The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
US lawmakers are launching investigations into how the Taliban took over Afghanistan so rapidly, calling on top Biden administration officials to testify.
An angry backlash at President Joe Biden’s handling of the pullout from Afghanistan has erupted in Washington, with the US now entirely dependent on the Taliban for the safety of American citizens there.
Nina-Maria Potts reports:
IN: “ Lawmakers…
OUT: SOC
DUR: 40 seconds
Boris Johnson has recalled parliament and opened an emergency debate over the critical situation in Afghanistan.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said he did not foresee the collapse of the Afghan government and its forces and that it had come as a surprise.
He's met with other world leaders to discuss a way forward for the country.
IN: "We must also face..."
OUT: ".... concerted way."
DUR: 19 secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0818-JohnsonAfghanreality-CJ-generic.mp3
The UK government has now announced plans to allow 20-thousand refugees to resettle in the UK.
Around 5-thousand will be eligible in the first year of the scheme.
But opposition Labour party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, criticised the plan, he says it doesn't go far enough.
IN: "It is vague…"
OUT: "...There is no long term Mr speaker."
DUR: 21 secs
IN: "25 French citizens..."
OUT: SOC
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0818franceevacflights-rc-generic.mp3
Suggested Lead
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has threatened to pull out of a peace process with opposition groups over increased violence in the country.
President Kiir's threat comes a day after two catholic nuns and three other people were killed on their way to the capital Juba when armed men ambushed the vehicle they were travelling in.
Patrick Oyet reports from Juba
INTRO: President Salva
OUT: SOC
DUR: 43 Seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0818PRESIDENTKIIR-PO-GENERIC.mp3
Intro
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised all possible help for the Afghan people.
He's also asked his core group of ministers to ensure that Hindu and Sikh minorities are granted safe passage.
Opposition leaders are calling the government's approach discriminatory.
Ishan Garg reports.
IN: Mr Modi
OUT: SOC
Duration: 44 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0818-IndiaAfghanRefugees-ig-gen.mp3
Despite much of the state of New South Wales being in locked down for over a week, delta strain infection rates continue to go up.
The state recorded another 633 new cases in the last 24 hrs, yet another record increase.
Shaun Bindley has more.
IN: In warning that...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 34 secs
GENERIC: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0818covid-sb-gen.mp3
COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA
Tensions are continuing to build between China and Taiwan, after Beijing carried out assault drills around the island.
China says the move is a response to what it calls "external interference" and "provocations".
Samuel Wong reports.
IN: "Taiwan's Defence Ministry..."
OUT: "...750 million US dollars."
DUR: 40 s
President Biden's approval rating has hit record lows in light of the botched US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
A new survey published on Tuesday night shows the President lost 7 percentage points in support in just 72 hours.
Our Washington correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "The Reuters/Ipsos….."
OUT: "…in Kabul"
DUR: 29 seconds
The Prime Minister has spoken to President Biden, becoming the first foreign leader to speak with his American counterpart since the fall of Kabul.
Number Ten says the Prime Minister stressed the importance of not losing the gains won in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "One phone call…."
OUT: "…white house admits"
DUR: 32 seconds
White House officials say President Biden is taking full responsibility for every decision that led up to the botched military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul.
But they've disclosed that the President has not yet spoken to a single foreign leader since the collapse of the Afghan government.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "The revelation…."
OUT: "…do the walking"
DUR: 30 seconds
At the White House today, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration has received guarantees from the Taliban that civilians in Afghanistan will be allowed "safe passage" to the airport in Kabul where evacuation flights resumed on Tuesday.
IN: "The Taliban…."
OUT: "….way possible".
DUR: 37 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817afghan-sullivan.mp3
(MORE)
He said President Biden has not spoken to any other world leaders since the collapse of the Afghan government but he rinsisted that President Biden is taking full responsibility for every decision that led up to the botched military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul.
IN: "He's taking…."
OUT: "…responsibility is"
DUR: 30 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817afghan-sullivan1.mp3
(MORE)
But he also suggested that some American citizens now awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan were themselves responsible for not heeding warnings "weeks ago" about security instability in the country.
IN: "We communicated…."
OUT: "…fundamentally be avoided"
DUR: 39 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817afghan-sullivan2.mp3
(MORE)
He was peppered with questions from foreign reporters about how America's partners and allies can trust the United States after President Biden cut-and-ran from Afghanistan.
And he said it's too early to say whether the US will recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.
IN: "Right now…."
OUT: "…address that question"
DUR: 22 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817afghan-sullivan3.mp3
(MORE)
And he conceded there is a chance that the country will once again serve as a haven for terrorism.
IN: "We are going…."
OUT: "…in a war".
DUR: 30 seconds
This is part of the donation that the UK will be offering to some 11 African countries through the WHO supported COVAX facility.
Coletta Wanjohi reports from Addis Ababa:
A Taliban spokesman says the people of Afghanistan have nothing to fear as the group prepares to form a government in Kabul.
Speaking on the country's 24 hour Tolo News channel, he sounded a conciliatory tone towards officials who had worked for the former Afghan government.
And he said provided women observed sharia law, they could continue playing a role in Afghan society.
IN: NATSOUND
OUT: "…our cultural values"
DUR: 49 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817taliban-tolo.mp3
The Taliban also held a news conference in Kabul.
Speaking through an interpreter, spokesman Zaibhullah Mujahid insisted women have nothing to fear from the country's new government.
IN: "Women…..
OUT: "….limits of Islam"
DUR: 14 seconds
The White House says flights are now able to land and depart at Kabul's international airport once again after Monday's chaos brought evacuation efforts to a standstill.
US officials say that on Monday only around 700 people were able to leave….including 150 American citizens.
But US military flights are now beginning to evacuate what US officials estimate are between 5000 and 10 thousand Americans in Afghanistan.
Army Major General William Taylor told reporters at the Pentagon there had been no hostile activity by the Taliban at the airport…but the situation is still fluid.
IN: "Right now…."
OUT: "….at the airport"
DUR: 35 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817a_pentagon-taylor.mp3
(MORE)
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby did not want to be drawn about reports that Afghans who have assisted the American effort over the last 20 years are being blocked by the Taliban from reaching the airport…
Nor did he want to answer questions about why President Biden is giving this operation only until the end of this month….two more weeks …to conclude.
IN: "We'll do as much…."
OUT: "…31st August"
DUR: 39 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0817b_pentagon-kirby-interpreters.mp3