The latest short-form news audio from FSN Bureaus worldwide
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The West African bloc, ECOWAS has asked Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to take the next six months to reconsider their decision to withdraw from the group.
Leaders of the bloc gave this grace period at the 66th ECOWAS Summit in Abuja on Sunday.
The three countries announced plans to exit the group in January this year following what they say were harsh sanctions in the wake of the coup in Niger in July 2023.
Correspondent Ajeck Mangut, reports.
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Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus says that general elections will be held late next year or in early 2026.
The Nobel Prize winner took charge of the caretaker government earlier this year after Sheikh Hasina was pushed out of power amid political turmoil.
Rebecca Bundhun reports.
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GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1216IndiaBangladesh-rb-generic.mp3
US Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg says funding remains a barrier to rebuilding the Baltimore Bridge.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March after it was struck by a cargo ship.
A replacement one could cost up to $2 billion.
Sally Patterson reports.
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The suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a member of the insurer.
A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson and the New York Police Department have confirmed Luigi Mangione was never a client of America's largest healthcare insurer.
The 26-year-old is charged with murder after Thompson was shot last week.
Mangione's lawyer says he plans to plead not guilty to the murder charge and other charges he's facing.
Sally Patterson has more.
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An alleged Chinese spy - with close links to Prince Andrew - has failed in his attempt to be allowed back into the UK.
The 50 year old man - known only as H6 - was banned from entering the country last year on national security grounds.
He appealed the ban, but a court has upheld it, saying the decision of the then Home Secretary to exclude him was 'justified and proportionate' as he represented 'a risk to national security'.
The court concluded that H6 worked for an arm of the Chinese Communist Party tasked with conducting influence operations. A document was found in his possession that described Prince Andrew as being in a "desperate situation" and willing to "grab on to anything". In 2019, the Prince was removed from Royal duties after a series of damaging revelations about his friendship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
China expert Professor Steve Tsang ((sang)) believes a senior Royal would be a good person for China to target…
In: "The Chinese Government…"
Out: "…useful step forward."
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Governors in Nigeria are supporting the creation of police departments in each state of the country as part of measures to address security concerns in the country.
Tesem Akende reports.
Take Radio
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