Thursday, January 29, 2015

New ebola vaccine tests underway in UK

INTRO: A group of volunteers in the UK have just been given their final test injections as part of a major trial to find a vaccine for Ebola…

Scientists at Oxford University are recruiting a total of 72 participants.

It's the second such vaccine to be tested in the city - and it's hoped it will be available in West Africa by the middle of this year. 

Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports…

IN: 25-year-old…
OUT: …SOC, Oxford. 
DUR: 2'00"

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VO 1: 25-year-old Susanne is one of the first volunteers to take part in this trial, hoping to play her part in the battle against Ebola. 

She's part of 4 groups of 18 people involved in testing the vaccine at Oxford University, which in initial tests on monkeys gave complete protection against virus. 

With the world's experts watching on, Dr Matthew Snape from Oxford Vaccine Group says these tests have become everyone's top priority...

CUT 1: Dr Matthew Snape, Oxford Vaccine Group: "No shortcuts have been taken. It has gone through the usual process of ethics committee review, NHS approvals an the MHRA approvals, but it's been put to the top of everyone's list if you like and it is prioritised."

VO 2: Firstly Susanne undergoes a full health check, before being taken through to receive the injection. 

Trial organisers stress the vaccine can not cause anyone to become infected with Ebola. 

After receiving the vaccine - which may be a placebo, she'll undergo several months of close observations." 

VO 2: Only a small group of scientists here know which volunteers are being injected with an actual Ebola protein.

The vaccine was developed in Germany and the Netherlands.

Susanne told me why she wanted to take part...

CUT 2: Susanne Kadobinskyj: "One of my colleagues told me about it and it just sounded like a good idea because I think lots of people want to help with the Ebola crisis so it's kind of my small way of helping while I am fit and healthy." 

VO 3: The 30-strong team of medical experts - headed up by Dr Snape - say the vaccine should be taken to the next stage within months. 

CUT 3: Dr Matthew Snape, Oxford Vaccine Group: "The next step is to take it from these small phase one studies that we are doing now to larger studies that look for direct evidence to whether the vaccine works so that can only be done in the field, in West Africa to be giving it to large numbers of people to see if it protects against disease."

VO 4: Both the scientists and volunteers here hope their vital work will save thousands of lives.

Dan Whitehead, SOC, Oxford.

ENDS

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Weather forecasters apologize, politicians explain themselves after "Snowmageddon" leaves NYC unscathed

Now to the US where weather forecasters have been apologizing for getting things wrong.


Life in New York is now back to normal after a massive snowstorm failed to bring the disruption to Manhattan that the meteorologists had predicted.


The "Blizzard" of 2015 will be remembered for dumping large amounts of snow on Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts….but not the Big Apple, as LBC's US correspondent Simon Marks reports.


IN:  "This is the tale…." 

OUT:  SOC

DUR:  2:21


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It is the tale of two snowstorms….the one that happened, and the one that didn't.

New York spent Tuesday rather embarrassed over the total shut-down of the city on Monday night for a storm widely predicted to be the weather event of the century.

But "snowmageddon" it was not…despite the breathless reporting of TV news and weather channels…all of them insisting people should get off the streets, stay at home and of course, stay tuned.

With the weather forecasters apologizing (the media notably did not) it was left to Mayor Bill de Blasio to explain himself.


AXX


Cynics accused the Mayor of jumping on the snowstorm in a bid first of all to prove his emergency management skills….and secondly to change the subject in New York, away from the recent arrest of one of his allies, a prominent local politician.

Governor Andrew Cuomo - who was every bit as keen as the Mayor to predict doom and destruction - said the failure of the National Weather Service just proved New Yorkers should spend money funding their own weather department.


AXX


To be sure, the storm did bring heavy falls to some parts of the country.

Boston was snowed-under and some other parts of Massachusetts received 5 feet.

The picture was grim in Rhode Island, Connecticut and parts of upstate New York…although it is perfectly usual for snow to visit America's north-east in January.

What's unusual is the kind of financial dislocation caused by the cancellation of 7500 flights…the closure of public transportation in New York City…the now out-of-control, incessant US media coverage of the storm…and the faces of New Yorkers red with embarrassment, not the wind chill.


AXX


Indeed it does….but the prognosticators of doom will almost certainly be back before the winter of 2015 turns to spring.


SOC


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New York officials defend snow storm reaction

New York City's Mayor and the state's Governor have hit back at claims they over-reacted ahead of the snow storm that's hit northeast America.

They shutdown public transport and kept cars off the roads - but the city was spared the worst of weather.

The snowstorm, that has hit other areas much harder, was predicted to be potentially the biggest the city had ever seen.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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PACKAGE
With snowstorm Juno moving in the city that never sleeps took a rather reluctant nap.
Officials closed the subway and ordered cars off the roads Monday night into Tuesday - turning Manhattan's Midtown into a ghost town.
It meant the early commute to work on Tuesday was on foot.
These workers taking over the empty streets.

CLIP - voxes

It was billed as a "crippling" and "historic" blizzard, set to make the history books as one of the worst the city had ever seen.
But to be honest, New Yorkers was distinctly underwhelmed by the snow - leaving many unimpressed at the decision to the shut down the city.

CLIP - voxes

The National Weather Service's predictions left meteorologists red-faced.
One took to twitter to apologize for getting it so wrong.

Gary Szatkowski, the weatherman in charge of much of neighboring New Jersey, called his predictions "a big forecast miss", commenting that a "lot of tough decision" had been made on the expectation meteorologists would get it right, but he said "we didn't".

It meant New York's Governor and the city's Mayor were on the back foot on Tuesday, forced to defend their decisions to bring New York to a standstill.

Here's Mayor Bill de Blasio.

CLIP - de Blasio

While New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo said his state needed it's own weather prediction system, to stop these sorts of inaccurate forecasts from happening again.

CLIP - Cuomo 2

New York City may have been spared but Long Island and the New England area, including the city of Boston got a battering.

More than 7000 flights were cancelled - leaving many passengers stranded at airports.

CLIPS - airports

On the northeast coast more snow and strong winds are forecast throughout Tuesday into the early hours of Wednesday.

But in New York, Snowmaggeddon is certainly wasn't.
The aftermath now is less about shoveling snow, and more about dealing with a stormy reaction to this overblown snow storm.

SOC

ENDS
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Alexander Litvinenko public inquiry begins

INTRO: A public inquiry into the death of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has opened in London…

The 43-year-old died after drinking tea containing radioactive polonium-210 (two-ten) following a meeting with two Russian spies in 2006.

Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina says she hopes the inquiry will reveal the truth about her husband's death.

Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports…

IN: More than eight…
OUT: …SOC, London.
DUR: 2'25"

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VO 1: More than eight years after Alexander Litvinenko died, an inquiry, which was initially blocked by the British government, is now underway…

Just weeks after meeting with two Russian spies in 2006 at a posh London hotel, Mr Litvinenko died from radiation poisoning.

The Russians continue to deny any involvement - Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina now wants the truth...

CUT 1: Marina Litvinenko: "The public will be able to follow the case. Because the amount of insinuations, opinions, speculation has reached a critical point, some people say they still have no idea how he died. The Russian side continues to deny the fact he died at all or the causes of his death. I want to end all the speculation. There will be official documents and none of the sides will be able to use what happened in London for their personal benefit."

VO 2: The judge-led inquiry is being chaired by Sir Robert Owen, who was originally appointed as the coroner at Mr Litvinenko's inquest.

He delayed that inquest because it was prevented from considering sensitive evidence due to national security fears.

CUT 2: Sir Robert Owen, Chief Coroner: "As I have explained, the purpose of establishing the inquiry was not to alter the scope of the investigation, but rather to enable me properly to investigate the issue of Russian state responsibility."

VO 3: The British government originally blocked a full inquiry, but that was overturned by the High Court after a legal battle by Marina Litvinenko.

The family's lawyer Elena Tsirlina says this is about establishing the facts…

CUT 3: Elena Tsirlina, Litvinenko family's lawyer: "Because it has taken quite a long time to bring it to fruition people get lost between fiction and reality, just a little bit. That is why we are holding the public inquiry to get at the core facts which will bring out the truth."

VO 4: The inquiry is expected to last up to 10 weeks.

Ahead of the inquiry, Mrs Litvinenko recalled her husband saying on his deathbed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for "everything that happened to him"…

The Kremlin denies any involvement - Alexander Litvinenko's family hope the evidence heard here will finally uncover the truth.

Dan Whitehead, SOC.

ENDS
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UK ELECTION: FINAL 100 DAYS

It's exactly 100 days (now under depending on air date) until the UK General Election which pollsters are calling the hardest ever to predict.

One latest poll puts the Conservative Party slightly ahead of the opposition Labour Party.

But minor parties such as the Greens and anti-immigration, anti-EU UKIP are polling higher than ever before.

This is leading many observers to predict the UK will see another coalition government after May's vote.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

IN: Into the...
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3.49


****

Into the final 100 days and Labour Party leader Ed Miliband is - as he will do for the next 99 days - setting out his own case to take over the keys of Downing Street.

CLIP

But while the Labour Party's maintained a poll lead over the Conservatives since he's been leader - that lead has either now narrowed, or vanished completely depending on which poll you read.

A Comres survey puts the Conservatives ahead - which Theo Usherwood says is a major worry for Labour if a trend is emerging.

CLIP

Labour's Ed Miliband wants the campaign to be about the National Health Service which is an issue his party does lead on in polls.

Not about his leadership - or his prime ministerial qualities - on which he trails conservative prime minister david cameron by some distance.

He's on slightly tricky ground when it comes to the economy too with voters trusting Labour less on that issue.

And with the Conservative-led coalition having delivered an economic recovery.

So Chancellor George Osborne is talking up - endlessly - his economic record and the dangers ahead.

CLIP

But while Labour and the Conservatives wish it would all be about them - it's not.

The coalition's junior partners the Liberal Democrats are facing electoral wipeout if polls are to be believed.

But minor parties like the Greens, Scotland's SNP and the anti-EU, anti-immigration UKIP could be set to make a major impact on May's vote.

Joe Twyman is from pollsters YouGov and says Labour and the Conservatives have a difficult 100 days ahead.

CLIP

And he says it's hard to predict how parties like UKIP will fare come when voters actually have to make their minds up.

CLIP

So as we head into the final three months or so of campaigning - it's everything to play for,

SOC


Posted by at

Monday, January 26, 2015

LRA Dominic Ongwen appears in front of judges at the ICC

Lord's Resistance Army Commander Dominic Ongwen from Northern Uganda has become the first person from the terrorist group to appear before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

He gave himself up to authorities in the Central African Republic at the beginning of January.

Originally thought to be 35, Ongwen says he is actually 40 and that he joined the LRA in 1998 at the age of 14 against his will.

Our correspondent Jack Parrock is at the ICC in the Netherlands.

IN: "Appearing..."
OUT: SOC 
DUR: 2 mins 9 secs


REPORTER VO: 
Appearing clean shaven and in a smart, pressed suit to confirm his name and identity - Ugandan LRA commander Dominic Ongwen.
[Upsound of Ongwen speaking in Achorli from inside the courtroom}
One of 5 Lords Resistance army commanders - the first to be indicted by the ICC on its formation in 2005- the other four remain at large in Africa. Fatuo Bensouda is the ICC Prosecutor

BITE: Fatuo Bensouda - ICC Prosecutor
"The LRA under Joseph Kony and his high command - that includes Ongwen - have terrorized the people of Northern Uganda and neighboring countries. [cut point] The LRA has reportedly killed tens of thousands and displayed millions of people. They have terrorized civilian, abducted children and forced them to kill and serve as sex slaves. They have hacked off limbs and horribly disfigured men, women and children."

REPORTER VO:
There will now be decisions made about the information to be shared between the prosecution, the victims parties and the defense.
Ongwen was himself abducted by the Lords Resistance Army as a child and rose quickly through the ranks.
International justice experts like Niccolo Figa-Talamanca from No Peace Without Justice say it makes this case different to others before.

BITE: Niccolo Figa-Talamanca - No Peace Without Justice
"This is very much the first time that the ICC has had to deal with somebody who used to be a child soldier and this is why his defence is likely to argue strenuously that he is not responsible even though he was charged with crimes that were committed once he was an adult."

REPORTER VO:
The court says although Ongwen facing trial is an important step, it will continue to concentrate efforts to capture the other LRA commanders in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the atrocities committed across Central Africa over the last 28 years.

REPORTER ON SCREEN:
Dominic Ongwen will now be held in custody here in The Hague throughout a series of pre trial hearings with a confirmation of charges provisionally set for the 24th of August - the process through to trial will take a number of years.
Jack Parrock, at the ICC in The Hague
Posted by at

Thursday, January 22, 2015

ANTI ISIS COALITION MEETS IN LONDON, HAILS PROGRESS

INTRO: 
The US-led coalition tackling Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq says it is making good progress.  

Foreign Ministers from over 20 countries have been meeting in London five months after the Anti-IS coalition was formed.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the coalition is still in the early stages of its campaign and is ramping up efforts to fight the militant group….also referred to as Da'ish.   

The closed-door meeting comes with Europe still reeling from violent attacks in Paris and with ISIS threatening to behead two Japanese hostages unless a huge ransom is paid.   

From London, Catherine Drew reports.

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SCRIPT: 
Amid tight security, 21 foreign ministers from Arab nations joined their European, Turkish and Iraqi counterparts in London. 

America's top diplomat, US Secretary of State John Kerry,  offered a stark reminder of what's at stake. 


INSERT: 
"Da'ish is a global problem, and it demands a comprehensive, enduring, global response."

SCRIPT:
However Mr Kerry also said the coalition had made good progress against the militants. 

INSERT:  


VO SCRIPT: 
Britain's Foreign Secretary acknowledged the need to cut both IS's access to funds…..and prevent  young would-be radicals from Europe traveling to join them

INSERT: 
"We all confirmed our commitment to the however long it takes and wherever it leads us."


SCRIPT: 
Five months after it's creation, the coalition has seen the US led military allies launch nearly two thousand air strikes against IS positions, but the battle on the ground, led by kurdish and iraqi forces remains fierce.  The IRaqi Prime Minister Hader Al Abadi, repeated his calls for more weaponry and training. Something that was promised by the coalition partners.


And IS continues its propaganda war….most recently with threats to behead  2 japanese citizens unless a 200 million dollar ransom is paid by Friday. 

INSERT: 


SCRIPT: 
This and the recent spate of terror attacks in France which left 17 people dead has added political pressure for action 

Sir Richard Ottaway who chairs  the Foreign Affairs Committee in the British parliament said the efforts of the international coalition is the only chance of defeating IS. 

INSERT: 

"What's important is to maintain the coalition.  A divided international community won't be able to see off ISIS, we actually have to focus on how ISIS is getting its funding and stop the source of it's funding.  I think this is quite achievable but it will only be done by a united front."  


SCRIPT: 
Despite the urgency of tackling the Islamic State Britain's Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond has warned it could take up to two years to defeat the group….this as the world waits for news of the two Japanese hostages and hostilities on the ground continues. 


Catherine Drew, sign off, London

Posted by at

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

UK Iraq War inquiry will not be published until after the election

The official UK inquiry into the 2003 Iraq war will not publish its long-awaited report before the general election in May.

The Chilcot inquiry took evidence between 2009 and 2011 - more than four years later, its findings have still not been made public.

Elena Casas reports from London.


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President Obama Gives Penultimate State of the Union Address

Intro:

US President Barack Obama has been setting out his priorities for the next year in office in his annual State of the Union address. Speaking on Capitol Hill, he urged Americans to 'turn the page' on years of economic troubles, terrorism and war, arguing that his presidency's brought in a growing economy and smarter leadership. Mr. Obama also proposed higher taxes on the wealthy to fund middle class tax credits. But Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, argued that the economic recovery isn't being felt by everyone. Lorna Shaddick reports from Washington.

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Script:

UPSOT applause
He's supposed to be a lame duck – but Barack Obama sounded pretty feisty for a President supposedly on his way out.

SOT  - Barack Obama – I have no more campaigns to run. (Laughter). I know, coz I won both of 'em.

With no more elections to fight, but two years still to go in the White House, he's a man with an eye on his legacy…. And for him, it's clear that means sharing the benefits of the economic recovery.

SOT  - Barack Obama - With a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry and booming energy production… Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?

Of course, Mr. Obama wants the second option – that's why he's been criss-crossing the US over the last couple of weeks giving sneak previews of some of his headline announcements.

So we already knew, for example, about his plan to help nine million students pay for community college, for lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage.

And Mr. Obama's announcements seem formulated with the 2016 election in mind – these are policies calculated to flag up the differences between his party and the Republicans… and they're not happy about it, using their rebuttal to flag up the fact that THEY won control of both chambers of Congress in last year's midterms.

SOT – Joni Ernst
We heard the message you sent in November, loud and clear. And now we're getting to work to change the direction Washington has been taking our country. We'll propose ideas to cut wasteful spending and balance the budget – with meaningful reforms, not higher taxes like the President has proposed.
But it wasn't all disagreement. There were some announcements in this year's State of the Union address which can attract bipartisan support. Overhauling corporate tax codes, liberalizing trade rules and bolstering cybersecurity protections are all topics Republican lawmakers can get behind.

Christina Bellantoni is editor of Washington newspaper Roll Call. She's optimistic about the chances of both parties working together:

SOT - Christina Bellantoni - Republicans are well aware that they don't just need the numbers that they have, they need to get some Democrats to work with them to get anything to the president's desk or to override a veto if he were to issue that threat. So you're hearing a lot of tones of moderation coming from members of Congress on the Hill right now, which is actually a positive time for progress.

In the meantime, in a speech mainly dominated by domestic issues, Mr. Obama also flagged up what he saw as successes in his foreign policy:

In Iraq and Syria, American leadership is stopping ISIL's advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we're leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group…  We stand united with people around the world who've been targeted by terrorists, from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris.

Mr. Obama also reiterated his belief that the US can negotiate an agreement over Iran's nuclear programme, and became the first President ever to call for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba during a State of the Union speech.

This is Barack Obama's penultimate State of the Union – but it's the last one that really counts. This time next year, all eyes will be on the race for his successor.  Lorna Shaddick, Washington.  


Posted by at

Monday, January 19, 2015

Obama prepares to deliver State of the Union address

Barack Obama is preparing to deliver his penultimate State of the Union address on Tuesday [20th January.]

The idea of the speech is to set out his view of how the US is progressing and the President’s plans for the coming year’s legislation – but with both chambers of Congress now controlled by the Republican party, it may be harder for him to see his ideas come to fruition.

Our correspondent Lorna Shaddick reports from Washington.

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------------------------

UPSOT Obama: This is an American car, right here…

VO 1: Reuters 3323 – Obama in Mustang
A Ford factory in Michigan….

VO 2: Reuters 4265 shot 15 – Obama in Knoxville
A high school in Arizona…

VO 3: Reuters 5306 - Obama at industrial hub in Tennessee
And an industrial hub in Tennessee … all places President Obama’s visited in the lead-up to his 2015 State of the Union address.

Piece to Camera – Super: Lorna Shaddick, Washington DC
Usually when the President comes to this building to give his annual speech, the contents are still largely a secret. But Barack Obama’s decided to reverse that this year, travelling across America to preview the address, hoping that by the time he comes HERE to give it, he’ll have built up plenty of interest and momentum.

VO 4: Reuters 3323 – Obama at Ford Plant, B roll on stage
And with unemployment at its lowest since 2008, the main focus of his announcements is cementing his economic legacy.

SOT – Super: Barack Obama, US President (Reuters  3323)
America’s resurgence is real. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. // We can make sure that the middle class is the engine that powers American prosperity for decades to come. And that’s going to be the focus of my State of the Union address in a couple of weeks – building on the progress we’ve already made.

SOT – Super: Christina Bellantoni, Editor in Chief, CQ Roll Call
The President has been talking at length about the middle class, this is the large theme he’s gone after many times. Compare that to last year when he really stressed raising the minimum wage, helping to lift up some of the lowest paid workers in America. This is going to be more – let’s lift up families, let’s address our corporate tax system.

VO 5: Reuters 5273 – Obama in Knoxville
Mr. Obama’s touting THIS as one way to help families and address America’s growing income gap:

SOT- Super: Barack Obama, US President (Reuters 5273)
I’m announcing an ambitious new plan to bring down the cost of community college tuition in America. I want to bring it down to zero. (Applause).

VO 6: Reuters 5273 – Obama in Knoxville / FSN oil and housing file pics / Reuters 2275 cyber
But that plan, along with other projects on the agenda - cutting methane from America’s oil and gas industry, expanding federal housing benefits, and even action on cybersecurity - are unlikely to go down well with conservative Republicans, who are unwilling to spend money, especially on White House initiatives.

VO 7: Reuters 2275 – Obama cybersecurity announcement
But the speech will also outline areas where Mr. Obama can reach agreement with Republicans:

SOT – Super: Christina Bellantoni, Editor in Chief, CQ Roll Call
You’re also going to hear him talk about ways that he can work with Republicans – potentially reforming our corporate tax structure. // That’s an area where there actually is a lot of compromise. And maybe he’ll use the savings there for some of that infrastructure investment. But I would also expect the President to lay down a bit of an aggressive marker, threatening Republicans – I will veto some of the things you put out if they are not what the rest of the country wants.

VO 8: Last year’s SOTU
That’s because unlike last year, when the President was trying to protect Democrats up for midterm re-election in normally Republican, in 2015, he’s freer to act on his own – and this is his last chance to do so. By the time we see him addressing Congress for 2016’s State of the Union, the race for his successor will be well and truly underway. Lorna Shaddick, Channel News Asia, Washington.


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Friday, January 16, 2015

Obama and Cameron Announce Anti-Terror Moves

Intro:

American and British security services will team up in a series of practice runs to combat cyber-attacks - so says David Cameron, who made the announcement during a two day trip to Washington for talks with President Obama. The two leaders also announced they'll share expertise on preventing radicalization, and Britain said it would deploy more unarmed drones to help ground forces tackle Islamic State organisation. Lorna Shaddick reports from Washington.


IN: UPSOT Oval Office press, Obama: Hello everybody…

OUT: Lorna Shaddick, Washington

DUR: 2.29


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Script:

 

UPSOT Oval Office press

Obama: Hello everybody…

Cameron: Thanks for dinner last night…very good…we covered a lot of ground…

 

A photocall in the Oval Office… it's a coveted opportunity for any world leader, and four months before an election, for David Cameron, it's priceless. Barack Obama even refers to the PM as 'bro'… a term he clarified for the British press:

 

SOT – Barack Obama, US President

As many of you know, David recently noted how comfortable the two of us are working together. This sent some commentators into a tizzy. Some explored the linguistic origins of the word "bro." // So let me put this speculation to rest. Put simply, David is a great friend. He's one of my closest and most trusted partners in the world. 

 

This was a visit designed to highlight just how much Britain and America are working together… whether it be on a possible US-EU trade deal… in tackling Ebola- or fighting Islamic State and homegrown radicalism …

 

SOT – Super: David Cameron, British Prime Minister

We have agreed to establish a joint group to identify what more we can do to counter the rise of domestic violent extremism and learn from one another.

 

On counter terror, the pair have planned unprecedented collaboration between British and American security agencies – MI5 and the FBI will be holding 'cyber war games' later this year to practice responding to cyber-attacks.  It's badly needed, says Professor Robin Bloomfield, Professor of Cyber Security at City University in London.  

 

SOT – Super: Robin Bloomfield, Professor, Cyber Security, City University, London

We have a very old infrastructure in many areas, we have computer systems that were designed to be isolated, that are now, whether by design or by accident, are connected to the internet - so we have this unfortunate combination of systems which are vulnerable and old coupled to modern-day threats.

 

But despite all this agreement, it's in the realm of cybersecurity where there's some friction. David Cameron wants governments to be able to see encrypted online communications between terror suspects – and he's been pressing Barack Obama to get US companies like Google and Facebook to hand over that data. But that worries civil liberties groups on both sides of the Atlantic –and Mr. Obama.

 

Still, the PM managed to repay his host for the helpful pre-election photo op by supporting his stance on Iran.

 

SOT – Super: David Cameron, British Prime Minister (Reuters 5285 SOT 8)

As a country that stands alongside America in these vital negotiations, it's the opinion of the United Kingdom that further sanctions or further threat of sanctions at this point won't actually help to bring the talks to a successful conclusion.

 

This trip became about much more than a handshake for the cameras after the attacks in Paris – and with Mr. Obama under fire for failing to attend last weekend's march there, meeting David Cameron provided him a welcome chance to show he still values America's transatlantic relationships. Lorna Shaddick, Washington. 


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Cameron Holds Oval Office Talks With Obama

Suggested Intro:


David Cameron's kicking off his second day of talks with President Obama this morning – the two leaders held a 'working dinner' at the White House on Thursday night, during which they discussed Ebola, and they'll host a joint press conference later [Friday 16th]. After events in Paris, counter terrorism will be high on the agenda, and US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with the French president today on that topic. Our Washington correspondent Lorna Shaddick reports. 



Script:


UPSOT motorcade

David Cameron's motorcade speeds through the streets of Washington… the Prime Minister's here for less than two days, and started by hosting a meeting  with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde – who complimented him on the state of the UK economy…


SOT – Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director (Reuters pool)

 Well, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for attending this meeting… to address two key areas: the challenges for the global recovery, which the United Kingdom is leading in a very eloquent and convincing way in the European Union…


There were more useful photo ops for the PM's election campaign later in the evening, when he arrived at the White House for a working dinner with Barack Obama – the two leaders tucked into Vermont goats' Cheese,  herb crusted lamb and warm pear cake as they discussed Ebola and energy security.


But this morning the focus is on global security – in particular, internet terrorism, at a US-UK 'cyber breakfast', attended by the PM and internet security companies from both sides of the Atlantic.


It's a topic Mr Cameron will bring up during his Oval Office meeting with the President - asking Barack Obama to work with him to get US technology companies to co-operate more with law enforcement agencies. But the President's spokesman Josh Earnest says it's a complicated issue:


SOT – Josh Earnest, White House spokesman

Even setting aside our close partnership and cooperation with the Brits on this issue, we have our own vested interest here in striking the right balance between the two things I described earlier, with protecting our national security but also protecting the privacy of our citizens.


Nonetheless, the attacks in Paris have focused minds here on the broader global terror threat… and outside the White House today, some were disappointed that, unlike the PM, their President didn't appear at last Sunday's march in the French capital.


VOXES


Charlie

Our President should be a leader – he kind of is sending a message to the country saying that it doesn't matter.


Melody

I actually could see how and why he wasn't there but I also do feel like yes, it would have been good if President Obama was there.


David Cameron's the first European leader Barack Obama's met with since the Charlie Hebdo killings… so while the US leader's hoping the visit will help him reaffirm his commitment to Europe, Mr. Cameron will be looking to play up his leadership credentials with the best PR opportunity of them all – a joint press conference with the US President at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 


Lorna Shaddick, Washington 


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Thursday, January 15, 2015

15th January: US transfers more detainees out of Guantanamo Bay

The U.S. has transferred five detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Oman.

13 years ago - On January 11, 2012, the first detainees arrived in Cuba.

The White House has been moving toward releasing all those detainees deemed not a security threat, as part of a strategy of closing the detention center.

As our Washington correspondent Priscilla Huff reports, those who helped set up the military commissions to try the detainees now oppose the entire process.

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TRACK
At its height, the detention center at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay Cuba held 774 prisoners. 
Today, 13 years after it opened, there are just 122 - with another five released to Oman and Estonia.

TAKE BITE 
(SUPER: Morris Davis, Colonel, retired, Former Chief Prosector Guantanamo Bay Military Commissions)
"This has gone on for far too long. Guantanamo should never have opened to begin with, y'know it was an effort to avoid the law." 

TRACK
Colonel Morris Davis was the chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay military commissions from 2005 to 2007.
Over the years...the process of military commissions has been challenged
with the U.S. Supreme Court granting the the detainees key legal rights in 2006 - with its ruling on the Hamdan versus Rumsfeld case.
Today, Colonel Davis believes the entire legal argument for keeping the remaining men at Guantanamo Bay should be questioned.

TAKE BITE 
(SUPER: Morris David, Colonel, Former Chief Prosector Guantanamo Bay Military Commissions)
"The government's argument has always been that under the law of war, we have the right to detain the enemy for the duration of the conflict and the courts have accepted that argument. Well, the conflict that the government cited is the war in Afghanistan which the President officially ended a couple of days ago."

TRACK
On December 31, 2014, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan official ended, with Afghan forces taking over full responsibility for the security of that nation and the fight against the Taliban on Afghan soil.
Echoing President Obama's promise to shut the facility, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Martin Dempsey  said last weekend, It's in America's national interest to close Guantanamo. 
Over the last two months, the White House has been released detainees deemed not a security threat...something Thomas Wilner - who has defended some of the prisoners - wants to see continue.

TAKE BITE
(SUPER: Thomas Wilner, Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP, has defended detainees)
"The people who were there from the beginning We recognized as long ago as 2004 that they were not significant threats! We've got to dig into the facts and really deal with these issues and close the damn place, its disgraceful."

TRACK
Campaigners marked the 13th anniversary of the detention center with protests outside the White House - with participants wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods.
Andy Worthington is the author of The Guantanamo Files.
He hopes that the White House will see not just the political cost and legal cost of keeping the detention center open....but also the economic cost of maintaining it for the 68 considered dangerous.

TAKE BITE 
(SUPER: Andy Worthington, Author, The Guantanamo Files)
"I believe at that point the president will be able to make the case more strongly than he has been able to to date to Congress that ... that it is ruinously expensive to keep Guantanamo open. To make the case as he always has done about how fundamentally wrong Guantanamo is on every basis and to move those men to the U.S. mainland."

TRACK
The very first commander of the detention center has highlighted in an opinion piece published in Politico Magazine, 
the costs of keeping Guantanamo Bay open are far higher than shutting it.
it costs over $3 million each year to keep each detainee in Cuba...
but would only cost $78,000 per year to house them at a federal Super Max maximum security prision here in the United States.
Republican lawmakers dismiss claims that the White House is releasing low-risk prisoners
claiming as many as 30 percent attempt to re-engage in terrorism. 
Senator Kelly Ayotte  - a Republican from New Hampshire - wants to see the transfers stopped - especially after the tragic attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.

TAKE BITE
(SUPER: Kelly Ayotte, US Senator R-NH)
"And its one thing to make a campaign promise, but if you look at the security situation that we are facing around the world right now, now is not the time to be emptying Guantanamo with no plan on how or where these individuals are going to go..."

TRACK
Strictly speaking, just 10 detainees are facing criminal charges, with another 23 referred for prosecution while 54 are approved for release...as long as countries like Estonia and Oman step up and offer them a home.

Priscilla Huff.....Washington

***ENDS***

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GLOBAL CONFLICT 'BIGGEST RISK TO ECONOMY'

Global conflict is more of a threat to the world economy than any other issue, according to the World Economic Forum.

Its annual Global Risks report also cites water security, urbanization, and cyberwarfare as issues of concern for 2015.

The study is a curtain raiser ahead of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos next week - which will be attended by finance chiefs and ministers from around the globe.

Olly Barratt reports from the report launch London.

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DUR: 2.12 seconds


*****



As coalition air strikes on Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria continue….


It's conflicts like this which now present the single greatest threat to the world economy according to the WEF - the first time in a decade it has put the issue at the top of its list of concerns.

ESPEN BARTH EIDE from the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM is a FORMER NORWEGIAN DEFENCE MINISTER

CLIP

But there are plenty of other things to be worried about according to the report - among them the challenges of urbanization.

AXEL LEHMANN from ZURICH INSURANCE contributed to this section of the report.

CLIP

The WEF hopes its report will make policy makers worldwide focus on dealing with risks like urbanisation and ensure they turn out beneficial for populations.

The report's authors are clear that risks and opportunities go hand in hand.

That's particularly emphasised when it comes to new technology - cyber crime is a major theme in the report.

But it also looks further ahead to what could become the 'new cyber'.

John Drzik - Chief Executive Officer of Oliver Wyman Group - says there are three possibilities. All of which have huge potential for the world, but also huge potential risk.

He cites Synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence.

CLIP

And all of these perceived risks are in addition to current volatility in energy markets and concern about economic growth worldwide.

2015 could be tricky to negotiate.


Olly Barratt, London
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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Cameron Heads To Washington For Talks With Obama

Intro:
British Prime Minister David Cameron's heading to Washington this Thursday [15th January] - he'll be holding talks with President Obama on Thursday and Friday, covering a range of issues including the global economy and cyber security… and following the recent attacks in Paris, security cooperation will be high on the agenda as well. Our correspondent Lorna Shaddick reports from Washington.

IN: UPSOT clinking 'To Her Majesty...'
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2 mins 7 seconds


Script:

UPSOT Obama - To her Majesty the Queen, on her Diamond Jubilee, to our dear friends David and Samantha… Cheers, everyone. (Applause) 

A banquet on the White House lawn, toasts to the Queen and much talk of the Special Relationship… when David Cameron came to Washington back in 2012, it was a State Visit in all but name.

This time, there'll be less of the pomp and circumstance… but a lot of the items on the agenda are the same… in particular, Syria, and the threat of global terror.
After last week's attacks in Paris, security co-operation against groups like Islamic State is likely to be top of the two leaders' lists for discussions at a working dinner on Thursday night - along with plans for joint defences against cyber-attacks. 

There's good reason for co-operation, says Nile Gardiner of Washington's Heritage Foundation: 

SOT: NILE GARDINER, Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation
I think despite the fact you have a US Administration that hasn't necessarily made the special relationship a top priority, the special relationship still remains special. There are deep rooted ties between US and British military, the American and British intelligence services and at the end of the day Great Britain is by far the most powerful ally that the United States has on the international stage.

The Prime Minister will also be at the International Monetary Fund on Thursday, meeting Managing Director Christine Lagarde… on the table there, energy security - as well as the EU US trade and investment deal. 

Fast forward to Friday morning, and sanctions against Russia, as well as dealing with Ebola, will be hot topics for the two leaders at the Oval Office.
  
The White House says the President's looking forward to beginning the new year working with the prime minister and reaffirming the special relationship. But some analysts believe the pair don't have as warm a friendship as some of their predecessors - Nile Gardiner again: 

SOT: NILE GARDINER, Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation 10.04. 50
Superficially there is a fairly close relationship between the two leaders but we're not talking Reagan-Thatcher here, or even Tony Blair and George W Bush. I think it's more of a pragmatic relationship between the two world leaders. 

Pragmatic or not, with a general election in the UK in May, Mr. Cameron will be hoping that the alliance and this trip make for good headlines back home. If not, it could be his last visit to the US as Prime Minister. Lorna Shaddick, Washington/SOC

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Syrian refugees struggling to survive under harsh winter conditions

[SUGGESTED INTRO]

As winter descends on the Middle East, Syrian refugees are feeling the brunt of harsh weather conditions without proper shelter and heat, according to the United Nations.


The UN Refugee Agency says its biggest concern remains for the most vulnerable Syrians, while UNICEF is racing against time to assist millions of children in desperate need of help.


Liling Tan reports.


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Monday, January 12, 2015

Kerry will visit Paris, after White House stung over terror response

US Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Paris later this week, amid criticism that the Obama administration hasn't done enough to respond to last week's terror attacks in Paris.


There was no senior American figure participating in Sunday's march honoring the victims of last week's violence.


The White House says its critics are "quibbling", but the Secretary of State has changed his plans this week nonetheless.


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.


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Did the United States miss the boat after last week's attacks in Paris, and pass up a golden opportunity to try and win hearts and minds in France?

That's the claim being made by Republicans….like Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York who spoke to Fox News.


AXX


White House officials say a Presidential visit to Paris would have soaked up valuable security resources.

But it wasn't only the President who failed to join the 40 world leaders honoring the dead in Paris on Sunday.

Vice President Joe Biden wasn't there either….a man whose very job lends itself to attending events like the one that brought 3.7 million people onto the streets of France.

Nor was Secretary of State John Kerry - who never usually misses a chance to call France "America's oldest ally".

Instead, the US was represented on the march only by US Ambassador Jane Hartley…a woman rarely known to rub shoulders with David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas.


AXX - KERRY


Speaking in India…for that's where he was….Secretary of State John Kerry hit out at White House critics including several leading foreign policy analysts who argued the Obama administration had missed a golden opportunity to rally European support for counter-terrorism strategies worldwide.


AXX - KERRY


However, the Secretary of State will now travel to Paris on Thursday for meetings with the government of President Francois Hollande.

And the White House is planning to hold a summit of its own on violent extremism in Washington next month in a further bid to assert its leadership position in the battle against terror.


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UK PM CALLS FOR TOUGHER TERROR POWERS AFTER PARIS ATTACKS

The UK is reviewing its terror preparedness and responses if faced with attacks like those seen in Paris last week.

Prime Minister David Cameron has chaired a security meeting which agreed events in Paris should be considered in future UK training exercises.

Security will also be ramped up with the aim of preventing extremists bringing weapons into the UK.

But Mr Cameron also wants to give security services extra powers for monitoring online and phone conversations of terror suspects - something human rights campaigners oppose.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

IN: "David... 
OUT: SOC 
DUR: 2.40 


****

David Cameron says last week's attacks in Paris should focus minds on giving security services more powers to monitor communications.

IN:  "The first….
OUT:  …people safe."
DUR:  18 seconds

Since the Charlie Hebdo massacre The boss of Britain's spy service Mi5 has called for more powers for his agents.

But Human rights lawyer Simon McKay says intelligence agencies need to be deal better with the information they're already gathering.

IN:  "In the....
OUT:  ...receiving."
DUR:  28 seconds


Robin Bloomfield - security expert at City University - agrees with that sentiment.

CLIP

But he cautions that just because those convicted over the murder of soldier Lee Rigby on a London street in 2013...

And those who carried out the paris attacks...were known to authorities before those incidents..

That doesn't mean intelligence agencies necessarily failed...

CLIP

The government already has a counter-terrorism bill making its way through parliament - that contains controversial proposals to block terror suspects returning to Britain and to give universities a statutory obligation to try and prevent students being radicalised.

Some objections to the legislation will be laid out on Tuesday at westminster when it has its second reading in the House of Lords.

OB, LDN
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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Radical preacher Abu Hamza faces life sentence

[EDITORS: SENTENCING DUE FRIDAY 9TH JAN]
Radical preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri is due to be sentenced in New York
for terrorism charges, marking the end of a decade-long legal battle.

Abu Hamza received much public attention for his controversial hate
preaching in the UK, and his eight-year fight to stop his extradition
to the United States.

But he's now likely to receive a life sentence for helping terrorists
kidnap tourists in Yemen in 1998.

As Nick Harper reports from New York.

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TAKE VO
It was Abu Hamza's anti-Western speeches at the North London Finsbury
Park mosque that gained him notoriety. But it was his terrorist
actions that led to his conviction.

Found guilty last May, Abu Hamza al-Masri is about to be jailed for
helping terrorists who kidnapped a group of 16 tourists in Yemen in
1998 and for planning to open a terror training camp in the U.S. state
of Oregon.

Three British tourists and an Australian died in that Yemeni
kidnapping. One of those who survived was New Zealander Mary Quin.

And it was her testimony at Abu Hamza's trial that perhaps sealed his fate.
Incredibly, after the kidnapping, Quin tracked down Abu Hamza to his
Finsbury Park mosque.

There, she got him to agree to speak to her, and allow her to record
their conversation - during which he admitted to his involvement. It
was that recording that became a key piece of the prosecution's case.

The interview surprised many for its candour and its self-incrimination.
But Professor of Psychology at Fordham University Harold Takooshian
thinks it simply shows a man who truly believed in the cause he was
subscribing to.

Takooshian - CLIP

TAKE VO
Abu Hamza's conviction was the second time last year that quick
terrorism verdicts were returned at a civilian court in Manhattan. A
March Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law and former al
Qaeda spokesman, was found guilty of conspiracy to kill Americans.

Some critics have argued that such cases should be heard in military
commissions, like those in Guantanamo.

Daphne Eviatar disagrees. She works as a lawyer on National Security
Issues and thinks justice can be better served in civilian courts.

Eviatar - CLIP

TAKE VO
Ahead of his sentencing Abu Hamza's lawyers have argued he's too
disabled for a high-security jail where they say he would face
"unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment" on account of his
amputated forearms and missing eye.

They also recommended his sentence should be less than life.

Prosecutors though say a life term is the only possible sentence. They
highlight that Hamza "waged a global war of jihad against those he
considered infidels".
And its for those actions that they want him to be judged.

SOC

ENDS
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