20 IS suspects detained in western Türkiye

STORY: 20 IS suspects detained in western Türkiye SHOOTING TIME: May 20, 2024/ File DATELINE: May 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of special operations STORYLINE: Turkish police detained on Monday 20 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) in a large operation in Türkiye's western province of Izmir, local media reported. As part of the investigation conducted by the Izmir Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau, several simultaneous operations were carried out in the Menemen district, according to the state-run TRT broadcaster. Police units seized weapons, organizational documents, and many digital materials during the searches at the addresses, TRT said, noting that the suspects were referred to the courthouse for further procedures. Türkiye, which listed IS as a terror organization in 2013, has faced multiple attacks from the extremist group. In response, Turkish authorities have initiated counter-terro

Turkish police detain 51 IS suspects

STORY: Turkish police detain 51 IS suspects SHOOTING TIME: March 5, 2024 DATELINE: March 6, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: LAW SHOTLIST: 1. various of Turkish police detaining 51 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group in nationwide operations (courtesy of Turkish Interior Ministry) STORYLINE: Turkish police on Tuesday detained 51 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group in nationwide operations, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Yerlikaya said on social media platform X that the suspects were detained in 17 provinces, including Istanbul, Antalya, Gaziantep, and Afyonkarahisar. Türkiye has stepped up operations against IS terrorists after the group attacked an Istanbul church in late January, killing a civilian during Sunday mass. The IS group operates a network in Türkiye, which recruits more foreign members for its activities despite constant counterterrorism operations, according to security sources. The Turkish government designated the IS as a terro

Daily cup of coffee, a luxury for Lebanese amid economic crisis

STORY: Daily cup of coffee, a luxury for Lebanese amid economic crisis DATELINE: June 21, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:57 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Manara 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI TERRO, Visitor 3. various of Issa Assaf's coffee shop 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ISSA ASSAF, Coffee shop owner STORYLINE: Lebanon's financial crisis deprives many Lebanese of their simplest joy: a daily cup of coffee. A daily cup of coffee in Manara, a famous tourist destination situated on the coast of Beirut, are among the favorite activities of people with limited incomes. A cup of coffee in Manara used to cost 1,500 Lebanese pounds, equivalent to 1 U.S. dollar ahead of the crisis, and is now priced at 70,000 Lebanese pounds (0.75 cents), which is less expensive for people with U.S. dollar income and way more costly for people whose salaries are still paid in the local currency. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI TERRO, Visitor "The economic situation is tough. No one can now drink three cups

56 killed, nearly 200 injured as casualties from Pakistan's mosque blast rise

STORY: 56 killed, nearly 200 injured as casualties from Pakistan's mosque blast rise DATELINE: March 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:35 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the blast site 2. various of people being sent to hospital STORYLINE: At least 56 people were killed and nearly 200 others injured in a mosque blast in Pakistan's northwest Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, according to hospital and police officials. Muhammad Asim, a spokesperson for the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where all the injured have been shifted, confirmed the casualties to Xinhua, saying that more than 195 people are injured. Several among the injured are in critical condition, he said, adding that a state of emergency has been declared as the injured are being provided with medicines and blood on an emergency basis at the hospital. STANDUP (English): ALI JASWAL, Xinhua correspondent "Haroon Rasheed, senior superintendent of police operations of Peshawar, told Xinhua that two terro