There's an extra security presence in New York this holiday season
following two recent attacks that city officials have described as
acts of terror.
An estimated six million visitors are expected to come into the city
between Thanksgiving in late November and New Year's Eve but law
enforcement say they're doing all they can to keep people safe.
A number of steps are being taken to achieve this and to help ease
concerns around the holidays.
William Denselow reports from New York.
IN: "Flowers remain tied..."
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The latest radio news & feature packages from FSN Bureaus worldwide.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
PACKAGE: UK Year in Review and Look Ahead
2017 proved to be a very problematic year for British Prime Mnister Theresa May… a year in which she lost her parliamentary majority in a snap election, had a disastrous conference appearance while trying to navigate her very divided Conservative party in the Brexit talks.
The year was also notable for a series of terrorist attacks, the like of which the UK had not seen in over a decade and the biggest national tragedy in a generation with the Grenfell Tower fire. Catherine Drew in London takes a look back at 2017 and considers what lies ahead.
IN: "To say….
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SCRIPT;
To say 2017 has been a challenging year for British Prime Minister thersa may would be something of an understatement. In part to strengthen her hand with her own deeply divided Conservative party and in tough brexit talks, Mrs May, who had insisted all year that she would not call a snap election… called a snap election for June.
INSERT:
SCRIPT:
But her policy of repeating the phrase "strong and stable" whilst mostly avoiding debates, interviews and interactions with voters was a gamble, that despite all official predictions and polls… did not pay off. Meanwhile opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn whose political obituary was being written ahead of the results made unexpected gains for the party, at the expense of the conservatives, cementing his role as leader.
INSERT;
SCRIPT:
The election results meant Theresa May had to scrabble around and find extra funds to enable a deal with Northern Ireland's DUP party to give her a working majority in parliament.
Meanwhile the UK was hit by a series of terror attacks. In march one man driving a van ploughed into pedestrians on westminster bridge before stabbing to death a policeman in parliaments grounds, killing five people. May saw a sucide bomber kill 22 people after a music concert by american singer Ariana Grande in Manchester. Another terrifying deadly attack resulting in 8 deaths occurred in the London bridge area in June by three men who were shot dead by police.. London Mayor Sadiq Khan led the city in a message of defiance.
INSERT:
Then just days after the snap election, a fire engulfs Grenfell Tower in west London killing at least 71 people. A further terror attack occurs that month against worshippers at finsbury park mosque, with one death. The events left the country shaken and the public mood nervous.
The end of the year was dominated politically by a scrabble to do enough to move the European Union onto phase two of the talks, which will hammer out Britain's future trade relationship with the block. The last few weeks of the year saw the UK increase its financial offer… the so called divorce bill while finally reaching agreement on the issue of the rights of EU nations in the UK and the tricky border question between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Theresa May returned from Brussels and despite a last minute blow as MPs voted to allow themselves a say on the final deal….she finished the year on something of a high.
INSERT:
"We will leave the EU on the 29th March, 2019 I think people also want us to do that in a smooth and orderly way, that doesn't disrupt people's lives and doesn't disrupt businesses and that's what we'll be delivering."
SCRIPT:
With the clock ticking down to the 2019 exit, the UK is looking to make fast progress, particularly on a transition deal set to last for two years… seen as vital to reassuring businesses and investors.
Some believe support for a hardline position is beginning to ebb. Catherine Barnard is professor of EU law at the University of Cambridge.
INSERT:
"Reality is beginning to dawn that we cannot leave without a deal, because the deal is so important, we are so interconnected with the EU that to say we could walk away without a deal would be irresponsible. "
SCRIPT:
Big decisions and complex negotiations ahead lie ahead in 2018, not helped by divisions in Theresa May's conservative government between those who want to stay as close as possible to the EU and it's regulations, and those who want the UK to strike out on its own. How she will negotiate this and whether Theresa May is the one see the Brexit process through has yet to be seen. 2018 looks set to be just as troublesome a year for the British Prime Minister, whoever that may be, as 2017.
Catherine Drew, sign off, London
Friday, December 22, 2017
PKG: Weinstein & The #MeToo Movement - A Look Back on 2017
INTRO:
Hollywood producers, A-list actors, sports stars, judges, business leaders and even the President of the United States – they've all been called out by a movement born in 2017 - a movement called MeToo. Women who have experienced sexual harassment and misconduct started the movement this year, demanding change. And as Frances Read reports from Los Angeles, 2017 was the year many came forward saying they've had enough.
DUR: 2,17"
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PKG:
VO: It started with Harvey Weinstein. But he was just the tip of a very large iceberg. Within weeks others stood accused of sexual harassment or misconduct, from actors, to top names in media and even the President of the United States. Accusations quickly moved beyond Hollywood and politics and spread to offices across the world.
TESS: "I've got experience with, you know, men making demeaning comments, sexual comments about you you have to laugh off."
VO: Writer, Tess Rafferty, is one of those in Hollywood who's speaking out.
TESS: "I had a colleague who was in a position of power over me and he was making sexual comments about me behind my back. And inappropriate knowledge of my whereabouts, you know, why did I go to this place and not say hi to him, things that made it difficult for me to do my job. I do still have nightmares about it, it made me feel under a microscope and very powerless."
VO: She wasn't the only one to speak out. Women started posting "Me Too" comments on their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts in what has become known as the "Me Too" movement - women sharing their stories of harassment and worse. But in fact it was in the world of high tech where women, ordinarily outside of the public eye, first brought attention to what was happening. The best known case - Uber - when a former employee made allegations of sexual harassment within the company. Uber immediately opened an investigation, and several weeks later, there was a change of both leadership and direction. Sal Sangi has worked in human resources for major companies for 30 years. He says these cases are changing the workplace.
SAL: "Companies, from what I've read and the ones I've been consulting with lately, are now reviewing all their policies around sexual harassment. Doing more training for both for managers in terms of what should you do if you see it or if its reported to you and also for employees receiving training if you experience it what should you do."
VO: 2017 ends with a very long list of those accused of sexual misconduct – in many different industries. But the fallout will last far longer than the New Year. The MeToo Movement is demanding change. I'm Frances Read in Los Angeles.
Hollywood producers, A-list actors, sports stars, judges, business leaders and even the President of the United States – they've all been called out by a movement born in 2017 - a movement called MeToo. Women who have experienced sexual harassment and misconduct started the movement this year, demanding change. And as Frances Read reports from Los Angeles, 2017 was the year many came forward saying they've had enough.
DUR: 2,17"
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http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222Weinstein-fr-gen.mp3
PKG:
VO: It started with Harvey Weinstein. But he was just the tip of a very large iceberg. Within weeks others stood accused of sexual harassment or misconduct, from actors, to top names in media and even the President of the United States. Accusations quickly moved beyond Hollywood and politics and spread to offices across the world.
TESS: "I've got experience with, you know, men making demeaning comments, sexual comments about you you have to laugh off."
VO: Writer, Tess Rafferty, is one of those in Hollywood who's speaking out.
TESS: "I had a colleague who was in a position of power over me and he was making sexual comments about me behind my back. And inappropriate knowledge of my whereabouts, you know, why did I go to this place and not say hi to him, things that made it difficult for me to do my job. I do still have nightmares about it, it made me feel under a microscope and very powerless."
VO: She wasn't the only one to speak out. Women started posting "Me Too" comments on their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts in what has become known as the "Me Too" movement - women sharing their stories of harassment and worse. But in fact it was in the world of high tech where women, ordinarily outside of the public eye, first brought attention to what was happening. The best known case - Uber - when a former employee made allegations of sexual harassment within the company. Uber immediately opened an investigation, and several weeks later, there was a change of both leadership and direction. Sal Sangi has worked in human resources for major companies for 30 years. He says these cases are changing the workplace.
SAL: "Companies, from what I've read and the ones I've been consulting with lately, are now reviewing all their policies around sexual harassment. Doing more training for both for managers in terms of what should you do if you see it or if its reported to you and also for employees receiving training if you experience it what should you do."
VO: 2017 ends with a very long list of those accused of sexual misconduct – in many different industries. But the fallout will last far longer than the New Year. The MeToo Movement is demanding change. I'm Frances Read in Los Angeles.
Could e-bikes reduce pollution and congestion?
The British Government is investing in cycling and walking infrastructures across the UK in an attempt to double cycling activity by 2025.
And some entrepreneurs believe electric bikes could be part of this change.
Leaving many to question whether these e-bikes could be the solution to air pollution and traffic congestion.
As our UK correspondent Natalie Powell reports…
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SCRIPT
Until now, electric bikes have been seen as out of the financial reach of most people - sometimes costing the same amount as a second hand car - and often viewed as a frivolous expense.
But cycle hire schemes and new technologies look set to change this
One initiative aiming to make electric bikes more cost effective is the Swych bike - which is an e-bike kit that has recently hit its crowdfunding target and will be rolling out production in the coming months.
This kit attaches to a regular bike, transforming it into a pedal-assist electric bike.
The entrepreneurs behind the kit say it is affordable, light weight can be used on any bike. Even folding bikes and penny farthings
Here's Oliver Montague the founder and inventor of the Swytch Bike kit
OLIVER MONTAGUE, FOUNDER AND INVENTOR OF SWYTCH BIKE KIT
"The conversion kit that we sell converts any bike into an electric bike it weights less than 4 kilograms and can be installed in about 30 minutes, once it is installed you can convert it back into a regular bike almost instantly."
As well as the start-ups, the electric bike has also caught the attention of bigger companies too.
In central London, delivery firm UPS has launched a trial of an electric bike and trailer - which is testing out a depot to door delivery system.
It's the first of its kind in the UK
Initiatives like these are aimed at reducing congestion on the roads and bring down air pollution levels in major cities.
Pollution in London is a major concern for clean air campaigners like Simon Birkett.
SIMON BIRKETT, CLEAN AIR LONDON
"London's air pollution is the highest in the world probably for Nitrogen Dioxide, which is the toxic gas and it is very high for particle levels, it is a serious problem, probably about 50% above the world health organisation guidelines."
To tackle this, the British government is launching initiatives to double cycling activity by 2025… It is reported that if UK government walking and cycling targets were met, this would significantly reduce air pollution and prevent around 13,000 premature deaths per year.
And that is one of the major driving forces behind those attempting to make e-bikes more accessible, as Oliver Montague the founder and inventor of the Swytch ebike system explains
OLIVER MONTAGUE, FOUNDER AND INVENTOR OF SWYTCH BIKE KIT
"I think everyone in the UK and all over the world want to change their lifestyles and the way that they get around to reduce emissions and to make everyones lifestyles more sustainable. One problem is, charing the way you live is difficult … and unless it is fun and convenient and cheap to do that it is a tough ask. So I don't think many people can use electric cars yet because they are too expensive… but electric bikes are very affordable especially with our swytch conversion kit. They're also extremely fun so that's why I think it is a really great way to promote sustainable transport."
Electric bikes provide power assistance of up to 15mph - enabling riders to keep up with traffic in most city centres where speed limits are often 20mph-30mph.
And because of this, many in the industry are predicting that bikes will go electric, even before cars
SOC
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Democrat Doug Jones defeats Trump-backed Republican to win senate race
Doug Jones has won the Senate race in Alabama, the first democrat to win the state for 25 years
He defeated the favorite, Republican Roy Moore whose campaign had been dogged by multiple allegations of sexual misconduct...
Kevin McAleese has the latest from Washington DC
IN: A jubilant...'
OUT:SOC
DUR 1min 50secs
Monday, December 11, 2017
Asian immigrants in legal limbo as Congress considers DACA law
Lawmakers in the US Congress are working to secure a deal for young undocumented immigrants to remain in the country.
In September, President Trump said he'd wind down the Obama-era 'DACA' law, which protected some 800,000 people - known as 'Dreamers' - from deportation. President Trump has since urged Congress to work on a replacement.
Around 10 per cent of DACA recipients came to the US from Asia.
Our US Correspondent Harry Horton has been to meet some of them.
IN: (UPSOT) "This is what...!"
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SCRIPT
Fighting for the right to stay in the country they call home.
Outside the US Congress on a sunny winter morning, just some of the thousands of so-called 'Dreamers' whose legal future in America is in limbo are making themselves heard.
Asians make up around ten percent of DACA recipients - many of them from South Korea, the Philippines and India.
Saba Nafees moved to Texas when she was just eleven years old - fleeing violence in Lahore in Pakistan.
But when her family visa sponsors died, Saba's paperwork to stay in the US legally fell through.
<<TAKE SOT: Saba Nafees, DACA recipient>>
"Being undocumented, living in the shadows is not fun at all. It is the worst part of being in this country. And so when DACA came out it was beautiful because I was able to work and get paid for the work I did and do the research I did."
But with the future of DACA now in jeopardy, Saba fears being forced to return to Pakistan.
<<TAKE SOT: Saba Nafees, DACA recipient>>
"We wouldn't be able to speak the language, some of us wouldn't be able to assimilate in the country we were born in. It would be really difficult and more than anything we feel like we're Americans."
Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu was himself an immigrant to the US and has worked on his own DACA legislation.
<<TAKE SOT: Congressman Ted Lieu - Democrat, California>>
"I think even Republican legislators understand that deporting someone who was brought here as a child to a country they've never even seen or been to before is cruel, it's unusual and it is not American."
Supporters of President Trump say when President Obama signed DACA into law he was abusing his presidential powers in bypassing Congress.
<<TAKE SOT: Juan Pablo Andrade, America First Policies>>
"In no way shape or form does President Trump want to deport all these people that are under DACA, but we want to find another solution for them to be able to stay here while complying with federal law as well."
Congress has until March to find a way to protect DACA.
Most Democrats and Republicans agree that something needs to be done.
But coming up with a solution in such a toxic political climate has proven difficult.
If Congress fails, the fear of deportation will only grow for the thousands of young immigrants who say America is their only home.
SOC
Saturday, December 9, 2017
UN Security Council meets to discuss Jerusalem
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the
heels of President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as
Israel's capital and to move the U.S. embassy there.
The Palestinian delegation has described the move as a violation of
international law but Israel see it as a positive step.
William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York
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heels of President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as
Israel's capital and to move the U.S. embassy there.
The Palestinian delegation has described the move as a violation of
international law but Israel see it as a positive step.
William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York
IN: "An animated discussion..."
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DUR: 2 mins 28 seconds
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Wednesday, December 6, 2017
PKG: Trump to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel
President Trump has decided to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and he will move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
He'll make the announcement official in a few hours time, and his aides say that the President believes the time is right for the US to make the move.
But the decision is extremely controversial with many US allies in the region.
From Washington, Simon Marks reports.
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It's been the worst-kept secret in Washington over the past week: news that President Trump has decided to take a major step….officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and beginning the process of moving the US embassy there from its current location in Tel Aviv.
White House officials say President Trump believes this is the right time to recognize what they call reality: that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel…the Jewish people and the Jewish faith.
Work will begin immediately on identifying a site where a new US Embassy can be built.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
AXX
What President Trump considers the best decision for the United States is not being embraced by many governments overseas.
President Mahmood Abbas of the Palestinian Authority expressed his concern over the decision when Donald Trump gave him advance notice of the announcement…..so too did King Abdullah of Jordan, a long-term US ally.
President Recep Tayip Erdogan of Turkey warned that the decision could spark conflict across the Arab world, arguing that Jerusalem is a "Red line for Muslims".
And the EU was also underwhelmed by news of the President's decision.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Feredica Moghrerini
AXX
The White House insists the President's announcement will in no way obscure the possibility of negotiating that two state solution….a diplomatic effort that is being spearheaded by the President's own son-in-law Jared Kushner.
But the State Department warned US diplomats in the region to exercise caution….given the likelihood of protests and anger on the streets of the Arab world, that many Middle East analysts will at least temporarily derail the prospects for peace.
SOC
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Fans and businesses set to suffer from US failure to qualify for World Cup
The United States surprised the footballing world by failing to
qualify for next year's World Cup. The first time they've failed to do
so since 1986.
It's a big blow to fans but also for the U.S. team's sponsors hoping
to profit on one of the world's biggest sporting events.
Some fear the team's absence from Russia 2018 could be felt long after
the tournament's final whistle.
William Denselow reports from New York.
IN: "Four years ago..."
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DUR: 3 mins 32 seconds
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qualify for next year's World Cup. The first time they've failed to do
so since 1986.
It's a big blow to fans but also for the U.S. team's sponsors hoping
to profit on one of the world's biggest sporting events.
Some fear the team's absence from Russia 2018 could be felt long after
the tournament's final whistle.
William Denselow reports from New York.
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Monday, December 4, 2017
Top Republicans warn Trump his Tweets put him in legal jeopardy
Top Republicans in the US are warning President Trump that some of his latest Tweets about the ongoing investigation into his aides' ties to the Russians are putting him in legal jeopardy.
Over the weekend the President, on Twitter, fueled the notion that he may have engaged in obstruction of justice when he the FBI Director James Comey earlier in the year.
Mr. Trump's Twitter fury knew no bounds over the weekend.
He said the FBI's reputation is "in tatters", insisted he was the victim of a "rigged system" and said that his fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn - who last week pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI - had done nothing unlawful.
Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "If anyone….."
OUT: "….evidently does not possess"
DUR: 2:30
If anyone had any doubts about the danger Donald Trump's Twitter account poses for his Presidency, they were finally dispelled this weekend.
The President simply cannot help himself from expressing his stream-of-consciousness, innermost fury on the social media platform.
In two separate rants, with no filter, no off switch and no legal training….he reacted furiously to the news that his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI….the result of the latest stunning moves by the Special Prosecutor investigating ties between the Trump team and the Russians.
At least one Tweet fueled the suggestion that the President had committed obstruction of justice ….and left top Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina taking to the airwaves, and begging Donald Trump to stop.
AXX
Sensing the legal morass in which the President may have placed himself, the White House moved to argue that the Tweet in question had been written by his lawyer, not Mr. Trump himself.
But the White House has previously argued the President's Tweets should be viewed as official Presidential statements….and even published in his name it would be just as legally perilous as if he's written it himself.
Behind the scenes, administration aides are panicked by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's relentless pursuit of his quarry and the President's response to it.
But in public, National Security Adviser HR McMaster is one member of the Trump team still pretending everything is fine.
AXX
Which doesn't explain why the President's Defence Secretary, in meetings at the Penagon, often refers to himself as the Minister for Reassurance.
Donald Trump, by common consent, would be crazy ever to Tweet again about the ongoing investigation into his campaign's affairs.
Like every statement anyone makes, Tweets "can and will be used in evidence against" him if a case is ever built.
But staying off the subject Twitter….well that requires self-control: something the President of the United States evidently does not possess.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Mike Flynn pleads guilty in Russia investigation
Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition.
He becomes the most senior figure in Donald Trump's orbit to be charged as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Mr Flynn was fired as National Security Adviser after just 23 days for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his meetings with the Russian Ambassador.
Harry Horton reports from Washington
IN: (UPSOT) "Lock her up!!!!"
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2"20
SCRIPT:
(UPSOT MIKE FLYNN)
It was Mike Flynn who led calls at the 2016 Republican convention to prosecute Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server...
(UPSOT MIKE FLYNN)
Fast forward 15 months, and Mike Flynn arrived at a federal court in Washington DC to plead guilty to making "false, fictitious and fradulent statements" to the FBI in a January meeting.
Mr Flynn said in a statement his guilty plea and decision to co-operate with the special counsel's investigation were made "in the best interests of his family and country."
This was no low-level campaign official - Mike Flynn played a crucial role in the Donald Trump's election and was appointed national security adviser - one of the most senior positions in the administration.
Democratic Senator Mark Warner, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee also investigating the 2016 election, says he thinks it's interesting that Mike Flynn only faced one charge.
CLIP
Court documents suggest there is more to come too. Prosecutors say Mike Flynn was directed by a "very senior member of the presidential transition team" to influence foreign governments to vote against a UN Security Council resolution.
Multiple US media outlets named that very sernior official as Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the President and senior adviser in the White House.
President Trump's lawyer insisted on Friday "nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn".
But as Mike Flynn left the courthouse to cries from protesters of "lock him up" - the political damage and possible legal ramifications too, looked very grim for the White House.
World AIDS Day: UN warns targets will be missed
On World AIDS day, the United Nations is warning complacency means it will miss targets aimed at reducing HIV infections and ending the global epidemic.
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TAKE VO
In a new report, the UN Children's Agency UNICEF says goals for 2020 will not be met.
And if trends persist, there could be 3.5 million new HIV infections among adolescents by 2030.
The UN says sub-Saharan African remains the most challenging area for the virus.
Nick Harper reports from New York.
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TAKE VO
It's a problem that's not going away. On this World AIDS Day, UNICEF wants to reinforce the message that attention and prevention are still needed.
A new report from the UN Children's Agency shows it will not achieve three of its so-called super-fast-track targets by 2020:
- eliminating mother to children transmission
- reducing the number of new infections among adolescents
- and providing nearly 2.5 million children and young people with treatment
TAKE VO
The report also says that progress has slowed because the world's attention has moved elsewhere. Shaffiq Essajee is the Deputy Director of the HIV Section at UNICEF.
SOT - Shaffiq Essajee, Deputy Director, HIV Section UNICEF: "There is a lot of complacency that has settled in. We are victims perhaps of our own success. There is a problem both with the public sense of the state of the epidemic but also from donor governments and also funders who see this now as less of a global priority."
TAKE VO
A new report from the UN Children's Agency shows it will not achieve three of its so-called super-fast-track targets by 2020:
- eliminating mother to children transmission
- reducing the number of new infections among adolescents
- and providing nearly 2.5 million children and young people with treatment
TAKE VO
The report also says that progress has slowed because the world's attention has moved elsewhere. Shaffiq Essajee is the Deputy Director of the HIV Section at UNICEF.
SOT - Shaffiq Essajee, Deputy Director, HIV Section UNICEF: "There is a lot of complacency that has settled in. We are victims perhaps of our own success. There is a problem both with the public sense of the state of the epidemic but also from donor governments and also funders who see this now as less of a global priority."
TAKE VO
The area of greatest concern remains on the African continent.
SOT - Shaffiq Essajee, Deputy Director, HIV Section UNICEF: "Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter of the global AIDS epidemic. So any action we take there will have the greatest value in terms of reducing the numbers."
TAKE VO
SOT - Shaffiq Essajee, Deputy Director, HIV Section UNICEF: "Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter of the global AIDS epidemic. So any action we take there will have the greatest value in terms of reducing the numbers."
TAKE VO
Nine out of 10 HIV-positive women and children live in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the region also accounting for nine out of ten adolescent AIDS-related deaths.
And there is another area of concern. Data from UN AIDS shows that men are less likely to take an HIV test and access treatment. And therefore more likely to die of AIDS-related illnesses. Here's Simon Bland from UNAIDS.
SOT - Simon Bland, UNAIDS: "We need to understand that more deeply to really break transmission. And as new data comes available and we understand the context of HIV in these different contexts we are able to tailor our programs and responses to that. And what this report is saying we must not forget the particular cases of men and boys and have services that are tailored to their needs."
TAKE VO
And there is another area of concern. Data from UN AIDS shows that men are less likely to take an HIV test and access treatment. And therefore more likely to die of AIDS-related illnesses. Here's Simon Bland from UNAIDS.
SOT - Simon Bland, UNAIDS: "We need to understand that more deeply to really break transmission. And as new data comes available and we understand the context of HIV in these different contexts we are able to tailor our programs and responses to that. And what this report is saying we must not forget the particular cases of men and boys and have services that are tailored to their needs."
TAKE VO
But fears remain about the possibility of the U.S. government cutting $800 million dollars from AIDS funding. Advocacy groups warn the reduction would result in over four million deaths and 26 million new HIV infections in sub Saharan Africa over the next 15 years.
TAKE VO
TAKE VO
Even so, the UN believes there are still reasons to be optimistic. For the first time, globally, more than half of all HIV patients now have access to antiretroviral drugs.
SOC
ENDS
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Wildlife regulator considers multi-million dollar rainforest sell-off
The international wildlife regulator CITES is considering whether or not to allow Madagascar to sell seized rainforest trunks worth millions of dollars. The island says it would allow it to fund conservation work, but activists warn it could encourage further logging - and destroy the island's remaining forests. Dan Ashby reports.
IN: Amid
OUT: that decision
DUR: 2:30
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Amid birds of paradise and giant spiders webs,
we are searching for a more sombre sight.
Madagascar's Marojejy Park may be wild jungle untamed,
but deep in the forest - mankind has done its worst.
'So this is the stump of the Rosewood.
It was very beautiful to see, but now it's just a stump. It's sad to see like this.'
Guide Franco Rajaonarison shows us what's left of a Rosewood tree.
Gangs stole it to traffick the wood to China.
And he never wants them to come back.
'If we have no forest, then we have no rain, life will become more difficult. We'll also have no tourists, and therefore no jobs. So that's why we have to protect it.'
But could his forest hang in the balance?
The Madagascan Government owns millions of dollars rosewood stumps
in stockpiles that were seized from the gangs.
But now it wants to sell them, to raise money for conservation.
Alexander Von Bismark from the Environmental Investigation Agency says that's bad news.
"The reality is that the Malagasy Government has no control over the stockpile. What actually happens is, if you let one piece out, the next piece is illegally cut in the national park and brought into the stockpile. It's a laundering mechanism."
The Government's director of forestry in SAVA region Arsonina Bera,
says he think it's time to destroy the stockpiles.
But the Government clearly disagrees.
It argues that a stockpile sale will help it meet tough requirements to protect its forest.
It says it has already employed more forestry officers, but needs to do much more.
But local activists say it will use the money to help in an election year,
and it is not doing nearly enough.
More than 90% of the country's iconic lemurs are threatened,
in part, by unrestrained deforestation.
This week CITES - the wildlife regulator - must decide what it will allow.
And the course of Madagascar's future, may depend on that decision.
IN: Amid
OUT: that decision
DUR: 2:30
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/2811madagascarpack2-da-generic.mp3
Amid birds of paradise and giant spiders webs,
we are searching for a more sombre sight.
Madagascar's Marojejy Park may be wild jungle untamed,
but deep in the forest - mankind has done its worst.
'So this is the stump of the Rosewood.
It was very beautiful to see, but now it's just a stump. It's sad to see like this.'
Guide Franco Rajaonarison shows us what's left of a Rosewood tree.
Gangs stole it to traffick the wood to China.
And he never wants them to come back.
'If we have no forest, then we have no rain, life will become more difficult. We'll also have no tourists, and therefore no jobs. So that's why we have to protect it.'
But could his forest hang in the balance?
The Madagascan Government owns millions of dollars rosewood stumps
in stockpiles that were seized from the gangs.
But now it wants to sell them, to raise money for conservation.
Alexander Von Bismark from the Environmental Investigation Agency says that's bad news.
"The reality is that the Malagasy Government has no control over the stockpile. What actually happens is, if you let one piece out, the next piece is illegally cut in the national park and brought into the stockpile. It's a laundering mechanism."
The Government's director of forestry in SAVA region Arsonina Bera,
says he think it's time to destroy the stockpiles.
But the Government clearly disagrees.
It argues that a stockpile sale will help it meet tough requirements to protect its forest.
It says it has already employed more forestry officers, but needs to do much more.
But local activists say it will use the money to help in an election year,
and it is not doing nearly enough.
More than 90% of the country's iconic lemurs are threatened,
in part, by unrestrained deforestation.
This week CITES - the wildlife regulator - must decide what it will allow.
And the course of Madagascar's future, may depend on that decision.
Monday, November 27, 2017
PKG: US reacts to news of Britain's Royal Engagement
News of Prince Harry's engagement has made headlines on the other side of the Atlantic, where America is poised to go "royal-crazy" over the news that Meghan Markle is officially joining the monarchy's inner circle.
Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "It was inevitably….."
OUT: SOC
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It was inevitably headline news here in the United States.
Word of Prince Harry's impending nuptials would always have made the news in a country with no royal family of its own.
But with an American moving in to Nottingham Cottage within the grounds of Kensington Palace….well, the media in a country that divorced itself from Britain in 1776 is going to town.
AXX
Americans invariably live vicariously through the British royal family.
But this time things seem qualitatively different.
CBS News, in an internet alert, told subscribers the engagement "signals change inside the famously buttoned up institution that Brits like to call 'the firm'".
That argument is rooted in Meghan Markle's own roots….the daughter of an African American mother, who is a yoga teacher….and a white father, who worked as a TV lighting director….the US media believes she brings a down-to-earth diversity to the Royal institution.
Meghan Makle though is not a household name here…and even on the streets of Los Angeles where her acting career began, some Americans were managing to keep their excitement in check.
AXX
Overnight, though, she has become one of the most famous Americans around the world….her relatively quiet acting life in Toronto now firmly at an end.
And many Americans….coached by the media here to retain an interest in the royal wedding….willbe clearing their diaries and getting ready to book flights to bear witness to the arrival of one of them in Britain's royal inner sanctum.
SOC
Prince Harry Announces Engagement to Meghan Markle
Prince Harry, currently fifth in line to the royal throne, has announced his engagement to American actress Meghan Markle.
Following huge speculation, a statement released by Clarence House said the wedding would take place in the first half of 2018.
Our UK Correspondent Natalie Powell reports.
IN:It was in the Sunken Garden
OUT:SOC
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SCRIPT
It was in the Sunken Garden of Kenstington Palace - a much loved place of Harry's late mother Princess Dianna and where a memorial to her stands - that the public were given the first glimpse of the newly engaged couple… and the all important engagement ring.
The ring itself holds a great deal of significance for Harry and Meghan - as they explain in their first interview following the engagement.
GRAB: PRINCE HARRY / MEGHAN MARKLE
"The ring is yellow gold…. Botswana Diamond, the two either side are from my mother's jewellery collection so she's with us on this journey together. It's beautiful and he designed it.
It was a year ago, November 2016 that their romance was confirmed and their first public appearance took place in September this year at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada
The news of their engagement has been welcomed by royalty, politicians and the general public
TAKE VOXES
Meghan Markle is best known for her character Rachel Zane in TV show Suits.
There have been weeks of speculation that the pair would marry after rumours that Meghan was moving to London.
And their union is being seen as a sign that times are changing in the Royal Family, with Markle being a divorcee and describing herself as bi-racial, as author Claudia Joseph explains
GRAB: CLAUDIA JOSEPH, AUTHOR, :
"I think they are very well suited. They are both humanitarian, I think they both have a sense of humour, I think they both enjoy a glass of vino. I think it is going to be a very popular marriage and I think it will perhaps take some of the heat off William and Kate. Equally I think we will see them doing things as a foursome quite often and that will be quite fun because it is something that we haven't seen before."
Like his brother William , Harry has chosen to marry outside of British aristocracy, what's termed a commoner.
His fiancee is expected to move away from her acting career to concentrate on her humanitarian work.
As Camilla Tomony the royal editor of Britain's Sunday express explains.
"She's given up a lot already… she kind of knows a little of what she's in for."
But Prince Harry says they're both excited about the challenges ahead and the change they can make together
Details of the wedding itself are still yet to be released, as an exact date.
But 2018 will see the marriage of Prince Harry and Megan Markle - and with it a new era for the British Royal Family.
Friday, November 24, 2017
UN marks Violence Against Women day
[EDITORS November 25th is 'The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women']
Marking the international day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women the UN is working to reduce the assaults and sexual attacks.
This year's commemoration comes as dozens of women in the United States have been speaking out against sexual harassment and assault.
IN: "They're...
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ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1125violence-nh-ziz.mp3
Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York.
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2"33
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VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1125violence-nh-vrn.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1125violence-nh-ziz.mp3
TAKE VO
They're the marginalized and vulnerable - beaten, raped, even killed.
But the Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar are just one part of the staggering numbers affected.
The UN estimates 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Often in societies were violence goes unpunished. As Maria Noel Vaeza from UN Women notes.
SOT - Maria Noel Vaeza, UN Women: "The fact that there are one billion women suffering violence is because there's no sanctions. So men keep doing it. I believe very strongly in justice and I believe very strongly as well that sanctions can deter certain behavior."
TAKE VO
SOT - Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General: "The recent emergence of reports detailing sexual harassment in the workplace from many organizations and institutions worldwide shows how pervasive this form of sexual violence is. I have stressed a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment at the United Nations."
TAKE VO
But the UN itself has struggled with sexual abuse and exploitation. An investigation by the Associated Press earlier this year detailed almost 2000 allegations against peacekeepers and UN personnel over the last 12 years. The UN has no jurisdiction over peacekeepers, and alleged perpetrators often go unpunished.
TAKE VO
By having a single, dedicated day the United Nations hopes to galvanize support, raise awareness and encourage governments and societies worldwide to stop violence against women and girls.
But it says until the root cause of gender inequality is addressed, the problems and violence will remain.
SOC
ENDS
They're the marginalized and vulnerable - beaten, raped, even killed.
But the Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar are just one part of the staggering numbers affected.
The UN estimates 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Often in societies were violence goes unpunished. As Maria Noel Vaeza from UN Women notes.
SOT - Maria Noel Vaeza, UN Women: "The fact that there are one billion women suffering violence is because there's no sanctions. So men keep doing it. I believe very strongly in justice and I believe very strongly as well that sanctions can deter certain behavior."
TAKE VO
Young girls are also at risk. 120 million worldwide, or almost one in ten girls, have been raped, or forced to perform sexual acts. Here's Senior Advisor Child Protection at UNICEF Tasha Gill.
SOT - Tasha Gill, UNICEF, Senior Advisor Child Protection: "One of the things that we do is to work with women and children to identify those areas in their communities where they feel most at risk, where they don't feel safe. In many communities girls and women walk long distances to fetch water for their families, and there are times when that jounrey puts them at risk."
TAKE VO
The UN headquarters in New York marked the international day with a special meeting.
TAKE VO
It comes off the back of a recent abuse allegations in the US against celebrities, politicians and journalists. Something the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made mention of.
SOT - Tasha Gill, UNICEF, Senior Advisor Child Protection: "One of the things that we do is to work with women and children to identify those areas in their communities where they feel most at risk, where they don't feel safe. In many communities girls and women walk long distances to fetch water for their families, and there are times when that jounrey puts them at risk."
TAKE VO
The UN headquarters in New York marked the international day with a special meeting.
TAKE VO
It comes off the back of a recent abuse allegations in the US against celebrities, politicians and journalists. Something the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made mention of.
SOT - Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General: "The recent emergence of reports detailing sexual harassment in the workplace from many organizations and institutions worldwide shows how pervasive this form of sexual violence is. I have stressed a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment at the United Nations."
TAKE VO
But the UN itself has struggled with sexual abuse and exploitation. An investigation by the Associated Press earlier this year detailed almost 2000 allegations against peacekeepers and UN personnel over the last 12 years. The UN has no jurisdiction over peacekeepers, and alleged perpetrators often go unpunished.
TAKE VO
By having a single, dedicated day the United Nations hopes to galvanize support, raise awareness and encourage governments and societies worldwide to stop violence against women and girls.
But it says until the root cause of gender inequality is addressed, the problems and violence will remain.
SOC
ENDS
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