Thursday, December 18, 2014

EU leaders to discuss Ukraine and Investment plan during final summit

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels for their final summit of the year to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, as well as a new investment plan to spur economic growth in Europe.


Members of the 28-nation bloc are said to have already agreed new sanctions against Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in March.


The measures are set to target areas like telecommunications, oil, gas and mineral exploration and production in the black sea in order to curb Russian aspirations to develop its core energy industry.


EU leaders are also poised to send tough warnings to the Russian government for failing to stop fighting in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian militants and government forces.


Meanwhile the EU's new 315 billion euro investment plan is still awaiting firm contributions from member countries - an issue on the agenda today, as our correspondent in Brussels Sandra Gathmann explains:



IN: "European…"


OUT: "…purse strings."


DUR: 25 seconds



CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1218juncker.mp3

EU leaders to discuss Ukraine and Investment plan during final summit

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels for their final summit of the year to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, as well as a new investment plan to spur economic growth in Europe.


Members of the 28-nation bloc are said to have already agreed new sanctions against Crimea, the Ukranian peninsula annexed by Russia in March.


The measures are set to target areas like telecommunications, oil, gas and mineral exploration and production in the black sea in order to curb Russian aspirations to develop its core energy industry.


EU leaders are also poised to send tough warnings to the Russian government for failing to stop fighting in East Ukraine between pro-Russian militants and government forces.


Meanwhile the EU's new 315 billion euro investment plan is still awaiting firm contributions from member countries - an issue on the agenda today, as our correspondent in Brussels Snadra Gathmann explains:



IN: "European…"


OUT: "…purse strings."


DUR: 25 seconds



CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1218juncker.mp3

Australian TV actor charged with over 100 counts of child molestation

An actor with credits on some of Australia's most popular television
programs is alleged to have molested boys while on camera after inviting
them to perform screen tests.
Arthur Stevens has more

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U.S. Links North Korea to Sony Hacking

U.S. intelligence officials have told the New York Times North Korea is behind the hacking of Sony Pictures in Hollywood.


The report says officials are not clear how the White House would decide to respond to North Korea after what amounts to a cyber-terrorism campaign.


Sony has also cancelled the release of the film 'The Interview' following more cyber threats.


Verity Geere has the latest from Los Angeles.


In: Senior administration officials
Out: SOC
Dur: 39 seconds

U.S.: North Korea "centrally involved" in Sony hacking

American intelligence officials say North Korea was "centrally involved" in the recent attack on Sony Pictures' computer network.

The announcement came just as Sony cancelled the release of its controversial comedy, The Interview, which portrays an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Rebecca Bowring reports.

IN: "Federal authorities have…"
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DUR: 0:36

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Sony Pictures Cancels Release of "The Interview"

Sony Pictures says it is cancelling the December 25th release of its controversial comedy “The Interview.”
Sony made the announcement after  several major theater chains decided not to play the movie, in light of threats from anonymous hackers. 

Rachel Silverman reports from California. 


IN: "Sony cancelled"
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DUR: 38 seconds

Top 5 American cinema chains drop 'The Interview'

The country's five biggest cinema companies will not screen the film 'The Interview' following threats from hackers.


The theater chains are reacting to a message sent to Sony Pictures in Hollywood, threatening terror attacks on cinemas that screened the film about an assassination attempt against North Korean leader Kim Jung Un.


Our Los Angeles correspondent Verity Geere reports.


In: Carmike, the fourth
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Dur: 40 seconds

Pope credited with brokering US-Cuba breakthrough


President Obama says the embargo set on Cuba more than 50 years ago is outdated and it's time to start normalising relations with the communist island nation.  

Pope Francis is being credited with helping to facilitate the diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Cuba.  

Vatican communications director Greg Burke described the effort as being very much "in the spirit" of the Pope. 

IN: Certainly Francis...'
OUT: '...any glory'
DUR: 33 secs


AMERICAN ALAN GROSS SPEAKS ON HIS RELEASE FROM CUBA

American contractor Alan Gross, who's just returned to the US after five years in a Cuban prison, has thanked President Obama for working to secure his freedom.

Mr. Gross' release comes as the two countries engaged in a prisoner swap as part of a historic shift in US-Cuba relations.

Mr. Gross said it's a blessing to be a citizen of the US and also expressed his affection to the citizens of Cuba, who he said bear no responsibility for his ordeal.

He said he "fully supports" the President's intent to normalize diplomatic ties with Cuba.

The former contractor lost over 100 pounds and five teeth while in captivity; he's asked for privacy as he recovers.

Alan Gross thanked his supporters for never giving up on securing his freedom, especially as his health deteriorated.

IN: "It was..."
OUT: "...and sustaining."
DUR: 10 seconds 


(ALT)

Mr. Gross said he was particularly grateful for the intervention of President Obama.

IN: "But ultimately..."
OUT: "...thank you."
DUR: 13 seconds


(ALT)

Mr. Gross expressed his affection for the Cuban people.

IN: "I also..."
OUT: "...and talented."
DUR: 22 seconds


(ALT)

Mr. Gross said he fully supports today's historic shift in relations between Cuba and the United States.

IN: "Five and a half..."
OUT: "...say today."
DUR: 18 seconds


Obama, Castro talk by phone to secure US-Cuba deal

President Obama says the embargo set on Cuba more than 50 years ago is outdated and it's time to start normalising relations with the communist island nation.  

The US leader spoke at the same time his Cuban counterpart addressed his nation welcoming back three Cuban prisoners who were exchanged for US contractor Alan Gross.

Cuba's President Raul Castro said his government is ready to make changes that will ease tensions with the United States.

IN: 'We propose...'
OUT: '...charter'
DUR: 22 secs



Cuba's President Raul Castro welcomed the results of the prisoner swap with the United States

IN: 'This is the...'
OUT: '...are here'
DUR: 25 secs



Obama under fire from Republicans over Cuba policy shift

President Obama has unveiled a seismic shift in US policy towards Cuba after the Castro regime  agreed to a prisoner swap, and released an American contractor jailed in Havana for the last 5 years.


The US is now proposing to restart diplomatic relations and allow Americans to do business with Cuba.


But as our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports, Republicans are accusing the President of betraying the Cuban people.


IN:  "It was a stunning…."

OUT:  SOC

DUR:  31 seconds



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Opposition to President Obama's Shift in Cuba Policy

After President Obama announced the plans for the normalisation of US relations with Cuba, some in Washington are already expressing their concern about the move.

The Democratic Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, says by freeing three Cuban prisoners in the US, the administration has vindicated the Cuban government's behaviour.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida called the announcement 'absurd'.

Mike Gonzalez, Senior Fellow at the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington D.C, laid out some of the steps such disgruntled members of Congress could take to obstruct President Obama's move:

IN: There are many...
OUT: ...from doing this
DUR: 22 seconds


Anna Quintana, a research associate at Washington's right wing Heritage Foundation, says the State Department should not, as is planned, review Cuba's place on its list of state sponsors of terrorism:

IN: The President needs...
OUT: ...their proxy Venezuela
DUR: 26 seconds


Mike Gonzalez, Senior Fellow at the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington D.C, criticised the negotiation skills of the White House:

IN: Obama must be....
OUT: ... in the 1990s
DUR: 24 seconds

US Cuba expert 'Obama's policy shift long overdue'


President Obama says the embargo set on Cuba more than 50 years ago is outdated and it's time to start normalizing relations with the communist island nation.  

Wednesday's developments regarding Cuba come after the release of an American contractor Alan Gross who had been imprisoned in Cuba for the past five years.  

Political Science Professor Jennifer McCoy of Georgia State University says it's about time the US made this shift in relations. 

IN: 'All of our...'
OUT: '...embargo'
DUR: 30 secs

Amid reports of US-Cuba thaw, Russian media points to cold war alliance with Havana

Russian media is pointing out the long relationship that the Soviet Union had with Cuba throughout the cold war, as the United States is due to begin negotiations on normalising relations with Havana.


The US had imposed an embargo on Cuba for decades, seeing it is a communist ideological enemy.


Tom Barton reports.



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OUT: SOC

DUR: 35"


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Obama Announces Sweeping Shift In US Policy Towards Cuba

President Barack Obama has announced the most sweeping shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba in more than half a century.

Speaking live from the Cabinet Room of the White House, the President said Washington will move to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, relax travel restrictions, expand commercial sales and exports between the two countries and review Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Mr. Obama said America's current approach to its relationship with Cuba is 'outdated' and he wanted to start a 'new chapter':

IN: We will end...
OUT: ... of the Americas
DUR: 19 seconds


President Obama said that the release of US contractor Alan Gross on humanitarian grounds removed the barriers towards normalising relations:

IN: While I've been...
OUT: ... on humanitarian grounds 
DUR: 27 seconds


Mr. Obama recognised that Washington and Havana will still have their differences in the future:

IN: Given Cuba's history... 
OUT: the 21st century
DUR: 25 seconds


The President said the State Department will review Cuba's inclusion on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism:

IN: I've instructed Secretary....
OUT: ...face this sanction
DUR: 21 seconds


President Obama called on the US Congress to work with him on changing the nature of the relationship with Cuba

IN: These are the... 
OUT: ...a different result
DUR: 30 seconds 


Mr. Obama extended his thanks to the Vatican for helping broker talks between the US and Cuba:

IN: To those who've...
OUT: ...as it is
DUR: 14 seconds

Obama hails US sanctions on Cuba a failure, launches seismic shift in US policy

President Obama has unveiled a surprise shift in US policy towards Cuba after 18 months of secret negotiations moderated by Pope Francis gave rise to a prisoner swap, and an agreement to discuss a restoration of diplomatic ties.

He's easing sanctions, allowing Americans to do business with Cuba and visit the island, and acknowledging that US sanctions against the Castro regime haven't worked.

Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

IN:  "For 5 decades…."
OUT:  SOC
DUR  1:05


(ALT)  

Republicans have acted swiftly to criticize the President’s decision to try and re-open diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida says the White House moves will only strengthen the Castro regime’s hold on power.

IN:  “These changes….”
OUT:  “…of its oppressed people”
DUR:  14 seconds


(ALT)

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, says the White House is betraying the Cuban people by striking a deal with their Communist rulers.

IN:  “These changes…..”
OUT:  “…
DUR:  25 seconds


US pharmacy staff arrested after deadly drugs kill over 60 people

The owners and staff of a Massachusetts pharmacy linked to a deadly outbreak have been arrested.

They have been charged with shipping contaminated drugs across the country that led to the death of more than 60 people from fungal meningitis.

FSN's Nick Harper reports from Boston

IN:The US..'
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DUR: 39 secs



Cuban Americans react to thaw in US Cuba relations

The US and Cuba are to discuss a restoration of diplomatic relations.

 

The agreement discussed in detail during a phone call between President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro includes a prisoner swap.

 

It sets the stage for an end to decades of hostility between the two countries.

 

Miami correspondent Steve Mort says Cubans in the city's Little Havana neighbourhood are shocked:


 

IN:  "Cuban American…."

OUT:  "…them personally"

DUR:   22

 

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1217miami-mort.mp3


Florida correspondent Steve Mort says this historic announcement comes sooner than many expected.


IN: "Well, a lot..."

OUT: "...so quickly."

DUR: 24 seconds


CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1217timing-mort.mp3 



Florida correspondent Steve Mort says there is a generational divide between reaction to the news in the Cuban-American community.


IN: "There are those..."

OUT: "...United States government."

DUR: 38 seconds


CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1217divide-mort.mp3



Freed US prisoner Alan Gross arrives home from Cuba

President Obama has unveiled a seismic shift in US policy towards Cuba after the Cubans agreed to a prisoner swap, and released an American contractor jailed in Havana for the last 5 years.


Alan Gross has arrived home in the United States.


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.


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OUT:  SOC

DUR:  38 seconds


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Obama poised to confirm details of new opening in US-Cuba relations

The US and Cuba are to discuss a restoration of diplomatic relations after 18 months of secret negotiations between the two countries.


The agreement discussed in detail during a phone call between President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro includes a prisoner swap, and sets the stage for an end to decades of hostility between the two countries.


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks has details of the agreement.


IN:  "This is a stunning…."

OUT:  "…from Florida's shores"

DUR:   1:12 


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(ALT)


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks says that the announcement is expected to be greeted with hostility by Cuban exiles in America who oppose the Castro regime.


IN:  "There will be…."

OUT:  "….and Havana"

DUR:  54 seconds


http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1217cuba-marks2.mp3