Ko Wen-je, once a rising star in Taiwanese politics and a presidential contender, was indicted Thursday on corruption charges. The 65-year-old is accused of accepting half a million dollars in bribes involving…
Category: News
Whisper it – alcohol-free wine has arrived in France
In the vineyards of Bordeaux, the unspeakable has become the drinkable. Wine without alcohol has arrived. The heresy of yesterday is now – thanks to science and economic crisis – the opportunity…
Illegal trade booms in South Africa’s ‘super-strange looking’ plants
A biodiversity hotspot in a remote part of South Africa has become the hub of an illegal trade in protected plant species, with organised crime groups capitalising on overseas demand. “They’ve not…
Syria says 14 security personnel killed in ‘ambush’ by Assad loyalists
Syria’s new rebel-led authorities say 14 interior ministry personnel have been killed and 10 injured in an “ambush” by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country….
Twenty years on: ‘My boat was metres from the shore when the tsunami hit’
Boxing Day, 2004. When the earthquake struck at 06:30 (01:00 GMT), I was on a ferry, headed towards Havelock – an island in the Indian archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar. Known for…
Bird flu kills 20 big cats at US animal sanctuary
Twenty big cats – including a Bengal tiger and four cougars – have died of the bird flu over the past several weeks at an animal sanctuary in the state of Washington….
Hundreds escape Mozambique prison amid election protests
More than 1,500 prisoners have escaped from a prison in Mozambique, taking advantage of ongoing political unrest triggered by disputed election results, police say. Thirty-three people were killed and 15 injured in…
Bald eagle officially declared US national bird after 250 years
The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the US, after President Joe Biden signed a law on Christmas Eve bestowing the honour upon the white-headed and yellow-beaked bird of…
Pope urges negotiations to end Ukraine-Russia war
Pope Francis has called for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In his traditional Christmas Day address, the Pope said “boldness…
Zelensky condemns ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day attack
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia made a “conscious choice” by launching a major attack on his country’s energy infrastructure on Christmas Day. Ukraine’s air force said it had detected 184 missiles…