The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
The US Congress has passed a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown.
It gives President Biden enough time to sign into law before funding for the government lapses at midnight on Thursday.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington.
IN: "The bill…."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 50 seconds
clip: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930shutdown-kf.mp3
Calls are growing for the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick in London, after a former police officer was jailed for life without any possibility of parole for the kidnap, rape and murder of 33 year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard.
The shock in the UK created by the killing has been compounded by fresh disclosures that murderer Wayne Couzens was previously reported three times for indecent exposure, and yet no action was taken against him.
Diane Abbott is a lawmaker with Britain's opposition Labour Party.
IN: "The Metropolitan…."
OUT: "….to step down".
DUR: 21 seconds
Tense hours lie ahead in Washington, where President Biden is urging Democrats on Capitol Hill to unite and pass the two key planks of his domestic policy agenda.
But the outlook remains uncertain.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has promised a vote later today on the President's $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal ….but her own deputy says because of divisions among the President's fellow Democrats, it will not pass.
And at the White House press secretary Jen Psaki indicated fevered work is underway trying to drag both the President's major spending bills over the finishing line.
IN: "We're working…."
OUT: "….hours from now"
DUR: 17 seconds
In a consequential week on Capitol Hill, democrats are trying to salvage two crucial pieces of US President Biden's domestic agenda which are at risk because of divisions within his own party.
Meanwhile lawmakers say they will pass legislation in time to avert a government shutdown before funding lapses at Midnight on Thursday.
From Washington, Kate Fisher reports.
IN: "In the…"
OUT: SOC
DUR: 41 seconds
clip: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930congress-kf.mp3
The threat of a US government shutdown has evaporated but President Biden is still in the midst of some very complex efforts to try and pass key planks of his domestic agenda on Capitol Hill.
There's no agreement on lifting the debt ceiling to avoid a default next month on US government loans.
And the President is facing opposition from within his own Democratic party the could de-rail a vote later today on his 1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal.
On the floor of the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell confirmed that at least the US government will continue to operate past midnight tonight.
IN: "The conclusion…."
OUT: "…next week"
DUR: 24 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930shutdown-mcconnell.mp3
A former Metropolitan police officer has been given a life prison sentence with no possibility of parole after being convicted of the kidnap, rape and murder of 33 year old marketing executive Sarah Everard.
The sentencing of Wayne Couzens saw gruesome details about his crimes revealed in court for the first time…..he used his own police identity card to abduct Ms. Everard on the false pretext that she had breached Covid-19 regulations.
Harriet Harman, a veteran lawmaker with the opposition Labour Party, is calling for the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.
IN: "We need …."
OUT: "….lead that forward"
DUR: 19 seconds
The UK government has announced it will offer $670m of financial support to those struggling to meet household bills as pandemic funding is wound back. The new Household Support Fund will be distributed by local Councils to those in need. Laura Makin-Isherwood reports.
IN: The Household Support Fund…
OUT: Laura Makin-Isherwood, London
DUR: 0:37
http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930householdfunduk-lmi-generic.mp3
IN: "A historic verdict..."
OUT: SOC
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930sarkozyverdict-rc-generic.mp3
The UK's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is coming to an end today (Thursday).
Since the start of the pandemic, the so-called furlough scheme saw the government pay towards the wages of people who could not work due to Covid-19, or whose companies could no longer afford to employ them.
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
IN: Almost one million workers
OUT: SOC
DUR: 46 secs
Intro;
Uganda has received a consignment of 335,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Government of Ireland.
The vaccines are expected to boost the country's COVID-19 capacity to inoculate as many Ugandans as possible.
Michael Baleke has more from Kampala
IN: Uganda is currently...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 00.31secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930ugandavaccines-mb-generic.mp3
The Australian state of Victoria has recorded 1438 new covid infections and five deaths in the last 24 hrs, more than double the numbers reported yesterday.
The record spike is being put down to Australian football fans who gathered against covid mandate regulations, to watch the games grand final over the long weekend.
Shaun Bindley reports.
IN: The game was only...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 40 secs
GENERIC: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0930gf-sb-gen.mp3
COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA
Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.
IN: "It was a..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 50 secs
Britney Spears' father has been suspended as conservator of her estate, following allegations by the 39-year-old pop star that he abused his position.
The controversial guardianship arrangement sparked the Free Britney movement, whose supporters gathered outside the courthouse in Los Angeles.
Ira Spitzer has more from California
IN: A Los Angeles...
Another 23 species, including one of the world's biggest woodpeckers, have been declared extinct by US officials. Scientists are warning of an "extinction crisis" with flora and fauna now disappearing at 1,000 times the historical rate. FSN correspondent Caroline Malone reports.
IN: The Ivory billed ...
OUT: Caroline Malone, Washington.
DUR: 0:35
Intro:
India's daily COVID-19 cases have fallen to their lowest in nearly 8 months.
The country has reported under 20,000 daily infections for two consecutive days now.
But with the festive season just weeks away, authorities are urging caution.
Ishan Garg reports.
IN: India reported closeJapan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is voting for a new leader, who is set to become the country's next prime minister. None of the four candidates are predicted to secure a majority in the first round of voting, which will trigger a run-election.
Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.
IN: "The top two..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 49 secs
Australian welfare groups are worried more people will be driven into poverty when Covid Disaster Payments come to an end.
The benefit will be scrapped once each state and territory hits a full vaccination rate of 80 per cent for people over 16.
Shaun Bindley reports
IN: The payment is worth...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 27 secs
GENERIC: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0929payment-sb-gen.mp3
COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA
Hong Kong police have charged seven people, including two teenagers, with national security offences. Local media reports say the seven belong to a pro-independence group at the center of an investigation into an alleged bomb plot.
Richard Kimber reports.
IN: Hong Kong's
OUT: Richard Kimber, Hong Kong
DUR: 0.41
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to stop panic buying after numerous petrol stations across the nation ran out of fuel.
Industry experts say there is no shortage of fuel supply in the UK, instead, the issue lies with a lack of heavy goods vehicles drivers to deliver it.
Chris Jones has more in London
IN: "Across the UK…"
OUT: SOC
DUR: 55 secs (includes Sot from Boris Johnson)
Lawmakers are questioning top U.S. military leaders over the withdrawal from Afghanistan in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
They have been responding to questions over tactical decisions during chaotic evacuations, and on future counterterrorism operations.
Caroline Malone reports from Washington.
IN: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
OUT: Caroline Malone, Washington.
DUR: 0:58
The US Congress has heard warnings that Afghanistan could serve as a haven for ISIS terror attacks in as little as a year following the botched US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has been taking testimony from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command.
General Milley told Senators it's obvious the Afghan operation did not end on the terms that America wanted.
IN: "We must continue…."
OUT: "…12-36 months"
DUR: 24 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0928milley-ISIS.mp3
(MORE)
Under questioning from Republican Senator James Inhofe, General McKenzie said he had backed a Pentagon plan to maintain 2500 US troops in Afghanistan, and he appeared to challenge claims by President Biden that those recommendations never reached the Oval Office desk.
IN: “I recommended….”
OUT: “….very thoughtfully”
DUR: 38 seconds
The UK has put its army on standby after fears of supply shortages sparked panic buying at petrol stations across the country.
Up to 150 military tanker drivers are preparing to help deliver fuel following days of long queues and pump closures.
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
IN: It's been little more
OUT: SOC
DUR: 44 secs
Intro:
A controversial new law allowing child marriages to be registered in India's Rajasthan is facing strong criticism
Activists say the amendment legitimizes Child marriage.
The practice of often forcibly marrying minors has since long existed in the Western Indian state.
But is widely recognized as a social evil as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.
IN: The national commission for child protectionChina is condemning the U.K. for sailing a warship through the Taiwan strait.
The U.K. says the route is in line with international law.
But Beijing says it reflects "evil intentions" and undermines regional stability.
Samuel Wong reports.
IN: The UK's ministry...
OUT: ...in the region.
DUR: 39 s
LINK: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0928TW.mp3
IN: "All states of emergency..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 44 secs
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan have praised the strong and long standing relationship between their two countries, as they signed a memorandum of understanding renewing the Singapore-United States Third Country Training Programme, for the tenth year.
The scheme aims to develop resilient institutions in Southeast Asia through training government officials to address challenges like climate change, pandemics and cyber security.
From Washington, Kate Fisher reports
IN: "Both the…"
OUT: climate change
DUR: 52 seconds
clip: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0927singapore.mp3