World News

Former Ecuador president put under house arrest on graft charges

Former Ecuador president Lenin Moreno was put under house arrest Friday for allegedly receiving bribes from a Chinese firm in exchange for a contract to build the country's largest hydroelectric dam, authorities said.. Moreno, who was president from 2017 to 2021, and 36 others are suspected of receiving about $76 million in bribes, "the highest amount prosecuted for acts of corruption" in Ecuador, according to the prosecutor's office.

Sat, Mar 4, 2023 1 mins read

World News

Austria far-right eyes comeback under new hardline leader

Sunk by a corruption scandal four years ago, Austria's far-right is rapidly regaining lost ground under its new hardline leader and topping polls in the small Alpine nation.. It has also lured back voters from the conservatives, who lost their charismatic leader Sebastian Kurz when he stepped down in 2021, facing a string of corruption accusations.

Sat, Mar 4, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Hundreds of fearful sub-Saharan migrants flee Tunisia

Around 300 nationals of Ivory Coast and Mali were to be flown home from Tunisia on Saturday, fearful of a wave of violence against sub-Saharan migrants since President Kais Saied delivered a controversial tirade against them last month.. A first group of 50 Guineans were flown home on Wednesday, while Mali and Ivory Coast are to repatriate 300 of their citizens on special flights on Saturday.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 2 mins read

World News

UN nuclear chief to meet Raisi during crucial Iran talks

The UN nuclear watchdog chief was in Iran on Saturday for expected talks with President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials after the discovery of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level.. Tehran denies wanting to acquire atomic weapons, and said it had not made any attempt to enrich uranium beyond 60 percent purity.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Coca crops take root in Mexico as opium demand wanes

An army helicopter flies over verdant mountains in southern Mexico, the scene of unusual coca crop discoveries that suggest drug cartels are adapting to shifts in the multimillion-dollar narcotics trade.. Now coca crops are also flourishing in Honduras and Guatemala, once just transit points for the drug from South America.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Rafael Vinoly, architect known for unique structures, dead at 78

Rafael Vinoly, a Uruguayan-born and New York-based architect known for designing landmark buildings around the world, has died at the age of 78, his family announced Friday.. Vinoly's death Thursday was announced by his son Roman on the website of the family firm, Rafael Vinoly Architects.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 1 mins read

World News

Portugal's Catholic Church asks abuse victims for pardon

Portugal's Catholic Church on Friday asked victims of child sexual abuse by the clergy for forgiveness, following the publication of an independent report that set out the extent of the offences.. The damning report on child sexual abuse last month reported that clergy had abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Colombia's Petro urges protesters to release police

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday called on Indigenous and rural protesters to release scores of police held hostage in the south of the country.. "I insist that the unilateral release of the police and the protection of their integrity is essential for the government," Petro wrote on Twitter.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 2 mins read

World News

US attorney general in surprise visit to Ukraine

US Attorney General Merrick Garland made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Friday to attend a conference on justice and war crimes, a Justice Department official said.. Garland went to Lviv in western Ukraine at the invitation of his Ukrainian counterpart to take part in the "United for Justice Conference," the official said.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 1 mins read

World News

Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed in February

US President Joe Biden, 80, had a cancerous skin lesion successfully removed from his chest in February, his doctor said Friday.. "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," O'Connor, said in February following Biden's medical examination.

Fri, Mar 3, 2023 1 mins read