US President Donald Trump on Thursday appointed an acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration after a fatal mid-air crash involving a military helicopter and a passenger plane in Washington.
“I’m also immediately appointing an acting commissioner to the FAA, Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the agency, highly respected. Christopher, thank you very much, appreciate it,” Mr Trump said at the White House.
The American Airlines plane from Wichita, Kansas, was flying to Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport when it collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River. Mr Trump said there were no survivors.
Mr Rocheleau will replace Mike Whitaker, who resigned on January 20. Mr Whitaker announced his resignation in December, months after Tesla founder Elon Musk called for him to step down after the FAA proposed to fine SpaceX more than $600,000 for breaching licensing terms on two 2023 launches.
The FAA administrator is a Senate-confirmed position and Mr Trump did not offer details about who he planned to permanently replace Mr Whitaker. Whoever it is will be responsible for the response to the crash.
The FAA, along with the National Transport Security Board and the US military, will be conducting what Mr Trump called a “systemic and comprehensive investigation” of the incident.
He used the news briefing on the fatal crash to attack the FAA over diversity, equity and inclusion standards at the agency. Last week, he signed an executive order to immediately end DEI programmes at the regulator.
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history,” Mr Trump said before launching into criticisms of Democratic administrations for diversifying the workforce.
“A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white, then they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately."
He also accused former transport secretary Pete Buttigieg of running the FAA “right into the ground with his diversity”.
The FAA became a target of Republican condemnation last year after a door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight. Mr Whitaker acknowledged the FAA was “too hands-off” before the incident and vowed to increase its oversight.
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
The five pillars of Islam
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
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TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Countries offering golden visas
UK
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Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
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Canada
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MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
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