Afghan siblings honored for short film on gender discrimination

• by Siyar Sirat
• December 27, 2024   AMU TV

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A short film titled A Letter to My Sister, created by Helen and Irfan Ahmadi, teenage siblings from Herat, received recognition in the 13–17 age category at the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival.

The film, which addresses gender discrimination in Afghanistan, focuses on a brother’s despair over the unjust treatment of his sister. The siblings, who currently live in Herat, said their film aims to shed light on the impact of restrictions on education for girls in Afghanistan.

“Our goal with this film was to highlight how banning education affects the lives of girls,” Helen and Irfan said.

A platform for global youth

The PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), recognizes young filmmakers who explore themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia. Launched in 2009, the festival empowers youth to become agents of social change through creative storytelling.

This year, 32 films from 21 countries were selected for awards and distinctions by UNAOC, IOM, and 20 partner organizations. The submissions came from countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, the United States, and Yemen.

The festival aims to foster respect for diversity and cultural inclusion in a world often characterized by intolerance and division. By providing a platform for young creators, PLURAL+ encourages them to share their creative visions while addressing global issues.

Helen and Irfan’s film resonates in a country where gender discrimination remains a pressing issue. With Afghan girls and women facing increasing restrictions under the Taliban, their message reflects the resilience of youth striving for equality and justice through art and storytelling.

“Through this film, we wanted to give a voice to the struggles that many girls in Afghanistan face every day,” the siblings said.

 

Taliban’s halt of door-to-door polio vaccination campaign leaves children vulnerable

• by Yasin Shayan
• December 29, 2024     AMU TVinkedInatsappPrinShare via Email

Photo: Ministry of Public Health, Afghanistan. File Photo

KABUL — The suspension of house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns by the Taliban has left many children unvaccinated, raising fears of a resurgence of the crippling disease, residents say.

While a three-day polio vaccination campaign concluded last week in Kabul and 10 other provinces, some Kabul residents reported that their children did not receive the vaccine. Many expressed frustration over the lack of information about the campaign and criticized the Taliban’s decision to halt door-to-door vaccinations in September.

“Going to health centers is difficult for us. It requires transportation costs, and there is no clinic nearby,” said Shafiqa, a resident of Kabul. “In the past, the teams would come to our homes. Now they tell us to go to the clinic, but it’s not easy for us to vaccinate our children.”

Another resident called on health authorities to reinstate door-to-door campaigns. “I urge my fellow citizens to vaccinate their children and ask vaccination teams to visit every house,” she said. “The public must also cooperate with them.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously raised concerns about the suspension of Afghanistan’s door-to-door polio vaccination efforts, warning that current health center-based campaigns do not reach all children, particularly younger ones and girls.

According to the WHO, Afghanistan has recorded 23 cases of polio in 2024, a rise compared to last year. Most cases were reported in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, areas where access to healthcare remains limited.

Residents fear that if restrictions on door-to-door campaigns are not lifted, polio cases will continue to rise, threatening the health and future of Afghanistan’s children.

 

Feminist groups urge boycott of cricket matches with Afghanistan

• by Siyar Sirat 2/1//2024  AMU TV
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Afghanistan Cricket team playing against Zimbabwe in Harare

SYDNEY, Australia — A coalition of Australian feminist activists has called on the government to boycott all sporting events involving Afghanistan, citing the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights and the absence of a women’s cricket team in the country.

The group, known as Feminist Women of Australia for Women’s Rights, issued a statement on Thursday, declaring that “women are more important than cricket.” The statement urged Australia to cancel all matches against Afghanistan’s men’s teams.

“We call on Australia to cancel all its matches with Afghanistan’s men’s teams,” the group said in a post on X.

This is not the first time sports organizations have taken a stand on the issue. Earlier, Cricket Australia canceled three one-day matches against Afghanistan, which were to be held in the United Arab Emirates, citing the lack of progress in forming a women’s cricket team and the Taliban’s broader restrictions on women’s education and employment.

The movement to boycott Afghan sports teams has also gained traction in the United Kingdom. A group of women’s rights advocates, operating under the name Women’s Rights Network, has called on the British government to cancel its upcoming cricket match against Afghanistan.

According to a Fox News report, the network issued a statement urging the British government to not only cancel the match scheduled for Feb. 26 as part of the ICC Champions League but to sever all sporting ties with Afghanistan.

“In fact, we are asking our politicians and sporting bodies to go further,” the statement read. “We want Prime Minister Keir Starmer to mandate a complete boycott of all matches with Afghanistan in every sport. [The England cricket team] should cancel all matches against Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team in every tournament. Players and coaches should examine their consciences.”

The statement highlighted the stark disparity in freedoms enjoyed by women in the United Kingdom compared with those in Afghanistan, where women are severely restricted under Taliban rule.

“Women in your families can dress as they wish, pursue education, work, travel, open bank accounts, and speak freely. What is happening to women in Afghanistan is horrific. Every athlete with a conscience must do what is right. Boycott Afghanistan,” the group urged.

Activists urge England to forfeit cricket match against Afghanistan

• by Siyar Sirat

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Women’s rights activists have called for England’s men’s cricket team to forfeit its scheduled match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage on February 26. The demand comes in response to the Taliban’s “systematic oppression” of women since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The Women’s Rights Network (WRN) issued a statement on Monday urging England not only to forgo the February match but also to boycott all sporting competitions against Afghanistan’s national teams.

The WRN’s statement called on the UK government, sports authorities, and individual players to take a stand.

“Pride in the team shirt includes pride in your country’s record on standing up for human rights and against dictators who bask in the kudos of sporting success,” the group wrote. “What is happening to the women of Afghanistan is appalling. Any sportsman of conscience should do what is right: Boycott Afghanistan.”

The WRN also called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support a blanket boycott of Afghanistan in all sports. “Players and coaches must examine their consciences,” the group added. “How can you in all conscience play a country that denies women their basic human rights?”

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021, Afghanistan has seen a sharp deterioration in women’s rights. The regime has imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law that severely restricts women’s movements, education, and public roles.

Women are barred from leaving their homes without a male relative, must wear full veils in public, and are forbidden to sing, recite, or speak publicly. Secondary and higher education for women has been entirely banned since 2022, with limited online courses offering little recourse as women are not permitted to take exams.

In August 2024, Taliban leaders issued a new law banning women’s voices and faces from public spaces under the pretext of promoting virtue.

The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the Taliban’s policies. Fiona Frazer, head of the UN’s human rights service in Afghanistan, stated in July, “The de facto authorities’ increasing and expanding oversight gives cause for significant concern for all Afghans, especially women and girls.”

England’s cricket team has not yet commented on the WRN’s demands, and it remains unclear whether the February match will proceed as planned.

A month of fake news stories about Al-Jolani, the Islamist leader who brought down Bashar al-Assad


A variety of fake news stories have circulated online in the past month about Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of the Islamist coalition that toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. We take a look back at a few that the Observers team have debunked, ranging from claims that al-Jolani is actually Jewish to rumours about his pronouns.

FRANCE24

Issued on: 31/12/2024 -

An array of fake news stories have been circulating online about Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Syrian rebel coalition HTS. © X
By: Observers team


Fake news stories about Syrian Islamist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have been spreading online over the past month. Al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist movement that led the offensive that toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Both far right and pro-Iranian social media accounts have been spreading disinformation about Al-Jolani since the Assad’s fall. We decided to compile and analyse some of the most viral fake stories.

Did Al-Jolani really tell the Times of Israel that he wanted to be friends with Israel?

Stories have been circulating online that on December 7, just after HTS took control of the Syrian towns of Aleppo and Hama, al-Jolani gave an interview to Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel – or so claim a bevy of pro-Iranian accounts in posts that have garnered more than 30,000 views. The posts feature a screengrab of the supposed interview, complete with a photo of Al-Jolani.

According to one social media user who shared the article, the Islamist leader said he was “open to friendship with everyone in the region – including Israel".

Al-Jolani also apparently thanked Israel for its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon and for the air strikes that it carried out against Iranian infrastructure in Syria.

This pro-Iranian social media user claimed on December 7, 2024 that Al-Jolani said he was open to being friends with Israel in an interview with the Times of Israel. Turns out, this interview was with a different Syrian commander. © X © X

It turns out, however, that the Times of Israel didn’t interview Al-Jolani but a different Syrian commander entirely. The original article specifies that the paper interviewed a commander from the Free Syrian Army, which took part in the anti-Assad coalition led by HTS, which united both nationalist rebels and moderate Islamists. The article also specifies that that commander, who requested anonymity, is older than 60, while Al-Jolani is just 42.

Moreover, the tweet features a screengrab of the article that includes Al-Jolani’s photo. The post is misleading because it because it implies that Al-Jolani’s picture appears because he is the one being interviewed. In reality, the photo of Al-Jolani was used to illustrate part of the article where the Syrian commander was asked a question about HTS.

Did CNN really use pronouns during an interview with Al-Jolani?

"Pro-tip: When interviewing an international terrorist the US State Department has a $10 million bounty on ALWAYS use the right pronouns,” jokes a social media user close to the far right. His post features a fake screengrab of US TV channel CNN interviewing Al-Jolani. He/Him is written by the name of the Islamist leader – a note used by progressive Americans to indicate someone’s gender. This same screengrab, used in different posts, has garnered more than 500,000 views since December 10.

Social media users have been claiming that CNN specified Al-Jolani’s pronouns when they broadcast an interview with him. Turns out, the pronouns have been edited onto this image. © X © X

However, it turns out that this image has been digitally altered. We ran the image through a reverse image search using Google Lens (check out our handy guide to learn how to do one yourself). We were able to find the original CNN interview with Al-Jolani posted online by Levant 24, an independent Syrian media outlet. The interview also appears on CNN’s YouTube channel. After locating these original videos, we were able to see that CNN didn’t specify “he/him” after al-Jolani’s name – that must have been edited onto the image later.

Is Al-Jolani really Jewish?

Apparently, Al-Jolani is actually Jewish and studied at the School of Islamic Jurisprudence in Tel Aviv – or so claims Mads Palsvig, the president of a Danish political party in a post that has garnered more 2.2 million views on X since December 12. Palsvig has been known to share anti-Semitic sentiments and conspiracy theories online in the past. In this post, Palsvig shared what he claimed was a screengrab from Ynet, the website for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The screengrab features a photo of Al-Jolani along with a headline that claims that back in the 1950s, spies from Israel’s Mossad spy agency married Arab women in an attempt to hide their identity.

Danish politician Mads Palsvig claimed that Al-Jolani is actually Jewish. That’s not actually what the article he shared says. © X

However, the headline that appears in the screengrab has nothing to do with Al-Jolani. We took a look at the article, still visible on Ynet. It doesn’t mention Al-Jolani and doesn’t feature a photo of him. And for good reason – that article was published in 2013 so it has nothing to do with recent events in Syria. So Al-Jolani’s photo must have been edited into the screengrab of Ynet’s website that Palsvig shared.

Moreover, Al-Jolani’s life story is known: born in Riyadh, al-Jolani went on to study medicine in Damascus, Syria. He joined al Qaeda in Iraq in 2003 before returning to fight in Syria. There is no indication that he ever studied in Tel Aviv.

Baptiste Fontaine, FRANCE 24 Observers intern, contributed to this story.

'Time to move on': France faces gradual decline of influence in Africa

Explainer

Ivory Coast announced on Tuesday that French troops will begin withdrawing in January as part of a shift towards strengthening its own military forces. This move follows broader trends across West Africa, with nations like Senegal and Chad also reevaluating their defence partnerships and asserting greater sovereignty.


Issued on: 02/01/2025 - 

FRANCE24

By: Anaelle JONAH

Video by: Emily BOYLE

French Army Minister Sebastien Lecornu (R) prepares to inspect an honour guard upon his arrival at the Ivorian Ministry of Defence in Abidjan on Febuary 20, 2023. © Issouf Sango, AFP

01:41

French forces will begin withdrawing from Ivory Coast starting in January, President Alassane Ouattara said on Tuesday, marking another step in the former colonial power’s military retreat from West Africa.

In a televised year-end address, Ouattara said the departure was a result of Ivory Coast’s growing military capabilities.

“We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now complete,” he said. “In this context, we have decided on the coordinated and organised withdrawal of French forces.”

The French troops stationed at the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion in Abidjan’s Port-Bouet suburb, comprising some 600 soldiers, will hand over the base to Ivorian forces this month, Ouattara added.

A gradual shift

Several of France's former colonies have experienced military coups in recent years, notably two within one year in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), in Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger in 2023.

French troops withdrew from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in 2022 and 2023 after the military juntas in these countries severed defence agreements with the former colonial power. This was followed by a rise in anti-French sentiment and a pivot towards alternative allies like Russia.

The last French troops left Mali and the Central African Republic in 2022 and Burkina Faso in 2023. France began withdrawing jets and troops from Chad at the end of 2024 after the country's military leader cut military ties. Senegal made a similar request in November, which was formalised in the new year.

Read more  With French troops poised to withdraw, Mali will have free rein to negotiate with jihadists

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye outlined his country’s timeline during a New Year’s address, stating that all foreign troops would leave starting 2025.

“I have instructed the minister for the armed forces to propose a new doctrine for cooperation in defence and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all foreign military presences in Senegal from 2025,” Faye said.

Faye, elected in March on a platform of sovereignty and reduced foreign dependence, said that Senegal’s future partnerships would be redefined as a result.

‘A lot of pressure’

In Mali, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, the severing of ties with France has been ideologically driven, with nations turning to allies such as Russia and forging connections with the Wagner paramilitary group. In the years since, the UN and Human Rights Watch have warned of an uptick in human rights violations and the abuse of civilians committed by Wagner forces.

By contrast, Ivory Coast and Senegal have pursued a more collaborative approach. In his New Year’s address, Faye emphasised that the withdrawal of foreign forces did not signify a complete break with longstanding partners.

“All of Senegal's friends will be treated like strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation,” he said.

Ouattara, considered one of France’s closest allies in the region, has balanced maintaining ties with Paris and responding to growing domestic calls for Ivorian independence.

“There is a big difference between the situation in the Sahel countries, where there were military coups. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, these countries turned towards Russia, and they wanted to break their military cooperation with France almost for ideological reasons,” said Paul Melly, Africa programme consulting fellow at Chatham House.

“Whereas the situation in countries such as Ivory Coast, Senegal, Chad to some extent, and also Gabon, where French troops have been based, is quite different. The governments remain broadly friendly towards France, but they also recognise there’s a lot of pressure from public opinion, which feels that times have moved on, and it is no longer appropriate to have substantial numbers of troops from the former colonial power based in those countries,” Melly added.

Strategic adjustments

As France's influence in Africa has waned in recent years, its military strategy has shifted toward technical assistance and training-focused partnerships.

Jean-Marie Bockel, President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to Africa, submitted a report in November on the evolution of France’s military role on the continent. While the report has not been made public, the Elysée Palace stated in a press release that it advocated for a “renewed” and “co-constructed” partnership with African nations.

“The recommendations are in line with the desire to implement a renewed defence partnership that meets the needs expressed by our partners and is co-constructed with them, while fully respecting their sovereignty,” the presidency added.

Sources told AFP that the report suggested significant reductions in troop levels across French bases in Africa. Over the past decade, France has been forced out of more than 70 percent of the African nations where it previously maintained a military presence. Today, its forces are largely confined to Djibouti, with 1,500 soldiers, and Gabon, with a little over 350 troops.

Read more  France to reduce troops in West and Central Africa to 600, say sources

“For our partners, what matters tomorrow is not the number of soldiers. There will be the personnel needed to make it work. What matters is the quality of the partnership we are going to build together for the world to come,” Bockel said in an interview with FRANCE 24.

Regional implications

France's withdrawals have also drawn criticism from African countries. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have accused the French government of attempting to mask its "neocolonial inclinations".

In a joint statement released in late December, the military rulers of these countries described the closure of French bases as "trickery" aimed at "carrying out destabilising actions".

"The French imperialist junta, feeling its interests threatened, supported by certain heads of state in the sub-region, is desperately trying to bring the emancipatory dynamic to a halt," they said.

In comments to the New York Times on Wednesday, a French defence ministry spokesperson said that the withdrawal of troops did not "call into question the excellence of the bilateral military relationship". The spokesperson added, "The cooperation plan between the two armies remains. It is based on mutual trust and the wealth of operational interactions."

Despite the troop withdrawals, France will continue efforts to combat terrorism spreading from the Sahel to West Africa's coastal nations, including Ivory Coast. In 2021, the two countries opened a counter-terrorism academy in Abidjan to enhance regional capacity in the fight against a rising threat from Islamist militants.

As French forces prepare to leave, Ivory Coast and Senegal are the latest in a growing number of African nations that are rethinking relations with France, whose dominance in Africa began to wane in earnest in the early 1960s.

"There’s a recognition both in Paris, but particularly among the African governments, that public opinion has changed," Melly concluded.

"People feel that times must move on."

Elite soldier shot himself before Cybertruck blast in Las Vegas, officials say


An elite soldier identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger committed suicide before the Cybertruck he was sitting in exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, authorities said on Thursday. 

The motive for his actions is still unknown.

APPARENTLY NOT AN EXPLOSIVES SPECIALIST


Issued on: 02/01/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: Liza KAMINOV

01:44

Emergency vehicles line the road near the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of the entrance on January 1, 2025. © Ethan Miller, Getty Images via AFP


The decorated special forces soldier who blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas shot himself in the head before the blast, authorities said Thursday, adding that his motivation was still "unknown."

Authorities said the suspect -- identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger -- was a member of the elite Green Beret forces who appeared to have committed suicide in a Cybertruck filled with fuel containers and fireworks, which then erupted into flames.

He had a gunshot wound to the head and a gun was found at his feet, officials told reporters at a press conference in Las Vegas.

"The motivation at this point is unknown," FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans said, as investigators probed the incident as a potential act of "terror."


Video footage outside the Trump International Hotel shows the stainless steel truck parked at the building's glass entrance early Wednesday, then bursting into flames, followed by smaller explosions that appeared similar to fireworks.

Seven people were wounded in the blast.

The Trump-branded building, which opened in 2008, is part-owned by the Republican president-elect's family business.

Evans said the link to the president-elect was "not lost" on agents, nor was the fact that Tesla is owned by world's richest man -- and prominent Trump backer -- Elon Musk.

"But we don't have information at this point that definitively tells us" it was driven by any particular ideology, he said.

Officials said the body had been burned beyond recognition, but that they have a "lot of confidence" it was Livelsberger -- identified through his military ID, passport and credit cards.

Guns found

Livelsberger rented the vehicle in Colorado on December 28, from where authorities tracked him driving it alone through Arizona and New Mexico to Las Vegas, which he reached on January 1, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

McMahill said Livelsberger was a Green Beret who had spent time in Germany and had been deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.

An army spokesperson said that Livelsberger was "on approved leave at the time of his death," and that he had been awarded multiple Bronze Star Medals, including one for valor.

Investigators said it was not yet clear how the blast detonated, but that the components were mainly consumer products like fireworks and fuel.

But they also said some of the components had not exploded, and that the level of sophistication in the blast was not what they would expect from someone with Livelsberger's military background.

"I just don't think it was done as well as he was expecting it to be done," McMahill said.

Authorities also confirmed that Livelsberger had purchased two semi-automatic handguns, both of which were found in the Tesla, one at his feet.

'Isolated' incident

The blast came just hours after an electric pickup truck plowed into a crowd in New Orleans' French Quarter, killing at least 14 and injuring dozens.

Initially investigators were probing any potential link between the two incidents, but authorities in New Orleans said Thursday they believe the attacker there acted alone, while the FBI described the Vegas incident as "isolated."

McMahill said Wednesday the fact that it was a Cybertruck "really limited the damage... because it had most of the blast go up through the truck and out," noting that the glass doors of the hotel, just a few feet away, "were not even broken by that blast."

The truck had been rented in Colorado through the carsharing company Turo, police said -- the same app that was used to rent the vehicle in the New Orleans attack.

McMahill said Wednesday that was a "coincidence... SYNCHRONICITY that we have to continue to look in to."

(AFP)

Accused Cybertruck bomber penned anti-government manifesto and possibly had PTSD: report

Matthew Chapman
January 3, 2025 
RW STORY

Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs and who police identified as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, poses in an undated handout photograph obtained by Reuters on January 2, 2025. Las Vegas Metro Police Department/Handout via REUTERS


The man accused of perpetrating the Cybertruck bombing at Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas wrote a manifesto critical of the government — and may have had untreated mental health issues from his time in the Special Forces, reported NBC News.
Matthew Livelsberger, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in the burned-out remains of the pickup, was a Green Beret who lived in Colorado Springs. Previous reporting indicated his family described him as a "Rambo-type" person and an avid Trump supporter.

Clark County Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said investigators accessed "one of two phones found in the Cybertruck and viewed writing in an app that served almost as a journal, documenting some of ... Livelsberger's movements and state of mind from Dec. 21 to New Year's Eve," the report continued. "Two letters in the phone app appear to point to a motive in the blast, Koren said. In one, he tells 'fellow service members, veterans and all Americans' it's time to 'wake up' because the country's leadership is 'weak' and 'only serves to enrich themselves.'"

Livelsberger's writings indicated he had no animosity for Trump, and didn't view his actions as terrorism.

"We are the United States of America, the best country ... to ever exist, but right now, we are terminally ill and headed towards collapse," said the letter. "This was not a terrorist attack. It was a wake up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives....I need to cleanse my mind of the brothers I’ve lost, and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took."

Authorities further stated that Livelsberger likely suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and had "family issues or personal grievances in his own life that may have been contributing factors."

Earlier in the investigation, police were investigating whether this explosion, which left seven other people injured, had any connection to the vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans that killed 15 and appeared to have been inspired by ISIS. But authorities appear to have ruled this out; the perpetrator of this attack was stationed at the same military base as Livelsberger and the two rented their vehicles from the same service, but these appear to be coincidences.

ALL AMERIKAN HOMEGROWN TERRORIST

New Orleans truck attacker acted alone but was 'inspired by' Islamic State group, FBI says

The driver behind a deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year's Eve, US army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, likely acted alone after being inspired by the Islamic State group, the FBI said Thursday, adding that so far there was no "definitive link" with a cyber truck explosion in Las Vegas the same day.


Issued on: 02/01/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: Wassim CORNET

01:51

A police officer patrols the French Quarter in New Orleans on January 2, 2025. © Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP





A US army veteran motivated by loyalty to the jihadist Islamic State group likely acted alone when he killed and injured dozens in a truck attack against a New Orleans crowd of New Year revelers, the FBI said Thursday.

Despite initial concerns that Shamsud-Din Jabbar had accomplices still on the run, preliminary investigations show he likely was alone, FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia said.

"We do not assess at this point that anyone else was involved," Raia said.

However, new evidence emerged detailing the extent of the US citizen's loyalty to the Islamic State group and his plans to cause mayhem in the attack, which killed 14 and injured more than 30 in the French Quarter district, ending only after he was shot by police.

"He was 100 percent inspired by ISIS," Raia said, using an alternative name for the international jihadist group.

Just before the attack, in which 42-year-old Jabbar slammed a rented Ford F-150 pickup into the crowd, he "posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS," Raia said.

He also carried a black ISIS flag on the back of the vehicle.

In one video, Jabbar "explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the 'war between the believers and the disbelievers.'"

Members of the National Guard walk through the French Quarter in New Orleans after the truck attack. © Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP

Raia said that Jabbar had planted two homemade bombs in drinks coolers in French Quarter streets. The bombs were viable but were made safe in time, he said.

Raia clarified that the total death toll of 15 from Wednesday's carnage included 14 victims and Jabbar himself, who died after wounding two police officers in an exchange of gunfire.

Vegas incident likely separate

. SYNCHRONICITY

A Tesla Cybertruck is shown after it caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump's hotel in Las Vegas. © Wade Vandervort, AFP

The New Orleans attack coincided with a high-profile incident in Las Vegas a few hours later where a Tesla Cybertruck blew up outside a hotel owned by US President-elect Donald Trump.

One person was killed and seven were injured in the incident. It remains unclear whether it was accidental or deliberate.

US media quoted law enforcement sources as saying the person who rented the Telsa truck was a current US Army special forces member.

In another echo of the New Orleans incident, the vehicles in both cases had been rented through the car-sharing app Turo.

Raia said: "At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas."

Cleanup on Bourbon Street

A city worker cleans in New Orleans after the New Year's truck attack. © Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP

In New Orleans' French Quarter, cleaners continued to clear the debris. Bourbon Street, at the heart of the area's famous nightlife and jazz establishments, remained closed to the public.

After a 24-hour delay due to the violence, the city was gearing up to stage the major Sugar Bowl college football game in the Superdome later Thursday. The stadium will also host the NFL's Super Bowl championship game in February.

"We believe we can absolutely provide a safe and wonderful environment today, and hold the Super Bowl and all of our activities," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.

Trump rant

The terrifying incident came three weeks before Trump takes over as president.

The Republican has used the mayhem to push his anti-immigrant agenda, despite the slain killer being a US-born citizen.

Overnight, Trump again took to social media to link the attack to "OPEN BORDERS."

In a lengthy rant, he berated law enforcement bodies for "attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM."

Claiming "the USA is breaking down," Trump said, without giving details: "the CIA must get involved."

Radicalization

An FBI handout shows a passport photo of deceased New Orleans attack suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar. © Handout from the FBI via AFP

Police say Jabbar drove at high speed into the crowd, intent on causing maximum casualties.

"There were bodies and blood and all the trash," bystander Zion Parsons told CNN. "People were terrified, running, screaming."

"It was just scary, I cried my eyes out, honestly," tourist Ethan Ayersman, 20, told AFP.

The Pentagon said Jabbar served in the Army as a human resources specialist and an IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, and then in the army reserve until 2020.

Map showing the location of the New Orleans truck attack. © John Saeki, AFP

He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 until January 2010, an army spokesperson said.

Raia said the growing focus now is on how Jabbar became radicalized.

"That's the stuff in the coming days, as far as that path to radicalization, that we're really going to be digging into and making a priority of," he said.

(AFP)

US army veteran, IT specialist: What we know about the New Orleans truck attack suspect


The New Orleans truck attack suspect, identified by the FBI as 42-year-old US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was an army veteran who served as an IT specialist before earning a bachelor's degree in computer systems. He was twice-married and experienced financial difficulties, according to divorce papers.


Issued on: 02/01/2025 - 
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Douglas HERBERT

03:57

Hours after a truck ploughed into a crowd of New Year’s Day revellers in New Orleans, killing 15 people, the FBI identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a US citizen from Texas.

Details have begun to emerge of Jabbar’s life and are being closely examined by investigators seeking clues for a motive behind the attack. The FBI said it was working to determine if Jabbar had any potential associations with terrorist organisations.

US President Joe Biden told reporters that, hours before the attack, Jabbar shared videos online that indicated he was "inspired by ISIS", referring to the Islamic State (IS) group.

In the videos, Jabbar discussed plans to kill his family and dreams that inspired him to join the Islamic State group, according to CNN.

A black flag linked to the group was also found in the vehicle used in the attack, the FBI said.

US army service, struggles to acclimate to civilian life

In a video posted on YouTube four years ago, Jabbar – speaking with a southern US accent – boasted of his skills as a "fierce negotiator" as he advertised his property management services to potential clients.

The Pentagon said Jabbar had served in the army as a human resource specialist and an IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, and then in the army reserve until 2020.

He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 until January 2010, an army spokesperson said, adding that he held the rank of Staff Sergeant at the end of his service. Earlier the FBI had said it believed he was honorably discharged.

Jabbar enrolled in Georgia State University in 2015 and received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in 2017, according to the New York Times.

In a 2015 article in the Georgia State student paper about the challenges of college life, Jabbar said he had struggled to acclimate to civilian life after leaving the military.

He also appears to have worked in real estate, holding a licence that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, relating to traffic offences and theft.

Criminal records reported by US news organisations show that Jabbar had two previous charges for minor offences – one in 2002 for theft and another in 2005 for driving with an invalid license.

Divorces and financial difficulties

Jabbar was twice-married, according to US news reports, with his second marriage ending in divorce in 2022, when he detailed experiencing financial problems in an email to his wife's lawyer.

"I cannot afford the house payment," he reportedly wrote, adding that his real estate company had lost more than $28,000 in the previous year, and that he had taken on thousands in credit card debt to pay for lawyers.

In a neighbourhood in north Houston, a neighbour of Jabbar’s ex-wife told The Washington Post that FBI agents had been to her home earlier in the day. Dwayne Marsh, who is married to Jabbar’s ex-wife, said she and Jabbar had two daughters, ages 14 and 20.

Marsh told the Post that Jabbar had converted to Islam, but he did not specify when and declined to comment further.

'Dotting I's and crossing T's' in military service

In the YouTube video posted in 2020, which has since been taken down, Jabbar spoke highly about his time serving in the US military.

He introduced himself as a property manager and real estate salesman, and said he was born and raised in Beaumont, a southeastern Texas city.

“I’ve been here all my life,” he said in the video. He also provided details about military service that matched the records released by the Pentagon on Wednesday.

In the military, he said in the video, “I learned the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, dotting I's and crossing T's to make sure that things go off without a hitch.”

Shortly after crashing into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans early Wednesday, Jabbar got into a shootout with the police, authorities said. He was pronounced dead soon after.

The FBI said that in addition to the IS group flag, they found weapons and a potential improvised explosive device in the attacker’s truck, which appeared to be a rented Ford. Other explosive devices were located elsewhere in the French Quarter, the FBI said.

“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” Alethea Duncan, FBI assistant special agent in charge in New Orleans, told reporters at a news briefing Wednesday afternoon. “We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Man who formerly served in US Army indicted over attempts to support Hezbollah

Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, was a dual citizen of the US and Ireland and traveled to Lebanon and Syria in 2024 to attempt to join Hezbollah.

By REUTERSJANUARY 3, 2025

Jack Danaher Molloy in photographs he took as part of an application process to join Hezbollah.(photo credit: Western District of Pennsylvania US Attorney's Office)


A Pennsylvania man who previously served in the US Army was indicted by a grand jury on charges of attempting to support Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and of making false statements to the FBI, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.

Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, was a dual citizen of the US and Ireland and traveled to Lebanon and Syria in 2024 to attempt to join Hezbollah, designated by the US as a terrorist organization, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The department said Molloy returned to the US in late 2024 and continued making attempts to join Hezbollah. He had also promoted hatred and violence against Jews, the Justice Department said, adding he was formerly enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the US Army from mid-March to late April in 2019.

Possible penalties

The Justice Department said Molloy lied to the FBI about his intentions to join Hezbollah when questioned upon his return to the United States in late 2024. It said he was arrested on Dec. 6 in Chicago

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An illustrative image of a Hezbollah flag in the backdrop of an individual holding a weapon. (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

If convicted, Molloy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for a material support charge. For false statement charges, he faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A representative of Molloy could not immediately be contacted.

Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit filed in California accusing the tech brand of using its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on owners of its iPhones and other devices. The lawsuit alleges that recorded conversations were shared with advertisers to better target consumers despite the company's claims of championing user privacy.


Issued on: 02/01/2025 - 
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES

The Apple iPhone 16 on display at the Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York on September 20, 2024. © Pamela Smith, AP

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the privacy-minded company of deploying its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its iPhone and other trendy devices.

The proposed settlement filed Tuesday in an Oakland, California, federal court would resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit revolving around allegations that Apple surreptitiously activated Siri to record conversations through iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant for more than a decade.

The alleged recordings occurred even when people didn't seek to activate the virtual assistant with the trigger words, “Hey, Siri." Some of the recorded conversations were then shared with advertisers in an attempt to sell their products to consumers more likely to be interested in the goods and services, the lawsuit asserted.

The allegations about a snoopy Siri contradicted Apple's long-running commitment to protect the privacy of its customers — a crusade that CEO Tim Cook has often framed as a fight to preserve “a fundamental human right.”


Apple isn't acknowledging any wrongdoing in the settlement, which still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Lawyers in the case have proposed scheduling a Feb. 14 court hearing in Oakland to review the terms.
Millions of consumers could file claims

If the settlement is approved, tens of millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from Sept. 17, 2014, through the end of last year could file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device covered by the settlement, although the payment could be reduced or increased, depending on the volume of claims. Only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims, according to estimates in court documents.

Eligible consumers will be limited to seeking compensation on a maximum of five devices.

The settlement represents a sliver of the $705 billion in profits that Apple has pocketed since September 2014. It's also a fraction of the roughly $1.5 billion that the lawyers representing consumers had estimated Apple could been required to pay if the company had been found of violating wiretapping and other privacy laws had the case gone to a trial.

The attorneys who filed the lawsuit may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and other expenses, according to court documents.

(AFP)

FDA issues another recall for oysters over norovirus risk

The recall comes amid a surge of outbreaks

Kelly Rissman
Friday 03 January 2025

Independent 

CDC seeing surge in norovirus cases


The Food and Drug Administration advised restaurants against serving or selling oysters due to a norovirus outbreak, marking the agency’s fourth warning about the shellfish in less than a month.

Oysters harvested from December 2 to December 17 by Ruco’s Shellfish from a portion of Hammersley Inlet growing area in Washington state were potentially contaminated, the FDA said in a Thursday advisory.

Norovirus is highly contagious and is the most common foodborne illness in the U.S.

Restaurants in Washington and Oregon purchased these oysters and they could have been distributed to other states. “The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of these oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed,” the agency said.

Foods contaminated with norovirus may look, smell and taste normal, but can cause illness if eaten — and cause potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems, the federal agency said.

Common novovirus symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to the virus.

Although most people recover within a few days, the virus causes an average of 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths per year, mostly among adults aged 65 and older, according to the CDC.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider, the agency said.

Norovirus cases have surged in recent weeks, according to CDC data. There were 91 outbreaks of the stomach bug reported during the week of December 5, the most recent period data available.

“This year, the number of reported norovirus outbreaks have exceeded the numbers that we’ve seen recently and in the years before the pandemic,” the CDC said.

It can spread from having direct contact with someone with the stomach bug, eating contaminated foods, or touching contaminated objects and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth.

To avoid getting sick with the virus, the CDC advised people to wash their hands well and often, cook shellfish thoroughly, wash fruits and vegetables, clean contaminated surfaces, wash laundry in hot water and stay home when sick for two days after symptoms stop.


Last year, the FDA issued 10 advisories concerning norovirus-contaminated oysters, spanning from California to Maine. Thursday’s warning marks the first of 2025, but the fourth since early December.

Darién Gap Crossings Plummet 42% as Panama Tightens Policies

THERE IS NO MIGRANT CRISIS IN U$A

ByJuan Martinez
January 3, 2025
RIO TIMES

In 2024, over 300,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap, a treacherous jungle route between Colombia and Panama. This figure represents a 42% decline from the record of 520,000 crossings in 2023, according to Panama’s migration authorities.

Despite the decrease, the situation remains dire and highlights the persistent challenges faced by those seeking a better life. Venezuelans made up approximately 69% of the migrants in 2024.

Many fled their home country due to economic collapse and political instability. They view the perilous journey through the Darién as their only option to reach the United States.

The Panamanian government, led by President José Raúl Mulino since July 2024, has taken a tougher stance on migration. His administration has implemented measures such as barbed wire fencing and increased deportations with U.S. support.

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Darién Gap Crossings Plummet 42% as Panama Tightens Policies. (Photo Internet reproduction)

While these policies have temporarily reduced crossings, they do not address the root causes driving migration. Many migrants encounter violence and exploitation along their journey.
Darién Gap Crossings Plummet 42% as Panama Tightens Policies

Reports indicate that between January 2021 and March 2023, authorities discovered 124 bodies along the route, primarily due to drowning. However, this number likely underrepresents the true toll of this dangerous passage.

The new policies have sparked debates about their effectiveness. Analysts argue that without addressing underlying issues such as poverty and violence, these measures may merely shift migration patterns rather than resolve them.

Migrants often find themselves trapped in a cycle of danger and desperation. The humanitarian landscape in Panama has become increasingly strained. Local services struggle to meet the needs of vulnerable migrants arriving from the Darién Gap.

As conditions worsen in their home countries, many migrants feel they have no choice but to risk everything for a chance at a better future.