The change of power in the US

Trump's first term
US authorities purge information on climate, diseases and LGBTQ issues

Information on climate change, LGBTQ rights, diseases and inclusion efforts were purged from the websites of several US authorities on Friday evening, US media reports.

According to NPR, the purge is a result of two presidential orders from Donald Trump, one of which aims to stop what is called DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) in the US and the other is aimed at issues of gender identity and transgender people.

The healthcare authorities have, among other things, deleted information on LGBTQ rights and a tool for tracking cases of HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases.

The US equivalent of the Civil Aviation Administration, the FAA, has also, according to AP, removed information about its inclusion efforts. Trump claims, without evidence, that the recent plane crash in Washington DC was a result of such initiatives.

Trump's numbers in the red – lowest support ever

Donald Trump's support among voters is the lowest for any American president since modern polling began in 1953. This is reported by The Times, which has taken note of a survey from the venerable Gallup opinion institute.

The survey subtracts the share with a negative attitude towards the president from the share with a positive attitude. According to this method, John F Kennedy received 66 percent support shortly after his inauguration – the highest ever. Joe Biden received 20 percent. For Donald Trump, the figure is minus one percent.

Within his own party, however, Trump has very strong support: 91 percent have a positive attitude.

Sources: Trump to clean up the FBI next week

FBI employees who worked on investigations against Donald Trump will be fired on Friday next week. This is reported by sources for a number of American media.

Several high-ranking officials in the Justice Department and the FBI have already been asked by the White House to resign by Monday. Those who do not comply will reportedly be fired.

It is still unclear exactly how many people are included in the layoffs. According to CNN, it concerns at least six managers and “dozens” of employees further down the line. According to NBC News, it could be as many as 20 managers.

Trump's tariffs
Trump: “Will I impose tariffs on the EU? Absolutely”

Donald Trump is about to make his threat of punitive tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China a reality starting on Saturday. However, the president does not expect any major market reaction as a result of the measures, he told reporters at the White House on Friday evening. This is reported by Reuters and AFP.

When it comes to the EU, no decisions have yet been made.

– Will I impose tariffs on the EU? Do you want the truthful answer or the political one? Absolutely. The Union has treated us terribly, says the Republican.

Border policy in the US
The White House wants authorities to share data on unaccompanied children

The Trump administration wants to give immigration officials access to a database with information on hundreds of unaccompanied refugee children. The Washington Post reports.

The database was created by an agency responsible for children's health. The list has not previously been shared with immigration or customs authorities for fear that the children's parents would then stay away to avoid arrest and deportation.

Tom Hofman, Trump's head of border policy, tells the newspaper that he does not rule out using the list to arrest the children's parents, but that that is not the main purpose.

- This is about finding the children, he says.

TOP NEWS

Political situation in France
Hope for French budget – may get support from the Socialists

The Socialist parity expresses cautious optimism about the French minority government's latest budget proposal, reports Politico.

This after leaving the negotiations in protest as recently as yesterday.

- Of course we would have liked more. But those who are betting on winning everything often win quite a bit, says Boris Vallaud, the leader of the Socialist Party in the National Assembly.

The statements are interpreted as meaning that the budget could possibly be voted through next week, after many difficulties.

Prime Minister Francois Bayrou formally does not need the Socialists' support to push through the budget, but can be removed via a vote of no confidence if they oppose it.

New elections in Germany
German parliament stops controversial migration law

The German Bundestag has voted against a controversial proposal to tighten migration policy. This is reported by the German Focus.

Earlier this week, the German Christian Democrats broke a long-standing agreement not to give the far-right AfD influence in the Bundestag. Then the two parties jointly pushed through a proposal that meant that asylum seekers could be rejected at the border.

The proposal was voted down with 338 votes in favor and 350 against. The vote is described as a major defeat for the Christian Democrats' party leader Friedrich Merz.

Greenland's future
Almost half of Danes see the US as a threat

Almost 80 percent of Danes oppose the idea of ​​Greenland becoming part of the US, according to a new survey from Yougov that The Guardian has seen. In Greenland, the figure is 85 percent, according to Politico.

Almost half of Danes also say that they see the US as a threat to their country. This is a larger proportion than those who consider Iran or North Korea to be a threat.

Greenland is a self-governing part of Denmark. Donald Trump has made it clear several times that he believes that the area should instead become part of the US.

Middle East Crisis  Ceasefire
Israel releases twice as many Palestinians as promised

Israel will release twice as many prisoners as previously stated during Saturday's prisoner exchange with Hamas. This is stated by the Israeli military to the Jerusalem Post.

The newspaper's report does not give any reason for the higher figure, which is also confirmed by an aid organization for Palestinians captured by Israel, according to TT.

In total, there are 183 people, of whom 150 are to be released in Gaza and 32 in the West Bank. In exchange, Hamas is to release three Israelis according to the agreement.

Elon Musk vs Europe
Musk in Swedish debate – with old survey

In a post on X, Elon Musk comments on Sweden again. He shares a picture of an article and writes: "Almost 80 percent of 'refugees' go on vacation in countries they claim to have fled from..." the post reads.

Expressen reports that the figures given are two years old and were compiled by Novus on behalf of the Bulletin. Hjalmar Strid, opinion consultant at Novus, explains that the figure of 79 percent is correct. But he states that the sample group was small and aimed at all foreign-born people and not just refugees.

– Generally, this applies to people who have been here for a very long time, are citizens and speak Swedish. It has nothing to do with newly arrived refugees. We also cannot see where they come from or whether the conflict is still ongoing, he says.

The plane crash in Washington
The authority closes the flight route – after the crash

The flight route that the military helicopter took before the crash in Washington has been closed indefinitely. This is what the American Civil Aviation Authority tells CNN.

The route is used by government aircraft such as military and police helicopters. There they are allowed to fly at a maximum altitude of 200 feet, approximately 61 meters, above sea level. The video above shows the accident at the exact spot where the helicopter and plane's paths met, according to CNN.

Earlier today, President Donald Trump criticized the helicopter pilots for flying too high.

"It was well over the 200-foot mark," he wrote on social media.

The military helicopter and a regional plane collided in midair as the plane descended for landing. 67 people died in the accident,

Thirteen mysterious seconds – may solve the crash mystery

American Airlines
Thirteen mysterious seconds – may solve the crash mystery

Johan Edgar

Updated 00.45 | Published 00.03

The helicopter pilot confirmed that he sees flight 5342.

13 seconds later, a gasping sound is heard from the air traffic control tower.

In between, the disaster occurs – and possibly the answer to the mystery.

         
          Emelie Svensson: “The worst accident in 16 years”

Just hours after the crash in the American capital, President Trump has already seemed to accuse both the air traffic controllers and the helicopter crew of mistakes in connection with the tragedy that killed 67 people.

He believes that Biden, for “equality reasons”, lowered the qualification requirements for air traffic controllers during his time as president.

Horrible scenes along the river

Trump also questioned why the helicopter crew failed to avoid the approaching aircraft.

Now it is up to the NTSB, the US National Transportation Safety Board, to investigate what went terribly wrong in the air over Washington DC.

According to Trump, Biden lowered the qualification requirements for air traffic controllers during his time as president for "equality reasons".

On Thursday morning local time, when daylight returned, horrible scenes unfolded along the Potomac River.

Parts of the wreckage bobbed in the water. Divers managed to get into the broken cabin of the aircraft. Body parts floated up along the shore on the Virginia side of the river, according to a CBS News reporter on the scene.

Rescue efforts at the wreckage on Thursday morning. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

Figure skaters and hunters on board

The helicopter was upside down in the water, but appeared to be relatively intact. The two military pilots were still strapped into their seats.

American Eagle Flight 5342, flying on a mission for American Airlines, had been in the air for two hours and 30 minutes when the crash occurred on approach to Reagan National Airport.

It was 8:48 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening.

Until the final seconds, the flight from Wichita, Kansas, had been normal.

The flight was nearly fully booked.

60 of the 65 seats on the Bombardier CRJ700 plane were booked by figure skaters, a group returning from a hunting trip and other passengers.

The crew consisted of four other people, two pilots in the cockpit and two cabin crew.

The rescue operation on the Potomac River during the night. Photo: Alex Brandon / AP

13 central seconds

The plane was about to land on runway 33 when the mid-air collision, which was seen by many shocked witnesses in the capital, was a fact.

A military helicopter of the type Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, with three people on board, was on a training mission and flew at low altitude along the Potomac River.

Audio recordings between the air traffic control tower and the traffic in the air around the airport could be crucial in getting an answer to the mystery.

Both the plane and the helicopter were equipped with a black box where all possible flight data and communication within the crew is preserved.

But communication from the air traffic control tower has already been released, CNN reports.

And it shows that 13 seconds passed from the helicopter confirming that it saw the Bombardier plane until they crossed each other's paths and collided in the air.

The crash occurred on Wednesday evening, when a helicopter collided with the passenger plane

“Is the plane in sight”

The communication shows that the air traffic controller was in contact with both the helicopter (PAT 2–5) and the Bombardier plane (CRJ).

– PAT 2–5, do you see the CRJ? asks the air traffic controller.

– PAT 2–5, pass behind the CRJ, he then says.

– PAT 2–5 has the plane in sight, the helicopter pilot confirms.

After the 13 seconds, a gasping sound is heard from the air traffic control tower.

The time in between is still a mystery.

Eyewitness Ari Schulman was in his car on his way home when he saw the collision.

Tilted to the right

– I saw the plane and everything seemed normal at first. It was just coming in over land, maybe 35 meters above the water. Seconds later the plane tilted completely to the right. More than 90 degrees, he tells CNN.

– I could see the underside. It lit up in a bright orange light and there was a shower of sparks underneath it. Then everything went dark.

Trump's newly appointed transportation secretary Sean Duffy says at a press conference that nothing abnormal was detected in the communication between the tower and the two aircraft before the crash.

They are also said to have flown according to a normal trajectory.

New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says that the helicopter crew was "relatively experienced" and on a normal training mission.

All 67 people on board are believed to have died in the crash. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

Staff shortage in the tower

The fact that there has been a previous near-accident at Reagan Airport has been given a lot of attention in the American media. The airspace over the capital is crowded and scores of planes and helicopters pass over the area every day.

Just the day before the accident, another plane was forced to abort a landing at the airport because of a helicopter, writes the Washington Post.

A clue to the disaster may be found in the staff shortage in the airport's air traffic control tower.

The New York Times reports that the staffing level on the night of the accident was "not normal." One person was assigned to do the job of two people during the shift in question.

For the investigators at the Accident Investigation Board, this is not a job like any other.

Not only is the accident the deadliest plane crash in more than 15 years on American soil.

The crash site is about a kilometer from NTSB headquarters. 

The political situation in Nicaragua

Nicaragua's presidential couple gains "absolute power" in the country

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo have taken control of the entire state apparatus through an amendment to the country's constitution, writes AFP.

The change in the law, which the president himself proposed, means that the couple now have the opportunity to coordinate society's institutions, including its legislature, the judiciary and the electoral and supervisory authorities. This means that the couple "consolidate their absolute power", according to lawyer Reed Brody, who is reviewing the situation in the country.

Oreta was once the leader of the leftist Sandinista rebels, but recently he has become increasingly authoritarian. He is now under Western sanctions as a result of his human rights violations.

Expert: “This marks the destruction of the rule of law”

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo have consolidated their “absolute power” in the country after getting an amendment to the constitution passed, according to US lawyer Reed Brody, who is reviewing the situation in the country.

“This drastic change marks the destruction of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua,” he said.

The change in the law came after a proposal by the president himself. The proposal “was approved in its entirety,” according to the country’s National Assembly.
 

Now there is a full-scale political war

 

Friedrich Merz
The firewall against right-wing nationalists is about to fall

Wolfgang Hansson

This is a commentary text. Analysis and positions are those of the writer.

Updated 19.30 | Published 18.29

Quick version

• Angela Merkel has unusually criticized her successor Friedrich Merz for breaking the party's agreement not to depend on the votes of the far-right AfD.
• Merz has received strong criticism both within and outside the CDU because his five-point plan for stricter immigration policy opens up cooperation with the AfD, which was previously taboo.
• The situation has made it uncertain what the CDU's position and future look like, especially ahead of upcoming elections where the CDU is otherwise leading in the opinion polls.

Angela Merkel. Photo: Martin Meissner / AP

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel usually never gets involved in today's politics.

But yesterday she broke away. And this against his successor in the Christian Democratic Party.

This after he broke a taboo not to make himself dependent on the right-wing nationalist AfD.

Now there is full-scale political war in Germany with only three weeks left until the election.

Basically, the election will now be about one thing above all.

How far should one go to keep right-wing extremist parties away from power and influence.

It is a question that is high on the agenda in many countries, not least in Sweden.

But in Germany it is extra sensitive and hot because of the country's experiences during the Second World War when Nazism destroyed democracy and murdered six million Jews.

Since then, it has been unthinkable that right-wing extremist parties could grow strong. But in the last ten years, that truth has been put to an end with the successes of the Alternative for Germany, AfD.

To stop AfD, other parties have entered into an agreement never to cooperate with the party. But the firewall to keep them out of power has been thicker and stronger than that.

No party has even wanted to vote through proposals if they were dependent on AfD votes.

Until last Wednesday, when Merkel's CDU party presented a five-point plan to tighten immigration policy.

The leader and prospective chancellor Friedrich Merz justified it by saying that politicians must now act to stop dangerous people from being able to enter Germany and then stay despite their asylum applications being rejected.

Photo: Michael Sohn / AP

Madness

This follows a number of violent acts in the past year in which asylum seekers or immigrants have carried out mad acts in which a number of people have been killed and injured.

- I don't care who votes for my proposals, as long as there is a change, says Merz.

He wanted the other established parties to jump on the bandwagon, but they felt that his proposal went too far and violated some of the EU's basic rules.

The only other party that voted in favor was the AfD.

In doing so, critics believe, Merz has torn down the firewall and let the AfD in.

Something he denies. Merz still insists that there should be no organized cooperation with the AfD, and he cannot imagine governing with the help of the far-right.

Nevertheless, he has found himself in a real bind.

Even his own party colleague and former Chancellor Angela Merkel condemns Merz's actions. She, who otherwise never usually speaks out about current politics, published a statement on her website yesterday in which she criticized Merz's actions in sharp terms.

- I believe it is wrong to abandon the principle of isolating the AfD and thereby consciously make herself dependent on the AfD's votes in the Bundestag for the first time, writes Merkel.

Internal power struggles

Well aware that her criticism will be used against Merz in the election campaign before the election on February 23.

It is quite remarkable, also considering that the two have been involved in internal power struggles and have never been on particularly good terms with each other.

It is also proof of how sensitive and controversial the whole issue is in Germany.

Germany is the last bastion in Europe where the crackdown on right-wing nationalist parties has so far been rock-solid. Now it looks like they are also about to throw in the towel in the face of political realities. The AfD looks set to become the next largest party after the election.

Friedrich Merz. Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi / AP

The question is how Merz's actions will affect the CDU in the three weeks remaining until election day. The party is clearly leading in opinion polls by around 30 percent but has lost some ground in recent weeks.

Merz wants to stop the decline by becoming even tougher on asylum policy and thereby prevent right-wing voters from instead going to the AfD.

But now he risks losing the more moderate CDU voters who think the proposals for a stricter asylum policy are too harsh.

A sign of this is that several CDU members voted against the bill when it was to be adopted in the Bundestag. The bill thus fell, which was a defeat for Merz.

Forced deportation

The bill meant that Germany would no longer let in any asylum seekers at the border at all. Something that is in clear violation of the rules the EU agreed on in the new migration pact that was hammered out as recently as last summer.

In addition, all asylum seekers who are now in Germany will be locked up in detention once they have received a deportation order. Asylum seekers who commit crimes should be forcibly deported.

The only way to pass these proposals into law was to rely on the AfD's votes. But even that was not enough because of the internal rebellion.

Even if Merz wins the election, he cannot govern on his own. He will have to enlist the help of either the Greens or the Social Democrats, SPD. Or both.

But will they want to govern with him after he has, in their eyes, demolished the firewall?

Otherwise, the CDU leader may be forced to go even further and govern with the help of the AfD.

What happens in Germany will not only determine whether the firewall against right-wing extremism can be saved, but also what Europe's future migration policy will look like.

If Germany closes its borders, what will the rest of Europe do? The migration pact risks collapsing like a house of cards.

Nu råder det ett fullt politiskt krig

Friedrich Merz

Brandväggen mot högernationalister på väg att falla

Wolfgang Hansson

Detta är en kommenterande text. Analys och ställningstaganden är skribentens.

Uppdaterad 19.30 | Publicerad 18.29

Angela Merkel. Foto: Martin Meissner / AP

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Washington plane crash

Very experienced pilots – were on a routine mission

The military helicopter that crashed with the domestic flight in Washington DC was crewed by three experienced pilots who were on a routine training flight in familiar territory, writes Bloomberg.

The crew pilot, who was in command, had more than 1,000 flight hours behind him. This is a lot because helicopter pilots generally fly about two hours at a time, according to Jonathan Koziol, who is responsible for personnel.

The co-pilot, who was the one who underwent an assessment, was also experienced with 500 flight hours. The third person sitting in the back was also “very familiar with the area and the route”.

– They have flown these routes before, says Koziol.

Investigators are investigating, among other things, whether the crew wore dark glasses or not during the flight.
 

Black boxes found – hope to provide answers

The plane's two black boxes have been found after the plane crash at Reagan Airport in Washington DC, the US aviation safety authority NTSB told CNN.

The boxes are hoped to provide answers to what really happened when a domestic flight and a helicopter collided and crashed. They contain a voice recorder, which records sounds from the cockpit, and a flight recorder that records the plane's altitude, speed and direction, among other things.

At the time of the accident, there was only one air traffic controller on duty, even though two people are normally supposed to do the job together, according to an internal report obtained by the New York Times. All 67 people on board both the plane and the helicopter died in the accident.

 

Olympic medalist mourns the dead: "It's heartbreaking"

The figure skating world is in mourning after several competitors in the sport died in the Washington DC plane crash, several media outlets report. Six of the dead were connected to The Skating Club of Boston, which is the home club of former star skater Nancy Kerrigan.

“It’s heartbreaking,” she says.

The double Olympic medalist – bronze in 1992 and silver in 1994 – held a tearful press conference at the club’s facility.

“We just wanted to be here and be part of our community.”

Two young skaters, their mothers and two coaches, as well as former Russian world champions Evgeniya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were on board the domestic plane that collided with a helicopter and then crashed.

Latest news

The shift in power in the US  The future of NATO
Hegseth in conversation with Rutte: Wants to see a more effective NATO

NATO members should increase their defense spending. That is the conclusion after an initial telephone conversation between the newly appointed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“They discussed their shared commitment to building a more effective NATO alliance,” the Pentagon wrote in a press release.

The EU countries that are members of NATO will probably decide to raise the two percent target at a summit in June, European Council President Antonio Costa told Reuters.

Donald Trump wants to see five percent of GDP, a level that neither the US nor any other NATO country meets today and that analysts believe will be difficult to reach.

Security around the Baltic Sea
Norway stops ship – suspected of involvement in cable breach

A ship suspected of having been involved in cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea has been stopped and brought to port in northern Norway, Norwegian police announced in a press release, according to several media outlets.

The ship, Silver Diana, has a Russian crew but is Norwegian-owned. The ship's route is between Saint Petersburg and Murmansk, according to Troms police district, writes GP.

The ship is suspected of involvement in the cable sabotage that recently took place in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Latvia.

The police are on board to conduct a search, hold interviews and secure evidence. The shipping company denies any wrongdoing, according to Norwegian TV2.

Russian invasion  The fighting
NATO: Russia planned to assassinate defense chiefs

Russia planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of the German defense group Rheinmetall, NATO confirms to Dagbladet.

According to NATO Deputy Secretary-General James Appathurai, the Russian sabotage campaign had extensive plans to derail trains, start fires, attack politicians' properties and threaten to attack European industrial leaders.

- Papperger was one of them, but there were also other targets, he says.

The US quickly warned Germany about the assassination plans when they received information about them, CNN reported this summer. However, it is only now that NATO has confirmed the information.

US: Jihadist leader killed in Syria - "precision strike"

Muhammad Salah al-Zabir, who has been the leader of an al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group in Syria, has been killed by US military.

"US forces carried out a precision airstrike in northwestern Syria," the US military wrote in a statement according to AFP. The operation reportedly took place on Thursday.

al-Zabir's organization, Hurras al-Din, announced a few days earlier that it was ceasing all activities at the behest of the newly appointed president.

 

Economy

Trump's First Term
Trump's China Tariffs Could Hit Japan Hard

A trade war between the US and China would hit Japan's economy hard, warns the country's chief economist Tomoko Hayashi.

Among other things, she highlights how Japanese exports fell sharply and saw their worst years last time Donald Trump was president.

- Having learned from previous experiences, some Japanese companies have already taken countermeasures, such as adjusting supply chains and storing inventory, she tells Bloomberg

Trump's tariffs
Trump repeats tariff threat: "China will pay too"

Trump continued late on Thursday to threaten 25 percent trade tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Reuters reports.

- We may or may not do it, he told reporters, adding that a decision would likely come later that evening.

Previously, Trump has said that the tariffs will be implemented starting Saturday if the countries do not stop the influx of migrants and fentanyl into the United States.

The president also said that he is considering new tariffs on China, which he accuses of sending fentanyl to the country and causing "hundreds of thousands of deaths."

- So China will also have to pay tariffs for that and we are working on it, Trump said, according to the news agency.

The indexes on Wall Street turned sharply down on Trump's statements, but recovered most of it before the close.

Tesla's Future
Analysis: Be careful with owning Tesla shares

Tesla's report was clearly weaker than market expectations, and it remains to be seen how the electric car manufacturer will be able to position itself when competition intensifies.

DN's Jonas Fröberg points out that CEO Elon Musk's increasingly political appearance poses a risk and that the Western world is starting to distance itself from him.

“This makes Elon Musk even more dependent on the world’s largest and fastest-growing electric car market: China,” he writes.

Jonathan Weber at Seeking Alpha writes that the fact that Tesla’s operating profit fell by 20 percent indicates problems with its core business. At the same time, the valuation is high, and the return on free cash flow is minimal.

“I recommend that you avoid Tesla’s stock until operational improvements occur,” he writes.

US climate policy
Trump’s policies risk hitting 40 percent of Tesla’s profits

Elon Musk’s Tesla could lose a large revenue stream if Donald Trump makes it a reality to scrap various climate regulations and incentives, reports Bloomberg. Today, Tesla is selling emissions rights to a number of competitors who have not come as far in the electric car race and therefore need the emissions rights to meet their climate requirements.

According to a calculation made by JP Morgan Chase, up to around 40 percent of Tesla's profit comes from emissions rights, depending on how far Trump goes in his political plans.

Yesterday, Tesla reported profit growth of 2.8 percent, which was below analysts' expectations of 8.5 percent.

The development of AI
Several countries want to question Deep Seek

Authorities in several countries are questioning how the Chinese AI challenger Deep Seek handles personal data, writes TT.

Among other things, South Korean authorities state that they are demanding answers about how the chatbot uses personal data, writes Reuters. The issue has also been raised in France, Italy and Ireland.

Thailand the land of twilight ( ??????)

Thai E-News

 

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The shift in power in the US

Trump's first term
Analysis: Trump's Guantanamo plans arouse disgust – but he looks tough

There are two good reasons why Donald Trump wants to lock up illegal migrants at the Guantanamo base. This is what CNN's Stephen Collinson writes in an analysis.

Firstly, there is plenty of space at the base, which has already been used to house people on the run. Secondly, Guantanamo's frightening reputation makes Trump look tough.

"The president has made a big deal out of plans to re-establish the migrant facility, painting a picture of a terrible fate awaiting the migrants who are sent there"

But the tough tone that was intended to impress at home has also aroused disgust abroad, not least in Latin America, writes The Guardian's Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips.

"Many see it as an attempt to demonize undocumented migrants by mixing them with the suspected terrorists previously detained at Guantanamo."

There are two good reasons why Donald Trump wants to lock up illegal immigrants at the Guantanamo base. CNN's Stephen Collinson writes in an analysis.

First, there is plenty of space at the base, which has already been used to house people on the run. Second, Guantanamo's frightening reputation makes Trump look tough.

"The president has made a big deal out of plans to reopen the migrant facility, painting a picture of a terrible fate awaiting the migrants sent there."

But the tough tone that was intended to impress at home has also aroused disgust abroad, not least in Latin America, writes The Guardian's Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips.

"Many see it as an attempt to demonize undocumented migrants by mixing them with the suspected terrorists previously detained at Guantanamo."

Trans soldiers take on Trump's ban

A group of transgender soldiers is challenging Donald Trump in court, reports ABC. This follows his presidential order to exclude them from the defense. Their argument is that the order discriminates against transgender people based on their gender in violation of several laws.

–We have served openly for almost a decade and proven that every argument about why transgender people should not serve is false, says Commander Captain Emily Shilling to NBC.

She has served as a fighter pilot for 20 years and has undergone gender-affirming treatment in the meantime.

– Our medical costs are minimal, our absence is minimal, and there is no effect on cohesion and combat readiness, she says.

More than 4,000 transgender people serve in the US defense, according to ABC.

Greenland's future
Rubio on Trump's bid for Greenland: "No joke"

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is repeating President Donald Trump's demand to buy Greenland, Politico reports.

- These talks will happen. It's no joke, he says on the radio channel SiriusXM.

If the US does not take control of Greenland, China will, Rubio argues in the radio interview. He claims that China could create a basis for military outposts on the island through future commercial investments.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US tells Bloomberg that the allegations are "completely unfounded".

Violence in Congo-Kinshasa

M23 on the movement's goal: "Take power and lead the country"

The rebel movement M23's goal is to overthrow the Congo-Kinshasa government and take over the government. This is what Corneille Nangaa, one of the movement's political leaders, told the AP.

- We want to go to Kinshasa, take power and lead the country.

After taking the city of Goma in eastern Congo-Kinshasa earlier this week, the rebels have now begun to advance south. However, they are still more than 1,500 kilometers from the capital Kinshasa.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tells AFP that they are "deeply concerned" by the reports of M23's advances.

Rwanda's President: We are ready for confrontation

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame says he is ready for a "confrontation" after accusations in recent days that he supports the M23 rebels in Congo-Kinshasa.

According to Kagame, the accusations are false, but a number of countries and organizations - including the UN - believe that Rwanda's involvement is beyond reasonable doubt.

Congo-Kinshasa's President Félix Tshisekedi announced late Wednesday evening that a counter-offensive had been launched against the M23 rebels in the eastern parts of the country, near the border with Rwanda.

- A strong and coordinated response against these terrorists and their sponsors has been launched.

 

Middle East Crisis Ceasefire

Israel releases prisoners – despite reports to the contrary

The Palestinian prisoners whose release was postponed by Israel earlier today have regained their freedom in the West Bank. This is reported by AFP's correspondent in the area.

It was earlier today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the prisoners would not be released, after what he described as chaotic scenes in connection with the release of the Israeli hostage.

The statement drew harsh criticism from Hamas, which claimed that the mediators should act.

Hamas: Israel breaks the agreement – ​​mediators must act

A Hamas spokesman calls on the mediators to act. This after Israel announced that it will not release 110 Palestinian prisoners today. This is reported by several media.

Israel had said earlier in the day that the release was paused due to chaotic scenes in connection with the release of Israeli and Thai hostages by Hamas earlier today.

According to Reuters, Hamas has been informed by the International Committee of the Red Cross that Israel will release the Palestinian prisoners later on Thursday. The information has not been confirmed by either Hamas or Israel.

Israel postpones release of Palestinian prisoners

Israel is postponing the release of Palestinian prisoners, writes AFP, referring to “military radio”. This is stated to apply “until further notice”.

According to Reuters, it is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who says that the release of Palestinians should be postponed until the hostages can be guaranteed a safe handover.

The eight hostages released from Gaza earlier today are now on Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military. According to the agreement, 110 Palestinian prisoners are to be released in connection with the release of eight hostages.

The five Thai citizens who have been released are Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak. Thai officials are to meet them at a base near Gaza.

The Israeli hostages released are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, and Gadi Moses, 80.

Washington plane crash

Congress approves increased flight volume despite warnings

The US Congress voted last year to increase traffic at Reagan Airport later this year, despite warnings of increased accident risk. The New York Times reports this after the plane crash on Thursday night in which 67 people died.

“The last thing we want is for something terrible to happen and then people to stick a microphone in our faces and say: You were warned and you voted for this anyway,” said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine during the debate last year.

The changes decided at the airport, which is already one of the busiest in the country, will take effect in the coming weeks.

In 2023, incidents where planes came close to colliding occurred several times a week at almost every major airport in the country, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The number was more than halved last year, writes Time. At Reagan Airport, there were several near-misses between planes last year.

A lone air traffic controller on duty during the plane crash

A single air traffic controller was on duty during the plane crash in Washington, even though two people are normally supposed to work together. This is according to an internal report that the New York Times has read.

“The staffing in the air traffic control tower was not normal for the time of day and the volume of traffic,” the preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration states, the newspaper writes.

Normally, one air traffic controller would have been responsible for helicopters and another for airplanes, according to the report.

A total of 67 people were on board the plane and the helicopter that crashed late Wednesday night. None of them survived.


Trump blames efforts at diversity for the crash

President Donald Trump claims that the diversity efforts of Democratic representatives are behind the plane crash in Washington. He said this during a press conference after declaring a minute of silence for the dead.

–We put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put politics first. Air safety is very important, he says.

– What evidence have you seen that diversity initiatives are behind the accident? asks a journalist.

– They may have, Donald Trump replies and continues:

– We will investigate what happened. We have to recruit the very best and brightest to be air traffic controllers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance all begin by praising the president's leadership since the crash and emphasizing that diversity in their areas of responsibility is over. 

Crash report: Could have been avoided

American Airlines
Minister of Transportation: "The crash could have been absolutely avoided"
Information: The helicopter did not respond to air traffic controllers

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 17.16 | Published 15.51

On published audio files, you can hear how the helicopter is warned about the aircraft in Washington.

But the air traffic controllers did not receive a response to the warning.

Moments later, the crash occurred, killing 67 people.

Emelie Svensson: "The worst accident in 16 years"

American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas crashed into the Potomac River in Washington DC last night, Swedish time.

The aircraft collided with a military helicopter with three people on board.

The accident occurred during the plane's approach to Ronald Reagan Airport.

The Washington Fire Department does not believe anyone on the plane or helicopter survived the crash.

That means 67 people died in the crash.

This was stated by John Donnelly, the fire chief in Washington, at a press conference.

John Donnelly. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

No response

US authorities will now investigate how the accident could have happened.

In audio files, published online by LiveATC.net, you can hear the communication between air traffic controllers in Washington and air traffic.

In the audio file, you can hear how the military helicopter is warned about the plane heading towards Ronald Reagan Airport.

But there is no response from the helicopter.

Then the collision occurs.

At a press conference that ended at 2 pm Swedish time, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the crash "absolutely could have been avoided".

Was there “standard communication”?

He said the helicopter was on a training mission, but that doesn’t mean the pilot was inexperienced.

– I have no information on how experienced the military pilot was, he says.

According to Duffy, there was “standard communication” between the plane and the military helicopter before the crash.

Rescue operation at the wreckage in the Potomac River on Thursday morning. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

When asked if the plane was aware that there was a helicopter in the area, Duffy replied:

– I would say the helicopter was aware that there was a plane in the area.

The witness: “The sky lit up”

Several eyewitnesses have told how they perceived the situation.

Ari Schulman told NBC Washington that he saw the accident while driving on the George Washington Parkway that runs along the airport.

He said the plane's approach looked perfectly normal until he saw the plane swerve sharply to the right, with sparks below it lighting up the entire underside of the plane.

That's when he realized something looked "very, very wrong."

        

          

         The crash was caught on surveillance cameras.

         1 / 2Photo: AP

Having seen planes land there before, he said the underside of the plane shouldn't have been visible in the darkness.

The sparks went from the plane's nose to its stern.

Jimmy Mazeo told the BBC he saw the crash while having dinner with his girlfriend in a park near the airport.

He saw the entire sky lit up with a white light. He said planes that flew into Ronald Reagan Airport afterward appeared to be flying in "irregular patterns."

Photo: Paul Wallander 

Political situation in Norway

Norwegian Prime Minister: New government in place next week

A new Norwegian government, without the defected Centre Party, will be in place next week. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre promises this during a press conference, reports VG.

The Prime Minister also rejected speculation that the crisis could mean that he is forced to resign as leader of the Labour Party.

– Here I am, so I am not gone, he says.

The Centre Party announced earlier in the day that they are leaving the government in protest against the introduction of new EU rules for the electricity market in Norway.

The Labour Party currently looks set to continue governing Norway as a minority government until the next election in September.

Norwegian government collapses after quarrel: “Enough is enough”

The Norwegian government collapses after Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum chose to leave the cooperation, reports VG. In an interview with the newspaper, he explains that they do not want to give more power to the EU.

– We say that enough is enough, this is the limit, he says.

The leader of the Centre Party and the leader of the Norwegian People's Party, also Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, have not been able to find a solution to the differences of opinion regarding the EU's fourth energy package. The Labour Party (AP) wanted to partially adopt the package while the coalition partner, the Centre Party (SP), wanted to say no.

It is unclear what the rift means for Støre's time as prime minister, according to NTB. The AP could govern as the sole government party in a minority position.
 

Government crisis in Norway – the Centre Party is expected to leave

The Centre Party (SP) will most likely leave the Norwegian government during the day, according to information to several Norwegian media.

The party has previously opened up about quitting due to divided opinions in the view of the EU's fourth energy package among the government parties.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre from the Labour Party (AP) is sitting in a meeting with his own party board this morning to inform about the development. He has previously urged the Center Party to remain in the coalition.

Plane crash in Washington

Trump claims diversity is behind the crash

President Donald Trump begins the ongoing press conference on the Washington plane crash by announcing a minute of silence for the victims.

– Our prayers are with you, he says.

Trump says his administration has “strong views” about what happened.

– Over the years, we have seen things like this happen, and then the investigations do not yield results. We are going to find out how this tragedy could happen and make sure that nothing like this ever happens again, he says.

He then accuses his Democratic representatives Barack Obama and Joe Biden of lowering the standard for aviation safety. He says that diversity initiatives are behind the recruitment of people with “severe intellectual disabilities”.

– What evidence have you seen that diversity initiatives are behind it? asks a journalist.

– They may have, Donald Trump replies and continues:

– We are going to investigate what happened. We have to recruit the very best and the brightest to be air traffic controllers.

A total of 67 people were on board the plane and the helicopter. No one is believed to have survived.

Transportation Secretary: Crash could have been prevented

The plane crash in Washington DC could have been prevented and thus avoided. This is what US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says, CNN reports.

At a press conference on Duffy's second day in office, he says that both the plane and the helicopter followed their normal flight patterns before the helicopter is believed to have come in the way of the plane and they collided.

- We are waiting for all the information to be collected, but based on what I have seen so far, do I think this could have been prevented? Absolutely, says Sean Duffy in MSNBC's video from the press conference.

A total of 67 people were on board the plane and the helicopter. No one is believed to have survived, says rescue chief John Donnelly.

Rescue chief: No survivors – there were 67 people on board

No one appears to have survived the plane crash in Washington DC, rescue chief John Donnelly said at a press conference. A total of 67 people were on board the plane and helicopter that crashed early this morning, Swedish time.

– We do not believe there are any survivors of the accident, he says.

So far, more than 28 bodies have been recovered from the river in which both the plane and the helicopter crashed. It is still unclear what caused the collision.

 

The development of AI

 

Analysis: Deep Seek changes everything – AI can become an asset for the climate

The Chinese AI model Deep Seek can change everything we know about climate change. Justin Worland makes this rather bold statement in an analytical text in Time.

The reason is simply that the new model uses far less energy and computing power than its competitors. According to Worland, it has previously been taken for granted in large parts of the tech world that the development of AI will require a lot of energy – and thus large emissions. This in turn has limited the total climate benefit of the new technology.

“If Deep Seek’s promises prove to be true, those assumptions may turn out to be completely wrong,” writes Worland.

In The Times Business, Juliet Samuel writes that while Deep Seek appears to have forgotten to factor in some expenses when arriving at the astonishingly low development cost of its language model, it nevertheless suggests that even the view of the US leading AI development has been put to rest.

“We can only hope that this will be a defining moment in the slow awakening to the reality that China is not just catching up in advanced technology – in many areas it has taken the lead.”

Violence in Congo-Kinshasa

Rwanda's call: Negotiate peace with M23

Rwanda is urging the Congolese government to begin peace talks with the rebel group M23, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told Reuters.

- Now that Goma has fallen, a way out is needed, and this is the only remaining solution.

This week, the M23 captured the city of Goma on the border with Rwanda. According to Congo-Kinshasa, as well as a number of Western countries and the UN, it was done with the support of troops from Rwanda.

Congo-Kinshasa President Felix Tshiekedi has previously refused to negotiate directly with the M23, which the government considers a terrorist organization.

Both the M23 and Rwanda deny any cooperation between them.

Insecurity in occupied Goma: “This is not good”

There is great uncertainty in the city of Goma in Congo-Kinshasa after it was taken by the rebel group M23. This is reported by Sky News.

– It is not good for my family. It is not good for me – we do not know what will happen next, a man tells the TV channel's correspondent.

At the same time, rebel forces were met during the day by seemingly spontaneous applause from other Goma residents.

The rebel group M23 is widely believed to be supported by neighboring Rwanda – and the group's successes in the border city of Goma have raised concerns about an escalating conflict. However, this is denied by Willy Ngoma, the M23 spokesman in Goma.

– We are a Congolese army and we are Congolese. We are fighting for justice and for a noble cause. We are not getting any help from Rwanda.