A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck the east coast of Taiwan, the US Geological Service (USGS) reported. The epicenter of the quake was reportedly just 1km deep, some 22km east-northeast of Hua-lien. A hotel in Hualien has collapsed following the earthquake, Reuters reported, citing the Taiwanese government. Images posted online appear to show the first floor of the hotel severely damaged, with... 

A refugee worker who once welcomed Angela Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s borders to over a million predominantly Muslim migrants now admits she was wrong and is emigrating to Poland, asserting, “It’s too late for Germany.” After founding the refugee aid association Working Group Asylum + Human Rights in 2012, Rebecca Sommer was delighted to welcome the deluge of migrants that began... 

France’s first so-called sex doll brothel is operating in secret within the 14th Arrondissement of Paris – where clients can engage in virtual reality romps with silicone mannequins. The bohemian quarter of the city is home to cultural sights such as the Paris catacombs and the Vladimir Lenin Museum. But now a new agency, Xdolls, has opened an establishment in the area where people can get around... 

Someone, somewhere is playing the world’s smallest violin. Paris massacre terrorist Salah Abdeslam, the man who helped jihadists butcher hundreds of people, is now complaining about Islamophobia. Abdeslam is on trial for a shootout he had with Belgian police after the November 13, 2015 attack. He is not expected to stand trial for his role in the Paris massacre, during which 130 people were killed... 

The war between the White House and the FBI/DOJ complex may be turning nuclear. While speaking to reported aboard Air Force 1, Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said that President Trump’s attorneys have already approved the idea of appointing a second special counsel to investigate the FBI and Justice Department’s actions during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to White House pool reports. The... 

The clock is ticking for the world of science to take the necessary steps to protect mankind from the deleterious effects of artificial intelligence, which is increasing by leaps and bounds. As someone who is old enough to remember a world without the internet and smartphones, I am also young enough to wonder where the human race is heading as computers ‘evolve’ into the unchartered territory... 

Henrik looks at Qaisar Mahmood, a Pakistani sociologist, who almost accidentally was positioned as the head of the Swedish National Heritage Board. He has entered onto a personal crusade to deconstruct Swedishness, identity and our cultural heritage, just because he himself, as an outsider and foreigner, feel out of place in Nordic society. Qaisar Mahmood, a Muslim born in Pakistan, is the head of... 

On Monday, US President Donald Trump called Democratic members of Congress “treasonous” for their chilly reactions during his State of the Union speech last week, when he listed his achievements during the last year. “They were like death, and un-American. Un-American. Somebody said, ‘Treasonous.’ I mean, yeah, I guess why not,” the president said during a Monday speech at... 

A new study from advocacy group Tax Justice Network reveals that Switzerland is the world’s most-corrupt country, with a “high secrecy score of 76.” It’s followed by the US and the Cayman Islands. “Switzerland is the grandfather of the world’s tax havens, one of the world’s largest offshore financial centers, and one of the world’s biggest secrecy jurisdictions or tax havens,” said... 

A Russian Su-25 jet has crashed in Idlib province in north-western Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed, adding that it was probably shot down by MANPAD. The pilot ejected but was killed by militants on the ground. Preliminary data showed the Su-25 plane was downed by a man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD), the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The attack took place when the jet... 

Facebook Inc. on Tuesday said it is banning ads promoting bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, as well as those about initial coin offerings (ICOs) and binary options. The social networking giant said in a blog that it is making the move because these are “financial products and services frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices.” “We want people to continue... 

An ancient 4,400-year-old tomb has been discovered outside Cairo, Egypt. The remarkable find was unveiled to the public on Saturday near the country’s famed pyramids of Giza. The tomb is said to be that of a high-ranking ancient Egyptian priestess known as Hetpet. Archaeologists believe that she was close to fifth dynasty (c. 2,500 BC) Egyptian royalty. Hetpet is thought to have been a priestess... 

Some students reacted negatively to quotes they believed were from President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union Address, until realizing they were actually quoting Barack Obama. Campus Reform’s Cabot Phillips spoke to students outside John Jay College in New York City, who unanimously criticized the supposed Trump quotes, describing them as “warmongering,” “aggressive,” and “immature.” The... 

This is not the first time that the billionaire involves himself in the immigration policy of a foreign country. The Israeli campaign is aimed at sending African immigrants and asylum seekers to an unnamed African country, forcibly if needed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has allegedly accused Jewish-American billionaire of Hungarian origin George Soros of undermining the state’s deportation... 

Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies are falling substantially on Thursday after India announced a crackdown on their trading and circulation. The largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, dropped over 12 percent below $9,000, the lowest level seen since November. The Indian Finance Ministry on Thursday made bitcoin illegal and announced an upcoming ban. “The government does not consider cryptocurrencies...