Thursday Briefing: 15 killed in New Orleans attack

The suspect died in a shootout with the police.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 2, 2025 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering a deadly attack in New Orleans and Ukraine's intervention on the flow of Russian natural gas. Plus: A different approach to your fitness goals. A pickup truck crashed into a crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times At least 15 people died in an attack in New Orleans At least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the early hours of New Year's Day when a driver rammed a pickup truck into revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans — the deadliest act of mass murder in the U.S. in more than a year. The suspect, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, was identified by the F.B.I. as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar. He died in a shootout with the police. Jabbar, a lifelong resident of Texas, served several years in the Army and was honorably discharged. He recently converted to Islam and began behaving erratically, according to his ex-wife's husband. An Islamic State flag, weapons and a potential explosive device were found in the truck that officials say he used in the attack. Officials said they were also investigating other potential bombs found in the French Quarter. Here's what we know about him. The investigation: The ISIS flag and potential bombs have raised the specter that the international terrorist group played a role in the attack. It has left a brutal legacy of death and destruction across the world. White House: President Biden condemned the attack, citing the F.B.I. as saying that the driver posted videos on social media "mere hours" earlier "indicating that he was inspired by ISIS." A damaged office of Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant. Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press Ukraine halted the flow of Russian natural gas to Europe Ukraine refused yesterday to renew an agreement that allowed the country's territory to be used as a corridor for Russian gas to travel to Europe, according to officials in both countries. The move is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine and its Western allies to undermine the ability of Russia to fund its war effort, but there are risks. Moscow could retaliate by bombing Ukraine's pipelines, a vast network that has been largely spared over the past three years of conflict. Details: Europe was prepared for the move, so analysts expect little effect on gas prices there. Hungary, Austria and several Balkan countries still use Russian gas delivered through Ukraine, but experts say that existing stockpiles and alternative supplies should prevent cuts to electricity and heating in those countries. Slovakia, which is still heavily dependent on Russian gas, threatened to retaliate against Ukraine. Syria's leadership wants soldiers from different rebel groups to serve together in one army. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times In Syria, the challenge of rebuilding The rebels who seized power in Syria now face a sizable task of trying to put the country back together after more than a decade of civil war. They are inheriting a devastated military infrastructure that will be hard to capitalize on or rebuild. The country's new leadership recently announced a plan to unite the various rebel factions under one government and for their armed fighters to serve together in one army. Many combatants said they had already accepted a single command under Ahmad al-Shara and his rebel force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but bitterness and divisions are likely to continue with forces that remain in opposition. In other news from the region: At least five people were killed in an Israeli attack on the city of Jabaliya in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense. The Palestinian Authority said that it would temporarily suspend Al Jazeera and accused the Qatari-funded broadcaster of "inciting sedition" and "interfering in internal Palestinian affairs." MORE TOP NEWS Stevo Vasiljevic/Reuters Montenegro: A gunman killed at least 10 people, including two children, after a bar fight yesterday, officials said. The government declared three days of mourning. Afghanistan: Pakistani airstrikes have intensified tensions with the Taliban in recent days, and violent cross-border exchanges have become alarmingly frequent. U.S.: One person was killed and at least seven people were injured after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday. South Korea: We traced the Jeju Air plane crash using a timeline, maps and photos. Ivory Coast: The country announced that French forces would withdraw, as they have in several other West African countries that are former French colonies. Hollywood: The actor and director Justin Baldoni and his publicists sued The New York Times for libel over an article in which the actress Blake Lively said that she had been the victim of a smear campaign. Laos: The government is hoping that new hotels, roads and a train system will help the country better compete with Vietnam and Thailand in attracting visitors. SPORTS NEWS Men's golf: The Athletic has 22 predictions for the 2025 season. Soccer: The German club St. Pauli signed defender James Sands on loan from New York City FC until the end of the 2024-25 season. And Liverpool has rejected Real Madrid's offer to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in January. Sports management: Which team has the best front office in the four major sports leagues in the U.S. and Canada? The Athletic asked executives to vote on their peers. Basketball: Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and a brotherhood forged by competition. MORNING READ Josh Huskin for The New York Times A cherished set of fine china has passed through five generations of women but may not reach a sixth. For the original owners, the cups and bowls represented hard-earned status and accomplishment. But for the sons of the current custodian, letting go is a sign of a different kind of progress. Lives lived: Dada Masilo, a South African dancer and choreographer who brought African dance into classical ballets like "Swan Lake" and "Giselle," died on Sunday at 39. CONVERSATION STARTERS Useful change: What happens to the coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain in Rome? Unwelcome guests: Passengers on Turkish Airlines flights have reported worrying stowaways — bedbugs. Trash to treasure: See how an old laptop gets turned into nine-karat gold earrings. ARTS AND IDEAS Jiaqi Wang Beyond weight loss Fitness goals are often aesthetic. Consider instead pursuing a fitness resolution that has nothing to do with how you look, like learning a skill, accomplishing a physical feat or simply building a habit. Any of these is more attainable and more sustainable than getting a six-pack or losing weight. Get started here. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Romulo Yanes for The New York Times Cook: Make these burnished, buttery pancakes with crispy edges. Watch: "The Irony of Fate" is a Soviet-era TV classic that endures even in households now wary of Russian culture. Protect: These 10 ways can help keep your mind healthy. Anticipate: Here's what our entertainment critics are looking forward to in 2025. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. 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