(From) NPR News in Washington, I’m Nora Raum.

 

　　Edward Snowden, the former US contractor who’s wanted on espionage charges for revealing information on surveillance programs, has left Hong Kong and is seeking asylum elsewhere. NPR’s Nathan Rott reports Snowden is believed to be in Moscow now and eventually wants to make his way to a country that would grant him asylum, such as Venezuela or Ecuador.

 

　　Hong Kong officials said that the US’s request to extradite Snowden did not meet their legal requirements, allowing the former NSA contractor to flee. The anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks is reportedly aiding Snowden and his movements, and said that Snowden is bound for “a democratic nation via a safe route for the purpose of asylum.” Appearing on Fox News, Utah Senator Mike Lee said that Snowden may be in for a rude awakening.

 

　　“I think Mr. Snowden is delusional if he thinks that he is gonna find a country with a better human rights record in Moscow or in Havana or in Caracas.”

 

　　Justice Department officials have said they will continue to work with foreign officials, whoever they may be, to extradite Snowden back to the US. Nathan Rott, NPR News.

 

　　Gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked a mountaineering base camp in northern Pakistan today. They killed nine foreign tourists and their Pakistani guide. One climber escaped. Pakistani officials say the tourists were mostly from China and Ukraine. Taliban fighters claimed responsibility, saying the attack was retaliation for a US drone attack.

 

　　In Turkey, police used water cannons to disperse the first mass gathering in Istanbul's Taksim Square in nearly a week. NPR’s Peter Kenyon reports demonstrators brought flowers in memory of those killed in more than three weeks of protests.

 

　　Thousands of protesters came to Taksim to remember the four fatalities from the anti-government protests. Riot policed backed by water canons dispersed the crowd, and police chased scattered demonstrators down to Jason Street. Separately, an Ankara court ordered the detention of 22 protesters, bringing the total number of those arrested in the capital to more than 50. Nearly 70 protesters face charges in Istanbul. Speaking to a rally of government supporters in the city near the Black Sea, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the same plot against Turkey was now being repeated in Brazil. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Istanbul.

 

　　Opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi are planning demonstrations in Cairo this week to demand his resignation. The head of the army warned today the military is ready to intervene to prevent any violence. He made a statement on Facebook saying both sides must put aside their differences.

 

　　The South African government says Nelson Mandela is now in critical condition. The former South African president has been hospitalized for two weeks, being treated for a reoccurring lung infection. Doctors say he is susceptible to respiratory problems because he contracted pneumonia while in prison for 27 years for fighting apartheid.

 

　　This is NPR News from Washington.

 

　　An air show near Dayton, Ohio reopened today with a moment of silence to honor two performers who died yesterday. A plane crashed and burst into flames, killing the pilot and a wing walker. Video showed the plane gliding through the sky before it abruptly rolled over and went down in front of hundreds of horrified spectators.

 

　　The man known as “The King of the High Wire” plans to walk across the Grand Canyon later today. Native American tribes have mixed feels about the stunt. From member station KJZZ in Flagstaff, Laurel Morales reports.

 

　　Nik Wallenda will walk across a two-inch thick wire 1,500 feet in the air where winds have been gusting this weekend at 35 mph. But Wallenda says he’s been training with wind machines, and that he feels ready. Northern Arizona American-Indian tribes believe this gorge on Navajo land to be sacred. And the Hopi tribe has said if he falls, his death is their spiritual burden. The tribe has requested Wallenda wear a safety harness, but he refuses.

 

　　“I truly hope that when this walk is complete, (that) they will all be excited about this the fact that it happened there. And it really is shining the light of the world on this area.”

 

　　Wallenda says his last walk across the Niagara Falls brought 25 million tourist dollars to that area. For NPR News, I’m Laurel Morales in Flagstaff.

 

　　The wait is almost over. Twinkies are coming back. Hostess went bankrupt last year, ending production of the popular snack cake. The company is operating again under new owners. It says Twinkies will be back on the store shelves, starting July 15th. And not to worry, they’ll taste the same. But the boxes will include the tag line “The Sweetest Comeback In The History Of Ever.”

 

　　I'm Nora Rome, NPR News in Washington.