National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

New Year’s ‘terror attack’ kills 10 people, injures 35 after killer rammed revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, opened fire | 1 Jan 2025 | At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured after a driver rammed a truck into crowds on the famed Bourbon Street in New Orleans before jumping out and shooting cops — just hours after the city rang in the New Year, according to officials. “The city of New Orleans was impacted by a terrorist attack,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell said of the carnage early Wednesday — as the FBI investigated possibly improvised explosives left at the scene. The killer, who police said was “hellbent” on “carnage,” was shot and killed in a gun battle with cops, two of whom were also shot, police sources confirmed. Photos from the scene showed a crashed white pickup truck — with a black flag attached to the back.

New Orleans terror attack: ‘Viable’ explosive devices found at scene | 1 Jan 2025 | Multiple explosive devices found at the scene of the deadly New Orleans car ramming were “viable,” ABC News reported. The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism, as at least ten are killed and 35 injured from the mass casualty event.

2 Officers Shot During New Orleans New Year’s Event in ‘Stable’ Condition, Police Chief Says | 1 Jan 2025 | Two police officers who were shot by a man authorities said tried to “run over as many people as he possibly could” during New Year’s festivities on New Orleans’ iconic Bourbon Street are now in stable condition, law enforcement officials said in a press conference Wednesday. Ten people are confirmed dead and at least 35 others injured after the incident on Jan. 1, when a truck drove into crowds of New Year’s revelers down Bourbon Street at a high rate of speed. The New Orleans Police Department has confirmed that the suspect was then killed after he exchanged gunshots with the police around 3:15 a.m. local time. In a Wednesday morning press conference, Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the situation was “complex and serious,” adding that the suspect “fired on our officers from his vehicle when he crashed his vehicle.”

Ukraine ends transit of Russian gas to EU –Slovakia has threatened to cut electricity to Kiev following the suspension | 1 Jan 2025 | Russia has officially ceased gas transit through Ukraine to the EU as of 8am Moscow time on January 1. Russian energy giant Gazprom announced the halt after negotiations to extend the transit agreements with Ukrainian companies Naftogaz and the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, which have been in place since 2019, fell through. The gas pipeline that traverses Ukraine leads into Slovakia, which had hoped to continue receiving Russian gas and urged Ukraine to extend the transit agreements. In response to Kiev’s decision to stop the gas transit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened last week to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine.

Two more Donbass villages liberated – Russian MOD | 30 Dec 2024 | The Russian military has successfully liberated the Donbass village of Novoolenovka, the nation’s defense ministry said in a statement on Telegram on Monday, which was accompanied with a short video from the site. Moscow’s troops also captured the nearby village of Novotroitskoe over the weekend, according to the ministry’s data. Both communities are located southwest of the strategic Donbass city of Pokrovsk. Also known as Krasnoarmeysk, the city is the largest population center under Ukrainian control in the west of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). It has gone from a major supply hub for Kiev’s frontline fortifications to being on the front line itself.

Fog Causing Mystery Illness Is Documented By Social Media Users –Strange fog being blamed for ill health effects globally | 31 Dec 2024 | People worldwide are questioning why everyday fog appears to be inducing negative health effects, with many speculating the peculiar mists could be laden with chemicals. Social media users are suggesting exposure to Christmastime fog has been leading sore throats, flu-like symptoms, headaches, lethargy and more. “We’ve got people in Kentucky, we’ve got people in Sweden, we’ve got people in Finland — all reporting the same thing. The fog has made them sick,” one man claimed on TikTok.  

Families ‘must stay indoors for 48 hours’ as highly contagious virus spreads – UK | 29 Dec 2024 | Norovirus is highly contagious, but there are ways to protect yourself and other family members if someone in your household falls ill. According to the NHS, norovirus can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching your mouth. Food prepared or handled by a sick person can also be a breeding ground for the virus. And alcohol hand gels do not kill the norovirus bacteria. People suffering from the vomiting bug are advised to stay away from work or school until they have been free of any vomiting or diarrhoea for at least two days. It’s also recommended that visits to places with potentially vulnerable individuals, such as hospitals or care homes, should be avoided during this time.

Uproar as bird flu scientists call for Covid mask rules and mass vaccinations: ‘We will not comply!’ | 30 Dec 2024 | A former Baltimore health official has sparked backlash after she asked Joe Biden to authorize bird flu vaccines before leaving office. Dr. Leana Wen, the ex-Commissioner for Baltimore’s health department, said on Sunday’s Face the Nationthat Biden should do as much as he can to battle the avian influenza outbreak during his last days as president… Wen’s comments struck a nerve with many X users who recalled her asking Biden to implement vaccine mandates in federal workplaces and public venues in their jurisdiction during the Covid-19 pandemic. The health policy expert controversially stated the unvaccinated should not be allowed to go out in public. One X user said: “Dr. Leana Wen pushed to take away fundamental human rights…why would anyone listen to her again? This should be entirely disqualifying.” Another added: “Leana Wen is a politician, not a doctor. Her health advice should be completely ignored.”

Canadian Teen Recovers From Severe H5N1 Bird Flu Infection | 31 Dec 2024 | A 13-year-old Canadian girl recovered after being hospitalized in critical condition with H5N1 avian influenza, researchers reported. The girl was hospitalized on Nov. 7 and transferred to BC Children’s Hospital the next day, where she was intubated and put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and treated with three different antivirals, David Goldfarb, MD, of BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, and colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicineopens (NEJM). The girl had a history of asthma and a body mass index greater than 35.

Bird flu detected in nearly 1M chickens in Darke County, suspected in dead waterfowl in 9 other Ohio counties | 31 Dec 2024 | Two Ohio agencies are tracking the presence, or suspected presence, of avian influenza in several counties across the state. On Monday, the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced that bird flu was detected in nearly one million chickens in Darke County, located in the southwest portion of the state. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in Darke County on Dec. 27, involving 931,302 chickens. The ODA did not identify the individual farms [?] since the case is considered active. The ODA said that when there is an HPAI detection, the agency quarantines the facility and birds are “depopulated” to prevent the spread of the disease.

Watchdog sues State Department for records on censorship efforts, funding for ad ‘blacklist’ that included The Post | 31 dec 2024 | The State Department has been hit with a lawsuit demanding records pertaining to its now-defunct Global Engagement Center (GEC) subagency, which leaned on social media companies to suppress Americans’ free speech and funneled U.S. taxpayers’ m-ney to groups even trying to “blacklist” The Post. The Functional Government Initiative watchdog group filed the suit Monday to obtain potentially critical U.S. government communications — following months of stonewalling by the agency about its grants under Joe Biden that backed the censorship efforts. “The layers of the Biden-Harris State Department’s censorship industrial complex must be exposed so that all which occurred in 2020, along with any attempts to suppress free speech during the 2024 election, comes to light,” said FGI spokesman Peter McGinnis.

Elon Musk accused of censorship as H-1B migrant controversy deepens | 29 Dec 2024 | Elon Musk has been accused of censorship after his X social media platform allegedly removed premium features from accounts which criticized his stance in the fierce ongoing debate about immigration visas. Several prominent conservative accounts have complained this week about having their blue verification badge revoked… One account, called ConservativeOG, claimed more than 50 users had been affected by the apparent censorship by Musk, who prides himself on promoting free speech. It comes after the South Africa-born Tesla boss and incoming White House official voiced support for H-1B visas, which allow highly-skilled foreigners to work in the US for six years, rather than prioritizing American employees.

U.S. Attorney named in Hunter Biden IRS whistleblower testimony to resign | 30 Dec 2024 | Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia whose name surfaced in testimony by IRS whistleblowers about political interference in the Hunter Biden tax case, will resign in early January, the Department of Justice confirmed Monday. Graves featured in the testimony of whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, the IRS agents who went public about alleged political interference by Biden-appointed officials in the Hunter Biden tax probe. When then-Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss sought to bring charges in D.C., Graves declined to partner with him on the case, according to the whistleblowers’ testimony. That declination was among the key points the whistleblowers addressed in contradicting Attorney General Merrick Garland’s statements that Weiss had full authority to pursue charges against Biden.

Georgia AG urges state Supreme Court to reject DA Willis’s appeal in Trump case | 30 Dec 2024 | Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging the state Supreme Court to reject an appeal by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, after she was removed from the election interference case against President-elect Trump. Earlier this month, a Georgia court of appeals disqualified Willis from the Georgia election interference case against Trump and others, citing an “appearance of impropriety.” The panel also cited the romantic relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. On Monday, the state’s lead attorney, who announced plans to run for governor in November, posted a statement on social media regarding the ruling against Willis. “The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that the Fulton County DA created her own conflict and rightfully removed her from the case against President-elect Trump,” Carr wrote. “‘Lawfare’ has become far too common in American politics, and it must end.

FBI warns migrant crime gangs are behind spate of burglaries targeting NFL and NBA stars | 30 Dec 2024 | The FBI has issued a formal warning to US sports leagues after confirming that at least nine professional athletes have been victims of burglaries by organized theft groups. The sports world, in particular the NFL, has suffered a spate of home burglaries dating back to September. Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were targeted in October, while Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was the latest NFL player to have their home broken into. The FBI has now issued a report on the spate of crimes, indicating that professional sports stars are being targeted by an organized crime gang while they are traveling on the road for games. The Bureau said that organized theft groups from South America [aka Biden-Harris migrants] conduct both physical and technical surveillance before carrying out the burglaries.

Man accused of shoving random commuter into path of NYC subway is charged with attempted murder | 31 Dec 2024 | The lunatic accused of randomly pushing a Big Apple straphanger onto Manhattan subway tracks Tuesday afternoon was charged with attempted murder, cops said. Kamel Hawkins, 23, was also charged with second-degree assault after he allegedly shoved a complete stranger onto the tracks at the 18th Street station shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to police. The terrifying ordeal, which was captured on chilling video footage obtained by The Post, showed the hooded brute roaming the edge of the platform while the victim appeared to be looking at his phone as the train pulled into the station.

U.S. landmarks hit by lightning on New Year’s Eve | 1 Jan 2025 | On the last day of 2024, a series of lightning bolts struck the U.S. Capitol Building and Washington Monument in D.C., as well as the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in New York City, according to multiple videos posted online. The strikes, occurring amid heavy rain along the East Coast, coincided with New Year celebrations and quickly sparked widespread speculation on social media, with some commenters suggesting it could be a symbolic sign. This comes as Joe Biden prepares to leave office and Donald Trump is set to return to the White House on January 20.