On New Year's Day, a terrorist attack in New Orleans, United States, left at least 15 people dead when a truck plowed into revelers in the city's busy French Quarter and opened fire on police. The attacker, identified as U.S. citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is linked to the Islamic State group, with the FBI finding the group's flag inside the truck. Police are investigating reports of explosive devices left at the scene. Additionally, it is reported that the attacker did not act alone and was a U.S. Army veteran. Meanwhile, a separate incident in Las Vegas near a Trump hotel involved a Tesla Cybertruck explosion, resulting in one death and several injuries.
On January 1, 2023, Russia's Gazprom halted natural gas transit via Ukraine to Europe, marking the end of Moscow's dominance over European energy markets. Despite nearly three years of war, gas had continued to flow, but Ukraine's refusal to renew a transit agreement led to the stoppage. The expected halt is not expected to impact consumer prices in the EU, unlike in 2022 when reduced Russian supplies sent prices soaring. Remaining EU buyers like Slovakia and Austria have secured alternative supplies, while Hungary will continue receiving Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline. The pro-Russian breakaway region of Transdniestria in Moldova cut heating supplies due to the halt. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called it a major defeat for Moscow and urged the U.S. to supply more gas to Europe. The European Commission stated the EU is prepared, with flexible infrastructure and new LNG import capacities. Ukraine will increase domestic gas transmission tariffs to offset losses, while Gazprom will lose nearly $5 billion in gas sales.
South Korea's transport ministry has announced that investigators have extracted data from one of the black boxes of the Jeju Air plane that crashed on Sunday. The cockpit voice recorder data will be converted into an audio file, while the flight data recorder, the second black box, will be sent to the United States for analysis. The crash resulted in 179 deaths, marking the deadliest plane crash in South Korean history. Investigators noted that the flight data recorder, damaged in the crash, cannot be decoded locally. South Korean experts will be involved in the US analysis process, and discussions are ongoing with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding the handover of the recorder. NTSB officials have been deployed to the crash site in Muan county, South Korea, to assist with the investigation. The Boeing 737-800 plane, en route from Bangkok, crash-landed at Muan International Airport and slid into a wall at the end of the runway, bursting into flames and killing all on board except two crew members. Investigators are exploring potential factors such as bird strikes or weather conditions, and examining the concrete wall at the runway's end. According to Yonhap news agency, the passengers ranged in age from three to 78, with most in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, including two Thai nationals and the rest believed to be South Korean. After days of identifying bodies through fingerprints or DNA, Acting President Choi Sang-mok announced on Wednesday that all 179 victims have been identified. Nationwide New Year's Day celebrations have been cancelled or scaled down in respect for the victims, with a seven-day period of national mourning announced. At a Tuesday press conference, Jeju Air CEO Kim Yi-bae stated that the airline is preparing emergency compensation for the victims' families and will cover funeral costs, adding that a pre-flight inspection found 'no issues.' The investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
The US Central Command stated on Tuesday that the US military conducted strikes on key Houthi facilities in Yemen. US Navy ships and aircraft targeted a Houthi command and control facility, as well as advanced conventional weapon production and storage facilities, including missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). These facilities were used in Houthi operations against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Additionally, the US military destroyed a Houthi coastal radar site and seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea. CENTCOM confirmed no US personnel or equipment were injured during the strikes. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria said the Houthis attacked the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and conducted their first missile attack on an Israeli power station and a second attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Last week, Israel struck power stations and an airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa and the province of Al Hudaydah, resulting in six deaths.
Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera Broadcast
The Palestinian Authority temporarily suspended the broadcast of Qatar's Al Jazeera TV over 'inciting material,' as reported by the Palestinian official news agency WAFA. A ministerial committee comprising the culture, interior, and communications ministries decided to halt the broadcaster's operations, citing content that was 'inciting, deceptive, and stirring strife.' The decision is not expected to be enforced in Hamas-controlled Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority lacks power. Last week, Al Jazeera faced criticism from the Palestinian Authority for its coverage of the weeks-long standoff between Palestinian security forces and militants in the Jenin camp in the occupied West Bank. Fatah, the faction controlling the Palestinian Authority, accused the broadcaster of sowing division in 'our Arab homeland in general and in Palestine in particular,' urging Palestinians not to cooperate with the network. In September, Israeli forces issued a military order to Al Jazeera to shut down its operations after raiding its bureau in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
On the morning of December 31, 2024, Puerto Rico experienced a major blackout, leaving over 1.3 million customers without power. Officials indicated it could take up to two days to restore electricity. The outage plunged the island into silence as electrical appliances and air conditioners shut down. Luma Energy reported that nearly 90% of 1.47 million customers were affected, but by the afternoon, power had been restored to over 194,000 customers. The blackout was likely caused by a failed underground power line, which is under investigation. The outage impacted the government and tourism, with several cruise ships canceling trips. The governor and governor-elect called for a review of the power companies' contracts, while President Joe Biden offered federal assistance. The incident fueled public anger against the power companies, highlighting Puerto Rico's chronic issues with an aging power grid.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gholamreza Ansari announced on January 1 that Iran will hold a new round of dialogue with the UK, France, and Germany on January 13. Ansari revealed this during a memorial event for Qasem Soleimani, emphasizing that it is a dialogue, not negotiations. The new dialogue aims to clarify issues and discuss the framework for future negotiations. On November 29, 2024, Iran and the three European countries held talks in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on the Iranian nuclear issue. The parties engaged in candid discussions and agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue.
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. When asked about it at his New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump responded, “I’ll be there.” He declined to comment on whether he had spoken to Carter's family. The funeral services for Carter, who died at the age of 100, will be held in Georgia and Washington from January 4 to January 9. Trump was a frequent critic of Carter during the campaign, but expressed gratitude for the former president on social media after his death, acknowledging Carter's love and contributions to the country despite their philosophical and political differences. Trump also briefly commented on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the hostages issue, and expressed optimism about the year 2025.
Fiji police said on Thursday they are investigating an incident involving two crew members of Australian airline Virgin Australia who were allegedly raped and robbed in Nadi in the early hours of New Year's Day. The crew members were on a layover in the popular tourist destination before their scheduled departure the next day, according to Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew. Virgin Australia, aware of the incident, has sent personnel to Fiji to provide support but did not offer further details to Reuters. The investigation revealed that some Virgin crew members had visited a nightclub in Nadi, where two were reportedly victimized after leaving the club to return to their hotel. Fiji, a popular South Pacific tourist destination, received 76,845 visitors in November, mainly from Australia, New Zealand, and North America, per the country's tourism website. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not yet responded to a Reuters request for comment.
Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani arrived in Saudi Arabia on January 1 for his first foreign visit since taking office, accompanied by Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Head of the General Intelligence Service Anas Khattab. Al-Shibani stated the aim was to open a new chapter in Syrian-Saudi relations. Saudi Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji welcomed the delegation at Riyadh's international airport. Last month, a Saudi delegation met Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. Al-Sharaa, who heads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, recently told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya that Saudi Arabia would play a significant role in Syria's future. Syria's economy and infrastructure have been devastated by over 13 years of civil war. Saudi Arabia, which severed ties with Assad's government in 2012, restored relations last year and helped Syria rejoin the Arab League.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran's Cognitive Design Production Center, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Russia's Center for Geopolitical Expertise, linked to the GRU, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. In a statement on December 31, the U.S. Treasury Department said these entities tried to incite socio-political tensions and influence American voters. Acting Deputy Treasury Secretary Smith stated that Iran and Russia aimed to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns. State Department spokesperson Miller emphasized that the U.S. will hold accountable countries that undermine trust in democratic institutions. The Russian Embassy in Washington denied interference, asserting respect for the will of the American people. The Iranian UN delegation in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Actor Blake Lively sued 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni and several others on Tuesday, alleging harassment and a coordinated campaign to attack her reputation. The federal lawsuit was filed in New York just hours after Baldoni and other defendants sued The New York Times for libel. Lively accuses Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others of a retaliatory scheme to silence her. She alleges mistreatment on set, including inappropriate comments by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath. Baldoni's attorney did not immediately respond. The same day, Baldoni and others filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the Times in Los Angeles. The Times stands by its reporting. The film 'It Ends With Us,' released in August, exceeded box office expectations but was overshadowed by the dispute between Lively and Baldoni.
Truck Attack in New Orleans Postpones Football Game
A truck attack in New Orleans that killed 10 people and injured over 30 forced the postponement of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame at the Superdome from Wednesday to Thursday night. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley emphasized public safety as the top priority. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell were among officials at a media briefing. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter stressed the postponement was made with public safety in mind. The Superdome was on lockdown Wednesday morning, with some employees allowed in by afternoon. Both Georgia and Notre Dame confirmed the safety of all team personnel. New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno noted an expanded security perimeter around the Superdome, which is also set to host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
On January 1, in accordance with the agreement between Pakistan and India on the prohibition of attacking each other's nuclear facilities, the two countries exchanged their respective nuclear facility lists. The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially handed over the list to the representative of the India High Commission in Pakistan, while the India Ministry of External Affairs also transferred its list to the representative of the Pakistan High Commission in India. The agreement, signed in December 1988 and effective from January 27, 1991, stipulates an annual exchange of nuclear information on January 1. The first exchange took place on January 1, 1992.
An author has proposed a method called the '3-Month Rule' to help people stick to their New Year's resolutions. The rule suggests that people should focus on changing only one or two things at a time to avoid failure due to overloading goals. The author points out that concentrating on a few goals can yield significant results within three months. This approach aims to increase the success rate of achieving goals and reduce the failure rate of New Year's resolutions. The author emphasizes that people often fail to stick to their resolutions because they set too many goals. By following the '3-Month Rule,' people can manage their time and energy more effectively. The rule encourages people to achieve their goals in stages, gradually improving their lives. Many readers have reported a significant increase in their resolution adherence rate after adopting this method.