Taiwan experienced a significant earthquake measuring magnitude 6.0 on Tuesday, as per the island’s Central Weather administration. An AFP reporter present during the event reported feeling the building shake. This latest quake follows a series of tremors that have been rattling Taiwan since Monday afternoon.
A Belgian man with a rare metabolic condition known as auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) has had a drink-driving charge against him dismissed in court. ABS causes carbohydrates in the stomach to ferment, increasing ethanol levels in the blood and resulting in signs of intoxication. The man’s lawyer presented evidence of his condition, which was confirmed by tests run by three doctors. The court recognized that factors unforeseen by law applied to the man’s case and acquitted him of the charge.
A London judge has ruled that a climate protester cannot be charged with contempt of court for holding a sign reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants. The protester, Trudi Warner, was arrested last March and accused of “deliberately targeting” jurors before a trial of climate activists from the group Insulate Britain.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Iraq marks a significant step in enhancing cooperation between the two nations. The visit aims to address various issues, including counterterrorism, water management, energy exports, and economic collaboration. Erdogan’s presence underscores Turkey’s commitment to working with Iraq in combating the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group, which maintains a presence in northern Iraq.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has expressed willingness to host nuclear weapons from other NATO members in response to Russia’s reported relocation of nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus. This announcement comes amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Satellite images suggest an Israeli strike on Isfahan, Iran, targeted an S-300 radar system for a Russian-made air defense battery, despite Iranian denials. The precision of the strike, which may have penetrated Iran’s air defenses, sends a message about Israel’s capabilities and Iran’s vulnerabilities. Both Iran and Israel are now trying to dial back tensions after a series of escalatory attacks, while the relationship between Iran and Russia deepens in the face of international isolation and the war in Ukraine.
Soviet spy Julius Rosenberg’s plea to keep his job with the Army Signal Corps, eight years before his execution, has surfaced at an online auction. The two-page memo, dated February 13, 1945, is expected to fetch $40,000.
Authorities in the UK and Germany have taken action against individuals suspected of espionage activities on behalf of China.
In the UK, two British men, Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash, have been charged with providing prejudicial information to China and will appear in court on April 26. Cash, who worked as a researcher for the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and Berry allegedly committed these acts under the Official Secrets Act from December 2021 to February 2023.
Meanwhile, in Germany, three individuals named Herwig F., Ina F., and Thomas R. have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Thomas R. is alleged to have collected information about military technologies through a couple who ran a company with connections to a Chinese entity.
The ABC’s lead India correspondent, Avani Dias, was forced to return to Australia after the Modi government withheld her visa and subjected her to intimidation. The decision came after the airing of a ‘Foreign Correspondent’ episode on Sikh separatism and before the release of her podcast investigating Modi’s life. The Modi administration’s actions have raised concerns about the suppression of dissent and media freedom in India.
As Belgians prepare for upcoming elections, polls show significant disparities in voter support for the far right in different regions of the country. In Flanders, the far-right Vlaams Belang party is leading, while in Wallonia and Brussels, the far right remains less popular, with Chez Nous struggling to attract votes due to regional priorities, the ‘cordon sanitaire’ agreement, and internal discord. In the European Parliament, Vlaams Belang holds three seats as part of the far-right Identity and Democracy group, and its continued success reflects broader trends of far-right growth across Europe.
