34 Burst results for "John Otis"
KCRW
"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"One report found that more than a million girls here on the continent may never returned to school because they got pregnant during the school closures. I was in Kibera here, which is one of the big slums in Nairobi and I met so many people who have been out of jobs for more than a year. I met so many parents who don't have the money to send their kids to school, and because there is no prospect of a vaccine anytime soon, they're depressed because that means that life will not get back to normal. I mean, it means that they won't get jobs. Their kids will not go back to school. And analysts. I've spoken to say that it will take years to heal that kind of societal damage. I mean, one sort of silver lining to this is that so far, many African countries have missed the worst of this pandemic. There just haven't been as many deaths here, as there have been in the West. Portrait of the second summer of the Covid 19 pandemic from three continents. We've been speaking to Rob Schmitz in Berlin to Peralta in Nairobi and John Otis in Bogota. Thank you. Thank you, Mary Louise. Thanks. Thank you. Don't know that.
90.3 KAZU
"john otis" Discussed on 90.3 KAZU
"9, 30 or 10 o'clock at night, and people are celebrating until the wee hours. So it's it's It's been really a big change later, Peralta, how about where you are? You're in as we mentioned the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Um, I am going to have to be the reality check on this because here we just emerged from a third wave. So we are seeing Many of the same things that Rob is describing, But the thing that everyone knows here is that this isn't going to last. As you mentioned, you know, the U. S is vaccinating at a fast clip. But most countries here in Africa have barely vaccinated 1% of their population, So we're stuck in this terrible cycle Restaurants just opened up here in Kenya. It in Uganda next door. They just shuttered schools. South Africa, which has been the hardest hit country on the continent, is going into its third wave. So normal life it seems pretty distant for us right now. How about for you, John? Notice there in Colombia. Give us a sense of life there right now. Well, yeah, I guess you might say it's another reality Check here as well. Everybody's still wearing a mask. Covid still on a rampage. A lot of schools in rural areas are still closed, and only about 11% of Colombians have been vaccinated. This is higher than Africa, but 11% still isn't great. Lockdowns have ended. But still, there's a lot of stores and restaurants and businesses closed because Colombia has also been hit by this wave of anti government demonstrations. And what's happened is that the pandemic through so many Colombians into poverty that it's produced this kind of social explosion, protesters have been battling anti riot police who respond with tear gas and live ammo on more than 40 people have been killed. You know, and the anger is understandable. But these protests have now been going out for six weeks. So you've also got a situation where the protests are paralyzing the country and making this economic misery even worse. And we've been seeing grim headlines out of out of other parts of South America as well. What What are conditions? For example, in Venezuela next door to you? Venezuela. It's just sort of a black hole because it's an authoritarian government there, and they treat covid like some kind of state secret. There's no reliable information. They're saying that only 2000 500 Venezuelans have died from Covid. But you know if you look at a country like Peru, which has about the same population, they're saying 180,000 Peruvians have died. So nobody thinks Venezuelans numbers are anywhere near accurate. And you know the other thing going on of as well, is that they? They've had a health crisis for many years. You go to the hospital. There's no electricity. There's no water. There's no medicines. A lot of Covid patients are taking their chances at home, and many are actually dying at home. And then one last bit of really horrible news from Venezuela is that Their vaccination program has been so slow that people are saying that might be a decade before everybody gets their shots. Oh, my goodness. So still a long, long way to go in your neck of the woods. It sounds like Rob Schmitz. Let me steer us back to Europe. Very different picture. As we noted, people are out and about, but you still have some restrictions in place. Yeah, a few. I mean, and what sort of what's open varies from state to stay within Germany and here in Berlin. The restaurants are open again as well as bars. If you want to go inside, you have to show proof. Your Fully vaccinated or you've tested negative and masks, of course, are still required indoors and on public transportation. Um you know, the reopening here is all very reason you know, within the past week or two. And tomorrow, I think will be a big day because schools in Berlin will reopen to all students, which is huge for parents who have been juggling their jobs with making sure their kids are keeping track of their homework, something that feels like it's been dragging on forever. I speak as a father of two You know, Another milestone is that starting this week, all adults are going to be able to get vaccinated here in Germany. Up Until now, Vaccinations have been running on a priority system and as of today, Nearly half of Germany has been given at least one vaccination, while one in five people are now fully vaccinated. The tourism industry is so huge part of Europe's economy. I know a lot of Americans are hoping to travel get over to Europe this summer. Will that be possible? What does that look like? Yeah, I think so. The you know, the European Union has promised that Europe will reopen to Americans and others this summer, but the details are still being hammered out. But it's reasonable to expect that all of Europe will open its borders starting in July. Some member states, though, have jumped the gun. They've opened their borders themselves to non Europe. Europeans, and that list includes Greece, Croatia, Italy, Iceland, and starting this week, both France and Spain will be open for vaccinated Americans as well. Peter. How about in Nairobi? Look ahead for me. What do the next few months look like? In East Africa? Yeah, I mean, look, people here have been just deeply affected by The mitigation efforts in this pandemic. One report found that more than a million girls here on the continent may never returned to school because they got pregnant during the school closures. I was in Kibera here, which is one of the big slums in Nairobi and I met so many people who have been out of jobs for more than a year. I met so many parents who don't have the money to send their kids to school, and because there is no prospect of a vaccine anytime soon, they're depressed because that means that life will not get back to normal. I mean, it means that they won't get jobs. Their kids will not go back to school and analysts I've spoken to say that it will take years to heal. That kind of societal damage. I mean, one sort of silver lining to this is that so far, many African countries have missed the worst of this pandemic. There just haven't been as many deaths here, as there have been in the West. Portrait of the second summer of the Covid 19 pandemic from three continents. We've been speaking to Rob Schmitz in Berlin. Later, Peralta in Nairobi and John Otis in Bogota. Thank you. Thank you, Mary Lewis. Thanks. Thank you. This is NPR news. America is back. Transatlantic alliance is back and we are not looking backwards. President Biden is bound for Europe and looking to rebuild relationships with.
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"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"From NPR news. I'm Ailsa Chang and I'm Mary Louise Kelly. Call it the summer of cautious optimism. We, of course, don't know everything. The second summer of the pandemic may have in store for us, But the CDC says more than half of American adults are now fully vaccinated all over the country. Restrictions are being lifted. Last night I hosted my first dinner party inside, everybody vaccinated, everybody. Around the kitchen table, First dinner party inside in 16 months in other parts of the world, though, the picture looks really different, so we're going to check in now with correspondents on three continents to get a sense of how the pandemic is going where they are joining us now from Europe. NPR's Rob Schmitz in Berlin also later, Peralta in Nairobi, Kenya, and John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. Welcome, gentlemen. Thank you. Hey, Mary Louise, Thanks for ladies. All right, Rob. I'm going to let you kick us off because there's some good news in Germany. There's been a big delay, but the vaccine rollouts finally rolling out infection rate is down. What's the mood there? Uh, euphoric. It feels sort of like a big party. Berlin is emerging from this nearly nine month long hibernation during which everyone's been under some level of lockdown and That's largely over now, and people are outside and they're just very happy. And you know, I first noticed this change this past Friday. The sidewalks were just filled with people, many eating at restaurants, gathering parks drinking at the bars. You know, And this is coinciding with the first real dose of summer weather The sun at this time of year this far north goes down around 9, 30 or 10 o'clock at night, and people are celebrating until the wee hours. So it's it's been really a big change. Eider Peralta, How about where you are you are in as we mentioned the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Um, I'm gonna have to be the reality check on this because here we just emerged from a third wave. So we are seeing Many of the same things that Rob is describing, But the thing that everyone knows here is that this isn't going to last. As you mentioned, you know, the U. S is vaccinating at a fast clip. But most countries here in Africa have barely vaccinated 1% of their population, So we're stuck in this terrible cycle. Restaurants just opened up here in Kenya, But in Uganda next door, they just shuttered schools. South Africa, which has been the hardest hit country on the continent, is going into its third wave. So normal life it seems pretty distant for us right now. How about for you, John? Notice there in Colombia. Give us a sense of life there right now. Well, yeah, I guess you might say it's another reality Check here as well. Everybody's still wearing a mask. Covid still on a rampage. A lot of schools in rural areas are still closed, and only about 11% of Colombians have been vaccinated is higher than Africa. But 11% still isn't great. Lockdowns have ended. But still, there's a lot of stores and restaurants and businesses closed because Colombia has also been hit by this wave of anti government demonstrations. And what's happened is that the pandemic through so many Colombians into poverty that it's produced this kind of social explosion, protesters have been battling anti riot police who respond with tear gas and live ammo on more than 40 people have been killed. You know, and the anger is understandable. But these protests have now been going on for six weeks. So you've also got a situation where the protests are paralyzing the country and making this economic misery even worse. And we've been seeing grim headlines out of out of other parts of South America as well. What What are conditions? For example, in Venezuela next door to you? Venezuela. It's just sort of a black hole because it's an authoritarian government there, and they treat covid like some kind of state secret. There's no reliable information. They're saying that only 2000 500 Venezuelans have died from Covid. But you know if you look at a country like Peru, which has about the same population, they're saying 180,000 Peruvians have died. So nobody thinks Venezuelans numbers are anywhere near accurate. And you know, the other thing going on of as well is that they've had a health crisis for many years. You go to the hospital. There's no electricity. There's no water. There's no medicines. A lot of Covid patients are taking their chances at home, and many are actually dying at home. And then one last bit of really horrible news from Venezuela is that Their vaccination program has been so slow that people are saying that might be a decade before everybody gets their shots. Oh, my goodness. So still a long, long way to go in your neck of the woods. It sounds like Rob Schmitz. Let me steer us back to Europe. Very different picture. As we noted, people are out and about, but you still have some restrictions in place. Yeah, a few. I mean, and what sort of what's open varies from state to stay within Germany and here in Berlin. The restaurants are open again as well as bars. If you want to go inside, you have to show proof. Your Fully vaccinated or you've tested negative and masks, of course, are still required indoors and on public transportation. Um you know, the reopening here is all very reason you know, within the past week or two. And tomorrow, I think will be a big day because schools in Berlin will reopen to all students, which is huge for parents who have been juggling their jobs with making sure their kids are keeping track of their homework, something that feels like it's been dragging on forever. I speak as a father of two You know, Another milestone is that starting this week, all adults are going to be able to get vaccinated here in Germany. Up Until now, Vaccinations have been running on a priority system and as of today, Nearly half of Germany has been given at least one vaccination, while one in five people are now fully vaccinated. The tourism industry is so huge part of Europe's economy. I know a lot of Americans are hoping to travel get over to Europe this summer. Will that be possible? What does that look like? Yeah, I think so. You know, the European Union has promised that Europe will reopen to Americans and others this summer, but the details are still being hammered out. But it's reasonable to expect that all of Europe will open its borders starting in July. Some member states, though, have jumped the gun. They've opened their borders themselves to non Europe. Europeans, and that list includes Greece, Croatia, Italy, Iceland, and starting this week, both France and Spain will be open for vaccinated Americans as well. Peter. How about in Nairobi? Look ahead for me. What do the next few months look like? In East Africa? Yeah, I mean, look, people here have been just deeply affected by The mitigation efforts in this pandemic..
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Everybody vaccinated everybody around the kitchen table First dinner party inside in 16 months in other parts of the world, though, the picture looks really different. So we're going to check in now with correspondents on three continents to get a sense of how the pandemic is going where they are joining us now from Europe. NPR's Rob Schmitz in Berlin also wider. Peralta in Nairobi, Kenya, and John Notice in Bogota, Colombia. Welcome, gentlemen. Thank you. Hey, Mary Louise, Thanks for ladies. All right, Rob. I'm going to let you kick us off because there's some good news in Germany. There's been a big delay, but the vaccine rollouts finally rolling out infection rate is down. What's the mood there? Euphoric. It feels sort of like a big party. Berlin is emerging from this nearly nine month long hibernation during which everyone's been under some level of lockdown and That's largely over now, and people are outside and they're just very happy. And you know, I first noticed this change this past Friday. The sidewalks were just filled with people, many eating at restaurants, gathering parks drinking at the bars. You know, And this is coinciding with the first real dose of summer weather The sun at this time of year this far north goes down around 9, 30 or 10 o'clock at night, and people are celebrating until the wee hours. So it's it's been really a big change. Eider Pearl to how about where you are you are in as we mentioned the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Um, I'm gonna have to be the reality check on this because here we just emerged from a third wave. So we are seeing you know many of the same things that Rob is describing, but The thing that everyone knows here is that this isn't going to last as you mentioned. You know, the U. S is vaccinating at a fast clip. But most countries here in Africa have barely vaccinated 1% of their population. So we're stuck in this terrible cycle Restaurants just opened up here in Kenya. But in Uganda next door, they just shuttered schools. South Africa, which has been the hardest hit country on the continent, is going into its third wave. So normal life it seems pretty distant for us right now. How about for you, John? Notice there in Colombia. Give us a sense of life there right now. Well, yeah, I guess you might say it's another reality Check here as well. Everybody's still wearing a mask. Covid still on a rampage. A lot of schools in rural areas are still closed, and only about 11% of Colombians have been vaccinated is higher than Africa. But 11% still isn't great. Lockdowns have ended. But still, there's a lot of stores and restaurants and businesses closed because Colombia has also been hit by this wave of anti government demonstrations. And what's happened is that the pandemic through so many Colombians into poverty that it's produced this kind of social explosion, protesters have been battling anti riot police who respond with tear gas and live ammo in more than 40 people have been killed. You know, and the anger is understandable. But these protests have now been going out for six weeks. So you've also got a situation where the protests are paralyzing the country and making this economic misery even worse. And we've been seeing grim headlines out of out of other parts of South America as well. What What are conditions? For example, in Venezuela next door to you? Venezuela. It's just sort of a black hole because it's an authoritarian government there, and they treat covid like some kind of state secret. There's no reliable information. They're saying that only 2000 500 Venezuelans have died from Covid. But you know if you look at a country like Peru, which has about the same population, they're saying 180,000 Peruvians have died. So nobody thinks Venezuelans numbers are anywhere near accurate. And you know, the other thing going on of as well is that they've had a health crisis for many years. You go to the hospital. There's no electricity. There's no water. There's no medicines. A lot of covid patients are taking their chances at home, and many are actually dying at home. And then one last bit of really horrible news from Venezuela is that their vaccination program has been so slow that people are saying that might be a decade before everybody gets their shots. Oh, my goodness. So still a long, long way to go in your neck of the woods. It sounds like Rob Schmitz. Let me steer us back to Europe. Very different picture. As we noted, people are out and about, but you still have some restrictions in place. Yeah, a few. I mean, and what sort of what's open varies from state to stay within Germany and here in Berlin. The restaurants are open again as well as bars. If you want to go inside, you have to show proof. Your Fully vaccinated or you've tested negative and masks, of course, are still required indoors and on public transportation. Um you know, the reopening here is all very recent, you know, within the past week or two. And tomorrow, I think will be a big day because schools in Berlin will reopen to all students, which is huge for parents who have been juggling their jobs with making sure their kids are keeping track of their homework, something that feels like it's been dragging on forever. I speak as a father of two You know, Another milestone is that starting this week, all adults are going to be able to get vaccinated here in Germany. Up Until now, Vaccinations have been running on a priority system and as of today, Nearly half of Germany has been given at least one vaccination, while one in five people are now fully vaccinated. The tourism industry is so huge part of Europe's economy. I know a lot of Americans are hoping to travel get over to Europe this summer. Will that be possible? What does that look like? Yeah, I think so. You know, the European Union has promised that Europe will reopen to Americans and others this summer, but the details are still being hammered out. But it's reasonable to expect that all of Europe will open its borders starting in July. Some member states, though, have jumped the gun. They've opened their borders themselves to non Europe. Europeans, and that list includes Greece, Croatia, Italy, Iceland, and starting this week, both France and Spain will be open for vaccinated Americans as well. Peter. How about In Nairobi. Look ahead for me. What do the next few months look like? In East Africa? Yeah, I mean, look, people here have been just deeply affected by the mitigation efforts in this pandemic. One report found that more than a million girls here on the continent may never return to school because they got pregnant during the school closures. I was in Kibera here, Um, which is one of the big slums in Nairobi and I met so many people who have been out of jobs for more than a year. I met so many parents who don't have the money to send their kids to school, and because there is no prospect of a vaccine anytime soon, they're depressed because that means that life will not get back to normal. I mean, it means that they won't get jobs. Their kids will not go back to school. And analysts I've spoken to say that it will take years to heal that kind of societal damage. I mean, one sort of silver lining to this is that so far, many African countries have missed the worst of this pandemic. There just haven't been as many deaths here, as there have been in the West. Portrait of the second summer of the Covid 19 pandemic from three continents. We've been speaking to Rob Schmitz in Berlin to Peralta in Nairobi and John Otis in Bogota..
KCRW
"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"And I'm no. Well King. Good morning. Democrats in the Texas State House walked off the floor late last night, effectively blocking a Republican sponsored bill that would restrict voting in the state. Here's Ashley Lopez from member station Kut in Austin. Good morning, actually. Morning. What did the walkout look like? How it was a dramatic Yeah, well, a little more than an hour before a Texas is voting Bill, which is sensible seven was coming up against a midnight deadline for final passage. Ah, large group of Democrats in the Texas House just walked out in masks. They had tried a bunch of other stalling tactics throughout the night in the hopes of running out the clock. In the end, they decided to break horrible. That means the Texas House couldn't vote on anything. Democrats had complained the bill was being shoved down their throats, and they complained that they were left out of key parts of the legislative process. When Democratic lawmaker said that the walkout was basically the last tool in their toolbox to stop with, they say, could have been a catastrophic bill for a Texas voters. So it's worth noting that it's not just Democrats in Texas, right. This has gone a lot of national attention. President Biden recently called this bill quote an assault on democracy. Why has it gotten so much attention? What's in it? Well, you know, let's step back for a moment In the middle of the pandemic. Houston and other major cities in Texas took a number of steps to make voting safer and more socially distant right. So Houston in particular, created 24 hour voting centers and drive through voting options. And these were options by the way that voters of color took advantage of and fast forward to the beginning of this year, and Texas Republicans said they wanted to outlaw these options. Change, flattering attorney with the Texas overage Part project told me ahead of last night's vote that Republicans were trying to make voting harder in a state where it's already pretty hard to vote, But it will also make boating scarier. Because there are a number of new crimes being created in this law that target both voters and election officials with serious felony offenses. Yes. Oh, Slattery says these provisions were a big concern because they would basically criminalized simple mistakes People make while voting. Okay, so the Democrats walk out and Then, is this over? No, This is far from over. Governor Greg Abbott already said he's going to call a special session, forcing lawmakers to basically come back to Austin and passive voting bill. Remember, this is like a big priority for Republicans, including in Texas. They say They want to make it harder for people to cheat and commit voter fraud in this state. That's even though there's no evidence that there's a widespread problem. With voter fraud in the state of Texas or elsewhere. If the governor is going to force lawmakers to come back for a special session, why did the Democrats bother doing this? What's the point of stalling? Well, they say their priority first and foremost is to do whatever they can to stop any legislation in Texas that they think makes it harder to vote. But during a press conference last night, members of the group say they hope this would also inspire Congress to pass a federal law protecting voting rights. They say federal protection that are currently waiting to be heard in the U. S Senate would go a long way and shielding Texas voters from what Democrats see his laws. That could make it harder for them to vote. Texas has been tightening access to the ballot for several years now, and Texas Republicans. They're looking to further tighten those those voting rights now and then, in the name of unsubstantiated concerns about fraud, voter fraud and basically Texas Democrats just reached their limit, and they took to a drastic measures. Leslie Real quick Do you know when the special session will be? When does everyone come back? We don't know yet, but we ever it's largely expected will be in short order. Okay. Ashley Lopez of member Station Kut in Austin. Thanks, actually, thank you. Look at numbers from the World Bank and Venezuela. Still, ranks is an upper middle income country. It's a ranking seemingly built on Venezuela's past. In recent years, Much has changed amid social unrest and U. S sanctions against a socialist government that's accused of overturning election results. It did not like now, the current ruler, Nicolas Maduro, hopes to ease those sanctions by making nice with his opposition and with the Biden administration here's reporter John Otis. In 2019 in response to Maduro's crackdown on democratic institutions. The US sanctioned Venezuela's vital oil industry. Since then, oil production has plummeted. Food shortages have gotten worse and millions of Venezuelans are fleeing the country. And, of course, Maduro is very isolated internationally. It's hard for him to trade He can't re negotiate the massive debt that Venezuela has so he needs some relief. That's Phil Gunson of the International Crisis Group. He says that to convince the U. S to ease up on sanctions, President Maduro is extending an olive branch. Last month, he allowed five American oil executives who claim they were convicted on trumped up corruption charges to be transferred from a Caracas prison to house arrest. And earlier in April, he announced that the U. N World Food Program would start providing meals to 1.5 million malnourished school Children. All of Venezuela, uploading it to pass. Oh, come about. The move came as a certain because Maduro has for years tried to control food distribution as a way to ensure loyalty to his government. It is a fundraiser planted they point to Solano and that this ceremony in Caracas to opposition leaders were sworn in to the government's five member National Electoral Council. That's a big deal because the previous electoral Council was stacked with Maduro loyalists. They oversaw fraudulent elections, allowing Maduro to tighten his grip on power. So, says opposition activist medium Ramirez, who lobbied for the new council. Five. Pero no internal petunia on Premier pass, She calls it an important step towards making elections at least a bit more free and fair. Four years Maduro had ignored calls for democratic reforms. That's why John Polga of Venezuela expert at the U. S. Naval Academy, calls this a unique opportunity. The very idea that Maduro finally is willing to negotiate, even in this very small way is important..
KQED Radio
"john otis" Discussed on KQED Radio
"Things like that, who really grabbed most of the attention. Of course, has the government offered anything to answer the protestors demands? I mean, these are big issues, poverty, inequality, police violence, not things that we would think the government could fix overnight, but is the government offering any concessions? Well, that's one of the problems besides backing down on tax hikes. The government hasn't really offered very much We're 10 days into this national strike today is going to be the 11th day. And the government has yet to meet with the protesters to here. You know what? They're so angry about? President even Duke A. He's met with government ministers. He's met with the heads of the police and army. He's not actually met with the people who are out there doing the pro testing. Is this a leaderless protest? It's you know, it's zlate by just a wide range of people. And that's one of the reasons why it's so hard. T Bring this to an end. There's so many different demands out there. Okay. Reporter John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. Thank you, John. Thanks a lot. Mm hmm. It is Friday Friday, which is time for StoryCorps well here today from Jade Rhone, who grew up in foster care in Philadelphia. When she was a teenager. Her long time Foster mother died, leaving her searching for a new family, and she was placed in station Parker's home in 2015 at StoryCorps. They sat down to recall those days. Nobody asks me how I was feeling. I just feel like I didn't matter. So when I was doing bad in school, I come to see myself. So when you came to my house was totally day was totally different. I know that you were quiet. And I knew that because you were quiet and petite that people had not paid attention to you. You would just saying See how you just said you wouldn't use your words. You had no request. Not even a.
KCRW
"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"It's 5 22. It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep, and I'm Noel King in Colombia what started as a protest over a government attempted tax reform. Has turned into eight days of anti government demonstrations. The protestors demands have expanded an end to police violence, fixes for poverty and inequality. Improvements in health and education. At least 24 people are believed to have died. Reporter John Otis is in Bogota this morning. Hi, John. It has to be here. I'd love to get some context for what's going on there. The government withdrew the tax reform bill. And yet that was not enough. Why Well, there are a lot of factors here it play the government did back down on raising taxes, they sacked the economy minister who proposed them. But by then there's been so much violence in the police response to the initial protests that now people are marching again, basically to demand police reforms in an end toe Government to government violence to give you an idea. There are at least 24 people dead and 80 to 90 people may be missing, according to human rights groups. The police even harassed, U. N human rights team that had gone to the city of Kali, which is one of the hardest hit places. So this botched response by the government is why these demonstrations of snowballed People are also just a lot more desperate. That pandemic has pushed millions of Colombians into poverty, so they're on the streets to demand things like guaranteed basic income and better health care. We've been hearing a lot about guaranteed basic income in this country as well. I want to draw some distinctions about the violence because we hear about protesters clashing with police. You say 24 people dead 80 to 90 missing are all of those people civilians. And is it people clashing with police? Or is it people gathering peacefully and then police attacking Well, it's kind of a mix of things on DS. A number of demonstrators have resorted to violence is it isn't just all violence on the police side. There's been a lot of burning and looting by protesters. Bus stations have been destroyed. One police officer was knifed to death in about 600 have been injured. In one case, protesters set fire to a police station and nearly burned alive. The three officers who were inside No. The government claims that the protests have been infiltrated by criminal gangs and and narcos and gorillas. And there is some evidence of that. But the vast majority of the protesters have actually been rather peaceful. However, it's always you know the violent ones that people throwing the Molotov cocktails, things like that, who really grab most of the attention. Of course, has the government offered anything to answer the protestors demands? I mean, these are big issues, poverty, inequality, police violence, not things that we would think the government could fix overnight, but is the government offering any concessions? Well, that's one of the problems besides backing down on tax hikes. The government hasn't really offered very much We're 10 days into this national strike today is going to be the 11th day. And the government has yet to meet with the protesters to here. You know what they're so angry about? President even Duke A. He's met with government ministers. He's met with the heads of the police and army, but he's not actually met with the people who are out there doing the pro testing. Is this a leaderless protest? It's you know, it's zlate by just a wide range of people. And that's one of the reasons why it's so hard. T Bring this to an end. There's so many different demands out there. Okay. Reporter John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. Thank you, John. Thanks a lot. It is Friday.
KQED Radio
"john otis" Discussed on KQED Radio
"It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep and I'm Noel King in Colombia. What started as a protest over a government attempted tax reform has turned into eight days of anti government demonstrations. The protestors, demands have expanded. An end to police violence, fixes for poverty and inequality. Improvements in health and education. At least 24 people are believed to have died. Reporter John Otis is in Bogota this morning. Hi, John. It has to be here. I'd love to get some context for what's going on there. The government withdrew the tax reform bill. And yet that was not enough. Why Well, there are a lot of factors here it play the government did back down on raising taxes, they sacked the economy minister who proposed them. But by then there's been so much violence in the police response to the initial protests that now people are marching again, basically to demand police reforms in an end to government to government violence. Give you an idea. There are at least 24 people dead and 80 to 90 people may be missing, according to human rights groups. The police even harassed, U. N human rights team that had gone to the city of Kali, which is one of the hardest hit places. So this botched response by the government is why these demonstrations of snowballed People are also just a lot more desperate. That pandemic has pushed millions of Colombians into poverty, so they're on the streets to demand things like guaranteed basic income and better health care. We've been hearing a lot about guaranteed basic income in this country as well. I want to draw some distinctions about the violence because we hear about protesters clashing with police. You say 24 people dead 80 to 90 missing are all of those people civilians. And is it people clashing with police? Or is it people gathering peacefully and then police attacking Well, it's kind of a mix of things. And yes, a number of demonstrators have resorted to violence is it isn't just all violence on the police side. There's been a lot of burning and looting by protesters. Bus stations have been destroyed. One police officer was knifed to death in about 600 have been injured. In one case, protesters set fire to a police station and nearly burned alive. The three officers who were inside No. The government claims that the protests have been infiltrated by criminal gangs and and narcos and gorillas. And there is some evidence of that. But the vast majority of the protesters have actually been rather peaceful. However, it's always you know the violent ones that people throwing the Molotov cocktails, things like that, who really grab most of the attention. Of course, has the government offered anything to answer the protestors demands? I mean, these are big issues, poverty, inequality, police violence, not things that we would think the government could fix overnight, but is the government offering any concessions? Well, that's one of the problems besides backing down on tax hikes. The government hasn't really offered very much We're 10 days into this national strike today is going to be the 11th day. The government has yet to meet with the protesters to here. You know what? They're so angry about? President even Duke A. He's met with government ministers. He's met with the heads of the police and army, but he's not actually met with the people who are out there doing the pro testing. Is this a leaderless protest? It's you know, it's zlate by just a wide range of people. And that's one of the reasons why it's so hard. T Bring this to an end. There's so many different demands out there. Okay. Reporter John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. Thank you, John. Thanks a lot. It is Friday Friday, which is time for StoryCorps well here today from Jade Rhone, who grew up in foster care in Philadelphia. She was a teenager. Her long time Foster mother died, leaving her searching for a new family, and she was placed in station Parker's home.
KCRW
"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"Simplified. It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep, then I'm Rachel Martin. Good morning, The FDA is moving ahead with the plan to ban mental cigarettes and flavored cigars. Although smoking rates have dropped dramatically in the last few decades, smoking is still the number one cause of preventable death in the U. S. The FDA center for Tobacco Products is leading the push for a ban and its director, Mitch Zeller is on the line with us this morning. Thank you for being here. My pleasure, Rachel. Good to be with you. Why menthols and flavored cigars. We have a huge health equity issue when it comes to combusted, tobacco products in general and mental and flavored cigars, specifically all the progress that you that you mentioned at a population level, reducing consumption and prevalence of cigarettes. Hasn't applied equally. 90% of all black Americans who smoke smoke menthol cigarettes on Lee about 30% of white Americans who smoke smoke mental all the progress that we've made in reducing Use of mental cigarettes by white teams hasn't applied to black and brown teams, so there's a huge health disparity issue and it's vital that we step in To take these harmful flavors out of combusted tobacco products, So you are specifically identifying racial equity as a reason behind these bands. It Zabrocki set of health inequities that start with the disproportionate toll that mental takes on black Americans. But however, you slice it whether it's people who are less well educated. Or for people who live below the poverty line. We have disproportionate adverse health impacts from the use of cigarettes and other combat combusted products on those populations. It's interesting, though, because civil rights groups have already come out against this. Some of them, saying the band could drive an illegal market for mental is in particular, which could make black Americans the target of even more police. Scrutiny in a legal system that arrests and prosecutes blacks far more than whites for the same crimes. Well, obviously, there's some really important ongoing societal issues related to systemic racism and the role of policing, but You know, Let me make this clear where we to finalize this policy. FDA is in the business of making sure that these products don't get into the marketplace in the first place. So Focus would be on the manufacturers and the distributors and the whole tale wholesalers and the retailers. We don't have any authority to go after. Nor would we go after individual possession. That's not to minimize the concerns about policing, but Nothing that we would take here would would empower any local police authority to do anything to enforce a mental them. Why not try to ban all cigarettes altogether? That's a bigger, broader question for society and ultimately for Congress. In our statute. There's actually a provision that says we don't have the authority to ban entire categories of tobacco products. What we do have It's a power called the product Standard Authority, and that's the power that we proposed to use to take mental and these other flavors out of cigars. How likely is it that this man is going to go through? We feel very strongly that the science supports this action in. In fact, there are many who think that we should have taken this action a long time ago. So I am confident in the evidence base, but it is a rule making process, and the rulemaking process can take time. When we made the announcement yesterday, we said that we intend to get these two proposed policies published within a year and then beyond that, we will move as quickly as we can, without making any promises is to ultimately how long it will take. But at the end of the day I am very confident that the science base will support seeing these policies go into effect. Mitch Zeller. He is the director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products Talking about the FDA is moved to ban mental cigarettes and flavored cigars. We appreciate your time this morning. Thank you. Thank you, Rachel. Two factors have led to protests in Colombia, The U. S ally at the top of South America faces spiking covert deaths amid very little vaccine and the government is planning to raise taxes. John Otis reports on the public response. Throngs of Colombians are marching in Bogota, Medellin and other cities in what they're.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Last week's protests, anti riot police used tear gas to disperse marchers, some of whom burned Busses and vandalized buildings. In a speech president Dukie told Colombians that he understands their frustrations. Just say Gaston Momentos Sandra, You want goose drank ammonia through straws. Johnny's in Molest es tambien. He asked them to calm down and to work with his government to seek solutions. However, protest organizers say that the marches will continue for NPR news. I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. This'll is NPR NEWS. It's morning Edition on W N Y C I'm David first. Newly proposed legislation aims to free approximately two million New York residents from the stigma of criminal convictions. George Joseph of WN Y sees Race and Justice unit reports. The bill, known as the Clean Slate Act, would automatically purge convictions for the vast majority of residents who've served their time met post release conditions and stayed out of trouble. Since we will either be serious about rehabilitation and reintegration, or we will be a state that is about permanent incarceration. That's Brooklyn State Senator Zellner Marie announcing the initiative, which she sponsoring, and so for the millions of New Yorkers, they're living with convictions. We Will stand up for you, and we're gonna fight to make this clean slate at our reality. Syracuse resident Melissa Agnew is one of the approximately 2.3 million New Yorkers. The bill would impact if it passes. I have applied for jobs that I am highly qualified for and been rejected because of my record in 1999. She was sentenced to three years of probation for an assault and weapons conviction. Since then, she's turned her life around even getting a bachelor's degree. But she says the consequences linger. I am a single mom of three. I take care of my elderly mother, and when you cannot move up the ladder at work, it's hard to earn more is support for your family. Still, Republican Assembly leader William Barclay refused. This spill is going too far. He believes New York should consider following other states, which have passed similar bills with exceptions for people convicted of committing a violent crimes. If they had certain car bounce, probably many on our side, I'll would be more likely Support something like this. The bill currently has sponsors in the House and Senate advocates hope to get it passed before the legislative session ends.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"U. S. The FDA center for Tobacco Products is leading the push for a ban and its director, Mitch Zeller is on the line with us this morning. Thank you for being here. My pleasure, Rachel. Good to be with you. Why menthols and flavored cigars. We have a huge health equity issue when it comes to combusted, tobacco products in general and mental and flavored cigars, specifically all the progress that you that you mentioned at a population level, reducing consumption and prevalence of cigarettes. Hasn't applied equally 90% of all black Americans who smoke smoke menthol cigarettes only about 30% of white Americans who smoke smoke mental all the progress that we've made in reducing Use of mental cigarettes by white teens hasn't applied to black and Brown team, so there's a huge health disparity issue and it's vital that we step in To take these harmful flavors out of combusted tobacco products, So you are specifically identifying racial equity as a reason behind these bands. It Zabrocki set of health inequities that start with the disproportionate toll that mental takes on black Americans. But however, you slice it whether it's people who are less well educated. Or poor people who live below the poverty line. We have disproportionate adverse health impacts from the use of cigarettes and other combat combusted products on those populations. It's interesting, though, because civil rights groups have already come out against this. Some of them, saying the band could drive an illegal market for mental is in particular, which could make black Americans the target of even more police scrutiny in illegal system that arrests and prosecutes blacks far more than whites for the same crimes. Obviously, there's some really important ongoing societal issues related to systemic racism and the role of policing. But you know, let me make this clear where we to finalize this policy. FDA is in the business of making sure that these products don't get into the marketplace. In the first place, so our focus would be on the manufacturers and the distributors and the whole tape wholesalers and the retailers. We don't have any authority to go after. Nor would we go after individual Possession. That's not to minimize the concerns about policing, but nothing that we would take here would would empower any local police authority to do anything to enforce a mental Obama. Why not try to ban all cigarettes altogether? That's a bigger, broader question for society and ultimately for Congress. In our statute. There's actually the provision that says we don't have the authority to ban entire categories of tobacco products. What we do have It's a power called the product Standard Authority, and that's the power that we proposed to use to take mental and these other flavors out of cigars. How likely is it that this man is going to go through? We feel very strongly that the science supports this action in. In fact, there are many who think that we should have taken this action a long time ago, so I am confident in the evidence base. But it is a rule making process and the rulemaking process can take time. When we made the announcement yesterday, we said that we intend to get these two proposed policies published within a year. And then beyond that, we will move as quickly as we can, without making any promises is to ultimately how long it will take. But at the end of the day, I am very confident that the science base will support Seeing these policies go into effect. Mitch Zeller. He is the director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products Talking about the FDA is moved to ban mental cigarettes and flavored cigars. We appreciate your time this morning. Thank you. Thank you, Rachel. Two factors have led to protests in Colombia, The U. S ally at the top of South America faces spiking covert deaths amid very little vaccine and the government is planning to raise taxes. John Otis reports on the public response. Wrongs of Colombians are marching in Bogota, Medellin and other cities in what they're calling a national strike..
KQED Radio
"john otis" Discussed on KQED Radio
"Smart speaker to play NPR or your local station by name, and you're listening to all things considered from NPR news. Each day thousands of Venezuelans crossing to Colombia to escape food shortages and authoritarian rule. It's a dangerous journey. The border is officially closed, and so they sneak into Columbia on footpaths controlled by gangs. And as John Otis reports, female migrants can get raped or forced into prostitution, just a warning. Some of the material in this story is disturbing. William Moore had a shelter for migrants in the Colombian border town of Via del Rosario Alondra Castillo is showing me the bruises on her arms and shoulders so fucking not Okay, Turkey Day by myself. Castillo explains that in December, she and about 80 other Venezuelans were crossing into Colombia at night on a smuggling trail. At some point, she became separated from the group. While stumbling around in the dark. Castiel was surrounded by five men who she said raped her. She remains calm as she recounts the harrowing details coming tomorrow. Come on, Go on Mirabel memory. They tied me up with my own clothes. She says Castillo made her journey on a smuggling trail like this one. Venezuelans are dragging their roller suitcases and pushing carts filled with their belongings. But it's rarely a straightforward journey. It's a no man's land where drug traffickers demand bribes, rob migrants and sometimes even rape them. Since official border crossings were closed. Human rights activists report a sharp increase in sexual assaults on Venezuelans trying to reach Columbia No on the head Ahmadi Physical Castle, those tassels Allison man before we used to see one or two briefcases per week, says Vanessa a. Pedes, who runs a legal aid center for Venezuelan migrants. Now, she says the weekly number of rapes sometimes tops two dozen. Castille could have crossed safely into Colombia if a nearby border bridge and immigration office had been opened. But they were closed 10 months ago amid the covert 19 pandemic. In other cases, the gang's promised to take Venezuelans across the border and find them jobs in Colombia, Migrant women and girls are in very vulnerable conditions. And they will take anything that they're offered. Basically, that's Maria Cecilia Even yous, a lawyer for the rights group Women's link worldwide, and then when they get to Colombia, they find out that they're actually they're as victims of human trafficking. Many of these women and girls end up working as prostitutes in the city of Pamplona, a two hour drive from the border e meet some of them on a pump on a street corner. They're rattled by the gruesome death a few days ago of one of their co workers 28 year old.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Name, and you're listening to all things considered from NPR news. of Venezuelans crossing to Colombia to escape food shortages and authoritarian rule. It's a dangerous journey. The border is officially closed, and so they sneak into Columbia on footpaths controlled by gangs. And as John Otis reports, female migrants can get raped or forced into prostitution, just a warning. Some of the material in this story is disturbing. Well, you can give me More DNA at a shelter for migrants in the Colombian border town of Via del Rosario Alondra Castillo is showing me the bruises on her arms and shoulders. So fucking not doctor. Okay, Okay, did I myself? Castillo explains that in December, she and about 80 other Venezuelans were crossing into Colombia at night on a smuggling trail. At some point, she became separated from the group. While stumbling around in the dark. Castiel was surrounded by five men who she said raped her. She remains calm as she recounts the harrowing details tomorrow. Mm. Going Mirabelle memory. They tied me up with my own clothes, she says. Steel made her journey on a smuggling trail like this one Venezuelans are dragging their roller suitcases and pushing carts filled with their belongings, But it's rarely a straightforward journey. To no man's land where drug traffickers demand bribes rob migrants and sometimes even raped them. Since official border crossings were closed, Human rights activists report a sharp increase in sexual assaults on Venezuelans trying to reach Columbia. No. On the head of my deficit. Ponting Castle, those tassels. Last time Mama before we used to see one or two rape cases per week, says Vanessa a. Pedes, who runs a legal aid center for Venezuelan migrants. Now, she says, the weekly number of rapes sometimes tops two dozen Still could have crossed safely into Colombia if a nearby border bridge and immigration office had been opened, But they were closed 10 months ago amid the covert 19 pandemic. In other cases, the gang's promised to take Venezuelans across the border and find them jobs in Colombia. Migrant women and girls are in very vulnerable conditions, and they will take anything that they're offered. Basically, that's Maria Cecilia even yous, a lawyer for the rights group Women's link world. Wide and then when they get to Colombia, they find out that they're actually they're as victims of human trafficking. Many of these women and girls end up working as prostitutes in the city of Pamplona, a two hour drive from the border meet some of them on a pump on a street corner. They're rattled by the gruesome death a few days ago of one of their co workers 28 year old Maria Pernia. Yeah, Okay,.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"And I'm Audie Cornish. This is shaping up to be an especially turbulent week in politics there. The critical Senate runoff elections in Georgia, a joint session of Congress to officially count electoral college votes. And supporters of President Trump heading to Washington again to reject the election results. In all those events, conspiracy and disinformation are playing a key role. NPR's Elam joins us now to talk more about it. Hennes. Since we're talking about the embrace of conspiracy theories, we can't ignore what we've heard in the last 24 hours. The Washington Post releasing this recorded phone call of President Trump trying to persuade Georgia officials to reject their election results. And he used conspiracy theories and debunked information to make his case. What did you hear? That's right, Audie. I mean, whether it's purely political calculation or whether he actually believes this stuff. Yes, that's that's where we are. I mean, we all knew Trump was clinging to the election conspiracy, promoting this information around it. It's still quite something to hear it to hear the president of the United States attempt to cajole and intimidate by invoking conspiracy to hear him sources information to the Internet. Georgia election official who came out today and refuted the president's claims. Point by point has done this so many times by now. He called it anti disinformation Monday. So you know this ploy is doomed, but the effect is the continued erosion of trust and democratic institutions. Giving credence to these bogus theories and, you know, analysts say that mainstreaming is a defining legacy of the trump years in that little pose a challenge for the incoming Biden administration as well. You talk about mainstreaming. A new NPR Ipsos poll shows that a majority of Americans more than 80% are concerned about the spread of false information, eh? So what does that mean? Well, it means there's agreement that disinformation is a national concern. But if you look a little closer, it breaks down kind of predictably along partisan lines, with each side, blaming the other for the spread, But we should be clear here that this is not a both sides issue. This is a Republican embrace of the counterfactual and we know for sure there are conspiracy theories and bad faith campaigns on the left. But nothing like the volume we're seeing on the right and it's part of this bigger, right wing conspiratorial worldview. You know, the Socialists are coming. The pandemic is exaggerated. We're on the brink of tyranny. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is a Democrat who's been on the receiving end of conspiracy driven attacks. And on a call with reporters today, Hobbes says it's hard to rein in that kind of disinformation. As long as it's politically useful. I am looking forward to having the conversation about how we rebuild the trust in our democratic institutions, including our election system. With people of good intent with people who want to do that, And I just think that this We're in segment of the population isn't interested in doing that, because it doesn't fulfill their objective. What of the national security implications of this? Well, we've already seen a string of recent violent attacks and plots that spring from conspiracies whether they're rooted in Cuban, on lockdown measures propaganda about antifa in that NPR Ipsos poll. By the way, I mean, one of the few bipartisan concerns over 70% of both sides was the fear of increasing political violence. We've seen previous stop this deal. Rallies and support of Trump turned violent at night. We're bracing that bracing for that again this week. Washington, D. C. Has asked the National Guard for backup at the rally Wednesday. And you know, we've seen the rhetoric really ratcheted up with some Republican election officials and commentators openly using language calling for rising up, alluding to a revolution or civil war. Basically and invoking these baseless theories to call for a potentially violent rejection of the democratic process. That's NPR's Hannah Allam. Thank you for your time. Thanks, buddy. About two million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring Colombia to escape food shortages, joblessness and authoritarian rule. But this flood of migrants is creating a backlash as John Otis reports, Colombians are now blaming Venezuelans for everything from rising crime to the spread of covert 19. At this AIDS station in the Colombian town of Pamplona, volunteers hand out ham and cheese sandwiches to Venezuelan migrants. After walking three days from the Venezuelan border, the travelers are hungry, exhausted.
KCRW
"john otis" Discussed on KCRW
"Avenue. Had in Castaic. This one the five North. This is past Templin Highway. Singler here crash is blocking the two right lanes. A big rig has gone over the side, and that's got to slowing down as you can imagine, right now from Lake Hughes robe Right now it is 66 in Santa Barbara 61 in Long Beach and 4 20. This is all things considered from NPR news. I'm Ailsa Chang. And I'm Audie Cornish. This is shaping up to be in especially turbulent week in politics there. The critical Senate runoff elections in Georgia, a joint session of Congress to officially count electoral college votes. And supporters of President Trump heading to Washington again to reject the election results. In all those events, conspiracy and disinformation are playing a key role in Przysiezny. Elam joins us now to talk more about it. Hennes. Since we're talking about the embrace of conspiracy theories, we can't ignore what we've heard in the last 24 hours. The Washington Post releasing this recorded phone call of President Trump trying to persuade Georgia officials to reject their election results. And he used conspiracy theories and debunked information to make his case. What did you hear? That's right, Audie. I mean, whether it's purely political calculation or whether he actually believes this stuff. Yes, that's that's where we are. I mean, we all knew Trump was clinging to the election conspiracy. Promoting this information around it. But it's still quite something to hear it to hear the president of the United States attempt to cajole and intimidate by invoking conspiracy to hear him source his information to the Internet George Election official who came out today and refuted the president's claims point by point. Has done this so many times by now. He called it anti disinformation Monday. So you know this ploy is doomed, but the effect is the continued erosion of trust and democratic institutions. Giving credence to these bogus theories and, you know, analysts say that mainstreaming is a defining legacy of the trump years in the little pose a challenge for the incoming Biden administration as well. You talk about mainstreaming. A new NPR Ipsos poll shows that a majority of Americans more than 80% are concerned about the spread of false information, eh? So what does that mean? Well, it means there's agreement that disinformation is a national concern. But if you look a little closer, it breaks down kind of predictably along partisan lines, with each side, blaming the other for the spread, But we should be clear here that this is not a both sides issue. This is A Republican embrace of the counterfactual and we know for sure There are conspiracy theories and bad faith campaigns on the left. But nothing like the volume we're seeing on the right and it's part of this bigger, right wing conspiratorial worldview. You know, the Socialists are coming. The pandemic is exaggerated. We're on the brink of tyranny. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is a Democrat who's been on the receiving end of conspiracy driven attacks. And on a call with reporters today, Hobbes says it's hard to rein in that kind of disinformation. As long as it's politically useful. I am looking forward to having the conversation about how we rebuild the trust in our democratic institutions, including our election system. With people of good intent with people who want to do that, And I just think that this We're in segment of the population isn't interested in doing that, because it doesn't fulfill their objective. One of the national security implications of this Well, we've already seen a string of recent violent attacks and plots that spring from conspiracies, whether they're rooted in the Cuban on lockdown measures propaganda about antifa in that NPR Ipsos poll. By the way, I mean, one of the few bipartisan concerns over 70% of both sides was the fear of increasing political violence. We've seen previous stop the steel rallies in support of Trump turned violent at night. Embracing that. Bracing for that again this week, Washington, D. C. Has asked the National Guard for backup at the rally Wednesday. And, you know we've seen the rhetoric really ratcheted up with some Republican election officials and commentators openly using language calling for rising up, alluding to a revolution or civil war. Basically and invoking these baseless theories to call for a potentially violent rejection of the democratic process. That's NPR's Hannah Allam. Thank you for your time. Thanks, Daddy. About two million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring Colombia to escape food shortages, joblessness and authoritarian rule. But this flood of migrants is creating a backlash as John Otis reports, Colombians are now blaming Venezuelans for everything from rising crime to the spread of covert 19. At this AIDS station in the Colombian town of Pamplona, volunteers hand out ham and cheese sandwiches to Venezuelan migrants. After walking three days from the Venezuelan border, the travelers are hungry, exhausted and.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"john otis" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"I'm Ailsa Chang. And I'm Audie Cornish. This is shaping up to be in especially turbulent week in politics there. The critical Senate runoff elections in Georgia, a joint session of Congress to officially count electoral college votes. And supporters of President Trump heading to Washington again to reject the election results. In all those events, conspiracy and disinformation are playing a key role in prayers, and Elam joins us now to talk more about it. Hennes. Since we're talking about the embrace of conspiracy theories, we can't ignore what we've heard in the last 24 hours. The Washington Post releasing this recorded phone call of President Trump trying to persuade Georgia officials to reject their election results. And he used conspiracy theories and debunked information to make his case. What did you hear? That's right, Audie. I mean, whether it's purely political calculation or whether he actually believes this stuff. Yes, that's that's where we are. I mean, we all knew Trump was clinging to the election conspiracy. Promoting this information around it, But it's still quite something to hear it to hear the president of the United States attempt to cajole and intimidate by invoking conspiracy to hear him source his information to the Internet. Georgia election official who came out today and refuted the president's claims. Point by point has done this so many times by now. He called it anti disinformation Monday. So you know this play is doomed. But the effect is the continued erosion of trust and democratic institutions. Giving credence to these bogus theories and, you know, analysts say that mainstreaming is a defining legacy of the trump years in that little pose a challenge for the incoming Biden administration as well. You talk about mainstreaming? Ah New NPR Ipsos poll shows that a majority of Americans more than 80% are concerned about the spread of false information, eh? So what does that mean? Well, it means there's agreement that disinformation is a national concern. But if you look a little closer, it breaks down kind of predictably along partisan lines, with each side, blaming the other for the spread, But we should be clear here that this is not a both sides issue. This is A Republican embrace of the counterfactual and we know for sure There are conspiracy theories and bad faith campaigns on the left. But nothing like the volume we're seeing on the right and it's part of this bigger, right wing conspiratorial worldview. You know, the Socialists are coming. The pandemic is exaggerated. We're on the brink of tyranny. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is a Democrat who's been on the receiving end of conspiracy driven attacks. And on a call with reporters today, Hobbes says it's hard to rein in that kind of disinformation. As long as it's politically useful. I am looking forward to having the conversation about how we rebuild the trust in our democratic institutions, including our election system. With people of good intent with people who want to do that, And I just think that this We're in segment of the population isn't interested in doing that, because it doesn't fulfill their objective. What of the national security implications of this? Well, we've already seen a string of recent violent attacks and plots that spring from conspiracies, whether they're rooted in the queue and on lockdown measures propaganda about antifa in that NPR Ipsos poll. By the way, I mean, one of the few bipartisan concerns over 70% of both sides was the fear of increasing political violence. We've seen previous stop this deal. Rallies and support of Trump turned violent at night. We're bracing that bracing for that again this week. Washington, D. C. Has asked the National Guard for backup at the rally Wednesday. And you know, we've seen the rhetoric really ratcheted up with some Republican elected officials and commentators openly using language calling for rising up, alluding to a revolution or civil war. Basically and invoking these baseless theories to call for a potentially violent rejection of the democratic process. That's NPR's Hannah Allam. Thank you for your time. Thanks, buddy. About two million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring Colombia to escape food shortages, joblessness and authoritarian rule. But this flood of migrants is creating a backlash as John Otis reports, Colombians are now blaming Venezuelans for everything from rising crime to the spread of covert 19. At this AIDS station in the Colombian town of Pamplona, volunteers hand out ham and cheese sandwiches to Venezuelan migrants. After walking three days from the Venezuelan border, the travelers are hungry, exhausted and.
Morning Edition
Colombia Supreme Court Orders Ex-President Álvaro Uribe Detained
"Colombia on Tuesday ordered the arrest of former President Alvarado re bay who's one of the country's most powerful politicians. Many Colombians adore rebate for leading a military offensive against Marxist guerrillas. But he has long faced allegations of human rights abuses. Here's reporter John Otis during his two terms as Colombia's president Alvarado Bebe's hardline security policies badly weakened the guerrillas who eventually signed a peace treaty. After he left office in 2010. Reba was elected to the Senate and helped elect the next two Colombian presidents. Followers really believe that he is the greatest Colombian ever to. I don't know to walk on Columbus. That's Paulie Martinez, a columnist for the Colombian newsmagazines, Samana. She points out that rebates presidency was also plagued by scandals under Areva's watch. Army troops killed thousands of innocent civilians then claimed they were guerilla fighters Rebates Intelligence agency spied on journalists, opposition leaders and Supreme Court judges. His current troubles stem from allegations that during the war rebased supported the formation of paramilitary death squads. The Supreme Court is now investigating whether rebate bribed witnesses to change their testimony. Sergio Guzman is the director of the consultancy Columbia Risk Analysis. The evidence against President you. It must be pretty solid for the Supreme Court to take the step. However, the news that rebate would be placed under house arrest. Outraged his supporters, including current president even Duke, Scanlon said. I will pay scumbag body See if he ended and we were done. He pointed out that the guerrillas and they had fought so hard to defeat and who have been accused of kidnappings and massacres have avoided prison under the generous terms of Colombia's 2016 peace treaty. But even Cepeda, the opposition senator, who accused Reba of having ties to paramilitaries, was elated. Why personas in Colombia? It's important, Seema. Justicia away, he said with the court's decision shows that no matter how powerful you are, no one is above the law for NPR news. I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.
All Things Considered
President Maduro Consolidates Power As The Opposition Grows Weaker
"Backed opposition in Venezuela has spent years trying to dislodge authoritarians President Nicolas Maduro. Nothing has worked instead, as John Otis reports Maduro has consolidated power, while the opposition appears to be growing weaker by the day. It wasn't long ago that Maduro's days appeared to be numbered. His oil rich country was facing its worst economic meltdown in history as well as crippling U. S sanctions. Nearly 60 nations recognised opposition leader Kwon Guido as Venezuela's rightful head of state in January. Why, though, was a guest of honor at President Trump's State of the Union address here this evening? A very brave man who carries with him the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all Venezuelans. Joining us in the gallery is the true and legitimate president of Venezuela. Juan Guido. Mr President, please take this message, but Nicolas Maduro is still ensconced in the presidential palace. The Venezuelan military has ignored y those calls to mutiny. Anti government protests have petered out. Meanwhile, the opposition is split between moderates who favor negotiations and hardliners who want military action to oust Maduro. The hardline strategy backfired in May, when a tiny force of exiled Venezuelan soldiers tried to invade their homeland. They were quickly captured or killed. So is very stock for us. Right now. We have a very, very complicated situation. That's unhealthy. Alvarado Ah, lawmaker with an opposition party called First Justice. The government jailed several party members. Then last month in a legal maneuver, it replaced the leaders of first justice and two other opposition parties, with politicians friendly to Maduro. Alvarado claims these new party bosses were paid off to switch sides. First, they persecute the literature off our party. Then they tried to divide us on DH. Then they replace the leadership of our party with new months that received the money off Maduro. The Venezuelan government ignored NPR's requests for comment. Chef Ramsay of the Washington office on Latin America, says Maduro wants to weaken but not eliminate the opposition. It is ultimately useful for the regime to point to the existence of opposition politicians in Venezuela, as it allows them to say that they live in a democracy. Maduro controls nearly every government institution. Except for the National Assembly, which is led by Juan Guido. But now the opposition is talking about boycotting this year's legislative elections because of fears of vote rigging. If the opposition does boycott why, though, will no longer be president of the Legislature. Jeff Ramsey notes that this post is the basis for his claim to be Venezuela's legitimate head of state. The international community is going to be at a crossroads where they'll have to decide whether to continue recognizing one way, although as interim president Venezuela at a recent rally in Caracas. Why, though, tried to buck up his followers, But if there's a political physical office, you know He acknowledged that they're worn down and frustrated. But he insisted the opposition would outlast Maduro. No, only are the wellbore idea. They are not going to defeat us. Why, though, proclaimed, We are still here
Fresh Air
Colombia’s Former FARC Guerrilla Leader Calls for Return to War
"Former commander of Colombia's largest Marxist guerrilla group is calling for a return to war John Otis reports the announcement comes three years after four guerrillas signed a peace treaty to end more than fifty years of conflict under the treaty seven thousand park fighters disarmed well the group was allowed to form a political party for its part the Colombian government promised to protect former guerrillas and develop the impoverished countryside with the four claims that more than one hundred fifty X. guerrillas have been killed and the other provisions of the treaty have been ignored video a gun toting bond markets who is a former for peace negotiator declared the armed struggle continues because the government has betrayed the peace accords however Rodrik alone Donyell the forks top leader rejected this call to arms claiming that most former guerrillas remain committed to peace for NPR news I'm John noticed in Bogota
NPR's Business Story of the Day
Economic Crisis Rattles Venezuelan Cattle Ranchers
"Support for this podcast and the following message come from frame bridge they make custom framing easy and affordable frame your art in photos at frame bridge dot com or visit their new stores located on Fourteenth Street and Bethesda row. Get fifteen percent off your first frame bridge order with Code N._P._R.. In Venezuela the food shortage there is such a crisis that millions of Venezuelans have left the country in the Western plains ranters dairy farmers find themselves pushing up many factors preventing them from ramping. Ramping up production everything from gasoline shortages to cattle wrestlers John Otis reports Jose Arteaga leads me on a tour of a slaughterhouse in the western Venezuelan town of my cheek is yes in the nineteen ninety s it was one of the largest in Latin America Arteaga and other workers killed in process seven hundred beef cattle per day. There were three shifts. The work was is nonstop Arteaga says today the pens shoots and killing floors are empty due to nationwide. White blackouts the facility is dark with pigeons flying around near the ceiling. The decline of Venezuela's meat and dairy industry has been a long time in the making it started in the two thousands when Venezuela's Socialist government seized is numerous ranches and milk plants as well as the machecas Slaughterhouse which critics contend was badly managed more recently as Venezuela has sunk into its worst economic crisis in history. There's been an outbreak of crime in rural rural areas and move US loose arrows. He thought people as you. Angelini says that famous recently stole two hundred forty cattle from his much his ranch they offered. Offered to release the animals in exchange for a ransom payment twenty four thousand dollar ransom for your two hundred forty head of cattle. Yes that's a lot yes a lot of money and you don't have ranchers face other hurdles. The collapse flaps Venezuela's oil industry coupled with U._S.. Sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro authoritarian government of leaded gasoline shortages spare parts and vaccines are also scarce says powered Marcus who heads the cattle ranchers. This federation in my cheek is we don't have the supplies tractors or on gasoline that you know all the all the things to make work in the farm and we have to reduce the for a a few years ago Venezuela had fifteen million head of cattle but Marcus says that number has fallen by more than half meat production has contracted by two-thirds a._F._D._C. Salon. I mean we will Kayla. Soldano Kenneka bus when meat is available. Marcus says that most Venezuelans are too poor to purchase it now. Ranchers and machecas are simply trying to survive. Eliya among them is Nester Romeo his four hundred acre dairy farm. It's been in his family for more than one hundred years yellow. Marino get throttled Neil yes if I fell only five even dollar but he he says his two sons have no intention of taking over the farm when Rome at a retires one recently left Venezuela now lives in Dallas by now. It's late afternoon in time to milk the cows but there's a problem blackouts followed by power surges when the lights come back on have damaged Romero's storage tanks unable to refrigerate milk you.
All Things Considered
Mike Pence, US And Nicolas Maduro discussed on All Things Considered
"Vice-president Mike Pence meets with Venezuela's opposition leader want Widodo tomorrow as John Otis reports, why does calling on the international community to oust President Nicolas Maduro. After bloody clashes over humanitarian aid scores have been as Whelan's were injured yesterday in clashes with Venezuelan troops. In addition to trucks carrying tons of US donated aid were burned on a border bridge on Sunday, some of the Venezuelan volunteers who took part in yesterday's failed aid operation regrouping. About two dozen of them. Use beer bottles to make molotov cocktails and vowed to try again, but later Venezuelan troops drove them away. One point zero was recognized by the US has been as well as legitimate leader is now putting together an international coalition to pressure. My doodle to leave power. This effort will include meetings on Monday in Columbia with Latin American leaders and vice President Mike
The Moth Radio Hour
Violence flares at Venezuela's border
"At a border bridge between Venezuela and Colombia Venezuela troops fired tear gas at thousands of volunteers trying to break a blockade of mainly US humanitarian aid reporter, John Otis. Is there the aid would help Venezuelans suffering from chronic shortages of food and medicine? Venezuelan troops are blocking border bridges and using tear-gas to control antigovernment protesters. The opposition is hoping to convince these troops to switch sides and allow the aid into the country that would be a huge embarrassment for president Maduro and the opposition believes could lead to his downfall. But so far the aid supplies remain in
NPR's World Story of the Day
Trinidad Faces Humanitarian Crisis As More Venezuelans Come For Refuge
"This message comes from NPR sponsor Comcast. Comcast values your time. That's why you can schedule to our appointment windows, including nights and weekends that way. You can spend more time doing what you love. Comcast working to make things. Simple, easy, and awesome. The deep economic crisis affecting Venezuela has caused more than three million Venezuelans to leave their country. Most have crossed into relatively large neighboring countries like Brazil and Colombia, but some are landing on tiny Caribbean islands where they're not exactly welcome. From the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago reported. John Otis has more. The fishing village of Cedras in southern Trinidad lies just seven miles across the sea from Venezuela that puts it within easy reach of desperate migrants. Like naughty spent the who has just arrived from Venezuela on a small passenger, both she's met by her son who moved here two years ago, and his Trinidadian wife Venezuelans can stay here legally for a few months, but Benavente the has other ideas in Minnesota move into unless different. Referring to food shortages hyperinflation back home. She says the situation. Infants willa is really bad. But at the admits that she might just stay put in Trinidad many Venezuelans enter as tourists then overstay their permits those who lack passports, hey, boat captains to smuggle them ashore all told some sixty thousand Venezuelans have recently settled in Trinidad a stable oil and gas producing nation. However, Trinidad and Tobago is only slightly larger than Rhode Island in home to just one point three million people amid the flood of Venezuelans Trinidad's government is adopting a harder line. For example. It has ignored petitions from thousands of Venezuelans seeking asylum in April authorities forcibly deported eighty two Venezuelans the UN called the expulsions a breach of international refugee law, but at a news conference earlier this year, prime minister, Keith Rowley d. Defended his policy not Russia will not America. We little island limited space, and therefore we cannot on Willett a the UN spokesman's to convert refugee gum still and as walence keep coming. They include eleven members of the Tamar family who are packed into this two bedroom. House. Some work washing dishes or unloading cargo trucks for about five hundred dollars a month as opposed to five dollars back in Venezuela where the currency has collapsed. Still some well to a twenty eight year old chef from Caracas feels like an outcast unable to speak much English and fearful of police roundups. He chokes up telling me how he was jailed last year for overstaying his tours permit another Venezuelans, including children faced the constant threat of deportation. Back on the beach at sea gross mean a net a Trinidadian housewife with tears in her eyes. It turns out she's been taking care of two Venezuelan girls ages eleven and twelve who were somehow left behind when their mother was deported nine months ago. Goes we'll go in true and to be left on your own your parents taken away from you. We just wanted to have the consent of the mother is attempting to adopt the girls, so far she's run into bureaucratic roadblocks. But it's going to keep trying. She doesn't want to give her last name to avoid hassles from government officials. Meanwhile, it's time to say goodbye. The return because I have no extension for them. The time is up to stay in shortly. After we spoke the girls were put aboard a boat for Venezuela for NPR news. I'm John Otis in Cedras, Trinidad and Tobago.
NPR's World Story of the Day
Trinidad Faces Humanitarian Crisis As More Venezuelans Come For Refuge
"This message comes from NPR sponsor Comcast. Comcast values your time. That's why you can schedule to our appointment windows, including nights and weekends that way. You can spend more time doing what you love. Comcast working to make things. Simple, easy, and awesome. The deep economic crisis affecting Venezuela has caused more than three million Venezuelans to leave their country. Most have crossed into relatively large neighboring countries like Brazil and Colombia, but some are landing on tiny Caribbean islands where they're not exactly welcome. From the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago reported. John Otis has more. The fishing village of Cedras in southern Trinidad lies just seven miles across the sea from Venezuela that puts it within easy reach of desperate migrants. Like naughty spent the who has just arrived from Venezuela on a small passenger, both she's met by her son who moved here two years ago, and his Trinidadian wife Venezuelans can stay here legally for a few months, but Benavente the has other ideas in Minnesota move into unless different. Referring to food shortages hyperinflation back home. She says the situation. Infants willa is really bad. But at the admits that she might just stay put in Trinidad many Venezuelans enter as tourists then overstay their permits those who lack passports, hey, boat captains to smuggle them ashore all told some sixty thousand Venezuelans have recently settled in Trinidad a stable oil and gas producing nation. However, Trinidad and Tobago is only slightly larger than Rhode Island in home to just one point three million people amid the flood of Venezuelans Trinidad's government is adopting a harder line. For example. It has ignored petitions from thousands of Venezuelans seeking asylum in April authorities forcibly deported eighty two Venezuelans the UN called the expulsions a breach of international refugee law, but at a news conference earlier this year, prime minister, Keith Rowley d. Defended his policy not Russia will not America. We little island limited space, and therefore we cannot on Willett a the UN spokesman's to convert refugee gum still and as walence keep coming. They include eleven members of the Tamar family who are packed into this two bedroom. House. Some work washing dishes or unloading cargo trucks for about five hundred dollars a month as opposed to five dollars back in Venezuela where the currency has collapsed. Still some well to a twenty eight year old chef from Caracas feels like an outcast unable to speak much English and fearful of police roundups. He chokes up telling me how he was jailed last year for overstaying his tours permit another Venezuelans, including children faced the constant threat of deportation. Back on the beach at sea gross mean a net a Trinidadian housewife with tears in her eyes. It turns out she's been taking care of two Venezuelan girls ages eleven and twelve who were somehow left behind when their mother was deported nine months ago. Goes we'll go in true and to be left on your own your parents taken away from you. We just wanted to have the consent of the mother is attempting to adopt the girls, so far she's run into bureaucratic roadblocks. But it's going to keep trying. She doesn't want to give her last name to avoid hassles from government officials. Meanwhile, it's time to say goodbye. The return because I have no extension for them. The time is up to stay in shortly. After we spoke the girls were put aboard a boat for Venezuela for NPR news. I'm John Otis in Cedras, Trinidad and Tobago.
NPR's World Story of the Day
U.S. Navy Sends Hospital Ship To Colombia To Treat Venezuelan Migrants
"Support for this podcast and the following message. Come from internet essentials from Comcast. Connecting more than six million low income people to low cost high speed internet at home. So students are ready for homework class graduation and more. Now, they're ready for anything Venezuela's economic crisis has led to food shortages, and hyper inflation, it's also caused the health system to collapse. That's one reason. More than a million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring Colombia, which has strained Columbia's health system as John Otis reports, the US is offering some help aboard a US navy hospital ship. You're in the coastal town of real Atucha in Colombia near the Venezuelan border. Patients gathered at a makeshift reception centre, many Venezuelan migrants with cataracts, gallstones and other problems that have gone untreated back home asthma. Bronchitis. Pneumonia steadily as modem keep these no one. Yeah. U S navy personnel. Help them fill out medical forms. Those scheduled for surgery were then flown on helicopters to the US NS comfort fifteen miles off shore in the Caribbean. The comfort is a former oil-tanker that's been converted into a floating hospital. It's often deployed to disaster zones like Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria last year. I have the three of acre. I have the three of acre surgeons worked from twelve operating rooms position near the center of the ship to minimize the rolling effect of ocean waves one of their patients was two year olds Santiago effort who suffers from a hernia and an undescended testicle that's lodged in his abdomen. His father Francisco fled to Colombia after he was unable to secure treatment for his son in Venezuela. Visit the Wilma handed to get open Oklahoma. When I left there were power outages in the operating room. And no air conditioning says the clinic kept deteriorating Minnesota was once an oil rich country, but amid corruption and mismanagement by the authoritarian government, the IMF predicts Venezuela's economy will contract by eighteen percent this year. Among the hardest. Hit sectors is healthcare says Rafael gotten jer of Venezuelan, doctor on board the comfort glosses, for example, SP years. It's about two thousand three hundred percent increase Melodia, each of the sky HOV Bishop dying because there's no make Asians with rich IV kind sufficient hypno-. Consummate Gatien gotten is one of fourteen Venezuelan doctors living in the US who volunteered for the medical mission. They already given him some oral medications. That's why he's asleep. Among them is a real Kaufman. A urologist who moved from Caracas to Miami four years ago. He says that working aboard. The comfort is a way to reconnect with his homeland the best failing. I've been practicing Mason for like twenty five thirty years. Nothing fails, our heart more than helping these patients even with small surgery with touching their their hands holding them. It's it's an amazing experience. Geopolitics are also at play the US and China are competing for influence in South America and the Comfort's mission came just two months after Chinese hospital ship visited Venezuela. Amanda Antonio is a US navy doctor doing this from you know, sort of a hearts and minds standpoint. So we're trying to show that not just the civilians, but that the military the American military cares about the people down here. There was only so much that the doctors could do during the comforts weeklong stay near the Venezuelan border. Has. But the patients thanked the medical staff then prepared for the flight back to shore for NPR news. I'm John Otis aboard the US NS comfort off the coast of northern Colombia.
Morning Edition
Venezuela cracks down on opposition in wake of 'attack'
"In Venezuela. The government is cracking down on political opposition, following an. Assassination attempt last weekend against President Nicolas Maduro he, was the target of two drones carrying. Explosives but the deeply unpopular president. Escaped unharmed John Otis has more disgruntled military men, have claimed credit for the failed drone attack but Maduro is blaming the political opposition which has denounced. His government for leading Venezuela Into food shortages and hyper inflation Luna speaking on state, TV said that Julio bore Hayes a former head of Venezuela's congress and another opposition lawmaker. One record sons were to blame he provided no evidence even so, men as well as supreme court which is packed, with Maduro allies issued an arrest warrant for what government agents. Have detained
NPR News Now
Explosions at Venezuelan president's speech were attempted attack, government says
"Live from NPR news in Washington. I'm Jim hawk the government in Venezuela says that President, Nicolas Maduro has survived. An assassination attempt carried out by drones, armed with explosives reporter. John Otis has more my doodle was addressing national guard troops at an outdoor event in Caracas when the attack occurred. In short video of Madonna's speech in explosion can be heard. Then hundreds of troops can be seen running for cover a government spokesman called it. An assassination attempt carried out by armed drones and that seven soldiers were injured my doodo who was unharmed blamed the attack on far-right factions in Venezuela as well as on the us and Colombian governments. But amid hyper inflation and food shortages, whether to socialist government is deeply unpopular and his put down several recent co attempts by the Venezuelan military for NPR news. I'm John Otis, Europe continues to experience scorching temperatures in decades. Old records are falling from Brussels. Teri Schultz reports the heat wave is threatening life and land, Europe's record high temperature of one hundred eighteen point. Four degrees Fahrenheit was reached in Greece in nineteen seventy seven so far this summer Portugal has seen one hundred and fifteen degrees and may not have peak. Thiet tourists are being warned to stay out of the sun and emergency services are on alert. Dutch authorities have had to close some parts of highways where the asphalt has melted Sweden has experienced a record. Hot July is highest mountain which is topped by glacier dropped thirteen feet last month, and may soon become just the second tallest peak in Finland, where August temperatures average in the mid sixties. People are sweltering in eighty six degrees, most homes don't have air-conditioning. So a grocery store there has made room for one hundred customers to stay the night for NPR news. I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels, tens of thousands of Israelis rallied until Aviv to protest. The new Israeli law they say, discriminates against religious minorities. The protest was led by the Druze Arab minority is NPR's. Daniel estrin reports. Protesters from the Druze community chanted equality, equality in Tel Aviv's main square. There were just a few tens of thousands of jerus- era of citizens in Israel. They profess loyalty to Israel and are drafted to the army. The community's spiritual leader said at the rally, we see ourselves as part of the country. Our country doesn't see us as equals Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the new law that prioritises investments in Jewish communities and towns. He says, minority rights are honored. He's offered new laws to give benefits to drew citizens. But Drew's representatives say they want the controversial law changed to enshrine equality for the country's minorities, including Muslims and Christians, which are about a fifth of Israel's population. Daniel estrin NPR news Tel Aviv. This is NPR. Chinese authorities are demolishing the studio of China's most famous dissident artists. I way way as NPR Shannon von San reports. The Beijing studio has been his primary workspace in China, Chinese authorities, often target artists neighborhoods in Beijing for demolition because they are hubs for political dissent. And because the land is valuable. I has criticized the Chinese government on a range of issues from human rights to corruption and twenty eleven. He was detained for tax evasion charges. He says, were politically motivated after that the Chinese government took away his passport, preventing him from travel outside the country. When thirties returns his passport in two thousand fifteen, I moved to Germany. And since then he has shifted the focus of his art to refugees, Shannon, Vincent NPR news, Asia's top diplomats, press North Korea on Saturday to follow through on a pledge to completely dismantle its nuclear arsenal. Amid concerns that it's proceeding with missile building and. Other programs, but North Korea's, foreign minister told the Asian security forum in Singapore that the US isn't helping by maintaining sanctions against the north. First lady Melania Trump stepped away from her husband's criticism of NBA star, LeBron James to compliment as work on behalf of children and even offered to visit his school for at risk children. MRs Trump spokeswoman said in a statement, Saturday, that quote, LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation statements tone was in stark contrast to a tweet by President Trump sent late Friday night. I'm Jim hawk NPR news in Washington support for this NPR podcast, and the following message come from Comcast business from their fast, reliable internet
NPR News Now
Famed Chinese artist posts video of authorities destroying his studio
"Live from NPR news in Washington. I'm Jim hawk the government in Venezuela says that President, Nicolas Maduro has survived. An assassination attempt carried out by drones, armed with explosives reporter. John Otis has more my doodle was addressing national guard troops at an outdoor event in Caracas when the attack occurred. In short video of Madonna's speech in explosion can be heard. Then hundreds of troops can be seen running for cover a government spokesman called it. An assassination attempt carried out by armed drones and that seven soldiers were injured my doodo who was unharmed blamed the attack on far-right factions in Venezuela as well as on the us and Colombian governments. But amid hyper inflation and food shortages, whether to socialist government is deeply unpopular and his put down several recent co attempts by the Venezuelan military for NPR news. I'm John Otis, Europe continues to experience scorching temperatures in decades. Old records are falling from Brussels. Teri Schultz reports the heat wave is threatening life and land, Europe's record high temperature of one hundred eighteen point. Four degrees Fahrenheit was reached in Greece in nineteen seventy seven so far this summer Portugal has seen one hundred and fifteen degrees and may not have peak. Thiet tourists are being warned to stay out of the sun and emergency services are on alert. Dutch authorities have had to close some parts of highways where the asphalt has melted Sweden has experienced a record. Hot July is highest mountain which is topped by glacier dropped thirteen feet last month, and may soon become just the second tallest peak in Finland, where August temperatures average in the mid sixties. People are sweltering in eighty six degrees, most homes don't have air-conditioning. So a grocery store there has made room for one hundred customers to stay the night for NPR news. I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels, tens of thousands of Israelis rallied until Aviv to protest. The new Israeli law they say, discriminates against religious minorities. The protest was led by the Druze Arab minority is NPR's. Daniel estrin reports. Protesters from the Druze community chanted equality, equality in Tel Aviv's main square. There were just a few tens of thousands of jerus- era of citizens in Israel. They profess loyalty to Israel and are drafted to the army. The community's spiritual leader said at the rally, we see ourselves as part of the country. Our country doesn't see us as equals Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the new law that prioritises investments in Jewish communities and towns. He says, minority rights are honored. He's offered new laws to give benefits to drew citizens. But Drew's representatives say they want the controversial law changed to enshrine equality for the country's minorities, including Muslims and Christians, which are about a fifth of Israel's population. Daniel estrin NPR news Tel Aviv. This is NPR. Chinese authorities are demolishing the studio of China's most famous dissident artists. I way way as NPR Shannon von San reports. The Beijing studio has been his primary workspace in China, Chinese authorities, often target artists neighborhoods in Beijing for demolition because they are hubs for political dissent. And because the land is valuable. I has criticized the Chinese government on a range of issues from human rights to corruption and twenty eleven. He was detained for tax evasion charges. He says, were politically motivated after that the Chinese government took away his passport, preventing him from travel outside the country. When thirties returns his passport in two thousand fifteen, I moved to Germany. And since then he has shifted the focus of his art to refugees, Shannon, Vincent NPR news, Asia's top diplomats, press North Korea on Saturday to follow through on a pledge to completely dismantle its nuclear arsenal. Amid concerns that it's proceeding with missile building and. Other programs, but North Korea's, foreign minister told the Asian security forum in Singapore that the US isn't helping by maintaining sanctions against the north. First lady Melania Trump stepped away from her husband's criticism of NBA star, LeBron James to compliment as work on behalf of children and even offered to visit his school for at risk children. MRs Trump spokeswoman said in a statement, Saturday, that quote, LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation statements tone was in stark contrast to a tweet by President Trump sent late Friday night. I'm Jim hawk NPR news in Washington support for this NPR podcast, and the following message come from Comcast business from their fast, reliable internet
NPR News Now
Temperature records that stood for four decades are falling in Europe
"Live from NPR news in Washington. I'm Jim hawk the government in Venezuela says that President, Nicolas Maduro has survived. An assassination attempt carried out by drones, armed with explosives reporter. John Otis has more my doodle was addressing national guard troops at an outdoor event in Caracas when the attack occurred. In short video of Madonna's speech in explosion can be heard. Then hundreds of troops can be seen running for cover a government spokesman called it. An assassination attempt carried out by armed drones and that seven soldiers were injured my doodo who was unharmed blamed the attack on far-right factions in Venezuela as well as on the us and Colombian governments. But amid hyper inflation and food shortages, whether to socialist government is deeply unpopular and his put down several recent co attempts by the Venezuelan military for NPR news. I'm John Otis, Europe continues to experience scorching temperatures in decades. Old records are falling from Brussels. Teri Schultz reports the heat wave is threatening life and land, Europe's record high temperature of one hundred eighteen point. Four degrees Fahrenheit was reached in Greece in nineteen seventy seven so far this summer Portugal has seen one hundred and fifteen degrees and may not have peak. Thiet tourists are being warned to stay out of the sun and emergency services are on alert. Dutch authorities have had to close some parts of highways where the asphalt has melted Sweden has experienced a record. Hot July is highest mountain which is topped by glacier dropped thirteen feet last month, and may soon become just the second tallest peak in Finland, where August temperatures average in the mid sixties. People are sweltering in eighty six degrees, most homes don't have air-conditioning. So a grocery store there has made room for one hundred customers to stay the night for NPR news. I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels, tens of thousands of Israelis rallied until Aviv to protest. The new Israeli law they say, discriminates against religious minorities. The protest was led by the Druze Arab minority is NPR's. Daniel estrin reports. Protesters from the Druze community chanted equality, equality in Tel Aviv's main square. There were just a few tens of thousands of jerus- era of citizens in Israel. They profess loyalty to Israel and are drafted to the army. The community's spiritual leader said at the rally, we see ourselves as part of the country. Our country doesn't see us as equals Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the new law that prioritises investments in Jewish communities and towns. He says, minority rights are honored. He's offered new laws to give benefits to drew citizens. But Drew's representatives say they want the controversial law changed to enshrine equality for the country's minorities, including Muslims and Christians, which are about a fifth of Israel's population. Daniel estrin NPR news Tel Aviv. This is NPR. Chinese authorities are demolishing the studio of China's most famous dissident artists. I way way as NPR Shannon von San reports. The Beijing studio has been his primary workspace in China, Chinese authorities, often target artists neighborhoods in Beijing for demolition because they are hubs for political dissent. And because the land is valuable. I has criticized the Chinese government on a range of issues from human rights to corruption and twenty eleven. He was detained for tax evasion charges. He says, were politically motivated after that the Chinese government took away his passport, preventing him from travel outside the country. When thirties returns his passport in two thousand fifteen, I moved to Germany. And since then he has shifted the focus of his art to refugees, Shannon, Vincent NPR news, Asia's top diplomats, press North Korea on Saturday to follow through on a pledge to completely dismantle its nuclear arsenal. Amid concerns that it's proceeding with missile building and. Other programs, but North Korea's, foreign minister told the Asian security forum in Singapore that the US isn't helping by maintaining sanctions against the north. First lady Melania Trump stepped away from her husband's criticism of NBA star, LeBron James to compliment as work on behalf of children and even offered to visit his school for at risk children. MRs Trump spokeswoman said in a statement, Saturday, that quote, LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation statements tone was in stark contrast to a tweet by President Trump sent late Friday night. I'm Jim hawk NPR news in Washington support for this NPR podcast, and the following message come from Comcast business from their fast, reliable internet
Morning Edition
Conservative Iván Duque sweeps to victory in Colombia
"Unlikely to support a bill that fails to protect docker recipients or in the administration's policy of separating undocumented migrant children from their parents over the weekend several democratic lawmakers traveled to the texas mexico border too to detention centers including one that can house nearly fifteen hundred children shannon van sant npr news washington homeland security secretary kirsten nielsen is issued tweet over the weekend that says the trump administration does not have a policy of separating families at the border but her statement is contradicted by her agency a d h s spokesman had said that nearly two thousand miners were separated from their parents at the border between mid april and the end of may former first lady laura bush has written in the washington post criticizing the trump administration policy is quote immoral the justice department's inspector general michael horowitz and fbi director christopher ray will be questioned by the senate judiciary committee about the i jeez report released last week npr's miles parks has more the five hundred page report is a look at the justice department investigation into hillary clinton's use of a private e mail server it will provide plenty of fodder for senators on both sides of the aisle monday's hearing even though the report was not about russian interference president trump says a quote totally exonerates him when it comes to the question of whether his campaign coordinator with russia leading up to the presidential election democrats on the other hand point to findings in the report that no decisions by just department prosecutors were affected by bias that directly contradicts trump's claim that justice department investigators were conspiring to help clinton win miles parks npr news washington voters in colombia have elected a new president even duquet a conservative former lawmaker easily defeated gustavo petro a former leftist guerrilla john otis has more from bogota according to official results duquet garnered fifty four percent of the vote compared to forty one percent for petro do gay forty one is political newcomer duquet has pledged to jump start the economy through tax cuts he also plans to rewrite key parts of a twenty sixteen peace agreement that ended columbia's halfcenturyold guerrilla war john otis reporting officials in japan say at least three people were killed in an earthquake today that shook the city of osaka more than three hundred people were heard the tremors magnitude was six point one it toppled walls and triggered fires you're listening to npr news the national weather service says it's going.
Morning Edition
Iván Duque wins election to become Colombia's president
"Some other news now columbia has elected a new president yvonne duquet is his name he's a conservative and he defeated a one time leftist rebel named gustavo petro the winner promises to be tough on drugs and on former rebels john otis has more at a rally sunday night duquet celebrated his meteoric rise to the top of colombian politics he received nearly fifty four percent of the vote compared to about forty two percent for petro that means the forty one old dookie will become the youngest president in colombia's history previously he worked at the interamerican development bank and served a single term in the colombian senate he rose from obscurity after he was endorsed by alvarado rebate a popular former colombian president that's why in ducas victory speech the first person he thanked was rebate duke as win marks a rightward shift for columbia the presidentelect plans to cut taxes for businesses he may restart aerial fumigation of coca the plant used to make cocaine fumigation was halted three years ago due to health concerns but since then that coca crop has ballooned alarming officials but duke as most controversial pledge is to rewrite at twenty sixteen peace treaty that accord disarm seven thousand members of the farc rebel group who had been fighting for half a century duquet claims its terms are too lenient for example he wants exrebels accused of atrocities banned from holding political office until they face justice and compensate their victims process there will be changes uk declared we're going to make war victims the focal point of the peace process but too many changes could prompt former farc fighters to take up arms again so says arlene tickner a professor of international relations at rosada university in bogota we have a large number of x farc leadership for example abandoning the process it's very difficult to envision the success of the peace accords although pets lost his candidacy was a breakthrough a former bogota mayor and member of the now defunct m nineteen guerrilla group he was columbia's i ever leftist politician with a realistic shot at the presidency his concession speech petra declared i do not feel defeated petra will now become the head of the opposition while do gate will be sworn in as president on august seventh for a four year term for npr news i'm john otis in bogota it's npr news folder.
From the Top
Former guerrilla, young conservative vie to lead Colombia
"In ms thirteen gang subject into traffic a rape or worse the trump administration says family separation is required by democratic law though there is no such law president trump says if democrats get behind the republicans proposed broad immigration overhaul hill end the separations the draft provides billions of dollars for a border wall and poses new limits on legal immigration and toughens rules for asylum seekers of vote is expected this week more than six hundred migrants have finally reached dry land in europe they spent just over a week at sea after italy and malta refused to take them in christopher lives say reports there now arriving in spain migrants rejoice as their ship nears the port of valencia in the end it was spain that agreed to let them dock seven hundred nautical miles away from where they first entered european waters after setting sail from libya they were rescued a week ago by the humanitarian ship aquarius which tried to bring them to nearby ports in malton italy both countries refused the standoff was an early sign of strength from the new populist government in italy the interior minister leading the crackdown on migrants is matteo salvini an outspoken fan of us president donald trump for his part trump has praised italy's new policy he said it seems being tough on immigration now pays for npr news i'm christopher lives say in rome colombians are casting ballots for president today as john notice reports from bogota voters face a stark choice between a former rightwing lawmaker and a one time leftist guerrilla the election pits gustavo petro a former mayor of bogota and an ex guerilla fighter against conservative yvonne duquet who according to the polls is the front runner duke has pledged to rewrite parts of two thousand sixteen peace treaty that ended columbia's halfcenturyold guerrilla war petrol has promised to close the gap between rich and poor and would become colombia's i ever left wing president but there are concerns that many colombian soccer fans could ignore the election to watch today's world cup matches be talking saga will in a televised speech outgoing president juan manuel santos urged colombians to i go to the polls before settling in for soccer from pierre news i'm john otis in bogota this.
NPR News Now
Conservative Duque leading Colombia vote but runoff likely
"Ballots for president today the country's first presidential election since the end of halfcenturylong war against marxist guerrillas as john notice reports five candidates are vying to succeed the term limited president juan manuel santos it will if if doesn't exist in a speech president santos predicted that today's election will be the most peaceful in recent colombian history the front runner according to polls is yvonne duquet he's a right wing senator and a sharp critic of the 2016 peace treaty that ended a half century of fighting he claims it provides too many benefits to former guerrillas do case closest challenger is gustavo petro he's a former mayor of bogota who once belonged to the m nineteen a rebel group that disarmed in nineteen ninety if none of the candidates wins more than half of the votes the top two finishers will meet inner runoff next month for npr news i'm john otis in bogota colombia this is npr just ahead of this memorial day weekend the senate has passed a measure to curb homelessness among native american veterans as npr's quil lawrence reports they serve in the military at a higher rate per capita than any other ethnic group amid the push to end homelessness among veterans nationwide many native american vets had been left out until a few years ago because federal housing vouchers for vets weren't available to tribes or tribal housing authorities the bill passed in the senate would set aside a portion of that housing money for native vets who suffer homelessness at a disproportionately high rate native american veterans have always been over represented in the us military even going back to world war one when they could be drafted even though they didn't yet have us citizenship the bill has bipartisan support and now moves to the house overall homelessness among veterans across the country has dropped over the past eight years but there are still about forty thousand veterans living on the streets quil lawrence npr news.
NPR News Now
The Latest: Colombian presidential vote heads to runoff
"Live from npr news in washington i'm barbara klein alberto is beginning to lash the gulf coast with wind and rain and it's expected to last through this holiday weekend florida mississippi and alabama have states of emergency in place to deal with anticipated flooding but blake farmer of member station w p l n reports the subtropical storm is more of a nuisance so far tropical storm warnings have been issued and states have emergency declared along the southern coast enough to scare the family of george shires from atlanta but he says they're trying to make the most of their memorial day at saint george island florida if again too bad really bad really flooding stuff would probably here in the area where storm surges possible residents and visitors are being told to follow any guidance from local officials rip currents are also an increasing concern but widespread flooding is also possible with five to ten inches of rain expected and the risk of heavy rainfall will continue to spread into much of the southeast us for npr news i'm blake farmer in the florida panhandle voters in columbia are casting ballots for president the country's first presidential election since the end of a half century long war against marxist guerrillas as john notice reports five candidates are vying to succeed the term limited president one manuel santos it will you in a speech president santos predicted that today's election will be the most peaceful in recent colombian history the front runner according to polls is yvonne duquet he's a right wing senator and a sharp critic of the 2016 peace treaty that ended a half century of fighting he claims it provides too many benefits to former guerrillas do case closest challenger is gustavo petro he's a former mayor of bogota who once belonged to the m nineteen a rebel group that disarmed in nineteen ninety if none of the candidates wins more than half of the votes the top two finishers will meet inner runoff next month for npr news i'm john otis in bogota colombia widespread protests continuing nicaragua's demonstrators demand the resignation of president daniel ortega and his wife the vice president at least eight people died this weekend in clashes with security forces european union foreign ministers meet in brussels tomorrow to strategize on save.