Globe Trot: Europe's long, slow-burning, radical fuse

FRANCE: The situation is changing rapidly in Paris, as gunmen involved in Wednesday’s terrorist attack appear to have taken hostages in the eastern part of the city. A second hostage situation is unfolding too, and residents are being evacuated from populous neighborhoods, including the mostly Jewish neighborhood of Le Marais. We’ll be posting regular updates here.

One of the Charlie Hebdo suspects was mentored by a disciple of Abu Hamza, a convicted al-Qaeda terrorist who is due for sentencing in a Manhattan federal court today.

Foreign Policy recaps the decade-long quest of Cherif Kouachi, one of the alleged suspects, and others, to plan a European jihad.

“That a man like Cherif would plot for a decade to find a way to kill those he viewed as blaspheming Islam highlights the long and slow-burning fuse of radicalists in Europe, especially in France.”

The Long War Journal has been connecting the dots, covering the al-Qaeda connections (including with U.S.-linked terrorists) of the Paris killers.

Ross Douthat has provided helpful perspective on the “role” of blasphemy in a free society.

Veteran journalist Andy Carvin has a ground-level look at Wednesday’s “baptism by fire” for a new publication covering the Paris scene.

GLOBAL: Open Doors this week released its much-anticipated World Watch List on global persecution, and—not surprisingly—predicted a rising tide of persecution with more to come.

“The 2015 World Watch List documents the greatest rise in violence against Christians in the world in the modern era,” said David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors. “Even Christian-majority states are experiencing unprecedented levels of exclusion, discrimination, and violence.”

Here’s a breakdown on the persecution stats.

EGYPT: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi became the first Egyptian president to attend a Christmas Eve service (held Jan. 6 in keeping with Orthodox tradition), making a surprise visit to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo.

CHINA: Harbin’s one-of-a-kind ice festival is underway, and the photos are, well, breathtaking.