River taxi service relaunched in Baghdad to relieve traffic jams

STORY: River taxi service relaunched in Baghdad to relieve traffic jams DATELINE: July 21, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:03 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of river taxi service 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MUHANNAD RAYHAN, Captain 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): NOOR FARIS, Passenger STORYLINE: The Iraqi government has relaunched the river taxi project as one of its solutions to relieve traffic jams in the capital city of Baghdad. In Baghdad, a city of more than 9 million people, traffic congestion is severe, particularly on each of its 13 bridges to cross the Tigris River that bisects the capital. Iraqi Minister of Transportation Razzaq Muhaibis said that the government is keen to relaunch the service after seven years of suspension. "The current Iraqi government has developed several solutions to overcome traffic jams that lead to delays for employees, students, and all citizens from reaching their workplaces on time, and one of these solutions is the river taxi," Muhaibis said. The service was w

Iraqis slam U.S. for lying about Iraq War

STORY: Iraqis slam U.S. for lying about Iraq War DATELINE: March 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:06:36 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: MILITARY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP 1 (English): YANG YIRAN, Xinhua correspondent 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI MUSA, Iraqi political analyst 3. STANDUP 2 (English): FAN SHUAISHUAI, Xinhua correspondent 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): KHUDHAIR AL-ASADI, Head of Medical Department, Imam Hussein Hospital 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMMED SHARIF, Cleaner at Imam Hussein Hospital 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): NADHUM AL-JUBOURI, Iraqi political expert 7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): RAZZAQ HAMEED, Shop owner, Baghdad 8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Arabic): ABU REDHA, Citizen, Baghdad 9. SOUNDBITE 7 (Arabic): HAIDER SAAD, Oil worker, Halfaya oilfield, Maysan province STORYLINE: Firdos Square Baghdad, Iraq STANDUP 1 (English): YANG YIRAN, Xinhua correspondent "In April, 2003, the statue of Saddam Hussein that had once stood here was toppled, with the U.S. soldiers waving American flags and promising peace, freedom and prosperit

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

BEIJING, China - Four Iraqi Olympic athletes, including Dana Abdul-Razzaq (L) arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Aug. 5.

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

BEIJING, China - Iraqi Olympic athlete Dana Abdul-Razzaq (C) shows an Iraqi national flag as she and 10 other Iraqi officials and athletes arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Aug. 5.

Afghan orphans yearn for care, peace

STORY: Afghan orphans yearn for care, peace DATELINE: Oct. 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:48 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of children living in an orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDUL RAZZAQ, Afghan orphan 3. various of children inside a dormitory 4. various of children playing football 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): SULTAN AHMAD, Afghan orphan 6. various of children playing football 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): ABDUL MUBIN ATTAZADA, Director of the orphanage 8. various of children playing football STORYLINE: The dream for some Afghan kids like Abdul Razzaq, a teenager at the Tahaya-e-Maskan Orphanage of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is not in sight in Afghanistan, where the last 20 years of war and violence created a vicious cycle that impacted civilians, especially children. Children in war zones and areas of armed conflicts have not lived normal lives, as they have seen homes destroyed and family members, neighbors and friends injured or even killed in the protracted fi

(SP)KUWAIT-AHMADI GOVERNORATE-MOTOSURF RACING

(SP)KUWAIT-AHMADI GOVERNORATE-MOTOSURF RACING

(220320) -- AHMADI GOVERNORATE, March 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Abdul Razzaq Al-Baghli competes during the motosurf racing in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Ghazy Qaffaf/Xinhua)

(SP)KUWAIT-AHMADI GOVERNORATE-MOTOSURF RACING

(SP)KUWAIT-AHMADI GOVERNORATE-MOTOSURF RACING

(220320) -- AHMADI GOVERNORATE, March 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Abdul Razzaq Al-Baghli competes during the motosurf racing in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Ghazy Qaffaf/Xinhua)

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

BEIJING, China - Iraqi Olympic athlete Dana Abdul-Razzaq (C) shows an Iraqi national flag as she and 10 other Iraqi officials and athletes arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Aug. 5. (Kyodo)

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

Iraqi athletes arrive in Beijing for 2008 Olympics

BEIJING, China - Four Iraqi Olympic athletes, including Dana Abdul-Razzaq (L) arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Aug. 5. (Kyodo)