Suspect Dies In Nashville Bombing
Authorities say a 63-year-old suspect was killed in a car bombing in Nashville on Christmas Day.
Terrorism
Nashville Bomb Blast Kills 1, Injures 3; President Briefed
An apparent act of terrorism shook the United States on Christmas Day as a car bomb rocked downtown Nashville killing at least one person and injuring three others.
France: ‘14 Terrorists Get Long Prison Terms’
A Paris court has found 14 people guilty of involvement in a series of deadly Islamist terror attacks that shook the nation and much of Europe.
Indonesia Detains Islamic Leaders Amid Rising Extremism
Indonesian security forces have detained hardline Islamic leaders with suspected links to terrorism amid concerns among Christians about growing Islamic extremism.
Sudan removed from US list of state sponsors of terrorism
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday that Sudan has been officially removed from a list of countries that the US considers being state sponsors of terrorism, the Jerusalem Post reports. The 1993 US designation of Sudan as a terror sponsor was made during the brutal dictatorship of former president Omar al-Bashir, who was believed to be protecting terrorist groups, and who was finally ousted last year.
Iran Executes Journalist Who Inspired Daring Protests
Iran on Saturday executed a journalist who inspired nationwide economic protests for freedom in 2017 after luring him out of exile in Paris and kidnapping him.
Pentagon weighs cutting most of its support to CIA’s counterterrorism missions
In a surprising move, the Pentagon has told the Central Intelligence Agency that it is weighing an end to the majority of the military support it provides to the agency’s counterterrorism missions, according to a former senior administration intelligence official.
Nigeria added to US blacklist of countries which allow religious freedom violations
The United States added Nigeria to a blacklist of countries that violate religious liberties Monday, DW reports. Joining Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and China, Nigeria is now listed as a country “of concern” “under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.”
President Macron says France will do business with Egypt while disagreeing with President el-Sissi’s crackdown on critics
French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France will continue to make economic and defense deals with Egypt, despite Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s heaviest crackdown on dissent in the Arab country’s modern history, the Washington Times reports. While he gave this assurance during the Egyptian leader’s two-day state visit to France, Macron emphasized that he and el-Sissi have “disagreements” on human rights issues.
California Republican mayor: Not wearing a mask in public is domestic terrorism
The Republican mayor of Lancaster City, California said last week that people who do not wear a mask in public should be arrested on the grounds they are committing domestic terrorism, Los Angeles Daily News reports. A sharp critic of LA County’s COVID-19 lockdown measures, Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris made his remarks at a Supervisors Board meeting amid leaders’ growing frustration about blanket shutdown orders they believe are harming local economies and violating civil liberties.
Hungary Praising Trump For Supporting Persecuted Christians
Hungary, where believers suffered under communism, has praised “the Trump administration” for raising the issue of persecuted Christians amid concerns about terror attacks.
Zuckerberg: Facebook does not coordinate censorship policies with Twitter and Google
At a congressional hearing Tuesday, Republican Senator Josh Hawley questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about information received from a whistle-blower that suggests the social media giant coordinates content moderation, including censorship policies, with Google and Twitter, Politico reports.
Nigerian Bible Translators Asking for Help as Pandemic, Terrorist Attacks on Christians, and Economic Collapse Halt Work
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, reports that Nigerian Bible translators are asking for help after suspending Bible translation projects in 30 languages.
U.S., Israel Could Have Some Surprises Up Their Sleeves In Final Weeks Of Trump Administration: Report
The United States and Israel could have some potential surprises waiting in store for Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, in the final weeks of the Trump administration, including the possibility of launching strikes against a nuclear facility.
Abu Mohammed al-Masri, Al Qaeda’s No. 2, killed in US-Israel joint operation in Iran
The United States and Israel worked together to track and kill a senior Al Qaeda operative in Iran earlier this year, a bold intelligence operation by the two allied nations that came as the Trump administration was ramping up pressure on Tehran.
France Troops Kill Top al-Qaida leader in Mali
France said Friday its forces had killed the top leader of the al-Qaida terror group in Mali known for killing civilians, including many Christians.
Russia plans to have naval base in Sudan
Russia and Sudan have drafted a bilateral agreement that would allow for a Russian naval logistics base in Sudan, Radio Free Europe reported Thursday. The Sudanese are top importers of Russian arms in Africa, and Russia has economic and geopolitical interests in oil and minerals-rich Sudan.
Islamic State Claims Austria Terror Attack Killing Four
Austrian police detained 14 people in several raids Tuesday after an Islamist gunman shot and killed four people in Vienna.
France Frees Initial Suspect In Shooting of Priest
Church members prayed Sunday after police in the French city of Lyon released an initial suspect in the shooting of a Greek Orthodox priest.
U.S. Announces Seizure Of Iranian Weapons It Says Were En Route To Yemen
The United States says it has seized a variety of missiles that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force shipped to Yemen and announced the sale of Iranian oil it seized in August before it reached Venezuela, saying the proceeds will benefit victims of terrorism.