Netanyahu slams Kerry over UN vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the United States- and the United Nations- for failing to back Israel, and for contributing to the collapse of the Middle East peace process.

Mr Netanyahu's comments came in direct response to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's swan song speech, just three weeks before the Obama administration hands over the keys to the White House to president-elect, Donald Trump.

President Obama's decision to abstain from a UN resolution last week, condemning Israel over its ongoing building of settlements, has left U.S.-Israel relations in tatters- a situation Donald Trump plans to change.

Nina-Maria Potts reports from Washington:

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SCRIPT

A day that started with a mutually supportive twitter exchange, between incoming US president Donald Trump, and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, ended on a completely different note.

" Stay strong" tweeted Donald Trump to Israel, on twitter, signalling an overhaul of US Middle East policy, when he takes office on January 20th. Mr Netanyahu responded by thanking him for all his support.

Israeli prime minister's anger was reserving his anger for the Obama administration alone.

Responding to a speech by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Mr Netanyahu accused America's top diplomat of undermining Israel:

CLIP

For his part, John Kerry sought to set the record straight, insisting the US had only been a friend to Israel, and that this administration had supported it more than any other.

CLIP

The US decision to abstain from the UN resolution last week, condemning Israel's ongoing building of settlements, has enraged the Israeli government.

The Obama administration insists Israel's settlements pose the greatest obstacle to peace, and John Kerry is warning that occupation will only breed more violence.

But Benjamin Netanyahu now says he hopes the UN will never vote to damage Israel again-vowing to work with president elect Donald Trump to reverse the damage done by the Obama administration.

CLIP

The Obama administration has just three weeks left in office- and its last-ditch efforts to set the stage for peace, have been thwarted by Donald Trump, whose political interference while there's still a sitting president, is seen as unprecedented.

But President Obama's critics insist Donald Trump needs to act now- since he's inherited a mess left by this administration- some have accused Barack Obama of not just damaging US-Israel relations, but of stripping Washington of its influence at the United Nations, and on the global stage, for generations to come.

New UN Secretary-General prepares to start work

[editors - this can run any time from now. Guterres takes over on Jan 1st.]

The United Nations is welcoming a new Secretary-General.

The former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is taking over from Ban Ki-moon who steps down after ten years in the job.

Mr Guterres is well known within the UN system and there are therefore high hopes for his time at the top, as the 9th UN Secretary-General.

Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York.

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TAKE PKG

TAKE VO
He's seen as a man who leads from the front.
Who spends time with the people he's promised to protect.
After ten years in charge of the UN refugee agency Antonio Guterres is now taking over the UN itself.
TAKE VO
Director of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ninette Kelley has spent the last decade working alongside him.

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Ninette Kelley, Director, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
"When he was leading the refugee organization that was a transformational shift for us because it changed the way we spoke about refugees, and in the end that earned many more resources for us to improve the lives of refugees. And he's also a person of deep humanity. Overtime he went to the field he'd speak to refugees and he was compelled by their circumstances and they were moved by his engagement."

UPSOUND - oath
TAKE VO
He's already taken the oath. Now it's time to start work.
And the to-do list is daunting.
TAKE VO
Syria stumbling towards six years of conflict.
Warnings of genocide in South Sudan.
A global refugee crisis.
And North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
And that's before Guterres gets to his promises of gender parity and reform at the UN itself.

TAKE VO
Ban Ki-moon even apologized at his final press conference about the weight of work he's passing on.

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
"I feel sorry that I have to leave so many unfulfilled issues to my successor and member states."

TAKE VO 

Jonathan Cristol is a Fellow at the World Policy Institute in New York. 

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Jonathan Cristol, Fellow, World Policy Institute
"I can not imagine a more thankless job than being the Secretary-General of the United Nations, because there are always going to be problems that are never going to be solved. There are new problems that are always going to arise. We should expect the Secretary-General to solve the world's problems, but we should expect him to try."

TAKE VO
And there's an expectation that Guterres may do better to achieve more than past Secretary-Generals.
Having both a political and humanitarian background he's able too engage with all sectors of society, form presidents to refugees.
TAKE VO 
2017 will usher in a new era for the United Nations. The global conflicts will remain and it's not clear how much of an impact Antonio Guterres will have on them. But there's a feeling that the UN is now swapping a bureaucrat for a humanitarian. And that in itself could make the difference.
SOC 

ENDS

New York to remain a sanctuary city

Some of America's largest cities say they are going to remain so-called sanctuary cities even though US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to eliminate them. 

Generally, sanctuary cities have laws or policies in place that limit the role of local law enforcement in reporting undocumented immigrants. 

In New York, police only report undocumented suspects to immigrations officials if they're convicted of a crime. 

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, has said it will remain that way, even if it means losing federal funding — a move the president-elect has said he'll make.

Our US correspondent Mimi Chiahemen reports.

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TAKE PACKAGE
TAKE VO
The weeks since the US election, have been a busy time for civil rights activists in New York, like Kayla Santuosso

TAKE VO
As the deputy director of the Arab American Association of New York, Kayla says her organization has been counseling many of those fearful about the incoming Trump administration

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Kayla Santuosso, Deputy Director Arab American Association, NY
"What we do at the association is we check in with the students at our English language classes, we sit with some of our youth and we provide the space to say 'hey what's going on? how are you feeling? has anything happened?how have you been treated?  and things do come out in those spaces.."

TAKE VO
Like the need for some visible minorities to be accompanied by less vulnerable people on their subway commutes  — a call that received over 8,000 responses, in the days after the election,  as hate crimes,  reportedly linked to Trump supporters  spiked …

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Kayla Santuosso, Deputy Director Arab American Association, NY
And as I was watching it, it was up ticking every 3-5 seconds, and I remember sitting there and going oh … I've tapped into something much  bigger than I intended, and now we're at about 8,300 people who have signed up to protect their neighbors ..

TAKE VO
New York is  after all one of the most ethnically diverse and inclusive cities in America…about 40% of the population was born outside of the country, including an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants

TAKE VO
Many have been shielded from deportation by the city's immigrant-protective policies — a sticking point now, between the incoming Trump administration and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Bill de Blasio, New York Mayor
I tried to express to him how much fear there is, how much fear there is in communities all over this city. A whole range of people in the biggest city in the country who are fearful about this current dynamic

TAKE VO
De Blasio later told local media that Trump may not be able to take his pledge to cut federal funds as far as some might fear. He cited a 1987 Supreme Court ruling that concluded that conditions for federal funding "have to be reasonable and related to the programs they are attached to". However, experts say that ruling was referring to the authority of Congress not the authority of the President, and that's where the uncertainly remains

TAKE VO
Over at the New York Human Rights Commission, Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis, says now is a crucial time for local government to do more outreach

Carmelyn P. Malalis, NYC Human Rights Commissioner
Folks who are fearful of government, folks who feel generally marginalized by other actors within the community. I want this to be a place where they feel welcome, like we're a resource//And we also wanted to send a message to folks nationally, that New York city, will always be New York city.

TAKE VO
The Commission has launched anti-xenophobia campaigns across the city and as long as the President-elect's promise to block federal funds still looms, Commissioner Malls says the agency will keep pushing its message nationwide

SOC

ENDS

United Nations & US news Year Ender

[editors - this can run any time before the end of the year]

This past year the United Nations was the scene of the other election in America.

They chose the next UN Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres takes over from Ban Ki-moon at the start of January, with a sizable in tray before him.

Meanwhile, the US saw more terror attacks and police shootings during the course of the year.

US correspondent Nick Harper looks back on 2016, and ahead to the coming year.

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TAKE SOUNDUP - Ambassadors together

TAKE VO
It's not often you hear the UN Security Council's ambassadors agreeing on something.
Picking Antonio Guterres was one of the few moments in 2016. Guterres says he's ready for the challenge.

TAKE SOUNDBITE
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General designate
"The dramatic problems of today's complex world can only inspire a humble approach."

TAKE VO
The former Portuguese Prime Minister spent ten years as the head of the UN's refugee agency.
Now he'll have that and much more to deal with.
But many UN commentators feel his experience puts him in a strong position.
Here's Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations in New York.

TAKE SOUNDBITE - Richard Gowan, Fellow, European Council of Foreign Relations
"Guterres should be able to hit the ground running because he's been focused on refugee crises in Africa and the Middle East for years. So he doesn't need any education about what the UN is doing. It's also worth remembering he's a former head of government and he can play politics at a higher level than even Ban Ki-moon and that will be to his advantage."

TAKE SOUNDUP - gun fire
TAKE VO
The guns show no sign of falling silent in Syria.
Continued inaction by the UN Security Council, with several vetoed resolutions, threatens to prolong the conflict this coming year.
TAKE VO
Similarly fighting in South Sudan rumbles on.
A damning report found peacekeepers there failed to protect civilians this summer.
TAKE VO
That scandal and yet more allegations of sexual abuse carried out by UN peacekeepers will lead to institutional reforms in 2017.

TAKE SOUNDUP
TAKE VO
Back in the US, this year saw more high-profile shootings of black men by white police officers.
Like Alton Sterling in Lousiana.
TAKE SOUNDUP - shooting video
TAKE VO
And Philando Castile in Minnesota.
Their deaths, recorded and shared online, sparking anger and protests.
TAKE SOUNDUP - protests
TAKE VO
But also revenge attacks. A sniper killing 5 police officers during a protest in Dallas.
TAKE VO
And with a Trump presidency ahead there are concerns the simmering tensions between African American communities and  the police will sadly remain. Juliana Horowitz from the Pew Research Center.

TAKE SOUNDBITE - Juliana Horowitz, Pew Research Center
"The view on race relations have become increasingly negative and they are far more negative now than they've been for much of the past decade or so….. // And what we've seen over the last--, especially over the last couple of years is that views have become increasingly negative."

TAKE VO
Terrorism continued on US soil in 2016.
A nightclub in Orlando was the scene of the worst terror attack since 9/11.
A gunman killing 49 people. An act which prompted questions about America's problem with guns.
TAKE VO
Yet with a Republican-controlled Congress just around the corner it's an issue that's unlikely to be addressed anytime soon.

SOC

ENDS

FSN Radio Package - London visa

Dear Radio Editors, 

This package has been posted to our radio packages feed and is fairly timeless. 

Regards, 

Catherine

INTRO: 

London will collapse without it's foreign-born workforce to keep the capital going.  That's the warning from London's Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is calling for the creation of a so-called London visa to allow skilled employees to work in the city for a set time period.   This  comes amid concern that free movement of workers from the European Union will end once the UK implements Brexit,  its departure from the EU  leaving many businesses struggling to find a qualified workforce.    From London, Catherine Drew reports. 

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SCRIPT:  

A small number of staff from the company RiskEye meet in london…. The online security firm with two bases in Ireland hope to dramatically increase its presence in the British capital to answer a growing demand for its services.   However there is concern that Brexit could derail those plans….. making it hard to both move and recruit staff between the UK and EU countries.   

Sarah Holland, Head of Information Security at Riskeye, says something like a london visa is essential. 

INSERT: 

"Absolutely critical, because if freedom of movement is restricted, we're in the business of having our specialist skills within Ireland, if that freedom of movement is restricted to bring that specialism into London or into the UK, then that hampers our growth and scaling up capability, so we might be at a critical point of scaling up the business but can't bring the skill in to enable that to happen."

SCRIPT: 

The London visa proposal could  help ensure EU nationals currently working in London can stay in the short term… while longer term a London work permit could be developed to help recruit staff from countries outside the European Union as well. 

It's the idea of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.    The group says  a quarter of London's workforce,  was born outside the country, a  figure rises to 35 per cent in the construction industry.  The business group is concerned inadequate visa reforms could cost London around 9 billion dollars in lost economic output by 2020 through the loss of both high and low skilled workers.  Colin Stanbridge heads the London Chamber.   

INSERT:  

"Of course it's about people with high-skills and specialist skills, but also it's about people who just keep this city going, the truth is, with 25 per cent of the workforce across the board being non-UK nationals, not born in the UK, if you were to lose even a fraction of that the effect on the city would be disastrous so we have to do something about it." 

SCRIPT: 

 Mr Stanbridge says the Chamber wants to start a discussion about filling these gaps and is open to other ideas, such as joining with other big cities who are also heavily reliant on foreign-born labour.  

Some observers say cities coming together to issue their own visas could be  more workable solution than giving London special status.  David Collins in Professor of International Economic Law at City University London. 

INSERT: 

It sounds very divisive in terms of politics, talk about a way of alienating the north.  Perhaps if there was a big city visa like a Birmingham, Manchester arrangement, like an urban arrangement, maybe that would do it, but I can't see that working. 

SCRIPT: 

 Ending the unlimited immigration from EU countries was a key aim of Brexiteers, however regional breakdowns shows Londoners voted overwhelmingly against leaving the block and many in the city are determined to find a way of keeping the foreign workforce vital to the economy.    As a global centre,, london businesses argue they are a special case and should be treated as such by the government or the city risks losing it's international status. 

Catherine Drew, SOC, London 

--

Catherine Drew
London Bureau Chief
www.featurestorynews.com

TEL: 020 3176 6156
MOB: 07977561107

London's businesses want their own visa to help protect the foreign-born workforce from Brexit

London will collapse without it's foreign-born workforce to keep the capital going.  That's the warning from London's Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is calling for the creation of a so-called London visa to allow skilled employees to work in the city for a set time period.   This  comes amid concern that free movement of workers from the European Union will end once the UK implements Brexit,  its departure from the EU,   leaving many businesses struggling to find a qualified workforce.    From London, Catherine Drew reports. 

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SFX: MEETING

SCRIPT:  

A small number of staff from the company RiskEye meet in london…. The online security firm with two bases in Ireland hope to dramatically increase its presence in the British capital to answer a growing demand for its services.   However there is concern that Brexit could derail those plans….. making it hard to both move and recruit staff between the UK and EU countries.   

Sarah Holland, Head of Information Security at Riskeye, says something like a london visa is essential. 

INSERT: 

"Absolutely critical, because if freedom of movement is restricted, we're in the business of having our specialist skills within Ireland, if that freedom of movement is restricted to bring that specialism into London or into the UK, then that hampers our growth and scaling up capability, so we might be at a critical point of scaling up the business but can't bring the skill in to enable that to happen." 

SCRIPT: 

The London visa proposal could  help ensure EU nationals currently working in London can stay in the short term… while longer term a London work permit could be developed to help recruit staff from countries outside the European Union as well. 

It's the idea of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.    The group says  a quarter of London's workforce,  was born outside the country, a  figure rises to 35 per cent in the construction industry.  The business group is concerned inadequate visa reforms could cost London around 9 billion dollars in lost economic output by 2020 through the loss of both high and low skilled workers.  Colin Stanbridge heads the London Chamber.   

INSERT:  

"Of course it's about people with high-skills and specialist skills, but also it's about people who just keep this city going, the truth is, with 25 per cent of the workforce across the board being non-UK nationals, not born in the UK, if you were to lose even a fraction of that the effect on the city would be disastrous so we have to do something about it." 

SCRIPT: 

 Mr Stanbridge says the Chamber wants to start a discussion about filling these gaps and is open to other ideas, such as joining with other big cities who are also heavily reliant on foreign-born labour.  

Some observers say cities coming together to issue their own visas could be  more workable solution than giving London special status.  David Collins in Professor of International Economic Law at City University London. 

INSERT: 

It sounds very divisive in terms of politics, talk about a way of alienating the north.  Perhaps if there was a big city visa like a Birmingham, Manchester arrangement, like an urban arrangement, maybe that would do it, but I can't see that working. 

SCRIPT: 

 Ending the unlimited immigration from EU countries was a key aim of Brexiteers, however regional breakdowns shows Londoners voted overwhelmingly against leaving the block and many in the city are determined to find a way of keeping the foreign workforce vital to the economy.    As a global centre,, london businesses argue they are a special case and should be treated as such by the government or the city risks losing it's international status. 

Catherine Drew, SOC, London 

UK BIZ YEAR-AHEAD

In the UK, 2017's business year will likely be dominated by Brexit.

As the country prepares to leave the European Union, the UK economy is likely to face challenges amid uncertainty.

Olly Barratt looks ahead from London at the economic year ahead.

***

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UPSOT:


"Brexit means Brexit…"

"Brexit means Brexit…"

"Brexit means Brexit…"

"Brexit means Brexit…"

"Brexit means Brexit…"

"Brexit means Brexit…"

"We're going to make a success of it…"


VO:

The phrases repeated over and over by UK Prime Minister Theresa May since she took office.


Neither sentence really means anything, of course…and the government hasn't wanted to set out full details of its hopes for negotiations - for fear of harming its bargaining position.


That makes life difficult for businesses as they plan for 2017, according to Colin Stanbridge from the London chamber of commerce and industry.


"We understand the government are still deciding what it might mean. and they're not going to give a running commentary or whatever it is. All we're saying is, We don't want a running commentary, but we'd quite like to know some principles…about the sorts of things that Brexit might mean…."


One thing it will mean - is that the UK can start thinking in 2017 about trade deals it can do directly with other countries, once outside the EU.


And Donald Trump in the White House might mean faster progress towards a UK-US agreement.


PROFESSOR DAVID COLLINS is INTERNATIONAL LAW EXPERT at CITY UNIVERSITY


"He has a Scottish mother, he's shown to be something of an anglophile, and that's just as one man, the impetus within the US, I think in Congress and the Senate is very much one of free trade and the UK is a natural trading partner, so I think this is very likely."



2017 may see further moves towards more infrastructure spending as a way of boosting the UK economy amid Brexit uncertainty….


And while the European economy showed some signs of improvement in 2016,


GOVERNOR of the BANK OF ENGLAND Mark Carney says concerns persist.

 

"In some euro area economies the sovereign debt positions remain vulnerable to higher borrowing costs and weaker growth prospects that could be associated with trade or political risk. Moreover the challenges to the resilience to parts of the euro area of the banking system remain."



In London's financial district warnings will continue in 2017 that jobs could move to other European capitals if Brexit isn't handled appropriately…


And some economists predict the UK's relatively healthy recent GDP growth could take a hit over the next 12 months…


Economic forecasts always come with a health warning… they are of course just educated guesses…


And with so many unknowns surrounding Brexit and how it will play out…


2017's predictions should be taken with a rather large pinch of salt


OB, SOC

Britain's Year In Review.

Dear Editors, 

I have just posted this to the feed which can be used over the holiday period at any time.  Hope it's of some use. 

Regards, 

Catherine 

INTRO:

2016 turned out to be the year of Brexit, Britain's historic decision to leave the European Union.     June 23rd  will go down in history as the pivotal day for the United Kingdom as a slim majority of people voted to leave the bloc.  But more than six months on, there is still little clarity about what the future will look like for the UK outside the EU. 

From London, Catherine Drew takes a look back 

 

IN: "After months..…

OUT: SOC

DUR:  3: 36

 

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SCRIPT: 

After months of ill-tempered campaigning on both sides, the Leave camp won a victory most opinion polls had not predicted.

Of the 17.4 million people who voted, just under 52 per cent chose to leave the European Union, against 48 per cent who wanted to remain.

It was hailed by Brexit campaigners, such as Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party as striking a blow for freedom.

INSERT: 

"The sun has risen on an independent United Kingdom."

SCRIPT: 

The financial markets were quick to react with the pound dropping dramatically against major currencies.      The political repercussions were also swift.  Despite saying he would stay on if he lost the Brexit vote,  Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be stepping down.

INSERT: 

SCRIPT: 

After a short but extremely bloody battle within the Conservative party, former Home Secretary Theresa May emerged as the winner and promised to get on with the business of brexit. 

INSERT: 

"Brexit means brexit and we're going to make a success of it."

 SCRIPT:

Leading conservative LEAVE campaigners were given key roles in implementing Brexit.    Many, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, insisted Britain could continue to have a favourable trading arrangement with its European neighbours but also impose restrictions on the free movement of people - a key foundation of the bloc.   other members of the EU have repeatedly said that this will not be possible  The other members of the EU united in their message free movement of people was inextricably linked to free trade. 

As the ruling Conservatives gathered for their annual conference in September, Theresa May said she would not offer a running commentary on negotiations but promised to trigger article 50 by the end of March 2017 

INSERT: 

"And lets be clear about what is going to happen, Article 50 triggered no later than the end of March." 

SCRIPT: 

That will signal the formal start of talks on Britain's exit.  But huge question marks about this date were raised after a ruling at Britain's High Court which said Theresa May's government must seek parliamentary approval to begin the Article 50 process. 

The year ended with the government awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court on this very issue and a decision is expected sometime in January. 

Leave campaigners fear MPs will try to water down the Brexit agreements to keep favorable trading arrangements, potentially at the cost of the UK giving up immigration controls. 
As the legal case plays out, many believe pressure is building on Theresa May to be more open about her negotiating strategy.   Bronwen Maddox heads the Institute for government an independent charity working to increase government effectiveness

 

INSERT: 

"Its coming most urgently from business perhaps, saying look we really need to know whether to invest or not and what are we going to do.  It's coming from departments from Whitehall  saying "Look if we're going to make plans for leaving the EU, we've got all kinds of options and please can we have a steer on which you value more than others, and it's coming from ordinary people saying what is this going to look like for us and  are we going to get what we voted for?"

 

SCRIPT: 

Key questions for those in the UK and our European partners, which may, or may not be answered in 2017.    

Catherine Drew, SOC, London 

--

Catherine Drew
London Bureau Chief
www.featurestorynews.com

TEL: 020 3176 6156
MOB: 07977561107

Year in Review UK: What Brexit did for Britain

2016 turned out to be the year of Brexit, Britain's historic decision to leave the European Union.     June 23rd  will go down in history as the pivotal day for the United Kingdom as a slim majority of people voted to leave the bloc.  But more than six months on, there is still little clarity about what the future will look like for the UK outside the EU. 

From London, Catherine Drew takes a look back 

 

IN: "After months..…

OUT: SOC

DUR:  3: 36

 

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SCRIPT: 

After months of ill-tempered campaigning on both sides, the Leave camp won a victory most opinion polls had not predicted.

Of the 17.4 million people who voted, just under 52 per cent chose to leave the European Union, against 48 per cent who wanted to remain.

It was hailed by Brexit campaigners, such as Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party as striking a blow for freedom.

INSERT: 

"The sun has risen on an independent United Kingdom."

SCRIPT: 

The financial markets were quick to react with the pound dropping dramatically against major currencies.      The political repercussions were also swift.  Despite saying he would stay on if he lost the Brexit vote,  Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be stepping down.

INSERT: 

SCRIPT: 

After a short but extremely bloody battle within the Conservative party, former Home Secretary Theresa May emerged as the winner and promised to get on with the business of brexit. 

INSERT: 

"Brexit means brexit and we're going to make a success of it."

 SCRIPT:

Leading conservative LEAVE campaigners were given key roles in implementing Brexit.    Many, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, insisted Britain could continue to have a favourable trading arrangement with its European neighbours but also impose restrictions on the free movement of people - a key foundation of the bloc.   other members of the EU have repeatedly said that this will not be possible  The other members of the EU united in their message free movement of people was inextricably linked to free trade. 

As the ruling Conservatives gathered for their annual conference in September, Theresa May said she would not offer a running commentary on negotiations but promised to trigger article 50 by the end of March 2017 

INSERT: 

"And lets be clear about what is going to happen, Article 50 triggered no later than the end of March." 

SCRIPT: 

That will signal the formal start of talks on Britain's exit.  But huge question marks about this date were raised after a ruling at Britain's High Court which said Theresa May's government must seek parliamentary approval to begin the Article 50 process. 

The year ended with the government awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court on this very issue and a decision is expected sometime in January. 

Leave campaigners fear MPs will try to water down the Brexit agreements to keep favorable trading arrangements, potentially at the cost of the UK giving up immigration controls. 
As the legal case plays out, many believe pressure is building on Theresa May to be more open about her negotiating strategy.   Bronwen Maddox heads the Institute for government an independent charity working to increase governmenteffectiveness

TAKE SOUNDBITE: BRONWEN MADDOX, INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT 

"Its coming most urgently from business perhaps, saying look we really need to know whether to invest or not and what are we going to do.  It's coming from departments from Whitehall  saying "Look if we're going to make plans for leaving the EU, we've got all kinds of options and please can we have a steer on which you value more than others, and it's coming from ordinary people saying what is this going to look like for us and  are we going to get what we voted for?"

 

TAKE STANDUP: (SUPER: CATHERINE DREW, LONDON)

Key questions for those in the UK and our European partners, which may, or may not be answered in 2017.   

Catherine Drew, SOC, London 

UN staff rally for end to Syria carnage as Aleppo evacuations underway

INTRO:

Hundreds of staff members from United Nations agencies rallied around UN headquarters in New York Thursday to show solidarity with the Syrian people, and call for an end to the carnage. 

The rally came as a fragile ceasefire held in eastern Aleppo for remaining rebels to withdraw and for civilians to be evacuated. 

UN correspondent Liling Tan reports from New York. 

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TAKE VO:

Surrounding the iconic bronze sculpture of the Silenced Gun at the United Nations… of a revolver with a knotted barrel that symbolizes peace, UN staff members gathered to send a message to the world.

Stop the carnage in Syria, spare the civilians, and end the conflict once and for all. 

TAKE SOT: Kieran Dwyer, UNICEF humanitarian advocate 

"It's critical that United Nations staff stand with people of the world in the darkest days. And with people in Aleppo, in the eastern part of Aleppo, and millions of people across Syria are facing awful violence now."   

Kieran Dwyer, humanitarian advocate at the UN Children's Fund UNICEF, had just returned from Syria three weeks ago. 

TAKE SOT: Kieran Dwyer, UNICEF humanitarian advocate 

 It's shocking to see the opportunities to end this conflict through dialogue and a political solution get missed and missed and missed again. And it's civilians, it's families, it's children, the most vulnerable people who keep paying this price."

TAKE VO:

A pause in fighting is underway in eastern Aleppo as part of a Russia-Turkey ceasefire deal to allow remaining rebels to withdraw and civilians to evacuate. 

The agreement came as Syrian government forces this week recaptured eastern Aleppo from rebel control.

The evacuations have provided a glimmer of hope to an extremely dire humanitarian situation.

Jan Egeland, Special Advisor on Syria, said the UN has been invited to monitor and help in the evacuations. 

TAKE SOT: Jan Egeland, Special Advisor on Syria

"We were invited this morning to monitor, assist the evacuation that will take place from the remaining enclave that is controlled by armed opposition groups. It is a three prong evacuation; it is a medical evacuation of wounded and sick. It is an evacuation of vulnerable civilians and it is an evacuation of fighters." 

TAKE VO:

But the humanitarian pause is not a lasting political solution, and efforts by the UN Security Council to find an answer to end the 5-year-long war have led nowhere.

Divisions within the council have pit Syria's ally Russia against the US, the UK and France, each side accusing the other of fueling the conflict and attacking civilians.

Six UN Security Council resolutions on Syria have failed to pass, with vetoes from Russia and China. 

UPSOUND: It's frustrating for all of us. 

Alexandra Sicotte-Levesque of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, explains.

  

TAKE SOT: Alexandra Sicotte-Levesque, OCHA

"We need to remember that sadly the UN is the sum of its member states and the UN itself as an entity is very limited in what it can do. It's about political will of its member states and in this case the countries that are sitting on the Security Council. It is up to them to do something about the situation and we are there to support those situations but unless they make a very strong decision about stopping the conflict in Syria there is nothing we can do and we feel very angry and powerless." 

TAKE VO:

Briefing the press Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was encouraged by news of the ceasefire, but condemned reports that an aid convoy was fired upon. 

He called attacks on civilians and aid personnel "inexcusable," and pressed for a durable ceasefire and a political solution.

TAKE SOT John Kerry

"What we want in Aleppo right now, which is the precursor to any ability to move to other things, is an immediate and verifiable durable cessation of hostilities."  

TAKE VO:

But the US, which has been on the sidelines of the latest ceasefire and evacuation deal reached between Russia and Turkey, offered no new plans.

Meanwhile, France has called for an emergency Security Council briefing on Aleppo, for an update on conditions on the ground.

SOC

Europe's Year Ahead: Terrorism and Migration

INTRO:

Europe began 2016 with security tight in the wake of the Paris Terror attacks.

The same ISIS linked cell behind that attack—targeted Brussels next.

And more attacks in Europe followed.

As our Correspondent Kevin Ozebek in Brussels looks at the year ahead, 2017 is shaping to be another year in which Europe will be on high alert.

 

PACKAGE

IN: It was…

OUT: Standard Out

DUR: 1:42

 

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PACKAGE SCRIPT: 

 

            It was a brutal morning rush hour attack.

            On the morning of March the 22^nd a Brussels based ISIS cell deploys suicide bombers in the main international airport and on the metro.

            That morning Brian Carrol was on the metro—making his way to work.

 

(SOT)

Brian Carrol/Witness 

Source: FSN

:55

"There was smoke everywhere, people were screaming, everyone dropped down to the floor, it was horrifying.  It was clear immediately it was a terror attack."

 

            The explosions kill 32 innocent commuters.

            On July 14^th—86 are plowed down in Nice, France.

            Germany also saw summer attacks.

            Police presence has been beefed up across the continent—but policy experts say in 2017 Europe must focus more on integration.

            Shada Islam with Brussels based the think tank—Friends of Europe.

 

(SOT)

Shada Islam/Friends of Europe 

4:35:30

SOURCE: FSN

"The real problem is we have to deal with our communities—our minority communities in Europe.  Especially our Muslim communities we have to create a feeling of being part of the family."

 

            And those communities are rapidly growing…

            In 2016 the human flood of refugees and migrants to Europe continued.

            Europe did negotiate a plan with Turkey to dramatically slow the flow of Syrians heading to Greece.

            But a record setting 171 thousand migrants made their way from North Africa to Italy…

            And European Commissioner Dimitrs Avramopoulis (Av-romp-po-lus) warns in 2017—the Mediterrean migration route could be as active as ever. 

 

(SOT)

Dimitris Avramopoulos/European Commissioner 

:10

"The crisis we are confronted with is far away from being over soon."

 

            The EU has just struck a deal with Mali that will see the African country getting economic and security aid in return for taking back migrants whose asylum requests are rejected.

            Europe is hoping it can strike similar deals with more African allies in the new year—to slow the massive wave of migration.  

            Kevin Ozebek, Brussels

--

Kevin Ozebek

Europe Correspondent – FSN Brussels

Mobile: +32 (0) 486 53 5438

Twitter: @KevinOzebek

PKG: The European Union fears the rise of populism in 2017

It's been a difficult year for the European Union - as a key member, Britain, voted to leave. The EU fears this could just be the beginning of a rising tide of right-wing populism that threatens to overwhelm the continent - with key elections due in France, Germany and the Netherlands in 2017.

Elena Casas reports from Brussels. 

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SCRIPT:

Here in the heart of the European union, Britain's Brexit vote to leave the block was a blow to the European project and the shockwaves are likely to continue well into 2017. 

 

VO SCRIPT:

European leaders have  been firm with the UK - there will be no negotiation without formal notification that the UK is leaving the block.

 

The EU is also determined Britain will not have its cake and eat it - rejecting talk of single market access unless Britain accepts freedom of movement for EU citizens.

 

SOT Donald Tusk June 29 2016

"Leaders made it absolutely crystal clear that access to the single market requires accepting all four freedoms, including the freedom of movement. There will be no single market a la carte."

 

Few analysts believe Brussels will compromise on key principles to secure trade with Britain, despite UK-EU trade being worth 510 billion dollars a year.

 

SOT Mari Demertzis, Bruegel

"It is a concern, but it's one of the concerns, there are a lot of concerns - if you're a German manufacturer you're worried about losing access - good access to the UK market, certainly."

For Europe's leaders, the priority is to set an example to voters in other countries - that leaving the EU will be painful.

 

SOT Jean-Claude Juncker

"If countries feel like they can have referendums on everything they disagree with we will never be able to govern Europe."

The leaders' fear is that Brexit has emboldened anti-European populists in other countries  - the Netherlands, France and Germany have general elections coming up in 2017, with far right anti-European forces topping the polls in France and the Netherlands.

 

Far right leaders wasted no time in celebrating Brexit.

 

SOT Marine Le Pen (Jun 24 2016)

"The British people have given the people of Europe a lesson in democracy - they did not give in to fear and apocalyptic predictions, they asserted the freedom that the system sought to deny them."

 

Le Pen is currently on top of the polls for May's presidential election - if she wins she's promised a referendum on France's membership of the EU which could bring the European project crashing down. 

 

With the socialist government of Francois Hollande now historically unpopular, Europe's best hope of stopping her is the recently chosen centre right candidate Francois Fillon. 

The uncertainty around the French election in May and the German polls due in September means that even if article 50 is triggered in March as Britain plans, Europe won't get down to the nitty gritty of negotiations until near the end of 2017.

SOC

PKG: Trump calls US intelligence conclusions on Russian election hacking "ridiculous"

Donald Trump has described as "ridiculous" reports that the CIA believes Russia interfered with the US Presidential election.

He's accusing Democrats of using the issue to make fresh excuses for Hillary Clinton's defeat last month.

He's also explained why he has decided NOT to receive daily briefings from America's intelligence agencies.

Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

IN:  "There's never….."

OUT:  "…financial benefit"

DUR:  3:11

http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1212trumppkg-sm-generic.mp3

There's never been a Presidential interview like it before….at times you could see the interviewer….Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday….struggling to keep a straight face as Donald Trump went on the rampage.

First, he dismissed reports that the CIA now believes Russia tried to influence the outcome of the Presidential election….by hacking in to the servers of both political parties….but then only releasing data embarrassing to the Democrats.

That reported assessment by US intelligence was dismissed by Mr. Trump with one word:

AXX 1

Ridiculous, he says, because there is no way US intelligence can possibly know who hacked whom, when, and why.

AXX 2

Indeed, it could be.

But US intelligence with its almost limitless resources doesn't think it was.

And Mr. Trump's battle with the intelligence agencies didn't stop there.

He also explained why - breaking with precedent - he is not receiving a daily briefing from America's spymasters…..something Barack Obama and his predecessors have done every single day of their administrations.

AXX 3

All of this is shocking to America's foreign policy establishment….including many top Republicans.

You could hear the anguish in the voice of the party's former Presidential candidate….Senator John McCain.

AXX 4

Mr Trump's interview….and another weekend of Twitter activity by the President-elect…. served as the clearest indication yet that he will be anything but predictable in office.

On two other issues he made more headlines.

On China….he made it clear he is not committed to the one-China policy that has guaranteed stable relations between the two titans for nearly 40 years.

 

AXX 5

And he also previewed details that he says he'll provide later this week about his plans for his stake in the Trump Organization…the company he's built that does global deals with many of the governments he'll also deal with as President.

He is clearly not financially walking away.

AXX 213

That will do nothing to satisfy those in Washington who say Mr. Trump is setting himself up for endless "conflict of interest" claims over whether he's acting on behalf of America or his own family's financial benefit.