Afghanistan seeks international support as earthquake claims over 1,000 lives

STORY: Afghanistan seeks international support as earthquake claims over 1,000 lives DATELINE: June 23, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:01 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various shots of the disaster area STORYLINE: The Taliban-run administration in Afghanistan has called for international assistance amid ongoing rescue operations following the devastating earthquake Wednesday in the eastern area of the country. The 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Afghanistan including the capital city Kabul. More than 1,000 people have been confirmed dead and over 1,500 others injured in Paktika and the neighboring Khost provinces. Villagers told Xinhua that they were still searching for their loved ones under the debris in the quake-affected areas. The earthquake has left hundreds of houses ruined. Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban-run administration, has sought assistance from the international community. Countries including China, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey have pledged humanitar

Afghanistan announces national budget for current fiscal year

STORY: Afghanistan announces national budget for current fiscal year DATELINE: May 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a conference during which the national budget is announced in Kabul 2. various of the view of Kabul city STORYLINE: Afghanistan on Saturday announced a 231.4-billion-afghani (2.6 billion U.S. dollar) national budget for the 1401 fiscal year on the Persian calendar beginning March 21, 2022. Of the total sum, 203.5 billion afghanis will be allocated for the ordinary budget, and 27.9 billion afghanis for the development budget, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Afghan caretaker government Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi told reporters. The budget was announced following the final review of the cabinet and approval of the Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, according to Hanafi. "This year's budget, whether in the field of education, government staff salaries, defense, or any other parts, will be funded by national rev

Beekeeping key to replace opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

STORY: Beekeeping key to replace opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan DATELINE: April 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:07 LOCATION: Kandahar CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a bee farm in Kandahar province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDUL BARI, Farmer 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): ABDUL BARI, Farmer 4. various shots of a bee farm in Kandahar province 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): MOHAMMAD YAQOOB, Beekeeper 6. various of a bee farm in Kandahar province STORYLINE: The beekeeping and honey production industry in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar has been expanding after long years of insecurity and heavy fighting. Now, it has become an important source of income for locals. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDUL BARI, Farmer "Running a beekeeping farm is a satisfying and profitable career. The honey produced on my farm is pure, and the profitable industry has attracted many farmers to raise bees... harvest honey and sell (them) to local markets." On April 3, the Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada banned in a

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

(220404) -- KANDAHAR, April 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Farmers collect raw opium in a poppy field in Kandahar, Afghanistan, April 3, 2022. The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

(220404) -- KANDAHAR, April 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Poppy pods are seen in a field in Kandahar, Afghanistan, April 3, 2022. The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

(220404) -- KANDAHAR, April 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer collects raw opium in a poppy field in Kandahar, Afghanistan, April 3, 2022. The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-POPPY-CULTIVATION-BAN

(220404) -- KANDAHAR, April 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer collects raw opium in a poppy field in Kandahar, Afghanistan, April 3, 2022. The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

Taliban supreme leader bans poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

STORY: Taliban supreme leader bans poppy cultivation in Afghanistan DATELINE: April 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:04 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (Dari): ZABIHULLAH MUJAHID, Chief spokesman of Afghanistan's caretaker government 3. various of street views in Kabul 4. various of poppy fields STORYLINE: The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. SOUNDBITE (Dari): ZABIHULLAH MUJAHID, Chief spokesman of Afghanistan's caretaker government "As per the decree of the supreme leader of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), all Afghans are informed that from now on, cultivation of poppy has been strictly prohibited across the country. In addition, the usage, transportation, trade, export and import of all types of narcotics such as alcohol, heroin, tablet K (street name for a drug with stimulant effects that often

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-PRESS CONFERENCE-POPPY CULTIVATION-BAN

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-PRESS CONFERENCE-POPPY CULTIVATION-BAN

(220403) -- KABUL, April 3, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Chief spokesman of Afghanistan's caretaker government Zabihullah Mujahid speaks at a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 3, 2022. The Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday banned in a decree the cultivation of opium poppy and trade of opium in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led caretaker government confirmed. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)