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Snowbound rescue - Romanian rescuers save five Ukrainians who trespassed into snowy Carpathian mountains

Snowbound rescue - Romanian rescuers save five Ukrainians who trespassed into snowy Carpathian mountains

"Mountain rescuers in Romania have saved five Ukrainians who had reportedly crossed the border illegally. Footage captured on Monday night into Tuesday in Maramures shows rescuers navigating the winter snowy terrain and operating a helicopter to airlift one of the group. Authorities were alerted after a group of Ukrainians tried to cross into Romania in harsh winter weather. The area was experiencing heavy snowfall, fog, and temperatures dropping as low as -20°C. Mountain rescue teams acted quickly, using both ground crews and a helicopter. One person was airlifted, while the other four were met by ground teams and walked for 5 hours through heavy snow to safety. Officials said the incident shows the dangers of winter crossings in the Carpathians and the importance of fast, coordinated rescues."

Snowbound rescue - Romanian rescuers save five Ukrainians who trespassed into snowy Carpathian mountains

Snowbound rescue - Romanian rescuers save five Ukrainians who trespassed into snowy Carpathian mountains

"Mountain rescuers in Romania have saved five Ukrainians who had reportedly crossed the border illegally. Footage captured on Monday night into Tuesday in Maramures shows rescuers navigating the winter snowy terrain and operating a helicopter to airlift one of the group. Authorities were alerted after a group of Ukrainians tried to cross into Romania in harsh winter weather. The area was experiencing heavy snowfall, fog, and temperatures dropping as low as -20°C. Mountain rescue teams acted quickly, using both ground crews and a helicopter. One person was airlifted, while the other four were met by ground teams and walked for 5 hours through heavy snow to safety. Officials said the incident shows the dangers of winter crossings in the Carpathians and the importance of fast, coordinated rescues."

Tet in full bloom - Vietnam’s Sa Dec Flower Village dazzles visitors ahead of holiday season with floral extravaganza

Tet in full bloom - Vietnam’s Sa Dec Flower Village dazzles visitors ahead of holiday season with floral extravaganza

"As the Lunar New Year approaches, Sa Dec Flower Village in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, bursts into a breathtaking sea of colour. Footage captured on Tuesday reveals this historic craft village, spanning over 1,000 hectares of ornamental flower cultivation, with around 100 hectares devoted to producing blooms for the upcoming Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Nearly 3,000 households nurture this vibrant living tapestry. Visitors can be seen wandering along narrow paths or gliding by wooden boats through waterways adorned with flowers, all in search of the perfect snapshot. “I found the garden incredibly beautiful, with heart and flag symbols on one side, along with boat rides to admire the flowers. It was truly amazing," said visitor My Linh. Owner Le Thanh Long noted, “This year, thanks to the government hosting the 2nd Sa Dec Flower Festival, we have seen a significant increase in visitors. During peak days of the festival, we receive around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors each day.” Le continued that since the start of the year, traders from various provinces have already pre-ordered 40 to 50 percent of the flowers in this garden. The 100-year-old flower village, renowned as the ‘Flower Capital of the Mekong Delta,’ is celebrated for its vibrant ornamental flowers, traditional cultivation along the fertile banks of the Tien River, and rich cultural heritage. It was recently recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, drawing visitors eager to experience its colourful landscapes and cultural immersion. For generations, local families have perfected the art of cultivating blooms in raised beds above winding canals, creating a stunning patchwork of marigolds, chrysanthemums, and other varieties."

Tet in full bloom - Vietnam’s Sa Dec Flower Village dazzles visitors ahead of holiday season with floral extravaganza

Tet in full bloom - Vietnam’s Sa Dec Flower Village dazzles visitors ahead of holiday season with floral extravaganza

"As the Lunar New Year approaches, Sa Dec Flower Village in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, bursts into a breathtaking sea of colour. Footage captured on Tuesday reveals this historic craft village, spanning over 1,000 hectares of ornamental flower cultivation, with around 100 hectares devoted to producing blooms for the upcoming Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Nearly 3,000 households nurture this vibrant living tapestry. Visitors can be seen wandering along narrow paths or gliding by wooden boats through waterways adorned with flowers, all in search of the perfect snapshot. “I found the garden incredibly beautiful, with heart and flag symbols on one side, along with boat rides to admire the flowers. It was truly amazing," said visitor My Linh. Owner Le Thanh Long noted, “This year, thanks to the government hosting the 2nd Sa Dec Flower Festival, we have seen a significant increase in visitors. During peak days of the festival, we receive around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors each day.” Le continued that since the start of the year, traders from various provinces have already pre-ordered 40 to 50 percent of the flowers in this garden. The 100-year-old flower village, renowned as the ‘Flower Capital of the Mekong Delta,’ is celebrated for its vibrant ornamental flowers, traditional cultivation along the fertile banks of the Tien River, and rich cultural heritage. It was recently recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, drawing visitors eager to experience its colourful landscapes and cultural immersion. For generations, local families have perfected the art of cultivating blooms in raised beds above winding canals, creating a stunning patchwork of marigolds, chrysanthemums, and other varieties."

'We feared for our childrens' lives!' - Aleppo residents return to shell-scarred Sheikh Maqsoud after deadly clashes

'We feared for our childrens' lives!' - Aleppo residents return to shell-scarred Sheikh Maqsoud after deadly clashes

"Residents of Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood have begun returning to their homes after days of deadly clashes and widespread displacement ended with a ceasefire. Footage shows residents walking through damaged streets, past shuttered shops and buildings bearing signs of shelling. “We fled this area because of the shelling. We didn't want, God forbid, a shell to hit our children or our home and kill us all. Thank God, we returned yesterday. The situation is calm now, but we need more security and safety,” said Hassan Abdullah, a local man. Another resident, shop owner Khaled, said the fighting had forced him to leave after his car was damaged. “We left out of fear for our children. My car was hit by shrapnel, so we were displaced. Today we are back, thank God. The situation is stable now, but we hope for electricity and services to be restored,” he said. Not all residents fled during the clashes. Umm Idris, who said she remained in the neighbourhood throughout the fighting, described her decision to stay. “I did not leave the neighbourhood. Everything happened right here; we witnessed it all. I did not leave because death is preferable to me than leaving Sheikh Maqsoud. My home is here, my life is here, and I was born here; that's why I stayed,” she said. The returns follow intense clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forces affiliated with Syria’s transitional government. Both sides accused the other of targeting civilians, with the fighting resulting in deaths, injuries and the displacement of hundreds of residents. On Sunday, the SDF commander said international mediation had led to an understanding aimed at halting the violence. “Through international mediation to stop the attacks and violations against our people in Aleppo, we have reached an understanding that leads to a ceasefire and securing the evacuation of martyrs, the wounded, trapped civilians, and fighters from the Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods to northeastern Syria,” he said. According to reports, at least 107 people have been killed since the escalation began, including 47 civilians, among them eight women and six children, most of whom died in Sheikh Maqsoud. The group also reported casualties in the Al-Midan and Ashrafiyah neighbourhoods, including alleged field executions and the death of a child due to gas suffocation. As many as 59 fighters were reportedly killed, including members of the Syrian transitional government’s Ministry of Defence and Internal Security Forces, with reports of 'bodies being burned' and 'mutilated'. The latest escalation came days after officials from both sides met in Damascus to discuss implementation of the so-called March Agreement, after its deadline had passed, without a reported breakthrough. On March 10, 2025, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to integrate all civilian and military institutions linked to the Kurdish self-administration into the Syrian state by the end of 2025. The agreement had not been implemented at the time of publication, and sporadic clashes between the two sides have continued."

'We feared for our childrens' lives!' - Aleppo residents return to shell-scarred Sheikh Maqsoud after deadly clashes

'We feared for our childrens' lives!' - Aleppo residents return to shell-scarred Sheikh Maqsoud after deadly clashes

"Residents of Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood have begun returning to their homes after days of deadly clashes and widespread displacement ended with a ceasefire. Footage shows residents walking through damaged streets, past shuttered shops and buildings bearing signs of shelling. “We fled this area because of the shelling. We didn't want, God forbid, a shell to hit our children or our home and kill us all. Thank God, we returned yesterday. The situation is calm now, but we need more security and safety,” said Hassan Abdullah, a local man. Another resident, shop owner Khaled, said the fighting had forced him to leave after his car was damaged. “We left out of fear for our children. My car was hit by shrapnel, so we were displaced. Today we are back, thank God. The situation is stable now, but we hope for electricity and services to be restored,” he said. Not all residents fled during the clashes. Umm Idris, who said she remained in the neighbourhood throughout the fighting, described her decision to stay. “I did not leave the neighbourhood. Everything happened right here; we witnessed it all. I did not leave because death is preferable to me than leaving Sheikh Maqsoud. My home is here, my life is here, and I was born here; that's why I stayed,” she said. The returns follow intense clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forces affiliated with Syria’s transitional government. Both sides accused the other of targeting civilians, with the fighting resulting in deaths, injuries and the displacement of hundreds of residents. On Sunday, the SDF commander said international mediation had led to an understanding aimed at halting the violence. “Through international mediation to stop the attacks and violations against our people in Aleppo, we have reached an understanding that leads to a ceasefire and securing the evacuation of martyrs, the wounded, trapped civilians, and fighters from the Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods to northeastern Syria,” he said. According to reports, at least 107 people have been killed since the escalation began, including 47 civilians, among them eight women and six children, most of whom died in Sheikh Maqsoud. The group also reported casualties in the Al-Midan and Ashrafiyah neighbourhoods, including alleged field executions and the death of a child due to gas suffocation. As many as 59 fighters were reportedly killed, including members of the Syrian transitional government’s Ministry of Defence and Internal Security Forces, with reports of 'bodies being burned' and 'mutilated'. The latest escalation came days after officials from both sides met in Damascus to discuss implementation of the so-called March Agreement, after its deadline had passed, without a reported breakthrough. On March 10, 2025, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to integrate all civilian and military institutions linked to the Kurdish self-administration into the Syrian state by the end of 2025. The agreement had not been implemented at the time of publication, and sporadic clashes between the two sides have continued."