US Officials Warn of Global ISIS Threat Escalation
US Warnings About ISIS Return Indicate Need to Enhance International Cooperation Against Renewed Terrorist Threats
January 5, 2025, 11:11 pm

US Officials Warn of Global ISIS Threat Escalation

البيت الأبيض \ متداولة

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reviewed a "highly difficult threat" during the "This Week" program on ABC News following the truck incident in New Orleans.

Representative Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, highlighted the growing activity of ISIS in the Middle East, which inspired the motivations of the New Orleans attack perpetrator.

Security reports indicate that Shams al-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former combatant, carried out a deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at the start of the new year, resulting in 14 deaths and dozens of injuries.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation clarified that the suspect, a former soldier from Texas, published video clips before the attack "declaring his support for ISIS" and confirming his joining the organization last summer.

McCaul expressed deep concern about ISIS's resurgence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, urging the Trump administration to be cautious of extremists' online attacks.

Regarding the Ukrainian crisis, McCaul quoted the new US envoy Keith Kellogg rejecting Ukraine's loss to Russia, pointing to Moscow's alliance with China, Iran, and North Korea, which sent 10,000 troops to fight Kyiv.

McCaul concluded his statements by emphasizing the need to grant Ukraine stronger negotiating influence, warning against repeating the Budapest Memorandum scenario where Kyiv surrendered its nuclear arsenal for unfulfilled security guarantees.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”