Sheinbaum says Mexico ‘prepared’ as Trump tariff threat looms
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country is “prepared” as the possibility of steep United States tariffs looms.
- US President Donald Trump has said he plans to follow through on his threat to impose 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, spurring fears of a trade war.
DC plane crash: What we know about the victims and investigation
All 67 people on board an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter that collided in midair near Washington, DC, are believed to be dead.
The incident is the deadliest air disaster in the US since a 2001 plane crash that killed 260 passengers after takeoff from New York City.
Read more here about what we know about the victims of Wednesday’s crash and what the initial investigations suggest might have contributed to the incident.
Key takeaways from Senate hearings for Trump nominees Patel, Gabbard
Some of Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks have faced contentious Senate committee hearings this week.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump’s pick to head the Health and Human Services (HHS) department, was slammed by lawmakers over his past statements casting doubt on the safety of vaccines and spreading conspiracy theories.
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, nominated to be the next director of national intelligence, was under fire for her past defence of US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Kash Patel – who is hoping to become the next head of the FBI – sought to distance himself from Trump’s decision to pardon those convicted of offences linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Virginia community warns against touching items related to plane crash
Alexandria, which sits across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, has told residents to expect increased traffic along the town’s waterfront during the search efforts.
“We understand the curiosity and concerns residents may have. We strongly encourage visitors to the waterfront to not touch or collect anything you believe may be related to this incident,” the city said in a statement.
It added that anyone who comes across items linked to the crash should “immediately” contact the authorities to report the location.
‘Despicable’: Trump slammed for blaming diversity initiatives for crash
Several Democrats have rebuked the US president for suggesting that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes were behind the deadly plane crash over Washington, DC.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called Trump’s comments “despicable”.
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” Buttigieg wrote in a social media post, stressing that the current administration is responsible for the government entities involved in the crash – the military and Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).
“Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth also denounced Trump for pointing fingers while search efforts for the victims are still ongoing.
