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Six tourists, including British lawyer Simone White, died from suspected methanol poisoning after consuming tainted alcohol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of local alcoholic beverages and prompted investigations into the hostel's practices and the source of the alcohol.
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Donald Trump has nominated former Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary, a move that signals a potential shift in his administration's approach to labor issues. Despite her pro-labor record, skepticism remains regarding her influence in a historically anti-labor administration. The Senate confirmation process will be closely watched.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the OSCE summit in Malta, marking his first visit to an EU member state since the Ukraine invasion. His presence drew protests from Ukrainian and Polish officials, highlighting ongoing tensions between Russia and the West.
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Belarusian authorities have arrested seven journalists who worked for an independent regional news outlet, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko
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Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, U.S. officials are ramping up efforts to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria since 2012. His family has received credible information suggesting he is alive, raising hopes for his recovery amidst ongoing turmoil in Syria.
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Seven journalists from the Intex-Press online newspaper were arrested in Belarus, charged with supporting extremist activities. This marks a significant escalation in government repression ahead of the January presidential election, where President Lukashenko seeks a seventh term. The arrests reflect ongoing efforts to silence dissenting voices in the country.
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Niger's military junta has suspended BBC broadcasts, accusing the network of spreading false information that undermines troop morale. This decision follows reports of a deadly attack on Nigerien soldiers, which the government denies. The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the junta's actions as a suppression of press freedom.
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Apple's new AI feature, Apple Intelligence, has faced backlash after incorrectly summarizing news notifications, including false claims about murder suspect Luigi Mangione and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The BBC and Reporters Without Borders have raised concerns about the reliability of AI-generated news summaries, prompting calls for the feature's removal.