By MARK BANCHEREAU, Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Burkina Faso says it has refused a proposal from the Trump administration to accept deportees from the United States.

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The West African country was asked whether it would accept non-citizens expelled by the U.S., in addition to its own nationals, Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said Thursday on national television.

“Naturally, this proposal, which we deemed indecent at the time, is totally contrary to the value of dignity which is part of the very essence of the vision of Capt. Ibrahim Traoré,” he said, referring to the country’s military ruler.

The remark came only a few hours after the U.S. Embassy in the capital Ouagadougou suspended most visa services for Burkina Faso residents, redirecting applications to its embassy in neighboring Togo. The embassy did not give a reason for the move.

Citing a U.S. diplomatic note accusing Burkinabe nationals of not complying with visa usage rules, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré called the move a possible “pressure tactic” and said, “Burkina Faso is a land of dignity, not deportation.”

The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou and Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

More than 40 deportees have been sent to Africa since July after the Trump administration struck largely secretive agreements with at least five African nations to take migrants under a new third-country deportation program. Rights groups and others have protested the program.

The U.S. has sent deportees to the small African nation of Eswatini, South Sudan, Rwanda and Ghana. It also has an agreement with Uganda, though no deportations there have been announced.

Six deportees are still detained in an unspecified facility in South Sudan, while Rwanda hasn’t said where it is holding seven deportees. Eleven of the 14 deportees sent to Ghana last month sued the government there for holding them in what they described as terrible conditions at a military camp on the outskirts of the capital, Accra.

Human Rights Watch said last month the Trump administration offered financial incentives to some African countries to accept deportees. The rights group said it reviewed written agreements showing Eswatini will receive $5.1 million in U.S. funding for migration and border management while Rwanda will receive $7.5 million.

By SEUNG MIN KIM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is undergoing what he has described as a “semiannual physical” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday.

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The visit, which the White House announced earlier this week, comes as Trump is preparing to travel to the Middle East on the heels of a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as a “routine yearly checkup,” although Trump had his annual physical in April.

The White House declined to explain why Trump was getting a yearly checkup six months after his annual exam. But in an exchange with reporters Thursday, the Republican president said it was a “semiannual physical.”

“I’m meeting with the troops, and I’m also going to do a, sort of, semiannual physical, which I do,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think I’m in great shape, but I’ll let you know.”

The president is scheduled to return to the White House after his visit to Walter Reed, which is located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Trump’s April physical found that he was “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief. The three-page summary of the exam done by his doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said he had lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) since a medical exam in June 2020 and said he has an “active lifestyle” that “continues to contribute significantly” to the well-being of the president, who’s 79.

In July, the White House announced that Trump recently had had a medical checkup after noticing “mild swelling” in his lower legs and was found to have a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins. Tests by the White House medical unit showed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity gradually lose the ability to work properly.

At the April physical, Trump also passed a short screening test to assess different brain functions.

By KOSTYA MANENKOV, REGINA GARCIA CANO and GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

FILE – Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado holds up tally sheets during a protest against the reelection of President Nicolás Maduro one month after the disputed presidential vote which she says the opposition won by a landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”

Exiled opposition candidate celebrates

Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.

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“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”

González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”

Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.

Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.

Crackdown on dissent

The crackdown on dissent only increased after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.

The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.

Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. He went into exile in Spain and was granted asylum.

Before dawn in Caracas, with few vehicles out yet on the Venezuelan capital’s usually crowded streets, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’s win.

“I don’t know what can be done to improve the situation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at a bus stop. “She’s a great woman.”

Support for Machado and the opposition in general has decreased since the July 2024 election — particularly since January, when Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term and disappointment set in.

Last year, Machado and González were awarded the European Union’s top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize.

Machado becomes the 20th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, of the 112 individuals who have been honored.

Speculation about Trump’s Nobel chances

There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President Donald Trump, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s approval of his plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes said: “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace.

“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”

White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X Friday morning that “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Last year’s award went to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.

The peace prize is the only one of the annual Nobel prizes to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.

Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in medicine on Monday, physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City and Moulson from Berlin. Jorge Rueda contributed from Caracas, Venezuela and Mike Corder from The Hague, Netherlands.

Broncos vs. Jets (+7½)
Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is facing felony charges after a bloody encounter with a grease truck driver in Indianapolis. Upon hearing the shocking news, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recommended Sanchez for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pick: Broncos by 14

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bears at Commanders (-4½)
It’s the rematch of last year’s infamous Hail Mary Game. They’ll mark the occasion in a touching pregame coin toss, where Chicago’s Tyrique Stevenson will run out onto the field late, then bat the coin to Noah Brown.
Pick: Commanders by 3

FILE – Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) catches a 52-yard touchdown pass in the end zone as time expires to give the Commanders an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Seahawks at Jaguars (+1½)
Jacksonville upset the mighty Chiefs on Monday night when QB Trevor Lawrence scrambled after falling down for the winning touchdown. Kansas City defensive star Chris Jones said it was the most amazing play he had ever witnessed while standing still on the field.
Pick: Seahawks by 3

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) reacts to play against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Lions at Chiefs (-1½)
Taylor Swift has vehemently denied she will be giving up her music career when she marries Travis Kelce. In contrast, the Kansas City tight end has not denied that he has given up on this season.
Pick: Lions by 7

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend the Men’s Singles Final match between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Browns at Steelers (-4½)
Former Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr. revealed this week that he has been suspended six games for use of performance-enhancing drugs. NFL insiders report that nobody’s interested, and nobody cares.
Pick: Steelers by 7

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) on the sideline against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Chargers at Dolphins (+4½)
The once perfect 1972 Dolphins toasted the demise of the two remaining undefeated teams on Sunday. While many significant members of that 17-0 team have passed away, those Dolphins in 2025 would still wipe the floor with this Miami mess.
Pick: Chargers by 7

FILE- Former Miami Dolphin’s quarterback Bob Griese, left, holds a signed jersey with President Barack Obama and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, forty-one years after their perfect football season as President Barack Obama honors the Super Bowl VII Champion Miami Dolphins in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only undefeated team in NFL history. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Cowboys at Panthers (+3½)
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined $250,000 for flipping off Jets fans last Sunday in New Jersey. Jones said his middle fingers were “inadvertent,” which is the same adjective he uses to describe how the Johnnie Walker keeps finding its way into his coffee mug.
Pick: Cowboys by 7

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the sidelines prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Rams at Ravens (+7½)
Injury-riddled Baltimore has dropped to 1-4 but is still the betting favorite to win the AFC North on both FanDuel and DraftKings. It’s the surest sign yet that bettors on FanDuel and DraftKings are mostly clueless.
Pick: Rams by 11

Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled as he rushes with the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Cardinals at Colts (-6½)
Arizona’s Emeri Demercado became the latest NFL pariah to drop the football in celebration in front of the end zone and cost his team a victory against then-winless Tennessee. The Cardinals’ running back was subsequently named an honorary Indianapolis Colt.
Pick: Colts by 3

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) reacts on the sideline after fumbling the ball out of the end zone on a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Titans at Raiders (-4½)
Vegas coach Pete Carroll and QB Geno Smith are struggling mightily at 1-4. It’s a cautionary tale for teams looking for a coaching-quarterbacking combo with a combined age of a hundred and eight.
Pick: Raiders by 7

Head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders talks with Geno Smith #7 during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Other games

Bills at Falcons (+3 ½)
Pick: Bills by 7

Patriots at Saints (+3 ½)
Pick: Patriots by 7

49ers at Buccaneers (-2½)
Pick: Buccaneers by 3

Bengals at Packers (-14½)
Pick: Packers by 14

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills makes a pass during the third quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Bye week

Texans, Vikings

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell leaves the field after a win over the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Adam Bettcher/AP Content Services for the NFL)

Record

Week 5
4-10 straight up
4-10 vs. spread

Season
44-33-1 straight up (.571)
36-42 vs. spread (.462)

All-time (2003-25)
3863-2134-15 straight up (.644)
2946-2921-145 vs spread (.502)

Another proud Northwestern moment. (File photo)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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