Heavy gunfire as Indian airbase siege enters third day

The attack comes a week after Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister in 12 years to visit Pakistan [Channi Anand/AP]

Heavy gunfire was heard from inside an Indian airbase near the Pakistani border, as a siege on the base spilled into its third day.

Indian officials vowed on Monday to kill any remaining attackers inside the base in Pathankot, with at least one gunman thought to still be holed up after a two-day siege had left seven soldiers and six attackers dead.

On Sunday, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told reporters that the last of the fighters had been cornered and would be "neutralised" soon.

Al Jazeera's Faiz Jamil, reporting from New Delhi, said that "some of the gunmen may have been hiding in some of the bunkers or the forested areas surrounding the large military base" before launching the attack.

"Indian officials aren't sure themselves, but because of the terrain it makes it difficult to determine. Officials are staying tight-lipped about the operation, and don't want to say how many gunmen exactly are inside because they aren't sure," Jamil said.

The attack on the Pathankot air force base started before dawn on Saturday and is considered by some as an attempt to undo recent improvements in the relationship between archrivals India and Pakistan.

It comes a week after Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister in 12 years to visit Pakistan.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Troops engage attackers

Mehrishi said Indian authorities were alerted about a potential attack in Pathankot, and that aerial surveillance at the base spotted the suspected fighters as they entered the compound.

He said they were engaged by Indian troops and were kept away from the base's aircraft and military equipment.

Since Saturday morning, the base has been swarming with air force commandos, troops from India's National Security Guard and local police.

A senior air force officer, Air Marshal Anil Khosla, told reporters in New Delhi that the base will not be declared fully secured until the entire area is checked by troops.

The sprawling Pathankot air force base is spread over several kilometres, including some forested sections. It houses a fleet of India's Russian-origin MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, along with other military hardware.

The base is on the highway that connects Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Rebels in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir have been fighting since 1989 for independence or merger with Pakistan.

'Obama Sucks': Gun Owners Hit Out At President

The two-day event - taking place twenty miles from the scene of the mass shooting in San Bernardino a month ago - saw a surge in ticket sales.

The "Obama Sucks" T-shirt was perhaps a measure of the gun lobby's views on Washington right now.

Sky News was not permitted to film inside the event hall, but plenty of show visitors were happy to share their views outside.

Not surprisingly, there was strong support for the Second Amendment and the guarantee of the right to bear arms.

"If he's going to do that and not going to go through Congress, I think that is illegal," said one.

"Look at drugs. Drugs are illegal but we still have those," said another.

One military veteran, with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder, summed up the views of many: "We abide by laws in how we carry weapons and conduct ourselves and they're trying to take that right from us.

"I don't think it is fair, the laws are getting too extreme."

Shows like the "Crossroads of the West" abide by the letter of the law.

Visitors' guns have to be checked at the door and purchasers have to wait ten days for any weapons they buy.

The president is expected to expand the requirement for background checks for gun buyers who purchase from "collectors" rather than dealers.

He will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss his administrations options for tightening gun rules without going through the Republican-controlled Congress.

Republicans have criticised Mr Obama's plans, calling them an overreach of his executive authority.

Security Services Probe IS Threat To Britain

The video, which has not been independently verified, shows five men of Middle Eastern appearance wearing orange jumpsuits - who IS said were British spies - being shot dead.

A child aged about five, who also apparently spoke with a UK accent, also appears in the video wearing an IS headband and a camouflage outfit.

Authorities are working to identify the masked man, who is also pictured wearing combat fatigues and is heard describing the UK Prime Minister as a "slave of the White House".

The man said: "One would have thought you would have learnt the lessons from your pathetic master in Washington and his failed campaign against Islamic State.

A child apparently with a British accent appeared in the video

"But it seems that you, like your predecessors Blair and Brown, are just as arrogant and foolish.

"In fact David you are more of an imbecile."

He added: "You will lose this war as you lost in Iraq and Afghanistan."

In the 10-minute film, the five detainees apparently confessed to the allegations that IS accused them of.

Sky's Enda Brady said: "The prisoners are obviously speaking under extraordinary duress.

"Some of the men say they are from the town of Raqqa which has become the de facto capital of IS in Syria.

'And they apparently confess to the crime of spying for the UK government.

"That is what Islamic State accuse the men of. They are all then killed."

The video has not been independently verified.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the video and are examining its content."

The RAF has carried out at least 10 airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria since MPs backed the use of military forceearly in December.

UK warplanes have also been bombing IS targets in Iraq for a number of months.

The video emerged days after Mr Cameron promised to crack down on IS sympathisers, stressing in a New Year's message that all Britons should have "loyalty" to their country.

The footage also came in the wake of recent losses by IS, including in the Iraqi city of Ramadi which the army claimed to have captured from the militants.

The jihadist group has lost 40% of areas it once controlled in Iraq, according to US President Barack Obama.

And it has also lost a large amount of territory in Syria to Kurdish fighters.

Last November, British IS militant Mohammed Emwazi, known as "Jihadi John", who appeared in a number of beheading videos, was believed to have been killed in a drone strike in Syria.

A number of other UK jihadists have also been targeted and killed or are being hunted by authorities.

Delhi's cars and the odd-even formula

Residents complain of the dense smog which often engulfs the city in the morning [Altaf Qadri/AP]

The Indian capital has started the trial phase of a new initiative which will see private cars allowed to operate only on alternate days from January 1-15, depending on whether their license plates end in an even or an odd number.

The initiative started on Friday as part of a sweeping plan to reduce Delhi's record-high air pollution by limiting the numbers of cars on streets for 14 days.

Air quality in Delhi has been a problem for many residents in recent years. Many middle and more affluent class families buy air filters for their homes and the sight of residents wearing surgical masks is not uncommon.

The city has also seen a marked increase in the number of hospital patients with respiratory illnesses.

Delhi pollution worsening

Pollution has been on the increase in Delhi in recent years. Last year, the World Health Organization named Delhi the world's most polluted city in a study of 1,600 cities.

Residents complain of the dense smog which often engulfs the city in the morning. Many factors have contributed to the pollution, including the burning of refuse, ash from crop waste in farming areas and emissions from transport.

The most recent Economic Survey of Delhi shows the city had more than 8.8 million vehicles on the road in the year 2014 to 2015.

This marked a 14 percent rise in the number of vehicle registrations from the previous year.

"The way we look at it is that this is an opportunity," says Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy with India's Centre for Science and Environment.

"During the coming fortnight when the number of cars will be halved on the road, this will free up a lot of space for the city's public transport to become more efficient.

"That will also lead to a more efficient utilisation of the existing fleet, unlike today where bus operations have become so inefficient, just because of road congestion.

"Studies show that buses don't even get to complete the scheduled trips. So when you're freeing up space, all modes of public transport will function better - be it autos, taxis or buses. The overall system efficiency to carry more people will improve dramatically."

Cars not only polluters

Plans to lower the city's pollution levels include shutting down one of the oldest and least-efficient power plants.

Measures also include a temporary ban on the sale of large diesel vehicles and expensive toll charges for trucks deemed to be polluting the Indian capital.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court also banned trucks from entering the city if they are over 10 years old. Taxi firms have also been told their cars have to switch to compressed natural gas by the end of March.

Traffic policemen and thousands of volunteers will check cars and violators will be fined $30 and asked to return to their point of origin.

It will be months before any discernible progress is made. On the first day of the limited ban, the average particulate matter (PM2.5) levels for New Delhi were higher than 297. That is a relatively low number for the city at this time of year, but remains about 15 times higher than the WHO standard of 20.

One caveat is that schools and colleges were shut and many offices remained closed for the New Year’s holiday.

There are a number of exemptions to the new rules, including women, politicians, judges, police officials, sick people and motorcycles. Women will be allowed to drive their cars on all days as long as they are accompanied by only women, and children below the age of 12.

The government has also hired around 3,000 private buses to provide transport from residential areas and to ease the added strain on the city’s already overworked public transport system. Schools will also remain closed until the end of the trial, so school buses can be used as public transport.

"The biggest challenge is to make people realise that this fight against pollution is for them, for their health, for their own good," said Gopal Rai, Delhi Transport Minister.

Russia reportedly names US as threat to national security for first time

Russia has named the U.S. as one of the threats to its national security in a new assessment signed by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, according to a published report.

Reuters reported the document, “About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation,” replaces the 2009 version endorsed by former President Dmitry Medvedev, which didn’t mention the U.S. or NATO. Russia continues to increase its role in solving global conflicts, which has caused some reaction from the West, according to the document.

It is the first time Russia has officially named the U.S. a national security threat, according to Reuters.

Russia claims its heightened global reach has caused “counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs.” The document claims that Western pressures will likely lead to increased “political, economical, military and informational pressure” on Russia.

Relations between Moscow and the West became to deteriorate stemming from Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Western nations have repeatedly accused Russia of funding insurgents in Ukraine despite Moscow’s denials.

Russia’s security document accuses the U.S. and EU of supporting an “anti-constitutional coup d’etat in Ukraine,” which has deepened the rift between Moscow and the West.

The U.S. and European Union have imposed sanctions against Russian companies and businessmen. Russia, in turn, clamped down on food imported from EU countries.

The expansion of NATO also concerns Russia. The document also said the U.S. has expanded its military biological labs in neighboring countries.

According to Reuters, the document fails to mention anything on Russia’s ongoing airstrikes in Syria, which has aided the Bashar al-Assad regime in the embattled nation. Assad, a Russian ally, has received military support from Russia in its civil war against U.S.-backed rebels and the Islamic State.

The little car you can drive in France without a licence

Losing one's driving licence in the UK is a serious matter - expensive and, to say the least, very inconvenient.

But in France, no licence? No problem. You can simply go shopping for a VSP a voiture sans permis - a small two-seater car that anyone aged 14 or over can take out on the road with as little as four hours' experience behind the wheel, sometimes not even that.

It's impossible to say how many there are as no official figures exist. It is what the French call a chiffre noir - an unknown quantity. 

You'll probably hear them coming first, a high-pitched whine like a sewing machine being run at full throttle. If you get stuck behind one on a windy rural lane, tant pis. Top speed is 45km per hour (28mph). It's probably a good idea to stop in the next lay-by and admire the view for a while rather than sit fuming in its wake.

On market day in my nearest town here in Brittany the little voitures sans permis splutter into the main street. Although the literal translation is "car without licence" it is in fact the driver who doesn't need to bother himself or herself with any proof of ability behind the wheel.

Once seen as an anachronism that, given time, would inevitably be legislated out of existence they remain a vital means of transport for an ageing rural population. For the most part they are scruffy and battered. Their bodywork is faded and peeling, often touched-up with a spot of household gloss paint. Wire and gaffer tape hold loose panels together and one I saw had its bumper held in place with washing line fashioned into an elaborate blanket stitch.

My local notaire, or solicitor, admits she is nervous on Thursdays - which is market day. Especially of the old ladies. The problem, she told me is one of inheritance. A husband who always did all the driving passes away and the voiturette is inherited by his wife.

Because it's impossible to survive here without wheels she will nervously trundle into town at snail's pace. She won't do much damage because she is going so slowly. Insurance will only get expensive if she hurts someone, but most of the time it's just a busted wing mirror or a slight scratch and the insurance company just takes the hit. 

I tell her that I am frankly astonished that VSPs still exist. 

"Well," she says with a shrug, "there are people who would still drive without a licence but they would be in much more powerful, and therefore more dangerous cars."

The fact is that a lot of conducteurs who lose their licence because they are too fond of the pastis, walk out of court down to their local VSP outlet, et voila they can be back on the road in hours. Yes, they ought to have insurance, which is pricey if you have a record of illness or a fondness for alcohol - it can set you back as much 85 euros (£63) a month. A reputable dealership won't sell you a car unless you can show insurance, but it's not a problem if you pick one up from your mate. 

I asked around in my local bar but the drinkers were coy about their reasons for driving sans permis. 

One chap told me the theory exam for a full licence was too difficult. But in a quiet moment the patron told me what he said was a common story. One of his regulars lost his licence and bought an ancient voiture sans permis. When his licence was reinstated, he sold the voiturette to a drinking chum who had just had his licence taken away . It changed hands once more in the same way and then after a year or so the original owner (who evidently hadn't kicked his pastis habit) bought it back again.

The barman shrugged. "Ca roule," he said. That's how it goes. (So many people shrugged while I was investigating this story I looked to see what the French word was for "shrug". They don't have one.)

Curious as to how strict a dealership would be, I went to the local VSP outlet - it's not a regular garage, they are sold alongside tractors and motor-mowers. 

The salesman tells me they sell three a week on average. So, would they sell a voiturette to just anyone who walked in off the street? "Mais, oui," he says, "provided they have insurance." But what about knowing what to do at a roundabout? It turns out that the salesman takes the would-be purchaser for a spin. If he and the car come back in one piece, he'll do the deal.

"That's a big responsibility, isn't it?" I ask. Another eloquent shrug.

Here my eyes were opened to the new generation of VSP. I got to take a ride in the latest top of the range model - called, without any intended irony, the "sports" model. (Top speed still 45km per hour.)

At a cool 14,000 euros (£10,000) it has air conditioning, a reversing camera and a top-flight sound system, which is essential for the new target market.

Microcar, Axiam, Ligier and other manufacturers are aiming their publicity at young urbanites. You can't take VSPs on motorways or expressways but they are cheap to run, turn on a centime and are easy to park. 

They also aim the hard sell at parents. Since last November children as young as 14 can drive VSPs. They're deemed to be safer than a scooter and it's a way out of the cliche of "Mum's Taxi" service.

Youngsters at least have to take a theoretical exam in the French highway code (this is waived entirely if you were born before the law was last changed in 1988) and drive accompanied for a minimum of four hours, but no-one has to sit any kind of practical test to frappe la rue (hit the road) in a VSP. 

So whether you prefer red, white or rose, to stay safe on French roads there is there is perhaps another French "whine" you should be steering clear of.

Atlanta girl shot during robbery for her hoverboard

Atlanta police say a 16-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound Saturday when two robbers tried to steal a hoverboard she got for Christmas.

The teen was shot around 6 p.m. after the robbers followed her home from a convenience store, Fox 5 Atlanta reported Saturday.

Police said a bullet struck the girl in her lower back.

She was in good condition at a hospital.

The robbers got away. It wasn't clear if they made off with the hoverboard.

“It’s crazy. Over a hoverboard. Really?” Sherica Davis told Fox 5. Her daughter is a friend of the victim.

WSB-TV reported Sunday the bullet came out the girl's side after it struck her in the back.

Her brother Doryan Sanford said his sister was riding the hoverboard she got for Christmas and didn’t realize she had been targeted by robbers.

“He just said, ‘Give it up,’ and I said, ‘What?’ He pulled out a gun and put it to my face," Sanford told the station. “I pushed him back. That’s when I tried to close the door and that’s when the bullet came through and hit my sister.”

“She was screaming and screaming, ‘I got shot,’” he said. “I just got a towel and tried to stop the bleeding.”

Police searched the area with a helicopter.

There was no word on a description of the robbery suspects.