Lebanon to adopt strict security measures after bank raids

STORY: Lebanon to adopt strict security measures after bank raids DATELINE: Sept. 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:24 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of the meetingSOUNDBITE (Arabic): BASSAM MAWLAWI, Lebanese Interior Ministervarious of the security force STORYLINE: Security forces will take strict measures amid mounting security concerns after a number of bank raids carried out by angry depositors demanding their savings, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Friday. Mawlawi made the remarks during a press conference at the Interior Ministry, where security agencies were present to discuss the measures to keep the country safe and stable. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): BASSAM MAWLAWI, Lebanese Interior Minister "Depositors should be aware not to be enticed by anyone to destroy the security situation in the country or the system due to political reasons, or to implement agendas that may hinder the security situation of the country. It started with banks but we don't know where it will end.

UN chief calls for increased capabilities to meet global policing needs

STORY: UN chief calls for increased capabilities to meet global policing needs DATELINE: Sept. 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:11 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the meetingSOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-GeneralSOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General STORYLINE: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned of challenges for peacekeeping operations, while calling for increased capabilities to meet global policing needs. Addressing the third UN Chiefs of Police Summit, Guterres said the gathering comes at a critical time for the United Nations Police, for peacekeeping as well as for the global community. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "United Nations Police - women and men - contribute their individual expertise, skills and commitment towards the greater good, in the service of peace, in UN operations around the world. But they are deployed in an increasingly complex and challenging environment -

China's role in reversing Nigeria's infrastructure deficit won't be forgotten: presidential spokesman

STORY: China's role in reversing Nigeria's infrastructure deficit won't be forgotten: presidential spokesman DATELINE: Aug. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:27 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the meetingSOUNDBITE 1 (English): FEMI ADESINA, Nigerian president's special adviser on media and publicityvarious of Chinese-assisted projectsSOUNDBITE 2 (English): CUI JIANCHUN, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria STORYLINE: A spokesman for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the role of China in reversing Nigeria's infrastructure deficit will not be forgotten. Femi Adesina, who serves as Buhari's special adviser on media and publicity, said in a meeting with Cui Jianchun, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, that China has continued to sustain its role in the West African nation's infrastructure development in several areas, including power, rail, and aviation, among others. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FEMI ADESINA, Nigerian president's special adviser on media and publicity "President Buhari

ECOWAS rejects 36-month transition proposed by Guinean military leaders

STORY: ECOWAS rejects 36-month transition proposed by Guinean military leaders DATELINE: June 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:00 LOCATION: Accra CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the meetingSOUNDBITE (English): JEAN-CLAUDE KASSI BROU, ECOWAS Commission President STORYLINE: The leadership of an economic bloc in West Africa rejected a proposal by the military leaders of Guinea for a 36-month-long transitional period, the body's commission said late Saturday. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said ECOWAS delayed the implementation of sanctions on Guinea following a military coup last year because the Guinean leaders had asked for some time to present a timetable for transition. SOUNDBITE (English): JEAN-CLAUDE KASSI BROU, ECOWAS Commission President "Meanwhile, the Guinean authorities have announced a 36-month transitional timetable. But the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS considered that 36 months is not acceptab

China's experience in ecological protection, restoration worth learning: Ethiopian expert

STORY: China's experience in ecological protection, restoration worth learning: Ethiopian expert DATELINE: May 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: Addis Ababa CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: various of a meetingSOUNDBITE (Amharic): GIRMA ESHETU, Director of Ecosystem Directorate at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute STORYLINE: Ethiopia can learn from China's vast experience in ecological protection and restoration, said Girma Eshetu, director of the Ecosystem Directorate at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute. SOUNDBITE (Amharic): GIRMA ESHETU, Director of Ecosystem Directorate at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute "China has outstanding experience as the country seeks to build an ecological civilization that creates harmony between man and nature. Ethiopia can learn a lot from China in terms of ecological protection and restoration while at the same time working on sustainability toward making our country a better place for future generations. Considering its huge successes and achievements, China c

Villagers' meetings help improve lives of people in rural Xinjiang

STORY: Villagers' meetings help improve lives of people in rural Xinjiang DATELINE: May 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:33 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the villagevarious of the meetingSOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Village officialSOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): BI ZHAORONG, First Party Secretary of Qiaoren VillageSOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): VillagerSOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): VillagerSOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): VillagerSOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): VillagerSOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): NAZARBEY MURATH, VillagerSOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): DAWUT ABDULLA, VillagerSOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): NAZARBEY MURATH, VillagerSOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): LI PINGJI, Deputy secretary of Qiaoren Kazak Township Party committee STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Village official "Attention, please. We will hold a villagers' meeting at 4:00 p.m. at the village committee. Please attend the meeting on time." In Qiaoren Village of Qiaoren Kazak Township, Qitai County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, holding villagers' meetings is a crucial w

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

China, like-minded countries call for efforts to promote economic, social, cultural rights amid COVID-19

STORY: China, like-minded countries call for efforts to promote economic, social, cultural rights amid COVID-19 DATELINE: April 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:17 LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the complexvarious of Human Rights Council meetingSOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN XU, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in GenevaSOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN XU, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in GenevaSOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHEN XU, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Genevavarious of street view in developing countries STORYLINE: China and a group of countries on Friday called for eliminating the gap of inequality when realizing people's economic, social and cultural rights amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Introducing a draft resolution on behalf of Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa and China at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva Chen Xu said the pandemic h

Chinese envoy warns against politicization of humanitarian aid to Ukraine

STORY: Chinese envoy warns against politicization of humanitarian aid to Ukraine DATELINE: March 1, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the Security Council meetingSOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHANG JUN, China's permanent representative to the United Nationsvarious of the Security Council meeting STORYLINE: A Chinese envoy on Monday warned against the politicization of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. What is unfolding in Ukraine is indeed heart-wrenching. China calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, de-escalate the situation, and avoid civilian casualties. The safety of life and property of all civilians, including those of foreign nationals, and their humanitarian needs should be effectively guaranteed, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. It is of utmost importance to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis, he told a Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. SOUNDBITE (Chinese)

Nigerian leader signs amended electoral act ahead of 2023 elections

STORY: Nigerian leader signs amended electoral act ahead of 2023 elections DATELINE: Feb. 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:35 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: various of the meetingSOUNDBITE (English): MUHAMMADU BUHARI, Nigerian President STORYLINE: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed an amended electoral act Friday ahead of next year's general elections in the most populous African country. The re-worked electoral act holds a lot of promises for improving the election processes in Nigeria, with the introduction of new technology, and efforts to engender clarity and transparency, Buhari said at a short signing ceremony at the State House in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The president had earlier rejected the amended electoral act. But while signing it Friday, he said this re-worked version will reduce to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties. "These commendable efforts are in line with our policy to bequeath posterity and la