An American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people collided with a military helicopter near the Ronald Reagan Washington Airport in Arlington, Virginia.  |
- An American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people collided with a military helicopter near the Ronald Reagan Washington Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Following an explosion, debris from both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance for his first confirmation hearing as President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Here are five takeaways from the hearing.
- President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Wednesday to prepare Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba to house illegal immigrants.
- The president signed executive orders prohibiting ideological indoctrination in K–12 schools, promoting universal school choice in every state, and prohibiting anti-semitism on college campuses.
- After the news: The Justice Hunter documents the life and work of an ardent human rights attorney.
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Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) |
Search and rescue teams are looking for survivors after a regional passenger plane carrying 64 people collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, near the Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday night. American Airlines confirmed there were 60 passengers on board and four crew members. "There is no confirmed information on casualties at this time," the D.C. Police Department said in a 9:56 p.m. post on X. According to the FAA, at around 9 p.m. local time, American regional airline PSA Airlines' American Eagle flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, collided with "a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport." All flights at the airport have been temporarily halted for the search and rescue efforts in the river. Authorities said it is still unclear what caused the plane to crash. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the crash. "The thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those that are involved," she said. President Donald Trump said in a statement late Wednesday he has been "fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport."
"May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders," Trump said. "I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."
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President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed a memorandum to prepare Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba to house illegal immigrants. The president announced the move during a signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act. "Today, I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay," Trump said. "We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some of them are so bad ... so we're going to send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately." Trump said that Congress needs to provide financial support to "remove record numbers of illegal aliens." The president first mentioned the idea of using the prison to house illegal immigrants during a speech on Jan. 27 at his Doral golf club, where House Republican members were holding their annual retreat. At the time, he said he was hoping to get approval to remove illegal immigrants from the United States and have them placed in a "foreign land and maintained by others for a very small fee." Following the White House event, newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that the White House is working on utilizing the resources currently available at Guantanamo Bay. The costs associated with operating these detention centers could be addressed through the reconciliation process in the House, she noted. Speaking alongside Noem, Trump's border czar Tom Homan stated that ICE would be running these centers. "There's already a migrant center there. It's been there for decades. So we're just going to expand upon the existing migrant center," Homan said. (More) More Politics |
- President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed into law the Laken Riley Act, the first piece of legislation to receive his assent during his second term. The act is named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered last year by an illegal immigrant.
- Six of president Trump's nominees face Senate confirmation hearings on Thursday, including Kash Patel for director of the FBI, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the UN.
- The Trump administration's memo directing a freeze on federal loans, grants, and other financial assistance has been rescinded, the White House Office of Management and Budget said on Jan. 29. The freeze of the funds directed by the president in his executive orders is still in effect, the White House said.
- Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin has been confirmed by the Senate to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
- The Department of Homeland Security has ended the extension of a program that provides protection for about 600,000 Venezuelan nationals living in the United States.
- President Trump shook up the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Monday by firing its union-friendly General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and board member Gwynne Wilcox in a move that will likely be challenged in court. The NLRB enforces the country's labor laws and oversees union elections.
- The Department of Defense revoked the security clearance of retired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who served as the nation's highest-ranking military officer during President Donald Trump's first term.
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In its first meeting since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, pausing its easing cycle. Officials unanimously voted to keep the benchmark Federal Funds Rate steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent. The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did not say that inflation has made progress toward the Fed's 2 percent objective. "The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid," the committee said. "Inflation remains somewhat elevated." Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking to reporters at the post-meeting press conference, said that officials need to observe "real progress on inflation or some weakness in the labor market before we consider making adjustments." In recent months, inflation has proven to be sticky, remaining well above the Fed's 2 percent inflation target. Despite that inflation progress has stalled, Powell verified that policymakers are not in a hurry to adjust policy. "With our policy stance significantly less restrictive than it had been, and the economy remaining strong, we do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance," he said. With the central bank's five-year monetary policy review on the horizon, there has been speculation that the Fed could raise the target to 3 percent. However, Powell confirmed this would not be the case. "The committee's 2 percent inflation goal will be retained and will not be a focus of the review," the Fed chief told reporters. (More) More U.S. News |
- A surge in year-end imports pushed the U.S. goods trade deficit to a record high in December 2024, slashing fourth-quarter economic growth estimates by nearly a full percentage point as the yawning trade gap and shrinking inventories weighed on economic expansion.
- Frontier Airlines is making a second attempt to purchase ultra-low-cost rival Spirit Airlines.
- Some Apple iPhone devices are now eligible to test SpaceX-owned Starlink's direct-to-cell capability, which provides phone coverage from space, according to T-Mobile, a telecommunications company and partner in the program.
- A group of Quaker congregations have sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging that it is infringing on their religious freedom by allowing arrests of illegal immigrants at their meetings.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming trip to Central America, including a stop in Panama, partly aims to counter China, a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday. The trip will also include El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. This marks the new secretary of state's first official trip since his inauguration on Jan. 21. Rubio's stop in Panama could draw a lot of attention because of President Donald Trump's statements about retaking control of the Panama Canal, a key waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. When asked if Rubio would "lay down the law" with Panama over the waterway, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Fox Business, "It's not about laying down the law." "I think it's clear this is an issue about developing a relationship ... Not about bossing other nations around, but making it clear that a partnership with the United States is something that they can trust, something that comes with benefits just like any good relationship does." The Panama Canal Authority, a government-owned agency, has had full control over the canal's operations since Dec. 31, 1999, under a Neutrality Treaty signed in 1977. Trump argues that Panama has broken the Neutrality Treaty due to China's influence in the waterway. In a post on Truth Social on Jan. 28, Trump reiterated his claim, saying that "China controls the Panama Canal." "Panama is not going to get away with this!" Trump added in all capital letters. (More) More World News: |
- India and China agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries after a nearly five-year halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions.
- Syria's new government urged for Israel's withdrawal from Syrian territory, but Israel says it is staying indefinitely in at least one position.
- Ukraine carried out a wide-ranging drone attack overnight on energy facilities in nine regions of Russia, including a nuclear power plant in the western Smolensk region, according to Russian officials.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images |
Canadian human rights lawyer and investigator David Matas discusses how organ transplants can be scheduled in advance at Chinese medical centers, in "The Justice Hunter." (GJW+) |
Heroes don't always command headlines or appear on podcasts. Sometimes, they are quiet warriors, fighting battles for justice in courtrooms, at the negotiating table, or through tireless advocacy. "The Justice Hunter" is a poignant documentary that shines a spotlight on one such hero: David Matas, a real-life crusader for human rights. Directed by Yolanda Papini-Pollock, the 2023 film expands on Matas's extraordinary legacy, delving deep into his global efforts to combat human rights abuses. This film is not merely biographical; it is a galvanizing battle cry to action. As Matas's story unfolds, viewers are introduced to the tireless work he has done to protect the oppressed, often in the face of immense adversity. The film also delves deeply into the Chinese regime's appalling record of persecution, particularly under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It examines the systematic oppression and, often, execution of Falun Gong practitioners, a peaceful spiritual practice founded in 1992 by Li Hongzhi. One interviewee, Joel Chipkar, a spokesperson for Falun Gong in Canada, states: "Virtually overnight, thousands of Falun Gong members were either disappeared into the night or imprisoned and sent to forced labor camps. Many suffered far worse fates, such as torture and, as the film makes a strong case for, forced organ harvesting." Matas reveals how the communist regime has advertised globally for people to travel to China and secure organ transplants, with dates scheduled months in advance. With "The Justice Hunter" continuing to receive positive responses, it is incredibly heartening to witness the far-reaching influence of a tireless champion for human rights. For anyone committed to standing up for truth and justice, and to exposing the darkness that lingers in the shadows of the CCP, this documentary is an absolute must-see. Read the full article by our colleague Ian Kane here.
Watch the film on Gan Jing World here. As an exclusive to our subscribers, the film will be available to watch for free until this Sunday, Feb. 2.
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