Iraqis observe Ramadan with a mix of concerns, woes

STORY: Iraqis observe Ramadan with a mix of concerns, woes SHOOTING TIME: March 10, 2024 DATELINE: March 11, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:39 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people shopping at Shorja Market 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SAIF SITAR, Iraqi shop owner STORYLINE: Decades of wars and conflicts, especially the U.S. invasion in 2003, have changed atmosphere of the Ramadan in Iraq. The political and sectarian divisions left in the wake of the U.S. invasion in 2003 have exacerbated the difficult conditions faced by many Iraqi people. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SAIF SITAR, Iraqi shop owner "Ramadan now in Iraq is very different from the past. We called it 'Ramadan of family' in the past because there were love and communication. Now communication between neighbors has been cut off. People are afraid of talking to neighbors because of the political and sectarian divisions that the U.S. have introduced since the war in 2003. Everything has been changed because of the American occupation. The U.S.

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

(230324) -- BAGHDAD, March 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People buy sweets on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

(230324) -- BAGHDAD, March 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A man looks at toys on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-RAMADAN-MARKET

(230324) -- BAGHDAD, March 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A man holds a lantern on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Iraqi families prefer shopping from Shorja market during Ramadan

STORY: Iraqi families prefer shopping from Shorja market during Ramadan DATELINE: March 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:01 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people shopping in the traditional Shorja market STORYLINE: Iraqis bought the sweets, spices and some Ramadan decorations they need on the first day of Ramadan at the famous Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq. Preparing for Ramadan is an ancient tradition in Iraq. Ahmed al-Sarraf, a regular visitor to the Shorja market, told Xinhua that "many of our families used to go to Shorja market to buy many things, including sweets, spices, lanterns, and other decorative lights to decorate their homes and dining tables." Najeh Alwan, a shop owner, said the demand of shoppers increases dramatically with Ramadan, as families are keen to decorate their homes and dining tables to enjoy life during Ramadan. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad. (XHTV)

Chinese-made artificial flowers popular among Iraqis

STORY: Chinese-made artificial flowers popular among Iraqis DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:00 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of artificial flowers at the Shorja Market in Baghdad 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAITHAM, Flower shop owner 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JAWADIN MOHAMMED, Flower shop owner STORYLINE: At the Shorja Market, a main wholesale and commercial center in Iraq's capital Baghdad, artificial flowers imported from China are popular among local consumers. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAITHAM, Flower shop owner "We imported these flowers from China, specifically from the city of Yiwu, which is famous for its artificial flower industry. There is a good demand from Iraqi customers to buy flowers, firstly because of the improvement in security situation over the past few years, and secondly due to their high quality and reasonable prices." SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JAWADIN MOHAMMED, Flower shop owner "We have been in this profession for 20 years. There is a good demand from

Chinese products become more popular in Middle East during Ramadan

STORY: Chinese products become more popular in Middle East during Ramadan DATELINE: April 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:35 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese goods 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED MAALLEH, Shop owner at Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABDULRAHMAN ALAWWAD, Saudi Arabian businessman 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): DIAA HELMY, Secretary general, Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce STORYLINE: Lanterns, toys and prayer rugs... these products are very popular in Middle Eastern countries during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Most of the products are from Yiwu, which is widely known as the world's supermarket and China's small commodity hub. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED MAALLEH, Shop owner at Shorja market in Baghdad, Iraq "Chinese goods are favored by consumers for their good quality and lower prices compared with other products. Since my friends and I started selling Chinese products, our living standards have been significantly improved." SOUND