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China: Hundreds of Ducks Spin in Formation on Darkened Roadway

On December 29, 2025, in Zhejiang Province, located in eastern China, a video recorded a surreal nighttime scene in which more than a hundred ducks formed a tidy square formation in the middle of the road. Under the dim streetlights, the birds marched in a slow circular pattern, forcing passing vehicles to stop and give way. Drivers watched as the ducks continued turning rhythmically, appearing completely absorbed in their movement. Their orderly behavior at such a late hour puzzled many who viewed the clip, and the unusual gathering drew significant attention online.

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China: Massive Sandstorm Engulfs City in Xinjiang, Turning Day Into Darkness

This is the shocking moment that a towering wall of sandstorm swept across a city in China, rapidly engulfing buildings and streets as strong winds pushed the dense dust forward. On April 17, 2026, in Xinjiang, China, the video captured a powerful sandstorm advancing toward an urban area, forming what appeared to be a massive moving wall of dust. The sky quickly darkened as the storm rolled in, with visibility dropping sharply. Buildings in the distance were gradually swallowed by the thick haze, while the fast-moving sand created an overwhelming sense of pressure and urgency. The footage showcased how the sandstorm surged forward in waves, covering roads, infrastructure, and entire neighborhoods within moments. According to the local meteorological bureau, wind speeds during the event had reached up to 25.2 meters per second, contributing to the intensity and rapid spread of the sandstorm. The video ended with the city almost completely obscured by the dust, leaving only faint outlines of buildings visible through the thick, swirling sand.

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Power Transmission Lines Triggered a Nationwide Blackout - Iraq

Vehicles run on a darkened street after a power outage in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 11, 2025. A sudden failure in Iraq's power transmission lines on Monday triggered a nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry said. Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Power Transmission Lines Triggered a Nationwide Blackout - Iraq

A girl walks on a darkened street after a power outage in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 11, 2025. A sudden failure in Iraq's power transmission lines on Monday triggered a nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry said. Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Power Transmission Lines Triggered a Nationwide Blackout - Iraq

A boy rides a motorbike on a darkened street after a power outage in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 11, 2025. A sudden failure in Iraq's power transmission lines on Monday triggered a nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry said. Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Power Transmission Lines Triggered a Nationwide Blackout - Iraq

People walk on a darkened street after a power outage in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 11, 2025. A sudden failure in Iraq's power transmission lines on Monday triggered a nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry said. Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Power Transmission Lines Triggered a Nationwide Blackout - Iraq

People walk on a darkened street after a power outage in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 11, 2025. A sudden failure in Iraq's power transmission lines on Monday triggered a nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry said. Photo by Khalil Dawood/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Mass Electrical Outage - Spain

A National Police car drives down a darkened street during the widespread power blackout in the eastern Seville neighborhood. On April 28, 2025, in Seville (Andalusia, Spain). Trains at a standstill, subways closed, road traffic paralyzed, flights canceled, communications partially cut... the Iberian Peninsula suffered an unprecedented blackout shortly after midday on Monday April 28. The causes have not yet been established. Photo by Rocío Ruz/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Mass Electrical Outage - Spain

A fire engine drives down a darkened street during the widespread power blackout in Triana. On April 28, 2025, in Seville (Andalusia, Spain). Trains at a standstill, subways closed, road traffic paralyzed, flights canceled, communications partially cut... the Iberian Peninsula suffered an unprecedented blackout shortly after midday on Monday April 28. The causes have not yet been established. Photo by Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Ethiopia Tigray in Crisis

Selamawit Tadesse stands in a darkened classroom at the Hawelti IDP centre in Mekele, Ethiopia on April 3, 2025, where she lives with ten members of her family. Forced to flee her village near Shire during the early days of the war, she has now spent over four years in displacement. With her baby tied to her back, she endures rising heat, overcrowded conditions, and broken infrastructure. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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China: Atlas Comet Illuminates Zijin Mountain In Jiangsu

On 15 October 2024, Comet Atlas shone in the night sky of Zijinshan Mountain in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. The celestial event unfolded under a darkened sky, as the comet streaked across the heavens like a luminous sprite. Its shimmering light and alternating hues of deep and pale tones created a mesmerizing spectacle. The comet’s mysterious trajectory captivated stargazers and tourists alike. Enthusiasts gathered in awe, their gazes fixed on the enchanting display, which added a touch of wonder to the already breathtaking night view of Zijin Mountain.

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China: Mysterious Lights Move Like Dancing Dragon In Night Sky Over Harbin

On July 29, 2024, residents of Harbin in Heilongjiang, northern China, witnessed an unusual spectacle in the darkened sky. A mysterious object was seen hovering, its movements resembling a dragon dancing across the clouds. The object twisted and turned in the air, captivating onlookers who speculated about its nature. Chinese netizens suggested it might be a phenomenon known as the "Darwin effect," a type of light refraction that made the object appear dragon-like in the night sky.

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China: Strange Waves On River Captured As Sky Darkens In Nanchong, Sichuan

A man captured strange waves appearing on the river when the sky darkened in Nanchong, Sichuan on May 25, 2024. The video was filmed near Jialing River Bridge. The filmer Mr.Du remarked in a local report that he thought it was going to rain at that time. However, the clouds were blown away shortly after, and the sun came out. It didn't rain in his area, but he heard that it rained in other districts.

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North America Awed By Total Solar Eclipse - Washington

Congressional staff watch the solar eclipse from the Speaker's Balcony on the west front of a slightly darkened U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, April 8, 2024. The eclipse, which was visible across nearly all of North American reached a maximum of 87% in Washington. Photo by Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-CLOSING CEREMONY (CN)

(230808) -- CHENGDU, Aug. 8, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A kid waves to the darkened cauldron during the closing ceremony of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)

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Xmas tree in Kyiv

A 12-meter Christmas tree is set up on a square in central Kyiv on Dec. 17, 2022, lighting up a corner of the Ukrainian capital largely darkened by a power outage following Russian missile attacks.

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Xmas tree in Kyiv

A 12-meter Christmas tree is set up on a square in central Kyiv on Dec. 17, 2022, lighting up a corner of the Ukrainian capital largely darkened by a power outage following Russian missile attacks.

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Xmas tree in Kyiv

A 12-meter Christmas tree is set up on a square in central Kyiv on Dec. 17, 2022, lighting up a corner of the Ukrainian capital largely darkened by a power outage following Russian missile attacks.

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Xmas tree in Kyiv

A 12-meter Christmas tree is set up on a square in central Kyiv on Dec. 17, 2022, lighting up a corner of the Ukrainian capital largely darkened by a power outage following Russian missile attacks.

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Total solar eclipse

CAIRNS, Australia - Photo using a fisheye lens shows the entire sky darkened upon a total solar eclipse observed at 6:40 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2012, in the suburbs of Cairns, Australia. The bright spot at bottom C is the sun.

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UN chief hails progress in talks over Ukraine grain exports

STORY: UN chief hails progress in talks over Ukraine grain exports DATELINE: July 14, 2022 LENGTH: 0:03:11 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of UN chief at a press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General STORYLINE: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday hailed what he called "substantive progress" in ensuring the export of Ukrainian food products through the Black Sea. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "Today in Istanbul, we have seen a critical step forward to ensuring the safe and secure export of Ukrainian food products through the Black Sea. In a world darkened by global crises, today, at last, we have a ray of hope -- a ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world, a ray of hope to support developing countries and the most vulnerable people, a ray of hope to bring a measure of much-needed stability to the global food system. More technical work will be needed to materi

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Thousands attend Jerusalem Holy Fire ceremony

STORY: Thousands attend Jerusalem Holy Fire ceremony DATELINE: April 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: Jerusalem CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the ceremony STORYLINE: Thousands celebrated the traditional Holy Fire ceremony of blazing candles at Christianity's holiest site in Jerusalem to mark the eve of Orthodox Easter on Saturday. Tens of thousands of faithful have attended the ceremony in earlier years but coronavirus constraints severely limited attendance on the past two occasions. This year, joyous, shouting faithful crowded together unmasked, holding aloft wads of thin candles bound together to produce thick orange flames that danced inside the darkened Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church is built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem. (XHTV) ****************************** STORY Thousands on Saturday celebrated the traditional "Holy Fire" ceremony of blazing candles at