Mattis Rebukes Reports That Trump Wanted ‘Tenfold’ Nuclear Increase
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis rebuked media reports that President Donald Trump wanted to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal ‘tenfold’ after a meeting with defense officials in July.
Media
Hamas, Fatah reach agreement in Palestinian unity talks
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on aspects of their reconciliation bid during talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo this week, Hamas said on Thursday.
Military heats up battle in Libya as Islamic State militants seek refuge
The U.S. military is ramping up operations and bombing raids against the Islamic State in Libya, where the terrorist group’s fighters have increasingly found refuge as their territorial base shrinks in Syria and Iraq.
Israel’s defense minister says Hezbollah runs Lebanese army
Israel’s defense minister says the Hezbollah militant group controls Lebanon’s army.
Iron Dome goes on display in Washington amid reports on possible US purchase
Amid reports that the US military is considering purchasing Israel’s Iron Dome to plug a gap in its European defenses, the missile-defense system is on display in the US capital this week as part of the Association of the US Army (AUSA) annual meeting.
Israel Hacked Kaspersky and Discovered Russia Stealing Top Secret U.S. Intel
Israeli intelligence officials spying on Russian government hackers found they were using Kaspersky Lab antivirus software that is also used by 400 million people globally, including U.S. government agencies, according to media reports on Tuesday.
IRGC Chief Suggests Missile Strike If U.S. Bolsters Iran Sanctions
The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has suggested that U.S. military forces in the Middle East could be in danger of an Iranian missile attack if Washington imposes new sanctions against Tehran.
Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence
Catalonia’s secessionist leader faced increased pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country’s unity.
Twitter Blocks Rep. Blackburn Ad Over Pro Life Message
Twitter blocked a video ad that announced the Senate candidacy of Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., because the social media giant said a pro life message in it was ‘an inflammatory statement.’
Las Vegas gunman sprayed 200 shots at hotel security guard six minutes before opening fire on crowd
A hotel security guard was shot by the Las Vegas mass shooting’s gunman six minutes before he opened fire on concert-goers, authorities said on Monday, revising the timeline of the attack.
Google uncovers ads by Russian operatives: Report
Russian operatives spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads across Google products, including YouTube and Google search, according to reports.
Russia threatens US media with legal crackdown
Russia on Monday threatened US media operating in the country with new legal restrictions after Kremlin-controlled broadcaster RT complained of persecution by Washington.
Trump, NRA open to ban on ‘bump stocks’ for guns
President Trump and the National Rifle Association got behind the push for outlawing ‘bump stocks’ Thursday, giving rare momentum to gun control legislation in response to the Las Vegas massacre.
70 million people may have seen Russian Facebook ads, seven times the social media giant’s estimate
Facebook estimates 10 million Americans saw the advertisements that Russian groups purchased to try to influence the presidential election last year, but analysts said that undersells the reach of the ads, which may have been seen by as many as 70 million.
Russian Censor Summons CNN Staff Over Supposed Media Law Violation
Russia’s state media censor on Friday summoned representatives of the U.S.-based CNN International cable news television channel over supposed media law violations.
Trump says envoy ‘wasting his time’ talking to North Korea
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was ‘wasting his time’ trying to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, raising speculation about whether Trump could be undermining efforts to maintain channels of communication or somehow bolstering the diplomat’s hand in possible future talks.
Interpol approves Palestinian membership, angering Israel
International police agency Interpol voted Wednesday to include Palestine as a member state, in a new boost to Palestinian efforts for international recognition and influence amid long-stalled negotiations with Israel for full statehood.
Embarrassment as Washington Post corrects its ‘scoop’ about Obama, Facebook and Russia
The Washington Post has made a correction to an explosive cover story that undermines the entire premise of Monday’s front-page article headlined, ‘Obama sought to prod Facebook on Russia role.’
Mob Violence Terrorizes Small Christian Village in Egypt
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on September 14, a Muslim mob in the village of Tawa in Minya attacked the local Coptic Christian community. Homes, businesses, and cars were destroyed and three Copts suffered minor injuries. These attacks were in retaliation against a Facebook post which was widely shared among Christians. The author, a 22-year-old Christian resident of Tawa named Bassem, had written the post in May following the deadly attack by Islamic extremists against a caravan of Coptic Christians traveling to the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor.
Heroic Usher’s Hope Following Deadly Tennessee Church Shooting
The 22-year-old church usher who is being credited with tackling a gunman who opened fire at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee, say’s he is not a hero.