World News

Known as "Siervas" or Servants, a band made up of nuns plays catchy Christian songs that sound indistinguishable from many of their peers in mainstream rock AFP/Cris BOURONCLE It may be rock and roll, but Twisted Sister they ain't, and sex and drugs are not an option for the Sisters of the Servants of the Plan of God. They play their brand of melodic rock in their traditional habits. "We're young sisters," says 37-year-old guitarist Sister Ivonne of the band, which includes members from Chile, Japan, Ecuador, China and Costa Rica. "This is another form of bringing our evangelical message, showing our strength - that's to say, it's also music that we like, it shows a lot about who we are." Known as "Siervas" or Servants, the band plays catchy Christian songs that sound indistinguishable from many of their peers in mainstream rock. But the appearance is very different, rock's grunge and glad rags giving way to the nuns' tried and trusted black and white habits and veils on stage. … [Read more...] about Rock and roll nuns to perform for pope in Panama

Three in five species of wild coffee are at risk of extinction as a deadly mix of climate change, disease and deforestation puts the future of the world's favourite beverage in jeopardy, new research warned on Wednesday (Jan 16). Farmers Eduardo winnow coffee beans on their family farm in Forquilha do Rio, municipality of Dores do Rio Preto, Espirito Santo, Brazil. (Photo: AFP/Mauro Pimentel) More than two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day, but the multi-billion-dollar industry is reliant on wild varieties grown in just a few regions to maintain commercial crop variety and adapt to changing threats posed by pests. Scientists at Britain's Kew Royal Botanic Gardens used the latest computer modelling techniques and on-the-ground research to predict how the 124 coffee varieties listed as endangered might fare as the planet continues to warm and ecosystems are decimated. Some 75 coffee species were assessed as being threatened with extinction: 13 classed as critically … [Read more...] about 60pc of coffee varieties face “extinction risk”

Former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto accepted a US$100 million bribe from drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a former collaborator told the kingpin's trial. People demonstrate in favor of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman outside the Mexican foreign ministry. (Photo: AFP/Pedro Pardo) Alex Cifuentes, a Colombian who is now collaborating with US prosecutors in the Chapo trial, made the statement under examination from defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman. "Mr Guzman paid a bribe of $100 million to President Pena Nieto?" the lawyer asked. "That is right," Cifuentes responded, although later he said he was not sure of the exact amount. "The message was that Mr Guzman didn't have to stay in hiding?" the lawyer asked. Cifuentes said yes, that is what Guzman told him. Cifuentes said he worked with the kingpin from 2007 until being arrested in 2013 and at first even lived with him for two years in the mountains of Mexico's Sinaloa region for two years. Guzman is accused of smuggling … [Read more...] about Former Mexican president took $100 million drug bribe, trial hears

LONDON: The risks of catastrophic weather and flooding from climate change are exercising business leaders heading into next week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, the organisation said on Wednesday (Jan 16). The Davos gathering is expected to debate climate change. (Photo: AFP/Martin Bernetti) An annual WEF report - based on a survey of about 1,000 respondents drawn from the Davos community of business leaders, politicians, civil society and academics - shows climate change has become the dominant concern for three years running. Data theft and cyberattacks have joined climate change in the top tier of worries, but respondents also highlighted anxiety about worsening international relations and the risk that poses for the world economy. Just under 90 per cent of people in the survey, conducted over September and October, expected international trading rules and agreements to weaken further, as President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda undermines the architecture … [Read more...] about Climate risks, data theft top fears for Davos

US authorities are in "advanced" stages of a criminal probe that could result in an indictment of Chinese technology giant Huawei, a published report said on Wednesday (Jan 16). Huawei, whose booth is seen during CES 2019 consumer electronics show in early January, is facing a US criminal probe over stolen trade secrets, according to the Wall Street Journal. (AFP/Rob Lever) The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, said the Justice Department is looking into allegations of theft of trade secrets from Huawei's US business partners, including a T-Mobile robotic device used to test smartphones. The Justice Department declined to comment on the report and Huawei did not respond to a request for comment. The move would further escalate tensions between the US and China after the arrest last year in Canada of Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is the daughter of the company founder. The case of Meng, under house arrest awaiting proceedings, has inflamed … [Read more...] about US in criminal probe of China”s Huawei: Report