China-funded conservatory in Lebanon to be center of attraction in Mideast: Lebanese PM

STORY: China-funded conservatory in Lebanon to be center of attraction in Mideast: Lebanese PM DATELINE: Oct. 7, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:06 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY/POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other officials in the National Higher Conservatory near Lebanon's capital city Beirutvarious of the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian and the Lebanese Culture MinisterSOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAJIB MIKATI, Lebanese Prime Ministervarious of the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian MinjianSOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): QIAN MINJIAN, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanonvarious of the construction of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music STORYLINE: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday said the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music funded by the Chinese government near Lebanon's capital Beirut will be a center of attraction for the Middle East region. Mikati thanked the Chinese government for constructing the "icon building." SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAJIB MIKAT

Lebanon's financial crisis weighs heavily on internet, communication sectors

STORY: Lebanon's financial crisis weighs heavily on internet, communication sectors DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:51 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of people working in a cafeSOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDALLAH EL ZEIN, Manager at Class Mobile ShopSOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMAD FARES, Resident in Beirutvarious of people using cellphonesvarious of communication facilities STORYLINE: Lebanon's financial crisis weighed heavily on the different aspects of life in the country including the internet and communication sectors. Ever since the crisis began, young people started flocking to coffee shops in the country to get their work done as they have been suffering from daily intermittent power cuts and an increase in the prices of diesel. Hence, internet cuts have become more frequent. Meanwhile, employees of Lebanon's state-owned internet provider began an open strike last week that has led to service failures throughout the country, and the trend is expected to continue in the coming

Lebanese vote in parliamentary elections

STORY: Lebanese vote in parliamentary elections DATELINE: May 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:11 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of street view in Beirutvarious of military vehiclesvarious of votersSOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RANDA MNEIMNEH, Local residentSOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AWATEF FAKHOURY, Local residentSOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): RIMA ITANI, Local residentSOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): MICHEL AOUN, Lebanese President STORYLINE: Hundreds of thousands of people flocked on Sunday to polling stations across Lebanon to vote in the country's first parliamentary elections since the Beirut port blasts and the economic collapse. Citizens in different districts all over the country began standing in queues from 7 a.m. amid strict security measures to vote for their preferred candidates and parties. The Internal Security Forces were deployed outside and inside polling stations to ensure the safety of elections and voters, while the Lebanese army took over security in the vicinity of polling centers. SOUNDBITE 1

EU Election Observation Mission not to interfere in Lebanon's parliamentary elections

STORY: EU Election Observation Mission not to interfere in Lebanon's parliamentary elections DATELINE: April 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:32 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of street views in Beirutvarious of a poster of candidatesSOUNDBITE 1 (English): GYORGY HOLVENYI, Chief observer of EU Election Observation MissionSOUNDBITE 2 (English): GYORGY HOLVENYI, Chief observer of EU Election Observation MissionSOUNDBITE 3 (English): GYORGY HOLVENYI, Chief observer of EU Election Observation Mission STORYLINE: The European Union Election Observation Mission to Lebanon 2022 will not interfere in Lebanon's parliamentary electoral process or judge its outcome, Gyorgy Holvenyi, chief observer of the mission said on Monday. He made the remarks at a press conference held in Beirut to present the mission's activities. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GYORGY HOLVENYI, Chief observer of EU Election Observation Mission "We are not here to interfere in the process, we are not investigators. The European Unio