The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
A four hour meeting in Brussels today between NATO and Russia made no breakthrough over Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance's members reiterated that they will not agree to Russian demands for the promises that Ukraine will be blocked from ever joining NATO.
IN: "It was a very….."
OUT: "….choose his own path"
DUR: 31 seconds
The White House is to distribute millions of free coronavirus tests to schools across the United States in a bid to keep classrooms open.
It comes as covid-19 hospitalisations reach record levels.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
IN: The Biden
OUT: SOC
DUR: 39"
Inflation is up to its highest annual rate in nearly 40 years in the United States.
It affected the cost of everything from food, energy and homes in 2021, with supply chain issues and high demand pushing prices up even more.
Caroline Malone reports from Washington.
The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted he attended a potentially rule-breaking party in his Downing Street residence in May 2020, when the country was still in a Covid-19 lockdown.
Amid mounting anger, including from his own MPs, he faced a grilling in Parliament over a gathering of dozens of people in Number 10's garden, at a time when social contact was strictly limited.
Mr Johnson apologised for any "misjudgements" and says he accepts "full responsibility" for what happened. But the opposition Labour Party is calling for him to step down.
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
IN: The law
OUT: SOC
DUR: 55 secs (with SOTs)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised for the role he played at a Number 10 Downing Street gathering on May 20th 2020.
At that time large gatherings were illegal due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mr Johnson said he believed the gathering was a 'work event'.
Answering questions during Prime Minister's Question's in the House of Commons, he said he wished 'things has happened differently' on that evening.
Leader of the Labour opposition party, Keir Starmer, called Johnson's apology 'pathetic'.
He's now demanding the Prime Minister resign.
IN: "After months of…"
OUT: "...and resign."
DUR: 40 secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/120121-PMQsStarmer-CJ-generic.mp3
Intro:
India's top scientific advisor has warned that everybody in the country could be infected with the Omicron variant soon.
The remarks come as one in ten are testing positive for the virus across the nation.
In large cities that number is one in five.
Still, many experts are split over booster shots, as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.
IN: Head of the scientific advisoryIN: "The Ministry of Defense ..."
Kindergartens and primary schools in Hong Kong are temporarily suspending classes as part of government efforts to control an outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. The closures come amid tightening social-distancing restrictions, and promises of more government subsidies for local businesses.
Richard Kimber reports.
IN: The Hong Kong government
OUT: Richard Kimber, Hong Kong
DUR: 0.45
Australian Industry leaders are calling for an overhaul of the country's Covid isolation rules, to combat chronic staff shortages.
The Federal Government is holding talks with industry, to decide which sectors should qualify for relaxed isolation rules.
Shaun Bindley reports.
GENERIC: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0112iso-sb-gen.mp3
COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA
US President Joe Biden is calling for a change in Senate rules in a bid to pass voting rights legislation.
The President says he supports ending the filibuster to allow the laws to pass with a simple majority - not the 60 elusive votes they currently require.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
IN: A senator
OUT: SOC
DUR: 1'03"