Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Long extradition battle likely as US seeks FIFA executives

Six of the FIFA executives arrested in Zurich on Wednesday say they will fight extradition to the United States where they face fraud and racketeering charges.


In total, fourteen people have been indicted by the US Department of Justice, which says FIFA has engaged in "rampant corruption" stretching back more than 2 decades.


Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.


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The stage is now set for a possibly lengthy extradition process, with at least 6 FIFA executives saying they plan to fight America's attempt to put them on trial in New York.

Dragged from their hotel rooms on Wednesday, US officials say the arrests made in Zurich are just a start….with more expected soon.

US Attorney General, Loretta Lynch.


AXX


But it's not just FIFA executives who have been snared in the Americans' net.

In South Africa, there's been consternation over allegations that the government was willing to pay Fifa's former Vice President Jack Warner ten million dollars in exchange for his vote when the country successfully sought the 2010 World Cup.

The indictment claims stacks of American currency were handed over in a Paris hotel room.

And the Americans also say sports marketing companies are in their crosshairs for corruption in the sponsorship process.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a successful bid by Nike to back the Brazilian national team is now in the investigative spotlight.


AXX


Matt Apuzzo of the New York Times says this first round of indictments could just be a start.


AXX


There will be those….including the indicted FIFA executives…who question why the Americans think they have the jurisdiction to press all these charges.

US officials say it's simple:  the accused used American bank accounts to process their allegedly ill-gotten gains….and the FBI director said the indictments send a message that any criminality that touches American shores will touch off American investigations.


SOC

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RADIO PKGE: US indicts FIFA officials in corruption probe

INTRO:

Several FIFA officials face extradition from Switzerland to the United States after an investigation into widespread corruption within the organisation.   

Charges include racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering carried out using the US banking system.

Kevin McAleese reports from Washington

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DUR: 3 minutes 02 seconds


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QUEEN'S SPEECH SETS OUT EU REFERENDUM

An EU referendum by 2017 has been promised by Britain's new Conservative government amid the pomp and ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II set out her government's legislative programme at Westminster - after the country's general election in May.

Conservative Prime Minster David Cameron describes it as an agenda 'for working people'.

But the question of Britain's EU membership was central to the Queen's Speech.

As Olly Barratt reports from Westminster.

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TAKE BLACK ROD

As tradition dictates, the man known as Black Rod, has the House of Commons doors slammed in his face to signify commons independence.

TAKE UPSOT

"It is black rod"

"Open the doors"

VO: 

He then leads MPs into the House of Lords to listen to the Queen.

TAKE PROCESSION

Britain's monarchs have been doing in one form or another this since the 16th century.

And as expected she set out plans for an EU referendum.

TAKE QUEEN ELIZABETH II

""My government will renegotiate the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union and pursue a reform of the European Union for the benefit of all member states. Alongside this early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in-out referendum on membership of the European Union before the end of 2017."

Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth believes it's reform the government is capable of achieving.

CLIP

It wa a day many Conservatives hardly dared to believe would come.

A lot of them expected - at best - the Queen would be presenting the legislative agenda of a Conservative-led coalition.

As it is, it's the first all Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996.

The Prime Minister says it was a speech for 'working people'.

And it also set out plans to devolve further powers to Scotland after the independence referendum, and success of Scottish nationalists in the general election.

But not only Scotland.

TAKE QUEEN ELIZABETH II

"My government will also bring forward legislation to secure a strong and lasting constitutional settlement, devolving wide-ranging powers to Scotland and Wales."

But the event was used by anti-austerity protesters who say they will campaign to bring the government down.

Claire Laker-Mansfield from the Youth Fight for Jobs Campaign took to the streets as the Queen headed away fromparliaemt.

CLIP

The Queen takes no part in writing this speech - she delivers it year after year on behalf of her government. This was her 64th.

Now it's up to the Conservatives to work through the long list of plans she outlined, with only a slim parliamentary majority.


--

Olly Barratt
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Monday, May 25, 2015

Air France Flight to New York Intercepted After Anonymous Threat

U.S. military jets intercepted an Air France flight to New York's John
F. Kennedy Airport after a threat was made against the aircraft
Monday. Authorities say an anonymous caller claimed chemical weapons
were on board the aircraft.

Patrice Howard reports.

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Thursday, May 21, 2015

White House rules out "reinvasion" as ISIS gains solidify

The White House says President Obama is ruling out any large-scale deployment of US combat troops in Iraq and Syria, even though ISIS is making military gains in both countries.


The United Nations says concerns are growing for ancient ruins in Palmyra that are designated a World Heritage Site.


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.


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First Ramadi…then Palmyra….ISIS is on the march, but that is not sparking any change of heart at the White House.

Spokesman Josh Earnest, questioned by reporters who at times bordered on the incredulous, insisted that the current US strategy cannot be deemed a failure…..and he rejected Republican suggestions that it's time to send US combat troops to Iraq and Syria.


AXX


But critics say that's a mistake…at a time when ISIS now controls half of Syria….and is tightening its grip on territory in Iraq.

And Republican Senator John McCain rounded on the White House for failing to acknowledge the scale of the ISIS victory over Iraq's army in Ramadi.


AXX


And with a growing number of Republican Presidential candidates suggesting that it's time for US combat troops to be put back on the ground in the region, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, John Boehner, is out in front, leading the charge for change.


AXX


The fate of Palmyra is deeply concerning not just to the White House but also to the United Nations.

A World Heritage Site, in the days leading up to the Islamic State onslaught, museum workers are believer to have carted crates of precious statues and relics off to safety.

But the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, says there is an enormous risk of damage being done by the extremists to one of the most important cultural sites in the world.


AXX


The Obama administration is caught between a rock and a hard place on both sides of the border.

In Iraq, it's now relying on Shia militias, backed by Iran to push Islamic State out of Ramadi.

But it won't co-ordinate US airistrikes with the government in Iran….and on the Syrian side of the border it won't work with the government of President Bashar al Assad either.

The White House insists it's now up to the Iraqi Army and the moderate Syrian opposition to try and save their countries from Islamic State….even as the evidence builds that neither of them has the capabilities for the task.


SOC



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Tuesday, May 19, 2015

PRINCE CHARLES MEETS GERRY ADAMS IN IRELAND

Britain's Prince Charles has met with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams at the start of a royal visit to Ireland. 

It's the first meeting meeting in the Republic of Ireland between a Sinn Fein leader and a member of Britain's Royal Family.

UK correspondent Olly Barratt reports.

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Prince Charles, coffee cup in one hand - smiled as he shook Gerry Adams' hand with the other

Mr Adams smiled back, and in seconds the brief but significant moment was over.

Gerry Adams had spoken beforehand of it being important however long it lasted.

CLip

Gerry Adams leads Sinn Fein - a irish republicn party active in northern ireland and the republic - and previously known as the political wing of the terrorist organistion teh IRA

The Queen met with Sinn Fein's deputy leader and former IRA commander Martin McGuiness in Belfast in 2012

But this was the first meeting in the Republic between a British royal and the sinn fein leadership

Mr Adams hopes it will help the still ongoing peace process.

CLIP

Prince Charles met a number of other politicians at the event in Galway and used it to pay tribute to the Irish people.

CLIP

Prince charles will also visit the village where his great-uncle earl mountbatten was assassinated by an IRA bomb in 1979.

Irish history expert, Professor John Tonge says it's an important moment.

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Some whose relatives died during northern ireland's troubles have criticised the prince's visit and meeting with gerry adams

others see it as a major step in the reconciliation process

SOC


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LRA commander Dominic Ongwen appears in court at the ICC

Former Lords Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen has been appearing before judges at the International Criminal Court in the run up to his trial.

The Ugandan faces seven charges or war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Jack Parrock reports from The Hague.

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REPORTER VO:
Dominic Ongwen before judges at the ICC for the first time since his first reception in The Hague in January - to hear lawyers negotiate on the timelines and finer details of his impending trial.
His international arrest warrant was one of the first the International Criminal Court ever issued on its formation in 2005.
Ongwen and the LRA are accused of killing an estimated 100 thousand people and butchering, raping and maiming thousands of others across Northern Uganda, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

BITE: Fadi El-Abdullah - ICC Spokesperson
"The court has started the preparations for the proceedings in his case. Starting by separating his case from the case regarding Mr jospeh Kony and the other leaders of the LRA against whom the ICC had delivered arrest warrants."

REPORTER VO:
The LRA is thought to have enlisted as many as 20 thousand child soldiers. Ongwen was himself one of them - but rose through the ranks and built himself a fearsome reputation as a ruthless commander
Some observers say the ICC should be putting him before judges more frequently.

BITE: Niccolo Figa-Talamanca - No Peace Without Justice 
"Four months is quite a long time considering that the case has been open for ten years. The prosecutor in an ordinary circumstances is expected to be ready for trial when they go and confirm the charges which was a long, long time ago when the first warrant of arrest was issued. Of course ten years is also a mitigating factor for the prosecutor that can say well in the meanwhile, the witnesses have spread all over and we have to catch up with them."

REPORTER VO:
The International Criminal Court still hold warrants of arrest against 4 other LRA commanders including its leader - since the group's inception in 1987 - Joseph Kony.
The ICC prosecutor will deliver the confirmation of charges against Dominic Ongwen which is the first step in the trial - in January 2016 - a year after he was transferred here. The process may seem lengthy but the ICC insists the delay is necessary in order to ensure a fair trial in pursuit of justice for the victims.
Jack Parrock, The Hague
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Monday, May 18, 2015

White House concedes fall of Ramadi is a "setback"


The Obama administration says that the fall of the Iraqi city of Ramadi to Islamic State is a "setback", but a spokesman says the President has always understood that the battle with ISIS would be "long and difficult".


Shi'ite militias, backed by Iran, are now heading to the city in a bid to try and force IS fighters to withdraw.


The US says it will continue to conduct airstrikes in the region, provided the Iran-backed fighters co-ordinate their activities with the central government in Baghdad, and not directly with the United States.


Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks says US officials are putting a brave face on a very challenging situation.



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Barack Obama did not speak publicly about the Iraqi army's collapse in Ramadi …..but he did find time at the White House on Monday to launch his own Twitter channel.


SFX


From there, he headed to New Jersey to unveil new policies limiting the amount of military equipment the US government is prepared to provide to police forces nationwide.

But it was the collapse of a security force on the other side of the world that was occupying the minds of policymakers at the State Department, the Pentagon, and the National Security Council.

Islamic State's offensive in Ramadi has delivered the extremists their strongest military gain of the year so far.

It's rattled the central government in Baghdad….and left the State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke trying to put the best gloss on it.


AXX

"We've always known that the fight would be long and difficult…there's no denying this is a set back….the US will help the Iraqis take back Ramadi".


TRX:  That, however, is going to be complicated.

Because it isn't the Iraqis who are poised to try and repulse Islamic State from the city….but Shi'ite militias who are now descending on the area, and who take their orders from Tehran.

The Obama administration has long argued that American combat boots aren't needed on-the-ground in Iraq to battle Islamic State…..but, it seems, in the absence of a viable Iraqi army….it is in essence, Iranian boots on the ground that may have to do the job.

Not surprising then, that at the Pentagon, spokesman Colonel Steve Warren was sounded just a little unsure of himself in describing the current state of play.


AXX:  

IN:  "Overall, across the…."

OUT:  "….on the defensive"


TRX:  The President's Republican critics contend that's nonsense.

In the last few days alone, Islamic State has threatened the ancient Syrian city of Palmyria….routed Iraqi forces in Ramadi…and kept firm hold on the city of Mosul.

So much so, that one of the President's leading supporters on Capitol Hill, Senator Dianne Feinstein, portrayed the group in a very different light than US officials when she spoke over the weekend to ABC News.


AXX:  

IN:  "It is now…."

OUT:  "…evil"


TRX  And the real problem created for the White House by the events of the last few days is that the President's entire strategy is now being called into question.

It relies on overwhelming US airpower through drone airstrikes creating a situation on the ground that the Iraqi armed forces and the moderate Syrian opposition can then mop up.

Republican sympathizers, like former CIA operations officer Charles Faddis, say the strategy is in tatters.


AXX:

IN:

OUT:


TRX:  For now, the US says air strikes in al-Anbar province will continue, provided the Iran-backed militias co-ordinate their activities with the central government in Baghdad.

But Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-abaci has lost some of his credibility too over the last few days….further battering an Obama administration that hoped to rely on him.


SOC
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Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton dogged by questions about the past

The news that the Iraqi city of Ramadi has fallen to Islamic State will only complicate President Obama's calculation at the White House, where officials have spent several months arguing that they are winning the war against extremist forces in Iraq and Syria.


President Obama has conceded that the battle against Islamic State will outlast his Presidency.


And so those candidates vying to succeed him in the Oval Office can expect to face growing questions about their foreign policy plans.


But our Washington correspondent Simon Marks says two of the principal candidates already in the race are struggling to escape questions about their records.


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TRX:  

As some of the leading names in the race for the Presidency seek to talk about America's glorious future….they keep getting dragged back to its past.

Consider the case of Jeb Bush….who simply cannot escape lingering questions about his brother's decision to invade Iraq.

The first one came on Fox News…from interviewer, Megyn Kelly:


AXX


That answer caused paroxysms of agony even among prominent Republicans.

And Governor Bush - who says he misheard the question - was soon revising it, here in a conversation with Sean Hannity.


AXX

IN:  "I interpreted…."

OUT:  "…mistakes were made"


TRX:  

So…as things stand…if he knew then what he knows now, he MIGHT not have invaded Iraq.

And while that was causing complications for his Presidential calculations, a 19 year old student in Reno, Nevada decided to pile on.


SFX:


Ivy Ziedrich will be a first-time voter in November 2016…and apparently not for Governor Bush.

Surely, she suggested, he could not deny that the creation of Islamic State was a by-product of his brother's decision to wage wars in the Middle East?


AXX:

"We respectfully disagree.  We have a disagreement".


TRX:  Happily for Repubicans, they have a wide array of candidates to choose between….Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina and others are already officially in race.

If the Republicans are spoiled for choice, the Democrats are not.

Only Bernie Sanders has so far formally declared his readiness to take on Hillary Clinton.

And she continues to perform strongly in the polls, despite the publication of the book "Clinton Cash" and a slew of articles raising questions about fund-raising on her watch at the Clinton Foundation…and her decision to delete 60 thousand e-mail from her private servers.

In brief comments to New Hampshire's WMUR TV…she brushed it all aside.


AXX:


And yet, while Mrs. Clinton's numbers are holding up with registered Democrats, they are sliding slightly with the all-important swing voters who will ultimately determine who wins the keys to the Oval Office.

Which is why - like Jeb Bush - she wants to stop talking about the past…and keep the attention of voters firmly fixed on America's future.


SOC

 

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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

CAMERON HOLDS FIRST ALL-TORY CABINET

British Prime Minister David Cameron has held the first all-Conservative cabinet meeting at Downing Street in 18 years.

Mr Cameron won an unexpected parliamentary majority in Thursday's general election after five years leading a coalition government.

He promised a government that would focus on the lives of working people.

But many expect his second term in office to be dominated by the issues of Scottish nationalism and Britain's membership of the European Union.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

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Inviting the TV cameras in for the start of the downing street get-together - david Cameron instructed his newly-formed cabinet where their attentions should be.

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Mr Cameron's opponents accuse him of being out of touch with ordinary Britons and of policies skewed towards the wealthy.

He's clearly keen to try and dispel that notion as he embarks on his second term.

CLIP

Reporter Natalie Powell was outside Downing Street as ministers filed in and out and says much of the cabinet discussion will have revolved around the legislative programme due to be revealed during the Queen's Speech on 27th May. 

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Meanwhile, one of the favourites to take over as leader of the Labour Party after Ed Miliband resigned, has officially announced his intention to stand.

Chuka Umunna (PRO: CH-OO-KER  AH-MOON-ER) says the party can't kid itself that it only needs to win support back from nationalists in Scotland.

IN: "There's no….
OUT: ...next time."
DUR: 19 seconds

But while political comings and goings occupy interest in london - in europe the attention is on whether Britain will leave the EU.

David Cameron's promised to attempt to reform Britain's relationship with Brussels and assuming he succeeds then campaign to stay in the european union, holding a referendum by 2017.

His chancellor george osborne is already taking that message to brussels at a meeting of finance ministers.

CLIP

There's that 'working people' phrase again.

Expect to hear that repeated over and over as David Cameron's new government gets down to work.

SOC
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Friday, May 8, 2015

CAMERON WINS CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY

David Cameron has won a second term as UK Prime Minister after an unexpectedly convincing general election victory.

His Conservative Party has secured a parliamentary majority after polls had suggested the vote would lead to a second hung parliament in a row, and another coalition government.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

IN: "David Cameron...
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DUR: 3.11 seconds


David Cameron spoke on the steps outside Downing Street after an audience with the Queen during which he was invited to form a government.

CLIP

His slim majority in the house of commons was not predicted by pollsters who thought labour leader ed miliband could become prime minister, leading a left-of-centre coalition.

Paul Osbourne is a political analyst.

CLIP

Instead labour performed disastrously, leading to its leader ed miliband to quit.

Although he insists he won't be giving up politics just yet.

CLIP

The Conservatives' former coalition partners the liberal democrats hemoarraged MPs and their leader nick clegg also quit, as did nigel farage of right-wing UKIP after he couldn't secure himself a seat in the commons.

And it was an election that saw a series of high-profile MPs unceremoniously dumped from their seats by their constituents.

Among them, business secretary Vince Cable - one of the lib dems' former top coalition ministers.

CLIP

The Scottish Nationalists the SNP though routed everyone else in scotland and rill return over 50 MPs to westminster.

Alex Salmond will be among them.

CLIP

david cameron's second premiership looks set to be dominated by europe though - with him promising a referendum on britain's EU membership by 2017.

CLIP

His majority is small - but it's a major achievement for a man with many doubters within his own party.

Now he has delivered a Conservative - solo government at westminster - he'll want to rely on their support as he works on a new legislative programme.

OB, LONDON

--
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Disastrous night for Labour & Lib Dems as Conservatives soar

The Conservative Party is on course to secure the highest number of votes in the UK general election - as Labour suffers a major defeat to the Scottish nationalists...

An exit poll gave the Conservative Party an unexpected substantial lead over Labour, while the Liberal Democrats - one half of the coalition government - had a disastrous night...

Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports...

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Campaigning over - the UK prepares to vote

INTRO: Politicians in the UK have spent the final day campaigning before millions of people head to the polls in the general election...

The result is expected to be close, with polls suggesting there could be another hung parliament.

On the eve of polls opening, our correspondent Dan Whitehead brings us this report...

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SCRIPT:

VO1: From factories to kitchens, coastal towns to inner city - party leaders have spent the last few weeks touring up and down the UK trying to clinch every vote.

Most have spent their time in marginal seats - knowing that victory there could swing this knife-edge election.

Labour leader Ed Miliband making his last big speech...

CUT 1: Ed Miliband, Labour Leader: "You know friends I think this is the clearest choice before the British people in a generation, between a Tory government that only works for the privileged few or a Labour government that would put working families first again."

VO2: Polls right up to the end have been pretty much neck and neck - no party has pulled clear in this race...

That could mean another coalition or a minority government...

Prime Minister and Conservative Leader David Cameron warning voters there is another choice...

CUT2: David Cameron, Conservative Leader: "I do find it rather incredible the idea you could have a Labour leader propped up by the SNP who don't want our country to exist or be a success that is a worrying prospect but people can still avoid that by casting their votes for Conservative candidates on Thursday."

VO3: During the last election, 29.6 million people turned out to vote, 65.1 per cent of the population.

Will polls neck and neck this time - every vote counts.

Liberal Democrat leader NIck Clegg has admitted he knows he wont be Prime Minister, but insists it is in the country's interest the Lib Dem's continue to play a part...

CUT3: Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader: "We've put the country before our party before. It was a brave thing to do, it was the right thing to do. And we would do it again. And that contrasts I think with the attitude of both David Cameron and Ed Miliband who are still seeking to claim that they are going to win a majority when they know they are not and are in real danger of sleep walking towards a messy, unstable, minority government that is basically held captive by the extremes on right and left. That is not what our country needs."

VO3: Despite how close the race is, these voters say it is vital to have your say...

VOX

As millions head to the polls - behind the scenes, senior party officials are busy plotting and planning...

If, as expected, there's no clear winner, negotiations could go on for days, if not weeks.

SOC.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

UK HEADS INTO TIGHT ELECTION VOTE

Britain votes tomorrow (Thursday) in one of the closest, most unpredictable general elections in decades.

Polling suggests neither Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party, nor Ed Miliband's opposition Labour can win a parliamentary majority.

So the UK could be set for complicated coalition negotiations - or even worse…

Olly Barratt reports from London.

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David Cameron knows time could be running out on his premiership - and if so probably his party leadership.

He is furiously campaigning now in important, marginal seats.

CLIP: "In the closing hours of this campaign you can make all the difference, with our country moving forward, not going backward with Ed Miliband and SNP. That's what it is about!"

The Conservatives claim Ed Miliband will need Scottish nationalists the SNP to form a workable coalition.

He insists his Labour Party will not go into government with the SNP and is working for a majority.

CLIP: "Let's elect a Labour government and make this country work for working people. Thank you very much!"

But with Nicola Sturgeon's SNP set to take dozens of Scotland's westminster seats from Labour - Ed Miliband may need her MPs who want to break up the UK.

So Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - currently deputy prime minister in a coalition with the conservatives - wants people to vote for him to head off involvemnt from anti-immigration, anti-EU UKIP, or scottish nationalists the SNP and their westminster leader alex salmond.

CLIP

It's just possible either Mr Miliband or Mr Cameron may try a minority government - without coalition support from other parties.

But if a Prime Minister attempts to govern without a parliamentary majority he will be accused by his opponents of 'squatting' at Downing Street, and lacking a full democratic mandate.

It would also mean difficulty getting legislation through and raise the prospect of another election as early as this year.

It would be an election almost no one wants according to Tony Travers of the London School of Economics.

"British voters don't like to be asked to vote too often - they like to vote, they like to live in a democracy, but they don't like to vote unnecessarily, and so parties will be aware of all these things and try to avoid the instability that, possibly, the result will lead to."

But if no one can win enough seats to form a majority - and minority government becomes the only option available - another 2015 general election may be on the cards.

SOC

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