Latest news with #Rattansi
Russia Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘No free press' in NATO states – British presenter on RT journalist ban
Neither democracy nor a free press exists in modern European NATO nations, journalist and 'Going Underground' host Afshin Rattansi has told RT. In an interview on Thursday he was asked to comment on the deportation of RT correspondent Chay Bowes from Romania. The journalist was detained upon arrival in Bucharest as he was on his way to cover the Romanian presidential election. The upcoming vote is a re-run, since last year's election was controversially annulled following a shock win by far-right NATO skeptic Calin Georgescu, who ran as an independent candidate. Bowes' arrest and deportation highlight 'the totalitarianism of Western Europe,' Rattansi said. 'The fact is: there is no democracy in these NATO nations because there is no free press. There is no free journalism,' he added. The attacks on the press in Western Europe are aimed at controlling voters' access to information, Rattansi said. 'The importance of the European Union and Britain in clamping down on journalism is to prevent their publics from understanding the issues so they can't cast a vote with an informed opinion,' he said. On the other hand, media companies such as the BBC and Sky News are allowed in Russia, the journalist added. 'They want to detain people like Chay Bowes, who reports for RT, has a show on RT. They want to detain him because they want to stop free press,' Rattansi said.
Al Jazeera
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Plane collides with helicopter midair near Washington, DC
Ronald Reagan national airport halts all takeoffs and landings following midair collision. Published On 30 Jan 2025 A regional jet carrying dozens of passengers and a military helicopter have collided midair near Washington, DC, the United States, raising fears of mass casualties and forcing a halt to all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport. A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while en route from Wichita, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late on Wednesday. 'The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,' the aviation agency said in a statement, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board. US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the 'terrible accident'. 'May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,' he said in a statement. 'I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.' Police and fire services said a multi-agency search and rescue operation was under way in the Potomac River. 'Fireboats on scene,' the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department said in a post on X. Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, DC, said there was an 'enormous response' at the scene of the crash, including emergency vehicles and boats. 'We should be very clear, this is the main local airport serving the Washington, DC, metropolitan area,' Rattansi said. 'We believe that both of those aircraft are in the river,' Rattansi said. 'So that is of enormous concern now.' Video posted on social media appeared to show the two aircraft collide and explode into flames. There was no immediate confirmation of the number of casualties. US Senator Roger Marshall, who represents Kansas, said the aircraft had been carrying 'roughly 60 passengers'. 'My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families. There are no words that can make telling this story any easier,' Marshall said on X. 'I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident.' The Bombardier CRJ700 has a maximum capacity of 78 passengers, according to aircraft brokerage JetSet Group. The US army confirmed that its helicopter was carrying three personnel. The Sikorsky H-60 can carry up to 11 fully equipped soldiers, according to the site
