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New Report Reveals Hawk pilot Capt. Rebecca Lobach did not comply with critical directions
Tragic Missteps: New Report Reveals Critical Errors Behind Black Hawk and Jet Collision That Killed 67 A devastating new report has unveiled the fatal missteps that led to the collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet, killing 67 people. The investigation found that Army Black Hawk pilot Capt. Rebecca Lobach did not comply with critical directions to alter her course seconds before the fatal incident. On the night of January 29, Capt. Lobach was undergoing her annual flight evaluation, with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves serving as her instructor. According to details published by The New York Times, Lobach made several critical errors, including flying the Black Hawk too high and failing to heed advice from both air traffic control and her co-pilot moments before the crash. The crew was first alerted to the presence of an approaching aircraft during the evaluation flight. Despite acknowledging the proximity of the plane and spotting it visually, Lobach and Eaves requested to continue under "visual separation," a procedure that relies on pilots using their own observations to maintain a safe distance rather than strictly following air traffic control directions. Aviation experts noted, "The request to fly under those rules is granted routinely in airspace overseen by controllers. Most of the time, visual separation is executed without note. But when mishandled, it can also create a deadly risk — one that aviation experts have warned about for years." Fifteen seconds before the crash, air traffic control instructed the Black Hawk crew to turn left. Co-pilot Eaves reiterated the instruction directly to Lobach, telling her, according to the report, that "he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank." Nevertheless, Lobach did not make the turn, a decision that the report concluded "would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342" if she had complied. Instead, tragedy struck as the helicopter and the jet collided, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Lobach, an aviation officer from Durham, North Carolina, had accumulated around 500 hours of flight time and had previously served as a White House military social aide during the Biden administration. The investigation also revealed that a critical step was missed that night. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, pilots must be explicitly informed if two aircraft are on a collision course. Experts concluded that "immediate intervention was needed" but did not occur, noting, "Direct, immediate intervention was needed that night. Instead of seeing and avoiding Flight 5342, Captain Lobach continued flying straight at it." Why Lobach failed to act remains a mystery. Investigators theorize that she may have been "blindsided" by the American Airlines flight’s maneuvering, specifically its "circling" of Runway 33—a crucial detail the Black Hawk crew may not have heard. It is believed that both pilots might have been pressing the microphone key while this information was transmitted. "If the key is depressed, the pilot can speak but not hear incoming communications," the report explained. There is no indication that Lobach experienced a medical emergency during the crash, and no pre-existing health issues were identified, according to those close to her and the investigation. Further complicating the situation, earlier findings from February indicated that the Black Hawk's altitude readings might have been inaccurate moments before the crash. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy explained that the helicopter’s crew missed critical instructions because a radio transmission "was stepped on," preventing them from hearing the words "pass behind the" during a crucial communication exchange. "At 8:47:42 — or 17 seconds before impact — a radio transmission from the tower was audible on both CVRs directing the Black Hawk to pass behind the CRJ," Homendy stated. The Black Hawk was conducting a check flight that night, and the crew were using night vision goggles throughout the mission. Investigators believe the goggles remained on until the collision. It was also discovered that the helicopter’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) system was turned off for "no compelling reason," as Sen. Ted Cruz had previously told The New York Times. This system would have provided real-time location, altitude, and speed data, possibly preventing the collision. The American Airlines jet, piloted by 34-year-old Jonathan Campos, was preparing to land after flying from Wichita, Kansas. The jet had adjusted its approach to use a shorter runway at the request of air traffic control, a move confirmed by flight-tracking sites. Just two seconds before the collision, the passenger jet's altitude was recorded at 313 feet. The loss was immense, touching families across the country. Among the passengers were hunters, students and parents from northern Virginia schools, and members of the Skating Club of Boston, who were returning from a development camp following the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. Related Topics: AA’s Diversity Policies Under Fire After Deadly Air Collision Midair Collision Near Reagan National Sends Plane into Potomac River Adpated by ASEAN Now from Daily Mail 2025-04-29 -
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Labour Faces Ongoing Threat From Gaza-Backed Independents in Local Elections
Labour Faces Ongoing Threat From Gaza-Backed Independents in Local Elections Muslim voters have long been a crucial part of Labour’s support base, but a deepening sense of disillusionment, exacerbated by the war in Gaza, is now fueling concerns within the party that this support may be slipping away permanently. Many Muslim voters turned to independent candidates in last year's general election, and with local elections approaching, Labour figures worry this shift is becoming a permanent feature of British politics. Much of the attention heading into the upcoming local elections has been on Reform UK, with Nigel Farage’s party tipped to gain hundreds of council seats from both the Tories and Labour. Yet in towns like Burnley, Lancashire, another narrative is quietly taking shape: the rise of Gaza-focused independent candidates threatening Labour’s traditional stronghold in Muslim communities. Although Labour leader Keir Starmer secured a resounding victory last July, the party suffered shocks in areas with large Muslim populations. Jonathan Ashworth, a former shadow cabinet minister, lost his Leicester South seat to independent candidate Shockat Adam, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting saw his majority in Ilford North slashed from over 9,000 to just over 500 votes. Senior Labour insiders believe this shift is not a one-off, with some convinced that independent candidates will continue to erode Labour’s Muslim vote. Burnley offers a clear example of where Labour could be vulnerable. Despite celebrations for Burnley Football Club’s promotion to the Premier League, the town struggles with severe deprivation, with government statistics revealing record numbers of young people living in poverty. Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester, told PoliticsHome that "the general level of discontent in the Muslim communities is very high." He added that the war in Gaza has become a “lightning rod” issue, encouraging Muslim voters to turn away from Labour. One Labour MP warned, “People in the party are putting their focus on Reform, which I get, but also at the expense of this threat,” adding, “these are real extremists.” Independent candidates like 18-year-old Maheen Kamran are stepping into this space. Motivated by the situation in Gaza, Kamran aims to improve school standards, public cleanliness, and promote gender-segregated public spaces. "There’s a big aspect of free mixing,” she said. “Muslim women aren’t really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health." Another independent, Usman Arif, is running in Burnley North East after leaving Labour over its stance on Gaza. He regularly posts about the war on his Facebook page and is campaigning on local issues like potholes and public safety. In Preston, too, Labour fears a dent in its support after pro-Gaza independent Michael Lavalette came second in last year’s election. Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and pollster, predicted that this realignment of Muslim voters could have a “lasting effect.” He told PoliticsHome, “I don’t see Labour being able to resolve this issue with the Muslim community in places where there are large Muslim populations,” adding that the ongoing conflict in Gaza will make it even harder for Labour to win back disillusioned voters. A Labour source spoke of an “unravelling of the social fabric” in areas where support for independents is surging. "There are strong divisions in these seats on the fault lines of class and religion. But what unites those communities is a general disillusionment with politics and government, and disappointment at the decline of public services." Former Labour candidate Khalid Ahmed, who resigned from the party over its Gaza stance, is now working with Ayoub Khan, an independent MP, to expand their influence. However, a lack of formal coordination among independent candidates remains a hurdle. Ali Arshad, a Kirklees councillor elected on a pro-Gaza platform, even described the Reform UK manifesto as "brilliant," except for its stance on the European Convention on Human Rights, indicating the complexity of the new independent movement. Meanwhile, Khalid Mahmood, Labour’s former MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, warned that Labour must stand against "Islamist" interests, saying, “While some Islamist organisations continue to pressure the government under the guise of combating Islamophobia, their demands are rarely about genuine inclusion. They are political and often incompatible with liberal democratic values.” Labour’s strategy is to improve public services to win back voters across all communities. Yet, as the local elections loom, it seems clear that the challenge posed by independent, pro-Gaza candidates is one Labour cannot afford to ignore. Adpated by ASEAN Now from Politics Home 2025-04-29 -
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Trump’s Decision on Ukraine Negotiations Expected This Week, Rubio Says
Trump’s Decision on Ukraine Negotiations Expected This Week, Rubio Says Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday that the Trump administration will decide within the coming week whether to continue pushing for a negotiated settlement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, or if it will shift its focus to other pressing matters. Speaking on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Rubio described the upcoming days as "very important," noting, "We have to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in or if it’s time to sort of focus on some other issues that are equally if not more important in some cases." It remains unclear whether Rubio’s remarks were intended to pressure Ukraine and Russia into initiating direct peace talks or whether President Trump and his advisers are seriously contemplating abandoning the negotiations altogether. Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, offered no strong indication that a breakthrough was imminent. Appearing on CBS News’s "Face the Nation," Lavrov stated, "We are ready to reach a deal," but acknowledged, "There are still some specific points — elements of this deal which need to be fine-tuned." Tensions were heightened last Thursday when Russia unleashed a wave of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people. The strikes drew unusually strong condemnation from President Trump. Despite this, Lavrov revealed during his CBS interview, recorded the same day as the attacks, that Russia had yet to agree to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day full cease-fire, an idea the Ukrainians have already endorsed. Rubio’s comments came just a day after an unexpected meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican, where both leaders were attending Pope Francis’s funeral. Photos posted by aides showed Trump and Zelensky engaged in conversation inside St. Peter’s Basilica. It marked their first face-to-face meeting since a heated Oval Office encounter in February, during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelensky for what they perceived as a lack of appreciation toward the United States. The negotiations have been complicated by several contentious points. Among them is the Trump administration’s demand that the United States recognize Crimea as Russian territory, and its apparent willingness to accept Russia’s ongoing occupation of significant areas of eastern Ukraine, seized since 2014. Trump has also signaled he would block Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during his tenure. After his meeting with Trump on Saturday, Zelensky expressed cautious optimism. In a social media post, he described their conversation as a "very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results." White House spokesman Steven Cheung echoed this sentiment, calling the discussion "very productive." Adpated by ASEAN Now from New York Times 2025-04-29 -
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Justice Department Strips Immunity from UNRWA, Backing Lawsuit by Oct. 7 Victims' Families
Justice Department Strips Immunity from UN Palestinian Relief Agency, Backing Lawsuit by Oct. 7 Victims' Families In a significant reversal of previous U.S. policy, the Justice Department has declared that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is not entitled to immunity from prosecution, opening the door for a $1 billion lawsuit brought by survivors and families of the victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre. Under President Biden’s administration, the Justice Department had argued that UNRWA and its personnel were protected by “absolute immunity” under the International Organizations Immunities Act of 1945. However, the Trump administration has now taken a starkly different position. "Previously, the Government expressed the view that certain immunities shielded UNRWA from having to answer those allegations in American courts," said a letter submitted Thursday to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York. "The Government has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation. Nor are the bulk of other defendants," wrote U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth in the letter. This letter was submitted in support of a lawsuit filed on June 24, representing over 100 victims and survivors. The lawsuit accuses UNRWA and seven of its current or former leaders of playing a key role over the last decade in helping Hamas build the “terror infrastructure and personnel that were necessary to carry out the October 7 Attack.” “As a result, UNRWA is not subject to the General Convention, and is not immune from suit under that treaty or current U.S. law,” the Justice Department’s letter asserted. Furthermore, the document argued that UNRWA cannot even be classified as a “subsidiary organ” of the United Nations because it was not designated as such under the International Organizations Immunities Act. "It is the present view of the United States that UNRWA is not" considered an official part of the United Nations, the letter said, but "instead, it is a mere 'affiliate or instrumentality' of the UN, analogous to the specialized agencies referenced in the UN Charter." This shift marks a dramatic legal and political moment for the families seeking justice for the victims of the Hamas assault, potentially exposing UNRWA to massive financial damages and intensifying scrutiny of its operations in the region. Related Topics: Victims of October 7 Attack Sue UNRWA for $1 Billion, Accusing It of Aiding Hamas Released Hostage Emily Damari Tells Keir Starmer she was held in UN Facilities Survivors sue UNRWA USA for funding Hamas terrorism Adpated by ASEAN Now from AP | TOI 2025-04-26 -
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Crime Taxi Driver Blocks Ambulance, Leading to Patient’s Death in Patong
Disgraceful. We see this time and again here, drivers with small willy syndrome getting upset when ambulances want to pass. The bastard should be banged up! -
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Donald Trump’s Mission ‘jihad’ to reform America
Donald Trump’s Mission to Reshape America: “Fighting for the World” Donald Trump is described as being “on a jihad” to reform the United States, according to Steve Bannon, a close ally and former chief strategist. Speaking to Time Magazine in an extensive interview marking the president’s first 100 days back in office, Bannon and other members of Trump’s inner circle portrayed a leader determined to upend traditional structures and reshape America to his vision. Discussing the Trump administration’s aggressive overhaul of federal institutions and its clashes with universities and the courts, Bannon stated, “He is on a jihad to reform them first by bringing them to heel.” Since resuming office, Trump has targeted U.S. institutions with sweeping changes, ignited a global trade war, threatened U.S. allies with military occupation, and embarked on what he describes as the “largest deportation” effort in American history, all part of his ambition to rebuild the global order in his image. “Our success depends on his ability to shock you,” one senior official confided to Time. Despite grand promises such as ending the Russia-Ukraine war on “day one,” Trump later clarified that such claims were “an exaggeration” made “in jest.” Nevertheless, he insisted that “Crimea will stay with Russia” under any peace deal and suggested Ukraine bore responsibility for the conflict, stating, “I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining Nato.” Trump’s first months in office have been marked by provocative ideas, including proposals to annex Greenland, reclaim control of the Panama Canal, and make Canada America’s “51st state.” While critics dismiss these notions as jokes, Trump asserted to Time, “I’m really not trolling. Canada is an interesting case.” He further added that he “wouldn’t mind” being remembered for expanding American territory. “I have solved more problems in the world without asking for or getting credit,” Trump said. Amid criticism of his trade policies, Trump remains steadfast in his belief that tariffs are crucial. “The bond market was getting the yips, but I wasn’t,” he explained to Time. Trump said he would consider it a “total victory” if the United States maintained 50 percent tariffs by next year. In a relentless drive to slash federal spending, Trump has acted swiftly to dismantle parts of the government, eliminating over 100,000 civil servant positions. “He has ceded absolutely nothing to the bureaucracy — zero,” said senior adviser Susie Wiles. “Everything he wants to do or thinks is important for the country, we have figured out a way.” Central to this effort is Elon Musk’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with rooting out “waste, fraud and abuse” within government agencies. Wiles noted that the Doge initiative has been Trump's most powerful tool, remarking, “Had we not done that, even with the discomfort it caused… then we would leave here in four years having cut the federal bureaucracy by 0.18 per cent.” Trump has also demonstrated little hesitation in making others uncomfortable to achieve his goals. He once delivered a 45-minute lecture to Congressional Republicans to push through his spending bill, emphasizing, “This is what I want.” In a tougher stance on immigration, the president has sent hundreds of migrants to El Salvador’s Cecot prison and arrested foreign students and academics for allegedly harboring anti-American sentiments. On the high-profile deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly sent to El Salvador, Trump admitted he was initially “not happy” about the mistake but changed his mind after hearing about Garcia’s alleged ties to the MS-13 gang, a claim Garcia denies. Trump likened this controversy to a "men in women’s sports issue" for his political opponent. Additionally, Trump expressed enthusiasm for the idea of sending U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes to foreign prisons, saying it was something his administration was “looking into” and that he would “love to” implement. Asked which criminals he had in mind, he responded, “people that hit old ladies over the head with a baseball bat” and “people that push people into subway trains.” Comparing his pace of reform to that of leaders in Venezuela, Turkey, and Hungary, Trump boasted, “I am moving much faster.” He added, “What worries me most has been how slow US society has responded.” Despite swirling rumors that Trump might seek a third term through legal loopholes, he dismissed the speculation, asserting, “I don’t believe in using loopholes.” For now, Trump’s attention is firmly set on leaving a historic legacy. Reflecting on his current term compared to his previous tenure, he concluded, “Last time I was fighting for survival. This time I’m fighting for the world.” Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-04-26
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