The Bulletin

• Trump warns US is 'breaking down': President-elect Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for the alleged "breaking down" of the country, which he linked to the deadly attack in New Orleans on January 1. Here are his full remarks. Read more on the attack below.

• Ukraine disrupts Russian energy: Ending the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine has dealt Moscow a significant blow in its attempts to use energy as a weapon, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Here's why it is crucial.

• Iran warns of US bases in Syria: Iran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning regarding U.S. military bases in Syria in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday during a speech at a ceremony honoring a fallen commander. Find out what he said.

• Japan's population crisis: Japan is staring down a demographic cliff. The population has shrunk for 15 straight years, with births hitting a record low of 730,000 last year and deaths a record high of 1.58 million. Learn about its plans to tackle the population crisis.

• Chinese vessels near disputed islets: A Japanese coast guard patrol ship on Tuesday spotted four Chinese autocannon-armed coast guard vessels near a group of islets administered by U.S. ally Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Get more details.

The rundown: New Orleans faces safety concerns for two major upcoming events, Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras, after an attack on New Year's revelers early Wednesday. Find out whether heightened threats could derail the city's biggest celebrations of the year.

Why it matters: The attack that killed at least 15 people and injured 30 more came about a month before the Super Bowl and days before the beginning of Carnival season, which ends with Mardi Gras on March 4. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, has been named the suspect in the attack that is being treated as an act of terrorism. At around 4:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jabbar allegedly rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in the French Quarter. An ISIS flag, weapons and a potential IED were found in the suspect's rented truck, according to the FBI. In the aftermath, the Sugar Bowl was supposed to kick off on Wednesday between the SEC [Southeastern Conference] champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was delayed.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Border Czar Says New Year's Day Incidents 'Suicide Missions'

TL/DR: Local authorities must work hard to make people feel safe to attend another big event in New Orleans after a New Year's celebration on Bourbon Street ended tragically.

What happens now? The quarterfinal game between 2-seed Georgia and 7-seed Notre Dame was rescheduled for today at the Caesars Superdome. The FBI is leading the investigation into the New Orleans case. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it is investigating the Cybertruck explosion, a probe in which the FBI is involved.

Deeper reading New Orleans Faces Super Bowl, Mardi Gras Safety Concerns After Attack

The rundown: Elon Musk has said the culprit behind an assault using a Tesla Cybertruck which ignited outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas picked the "wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack." Get the latest updates.

Why it matters: A Tesla Cybertruck burst into flames in front of Trump's Las Vegas Hotel on Wednesday. The driver of the vehicle, who has been identified by the Colorado Springs station KOAA and The New York Post as Matthew Livelsberger, died after the fire erupted in the hotel's valet area at around 8:40 a.m. local time. Seven more suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was parked near a glass entrance in front of the hotel when it began to emit smoke and then exploded on Wednesday evening. Fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel in the truck's bed were detonated using a device operated by the driver. In a post on X on January 2, Musk said, "The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Cybertruck Explosion: Updates on Tesla Blast at Las Vegas Trump Hotel

TL/DR: The vehicle was rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

What happens now? Police are investigating a possible motive for the Cybertruck attack, including political or ideological, and whether it was linked to the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans. Trump has not yet commented on one of his hotels being the scene of the explosion.

Deeper reading Elon Musk Responds to Tesla Cybertruck Explosion: 'Wrong Vehicle'

The rundown: There are a few new travel requirements that Americans should be aware of going into the new year. Here's what to check before booking your next flight.

Why it matters: Starting May 7, every American aged 18 or older traveling domestically must use a REAL ID instead of other driver's licenses or identification cards at airports. The REAL ID is an updated driver's license or ID card that meets federal security standards. Starting January 8, Americans traveling to the U.K. must apply for the country's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a screening program. An ETA costs about $13 and is good for multiple entries into the U.K. for two years. The new U.K. travel requirement could disrupt one of the largest international airplane routes. U.S. International Trade Administration data shows that over 20 million people flew between the U.S. and the U.K. in 2023.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Safest Airlines in 2024 Ranked as Passengers Spooked by Flurry of Crashes

TL/DR: Taking a spontaneous trip, whether in the United States or abroad, might be harder for travelers in 2025, thanks to the new requirements.

What happens now? In May 2025, the European Union will implement its European Travel Information and Authorization System. Americans without a visa will need to apply through ETIAS and hold a passport to visit Europe. If you are going to the U.K. on or after January 8, apply for the ETA in advance, as the application may take up to three business days to process.

Deeper reading New Travel Requirements for Americans in 2025: What You Need to Know

The rundown: Russia began the new year by launching a mass drone attack on Ukraine during the night of December 31 through January 1, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Why it matters: Using 111 Shahed drones, Russia targeted several oblasts including Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The Ukrainian Air Force managed to largely repel Russia's launch of drones and other UAVs on New Year's Eve, as they shot down 63 drones and 46 more failed to reach their targets. The two victims of the Russian drone attack were a married couple. The mass drone attack on Ukraine at the start of the new year is significant because it may escalate tensions between the warring countries. Moscow conducted attacks on both Christmas and New Year's, not halting for the holidays.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Zelensky Says Ukraine War Will End Once Trump Takes Power

TL/DR: Shahed drones are Iranian-made UAVs, also referred to as "kamikaze drones," and can be fitted with thermobaric warheads.

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether there are more casualties from the mass drone attack or how Ukraine will respond in the coming days.

Deeper reading Russia Launches Mass Drone Attack on Ukraine To Begin 2025

The rundown: Only two people survived a South Korean plane crash on Sunday that killed 179 people, and they were saved because their seats were located at the back of the plane, NDTV World reported. Here's what we know.

Why it matters: A 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet carrying 181 people, including six crew members, crashed on Sunday after returning to South Korea from Bangkok, killing 179 people. In one of the country's worst aviation disasters in 30 years, the plane surpassed the runway at Muan International Airport, crashed into a wall and exploded into flames after its landing gear failed to deploy, officials said. The two survivors of the plane crash are flight attendants, a man and a woman, who were seated at the back of the plane. Identified only by their surnames, BBC News reported, Koo, 25, and Lee, 33, were taken to separate hospitals to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Team of US Investigators Join Probe at Site of Boeing Crash in South Korea

TL/DR: Although officials are still determining the cause of the deadly crash, the control tower at Muan International Airport issued a bird-strike warning while the Jeju Air plane was trying to land.

What happens now? Commercial flyers concerned about the fatality rates associated with different sections of an aircraft may be more selective about where they sit going forward. An investigation into the deadly crash in South Korea is ongoing.

Deeper reading South Korean Plane Crash: How Two Survivors of 181 Lived Because of Their Seats