The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
The shipment of tens of millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine has been halted.
This after workers at a US plant manufacturing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the AstraZeneca vaccine accidentally mixed up the vaccines' ingredients.
US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details.
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Gains in technology shares helped drive US markets, ahead of a speech by US President Joe Biden outlining his 2.3 trillion dollar infrastructure plan.
The S and P 500 closed out March up more than 4%, its best monthly performance since November.
Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.
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France is widening its regional Covid-19 lockdown measures to cover the whole country from this weekend, as the government steps up its fight against the third wave of infections.
In a speech to the nation, President Emmanuel Macron said that schools would have to close for three weeks and more intensive care beds would be opened up to ease the pressure on hospitals.
Ross Cullen reports.
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Tanzania's former Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Philip Mpango has been sworn in today as the country's new vice president in the nation's capital Dodoma.
Mpango fills the position that was left vacant after President Samia Suluhu Hassan took over as president following the death of John Magufuli.
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The White House has extended a national emergency on South Sudan in order to deal with what it describes as an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
President Joe Biden says the current situation in South Sudan is characterised by activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan and the surrounding region.
Patrick Oyet reports from South Sudan's capital, Juba
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The White House has unveiled a two trillion dollar plan focused on infrastructure and climate change that's intended to create millions of jobs.
But President Biden's vision for reshaping the US economy is likely to face fierce opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
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South African businesses are relieved that government has made only minor adjustments to the country’s current lockdown alert level 1 regulations. These changes only apply during the 4-day Easter weekend. Active and daily new COVID-19 infection levels have been consistently low since mid-February, but there are fears that holiday gatherings may trigger a third wave as winter approaches. Mark Roughton has details.
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Racism has become a less important factor when it comes to social disparities in the UK. That's the conclusion made in a government-commissioned review, published on Wednesday.
The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, set up in light of the Black Lives Matter protests, claims that Britain "should be regarded as a model for other white-majority countries."
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
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Around 4 million people across England and Wales are being told they no longer to shield from Covid-19.
This comes as infection rates have decreased since the winter peak of 80 thousand cases.
Chris Jones has more in London.
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Australia will partner with a global arms manufacturer under a billion dollar plan to produce guided missiles at a new weapons facility.
In announcing the plan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison highlighted changing global conditions as being a driver behind the new manufacturing program.
Shaun Bindley reports from Brisbane.
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COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA
Australia will partner with a global arms manufacturer under a billion dollar plan to produce guided missiles at a new weapons facility.
In announcing the plan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison highlighted changing global conditions as being the driver behind the new manufacturing program.
Shaun Bindley reports from Brisbane.
IN: The Department of ...
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DUR: 29 secs
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COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA
A major shake-up of Hong Kong's electoral systems is taking effect, giving China significantly more influence over the city's politics. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam says the changes will strengthen the city, but democracy campaigners say the moves eliminate any real political opposition.
Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.
The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, accused of the killing last May of George Floyd, has heard more searing testimony from prosecution witnesses.
Among those testifying today, Genvieve Frazier, an off-duty Emergency Medical Technician with the Minneapolis Fire Department who stumbled across the scene, and was blocked by police from offering medical assistance that she suggested could have saved Mr,. Floyd's life.
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The trial also heard on Tuesday from the 18 year-old woman who captured the cellphone video of Officer Chauvin with his knee pressed against Mr. Floyd's neck that went viral worldwide.
Darnella Frazier was walking in the area near Mr. Floyd's arrest with her younger cousin.
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Mr. Chauvin's defense lawyers tried to push back against some of the prosecution testimony, suggesting that the crowd of bystanders had been so angry, the police might have feared they were under threat.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
The Biden administration has officially declared that it believes the Chinese government is commiting genocide against the largely Muslim Uyghur minority group.
While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has previously used the term, its inclusion in the State Department's report on human rights abuses is the first time it has been cited in a US government publication.
From Washington, Kate Fisher reports.
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US stocks finished in the red Tuesday as investors weighed optimism from increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and prospects for a speedier economic recover over reports of rising coronavirus infection rates in some US states.
The three major benchmarks all finished in negative territory.
Here's our Liling Tan with the Wall Street wrap.
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As outrage grows over the spike in attacks against Asians in the United States, the Biden Administration on Tuesday announced additional steps to stem the violence.
This includes a Justice Department program to address hate crimes, funding to support victims, and an expansion of a White House initiative to fight bias and xenophobia.
Liling Tan has more from New York.
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The WHO has released its long-awaited report into the origins of Covid-19.
The report suggests that the virus was mostly transferred from bats to humans via another animal.
The report all but rules out a laboratory leak - but says further, in depth investigations will need to be carried out.
With more detail, correspondent Lucy Hough.
Numerous high-profile figures in the UK have signed an open letter urging black Britons to accept the offer of a coronavirus vaccination.
The take-up rate amongst groups of people who identify as black African and black Caribbean is significantly lower than that of White Britons.
Chris Jones has more in London.
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More than 20 world leaders -- including the UK's Boris Johnson, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron -- are calling for a new global treaty to help prepare for any future pandemics.
In a joint letter, published in newspapers in multiple languages, they argue that Covid-19 has posed the biggest challenge since World War Two, and now's the time to "come together as a global community" to ensure that peaceful cooperation "extends beyond this crisis."
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
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South Africa’s ruling party is giving leaders who are facing criminal charges 30 days to step down from their positions. Failure to do so will result in suspension from the party. The African National Congress insists that they have clear guidelines on how to deal with criminally implicated members, but enforcement of these guidelines is being met with resistance. Mark Roughton reports.
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Nine Ugandan drivers have been killed in South Sudan over the past two days. South Sudanese authorities suspect the attacks were carried out by a rebel group operating in the area of Yei. Leon Solomon reports.
LINK: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0330nineugandadriverskilled-ls-gen.mp3
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Hong Kong is relaunching efforts to set up quarantine-free travel bubbles, as COVID-19 cases in the city remain low. The government is in talks with 16 countries, and is easing the rules for new arrivals to the city.
Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his week with multilateralism on his mind, and cooperation on his agenda.
In a series of high-profile virtual meetings at the United Nations, America's top diplomat re-affirmed Washington's renewed commitment to the UN in tackling the world's most pressing issues together.
Our UN correspondent Liling Tan reports.
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The United States is suspending all trade with Myanmar following this weekends deadly crackdown on protestors.
More than a hundred civilians were reported killed, including children.
Liling Tan reports from New York.
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The director of the US Centers for Disease Controls is pleading with Americans to stay vigilant as coronavirus infections rise again across the country.
About 28% of the US public has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, far less than the number required to achieve herd immunity.
Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco
IN: CDC director Rochelle...