Tragedy Marks the New Year: Lives Lost in New Orleans, Montenegro, and Las Vegas

Good Morning & Happy New Year,

Fifteen people were killed in a ramming attack on a New Year’s celebration in New Orleans while flying the flag of the Islamic State, ten were killed in a shooting in Montenegro, and one person was killed while seven others were wounded after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel.

Top Stories

• Driver expressed desire to kill before ramming New Orleans revelers, Biden says; 15 dead in attack (AP)

• Montenegro shooting incident leaves at least ten dead, including two children (RT)

• Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera operations in the West Bank (AJ)

• NYC congestion pricing set to start as planned Sunday after ruling in final lawsuit (CNBC)

• 1 person dies when Tesla truck catches fire and explodes outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel (AP)

• Ukraine Halts the Flow of Natural Gas From Russia to Europe (NYT)

• SEC Writes Off $10 Billion in Fines It Can’t Collect (WSJ)

• Gaza population falls 6 percent since start of war, statistics agency says (AJ)

• Five killed and emergency workers targeted as firework chaos mars Germany’s New Year celebrations (CNN)

• Romania and Bulgaria become full members of EU's Schengen zone (RT)

• South Korean adoptees and families rocked by fraud allegations (AP)

• Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Likely to Elude Biden (WSJ)

• Israel's former defence chief Gallant quits parliament (RT)

• Puerto Rico's power grid collapses; could take two days to restore service (RT)

United States and Canada

• New Orleans was replacing street barriers at time of truck attack (RT)

• New York employers must now offer paid medical leave during pregnancy (AP)

• Trump Falsely Suggested New Orleans Suspect Was an Immigrant (NYT)

• Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame postponed after deadly truck attack (AP)

• The Five Biggest Roadblocks to Trump’s Immigration Agenda (WSJ)

• Before allegedly participating in the beating of Robert Brooks, these officers were accused of involvement in prior cases (CNN)

• Panama says canal ‘forever’ theirs, despite Trump’s threat of retaking it (AJ)

• About 25% of Puerto Rico remains in the dark after a massive power outage, fueling frustration over fragile infrastructure (CNN)

• A fireworks explosion in the Honolulu area has killed 3 people and injured at least 20 (AP)

Africa

• Kenya: Ruto admits security abuses amid kidnapping outrage (AN)

• Nigeria to expand credit access to citizens (RT)

• Zimbabwe’s new currency woes hit traditional stores while illegal night bazaars flourish (AP)

• Congo sentences 13 soldiers to death in bid to boost discipline (RT)

• South Sudan receives 1.1 mln vaccines to contain cholera spread (AN)

• Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Somalia's Puntland military base (RT)

• CameroIran to hold nuclear talks with France, UK, Germany on January 13: Reporton's Biya hints at another bid for presidency (AN)

Middle East

• Syrian foreign minister arrives in Saudi Arabia with delegation (RT)

• Israeli strikes kill 12 in Gaza, including children, as war grinds into the new year (AP)

• Iran to hold nuclear talks with France, UK, Germany on January 13: Report (AJ)

• Israel raid empties northern Gaza’s last functioning major hospital of all patients and detains its director (CNN)

• Gazans Endure Harsh Conditions as New Year Begins (NYT)

• Damascus Uncorked: Syria Throws a New Year’s Party for the Ages (WSJ)

• ‘Ready to engage’: Syria’s foreign minister calls for lifting of sanctions (AJ)

Indo-Pacific

• Taiwan president vows to boost the island’s defense budget as China threats rise (AP)

• ‘Treat us like humans’: Fishing wars trap Indians in Sri Lankan waters (AJ)

• Tensions Escalate After Pakistan Pounds Afghanistan With Airstrikes (NYT)

• Taiwan president wants exchanges with China, sees lack of goodwill (RT)

• China’s Leader Nods to Economic Challenges (NYT)

• Elders in Pakistan broker a peace deal between Sunni and Shiite tribes after deadly clashes (AP)

• China's Alibaba to sell Sun Art stake to DCP for $1.6 billion (RT)

Europe

• Pope calls for commitment to protect life as he doubles down on abortion in New Year’s Day message (AP)

• At least 20 migrants missing as boat sinks off Italy, seven rescued (RT)

• Russia warns of severe environmental damage as oil from damaged tankers washes up on beaches (AP)

• Breakaway Moldovan region cuts heating and hot water after Russia stops gas flow (CNN)

• Former Estonian President Arnold Rüütel dies at age 96 (AP)

• Romania's government to decree tax hikes and spending cuts to reduce deficit (RT)

• Tens of thousands of people in Istanbul protest Gaza war (AP)

Latin America

• Mexico detains suspects in death of migration agent near U.S. border (RT)

• El Salvador closes 2024 with a record low number of homicides (AP)

• Medellín reportó la tasa de homicidios más baja en los últimos 40 años; Federico Gutiérrez hizo el balance de seguridad de 2024 (SM)

• Venezuela economy grew over 9% in 2024, president says (RT)

• Los detalles del plan nuclear de Javier Milei: cambio climático, China y Estados Unidos (CA)

• Cuba frees man who participated in 1997 attacks on hotels in Havana, orchestrated by Cuban exiles (AP)

• Embajador de EEUU asegura que el 28-Jul los venezolanos pidieron un cambio pacífico: «Todo el mundo los escuchó» (LN)