The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
Intro:
Four states in India are conducting a dummy dummy vaccination drive today.
The exercise comes off the back of India's largest manufacturer saying that a COVID 19 vaccine could only be days away from approval.
Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi.
IN: Serum Institute of India
OUT: SOC
Duration: 41 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1229-IndiaVaccineDay2-ig-generic.mp3
As 2020 enters its final week, Covid infections worldwide near 81 and a half million, while more than 1.7 million people have died so far.
In the past 24 hours, the United States logged more than 150 thousand new cases, the European Union rolled out its massive Covid-19 vaccination program, and India prepares its own vaccination campaign.
Here's Liling Tan with the latest global Covid-19 update.
IN: "Global Covid-19 cases…
OUT: SOC
DUR: 53"
ALL: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1228-GlobalCovidUpdate-lt-generic.mp3
US authorities have identified the man they believe detonated a vehicle bomb in the city of Nashville and said the 63 year old was killed in the blast.
The motive for the bombing remains a mystery.
US correspondent Ira Spitzer reports
IN: Investigators say that...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 33
The governments of Zanzibar and Oman have announced the opening of investigations into the partial collapse of Beit Al Ajaib or House of Wonders in Zanzibar that killed two people and injured several others.
Isaac Lukando reports
In: ' The governements of..'
Out: SOC
Dur: 39 secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/2812ZanzibarOmanAnnounceHouseOfWondersProbe-IL-generic.mp3
The US House of Representatives plans to vote Monday on a measure to increase coronavirus relief payments from $600 to $2,000 - an idea touted by President Trump and embraced by Democrats.
The President belatedly signed into law a coronavirus aid package on Sunday.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
Ten of the twelve Hong Kongers arrested by Chinese coastguards while allegedly trying to flee to Taiwan by boat, are due to face trial later Monday.
They've been detained in China for more than four months, and face charges of making an illegal border crossing.
Their families are calling for international support to make sure the trial is fair.
Richard Kimber reports.
IN: The 12 Hong Kongers
OUT: Richard Kimber, Hong Kong
DUR: 0.46
LINK: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/201228HK12-RK-generic.mp3
President Trump has caved to political pressure and signed a spending bill that includes fresh stimulus measures for the US economy including an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who may other wise have seen their payments delayed.
The President's climbdown came late on Sunday in Florida after a day of relentless criticism from many of his fellow Republicans who were urging him to sign the bill, negotiated by Republicans and Democrats after days of complex negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "This is an…."
OUT: "….with the Democrats"
DUR: 27 seconds
The first Covid-19 vaccinations are underway across the European Union.
Meanwhile the head of the pharmaceutical giant Astra Zeneca says a vaccine the company has developed in conjunction with Oxford University is more effective against the coronavirus than previously anticipated.
It could be approved for use by regulators in the UK as early as next week.
Dr. Julian Tang is a Consultant Virologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary in the UK.
IN: "It's a home-grown…."
OUT: "…low purchase price"
DUR: 41 seconds
Federal law enforcement officials in Nashville say a 63-year old man may have been responsible for the explosion of a recreational vehicle in the city at dawn on Christmas Day.
Human remains were found in the wreckage of the vehicle, and the blast - which occurred after warnings were broadcast from inside it - injured three people.
Donald Cochran is the US Attorney in Nashville.
IN: "Based on…."
OUT: "…the bomber"
DUR: 10 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1227nashville-cochran.mp3
(TAG)
Federal agents believe the blast may have been an act of public suicide by Mr. Warner.
They tracked the vehicle to his home about 11 miles away from the site of the blast.
Pressure is mounting on President Trump to sign a spending bill that includes fresh stimulus measures for the US economy, including an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who may otherwise see their payments delayed.
The President is standing firm: insisting that the measure agreed by Republicans and Democrats after days of tortuous negotiations does not include sufficiently generous benefit checks for the hardest hit Americans.
But a growing number of Republicans in the Senate are urging the President to act in order to avoid a government shutdown later this week.
Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania spoke on CNN.
IN: "Time's running out…."
OUT: "….and then make the case"
DUR: 8 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1227toomey-self1.mp3
(MORE)
Democrats say they're astonished by the President's intransigence, and say that if he felt so strongly he should have been personally involved in the negotiating process rather than leaving things to his Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Senator Bernie Sanders spoke on ABC
IN: "Everybody assumed…."
OUT: "…that everybody had"
DUR: 10 seconds
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has called on world leaders to look to faith as a means of getting through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Isaac Lukando reports.
IN: "Tanzanian President......"
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/2512PresidentMagufuliMessageOnCovid-19-IL-generic.mp3
For the first time, California is allowing driverless vehicles to carry out commercial deliveries.
Robotics firm Nuro has been testing its fleet on the state's roads for several years, but now it will actually be able to charge customers for its services.
Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.
IN: Nuro's vehicles will...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 35