U.S. and world news for Jan. 25

GDP growth: The Commerce Department said this morning that the nation’s economy continues to grow at a rapid pace. The Gross Domestic Product for the third quarter of 2023 came in at 3.3%, a drop from the previous quarter’s 4.9% GDP growth rate but still  solid growth. For the entire year 2023, the GDP grew at 2.5%, up from the 1.9% growth rate for the year 2022. The fourth quarter of 2023 was the sixth straight quarter there was GDP growth of 2% or more.

FAA investigation: The FAA says it is investigating an incident on Saturday at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport involving a Delta Airlines Boeing 757. The airplane was taxiing for takeoff on a flight to Bogota, Colombia, when its nose wheel fell off. The Boeing plane was manufactured about 20 years ago so the incident does not appear to be related to the loose bolt problems that have been affecting some new Boeing 737 airliners. The 172 passengers and six crewmembers escaped injury.

Gaza shelling: The Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, says that at least 20 people were killed and 150 wounded when Israeli bombs or artillery shells from tanks hit a crowd gathered at a traffic circle in Gaza City today. Gaza officials said the crowd had gathered to pick up humanitarian aid. The U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency today placed the death toll at 12 with 75 injured when a U.N shelter in Khan Younis in southern Gaza was hit by two artillery shells. The Israeli military denies that it fired the shells.

Trump tax break: The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that a form filed with the Internal Revenue Service indicates that Donald Trump plans to use a conservation easement on his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami to claim an estimated $323 million in federal income tax deductions. It’s speculated that such deductions could help offset income from the $375 million sale of Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel in 2022. The Doral Golf Club is on a 184-acre site.

Ukraine investigates: Ukraine’s Security Service says it has opened a criminal investigation into the crash of a Russian military transport that was carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers who were prisoners of war. All on board the plane were killed. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that he will demand an international investigation into what happened. Russia accuses Ukraine of shooting down the plane, a charge Ukraine denies. The Ukrainian soldiers were due to be exchanged for Russian soldiers who were captured by Ukraine.

Singer Melanie dies: The singer Melanie Safka, who performed using only the name Melanie, has died at age 76. Born and raised n New York City, Melanie had been living in Tennessee. She performed at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. Hit songs that Melanie composed and performed included “Brand New Key,” “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” and “Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma.”

Cover photo of Melanie courtesy of Wikimedia Commons