A car plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year's Day in downtown New Orleans, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens. The driver, identified as Shamsuddin Jabbar, 42, from Texas, died after a shootout with police. The FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act, and explosives were found near the scene.
The FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act because the car used in the attack had a flag associated with the extremist group Islamic State (IS), and explosives were found at the scene. The driver's motives and potential connections to extremist organizations are under scrutiny.
A 5-year-old boy, Tanaka Saku, visiting Iwagi Island in Ehime Prefecture, went missing and was later found unconscious in the sea. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police are investigating the cause of death, as no significant external injuries were found.
Ishikawa Prefecture faced challenges in coordinating rescue efforts during the Noto Peninsula earthquake due to the lack of a unified command structure between police, fire, and self-defense forces. The prefecture has proposed that the national government should take a leading role in coordinating initial rescue efforts in future large-scale disasters.
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers plans to expand its movement to involve the entire population, as the average age of survivors exceeds 85. They aim to push the Japanese government to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and will hold discussions on new strategies to engage the public.
2025 is significant in Japan as the entire baby boomer generation will be 75 or older, marking a peak in the aging population. Approximately one in five people will be elderly, posing significant challenges for healthcare and elderly care systems. This is often referred to as the '2025 problem.'
After the fall of the Assad regime, Syria is undergoing national reconstruction under a provisional government. While there is hope for stability and economic recovery, tensions persist in northern Syria between Kurdish forces and other armed groups. The provisional government is working to include Kurdish factions in military reorganization efforts.
On New Year's Day, Russia launched 111 drone attacks across Ukraine, causing fires and casualties. In Kyiv, two people died, and seven were injured. The attacks targeted government facilities, and rescue operations were hampered by restricted access to affected areas. President Zelensky condemned the attacks, emphasizing Russia's continued aggression.