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Germany: police arrest two individuals suspected of planning a ricin and cyanide attack

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Steph Deschamps / January 9, 2023

German authorities announced Sunday that they had arrested a 32-year-old Iranian man following indications of a possible “Islamist” ricin and cyanide attack, following a warning from the FBI, according to press reports.
  
The apartment located in Castrop-Rauxel in the west of the country, in North Rhine-Westphalia, was searched during the night to verify the possible presence of these “toxic substances” intended to commit such an attack, according to a statement from the regional prosecutor and police. The investigators have not found “any evidence” on the presence of these products on site, told AFP the prosecutor of Düsseldorf, Holger Heming.
 
The regional Minister of the Interior, Herbert Reul, explained that the authorities had received “indications to be taken seriously” which led the police to “act during the night”.
 
According to the newspapers Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, it was the American FBI that warned the German services during the Christmas season. The US federal police would have managed to infiltrate a Telegram messaging group, where the suspect would have inquired first about bombings and then about those committed with toxic substances, according to Der Spiegel.
 
The man, along with a second person also arrested during the night at the same location, and who according to the German media is his brother, would have considered going into action on New Year’s Eve, but they lacked elements for the preparation of ricin and cyanide poisons, adds the Spiegel.
 
Despite the lack of immediately discovered evidence, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser justified the police raid. “Our security services take every indication of the danger of Islamic terrorism very seriously,” she said in a statement.
 
It remains to be seen whether the justice system will have enough evidence to initiate proceedings.
 
At this stage, the main suspect is still “suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence threatening the security of the state by obtaining cyanide and ricin with a view to committing an attack of an Islamist nature,” according to the statement issued by the local judiciary. According to Spiegel, the man is a Sunni Iranian sympathetic to the Islamic State (EI) group.
 
Ricin is a highly toxic agent classified by the Robert Koch Institute, responsible in Germany for medical and health monitoring, as a “biological weapon” and is extracted from the seeds of the ricin plant. It can be a deadly poison, like cyanide.
 
On the images of the private television channel NTV, we can see the two people arrested being taken away in their underwear by agents, dressed in special protective suits because of the biological risk.
 
In 2018, German police had already arrested a 31-year-old Tunisian and his wife, suspected of having wanted to prepare what would have been the first “biological” attack in the country.
 
At the home of the couple, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (EI), investigators had found 84.3 mg of ricin and some 3,300 castor beans to make the poison. The man was sentenced two years later to 10 years in prison and his wife to eight years.
 
Germany has been targeted in recent years by several Islamist attacks, including a ram-truck attack on a Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 13 people.

Chris TDL Organizations is a Multinational parent managing company or multiple marketing and brand management entities.

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2024 Report Highlights Major Digital Growth in Yemen

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2024 Report Highlights Major Digital Growth in Yemen, Magnate Daily

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Datareportal, a leading authority in global digital insights, has released its highly anticipated “Digital 2024: Yemen” report, showcasing remarkable advancements in digital adoption across the country amidst ongoing challenges.

Key findings from the report include:

1. Internet Penetration Growth: Internet penetration in Yemen has surged by 22% from the previous year, with an estimated 10.5 million Yemenis now having access to the internet, representing 36% of the population.

2. Mobile Connectivity: Mobile devices remain the primary means of internet access, with smartphone ownership increasing by 18%, reaching a total of 9.2 million users. This growth is attributed to expanded mobile network coverage and more affordable data plans.

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3. Social Media Usage: Social media usage has seen a significant uptick, with platforms like Facebook experiencing a 30% increase in active users, now totaling 7.8 million Yemenis. WhatsApp and YouTube follow closely, each with over 6 million active users.

4. E-Commerce Expansion: E-commerce has boomed, witnessing a 45% rise in online transactions compared to the previous year. The total value of e-commerce transactions in 2024 reached USD 360 million, indicating a growing preference for digital shopping experiences.

5. Digital Payments Surge: Digital payment systems have gained widespread adoption, with mobile money users growing by 55% to reach 4.3 million users. This surge in digital payments has led to a 25% decrease in cash transactions across various sectors.

While Yemen continues to face challenges, the rapid growth in digital adoption is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its people,” said [SIMON KEMP], at Datareportal. “These numbers reflect the transformative potential of digital technologies in driving economic growth and improving access to essential services.

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The report also sheds light on ongoing challenges such as intermittent power outages and internet disruptions, which hinder seamless digital integration. Additionally, the cost of digital access remains relatively high for many Yemenis, highlighting the need for continued efforts to enhance affordability and accessibility.

For a detailed analysis and access to the full “Digital 2024: Yemen” report, visit [Website URL].

– About Datareportal

Datareportal is a leading provider of comprehensive digital insights, empowering businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders with data-driven decision-making tools. With a commitment to accuracy and depth, Datareportal remains at the forefront of global digital trends and transformations.

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Fuad Al-Qrize ( Arabic: فؤاد الكريزي ) – Yemeni Writer

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Moscow attack: Vladimir Putin promises those responsible will all be “punished”, EI says four of its fighters carried out the attack

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Moscow attack: Vladimir Putin promises those responsible will all be “punished”, EI says four of its fighters carried out the attack, Magnate Daily
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Eva Deschamps / March 23,

 

At least 133 people were killed on Friday evening in an armed attack followed by a huge fire at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, which was claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (EI).
 
The four perpetrators” of the attack were arrested “on their way to Ukraine”, said the Russian president on Saturday March 23.
 
The Russian president spoke at a time of terrible tragedy in Russia. “The four perpetrators” of the attack near Moscow were arrested “on their way to Ukraine”, he said in a televised speech broadcast the day after the murderous attack. “According to initial data [from investigators], on the Ukrainian side, a passage had been prepared for them to cross the border”, he continued, notes Le Monde.
 
The attack, which killed at least 133 people near Moscow, was in the eyes of the Kremlin leader a “bloody and barbaric act of terrorism”. “Peaceful, innocent people […] including children, teenagers and women” were killed, he continued, adding, “I express my deepest and most sincere condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.” A national day of mourning will be observed on March 24.
 
“War”. In his speech, Vladimir Putin assured that “those behind these terrorists will be punished” and that they “will have no future”. On Saturday, the Kremlin announced that eleven people had been arrested, including the four suspects who carried out the attack.

 
As a reminder, the Islamic State (EI) claimed responsibility for the attack. Its Afghan branch, the Islamic State in Khorassan, known as “EI-K”, is suspected of being behind the attack. According to EI, the attack is part of a “raging war” between the organization and countries fighting Islam, its Amaq news agency said in a statement.
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Princess Kate announces cancer diagnosis

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Princess Kate announces cancer diagnosis, Magnate Daily
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Sylvie Claire / March 23,

 

After weeks of silence from the British royal family, cancer-stricken Princess Kate has announced that she has begun chemotherapy.

 
Princess Kate has been diagnosed with cancer, Kensington Palace announced on Friday evening. The wife of the heir to the British throne has begun chemotherapy. “I’m fine,” assured the 42-year-old princess after her cancer diagnosis was announced. In a video, the princess explained, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding. While I was recovering from surgery, it was an incredibly difficult two months for the whole family. But I had the benefit of a fantastic medical team who took great care of me, for which I am very grateful. In January, I underwent a major domino operation in London and, at the time, my condition was not thought to be cancerous“.
 
She continues: “The operation was successful, but tests carried out after the operation revealed the presence of cancer. My medical team therefore advised me to undergo preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of this treatment. William and I have done everything in our power to manage this situation privately, in the best interests of our young family“.
 

Princess Kate explains that it has taken them some time to explain the situation to their children George, Charlotte and Louis. She concludes her message: “But for now, I need to focus on my full recovery. I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For anyone facing this disease in any form, don’t lose faith or hide. You are not alone.

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She underwent major abdominal surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic, where she was hospitalized for ten days. For weeks, rumors had been circulating about the princess’s state of health.
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