Venezuela-Colombia border formally reopens

STORY: Venezuela-Colombia border formally reopens DATELINE: Sept. 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:32 LOCATION: Caracas CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the ceremonyvarious of trucks STORYLINE: The border between Venezuela and Colombia was formally reopened Monday, after a symbolic act led by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan ministers at the Simon Bolivar Bridge linking the two countries. Petro said he hoped the reopening would benefit the residents on each side, who for years had to risk passing through unauthorized crossings. After the ceremony, trucks with merchandise began to cross the border, with aluminum material from Venezuela and a shipment of medicines from Colombia. Earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro commented on his Twitter account that "firm steps were taken to advance in the total and absolute opening of the border between brotherly peoples: Colombia and Venezuela. It is a historic and transcendental day!" Since Petro took office in Colombia this year, C

Tianjin zone marks leasing of 2,000th aircraft

STORY: Tianjin zone marks leasing of 2,000th aircraft DATELINE: July 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: TIANJIN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: a shot of the ceremonyvarious of the 2,000th aircraftSOUNDBITE (Chinese): YANG LIU, Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone in Tianjinvarious of the 2,000th aircraft STORYLINE: A ceremony was held on Friday to celebrate the delivery of the 2,000th aircraft leased by the Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone (DFTP) in the northern Chinese municipality of Tianjin. The 2,000th leased plane is an ARJ21 passenger aircraft developed by the state-owned plane-maker Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). SOUNDBITE (Chinese): YANG LIU, Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone in Tianjin "In the past, we rented aircraft from overseas leasing companies. It was high in cost and low in communication efficiency. There were circumstances beyond our control. After we have our own leasing company, we have full control of the lease lifecycle and can reduce the overall cost." The Dongjiang F

Nigeria, Ethiopia to hold summit on strengthening trade, economy, political relations

STORY: Nigeria, Ethiopia to hold summit on strengthening trade, economy, political relations DATELINE: May 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:05 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the ceremonyvarious of the meetingSOUNDBITE 1 (English): VICTOR ADELEKE, Nigeria's ambassador to EthiopiaSOUNDBITE 2 (English): VICTOR ADELEKE, Nigeria's ambassador to Ethiopia STORYLINE: Nigeria and Ethiopia have concluded arrangements to hold a Joint Ministerial Commission summit in Addis Ababa next month to discuss various areas of bilateral relationship and exchange perspectives on a range of international issues of mutual interest. The forthcoming summit was the focus of a visit Wednesday by Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian prime minister, and Zinash Tayachew, the Ethiopian first lady, who was hosted to a presidential lunch by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari at the State House in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. A major outcome of the visit is the desire of both countries to t

Nigerian president commissions Chinese-assisted airport terminal in economic hub

STORY: Nigerian president commissions Chinese-assisted airport terminal in economic hub DATELINE: March 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: various of the inauguration ceremonyvarious of the terminalSOUNDBITE 1 (English): MUHAMMADU BUHARI, Nigerian PresidentSOUNDBITE 2 (English): JIANG YIGAO, Chairman of CCECC Nigeria Limited STORYLINE: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the newly-built international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the economic hub of Lagos. The Chinese-assisted project was designed to handle 20 million passengers in a year while creating 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, Buhari said at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MUHAMMADU BUHARI, Nigerian President "With the delivery of this project, a new era of safety, security, and comfort has been ushered into the Nigerian aviation industry, and I am persuaded that it will get better with the passage of time." The facility is on

Afghanistan starts new academic year

STORY: Afghanistan starts new academic year DATELINE: March 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:08 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: various of the opening ceremonyvarious of students STORYLINE: The Ministry of Education of Afghanistan's caretaker government on Wednesday started the new educational year as millions of Afghan children head to schools, the state-run news agency reported. According to the Bakhtar News Agency, boy students from grade one to grade 12 and girls from grade one to grade six will attend their classes after the academic year started. However, female students in girls' secondary schools and high schools were denied attending schools until further notice. "Whenever girls' school uniforms are designed in accordance with Sharia, Afghan customs and culture, then the girls' schools would be reopened after order of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's leadership," the report said. Since the Taliban's takeover of the power of the country on Aug. 15, 2021, public girls' schools an