News Wrap: Russia, Turkey swap harsh rhetoric over shot-down plane

JUDY WOODRUFF:

There is breaking news out of Chicago tonight. The mayor and the chief of police are holding a press conference at this hour about the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

They're expected to release a video of the shooting. The teenager was fatally shot last year by police officer Jason Van Dyke, who emptied all 16 rounds of his firearm. Earlier today, Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.

Tonight, the Chicago Police Department has ordered most of the police force into uniform in anticipation of possible protests. The family of the victim has urged people to stay calm. We will have more on this story later in the program.

The air war over Syria saw a long-feared escalation today, as a Russian warplane was shot down by the Turks in disputed circumstances, while, in Washington, President Obama pledged American solidarity to French President Hollande, as the two leaders discussed efforts to unite a global coalition to fight the Islamic State 10 days after the attacks in Paris.

This fiery streak hurtling earthward is a Russian Sukhoi fighter jet, shot down by Turkish warplanes. Turkey said the jet entered its airspace and ignored multiple calls to leave. But Russia rejected those claims, and said the jet was operating over Syrian airspace amid its bombing campaign. The incident occurred near Turkey's southernmost border.

Rebel groups on the ground said the plane crashed close to the Syrian town of Yamadi. Russia's military said that both pilots ejected, and confirmed one was killed. The fate of the second pilot remained unclear. Russian officials said he was still missing, but a commander of a rebel group in Syria said they killed both pilots.

MAN (through interpreter):

Our comrades opened fire into the air. We all did. They died in the air.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

A Russian soldier aboard a helicopter was also killed during a search-and-rescue operation. One Russian chopper was brought down by Syrian rebel fire. This video apparently shows its destruction, using an anti-tank missile supplied to some Syrian rebel groups by the United States.

The shoot-down led to immediate and harsh words. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences in denouncing the Turks.

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russia (through interpreter):

Today's loss is a stab in the back delivered to us by accomplices of terrorists. I cannot qualify what happened today as anything else. Our pilots and our plane in no way threatened the Turkish republic.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Later, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov canceled a scheduled visit to Turkey and said Russian citizens should avoid travelling to the country.

But, in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country's actions were justified.

PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turky (through interpreter):

We are feeling distressed, but the actions were fully in line with Turkey's rules for engagement that have been declared before. Turkey doesn't harbor enmity towards its neighbors.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

In Brussels, NATO convened an emergency meeting at the request of Turkey, a NATO member-state.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he supports Turkey, but the facts must emerge.

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO Secretary-General:

This is a situation which calls on that we all are prudent and that we call contribute to de-escalating the situation.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

At the White House, President Obama spoke after meeting with French President Francois Hollande on efforts to ramp up the U.S.-led coalition's campaign against Islamic State. He said Turkey had a right to defend its airspace.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

I do think that this points to an ongoing problem with the Russian operations, in the sense that they are operating very close to a Turkish border and they are going after moderate opposition that are supported not only Turkey, but a wide range of countries.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The president again said Russia could work with the coalition if it decides only to target the Islamic State. But as it stands, Mr. Obama said Russia had made a more limited choice.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

Russia right now is a coalition of two, Iran and Russia, supporting Assad.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Meanwhile, Hollande said France would redouble its efforts to fight ISIS, but he said that effort will go only so far.

PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, (through interpreter):

France will not intervene militarily on the ground. It is for the local forces to do so.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Hollande will be in Moscow Thursday to meet with Putin.

We will come back to look at the consequences of the shoot-down of the Russian plane after the news summary.

French prosecutors announced today the alleged mastermind of the Paris attacks likely had plans for another suicide bombing in the city's business district. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who died in a police raid last week, also moved actively from crime scene to crime scene in Paris just hours after the carnage.

FRANCOIS MOLINS, Paris Prosecutor (through interpreter):

The geolocation of the suspected phone line of Abdelhamid Abaaoud shows that he was present and notably near the attacks sites and, notably, near the Bataclan concert hall. This makes us think that he returned to the crime scenes after the attacks on the cafes and restaurants and while the anti-terror brigade was still working at the Bataclan.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Jawad Bendaoud, the man who allegedly housed the ringleader and at least two others, was charged today in connection with the attacks. He claims he didn't know that they were terrorists.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Belgium, a terror alert extended into a fourth day. Soldiers patrolled the streets and the subway remained closed.

Tunisia is under a state of emergency tonight after a terrorist attack on a bus filled with presidential guards killed at least 12 people. The explosion happened along a main avenue in the capital city, Tunis. There were reports that it was caused by a bomber who detonated an explosive device inside the bus. Ten days ago, authorities increased security levels and deployed extra forces across the capital.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Israel and the West Bank today as sporadic violence flared in the area. A Palestinian drove his vehicle into a group of Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint. Elsewhere, Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli troops in Ramallah, who fired back with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Hours later, Kerry was in that city to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Earlier, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

JOHN KERRY, Secretary of State: No people anywhere should live with daily violence, with attacks in the streets, with knifes or scissors or cars. And it is very clear to us that terrorism, these acts of terrorism which are taking place, deserve the condemnation that they are receiving.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Kerry made no mention of reviving peace talks. This has been the deadliest week since the current wave of violence broke out in mid-September.

Liberia has recorded its first Ebola death since July, a 15-year-old boy. He died in an eastern district of the West African country on Monday night. Both his father and brother have also been diagnosed with Ebola. Health workers have identified about 160 other people who might be at risk because they came in direct contact with the boy. Liberia's Ebola outbreak began in March 2014 and killed more than 4,800 people.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the governor of Indiana for suspending programs that help resettle Syrian refugees in his state. Republican Mike Pence stopped accepting Syrians in the wake of the Paris attacks. The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of the non-profit group Exodus Refugee Immigration.

In Indianapolis, its executive director argued it's illegal for states to ban refugees based on their nationality.

CARLEEN MILLER, Exodus Refugee Immigration:

I really think it is completely misguided, because refugees are admitted into the U.S. They are legal persons here, and they have the freedom of movement, just like anyone else. So they can go to any state in the union that they choose.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

At the same time, the Canadian government today unveiled a plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February. The country's new president, Justin Trudeau, hasn't backed down from the pledge he made before the Paris attacks, and he promised the screening process would be vigorous.

The state of Kentucky has restored voting rights to thousands of nonviolent felons who have already served out their sentences. Outgoing Democratic Governor Steve Beshear signed the executive order today. He leaves office next month. About 180,000 former prisoners are affected. In Florida, Virginia and Iowa, felons and ex-felons still permanently lose their right to vote, without a pardon from the governor.

The U.S. economy did better than expected over the summer, expanding by more than 2 percent. The Commerce Department revised its initial figures, mainly because businesses restocked their shelves faster than estimated. Stocks on Wall Street today gained ground on rising crude oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average added 19 points to close at 17812. The Nasdaq rose less than a point, and the S&P 500 gained two points.