Three people have died and two others have been taken to hospital after a news helicopter crashed in suburban Los Angeles, authorities said.

The two people aboard the helicopter, described as “valued friends and colleagues”, were identified as Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw.

The third victim was on the ground when the helicopter crashed but has not been identified.

The aircraft went down shortly before 19:00 local time between two commercial buildings in the Chatsworth neighbourhood, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesperson.

The crash sparked a fire that spread to four vehicles and two storage containers. More than 70 firefighters were sent to the scene, the LAFD said.

The helicopter had been covering a deadly Metro bus collision when it crashed, authorities said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his condolences to the victims’ families on X.

“Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes,” he wrote.

“Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has backed proposals for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member”, as Ottawa seeks closer ties with the bloc amid strained relations with the United States.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, von der Leyen said she wanted to “open the door” to Canada through deeper cooperation across key sectors.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last week called for a “unique alliance” with the EU as tensions with US President Donald Trump continue.

Without directly naming Trump, von der Leyen said closer relations with Canada would be “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength”.

“Partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe. But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system,” she said.

Carney was present in Strasbourg for the annual State of the Union address and is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday.

Trade talks between Canada and the US broke down last month, triggering a series of new tariff measures.

Von der Leyen said the EU and Canada “see the world with the same eyes”, citing shared positions on artificial intelligence, climate change and geopolitics.

“And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. But above all… Europe and Canada believe in democracy,” she said.

She identified energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, cyber security and economic security as other areas where closer cooperation could take place.

The proposal comes as EU member states have also faced trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Von der Leyen also proposed creating a European Security Council that would include the UK and Ukraine, alongside other partners, in response to what she described as growing security risks to the continent from Russia.

“For a long time, we have discussed a leaders’ format focused on the security of our continent, with partners like Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and others involved,” she said.

“This is even more urgent now, given the nature and scale of the risks at play. This is why we will set out our ideas to make a European Security Council a reality.”

One passenger has been killed after an intercity train collided with a concrete mixer truck at a level crossing in Poland.

The train derailed following the crash at Sokolniki Suche, around 100km (60 miles) south of Warsaw, at about 11:20 local time (09:20 GMT).

Around 120 people were on board the train when the collision occurred. National long-distance rail operator PKP Intercity said 20 people were injured, including four who suffered serious injuries.

Reports from the scene said the level crossing was equipped with traffic lights and barriers, while the concrete mixer struck a carriage behind the train’s engine.

The exact sequence of events remains unclear and an investigation is expected to establish how the collision happened.

The incident is the second serious crash at a Polish level crossing in just a few days.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the latest accident as “very serious” and called for tougher regulations governing level crossings.

He said there was a need for the rules to be “radically toughened” to deal with drivers who repeatedly ignore barriers and red warning lights at railway crossings.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.