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FAA’s Diversity Policies Under Fire After Deadly Air Collision
An aspiring air traffic controller who says he was denied a job due to diversity-driven hiring practices has spoken out following the tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington. Andrew Brigida, 35, who excelled in his training exams but was rejected for an air traffic control position, claims the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prioritized diversity over competence, making a disaster inevitable. Brigida, who has joined a class-action lawsuit against the FAA, believes years of hiring practices aimed at increasing diversity rather than merit have contributed to safety risks in the aviation industry. “You want to hire the best and the brightest for this kind of job because it is a very stressful job and it can take a toll on you, age you prematurely,” he told The Telegraph. “You want to make sure that the people that are doing it are the best.” As investigations continue into the disaster, which claimed the lives of 67 people, new details have emerged about the night of the crash. Reports indicate that an air traffic controller left their post early, leaving just one person responsible for overseeing both helicopter and plane traffic—normally a task handled by two individuals. The FAA acknowledged that staffing levels at the time were “not normal for the time of day and the volume of traffic.” Authorities have recovered the black boxes from both the passenger jet and the helicopter and are analyzing flight data and audio recordings. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days. Meanwhile, more victims have been identified, including the American Airlines flight crew. Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28, were confirmed among the deceased, along with flight attendants Ian Epstein, 52, and Danasia Elder. Onboard the Black Hawk, Crew Chief Ryan O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves were named, though the female pilot’s identity has not yet been released. Brigida graduated from Arizona State University’s collegiate training initiative in 2013, a program designed to train and recruit top candidates for the FAA. After scoring 100 percent on his selection exam, he was placed on a preferred candidate list. However, the FAA later changed its hiring process, implementing a biographical questionnaire instead of a skills-based test to attract a more diverse applicant pool. When Brigida reapplied, he claims he failed the questionnaire because he “didn’t fit the preferred ethnic profile.” Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, blaming the FAA’s hiring policies for the fatal collision. He alleged that individuals with “severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities” had been recruited as air traffic controllers, suggesting that political decisions had compromised aviation safety. Brigida believes past administrations contributed to the air traffic control staffing crisis by failing to act despite numerous warning signs. “There have been plenty of stories of near miss events that have been the cause of staffing issues, it’s surprising that it’s gone on this long without being properly recognised by the government,” he said. The lawsuit against the FAA, filed by attorneys from Mountain States Legal Foundation, represents over 2,500 aspiring air traffic controllers who argue that they were unfairly rejected due to the agency’s race-based hiring policies. As the investigation into the crash continues, critics argue that the FAA must reconsider its approach to hiring in order to prevent further tragedies. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-01 -
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Our Hostage Daughters Long-Awaited Return: Why Did It Take So Long for the World to Care?
For a moment, imagine the anguish of Meirav Berger, the mother of Agam Berger. Nearly five hundred days ago, Agam, then just 19 years old, was taken hostage by Hamas. The terrorists, proud of their brutal act, broadcasted footage of Agam’s battered face, drenched in the blood of her young friends who had just been executed in their pyjamas before her eyes. Can anyone truly grasp the horror and helplessness Meirav must have felt, seeing her daughter’s petrified eyes? Agam and her fellow young conscripts—Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, and Karina Ariev—were among the “lucky” ones who survived the massacre at the Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023. They had been on their first days of compulsory national service as unarmed border observers when the attack unfolded. In 2014, Michelle Obama launched the global “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign for the 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic militants. But when over 250 people were abducted on October 7, there was no such outpouring of outrage. Celebrities and politicians, with a few rare exceptions, remained conspicuously silent. Now, at last, these young women are home—words their families feared they might never be able to say. But over 80 hostages remain trapped in captivity. The question remains: why did it take this long? Why were these mothers forced to expose their raw suffering to a world that seemed indifferent? Where were the marches, the protests, the outcry for their daughters? How much longer must this war continue before all the hostages are freed? And when will the world finally, unequivocally, condemn the monstrous act of abducting innocent men, women, and children simply because they are Jewish? Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-02-01 -
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Surge in UK Prison Recalls increase by 42pc
The number of former prisoners recalled to jail has surged by over 40 percent following the implementation of early release schemes aimed at reducing overcrowding. Recent figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that in the three months leading up to September 2024, 9,975 individuals were recalled—an increase of 42 percent compared to the same period the previous year. This spike follows the introduction of an early release program under the previous Conservative government, which was designed to ease pressure on the prison system. The Labour government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, launched its own version of the scheme in September, further allowing inmates convicted of less serious offenses to be freed after serving 40 percent of their sentences, instead of the previous 50 percent. While these measures were introduced to prevent a total collapse of the prison system, they have led to a significant rise in the number of ex-offenders being recalled. Many of these individuals have either reoffended or breached the terms of their licence, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the policy. The recall population now makes up one in seven of the 86,000 prisoners in England and Wales. Between October 2023 and September 2024, a total of 13,382 prisoners were released up to 70 days early under the Conservative government’s end of custody supervised licence (ECSL) program. Since Labour came into power, more than 3,000 additional prisoners have been released under the new standard determinate sentences 40 (SDS40) scheme. The latest data shows that 73 percent of recalls between July and September 2024 were due to non-compliance with licence conditions, while 35 percent stemmed from failure to keep in contact with authorities. Additionally, 23 percent of recalled individuals did not reside at their agreed address, and nearly a quarter—24 percent—were sent back after committing new crimes. According to probation leaders, housing instability plays a crucial role in whether an ex-prisoner is recalled. Reports indicate that up to a fifth of those released do not have secure accommodation, making it significantly harder for them to reintegrate into society. Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones has attributed the growing recall population to “excessive” licence conditions, which he says often remain in place for extended periods. He has called for greater efforts to ensure released prisoners have stable housing, warning that the likelihood of reoffending doubles for those without a home. As concerns mount over the effectiveness of the current system, the MoJ has launched a sentencing review, led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, to examine whether it should be made easier and quicker for recalled prisoners to be re-released. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has placed blame on the previous government for the ongoing prison crisis, stating, “We have to release people early because otherwise we’ll have an absolute crisis in our prisons.” An MoJ spokesperson reinforced the government's stance, saying, “Public protection is our number one priority and we do not hesitate to recall offenders back to prison if they break the rules or their risk cannot be safely managed in the community.” With prison capacity stretched to its limits and the number of recalls climbing, the government now faces a difficult balancing act between maintaining public safety and managing the growing strain on the justice system. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-01 -
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Trump Moves Forward with Tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Citing Trade Deficit and Border Issue
Former President Donald Trump announced that his administration will proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, making good on a threat he first issued during the final days of his 2024 campaign. The decision, set to take effect on Saturday, is aimed at addressing what Trump described as unfair trade practices, an influx of migrants at the southern border, and the flow of fentanyl into the United States. “We’ll be announcing the tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a number of reasons,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He emphasized the U.S. trade deficit with its neighbors, stating, “I’ll be putting the tariff of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico, and we will really have to do that because we have very big deficits with those countries. Those tariffs may or may not rise with time.” Trump also revealed that his administration was considering including oil in the list of tariffed goods, with a final decision expected later that evening. “We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination, probably tonight, on oil. Because they send us oil, we’ll see. It depends on what the price is. If the oil is properly priced, if they treat us properly, which they don’t,” Trump said. He further justified the tariffs by accusing both Canada and Mexico of exploiting the United States in trade agreements. “Look, Mexico and Canada have never been good to us on trade,” he said. “They’ve treated us very unfairly on trade, and we will be able to make that up very quickly because we don’t need the products that they have.” Trump originally issued the tariff threat in response to what he described as Mexico’s failure to curb illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. While initially targeting Mexico, he later expanded his proposal to include Canada and even China. Both Mexico and Canada are among the United States' largest trading partners, and economic experts have warned that these tariffs could lead to increased prices for American consumers on a variety of goods. However, they also suggested that while American industries may face short-term disruptions, Mexico and Canada’s economies could suffer more in the long run if a prolonged trade war ensues. Despite these warnings, Trump remained steadfast in his stance, making it clear that his administration is prepared to use tariffs as a tool to reshape trade relationships. Whether these measures will result in renegotiations with America’s neighbors or escalate tensions further remains to be seen. Based on a report by The Hill 2025-02-01 -
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Rubio: Trump is serious about buying Greenland
The notion of the United States purchasing Greenland is no laughing matter, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reinforced former President Donald Trump’s push for acquiring the Danish territory. In one of his first media appearances since taking office, Rubio made it clear that the idea was not a joke, but rather a matter of national interest. “This is not a joke,” Rubio stated during an interview on *The Megyn Kelly Show* on SiriusXM. “This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved.” While Trump had previously suggested that military force against Denmark, a NATO ally, could be an option to secure Greenland, Rubio sought to downplay that possibility. However, he stopped short of ruling it out completely. He defended Trump’s approach, describing it as a strategic negotiation tactic. “He is not going to begin what he views as a negotiation or a conversation by taking ... leverage off the table, and that’s a tactic that’s used all the time in business,” Rubio explained. “It’s being applied to foreign policy and I think to great effect in the first term.” The former president had a tense conversation with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen earlier this month regarding his interest in purchasing the vast Arctic island. Frederiksen reaffirmed Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede’s stance that the territory was not for sale. Despite this firm position from Greenland’s leadership, Rubio argued that the United States must not back down, emphasizing Greenland’s strategic importance. He pointed to the region’s changing environment as a key factor, predicting that the Arctic would become crucial for global shipping routes as ice continues to melt. Rubio also warned that failure to act could lead to China gaining a foothold in Greenland, a scenario he deemed dangerous for U.S. interests. “So the question becomes, if the Chinese begin to threaten Greenland, do we really trust that that is not a place where those deals are going to be made?” Rubio asked. “Do we really trust that that is not a place where they would not intervene, maybe by force?” His comments underscored a broader concern about geopolitical influence in the Arctic. As the region becomes more accessible due to climate change, the competition for control and influence over its resources and strategic location is intensifying. While Greenland’s leaders have repeatedly made it clear that they are not interested in selling the territory, the discussion remains a point of contention between the U.S. and Denmark. Whether the Trump-era idea will be revived in the future remains uncertain, but Rubio’s statements signal that it is far from being dismissed as a mere passing remark. Based on a report by Politico 2025-02-01 -
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Democracy is Failing the Young – No Wonder They Want Change
Britain today is not merely experiencing a crisis of politics, but a deeper crisis of legitimacy. The challenge isn’t finding examples to illustrate this—it’s narrowing them down. Take immigration: despite multiple electoral mandates to reduce numbers in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019, Boris Johnson’s administration introduced policies that saw net migration soar to 906,000. Or consider the asylum system, where Channel-crossing migrants are placed in taxpayer-funded hotels and given priority access to the NHS, while waiting lists for British citizens have ballooned to 7.5 million cases. Then there is the disturbing reality of grooming gangs operating for years with the full knowledge of authorities who feared intervention might incite social unrest. Some parents attempting to rescue their daughters were even arrested, while police found time to pursue individuals making “offensive” online comments about convicted criminals. Crime more broadly presents a dismal picture, with law enforcement failing to solve a single burglary, personal theft, or stolen bike case in 30% of the country. Economic underperformance may be the most pressing concern of all. Real wages remain below their 2008 peak, inflation has battered economies worldwide, the tax burden has reached a 70-year high, and house prices have skyrocketed. The median home in England and Wales now costs over eight times the average income—compared to 3.5 times in the late 1990s. According to the Resolution Foundation, a young household in 1997 could save for a deposit in around three years with 5% of their income; today, two young graduates would need closer to 14 years. Given this reality, young people’s growing disillusionment with democracy should not come as a shock. Support for democratic governance has been declining across the Anglosphere for decades, both within and between generations. Generation Z finds itself governed by a system that appears indifferent to their interests and incapable of meaningful change. The democratic process is functioning as designed—just not in their favor. So far, the backlash has largely been limited to disgruntled polling responses and online rhetoric. However, an increasingly frustrated generation shut out of homeownership and burdened by rising costs poses a long-term risk to stability. With little to lose, they may be more willing to take a chance on radical alternatives. If liberal democratic capitalism is mired in stagnation, a system that is less liberal and less democratic could become more appealing. This could manifest as support for a strong American-style leader, inspired by Donald Trump’s executive orders. It might lead to another surge in support for a Jeremy Corbyn-like figure, promising sweeping nationalizations and council housing. Or it could take an even more drastic form. If politicians want to prevent this, they should stop asking what young people can do for the state—and start asking what the state has done for them. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-01
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