Border villages in south Lebanon celebrate Christmas season despite ongoing clashes

STORY: Border villages in south Lebanon celebrate Christmas season despite ongoing clashes SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 16, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:27 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people celebrating Christmas season in the border village of Alma Al Shaab 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): PIERRE RIZKALLAH, Resident of the border village Alma Al Shaab 3. various of people celebrating Christmas season in Beirut STORYLINE: Despite the ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army across the Lebanese-Israeli border, people in the Christian border villages in south Lebanon decided to celebrate the Christmas season. In the border village of Alma Al Shaab, which has witnessed heavy Israeli shelling and air raids, many residents were forced to flee north to safer places. The villagers who chose to stay have decided not to abandon their yearly traditions. Pierre Rizkallah is one of them. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): PIERRE RIZKALLAH, Resident of the border village Alma Al Shaab "Desp

Six months on, thousands remain displaced after Türkiye's earthquakes

STORY: Six months on, thousands remain displaced after Türkiye's earthquakes DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:54 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of debris removal work in the earthquake-hit region in Türkiye 2. various of daily life in the container cities in the earthquake-hit region in Türkiye 3. various of construction of new houses in the earthquake-hit region in Türkiye STORYLINE: Nearly six months after deadly earthquakes devastated southern Türkiye, thousands of survivors are still displaced, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised a rapid reconstruction. The powerful tremors have claimed more than 50,000 lives and rendered over a million homeless. More than 227,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, according to government figures. Additionally, 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to the disaster, moving to safer cities in the center-west region, including the capital Ankara, which is 600 km away from the disaster zone. Desp

Iran, Belarus ink deals to boost comprehensive cooperation

STORY: Iran, Belarus ink deals to boost comprehensive cooperation DATELINE: March 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:46 LOCATION: Tehran CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Tehran STORYLINE: Iran and Belarus on Monday set a roadmap for expanding their comprehensive cooperation and signed seven cooperation agreements in the fields of trade, transportation, agriculture and culture. The roadmap was signed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his visiting Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in a ceremony held in Tehran, according to the website of the president's office. The other documents, including one on the transfer of convicts, were signed by senior Iranian and Belarusian officials in the presence of the two presidents. At a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart following the signing ceremony, Raisi said Lukashenko's visit marks a turning point in the expansion of relations between the two countries. He added that desp