Rescuers facing challenging conditions in dark, icy waters of river: emergency official

Rescue teams working at the site of a tragic mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., are facing difficulties as they continue their overnight search in the dark and icy waters of the Potomac River, the head of the city's emergency department said at a press briefing Thursday.

The latest U.S. media reports say that more than 30 bodies have been recovered from the river following the crash between a passenger plane and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter which occurred near the Reagan National Airport at around 21:00 local time Wednesday.

American Airlines, who was operating the passenger plane, confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the jet. Three soldiers were on board the Blackhawk, according to a U.S. defense official.

About 300 responders have been dispatched as part of the search and rescue operation, which is involving multiple agencies at the federal and state level, John Donnelly, chief of the Washington D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, told the press.

Donnelly described the ongoing mission as a "highly complex operation" and said rescue work is being hindered by the challenging conditions.

"The water that we're operating in is about eight feet deep. There is wind. There are pieces of ice out there, so it's just dangerous and hard to work in. And because there's not a lot of lights [when] you're out there, the divers are doing the same thing in the water. The water is dark, it is murky and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in," he told the media.

Donnelly added that the ongoing search efforts are expected to take several days, given the difficulties facing the rescue and recovery teams at the site.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement that he had been "fully briefed on the terrible accident" and that he was "monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."

He later said in post on social media that the incident was a "bad situation" that "should have been prevented."

Reagan National Airport will remain closed until at least 11:00 on Thursday, while the nearby Dulles International Airport is operating as usual, according to Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Rescuers facing challenging conditions in dark, icy waters of river: emergency official

European Union (EU) countries gave final approval on Thursday to an amendment of the European Climate Law, setting a binding intermediate target to cut the bloc's net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, reinforcing the EU's path toward climate neutrality by 2050.

Under the amended law, from 2036 EU member states will be allowed to count "high-quality international credits" towards meeting the 2040 target, capped at 5 percent of the EU's 1990 net emissions. This means at least 85 percent of the emissions reductions must be achieved within the bloc, the Council of the EU said in a statement.

The credits must be based on credible greenhouse gas reduction activities in partner countries and be aligned with the Paris Agreement, the statement added.

The amended law also delays the launch of the EU's emissions trading system covering road transport, buildings and other sectors, shifting its start date from 2027 to 2028.

The adoption of the amendment marks the final step in the legislative process. The amended regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will apply directly across all EU member states.

The European Climate Law was first adopted in 2021, setting a legally binding target of climate neutrality by 2050 and a 2030 goal to cut net emissions by at least 55 percent from 1990 levels.

EU countries approves 2040 target to cut net emissions by 90 pct