chatted with fans.
He was later due to share lunch at a secret location with Heather McGowan, 32, from Glasgow, who won a competition to meet the star.
TBS’s late-night show host Conan O’Brien visited Armenia with his Assistant Sona Movsesian to shoot the installment of his show.
The trip marked the first time in Armenia for both O’Brien and Movsesian. “I think it’s every boss’s responsibility to take their assistant back to their ancestral land,” said O’Brien.
The show will air on Tuesday, November 17.
“It’s going to be a great show. The people of Armenia are amazing. It was a glorious experience,” Conan says.
Kurdish fighters have reportedly entered Sinjar in northern Iraq, a day after launching an offensive to retake it from Islamic State (IS) militants, the BBC reports.
The Kurdistan Regional Security Council said in a tweet that Peshmerga forces had entered “from all directions” and were clearing the town of IS.
The Kurdish offensive is supported by US-led coalition air strikes.
When it captured Sinjar last year, IS killed or enslaved thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority.
Tens of thousands of others became trapped on nearby Mount Sinjar without food or water for days until they were rescued by Syrian Kurdish forces. The risk of genocide was a key factor in the US decision to launch air strikes in Iraq.
The offensive to retake Sinjar began in earnest at dawn on Thursday, with some 7,500 Peshmerga fighters closing in on three fronts after coalition warplanes bombed IS positions, command-and-control facilities and weapons stores.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) commemorated the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Armenia, which aims to boost the country’s economy and improve the people’s quality of life.
To mark the occasion, ADB’s Armenia Resident Mission organized a 2-day event featuring a conference and a workshop on best practices and lessons learned about project management in Armenia and internationally. Project management experts and trainers were invited by ADB to share their experiences with colleagues who are designing and implementing infrastructure and development projects in Armenia.
“I want to congratulate everyone who contributed to the growth and development of ADB’s programs in Armenia over the past 10 years,” said David Dole, Country Director of ADB’s Armenia Resident Mission. “We are looking forward to working with the Government of Armenia and our development partners on many more projects in the future.”
ADB is providing loans and technical assistance in the transport, water supply and sanitation, and energy sectors, as well as supporting the government to improve the business environment and to foster entrepreneurship among women. As of October 2015, ADB has loaned Armenia $1.04 billion, with $133 million for projects in the private sector and $910.03 million for projects in the public sector, according to ADB.
Some of the key public sector projects in Armenia financed by ADB are the North-South Road Corridor Investment Program; Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program; Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project; Solid Waste Management Improvement Investment Program; and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Sector Development Program. There are also special programs being implemented with private sector financing which ADB is supporting, such as the modernization of the Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade Hydropower system, and the Zvartnots Airport Expansion Project.
In the coming years ADB will continue to help improve Armenia’s internal and external transport links, upgrade urban environments, and strengthen the energy and seismic security of the country.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2014, ADB assistance totaled $22.9 billion, including co-financing of $9.2 billion.
Two Armenian soldiers are reported killed as Azerbaijan continues to violate the ceasefire.
“The rival keeps violating the ceasefire regime, using different weapons,” the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.
It said privates of the NKR Defense Army Vahe Vanoyan (born in 1995) and Mikael Torosyan (born in 1996) were fatally wounded as a result of firing from the Azerbaijani side at about 9 p.m., November 12.
Investigation into the details of the case is under way. The NKR Ministry of Defense shares the sorrow of the heavy loss and expresses its support to the families and friends of the killed soldiers.