Author: DW

The whereabouts of detained rights activist Rocio San Miguel and five members of her family were unknown, Venezuelan advocacy groups and lawyers said on Monday. San Miguel, 57, was detained on Friday afternoon at Simon Bolivar International Airport, near the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Tarek Saab, Venezuela’s attorney general, said on Sunday that she was being held because of her alleged involvement “in the conspiracy plot and attempted assassination” of President Nicolas Maduro. Authorities in Venezuela arrested dozens of individuals, including soldiers and civilians, for their alleged role in a plot to assassinate Maduro. Saab had also confirmed at the time…

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be allowed to walk free, after being locked up over graft charges since returning home from exile last August. Thailand’s justice minister said on Tuesday that he would be freed, while local media reported Thaksin has been granted parole. “Around 930 prisoners, including [Thaksin] will have their sentence suspended. He is in the group where they are in critical condition or aged over 70. He will be released after six months automatically,” Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told reporters at the government house. Under Thai law, Thaksin could be released after serving six months of his…

An elderly man from Alaska has become the first person to die after contracting Alaskapox – a recently discovered viral disease. The man from Kenai Peninsula, to the south of the state, was undergoing treatment in hospital when he died in late January, officials confirmed. He had a history of a drug-induced weakened immune system which likely contributed to the severity of his illness, the Alaskan health department reported.The victim was one of only seven reported Alaskapox infections, with the first identified in 2015 in an adult who suffered from a localised rash and swollen lymph nodes.All previous patients, also…

Anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders’ efforts to form a Dutch coalition government have been reset, when potential coalition partner NSC announced on Monday that it was backing out of talks with Wilders’ nationalist Freedom Party (PVV), citing irreconcilable differences. The New Social Contract (NSC) and PVV were locked in coalition talks with two other parties, the center-right VVD of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the farmers’ protest party BBB, since Wilders’ PVV emerged as the largest party in last November’s election, albeit with less than a quarter of the vote. All four parties combined would command a fairly comfortable parliamentary…

All Kelvin Kiptum knew was winning – breaking barriers and demolishing records on the path to marathon superstardom.Only three marathons were ever run by the Kenyan – in Valencia, London and Chicago – and he created history in all of them. Such was his destiny.Born in the high-altitude Kenyan region that is the heartland of long-distance running, Kiptum did what everyone there seemed to do – run.And on the trails and roads, between herding the family’s cattle, the talent was honed before setting himself apart as the Rift Valley’s most extraordinary talent. The 24-year-old will be remembered for how much…

Israel should “stop and think” before taking any further action in Rafah, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said – as the UK sanctioned four settlers in the West Bank.The former prime minister said the UK was “very concerned” about the situation on the Gaza-Egypt border.Local health officials have said 37 people were killed in strikes on the city.Middle East latest: Biden reportedly insults Netanyahu in private Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 ‘We want Israel to stop and think’ Meanwhile, four Israeli settlers in the West Bank accused of human rights abuses were sanctioned by…

US and Belgian flags have been burned by protesters – who also set alight tyres as they targeted Western embassies in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds in central Kinshasa on Monday. The demonstrators were angry at what they saw as Western support for neighbouring Rwanda after it was accused of backing a rebellion in the east of the DRC. Image: A police officer in front of burning tyres after dispersing a protest in Kinshasa. Pic: Reuters Rwanda has denied the claims, which came as the Tutsi-led rebel group M23…

Skip next section France, Germany and Poland want to tackle Russian disinformation 02/12/2024February 12, 2024France, Germany and Poland want to tackle Russian disinformation The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland want to work together to tackle Russian disinformation efforts. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met France’s Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and Poland’s Radoslaw Sikorski in Paris.  “Russia is trying to destroy European unity,” Sejourne after the tripartite meeting, adding that almost 200 fake news sites have been discovered. The ministers said they had created a joint mechanism to detect and respond to potential Russian internet attacks. “These are attacks…

Swiss police have launched an investigation into reports of antisemitism in the plush alpine ski resort of Davos, after a ski hire shop was allegedly refusing to sell sports equipment to Jews. Swiss newspaper 20minuten published a picture of a sign in the window of the Bergrestaurant Pischa, a restaurant and ski hire business in the small skiing area of Pischa, just outside Davos, which read in Hebrew, “Due to various unfortunate incidents including the theft of a sled, we no longer rent sports equipment to our Jewish brothers.” 20minuten said the station had told them in a written statement…

A young girl living in Rafah has told Sky News an Israeli ground offensive in her city could be a modern-day massacre.Daiana Albukhari showed Sky News around a small area of a school she is staying in with her family, alongside many others. Her space – which she shares with five other members of her family – includes a bed, made from a few blankets and pillows, and some shelves.Follow live: Biden reportedly insults Netanyahu in privatePre-packed bags have been put within easy reach in case the area is attacked. “There is no electricity, no food, no clean water. You…