News
Laos Methanol Poisoning Victim’s Brother Slams £135 Fines as Inadequate
A Lao court has handed down suspended sentences and imposed fines on 10 individuals connected to the deaths of six people at a hostel in the country.
A British tourist's brother has expressed outrage over the penalties given to 10 individuals connected to a mass methanol poisoning case, calling them "laughable".

In November 2024, Simone White, 28, was among six people who lost their lives after consuming free shots at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos.
The UK government has informed Simone's family that the 10 individuals charged with destroying evidence received suspended sentences and fines of $185 (£135) each, with no further action planned.
Zak White, Simone's brother, shared his concerns with BBC Newsbeat, stating that he doubts they will ever uncover the truth behind the incident or see a suitable punishment.
Simone, a trainee lawyer, and her childhood friend Bethany Clarke had reunited in Laos and spent a night at the hostel, where around 100 guests were offered free shots.
It is believed that these drinks were contaminated with methanol, a toxic substance commonly found in paint thinner, which is sometimes illicitly mixed with alcohol to reduce costs.
The next day, the friends fell ill and were eventually hospitalized, where Simone, from Orpington in south-east London, was placed on life support before passing away.
Since the incident, survivor Bethany and Simone's family have been advocating for increased awareness about the dangers of methanol and seeking answers from Laotian authorities.
A recent update from the UK Foreign Office, shared with relatives and seen by Newsbeat, reveals that 13 suspects were initially arrested in connection with the case.
According to the memo, 10 individuals linked to the Nana Hostel were convicted of destroying evidence.
The owner of the distillery suspected of supplying the methanol is still awaiting trial, as stated in the update.
Bethany, speaking to Newsbeat from Australia, expressed her feelings of "pure frustration" and "anger" upon hearing the news.
The developments suggest that it is unlikely anyone will be held criminally responsible for the deaths and life-altering injuries sustained by other tourists.
"Considering all the families involved, they all desire justice, but it seems they won't get it," Bethany says.
Zak tells Newsbeat that the family had prepared themselves for an unsatisfying conclusion to the case.

"We had a strong indication that justice might not be served," he says.
"The Laotian authorities have been uncooperative throughout the process, failing to provide timely updates or progress."
The Foreign Office stated that Laos' Ministry of Public Security had said the hostel could not reopen until the court proceedings were concluded, although it was unclear if this included the distillery owner's case.
However, Newsbeat discovered that the rebranded Paradise Hostel was listed on Booking.com and Agoda.
The business claimed to be under new ownership, but the Booking.com listing was removed after the platform detected "unusual activity" in its reviews.
A spokesperson stated that the listing was suspended temporarily for violating the platform's terms and conditions.
Agoda is investigating the listing after being contacted by Newsbeat.
Bethany says there are still unanswered questions about the case, including the identities of those charged and the lack of concrete information from Laotian authorities.

"To this day, I still don't know exactly what's happening, despite speaking to several people," she says.
"I'm unsure what these charges entail or who they pertain to. We have no idea what's going on, and the law authorities aren't providing us with any information."
"The communication from the authorities is very limited, leaving us in the dark."
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer stated that the UK government "shares the disappointment of the families at this outcome and understands their frustration".
He added that the government has "clearly stated" its expectation of "robust action" from Laos against those who sell tainted alcohol and continues to raise the issue through its embassy.
The Foreign Office has previously expanded its methanol warnings to 27 high-risk countries and collaborated with content creators to raise awareness on social media.
However, both Zak and Bethany believe these efforts should be taken further.
Tune in to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays, or listen back here.

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Opponent of Orban Alleges Blackmail Plot Before Election
Peter Magyar allegedly believes that a sex tape featuring him, reportedly recorded in August 2024, may be made public.
With Hungary's election just weeks away, opposition leader Peter Magyar has come forward with allegations that his opponents are planning to use a secretly recorded sex tape to blackmail him, prompting him to file a complaint with the authorities.

According to Magyar, who is currently leading Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the polls, the alleged tape is from August 2024, when he claims to have had a consensual encounter with a former girlfriend at a social gathering.
The allegations surfaced after a photo of a bedroom, reportedly from the same time period, was posted online, sparking speculation about the circumstances surrounding the image.
Senior members of Orban's Fidesz party have denied any knowledge of the claims, and the BBC has reached out to Orban's spokesman for a response.
In a statement released on Friday, Magyar accused Fidesz of attempting to blackmail him, citing three instances of alleged unlawful conduct.
Although no video has been released, Magyar claims that any footage from the alleged incident would have been captured using secret service equipment and may have been manipulated.
Magyar's statement did not mention the former girlfriend, despite his previous accusation of extortion against her 15 months ago, which she has denied.
The woman in question has spoken to Hungarian media, stating that both she and Magyar are victims in the alleged video scandal and expressing her willingness to take legal action alongside him.
Magyar believes that Fidesz is deliberately timing their campaign to disrupt his nationwide tour, which is set to begin next week, and to tarnish his final week with his three sons before the April election.
Fidesz officials have responded to Magyar's allegations, with communications director Tamas Menczer accusing him of lying, and Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas stating that he cannot comment on something he is not aware of.
As Hungary approaches its parliamentary elections on 12 April, Magyar's centre-right Tisza party is currently leading Orban's Fidesz party by at least eight points, according to a recent opinion poll by the Idea Institute.
Orban, who has been in power for 16 years, has focused his campaign on criticizing the European Union, accusing Brussels of attempting to undermine his government, and has called for an end to EU funding for Ukraine, aligning himself with Vladimir Putin's stance.
With the official election campaign set to begin on 21 February, Magyar's allegations of underhanded tactics suggest that the upcoming weeks may be marked by controversy.
Over the past two years, Magyar has built a support base across Hungary by promising to revitalize the country's relationships with its European partners.
Magyar, a former Fidesz loyalist, was previously married to former justice minister Judit Varga, whose political career ended in a scandal in 2024, a year after their divorce.
News
2027 Africa Cup of Nations Scheduled for June and July
African football president Patrice Motsepe has dismissed speculation that the Afcon 2027 finals, scheduled to take place in June and July of next year, may be postponed, describing such reports as entirely without basis.
Last month, Senegal emerged victorious against Morocco with a 1-0 score in extra time, securing the 2025 Afcon championship title.
According to Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe, the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is scheduled to take place in June and July of next year.
Motsepe, who is from South Africa, dismissed speculation that the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, might be postponed or relocated, describing such reports as "completely unfounded".
Concerns have been raised regarding the readiness of the necessary infrastructure in the three host countries to stage the tournament on time.
Nicholas Musonye, chair of Kenya's local organizing committee, suggested to AFP on Thursday that delaying the tournament until 2028 could be beneficial for Kenya, as the country is set to hold a general election in August 2027.
Motsepe expressed confidence in the upcoming Afcon, stating that the tournament in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be "enormously successful".
He acknowledged that challenges are inevitable but emphasized the importance of self-belief and confidence in African capabilities.
Motsepe highlighted the high caliber of leaders in African football, describing them as "world-class" and a key factor in the continent's success.
Motsepe's comments came during a news conference following a meeting of Caf's executive committee in Dar es Salaam, where officials from the governing body are conducting an inspection of facilities and infrastructure in the three host nations until Tuesday.
Despite a commitment to host Afcon mid-year starting from 2019, the past three editions have been held during the January-February or December-January period, prompting disputes over player release dates.
As a result, Afcon will be held every four years instead of biennially from 2028, and the tournament will no longer coincide with the European club season.
Motsepe announced that the exact dates for the 2027 Afcon will be revealed at a later time.
While Motsepe did not provide an update on bids for the 2028 finals, he expressed his desire to expand Afcon from 24 to 28 teams in the future.
In a separate development, Motsepe confirmed that Caf is still in talks with Morocco regarding their hosting of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), which is set to begin on 17 March.
Earlier this month, South Africa's deputy sports minister suggested that her country could step in as an alternative host for the Wafcon 2026 finals.
However, South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie later clarified that Morocco remains the officially designated host of the tournament.
Motsepe revealed that other countries have expressed interest in hosting the Wafcon, but only if the date can be changed.
However, Motsepe emphasized that the date cannot be altered, as the Wafcon serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Motsepe reaffirmed that the Wafcon will proceed as planned and must take place within the designated timeframe to ensure its success.
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