Morocco: Deadly Flash Floods in Safi After Heavy Rainfall, Dozens Killed

Flash floods caused by sudden rainstorms hit the Moroccan coastal town of Safi on Sunday, December 14, resulting in at least 37 deaths, according to local authorities. The fierce downpour also caused significant property damage, affecting around 70 houses and shops in the town. While rescue teams continue to search for other possible victims, the weather service has forecast more heavy rains for Tuesday, December 16, across the country.

Second Burn Victim Dies from Leon Fires - Spain

Second Burn Victim Dies from Leon Fires - Spain

Forest firefighting teams on August 14, 2025, in Villamontán de la Valduerna, León, Castilla y León (Spain). Today a second volunteer died, Jaime Aparicio, one of the seven injured who remained hospitalized with 85% of his body burned and in critical condition at the University Hospital Río Hortega in Valladolid. He is a 37 year old young man who accompanied the first deceased, Abel Ramos, last Tuesday when they were trying to help in the south of Leon to extinguish the fire that came to the area from the Zamorano municipality of Molezuelas. Photo by Fernando Otero/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

First "Village Super League" final held in Benin

STORY: First "Village Super League" final held in Benin SHOOTING TIME: May 25, 2024 DATELINE: May 26, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: PARAKOU, Benin CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the final of the African "Village Super League" 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): YVES KOBA, Head of the Belle Cite Village in Parakou, Benin 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SHOU XIAOYONG, Head of the 3rd Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin STORYLINE: The final of the first edition of the African "Village Super League" was held in Parakou city of Benin on Saturday. The rural football event, which draws on the experience of the Village Super League from China's Guizhou, was initiated by a China-assisted cotton technology project team and local staff. They leveled a standard soccer field at the project base to satisfy local villagers' passion for soccer. Since the opening at the end of March, this soccer tournament, composed of 12 village teams, has been held on weekends. After fierce competition, the team of Barr

UK students demonstrate Chinese proficiency in global language competition

STORY: UK students demonstrate Chinese proficiency in global language competition SHOOTING TIME: May 10, 2024 DATELINE: May 11, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Chinese Bridge competition in London 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NATHAN EVANS, Student at Pinner High School 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIU JIAYU, Chinese teacher at Pinner High School STORYLINE: The United Kingdom (UK) hosted regional finals for a global Chinese language competition in London on Thursday, with contestants from schools across the country proving their prowess in the language. Students from 37 secondary schools across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competed in the regional finals of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. Altogether 17 students won prizes in the individual competition category while six teams were awarded prizes in the group category. In the group competition, about 60 students from

12 killed, 8 injured in coal mine explosion in SW Pakistan

STORY: 12 killed, 8 injured in coal mine explosion in SW Pakistan SHOOTING TIME: March 20, 2024 DATELINE: March 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the coal mine after the explosion STORYLINE: Twelve laborers were killed and eight others injured after an explosion in a coal mine in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, officials said on Wednesday. The explosion struck on Tuesday night as toxic gas accumulated inside the cave in Harnai district of the province, Abdul Ghani Baloch, chief inspector of mines of Balochistan, told Xinhua. He said that 12 laborers were working inside the mine when the blast happened and eight more laborers entered the mine trying to rescue their trapped coworkers. "Unfortunately, further collapsing of the coal mine trapped them as well," he added. The rescue teams have completed the operation and recovered 12 bodies and eight injured from the mine, he added. The injured people have been shifted to a nearb

112 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israel fires on aid seekers

STORY: 112 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israel fires on aid seekers SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 29, 2024 DATELINE: March. 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Gaza CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of wounded people STORYLINE: At least 112 Palestinians were killed and 760 others wounded by an Israeli attack on civilians waiting to receive humanitarian aid in the west of Gaza City, according to Palestinian medical and security sources. "The Israeli army committed a new massacre against the hungry people who went to the west of the city to get some flour for their families," Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Hamas-run Health Ministry, said in a press statement. Al-Qedra added that the victims were transferred to the hospitals of Al-Shifa, Al-Maamadani, and Kamal Odwan, where medical teams were struggling to treat a number of serious cases with limited capabilities. "Unfortunately, the number of deaths would increase... Most of the causalities were shot on the upper parts of their bodies," Al-Qedra to

Türkiye detains 13 suspects over links to failed coup

STORY: Türkiye detains 13 suspects over links to failed coup SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 21, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: POLITICS/LAW SHOTLIST: 1. various of anti-terrorism police arresting suspects STORYLINE: Turkish police on Thursday rounded up 13 suspects in Istanbul who were at large despite an arrest warrant over their alleged links to a network accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016. The police found that some of the fugitives had stayed at houses that were identified as the cells of the movement led by U.S.-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, according to the private Turkish broadcaster NTV. The teams carried out simultaneous raids at those "cell houses" in an operation in Istanbul and detained 13 suspects, it said. The suspects were allegedly using the Gulen movement's encrypted messaging app ByLock and played an active role within the organization, NTV reported. The Turkish government accuses the Gulen movement of infiltrating the s

Türkiye arrests 37 suspects linked to int'l criminal ring

STORY: Türkiye arrests 37 suspects linked to int'l criminal ring SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 2, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 4, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of teams leaving the police headquarters to carry out operations 2. various of special operations STORYLINE: Turkish authorities have arrested 37 people suspected of being part of an Australia-based international crime syndicate, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Thursday. The gang, known as Comanchero, is involved in drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and other crimes, Yerlikaya said in a post on the social media platform X. The minister said the gang tried to smuggle drugs from different countries and launder the money they made from illegal activities in Türkiye, without revealing when or where the arrests took place. "We will not let organized crime gangs and drug dealers get away with it," Yerlikaya said. Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Türkiye has been gra

More Chinese civilian rescuers join quake relief in Türkiye

STORY: More Chinese civilian rescuers join quake relief in Türkiye DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 0:00:37 LOCATION: KUNMING, China CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Blue Sky Rescue Team members 2. various of quake-hit regions in Türkiye STORYLINE: More members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team (BSR), a Chinese civil relief squad, have joined the rescue and relief efforts in quake-stricken Türkiye. The nine civilian rescuers from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan arrived in Türkiye on Friday. The Blue Sky Rescue (BSR) team, a professional non-profit search-and-rescue organization, are racing against time to search for survivors in the hardest-hit regions. China has sent an array of rescue teams and vital items to Türkiye and Syria after Monday's massive earthquakes and aftershocks. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China. (XHTV)

Japan team wins solar car race in Australia

Japan team wins solar car race in Australia

ADELAIDE, Australia - A solar car of Japan's Tokai University finishes first in Adelaide, Australia, on Oct. 20, 2011, winning a five-day, 3,000-kilometer solar car race across the continent. In the World Solar Challenge race, 37 teams from 20 countries and territories took part.

Chunichi's Cuban infielder Linares retires

Chunichi's Cuban infielder Linares retires

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons infielder Omar Linares (file photo) has decided to retire after being left out of the picture for the next season. Linares, 37, was the core of the Cuban national team for more than a decade and a member of the gold medal-winning teams at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and in Atlanta four years later. He joined Chunichi in 2002.

At least 14 killed in mine blast in northern Türkiye: minister

STORY: At least 14 killed in mine blast in northern Türkiye: minister DATELINE: Oct. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 0:00:37 LOCATION: AMASRA, Türkiye CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of rescuers working STORYLINE: At least 14 workers were killed on Friday in an underground coal mine explosion in the northern Bartin province of Türkiye, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. "An explosion occurred at the minus 300-meter elevation at 6:15 p.m. local time (1515 GMT) at the Amasra Hard Coal Enterprise," Bartin province said in a statement. The rescue teams managed to pull out 14 miners, while at least 49 were still trapped. The mine has intense methane gas, and they have a suspicion of a firedamp explosion, said Mayor of Bartin's Amasra District Recai Cakir. A total of 149 searches and rescue personnel, with five National Medical Rescue Team vehicles, 31 ambulances, and one emergency response vehicle were dispatched to the scene, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. Xinhua News Agency corre

3 killed, 37 wounded as tour bus drops off cliff in NW Türkiye

STORY: 3 killed, 37 wounded as tour bus drops off cliff in NW Türkiye DATELINE: Aug. 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of site of accident STORYLINE: A tour bus rolling off a cliff in Türkiye's northwestern province of Bursa left at least 3 dead and 37 wounded on Sunday, Demiroren News Agency (DHA) reported. The tour bus was driven off the cliff and rolled downwards until hitting a tree, and initial reports indicated that the bus had brake failure, according to the report. Emergency response teams, medical units, and rescue teams have arrived at the scene, and all the wounded have been transferred to the hospitals, said Bursa Governor Yakup Canbolat. He added that the exact reasons for the accident have not been clear yet, and an investigation was ongoing. The bus started its journey from the central province of Kutahya and was heading to the northwestern part of Bursa that oversees the Marmara Sea, said the report. Xinhua News Agency correspon

Int'l Army Games 2022 ends in Russia

STORY: Int'l Army Games 2022 ends in Russia DATELINE: Aug. 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of International Army Games 2022 STORYLINE: The closing ceremony of the International Army Games 2022 was held at the Patriot military-patriotic park in the Moscow Oblast on Saturday. The final of the tank biathlon was held at the Alabino training ground on Saturday afternoon. The Chinese team ranked second in this competition. The International Army Games 2022 kicked off on Aug. 13. The games were held on the territories of 12 countries, including China, Russia and Iran. Over 270 teams from 37 countries and regions competed in the games. This year, the Chinese military sent nine teams abroad to participate in competitions in Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Uzbekistan. The International Army Games, initiated by the Russian Defense Ministry, have served as an international platform for militaries to exchange experience and strengthen cooperation. Xinhua N

3 suspected foreign IS members detained in Turkey

STORY: 3 suspected foreign IS members detained in Turkey DATELINE: May 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Turkey CATEGORY: MILITARY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of special operations police raiding the house where the terrorists lived (courtesy of Ihlas news agency) 2. various of the detained suspect is put in a police car (courtesy of Ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Turkish police detained three suspected foreign members of the Islamic State (IS) group, including a suicide bomber, in Turkey's northwestern province of Bursa, local media reported on Tuesday. Anti-terror teams have been tracking the suspects since 2021, following an operation carried out in Corum in northern Turkey, the Hurriyet daily said, citing a statement from the Turkish Interior Ministry. The digital documents seized at the residence of a suspected IS militant in Corum allowed the teams to launch the operation in Bursa, it added. Hurriyet said one suspect was found to be planning a suicide bomb attack in the country. It is

Chunichi's Cuban infielder Linares retires

Chunichi's Cuban infielder Linares retires

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons infielder Omar Linares (file photo) has decided to retire after being left out of the picture for the next season. Linares, 37, was the core of the Cuban national team for more than a decade and a member of the gold medal-winning teams at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and in Atlanta four years later. He joined Chunichi in 2002. (Kyodo)

Japan team wins solar car race in Australia

Japan team wins solar car race in Australia

ADELAIDE, Australia - A solar car of Japan's Tokai University finishes first in Adelaide, Australia, on Oct. 20, 2011, winning a five-day, 3,000-kilometer solar car race across the continent. In the World Solar Challenge race, 37 teams from 20 countries and territories took part. (Kyodo)