The Londoner

The French finance minister, Michel Sapin, has announced a series of initiatives to improve the tracking of terrorism financing, Le Monde newspaper reports. The measures include better supervision of prepaid bank cards, which the ministry believes played an important role in the preparation of the 13 November attacks. The new measures will make it harder for card users to remain anonymous. Currently, prepaid cards can be recharged without identity checks, so long as they do not exceed 2,500 euros over one year, according to the AFP news agency. "There are new means of payment which have been created which should be on our radar," Bruno Dalles, head of the finance ministry's Tracfin intelligence unit, told AFP.    Read the full story at bbc.co.uk

Two people have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees in "a hostage-taking situation", the hotel's US owners said. Gunmen entered the hotel, which is popular with expat workers, shooting and shouting "God is great!" in Arabic. A Malian army commander told the AP news agency that about 20 hostages had been freed. Hostages able to recite verses of the Koran were being released, a security source has told Reuters news agency. Six staff from Turkish Airlines are staying at the hotel, and a Chinese guest told China's state news agency Xinhua that he was among about seven Chinese tourists trapped there. French newspaper Le Monde quoted the Malian security ministry as saying at least three hostages had been killed, AFP news agency reports. Read the full story at BBC website

BBC Paris Correspondent Hugh Schofield writes: The news is a breakthrough, because Abaaoud is regarded as an individual of great importance in so-called Islamic State - a man responsible for organising not just Friday's attacks, but also others such as the Thalys train attack two months ago. He is believed to have been a close friend of Salah Abdeslam, the eighth gunman who is still on the run. However identifying Abaaoud also raised serious questions. The man was high on French and Belgian wanted lists, and yet managed to travel from Syria to the heart of Paris without ever leaving a trace.

President Obama has spoken, condemning the attacks in Paris , calling them an “outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians .” He said this is “not just an attack on the people of france, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share.” He said the US stands prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance  France  needs to respond, but did not want to speculate on who may be behind the attacks. “France is our oldest ally” and has stood shoulder to shoulder with us time and again.” “Those who think they can terrorize France or their values are wrong,” he said. “ Liberté, égalité and fraternité are values that we share, and they are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism.” “We don’t yet know all details of what has happened we have been in contact with French government.” “We know what it’s like, we’ve gone through situations like this. Whenever these kinds of attacks happen, we’ve always been able to rely on Fra...