Man charged with murder in connection with 8 killings at massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia

The man who allegedly shot and killed eight people at massage parlours in the US state of Georgia, has been charged with murder.

Police say 21-year-old Robert Long may have been a patron and has claimed to have a "sex addiction".

Six of the victims were Asian but police say they cannot yet confirm if the attacks were racially motivated.

It comes amid a sharp increase in crimes against Asian-Americans, which President Joe Biden has condemned, as Kate Fisher reports from Washington

IN: Just last

OUT: all frightened

DUR: 42

CLIP: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317atlanta-kf.mp3

Hong Kong government says Sinovac vaccine is victim of smearing campaign

The Hong Kong government says China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is the victim of a smearing campaign. It's accusing unnamed organisations of deliberately misleading the public into believing the vaccine is dangerous. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.

IN: The government

OUT: Richard Kimber, Hong Kong

DUR: 0.47

LINK: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/210318SinovacSmearing-RK.mp3

Two Michaels Set to Face Trial in China

The trial of two Canadians, held in prison for over two years in China, will go ahead in the coming days.

Canada's embassy in Beijing was notified of the development just as Washington is set to meet Beijing in Alaska for the first high level talks between the two sides since Joe Biden took office.

Patrick Fok reports from Beijing.

IN: Michael Spavor's
OUT: sign off
DUR: 41 secs
LINK: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0318_2michaels.mp3

Federal Reserve forecasts stronger rebound for US economy in 2021

The Federal Reserve says the US economy will bounce back stronger from the coronavirus pandemic than previously predicted, forecasting 6.5 percent GDP growth this year.

The Fed also signalled it's not expecting to raise interest rates until at least 2023.

Our Washington correspondent Giles Gibson has more.

IN: "As he unveiled…"

OUT: "...Giles Gibson, Washington."

DUR: 31 seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317-fed-gg-generic.mp3

Dow jumps 200 points as Fed holds interest rates

Shares jumped on Wall Street with the announcement the Federal Reserve
will leave interest rates at their historically low level.

People in the US are also being given more time to file their taxes.

Sarah Walton reports from New York.

IN: "The Dow rose…
OUT: SOC
DUR: 45 seconds

Generic: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317-markets-sw-generic.mp3

US set for first in-person China meeting

[Editors - meeting scheduled for Thursday Alaska time]
The US has pledged to hold Beijing to account on human rights issues
at its first face-to-face meeting with Chinese officials under the
Biden administration.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting his counterparts in
Alaska following several years of worsening ties between the world's
top two economies.

Nick Harper reports from the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

IN: "The snowy...."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 49 seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317us-china-nh.mp3

Moscow recalls ambassador to Washington for consultations

Russia has recalled its ambassador to the United States to assess the relationship between the two countries. The decision follows comments from President Joe Biden that he thinks Vladimir Putin is "a killer". Julia Chapman has more.

IN: Russian ambassador...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 0:41

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317Russiaambo-jc.mp3

Atlanta shootings: Gunman denies race was a factor

Authorities in Atlanta, Georgia say the man suspected of killing eight people at three massage parlours may have acted as a form of vengeance.

Six of the victims are of Asian descent but the suspect denies that race was a motivating factor.

William Denselow reports from Atlanta.

IN: "According to..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 53 seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317atlanta-wd.mp3

Officials say too early to say whether Georgia spa attack was racially motivated

Officials in the US state of Georgia say its too soon to tell whether a Tuesday night attack that left primarily Asian victims dead was racially motivated.

Police say the suspect claims to have battled "sex addiction" and may have been a patron of the massage parlours he targeted.

Our US correspondent Rebecca Foster reports.

IN: "Georgia police..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 32 seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317atlanta-rf.mp3

EU MULLING SOFTER CRITERIA FOR BLOCKING COVID-19 VACCINE EXPORTS

The European Union's warning that if AstraZeneca fails to deliver enough doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc, the EU may prevent exports to the UK where the vaccine's also produced.

She claimed that Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna had both delivered on their commitments — but that AstraZeneca had under-produced and under-delivered -- reducing the speed of the EU vaccination campaign.

Stuart Smith has more from Brussels.

IN: "After meeting..."

OUT: SOC

DURATION: 37 Seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317vaccineexports-ss-generic.mp3

Two Jurors Dismissed from Chauvin Trial

A judge has dismissed two jurors seated for the trial of a former police officer accused in George Floyd's death. 

Floyd died after the policeman kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes on a Minneapolis street last May. 

His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe.

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details.   

IN:The judge

OUT:SOC

DUR: 33

GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317chauvin-rs-generic.mp3

Famed but disgraced conductor James Levine dead at 77

James Levine, the conductor who led the Metropolitan Opera in New York and before that many of the world's great orchestras, has died at the age of 77.

His career was overshadowed first by ill health, then by a series of allegations of sexual abuse and harassment going back decades.

Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

IN:  "James Levine….."

OUT:  "…age of 77"

DUR:  28 seconds

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317levine-marks.mp3

Six Asian women among 8 people killed in Atlanta mass-shooting

At least six Asian women were among the victims of a mass-shooting at three Atlanta area massage parlors- which happened within an hour of each other on Tuesday.

The FBI is helping local law enforcement with the investigation into the attacks which left eight people dead.

A 21 year old suspect is in custody.

Nina-Maria Potts reports:

IN: “ The attacks…

OUT: SOC

DUR: 35 seconds

http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317atlanta-nmp.mp3

Dutch voters go to the polls in final day of election in the Netherlands

It's the final day of voting in the Netherlands, in an election largely seen as a referendum of the government's handling of the pandemic. 

Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his cabinet are expected to win a fourth term, despite accusations of mismanagement of the response to Covid-19. 

Lucy Hough has more from Brussels. 

IN: Voting has

OUT: SOC

DUR: 0:39

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1703-DUTCH%20ELECTIONS-HOUGH-GENERIC.mp3

British cruise company P&O says guests must be vaccinated

British cruise company P&O says anyone who wants to take its Summer cruises must first be vaccinated.

 

This comes soon after two US firms, Virgin Voyages and Saga Cruises made the same decision.

 

Chris Jones has more in London.

 

IN: "P&O Cruises…"

OUT: SOC

DUR: 45 secs

 

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317-P&Ocruises-CJ-generic.mp3  

--

Chris Jones

07375664222

UK UBER DRIVERS TO BE PAID MINIMUM WAGE

Ride-hailing firm Uber has announced it will guarantee its drivers will receive a minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions in the UK. The move comes four weeks after the US firm lost a Supreme Court battle - where a long-running row between drivers and Uber came to an end. Laura Makin-Isherwood has more.

IN: The decision to grant greater rights…

OUT: Laura Makin-Isherwood, London

DUR: 38

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317uberrights-lmi-generic.mp3

Europe to propose ‘vaccine passport’

Brussels will unveil details of a 'vaccine passport' today which could help ease travel across the bloc and reopen Europe to international tourism this summer.

But as Toni Waterman reports, some member states are already flagging concerns.

IN: The "digital green certificate"
OUT: SOC
DUR: :46s

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/01703-twEUvaccinepassport.mp3

UK government defends AstraZeneca jab amid vaccine blood clot concerns

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is safe -- that's according to the UK's Health Secretary, after 13 countries suspended its use amid concerns over blood clots.

Britain's medicines regulator and the World Health Organization insist the evidence "does not suggest" the jab causes clots.

From London, Benji Hyer reports. 

IN: If you get the call

OUT: SOC

DUR: 36 secs

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317AZ-bh-generic.mp3   

Russia dismisses election meddling claims

The Russian embassy in Washington has dismissed as "groundless" accusations of attempting to influence the U.S. presidential election. It follows an American intelligence report that alleges Russian President Vladimir Putin either directed or approved the efforts. Julia Chapman has more.

IN: A statement...

OUT: SOC

DUR: 0:37

http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0317Russiameddling-jc.mp3

Third Wave: Germany sees 47% jump in new Covid-19 cases

Germany has recorded a major spike in new Covid-19 cases. The jump is being seen as confirmation the country now finds itself in the middle of a third wave of the pandemic. 

The increase is also dashing hopes that lockdown restrictions will be lifted anytime soon. 

From Berlin, Trent Murray reports. 

IN: The latest 
OUT: SOC 
TIME: 52 seconds 

http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/1703covidjump-tm-generic.mp3