Zoo animals in Gaza suffer from poor conditions amid ongoing conflict

STORY: Zoo animals in Gaza suffer from poor conditions amid ongoing conflict SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 20, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:36 LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the zoo 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo 3. various of the zoo 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo 5. various of the zoo STORYLINE: Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, zoo animals in the Gaza Strip have also been suffering from poor living conditions. In Rafah city in the south of Gaza, a zoo, housing many wild animals, was damaged by an Israeli airstrike that attacked a nearby residential house a few days ago. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo "The conditions inside the zoo are very difficult amid the ongoing Israeli strikes. I have found some chimpanzees and monkeys that have died. The animals have been suffering from a lack of medicines and veterinary treatment because no doctor can come here to treat

Palestinians fear escalating settlers' attacks after Huwara shooting

STORY: Palestinians fear escalating settlers' attacks after Huwara shooting DATELINE: March 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:39 LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine CATEGORY: MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of streets in the Palestinian town of Huwara 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): FIRAS DUMAIDI, Resident of Huwara 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JOMAA TAYEH, Palestinian official in Huwara 4. various of streets and the Israeli army in Huwara STORYLINE: The Israeli army on Saturday sealed off the Palestinian town of Huwara, closed all stores and deployed dozens of soldiers in the streets to prevent the residents from moving. The blockade came following a drive-by shooting attack that wounded two Israeli soldiers in Huwara. Commenting on the latest shooting, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said "it is time to restore order there ... or the next attack is only a matter of time." Local eyewitnesses told Xinhua that groups of settlers tried on Saturday night to attack the northern parts of the town, but the Israeli soldiers

Lebanese celebrate New Year despite hardships

STORY: Lebanese celebrate New Year despite hardships DATELINE: Jan. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:35 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of fireworks celebration in Beirut 2. various of people celebrating the New Year 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KHALED JOMAA, Local resident 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): DANI, Local resident 5. various of the celebration 6. various of the security meeting on the New Year eve 7. various of the security forces STORYLINE: Hundreds of Lebanese took to the streets on New Year's eve to celebrate the occasion together despite the tough economic situation in the country. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KHALED JOMAA, Local resident "We came here to celebrate with other people. Because of the security situation, there is nothing to do in the country on other days except for today." SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): DANI, Local resident "We came here to be happy with our friends despite the tough circumstances and the living conditions." Earlier this month, Lebanese caretaker Interior Minister Bassa

Lebanese sweet makers stick to profession amid economic crisis

STORY: Lebanese sweet makers stick to profession amid economic crisis DATELINE: Oct. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:07:44 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Mirna al-Gharamti making lokum 2. SOUNDBITE 1(Abrabic): MIRNA AL-GHARAMTI, Lokum maker 3. various of Mirna al-Gharamti making lokum 4. SOUNDBITE 2(Abrabic): MIRNA AL-GHARAMTI, Lokum maker 5. various of Mirna al-Gharamti making lokum 6. various of Maarouf Jomaa making lokum 7. SOUNDBITE 3(Arabic): MAAROUF JOMAA, Lokum maker 8. various of Maarouf Jomaa making lokum 9.SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): MAAROUF JOMAA, Lokum maker STORYLINE: As Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis impacting various sectors of the economy, several professions are trying to adapt to the dire repercussions of the multifaceted crisis, such as hand-made "Raha." "Raha", traditional sweet lokum cubes in Lebanon, are often distributed at mosque entrances or in sealed boxes to the poor, or in honor of a deceased loved one. Mirna al-Gharamti is

Lebanon allows 10-day free entry to cultural attractions, museums

STORY: Lebanon allows 10-day free entry to cultural attractions, museums DATELINE: May 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:05:55 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of people walking in the National Museum of Beirut 2. various of visitors and statues at the museum 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYMAN JOMAA, Lebanese citizen 4. various of visitors and monuments at the museum 5. various of people standing outside Beiteddine Palace 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ALIA HARISS, Lebanese citizen 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MANAR ABDALLAH, Lebanese citizen 8. various of visitors and monument STORYLINE: Lebanon's cultural ministry announced earlier this month that visits to archaeological sites and museums in Lebanon will be free from May 18 to 27, in an attempt to encourage cultural activities in the country amid the current tough economic circumstances. "Lebanese visitors will be exempt from entrance fees to archaeological sites, the National Museum, museums and the Beiteddine Palace from May 18 to 27," said Cultu

Palestinian chefs cook huge Mujaddara dish ahead of Ramadan

STORY: Palestinian chefs cook huge Mujaddara dish ahead of Ramadan DATELINE: March 31, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:11 LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Palestinian chefs cooking a large Mujaddara dish 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SAMER JOMAA, Head of Palestinian Culinary Arts Association 3. various of Palestinian chefs cooking a large Mujaddara dish and people enjoying the dish STORYLINE: About 20 Palestinian chefs cooked on Wednesday a large Mujaddara dish in the West Bank city of Jericho. Mujaddara is a signature Middle Eastern dish of lentils, rice, and onions. According to the chefs, the dish is an attempt to apply for the Guinness World Records as the world's largest Mujaddara dish. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SAMER JOMAA, Head of Palestinian Culinary Arts Association "We prepared a surprise for our Palestinian community by preparing the largest Mujadara dish to (possibly) enter the Guinness Book of Records. We have chosen the city of Jericho to prepare the dish because it's one of the ol