A court in Taiwan has sentenced former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption and misuse of political donations.

Ko, 65, was accused of accepting more than NT$17.1 million ($535,000; £400,000) in bribes linked to a real estate deal during his time in office, as well as misreporting campaign finances during his 2024 presidential run. Prosecutors had initially sought a sentence exceeding 28 years.

The former mayor, who founded the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang previously described the charges as politically motivated.

Ko was arrested in 2024 but had been released on bail since September. His conviction marks a dramatic turn for a figure once seen as a rising force in Taiwanese politics.

In the 2024 presidential election, Ko emerged as a strong third-party contender, securing more than 25% of the vote. He finished behind Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who won with about 40%.

Ko built his political identity as an alternative to Taiwan’s two dominant parties, often criticising the DPP for heightening tensions with China, while also accusing the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) of being overly accommodating toward Beijing.

Despite finishing third, analysts viewed his strong electoral performance as evidence of growing public appetite for a more pluralistic political landscape.

His arrest and trial have sparked protests among supporters, who allege the case is politically driven. Some backers have vowed to continue supporting him and push for what they describe as justice, even after the court’s ruling.

Before the verdict, Ko had indicated plans to remain active in politics and potentially run again in the 2028 presidential election.

Robert Mueller, the former special counsel whose high-profile investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election shaped much of Donald Trump’s first term, has died at the age of 81.

His family confirmed that he passed away on Friday night, requesting privacy during this period. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Mueller led the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013, assuming the role just days before the September 11 attacks. During his tenure, he played a central role in transforming the bureau into a modern counterterrorism-focused agency in response to evolving global threats.

Born in 1944, Mueller studied politics at Princeton University before serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1968, where he led a platoon, sustained injuries in combat, and received several honours, including the Bronze Star for bravery.

After returning from military service, he pursued a law degree at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1973. His legal and public service career eventually culminated in his unanimous confirmation by the US Senate as FBI director in August 2001. He later retired in 2013 after serving under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Mueller re-emerged in the national spotlight in 2017 when he was appointed special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and any potential links to Trump’s campaign. The probe, which ran from May 2017 to March 2019, dominated political discourse in Washington.

Throughout the investigation, Mueller maintained a notably low public profile, even as his team brought charges against several key Trump associates, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The final report—spanning 448 pages—documented extensive Russian efforts to influence the election but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia. It also concluded that a sitting president could not be indicted, leaving unresolved questions about potential obstruction of justice.

Trump repeatedly dismissed the inquiry as a “witch hunt” and “hoax,” viewing Mueller as a key political adversary. Following news of Mueller’s death, Trump posted a controversial reaction on his Truth Social platform.

Mueller’s legacy remains closely tied to both his leadership of the FBI during a pivotal era in US security and his role in one of the most scrutinized political investigations in modern American history.

The United Nations says it has received troubling reports that detainees in Venezuela continue to face torture and mistreatment even after the removal of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.

Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said allegations indicate that serious human rights abuses may still be taking place inside the country’s detention system.

Maduro was captured by United States Armed Forces during a January operation and later transferred to US custody to face charges related to narcotics trafficking.

Following his removal, former vice-president Delcy Rodríguez assumed power and has introduced an amnesty law aimed at freeing detainees. Türk welcomed the measure but warned that deeper human rights problems remain.

“Structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted,” he said.

According to Türk, many Venezuelans remain in arbitrary detention despite the amnesty legislation passed last month. He noted that at least one child is among those reportedly being held.

Authorities in Caracas say thousands of people have been granted freedom under the new law. The Venezuelan parliament — dominated by Maduro loyalists — claims more than 7,700 individuals have been released or had restrictions lifted.

However, the prisoners’ rights organisation Foro Penal says it has been able to verify the release of fewer than 700 detainees so far and estimates that more than 500 people remain imprisoned for political reasons.

Türk highlighted the gap between official figures and independent assessments, urging the Venezuelan authorities to provide more transparency.

His office has requested an official list of detainees released under the amnesty law as well as unrestricted access to several detention facilities, but those requests have so far not been granted.

The UN also says it has received information indicating continued abuse of prisoners at detention centres including Rodeo 1 detention centre and Fuerte Guaicaipuro.

Türk’s remarks come shortly after the Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission on Venezuela updated the Human Rights Council on its latest findings.

The mission reported that Venezuela’s repressive state structures remain largely intact despite Maduro’s removal and that institutions linked to previous abuses are still operating.

In earlier investigations, the mission documented numerous cases in which detainees were subjected to torture, sexual violence and other cruel or degrading treatment inside Venezuelan detention facilities.

Venezuelan officials have repeatedly rejected such accusations, describing previous UN reports as politically motivated and driven by hostile interests.