Lebanese watch World Cup in coffee shops as national TV fails to broadcast games

STORY: Lebanese watch World Cup in coffee shops as national TV fails to broadcast games DATELINE: Nov. 28, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:52 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Lebanese watching the World Cup in a coffee shop 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Lebanese): KARIM BOU KHZAM, Coffee shop owner 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Lebanese): MAJED KHADDAJ, Football fan 4. various of Lebanese watching the World Cup in a coffee shop STORYLINE: Thousands of Lebanese visited coffee shops over the past few days to watch the World Cup as the games are not broadcasted on Lebanon's public television station. Coffee shop owners pay around 90 U.S. dollars to subscribe channels broadcasting the games. They offer relatively low-cost services to football lovers who gather at their shops to watch the games and cheer for their favorite teams. SOUNDBITE 1 (Lebanese): KARIM BOU KHZAM, Coffee shop owner "Most of people do not have access to electricity amid the current economic situation. People living in mountainous areas have no access to

Lebanon's Beiteddine festival attracts art lovers

STORY: Lebanon's Beiteddine festival attracts art lovers DATELINE: July 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:12 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada and artists checking a photos exhibition at Beiteddine 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MOHAMMAD MORTADA, Culture Minister 3. various of the art exhibition 4. the interior minister arriving at the exhibition STORYLINE: The 36th edition of the Beiteddine Art Festival kicked off on Wednesday, attracting art lovers that are eager to enjoy good music and arts. Apart from performances by Lebanese talents such as Daline Jabbour and Guy Manoukian, the festival also has an art exhibition for Saleh Barakat, owner of the "Ajyal" gallery. It includes works by leading artists, such as Samir Khaddaj and Salwa Rawda Choucair. The festival returned after a two-year pandemic hiatus and the economic crisis prevailing in Lebanon. Lebanon's Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada told Xinhua the art festival gives hope for change for the people in t