While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 31, 2025
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A police boat gathering wreckage on Jan 30 along the Potomac River, after American Airlines flight 5342 collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter.
PHOTO: AFP
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No clear reason yet for US air disaster that killed 67
US authorities said on Jan 30 it was not yet clear why a regional jet crashed into a US Army helicopter at a Washington airport, killing 67 people in the deadliest US air disaster in more than 20 years.
President Donald Trump said - without providing evidence - that federal diversity efforts could have been a factor, reiterating a theme that has become a focus of his presidency.
Rights groups and Democrats accused him of politicising the disaster.
The American Airlines Bombardier carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with the Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River as it prepared to land at Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan 29.
Gabbard faces criticism over Russia, Snowden in hearing
REUTERS
Former US Representative Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s choice to be director of national intelligence, faced harsh criticism of her past defence of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and comments seen as supportive of Russia at a confirmation hearing on Jan 30.
Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed doubts about the choice of Ms Gabbard, a 43-year-old former Democrat and combat veteran without deep intelligence experience, to serve as the nation’s top spy overseeing all 18 US intelligence agencies.
Senators questioned Ms Gabbard about views seen as echoing Russia’s justification of its war against Ukraine, criticism of US involvement in Syria and 2017 meeting with Moscow-backed former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Thai PM ‘elated’ at release of Gaza hostages
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/HEN MAZZIG
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was “elated” on Jan 30 at the release of five Thai hostages held in Gaza for over a year.
The Thais were abducted when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023 and were released as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal.
The Israeli prime minister’s office named the five Thais released as Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau and Bannawat Saethao.
Six arrested over plot to kidnap French YouTube star
SCREENSHOT: YOUTUBE
The French police have arrested six people on suspicion of plotting to kidnap YouTube star Inoxtag or one of his relatives and demand a ransom, a source close to the case and prosecutors said on Jan 30.
Inoxtag, 22, whose real name is Ines Benazzouz, has 8.7 million subscribers on YouTube, 6.3 million on TikTok and nearly six million on Instagram.
His best-known video, a feature-length documentary about his ascent of Mount Everest – which he climbed despite no prior mountaineering experience – has been viewed 37 million times on YouTube since it was posted on Sept 14.
Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull dies aged 78
Marianne Faithfull, the wild woman of London’s Swinging ‘60s who survived drug addiction, homelessness, two comas, cancer and Covid-19, has died at age 78, after a singing career that began as a teenager and lasted until her 70s.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull,” her spokesperson said in a statement on Jan 30. “Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
The convent-educated daughter of a World War II British intelligence officer, Faithfull had a front-row seat as drugs, alcohol and sexual excess enveloped the early years of the rock music industry.
