Month: February 2025

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino to tour the Panama Canal, as the Trump administration makes a push for control of the critical canal. This is Rubio’s first international trip as secretary of state and will include stops in other Latin American countries, as well.

The Panama Canal serves as a shortcut between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. And although the U.S. led the construction of the major waterway that around 40% of the world’s cargo ship traffic now moves through, its control was given to Panama in 1999.

Trump has repeatedly stated that China has too much control of the Panama canal, and that the United States needs to be fully in charge of the vital transportation waterway for economic security; Panamanian President Mulino has refuted those claims, however, he stated on Sunday that his country would not renew an agreement to be part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and added that Panama would seek to work with the U.S. on new investments instead, including infrastructure projects. Mulino also reiterated on Sunday during his meeting with Rubio that his country’s sovereignty over the Panama Canal was not up for debate, and said he addressed the China concerns during their talks.

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The six passengers traveling aboard the medical jet that crashed shortly upon takeoff  in Northeast Philadelphia Friday night have been identified. All those onboard the Learjet 55 aircraft, including a pediatric patient who recently finished treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital, were killed in the crash.

A spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said Sunday they were all those on board were Mexican citizens, including the 11-year-old patient, Alentina Guzman Murillo, who was accompanied by her 31-year-old mother Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.  Also killed were Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, 46, and Copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, along with Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, both 41. A person on the ground in a vehicle also died.

A spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital said in a statement: “It’s extremely hard and extremely difficult, those that were involved directly in her care were very aware that she was going to be traveling home and there had actually been a sendoff for her today.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said Sunday (via CBS NEWS) that the number of injured victims increased from 20 to 22 individuals — five remain hospitalized, three of whom are in critical condition.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the medical jet departed from a base in Florida around noon and arrived in Northeast Philadelphia around 2:15 p.m., headed to Springfield, Mo.,with the final destination in Tijuana, Mexico. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters there was no indication of a problem radioed to air traffic control before the crash, which left debris scattered across four to five city blocks near Roosevelt Mall. The NTSB said investigators are still looking for the plane’s cockpit voice recorder.

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