Briefly

UNITED STATES

Venezuela's Maduro, wife face new charges

US authorities filed additional charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Thursday, including conspiracy to commit torture of opponents, according to an indictment filed in federal court in Manhattan. A US judge ruled in July that Maduro and Flores will go on trial in June 2027. Maduro's lawyers have sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that he was the incumbent president of Venezuela at the time of his capture and was therefore entitled to immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction.

MALAYSIA

Schools closed due to forest fire haze

Schools in several Malaysian states as well as its federal and administrative capitals are closed on Friday, the education ministry said, after smoky haze caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had agreed to take necessary steps to combat the haze, with Malaysia ready to offer assistance.

CANADA

PM hits back at Musk over separatist call

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canada's future will be decided by Canadians, pushing back on Elon Musk's call for Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from Canada. "The future of Canada will be decided by Canadians and the priorities of Canadians, the priorities of the people of Quebec," Carney said when asked about Musk's comments.

AGENCIES-XINHUA