An hostage crisis in the Radisson Hotel in Bamako, Mali. You may remember Mali currently homes a French expeditionary force which intervened to push back rebel groups. Like all countries nearby, Mali has had to contend with Tuareg grievances for a long time. Tuareg armed groups have recently been taking a more djihadist turn, with groups like Ansar Dine and AQIM, the latter being active in all Sahel. I'm not up to date with allegiances there, I don't know if AQIM make the choice to nominally put themselves under ISIS... Nevertheless, Ansar Dine recently called for action against French interests and assets, probably not wanting to look idle while the IS is conducting terrorist attacks on several fronts.
The Radisson houses a lot of expatriates, NGO members, diplomats, flight personnel, some French soldiers as well. French troops are assisting Mali forces in locking down the area and a contingent of special forces have been put on alert in Ouagadougou. 140 patrons and 30 employees are held hostages by 2 (or 3?) armed men. EDIT : Mali security forces just said they suspect up to 10 attackers. Rumors of attackers entering the premises in a diplomatic car. The Radisson is supposedly highly secured : armed guards and in the heart of the capital city where Mali and France troops are patrolling.
Otherwise, as expected, Russia has made clear that its fleet in the Med will not integrate the French carrier group, but strike at the same objectives (implying a modicum of mutual planning, as for the air attacks). Russia will also send more Sukhoi planes down in Syria.
Lastly, you probably know that Abaaoud, the belgian "mastermind" (commanding officer may be truer) has been killed in Wesneday morning raid in Saint Denis, north of Paris. A third body has just been found in the rubble, as was speculated by the officials. Justice is trying to piece back Abaaoud involvement. He has been captured by CCTV in the subway at Montreuil, at 10pm the night of the attacks, 300m from where one the cars used was left with assaults rifles.
