JERUSALEM -- Palestinian militants in Gaza, led by Hamas, released eight hostages, three Israelis and five Thais, on Thursday. But Israel delayed the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners in a swap agreed under the ongoing temporary ceasefire, citing chaotic scenes during the handover.

The hostages were released in two groups. Agam Berger, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier, was freed first. Video showed her, wearing a khaki uniform, emerging from damaged buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza, escorted by Hamas militants, before walking to a Red Cross vehicle. She was then taken to a compound outside Gaza to reunite with her parents. (Israel-Gaza-Hostages)

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WASHINGTON -- Washington D.C. fire chief said Thursday that there are likely no survivors in the mid-air collision of a passenger plane and helicopter near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.

"We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident," John Donnelly, chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, told a press conference at the airport Thursday morning. (US-Collision-Survivor)

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FRANKFURT -- The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday decided to lower key interest rates by 25 basis points.

After the rate cuts, the interest rates on the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility will be decreased to 2.75 percent, 2.9 percent and 3.15 percent respectively, with effect from February 5, the central bank said in a press release. (Europe-ECB-Interest Rates)

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PARIS -- One student was killed, along with around 40 others slightly injured, in a school bus accident that took place on Thursday in northern France, local authorities confirmed.

According to the Chateaudun prefecture in the Eure-et-Loir department, there were about 31 students among the injured. (France-Accident-Student) Enditem

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