S. Africa: record number of rhinos killed in 2014
The number of rhinos killed in South Africa last year jumped by nearly a fifth, marking a new record for poaching, driven by Asian demand for rhino horn which is more valuable by weight than gold. A total of 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014, statistics published by the Environment Ministry on... read more »
Former Thai PM Yingluck faces criminal charge, political ban
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will face criminal charges in the Supreme Court and a possible jail term, the Attorney General’s Office said on Friday. The move is likely to renew tensions in the divided country. Yingluck was removed from office for abuse of power in May last... read more »
Efforts on to secure release of hostages: Japanese Minister
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday that Japan was making all efforts for the swift release of two men held captive by the Islamic State but added that there was no change in Tokyo’s stance of not giving in to terrorism. He said Japan was getting help from various countries... read more »
Former Thai Leader Impeached, Reawakening Tensions
BANGKOK — Dormant political tensions re-emerged in Thailand on Friday when the military junta’s handpicked assembly impeached the country’s former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Shortly before the vote, which imposed a five-year political ban on Ms. Yingluck, the government also... read more »
