Daily News

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter near Reagan Airport, with rescue efforts ongoing. Muriel Bowser, the Mayor of Washington, DC, has opened a press briefing with US officials at the Reagan National Airport. “We are here to brief you on the very tragic events of this evening,” said Bowser. “We know a passenger plane coming to the airport here collided with a military helicopter.” “Our fire department, DC fire and EMS, supported by fire departments and police departments from across the Washington metropolitan region are executing a rescue operation in the Potomac River.”

A plane and helicopter collision has sparked a desperate search and rescue operation in the US state of Virginia. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late on Wednesday that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the airport in Arlington County. News agencies are citing the US Army saying three soldiers were on board the helicopter. At least two bodies have been recovered. All takeoffs and landings have been stopped at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Emergency services are at the scene.

Syria's de-facto leader Ahmed Al Sharaa has been declared the interim president, months after his opposition group toppled the country's long-time president Bashar Al Assad.

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named president for a transitional period, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) has reported. Sharaa was also authorised to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase which will carry out its task until a new constitution is adopted, SANA reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani.

Israeli captive Agam Berger has been handed over to the Red Cross in the Jabalia refugee camp. Dressed in a military uniform, she appeared walking, escorted by Palestinian fighters, through the rubble of a wrecked building in the camp. She then appeared on a stage and waved to onlookers, before getting into a car belonging to the Red Cross.

Investors have poured billions of dollars into artificial intelligence research and development over the past year, hoping to capitalise on this rapidly advancing technology. Generative AI could automate countless tasks and change how many sectors do business. The US has largely led this revolution but now a Chinese rival has emerged. DeepSeek's models are faster, smaller and a lot cheaper. Will investors still be willing to put up billions if a more cost-effective alternative exists? And who is in the best position to benefit from AI's vast potential?

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro is facing a critical moment. Violence near the Venezuelan border, a state of emergency, and US deportation flights have tested his leadership. Can Petro hold onto power and regain the trust of a divided nation?

Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has arrived in Israel. He's set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss the ceasefire and implementing the second phase of the deal. Israeli media is also reporting that Witkoff has visited the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, to see US security contractors that are screening Palestinian vehicles.

The humanitarian aid entering Gaza is providing desperately needed relief to Palestinians after 15 months of Israel's war. But the lifeline provided by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is at risk. An Israeli ban on UNRWA is due to come into effect on Thursday.

At the Plum Village, Europe's largest Buddhist monastery, presenter Amanda Burrell finds out how the teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh are helping people reconnect with Earth. She speaks to climate campaigner Christiana Figueres about the transformative impact that mindfulness and concepts such as interbeing have had on her work, including successfully negotiating the Paris Agreement in 2015. In Sweden, Amanda meets Erik Fernholm and others from the Inner Development Goals, an organisation which has synthesised the latest scientific research to create a roadmap linking inner transformation to systems change. At their lively annual summit, she sees how these ideas are going mainstream, with big businesses such as IKEA and even the United Nations getting on board.