(image: Vantagenews.com/The Telegraph)

France is reeling from the bloody conclusion to its worst acts of terrorism in decades. The Republic is in shock and mourning after 72 hours of violence which saw the deaths of 17 innocent people and three terrorists.

Tonight, a fourth suspect, a woman, is still being sought by police, while Al-Qaeda in Yemen reportedly claimed responsibility for the connected attacks, which turned the French capital into a virtual war zone.

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(image: MSNBC)

President Francois Hollande addressed the nation tonight. He praised the bravery of the French police and while warning that citizens must remain vigilant, he said:

We need to show our determination against anything and everything that can divide us. We should be firm against racism and antisemitism. Unity is our best weapon.

To that end, there will be a march of solidarity and remembrance in Paris on Sunday, yet even that has become a lightning-rod for the country’s domestic politics as the country braces for many difficult conversations in the days ahead.

OTHER NEWS

* WORLD *  As the world’s attention was turned towards France, as many as 2,000 people may have been killed in a week-long rampage by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria. A further 10,000 people have fled to Chad, the BBC reported.

Radical London cleric Abu Hamza was sentenced to life in prison on terror charges by a court in New York.

Rumors of the death of Cuban leader Fidel Castro swept social media tonight, but there was no indication that they were any more credible than the previous occasions of his demise.

One driver died and several were injured in a massive weather-related pileup on I-94 in Michigan near Battle Creek. Some 150 vehicles were involved and the situation was further complicated when one of the trucks’ cargo of fireworks exploded.

The Golden Gate Bridge will be closed this weekend for maintenance and safety upgrades. It will be the longest closure in the history of the iconic bridge.

* POLITICS *  After seemingly insisting that he was not interested in again seeking the presidency, Mitt Romney may or may not have had a change of heart, telling a group of GOP donors “I want to be President.”

The FBI and Justice Department have recommended charges against retired Gen David Petraeus of providing classified information while he was CIA director, the New York Times reports.

The stage looks set either for a Washington showdown or a round of intense dealmaking, as Congress prepares to send a bill authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline to President Obama’s desk.

* CULTURE *  Hollywood is preparing for the Golden Globe awards this Sunday, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The LA Times explains why the Globes are just meaningless fun “apart from these five races.” Separately, this year’s Bafta nominees were announced. That awards ceremony will be held on Feb 8.

Eight years ago today, Apple introduced the iPhone.

* SPORTS * This weekend is the “mismatch round” of the NFL playoffs. With Chris Christie seemingly headed to Lambeau Field to root for his Dallas Cowboys against Green Bay, this cover of The Trentonian will, as Bleacher Report says, “haunt you forever”.

After the New York Times gave its Knicks beat writer a well-earned break, ESPN’s rejigged TV schedule will reduce the number of Knicks games. Matt Yoder writes: “It’s encouraging that ESPN would take the step of replacing big market bad teams with small market good ones.”