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Voice of America
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Voice of America
Burkina Faso Junta Suspends Radio Station Over Niger Criticism
Burkina Faso's junta-led government has suspended one of the country's most popular radio stations after it broadcast an interview deemed "insulting" to Niger's new military leaders.
Radio Omega was immediately suspended on Thursday "until further notice," Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo said in a statement.
He said the measure was "in the higher interests of the nation."
The station, part of the Omega media group owned by journalist and former Foreign Minister Alpha Barry, ceased broadcasting after the statement was issued late Thursday.
The channel had run an interview with Ousmane Abdoul Moumouni, the spokesperson of a newly established Nigerien group campaigning to return President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
The country's elected leader was overthrown on July 26 by members of the Presidential Guard.
Moumouni made "insulting comments with regard to the new Nigerien authorities," said Ouedraogo, who is also a government spokesperson.
His organization "is clearly campaigning for violence and war against the sovereign people of Niger" and seeks to restore Bazoum "by every means," he charged.
Radio Omega on Friday said it would turn to "every means of recourse" to fight the suspension.
The decision is a "blatant violation of current laws and an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press," it said.
The order, it added, came after "numerous death threats" had been made against the station's managers and journalists "from people describing themselves as supporters of the government."
The country's leading journalists' association, OPM, said it "strongly" condemned the station's suspension and demanded its "immediate" lifting.
Burkina Faso underwent two military coups last year, each triggered in part — as in Mali and Niger — by discontent at failures to stem a raging jihadist insurgency.
It swiftly declared solidarity with Niger's new leaders and joined Mali in warning that any military intervention to restore Bazoum would be considered a "declaration of war" against them.
The Burkinabe authorities in recent months have suspended the French TV outlets LCI and France24 as well as Radio France Internationale and expelled the correspondents of the French newspapers Liberation and Le Monde.
Voice of America
Malaysians Vote in State Elections, Test for Anwar
Malaysians in six states headed to the polls on Saturday in regional elections seen as a major test of support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's 9-month-old administration.
The election in the states of Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah will not directly impact Anwar's two-thirds majority in parliament, but any significant losses could threaten the stability of his coalition government.
Anwar's progressive, multiethnic alliance Pakatan Harapan currently holds power in three of the six states, with the rest controlled by Perikatan Nasional, a conservative opposition bloc that is increasingly popular with the country's majority ethnic-Malay Muslims.
Perikatan, led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, made significant inroads in the Malay heartlands in the last national election in November 2022.
It has portrayed itself as clean of corruption and has strongly criticized Anwar for forming an alliance with his coalition's former rival, the graft-tainted United Malays National Organisation, in order to gain a majority in parliament.
Opinion surveys conducted ahead of Saturday's polling showed both Anwar and Muhyiddin's blocs were expected to retain control in the respective states, with Perikatan likely expanding their support in Malay-majority areas across all six states.
The surveys by polling groups Merdeka Centre and Ilham Centre also showed strong concerns among voters over economic issues such as rising prices, slowing growth, and a weakening ringgit.
Asyraf Zainal Ludin, a 28-year-old Malay voter in the Selangor district of Selayang, said he hoped initiatives announced by Anwar's government would be able to turn around the economy.
"Hopefully whoever wins can make changes to this country, especially in Selayang where I have been born and raised all my life," he told Reuters outside a polling station on Saturday.
Since coming to power, Anwar has focused on introducing economic and institutional reforms, including reducing subsidies for the wealthy, easing listing rules for companies, and abolishing the mandatory death penalty.
Critics, however, have raised concerns over increasing government scrutiny on online content and growing intolerance against the country's LGBTQ community. Anwar has said LGBTQ rights will not be recognized by his administration.
Voice of America
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Voice of America
3-Year-Old on Texas Migrant Bus Dies on Way to Chicago, Officials Say
A 3-year-old child riding one of Texas' migrant buses died while on the way to Chicago, officials said Friday, the first time the state has announced a death since it began shuttling thousands of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border last year.
Texas authorities confirmed a child's death in a statement Friday but did not say where the child was from or why they became ill. The Illinois Department of Public Health said the child was 3 years old and died Thursday in Marion County, in the southern part of that state.
"Every loss of life is a tragedy," the Texas Division of Emergency Management said in a statement. "Once the child presented with health concerns, the bus pulled over and security personnel on board called 911 for emergency attention."
Texas has bused more than 30,000 migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the U.S. since last year as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's sprawling mission on the border, called Operation Lone Star. The operation has come under a burst of new scrutiny in recent months over additional hardline measures the governor has authorized in the name of deterring migrants from crossing from Mexico.
The Biden administration is suing Texas over wrecking ball-sized buoys placed on the Rio Grande this summer, saying the water barrier poses environmental and humanitarian concerns. Texas has also begun separating some migrant families on the border in what marks a shift by state police, who have previously said that families should stay together.
Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze referred questions Friday night about the child's death to the state's emergency management agency, which has operated the bus program since it launched in 2022.
The child received treatment from paramedics and later died at a hospital, according to the agency. The bus departed from the Texas border city of Brownsville. All passengers had their temperature taken and were asked if they had any medical conditions, according to Texas' emergency management agency, which did not immediately respond to requests for more details Friday night.
Illinois officials said in a statement they were working with health officials, state police and federal authorities "to the fullest extent possible to get answers in this tragic situation."
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes the Texas border, said Friday night that he had not been briefed on details of the child's death. Still, he criticized Abbott, saying the governor should be working more with the federal government on border security.
"You can't use the migrants as political pawns. You still got to be accountable to taking care of them, especially if you're transporting kids," Cullear said.
Besides Chicago, Texas has also sent buses to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles. On Thursday, Abbott freshly touted the bus program on Twitter, posting, "We will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities until Biden does his job & secures the border."
Under Texas' bus program, the state says migrants sign consent waivers and agree on the destinations where they're headed. Texas officials say the buses are stocked with food and water and that migrants are allowed to get off early at stops before the destination city.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the buses a "despicable stunt" by Abbott after 42 people, including some children, were dropped off in the city in June.
At least four migrant children have died this year in federal custody. That includes an 8-year-old girl from Panama who died in May and had arrived with a heart condition and sickle cell anemia. Last month, an independent report found that Border Patrol does not have protocols for assessing medical needs of children with preexisting conditions.
Newsweek
Key Allegations Against Clarence Thomas in Democrats' Call for Probe
Democratic House members sent a letter on Friday asking the Justice Department to launch an investigation into Thomas' conduct.
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COVID-19 bump followed July 4th holiday in Minnesota - Star Tribune
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Prisoner Deal Could Smooth Effort to Contain Iran's Nuclear Program - The New York Times
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Top Fox lawyer and Lachlan Murdoch confidant Viet Dinh to resign - Financial Times
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FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed by federal judge for alleged witness tampering - CBS News
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Preseason Blitz: Jordan Love looks good in first preseason action as Packers starter - Yahoo Sports
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AMPTP Makes Counterproposal To WGA; Negotiations Recess But Will Resume Next Week - Deadline
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3-Year-Old Migrant Dies During Trip to Chicago on Bus Sponsored by Texas - The New York Times
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2023 Preseason Week 1 Game Highlights - NFL
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Voice of America
China's Plan for New Embassy Near Tower of London Stalls Amid Local Opposition
China's plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London have stalled following local opposition to what would be the biggest diplomatic compound in Britain.
The borough of Tower Hamlets, the local government council in London responsible for the area, blocked the project in February, citing concerns about the increased risk of terror attacks, protests and traffic in an area visited by millions of tourists each year.
Chinese authorities had until Thursday to appeal the decision to the U.K. government but did not, Tower Hamlets said.
"If the applicant wanted to appeal through the public inquiry procedure then they would have already needed to have given notice to us as the local planning authority,'' Tower Hamlets said in a statement. "We haven't received any such notification from the applicant."
China's plans called for comprehensive redevelopment of a 5.2-acre site that was home to the Royal Mint from 1811 to 1968, demolishing some of the existing buildings and restoring others. The new embassy compound would include some 57,000 square meters of floor space, including offices, a cultural exchange building and 225 apartments.
That's about 18% bigger than the new U.S. Embassy in London, which opened in 2018 with 48,000 square meters of space.
While Tower Hamlets planning officials recommended authorizing the project, the borough council voted on Feb. 10 to refuse planning permission.
The Chinese Embassy in London called on the British government to intervene.
"It is the international obligation of the host country to provide facilitations and support for the construction of diplomatic premises," the embassy in a statement. "We urge the U.K. side to fulfill its relevant international obligations."
British authorities did not comment on the Chinese Embassy proposal, which in theory could come before the central government, where the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities oversees the planning system.
But the government said it takes its "obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations extremely seriously and we will continue to do so," and stressed that planning decisions are made by local councils, which give applicants the opportunity to appeal.
There is growing concern in the U.K. about Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, as well allegations that it has attempted to influence British politicians and university researchers.
The decision in February to block the embassy project came four months after a pro-democracy protester had to be rescued by police after he was dragged onto the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester. After that incident, Britain's foreign secretary summoned the Chinese ambassador's deputy to his office and demanded an explanation.
The Tower Hamlets council said the proposed embassy compound would strain local police resources, increase road congestion and have a negative impact on the area surrounding Tower of London.
"The proposed embassy would result in adverse impacts on local tourism, due to concerns over the effect of potential protests, acts of terrorism and related security mitigation measures on the sensitive backdrop of nationally significant tourist attractions," the council said in announcing its decision.
Voice of America
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Voice of America
Colombia Prosecutors Confirm Arrest of Father of 2 Of 4 Children Lost 40 Days in Jungle
The father of two of the four Indigenous children who survived a plane crash that killed their mother and two other adults, then survived 40 days on their own in the Amazon jungle was arrested Friday, Colombian authorities said.
The Colombian Prosecutor's Office confirmed in a message to Associated Press journalists that officials arrested Manuel Ranoque, who is the father of the 1- and 4-year-old boys in the crash and the stepfather of the two girls, ages 9 and 13.
The statement gave no details on the reason, but media reports said the case involved allegations of abuse.
Astrid Eliana Cáceres, director of the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, said the state agency had been working with the authorities.
"We learned of the capture of the father of two Mucutuy minor children and we believe that the prosecutor's office has operated within the full framework of the law," she said.
Ranoque has been embroiled in a fight for custody of the children with their maternal grandparents. Their mother died four days after the crash, according to the oldest child, Lesly.
The four siblings have remained in the custody of Colombia's child protection agency since leaving the hospital after recovering from malnutrition and other ailments.
Their maternal grandfather, Narciso Mucutuy, has accused Ranoque of beating their mother, Magdalena Mucutuy.
Before authorites confirmed his arrest, Ranoque acknowledged to reporters that there had been problems at home, but he said he considered it a private family matter and not "gossip" for the rest of the world.
When asked if he had assaulted his wife, Ranoque replied: "Verbally all of a sudden, yes. Physically, very little, because we did more fight of words."
Voice of America
VOA Newscasts
Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.
Voice of America
Australia PM Urges China to Free Jailed Journalist
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on Saturday for China to release jailed Australian journalist Cheng Lei, saying he was worried about her condition after three years behind bars.
Cheng has described her bleak prison conditions in a note dictated a note to Australian officials from her cell, saying she misses trees and sunlight but "most of all I miss my children."
The message was shared with Australian news outlets and on the social media platform X by Cheng's partner, Nick Coyle, on Thursday.
Asked if he was concerned about her welfare, Albanese said: "I certainly am, and Cheng should be released. This is three years too long."
"Cheng Lei is an Australian citizen. She is someone who does not deserve this treatment," he told reporters during a visit to Queensland.
Albanese said Australia had pressed for Cheng's release at the "highest levels" and would continue to do so "whenever Australia meets with China."
"It is important that her human rights as an Australian citizen be respected," the prime minister said.
Albanese has been invited to visit China though no date has been set.
The Australian leader told journalists Friday that Cheng's release would not be made a condition for his trip to go ahead, saying such visits "should not be transactional."
Cheng, a former anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, has been detained since August 2020 but was only formally arrested in February 2021.
She was formally charged with "supplying state secrets overseas" but no further details have been given.
Her detention came at a time of difficult relations between Australia and China, raising speculation it was politically motivated.
China's foreign ministry said on Friday that the case was being handled "in strict accordance with the law," and that Cheng's legal rights were being fully protected.
"It is hoped that the Australian side will respect China's judicial sovereignty and refrain from any type of interference in the lawful handling of the case by Chinese judicial organs," a spokesperson told AFP in a written statement.
Cheng was tried last March behind closed doors, with even Australia's ambassador to China blocked from entering the court to observe proceedings.
The court deferred the verdict and Cheng's sentence, which could extend to life in prison.
Newsweek
Trump Has a 'Great Idea' to Replace Hunter Biden's Special Counsel
The former president also claimed that he did not "pick" Special Counsel David Weiss to serve as a U.S. attorney in 2017.
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Russia launches Luna-25 mission in race to sample moon's south pole - Guardian News
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Niger coup: Fear and anger in Niamey as Ecowas threatens force - BBC
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