Thursday, March 26, 2015

EU concedes TTIP trade negotiations with the US are likely to miss 2015 deadline

Top European Union trade officials have admitted that a deadline of the end of 2015 to sign an ambitious trade deal with the United States is likely to be missed.

The transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement - or tee tip for short - plans to open up the EU and US markets to one another.

Our Europe correspondent Jack Parrock reports. 

IN: "The Latvian...."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 39 secs


Supreme court rules Charles letters should be published

The UK's highest court has ruled letters from Prince Charles to government departments should be published.

In 2012 the UK Attorney General prevented the publication of the letters, but the Guardian newspaper challenged the decision at the Supreme Court.

Heir to the throne Prince Charles wrote the letters between 2004 and 2005 to several ministries.

According to the British constitution, monarchs are supposed to be politically neutral.

Maurice Frankel is the director of the UK Campaign for Freedom of Information and has been working to see the so-called 'black spider memos' published.

IN: "Is the…
OUT: ...the decision."
DUR: 29 seconds

Four killed in Ukraine as bus hits mine

At least four people have been killed and 19 injured after a bus hit a landmine in eastern Ukraine, according to officials.


The bus had been carrying people from the Ukrainian city of Artemivsk to the Russian backed militant held city of Horlivka.


Tom Barton reports.


IN: The head of….

OUT: SOC

DUR: 33"


AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-generic.mp3

G24: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-g24.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-rnz.mp3
SRN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-srn.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-ziz.mp3

Cameron and Miliband to 'debate' ahead of election

British Prime Minister David Cameron and opposition Leader Ed Miliband will debate their visions for the UK later - just not with each other.

In the first of a series of televised events in the buildup to May's general election, the two men will be questioned live, one after the other.

Broadcasters had wanted three TV debates including a head-to-head between the Conservative and Labour leader, but David Cameron declined.

He has agreed to take part in one televised debate before polling day, along with leaders from major and minor Westminster parties.

David Wooding is the political editor of the Sun on Sunday - he says it's been chaotic.

IN: "Bit of…
OUT: ...going on."
DUR: 23 seconds

Supreme Court to rule on Prince Charles 'Black Spider Memos'

The UK's highest court will rule later (Thursday) on whether letters from Prince Charles to government departments should be publicised.

In 2012 the UK Attorney General prevented the publication of the letters, but the Guardian newspaper is challenging this decision at the Supreme Court.

Heir to the throne Prince Charles wrote the letters between 2004 and 2005 to several ministries.

According to the British constitution, monarchs are supposed to be politically neutral.

Maurice Frankel is the director of the UK Campaign for Freedom of Information and believes the so-called 'black spider memos' should be published.

((AUDIO HOLDS AFTER DECISION))

IN: "Is the…
OUT: ...the decision."
DUR: 29 seconds

Clarkson searches for new role

Speculation continues about where former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson will go next after being fired by the BBC.

His contract is not being renewed after he punched a producer during a row over hot food.

His Top Gear co-presenters have hinted they will also leave the show with him - but the BBC insists the programme will return next year.

UK satellite broadcaster SKY has reportedly ruled itself out of the race to sign Clarkson and his colleagues.

Some analysts suggest they could be hired by a subscription service like Netflix.

But former Top Gear presenter Steve Berry says there was no way the BBC could keep him.

IN: "If he…
OUT: ...on that."
DUR: 24 seconds


ALT:

But former Top Gear presenter Steve Berry says he may wish to find a way to work less hard.

IN: "He's 54…
OUT: ...reassess."
DUR: 34 seconds

Pilot 'locked out of Germanwings Cockpit'

One of the pilots of the crashed Germanwings Airbus A320 was reportedly locked out of the cockpit as it came down.

Investigators are examining the plane's cockpit voice recorder and it's reported it shows the pilot was unable to return to the cockpit to join his colleague as the aircraft descended over the French Alps.

150 passengers and crew on board the Barcelona to Dusseldorf flight were killed in Tuesday's crash.

Reporter Simon Conway is at Dusseldorf Airport - he says investigators have lots to figure out.

IN: "It's The…
OUT: ...in there."
DUR: 35

Report: Germanwings Pilot Locked Out of Cockpit

The New York Times has reported that one of the pilots was locked out of the cockpit of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

The  report comes from information collected by the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder.

Our correspondent Ira Spitzer reports from Berlin. 

IN: Quoting a senior…
OUT: SOC
DUR: :45

Four killed in Ukraine as bus hits mine

At least four people have been killed and 19 injured after a bus hit a landline in eastern Ukraine, according to officials.


The bus had been carrying people from the Ukrainian city of Artemivsk to the Russian backed militant held city of Horlivka.


Tom Barton reports.


IN: The head of….

OUT: SOC

DUR: 33"


AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-generic.mp3

G24: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-g24.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-rnz.mp3
SRN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-srn.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0326bus-tb-ziz.mp3

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

US launches airstrikes against Tikrit

The U.S.-led coalition to fight the Islamic State organization has begun airstrikes against the Iraqi city of Tikrit.

The operation is at the request of the Iraqi government but it is complicated by the sheer number of Iranian militia on the ground who are also fighting the Islamic State.

Our U.S. correspondent Priscilla Huff reports:

IN: "The goal...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 46
POT: 32


***

Facebook Plans to Mine Potential of Messenger

The world’s largest social network has announced ambitions to mine the potential of its instant messaging service beyond text messaging.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg detailed his plans for Messenger at F8-- the the company’s developers' conference in San Francisco.

Rachel Silverman reports.

IN: “Facebook says 
OUT: SOC
DUR: 36 seconds

Bowe Bergdahl charged with desertion

The American military has charged Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, after he left his post in Afghanistan - which led to his being captured and held for five years by the Taliban associated Haqqani Network.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Rebecca Foster reports from Washington.

IN: "Nearly one..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 39 seconds

3 Americans killed in French Alps plane crash


A mother and daughter from the US state of Virginia have been named as victims of Tuesday's plane crash in the southern French Alps.

The identity of a third US citizen killed has not yet been released.

Yvonne Selke and daughter Emily were among the 150 passengers killed when the Germanwings jetliner, travelling from Spain to Germany, went down.

From Washington Kevin McAleese reports

IN: The US...'
OUT: SOC 
DUR: 35 secs


U.S. denies its intelligence operation is failing in Yemen

The White House has rejected allegations its counter-terrorism strategy in Yemen has fallen apart, insisting it still has the ability to apply pressure on militants on the ground.

Houthi rebels in Yemen- supported by military allies- have taken control of an airbase and advanced on the southern port of Aden.

The U.S. says Saudi Arabia is amassing heavy military equipment along its border with Yemen.

But Washington denies being left in the dark inside Yemen since it withdraw its special forces.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest:


IN: " We have the...
OUT: ...individuals"
SOC: 14 seconds


ADD ON

White House spokesman Josh Earnest has pointed the finger of blame squarely at Houthi rebels for destabilizing the country.

IN: " We believe...
OUT: ...differences from all the sides."
SOC: 25 seconds


ZAYN MALIK QUITS ONE DIRECTION

Zayn Malilk has left the pop band One Direction.

They will continue as a four piece - first formed by the UK reality talent show X Factor - and now one of the biggest selling acts on the planet.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

IN: "A statement...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 45 seconds

Landmark sex discrimination case in final phase

12 jurors are about to begin their deliberations in the landmark sexual discrimination lawsuit that has rocked Silicon Valley.

The case pits Ellen Pao, a former junior investment partner, against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, whom she accuses of failing to promote her because of her gender.

Rebecca Bowring reports.

IN: "It's been five…"
OUT: SOC
DUR: 0:41
POT: 0:35


Yemen's President Calls On UN For Support


Yemen's President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi has asked the United Nations to back military action against the advancing Shi’ite Houthi rebels. In a letter to the UN Security Council, he asked for a resolution that would authorize military support from ‘willing countries.’ 
Patrice Howard reports.

IN: The Houthi...
OUT: SOC

European leaders visit French plane crash site

The leaders of France, Germany and Spain have visited an area near the site of the Germanwings plane crash that killed all 150 people on board. 

Meanwhile, investigators have found the plane's damaged cockpit voice recorder and are trying to recover the information it collected.

Our correspondent Ira Spitzer reports from Berlin.

IN: The voice recorder…
OUT: SOC
DUR: :40

Lord Hall pays tribute to Clarkson, but says he couldn't stay on Top Gear

The BBC has sacked Jeremy Clarkson, the presenter of the TV show Top Gear after he attacked a show producer.

The director general of the BBC, Tony Hall said the decision had not been taken lightly and would divide opinion however he said a line had been crossed when the TV presenter resorted to physical violence.

This was the latest in a series of controversies, Clarkson was reportedly on his final warning after a series of gaffs and inappropriate comments.   

The show is one of the BBC's biggest assets worth an estimated $75 million a year, with a worldwide audience of 350 million people.

BBC Director General Lord Hall said despite his popularity, Clarkson could not remain on the show after the incident. 


IN: "Physical violence...
OUT:...be different."
DUR: 23 




BBC Director General Lord Hall said despite his popularity, Clarkson could not remain on the show, but he thanks him for his work.  

IN: "I just want to...
OUT:...for the future."
DUR: 13 



Heinz and Kraft merge in 40 billion dollar deal