Page 92 - United States

New Orleans attack, Vegas blast expose violence by military, veterans

While much remains unknown about the man who carried out an attack in New Orleans on New Year's and another who died in an explosion in Las Vegas the same day, the violence highlights the increased role of people with military experience in ideologically driven attacks, especially those that seek mass casualties. In New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a veteran of the US Army, was killed by police after a deadly rampage in a pickup truck that left 14 others dead and injured dozens more. It's being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group. In Las Vegas, officials say Matthew Livelsberger, an active duty member of the US Army Special Forces, shot himself in the head in a Tesla Cybertruck packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, shortly before it exploded outside the entrance of the Trump International Hotel, injuring seven people. The explosion immediately raised questions over whether it was politically driven, given the location in front of t

Speaker Mike Johnson faces crucial vote as new US Congress convenes

The new Congress has opened with one major task at hand the election of the House speaker. Newly-elected lawmakers are in place at the US Capitol but current Speaker Mike Johnson's weak grip on the gavel threatens not only his own survival but President-elect Donald Trump's ambitious agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans sweep to power in Washington. With opposition from his own GOP colleagues, Johnson arrived with outward confidence after working into the night to sway hardline holdouts. A flop by Johnson could throw Monday's congressional certification of Trump's 2024 election victory into turmoil without a House speaker. Even backing from Trump himself, usually a sure bet for Republicans, was no guarantee Johnson will stay in power. "We don't have time for drama, Johnson said as he walked into the Capitol. The Louisiana Republican said the speaker election is not just about one person but about moving forward with the America First agenda". And he had a renew

US Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings for alcoholic drinks

It is responsible for 100,000 US cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year, more than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash deaths

Biden to ban more offshore oil and gas drilling before Trump arrives

Biden is set within days to issue the executive order barring the sale of new drilling rights in portions of the country's outer continental shelf

Trump picks Ken Kies for key tax policy job at treasury ahead of cuts push

Cora Alvi, who was a national deputy finance director for Trump's presidential campaign, will also be a deputy chief of staff

PS5 in exchange for guns: New Orleans hosted a buyback before truck rampage

New Orleans held a gun buyback event offering gaming consoles in exchange for firearms just a day before a truck attack killed 15 people, raising safety concerns

New Orleans attacker acted alone, had strong support for ISIS, says Biden

New Orleans attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted alone even though there are indications that he had strong support for ISIS, US President Joe Biden has said. At least 14 people were killed and 35 others were injured after Jabbar drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street early Wednesday. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. Jabbar, 42, a former veteran, also died in a shootout with the local police. A resident of Houston, he drove to New Orleans. Today, the FBI briefed me that, as of now, we have no information that anyone else is involved in the attack. They've established that the attacker was the same person who planted the explosives in those ice coolers in two nearby locations in the French Quarter just a few hours before he rammed into the crowd with his vehicle, Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday. In response to a question, Biden said he is trying to travel to New Orleans. They assess he had a remote detonator in his vehicle

FBI shares video of suspect planting pipe bomb near DNC before capitol riot

A harrowing chapter in American history remains shrouded in mystery: Who planted pipe bombs outside offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in Washington on the eve of the attack on the Capitol? Hoping to generate new tips from the public, the FBI is releasing more information about its pipe bomb investigation, including an estimate that the unidentified suspect is about 5 feet 7 inches tall. The bureau also is posting previously unreleased video of the suspect placing one of the bombs. A host of basic questions remains unanswered four years later. For starters, investigators haven't determined if the suspect is a man or a woman. Nor have they established a clear link between the pipe bombs and the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol by a mob of Donald Trump's supporters. The FBI can't work on assumptions," said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the bureau's Washington field office. Without being able to confirm the suspect's identity, it is very

Crypto mogul Do Kwon pleads not guilty in first US court appearance

South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Hyeong Kwon pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a freshly unsealed indictment released in time for his first US court appearance. Kwon entered the plea in Manhattan federal court two days after his extradition from Montenegro. The indictment alleges that the man dubbed by some as the cryptocurrency king lied to investors from 2018 to 2022 to fool them into pouring money into Terraform Labs, the Singapore crypto firm he cofounded. Authorities say investors worldwide were harmed by the $40 billion crash of Terraform Labs' cryptocurrency. The May 2022 collapse came despite the company's claim that TerraUSD was a stablecoin that could be relied upon. Kwon did not speak during his court appearance, except to acknowledge that he understood English. His lawyer, Andrew Chesley, entered not guilty pleas to two separate versions of the indictment charging him with conspiracy, along with commodities, securities and wire fraud. A money laundering charge was

Trump to hold Washington rally on eve of inauguration as 47th US president

Donald Trump is expected to hold a big Washington rally the day before he's sworn in as the nation's 47th president. The victory rally, as it's being billed, will be held at the Capitol One Arena in the District of Columbia on January 19. Trump has always preferred rally-style events where he can freewheel and joke with his supporters. He'll be inaugurated in a formal ceremony at the US Capitol on January 20. This is President Trump's VICTORY RALLY the DAY before being sworn in as the 47th President the crowd needs to be HUGE! read an email to supporters advertising the event. The rally is indoors Trump's big outdoor events were limited in the months following an assassination attempt. The arena seats roughly 20,000 people. Security will be tight; the inauguration is considered a national special security event which frees up federal funds and increased ease on collaboration with local law enforcement. Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his ...

Bourbon Street reopens in New Orleans after deadly 'terrorist' attack

FBI has confirmed that the attacker Shamsud Din Jabba was lone wolf terrorist with no known accomplices

What we know about vehicle attack on pedestrians in US that killed 15

Investigators were looking into whether others were involved in the rampage that killed 15 people and injured dozens when the driver of a pickup truck sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans' bustling French Quarter district early on New Year's Day. The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism and said it does not believe the suspect acted alone. The agency said the driver, a US citizen from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police. Investigators found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the vehicle which bore the flag of the Islamic State group along with other explosive devices elsewhere in the French Quarter. Wednesday's attack unfolded on Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year's Eve parties. Large crowds also gathered in the city ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl that had been scheduled for later Wednesday at the nearby Superdome. The game was ...

FBI now says driver responsible for deadly New Orleans rampage acted alone

The FBI now says that the pickup truck driver responsible for a deadly rampage in New Orleans acted alone. Officials said on Wednesday that they were seeking additional potential suspects in an attack being investigated as an act of terrorism. But Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division, said on Thursday that the evidence now shows that Shamsud-Din Jabbar was solely responsible for the attack and professed allegiance to the Islamic State. New Orleans pressed ahead with plans to reopen the city's famed Bourbon Street on Thursday as investigators kept digging into the background of the US Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revellers, killing 15 people. The FBI said it was investigating the attack, which occurred when 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar steered around a police blockade, as a terrorist act. Investigators believe the driver was inspired by the Islamic State group. Authorities recovered a black flag of

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to visit India early next week

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is set to visit India early next week to take stock of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). The iCET represents a landmark initiative between the two countries in areas of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotech, and defence innovation. Sullivan's trip will be the last high-profile visit to New Delhi from the outgoing Biden administration. The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the US will take place on January 20. It is learnt that Sullivan will be in Delhi on January 6 and will hold wide-ranging talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. No official announcement has been made yet on the US NSA's visit to India. Sullivan's trip comes days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded a six-day visit to the US. In their talks, Sullivan and Doval are expected to deliberate on implementation of the iCET, billed as one of the very ...

We strongly condemn cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned the terrorist attack in New Orleans, which has killed 15 people, and expressed condolences to the families of victims. "We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May they find strength and solace as they heal from this tragedy," PM Modi said on X. A driver wreaked carnage on New Orleans' famed French Quarter early on New Year's Day, as he rammed a pickup truck into a crowd before being shot to death by police, authorities said. More than 30 people were injured as Wednesday's attack turned festive Bourbon Street in the USA into macabre mayhem. The FBI said it is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism and it does not believe the driver acted alone. An Islamic State group flag was found on the vehicle's trailer hitch, it said.

After H-1B visa, Trump's Maga supporters oppose OPT programme: All we know

Supporters of Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' campaign are now lashing out at the Optional Practical Training program, often considered a precursor to H-1B visas

Asian LNG prices set to increase after Russia-Ukraine transit ends

Ukraine hopes increased supply of gas from the US and other producers to Europe will make prices more comfortable

Driver expressed desire to kill before New Orleans rampage, says Biden

The FBI said it was investigating the attack early Wednesday as a terrorist act and did not believe the driver acted alone

Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar? FBI names US Army veteran in New Orleans attack

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US Army veteran, drove into crowds on New Orleans' Bourbon Street during New Year celebrations, killing 15 and injuring 35. The FBI is investigating his possible terrorist links

Firework mortars inside Tesla that exploded outside Trump's Las Vegas hotel

One person died and seven others were injured when a Tesla Cybertruck that appeared to be carrying fireworks caught fire and exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel, authorities said. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials told a news conference that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and they were working to get the body out. Seven people nearby had minor injuries and several were taken to a hospital. The fire in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was reported at 8:40 am on Wednesday, a county spokeswoman said in a statement. According to a law enforcement official, the truck was rented via the Turo app and appeared to have a load of fireworks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Law enforcement officials have not ruled out terrorism as a possible motive, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke on ...