Donald Trump is leading an increasingly fact-free 2016 campaign

Let me start with this: I am rarely surprised by anything that happens in politics. Call it cynicism or pragmatism. But after spending two decades covering politics, I feel like nothing is shocking anymore.

Except, that is, the remarkable disdain for facts in the context of this presidential campaign. Candidates have always done their best to bend numbers, statistics and stories to make themselves look as good — or as not-bad — as possible. But there was almost always a line that wasn't crossed in years past, a sort of even-partisans-can-agree-on-this standard.

Now, in large part because of Donald Trump's candidacy, that line has been smudged out of existence. Daniel Patrick Moynihan's famous quote that "you are entitled to your own opinion … but you are not entitled to your own facts" is no longer operative in this campaign. That is to the detriment of not only the people running for president but to all of us.

Trump's latest foray into the fiction zone came on Saturday when he told a group of supporters that he watched as "thousands of people were cheering” in Jersey City, N.J., when the World Trade Center towers collapsed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. On Sunday, Trump called in to ABC's "This Week" and got into a back and forth with moderator George Stephanopoulos over that claim. The exchange is long.

For those who would criticize Stephanopoulos for "letting Trump get away with it," I would ask you how he could have done things any differently. Trump is operating on his own set of "facts." Stephanopoulos is adamant that "the police have said it didn't happen" but it's quite clear that Trump wasn't going to suddenly say: "Yeah, you're right. I misspoke." Could Stephanopoulos have spent the next five minutes making the same point about the police? I guess. But Trump wasn't going to give in. Period.

In elections and campaigns past, there would have been a price to pay for The Donald's complete flouting of fact. It would have hurt him politically to just say things that aren't true. In this one, there's plenty of reason to think that he not only will get away with saying it but also that it may even help him among certain segments of the electorate.

Why? Because trust in the media — in both parties but especially among conservatives who comprise Trump's base — is at an all-time low. So, anything that a member of the media calls a "fact" is inherently viewed as fishy (at best) by the people backing Trump. The media lies, we all know that, so why wouldn't they lie about this, too? All the mainstream media cares about is serving as the political correctness police, so if this did happen then of course they would work to cover it up, right?

Here's the thing: If there is no agreed-upon neutral arbiter, there are no facts. And, as I have written before, what is happening in the Republican race is that most of the candidates — save Trump and, at times, Ben Carson — are playing by an established set of rules around what you can say and do. Trump is not only not playing by those rules but there are also no referees to enforce his blatant flouting of them.

I give you, Ben Carson's response Monday to Trump's allegations, a response that amounts to "Yeah, I saw that too."

.@RealBenCarson tells me he "saw the film" of American Muslims cheering as the towers fell in New Jersey on 9/11.

— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) November 23, 2015

What's remarkable is that even as the fact-checking industry has blossomed — our own Fact Checker gave Trump's "cheering" claim Four Pinnocchios, meaning it has no truth to it — its ability to keep candidates honest has declined precipitously.

Suspected Suicide Belt Found In Paris

The object found in a dustbin in the Paris suburb of Montrouge has "the same configuration" as suicide belts used by others involved in the attacks, according to a police source.

Abdeslam is suspected of playing at least a logistical role in the coordinated shooting and suicide bombings on 13 November and police say phone location data places him in Montrouge that evening.

It comes as the 26-year-old fugitive's brother Mohamed suggested Abdeslam may have decided not to go ahead with the attack at the last moment.

Another theory suggested by police is that Abdeslam, if he was involved in the attacks, may have had a technical problem with his belt.

Abdeslam's other brother, 31-year-old Brahim, died after his suicide belt exploded outside a café during the attacks, injuring 15 people.

The pair from Belgium had a heated argument the night before the massacres according to friends living in Brussels. One friend told television channel France 2 the disagreement appeared to be over money.

"I heard an argument, a massive argument," he said.

"I leaned against the window and I saw the two brothers. They were there. They were fighting each other."

In a statement released the day after the assaults, IS spoke of simultaneous attacks in the 10th, 11th and 18th arrondissements by eight "brothers wearing explosive belts".

Seven suicide bombers died: two at the Bataclan concert venue, three at the Stade de France, one at a cafe on Boulevard Voltaire and one during a police raid at an apartment in Saint-Denis.

There was no attack on the 18th district.

Francois Molins, the Paris anti-terror prosecutor in charge of the investigation said the vests used in the attacks were composed of acetone peroxide, a chemical explosive easy to produce by amateurs.

Police are continuing to focus their investigations on Brussels which remains on maximum alert.

Following raids at the weekend prosecutors charged a fourth persons with terrorist offences linked to the attacks but released 15 others.

Citing "increased terrorist threats" the US State Department has issued a global a global travel alert following deadly the Paris attacks.

"Current information suggests that ISIL, al Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions," a spokesperson said.

Voter apathy in Egypt

Many voters stayed away from polling stations on the final day of the parliamentary election in Egypt. Many candidates also boycotted the vote.

Some blame voter apathy, others call it voter fatigue.

Unofficial counts says between 13 percent and 21 percent of voters have taken part in the election.

Voters are choosing new legislators in the first parliamentary election since a court dissolved the chamber in 2012.

But with many Egyptians not taking part, will this election result in an unbalanced parliament?

Presenter: Laura Kyle

Guests:

Timothy Kaldas - Non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy

Wafik Moustafa -Founder and Chairman of The British-Arab Network

Angus Blair -Chairman of the Signet Institute

U.S. State Department Issues Worldwide Travel Alert

The U.S. State Department has issued rare a worldwide travel alert due to ongoing terrorist threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and Great Syria (ISIS) and other groups.

The travel alert urges caution for any Americans traveling abroad, coming in the wake of a terrorist attack in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 129 people.

The alert, posted Monday, says, “Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh) [ISIS], al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions… Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da’esh return from Syria and Iraq. Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis. Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, and aviation services.”

The alert will remain in place until February 2016, the State Department said.

BBC to launch Pidgin service

The BBC has announced it will be launching a digital service in Pidgin and Yoruba in Nigeria, Africa's most populous state. 

"Pidgin is a popular language among young people in Nigeria and across West Africa," said Liliane Landor, controller of languages at the World Service.

The BBC will also launch a TV service in Somali, and radio and digital services for Ethiopia and Eritrea, said BBC Africa editor Solomon Mugera.

Details of which languages the BBC will broadcast in to Ethiopia and Eritrea will be announced later.

The announcement comes after the UK government agreed to invest around $128m (£85m) a year in enhancing BBC services around the world.

Ahmed Mohamed’s Family Demands $15 Million

An attorney for the family of teen clockmaker Ahmed Mohamed is demanding $15 million from Texas officials, along with an apology for how Mohamed was treated when he brought his homemade clock to school.

Mohamed is the 14-year-old Texas ninth-grader-turned-celebrity who was arrested at school after a homemade clock he brought in was mistaken for a bomb. He has since been honored everywhere from Google to the White House.

Mohamed’s attorney sent letters to the City of Irving and the Irving Independent School District adding new details and accusations to the story, with the family alleging that authorities “sought to cover its mistakes with a media campaign that further alienated the child at the center of this maelstrom,” the Dallas Morning News reports.

The Mohamed’s are asking for $15 million in damages, as well as apologies from key players—the school district, MayorVan Duyneand Police Chief Larry Boyd, alleging “They stoked the flames. They tried to push responsibility off on the victim—Ahmed.”

Lesley Weaver, spokeswoman for the Irving school district, said in a statement Monday that the school district’s attorneys “will review the information and respond as appropriate, as with any legal matter,” reports the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

Attorneys for the family said they would give the school district and the city 60 days to comply before filing a civil lawsuit.

Pope set for Africa visit

All signs are that Pope Francis will receive a rock-star welcome as he prepares for his first visit to Africa.

Millions of people across Central and East Africa are already talking about the "historic visit" to the continent, and hundreds of thousands more are expected to turn out to catch a glimpse of the pontiff when he arrives in Kenya, the first stop in his three-country tour.

Francis is scheduled to travel to Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR) - a travel itinerary that has raised eyebrows but also endeared him to the region.

Religious tolerance 

Father Anthony Gichure, a theologian and Catholic Church expert based in Nairobi, told Al Jazeera the timing of Francis' trip was important considering the high level of corruption and repeated violent attacks in the country.

"By coming [here] he can suggest to us ways and approaches to tackle these problems in a human way," Father Gichure said.

"I think he will talk about relations between Muslims and Christians - that terrorists can be from any religion. ... I think he will encourage us to avoid consumerism and materialism that encourages corruption."

The Pope will be particularly welcome to Kenya because he has displayed, during his papacy, a capacity to look beyond Europe and embrace the concerns of people around the world. Editorial in Daily Nation, Kenya

In a visit expected to  focus  on social inequality, religious tolerance and coexistence at a time of rising political instability and extremism in the region, organisers have been quick to assert that they have pulled out all the stops in ensuring nothing untoward takes place. Many in the foreign press have referred to Francis' trip as "his most dangerous" trip to date.

"As we welcome the pope, we stand in unity to secure our nation," CS Joseph Nkaissery, Kenya's interior minister, said in a message broadcast over Twitter on Monday.

Likewise, Joseph Boinnet, Kenyan police inspector general, said in a  statement  on Sunday: "Security arrangements have been made and put in place right from arrival to coverage of all the routes that he will be using, the venues and the residences including providing security for the visitors who will be coming into this city."

There is still some doubt over Francis's visit to the CAR, due to the ongoing Muslim-Christian violence and instability in the country.

However, all indications are that Francis is determined to make the trip.

Interest in Francis' visit has already dominated social media in parts of the continent, with #PopeinKenya or #TellthePope trending on Twitter, underscoring the keen sense of anticipation among the faithful.

On Monday, a new poll published by Infotrak showed that nine out of 10 Kenyans, Catholic or otherwise, were looking forward to Francis' visit.

The poll, conducted between October 3 and November 20, had a sample size of 777 individuals representing 19 million adult Kenyans.

"Pope Francis' humility has endeared him to both Catholics and non-Catholics," Infotrak's Angela Ombitho was quoted as having said. 

Likewise, Kenya's Daily Nation said in an  editorial   on Monday that a visit "from this particular pope is a moment to savour".

"The pope will be particularly welcome to Kenya because he has displayed, during his papacy, a capacity to look beyond Europe and embrace the concerns of people around the world."

Father Gichure said people of all faiths were looking forward to the visit, " because they see in him a message of hope, and this message cuts across divisions". 

It is a sentiment that  Sheikh Khalfan Khamist Ismail, chairman of the Muslim Council of Kenya, agrees with.

"We are looking forward to hearing his message of peace. Kenya is a country of many religions and important for the rest of the world," he said. 

Gay activists in Uganda have said they hope Francis will address the discrimination of the gay and lesbian communities on a continent where being gay is still a crime in most countries.

"I would like the Pope to at least make people know that being LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] is not a curse," Jackson Mukasa, 20, a Ugandan in Kampala, told Reuters news agency on Monday.

Mukasa was imprisoned in 2014, on suspicion of committing homosexual acts, before charges were dropped for lack of evidence.

Last week a spokesperson at the Vatican refused to say whether Francis will enter the debate, adding that he is unlikely to go against the wishes of his local bishops. 

According to a report this year by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, a research centre affiliated with Georgetown University in the US, the proportion of African Catholics in the world population of Catholics increased from seven percent to 16 percent between 1980 and 2012.