+ Terrorism suspected in deadly US truck ramming
+ Zelensky hails end of Russian gas in Ukraine
+ Israel threatens to intensify Gaza strikes
+ 10 dead in Montenegro shooting spree
+ Arsenal victory closes gap with Liverpool
US-attack,WRAP
NEW ORLEANS
A US citizen with an Islamic State flag and “hellbent” on carnage steered a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revelers in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, officials say.
700 words moved by Michael Mathes. Picture. Video
Also moved:
US-attack-crowd,REPORTAGE
US-attack-suspect,PROFILE
US-attack-NewOrleans,FACTS
US-attack-facts,POINTS
Ukraine-Russia-conflict-gas,WRAP
KYIV
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hails the end of Russian gas transit across his country as a significant defeat for Moscow in its nearly three-year invasion.
750 words moved. Graphic
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza,WRAP
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories
Israel warns it will intensify its strikes in Gaza if Hamas keeps up its rocket fire, as Palestinian rescuers report dozens of deaths from Israeli strikes on the first day of the New Year.
800 words moved. Picture. Video
Also moved:
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-children-health,REPORTAGE
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-WestBank-militants-politics,FOCUS
Montenegro-shooting-crime,WRAP
CETINJE, Montenegro
At least 10 people, including two children, are killed after a gunman launches a shooting spree that started in a village restaurant in southern Montenegro, police say.
550 words 0130 GMT. Picture. Video
FBL-ENG-PR,WRAP
LONDON
Arsenal closes the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points as Gabriel Jesus extended his hot-streak in a 3-1 win at Brentford.
650 words moved Steven Griffiths. Picture
— SPOTLIGHT —
Pakistan-Afghanistan-refugee,FOCUS
ISLAMABAD
The space in which refugee Shaharzad has to live has shrunk to the small courtyard of a guesthouse in Pakistan’s capital, reminiscent of her life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
850 words 0430 GMT. File picture
–AMERICAS —
US-politics-Trump-Tesla,2ndlead
LOS ANGELES
At least one person was killed and seven wounded when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside a hotel belonging to US President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas, police say.
300 words moved. Picture
PuertoRico-energy,lead
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
The lights go back on in most of Puerto Rico after an island-wide blackout forced people in the US territory in the Caribbean to ring in the New Year in the dark.
400 words moved
— ASIA —
SKorea-politics-probe-Yoon,WRAP
SEOUL
Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol resists arrest for a third day after vowing to “fight” authorities seeking to question him over his failed martial law bid.
650 words 0200 GMT by Claire Lee. Picture. Video. Live video
Taiwan-agriculture-climate,REPORTAGE
TAICHUNG, Taiwan
Taiwanese persimmon farmer Lo Chih-neng stands on a ladder in his sprawling orchard using secateurs to cut the golden-yellow fruit still hanging from branches after enduring a tough season.
650 words 0300 GMT by Akio Wang and I-Hwa Cheng. Picture. Video
— MIDEAST —
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-media-AlJazeera,WRAP
RAMALLAH
The Palestinian Authority orders the suspension of broadcasts by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the network of airing “inciting content”, according to official media.
650 words moved by Hossam Ezzedine. File Picture
Saudi-execution-Iran-drugs,WRAP
DUBAI
Saudi Arabia has put six Iranians to death for drug trafficking, the interior ministry says, after a year in which it carried out a record number of executions, according to an AFP tally of official reports.
450 words moved
Syria-conflict-politics-media,INTERVIEW
DAMASCUS
The information minister in Syria’s transitional government tells AFP he is working towards a free press and committed to “freedom of expression”, after decades of tight control under the country’s former rulers.
600 words moved by Jonathan Sawaya
US-politics-Carter-Egypt-Israel-diplomacy,FOCUS
CAIRO
US president Jimmy Carter, who died on Monday, leaves an enduring legacy after he brokered historic peace between Egypt and Israel — tepid and shaky, but unbroken even by the nearly 15-month long Gaza war.
800 words moved by Bahira Amin with Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem
— EUROPE —
Britain-politics-migration,WRAP
LONDON
The number of irregular migrants arriving in Britain on small boats soared in 2024, data shows, piling pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stem the dangerous Channel crossings.
700 words moved by Marie Heuclin. File picture
Italy-smoking-Milan-tobacco,WRAP
MILAN
Smokers in Italy’s financial and fashion capital of Milan risk being fined for lighting up on city streets or crowded public areas, after the country’s toughest ban comes into effect.
650 words moved by Francesco Gilioli. Video
France-high-society-death,WRAP
PARIS
Swiss socialite Jocelyne Wildenstein, also known as “catwoman” due to her extensive plastic surgery, has died aged 79, her partner says.
450 words moved. File picture
— AFRICA —
ICoast-army-diplomacy-defence,WRAP
ABIDJAN
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara says in an end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January, making it the latest country to weaken military ties with the former colonial power.
500 words moved
— ENTERTAINMENT —
Entertainment-US-film-Oscars-Brazil,INTERVIEW
SAO PAULO
“I’m Still Here,” Brazil’s hope for Oscars glory, focuses on the country’s military dictatorship years (1965-1985) but is also very much “a film about the present,” its lead actress Fernanda Torres tells AFP.
650 words by Facundo Fernandez Barrio. File picture
afp