Millions of Iranians mark Islamic Revolution victory through nationwide rallies

STORY: Millions of Iranians mark Islamic Revolution victory through nationwide rallies DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:55 LOCATION: Tehran CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of rally in TehranSOUNDBITE (Persian): ALIREZA MORADADZADEH, Tehran residentvarious of rally in Tehran STORYLINE: Millions of people across Iran took to the streets on Saturday to mark the 44th anniversary of the victory of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The rallies were held in the capital Tehran as well as 1,400 Iranian cities and 38,000 villages, the report said. Along the rallies' routes, people waved Iran's flags, and carried photos of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, late founder of the Islamic Republic Ruhollah Khomeini and late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020 in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The people also chanted slogans in support of the country and condemnation of the United States and Israe

UN appeals for 472.6 mln USD to tackle drought in Kenya

STORY: UN appeals for 472.6 mln USD to tackle drought in Kenya DATELINE: Nov. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:05:59 LOCATION: GARISSA, Kenya CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of Maalimin, Garissa County, KenyaSOUNDBITE 1 (English): STEPHEN JACKSON, UN resident coordinator in Kenyavarious of round table discussions with UN officials, Kenyan government officialsSOUNDBITE 2 (English): INGER ANDERSEN, Executive director of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)various of UN officials and Kenyan officials walking togetherSOUNDBITE 3 (English): RIGATHI GACHAGUA, Kenyan deputy presidentvarious of Maalimin Health Clinic, Maalimin, Kenyavarious of malnutrition screeningSOUNDBITE 4 (Somali): SAMEY AHMED ABDI, Local residentvarious of Kenya STORYLINE: The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Kenya have appealed for 472.6 million U.S. dollars to help 4.3 million drought-affected people in the East African country in 2023 to deal with the longest and most severe drought in its recent history. UN Resident Co

Paris residents express concerns over possibility of restarting coal-fired power plants amid energy crisis

STORY: Paris residents express concerns over possibility of restarting coal-fired power plants amid energy crisis DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:58 LOCATION: Paris CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of street view in ParisSOUNDBITE 1 (French): SYLVETTE, Paris residentvarious of pylonsSOUNDBITE 2 (French): IDHIR, Paris residentSOUNDBITE 3 (French): CHRISTOPHE, Paris residentSOUNDBITE 4 (French): LOUIS, Paris residentSOUNDBITE 5 (French): RAYMONDE, Paris resident STORYLINE: Facing power supply insecurity, some European countries have decided to reopen coal-fired power plants or to take measures to support coal power. Residents in Paris have expressed their concerns over decisions of going back to the traditional energy source. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): SYLVETTE, Paris resident "So if France restarts the coal-fired power plants, it's true that it risks being a step backwards. It's not a big step forward but rather a step backwards, before we have other solutions to allow us to continue to live on the l

Turkish people voice concerns over U.S. bio-labs across world

STORY: Turkish people voice concerns over U.S. bio-labs across world DATELINE: April 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:21 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Turkey CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of TurkeySOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): TURKER ERTURK, Retired Admiral in Turkeyvarious of TurkeySOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): ABDURRAHMAN KALEMDAR, Istanbul residentvarious of TurkeySOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): TUNAY GUZELAD, Istanbul resident STORYLINE: Turkish people recently voiced their concerns over U.S.-run biological laboratories in multiple countries, which have posed a significant threat to human health and the environment. Turker Erturk, who served as commander of the Turkish Naval Academy between 2008 and 2010, told Xinhua that such facilities are one of the biggest problems facing humanity today. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): TURKER ERTURK, Retired Admiral in Turkey "During my tenure, I knew that NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) had no warehouse for biological weapons. Only related protection measures and doctrine have been taught. If

Poverty stalks picturesque Bamiyan province in Afghanistan

STORY: Poverty stalks picturesque Bamiyan province in Afghanistan DATELINE: March 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: BAMIYAN, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of Bamiyan province in AfghanistanSOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): HABIBULLAH, Bamiyan residentvarious of Bamiyan province in AfghanistanSOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): HABIBULLAH, Bamiyan residentSOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): NAJIBULLAH, Bamiyan residentSOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): MAHDI, Bamiyan residentSOUNDBITE 5 (Pashto): ABDULLAH SARHADI, Governor of Bamyiyan STORYLINE: With beautiful landscape and historical monuments including giant Buddhas, Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan was once a popular destination for tourists. Although it enjoys peaceful environment, Bamiyan is among the poorest provinces of Afghanistan. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): HABIBULLAH, Bamiyan resident I'm a daily wager, but I can't find work every day. If I work one day, the second day will be jobless, because the poor economy has drastically reduced job opportunities. I can hardly earn 150 - 200 afgha

Mobile library trundling in Afghan province

STORY: Mobile library trundling in Afghan province DATELINE: March 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:08 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of the busSOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDUL QAHAR HISAABI, Director of Kuhandazh Institute of Higher Education and sponsor of the busSOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): NAQIBULLAH MUMAND, Local residentvarious of people reading booksSOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): SOMYA NAQSHBANDI, Student STORYLINE: A mobile library bus navigates around northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, promoting book reading among youths and children. The library bus has a librarian and driver on board, and is stocked with 1,800 books in Dari, Pashto and English. The topics range from science, culture, stories, politics and history. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDUL QAHAR HISAABI, Director of Kuhandazh Institute of Higher Education and sponsor of the bus "By offering mobile library services, our aim is to help the students of Kuhandazh Institute, students of other private and state-run universities as well as the