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67 dead as plane, helicopter collide midair in US

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A passenger plane and a military helicopter collided mid-air near Ronald Reagan National Airport, killing 67 passengers.

According to Al Jazeera, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The aircraft involved were a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as an American Airlines flight, and a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

President Bola Tinubu expressed sadness over the incident, offering condolences to the government and people of United States.

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The Bombardier plane, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, was approaching Reagan National Airport at around 9:00 pm (0200 GMT) after flying from Wichita, Kansas, when the collision happened.

The aircraft involved was a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as an American Airlines flight, and a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, the plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three personnel on board.

US officials said on Thursday that there were likely no survivors.

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“We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly, told a news conference at Reagan National Airport.

“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors,” Donnelly said, adding that 28 bodies had been recovered — including one from the helicopter.

In a post via his verified X handle on Thursday, Tinubu commiserated with the families of the victims, the people of the United States, and all affected by the sad incident.

He wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Washington, D.C.

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“On behalf of Nigeria, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the United States, and all affected by this profound loss. I commend the courageous efforts of first responders and emergency teams for their selfless work in harsh conditions.

“Nigeria stands in solidarity with the United States Government and its People, united in grief and hopeful for a new day.”

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Foreign

34 sustain injuries as 2 buses collide in Barcelona

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Two buses collided on a busy street in Spain’s second city Barcelona on Monday, injuring at least 34 people, four of them critically, local emergency services said.

The four critically injured were taken to hospital, including one who was temporarily “trapped” in one of the buses, emergency services in the northeastern region of Catalonia wrote on social network X.

Officials have not yet released the nationalities of the injured.

The accident happened on Avinguda Diagonal, one of Barcelona’s widest and most significant avenues, not far from the centre of the city.

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It comes as Barcelona and much of Spain were lashed by rain and it snarled traffic in Barcelona on the opening day of the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s largest wireless technology showcase which is set to draw around 100,000 attendees.

According to witnesses quoted by Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia, one of the buses hit the other from behind, which in turn crashed into a tree.

Images posted on social media showed a green and white bus embedded against a white one, with several ambulances deployed nearby.

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After Trump, Zelensky showdown, pro-Ukraine protests erupt across US

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Protests broke out across the United States on Saturday following a tense confrontation between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the White House.

According to The Guardian, the clash, which occurred on Friday, prompted hundreds of demonstrators to gather in cities such as Waitsfield, Vermont, New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston, expressing their support for Ukraine and condemning the actions of Trump and Vance.

The protests were initially planned to coincide with Vance’s visit to Vermont for a ski trip with his family. However, tensions from the Oval Office meeting earlier in the week fuelled further participation.

The Guardian reported that demonstrators in Vermont, including members of the grassroots group Indivisible, held signs reading “Vermont stands with Ukraine” and “International embarrassment,” while many waved Ukrainian flags in solidarity.

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“After what he did yesterday, he crossed the line,” protester Cori Giroux told Vermont Public Radio.

The protest in Vermont took place despite a call from Republican Governor Phil Scott for residents to be respectful towards Vance during his visit.

Vance, who admitted to never having visited Ukraine, reportedly fled to an undisclosed location to avoid the protesters.

The Oval Office meeting, during which Trump told Zelenskyy to consider a ceasefire with Russia or risk losing US support, was widely criticised.

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Trump also accused Zelenskyy of not showing enough gratitude for US military aid and warned that Ukraine’s actions could lead to “World War III.”

Zelenskyy, who has remained in Ukraine despite the ongoing Russian invasion, rejected the suggestion, emphasising that Ukraine could not accept a ceasefire without security guarantees due to Russia’s repeated violations of previous agreements.

The confrontation led to widespread condemnation, with European leaders and officials from countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand voicing their support for Ukraine.

US lawmakers, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, described the meeting as an “ambush” and rallied behind Zelenskyy.

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Protests also took place in major cities across the US. Demonstrators in New York gathered in Times Square, many draping themselves in Ukrainian flags, while in Los Angeles, a pro-Ukraine rally was held outside a SpaceX facility.

“Ukraine wants fair peace. Ukraine wants the war to end,” the group Boston Supports Ukraine wrote on Facebook. “Ukraine wants all of this on fair terms with security guarantees.”

Protesters in Boston, along with others across the country, expressed their desire for the war to end on terms that ensure Ukraine’s security.

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Elon Musk Welcomes 14th Child, Baby No. 4 With Shivon Zilis

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has welcomed his 14th child, this time with partner Shivon Zilis, as they celebrate the arrival of their fourth child together.

Zilis took to her X account to announce the birth of their fourth child, ‘Seldon Lycurgus’. However, she did not reveal when the baby was born.

In her post, she wrote, “Discussed with Elon, and in light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was better to also just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son, Seldon Lycurgus. Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much.”

Musk responded to her post with a simple red heart emoji.

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The two also share twins, Strider and Azure, 3, and daughter Arcadia, 1.

According to People, the announcement comes just days after writer Ashley St. Clair alleged that she and Musk had a son together “five months ago”. She also shared that she had kept it private to protect her child’s safety but felt compelled to speak out after reports surfaced in the media.

“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause,” she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Musk is now the father of 14 kids. According to People, he first became a dad in 2002 with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson. Their first son, Nevada Alexander, passed away at just 10 weeks old. The couple later had twins, Vivian and Griffin, now 20, and triplets, Kai, Saxon, and Damian, now 19.

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