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New York suspect says IS inspired attack, killings ‘felt good’

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The Uzbek immigrant behind New York’s worst attack in 16 years confessed to acting in the name of the Islamic State group and “felt good” about the killings, having planned an assault for a year, investigators said Wednesday.

The shocking details emerged as federal prosecutors filed terrorism charges against Sayfullo Saipov, who subsequently appeared in court in a wheelchair — he had been shot in the abdomen by police — 24 hours after mowing down pedestrians and cyclists, and colliding with a school bus.

US President Donald Trump vowed an immediate crackdown on the visa program that he said allowed the 29-year-old to immigrate in 2010, saying he would “certainly consider” sending the suspect to the military detention center in Guantanamo Bay and later calling for his execution.

The attack killed eight people, five of them childhood friends from Argentina celebrating 30 years since their high school graduation, a 31-year-old Belgian mother, and two US men, from New York and neighboring New Jersey.

Of 12 wounded, four remained in critical condition following the deadliest attack in America’s financial capital since the Al-Qaeda hijackings on September 11, 2001.

Saipov first started planning an attack a year ago, before settling two months ago on using a truck to kill as many people as possible during Halloween celebrations, according to a federal terrorism complaint.

Prosecutors unveiled the charges, saying he had waived his rights and confessed to being inspired by IS propaganda, after yelling “Allahu akbar” (“God is greatest” in Arabic) upon exiting a rented pickup truck in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.

“Saipov committed this attack in support of ISIS,” US acting Manhattan attorney Joon Kim announced, using an acronym to refer to the IS jihadist group.

Saipov appeared in a wheelchair before a US magistrate in Manhattan federal court, where the charges were formally read.

He was not required to enter a plea and was later sent to a federal detention facility, most likely in New York, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s office told AFP.

‘Hang him’
He was found in possession of multiple knives in a black bag, a Florida driving license and two cell phones that contained thousands of IS propaganda images and dozens of IS propaganda videos, Kim said.

The files depicted “among other things, ISIS fighters killing prisoners by running over them with a tank, beheading them, and shooting them in the face,” Kim added.

“Saipov requested to display ISIS’s flag in his hospital room and stated that he felt good about what he had done,” the charging document revealed.

The complaint listed two counts: provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and violence and destruction of motor vehicles. It was not immediately clear if he would face further charges.

Kim said the material support charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Federal prosecutors could also potentially seek the death penalty.

In the largely-Muslim neighborhood where Saipov lived with his wife and children for little over a year in the New Jersey town of Paterson, residents seethed with anger Wednesday, furious he had besmirched their hard-working immigrant reputation.

“They should hang him!” snapped the manager of a launderette near his modest apartment. “If you come to the US, it’s to do something better, not something bad!” she spat, refusing to give her name out of fear.

A police officer shot Saipov after he exited the truck brandishing paintball and pellet guns.

Vehicle rammings have been a frequent tactic deployed by IS sympathizers in the West, including in Barcelona, London, Stockholm and in Nice, where a Tunisian suicide truck bomber killed 86 people on Bastille Day last year.

“He appears to have followed almost exactly to a ‘T’ the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack,” senior police officer John Miller said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saipov had been radicalized after moving to the United States. He is not a US citizen but a legal permanent resident.

Trump urges death penalty
Trump said he was “starting the process of terminating” the popular green card lottery, which he said had enabled Saipov to enter the country.

“We have to do what’s right to protect our citizens,” the Republican president told reporters. “We will get rid of this lottery program as soon as possible.”

He also called for “punishment that’s far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now.”

But the White House was forced to walk back some of his comments, stressing that he was not taking executive action but looking to Congress to change decades-old laws.

The president stuck to his hardline rhetoric on Twitter, saying the attacker “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!”

Trump has already slashed the country’s annual refugee intake by more than 50 percent, tightened visa issuance around the world and attempted to ban travelers from 11 countries, most of them with Muslim-majority populations, but not Uzbekistan.

Saipov lived in Florida before moving to Paterson, a former industrial hub about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of New York.

Though it remains unclear whether Saipov acted alone, Cuomo has drastically stepped up security at airports, tunnels and Penn Station, which he called the busiest rail hub in the hemisphere.

Authorities announced they had found a second Uzbek they’d been seeking in their investigation — 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov — but they provided no additional details.

In Manhattan, leaders vowed the annual marathon would go ahead as planned on Sunday. Police said the event, which attracts more than 50,000 runners and 2.5 million spectators, would be the most protected ever.

Uzbekistan, a majority Muslim country that borders Afghanistan and formerly part of the Soviet Union, is a landlocked country racked with poverty, corruption and a stifling authoritarian regime.

Saipov is the fourth Uzbek-linked man in less than a year blamed for deadly strikes overseas, following attacks in Istanbul, St Petersburg and Stockholm.

Guardian

FOREIGN

BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates J-Hope, Jimin And Suga With New Hot 100 Hit

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BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates With New Hot 100 Hit | Fab.ng

South Korea’s global superstars, BTS, are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. But that hasn’t slowed them down. A dedicated fan base continues to propel V, one of the BTS members, to new heights on the American music scene.

While the group is focused on their national duty, this particular member’s solo work resonates with American audiences.

BTS’s influence remains strong, even with all seven members enlisted. This latest achievement proves that their music transcends borders and continues to captivate listeners around the world.

V, a member of the global phenomenon BTS, is making waves as a solo artist. His brand new single, “Fri(end)s,” hit the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart at a very impressive No. 65 in its first week.

This marks V’s fourth time landing a song on the Hot 100, and this time, it’s all him. BTS, as a group, has already achieved an incredible record with 27 hits on the chart. But V’s solo success ties him with three of his bandmates for another impressive feat.

With “Fri(end)s,” V joins J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga in the exclusive club of BTS members with four Hot 100 hits to their names.

However, the top soloist title goes to another BTS member. Jung Kook has a whopping six Hot 100 entries under his name. That’s just one slot ahead of K-pop legend Psy, who boasts five hits on the chart.

V’s solo journey on the Hot 100 began in 2022 with the release of “Christmas Tree.” The song gained significant traction during the holiday season, but its official chart debut came in the new year.

This strong debut for “Fri(end)s” is a great sign for V’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how high the song can climb on the chart in the coming weeks.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ariana Grande Surpasses Tie With Travis Scott, Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record

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Ariana Grande Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record | Fab.ng

Ariana Grande is dominating the Billboard charts this week. Her brand new album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the biggest album debut of 2024 so far. Ariana Grande’s new single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” also rocketed to the top of the Streaming Songs chart in the US. This chart tracks the most-played songs each week, considering both audio and video streams across major platforms.

This chart success isn’t just a one-off win for her. This feat marks Ariana Grande’s sixth time leading on the Streaming Songs chart, officially breaking her tie with rapper Travis Scott. Previously, both artists were locked in a four-way tie for third place with five chart-topping hits each. Now, Grande takes the solo bronze medal position, pushing Scott down to fifth.

Ariana Grande Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record | Fab.ng

Ariana Grande now shares the number-two spot with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Both singers have snagged six No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. But Ariana Grande achieved her latest win much more recently than Justin Bieber.

Get the latest and greatest updates right away! Join our exclusive WhatsApp channel and never miss out on exciting news again.

Drake continues to dominate the streaming song chart. He has 20 No. 1 hits, a record no other artist has even come close to matching.

Following Drake is Taylor Swift, who has secured an impressive eight No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. She’s poised to add to her tally soon with the upcoming release of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Ariana Grande has been on a roll this year, scoring two new No. 1 hits already. Her latest track, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” debuted at the top spot, following the success of her previous chart-topper, “Yes, And?” These two new hits join her previous four leaders: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Positions,” and the collaboration with The Weeknd, “Die For You.”

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FOREIGN

House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Drops Premiere Date

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House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Drops Premiere Date | Fab.ng

Get ready for fire and blood! HBO released two thrilling trailers for the highly anticipated second season of “House of the Dragon” on Thursday.

These action-packed “duelling trailers” offer a glimpse into the brewing Targaryen civil war, packed with conflict and drama.

The trailers confirm that Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16th.

The prequel series to the smash-hit “Game of Thrones” takes viewers back 200 years to explore the history of Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors. The Targaryen family, known for their mastery of dragons, is on the brink of war, and these trailers showcase the intensity of the coming conflict.

The first season of “House of the Dragon” premiered in August 2022 and was a massive success, capturing the attention of a reported 29 million viewers each week.

The movie is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” It dives into a brutal civil war within the Targaryen dynasty.

The story centers on Rhaenyra Targaryen, who defies tradition by being named heir to the Iron Throne, a position typically held by men. Rhaenyra faces opposition from the very beginning. Her initial close friend, Alicent Hightower, becomes her stepmother after marrying King Viserys, Rhaenyra’s father. This marriage strains their friendship and sows the seeds of future conflict.

The Targaryens, known for keeping their bloodline pure, are also infamous for marriage within the family. In this case, Rhaenyra is married to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, a powerful and unpredictable warrior.

Get the latest and greatest updates right away! Join our exclusive WhatsApp channel and never miss out on exciting news again.

King Viserys dies in the course of the movie. This tragedy leads to trouble. Aegon, Rhaenyra’s half-brother, steps forward with the claim that he, not Rhaenyra, should be king. Alicent, now firmly on Aegon’s side, fuels the flames of war.

Supporters have formed behind each heir, creating clear factions. Those who back Rhaenyra are known as the “Blacks,” while Aegon’s supporters are called the “Greens.”

Adding to the chaos is Aegon’s violent brother, Aemond. Aemond’s actions escalate the conflict to a horrifying new level, leaving one of Rhaenyra’s sons dead by the end of season one.

This brutal act ignites a fire of vengeance in Rhaenyra, setting the stage for a bloody war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The intense rivalry between these two sides promises a thrilling and ruthless battle for ultimate power. The show has even released separate trailers for each faction, further amplifying the excitement for fans

Get more movie updates here.

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