AI-generated human avatars can deliver your scripts with perfect diction and look so natural. But what if the videos&nbsp;are used to support repressive regimes and criminal enterprises? This is what happened with avatars generated through the AI app Syenthesia, and the actual humans used for creating the AI models are now speaking up.

According to a report in The Guardian, the technology of the London-based startup that recently achieved unicorn status (market value of $1 billion) was deployed to support Ibrahim Traoré, who led the military coup of 2023 in Burkina Faso.

Well-groomed AI anchors were used in the videos that appeared on platforms like Telegram, asking people to rally behind the junta leader-turned-president.

Watch: Risks and dangers of artificial intelligence

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Synthesia mainly is intended for creating marketing videos. But the deepfakes were used for generating propaganda videos on the platform, violating its own terms of service.

The actors, on whose body language the AI models were trained, are feeling betrayed and their mental health impacted due to negative association.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-says-cybercriminals-using-chatgpt-to-influence-us-elections-766330">Also read: OpenAI says cybercriminals using ChatGPT to influence US elections</a> 
 
Synthesia, which claims it has improved its content moderation, was belied as The Guardian was still able to generate videos by giving it controversial scripts.

The Synthesia videos were used in misinformation by states including Russia&nbsp;and China.&nbsp;

Two pro-Venezuela videos featuring fake news segments presented by Synthesia avatars&nbsp; appeared on YouTube and Facebook.&nbsp;One fake anchor condemned “western media claims” of economic instability and poverty in Venezuela.

In one video, an AI avatar said he is the chief executive of a cryptocurrency platform.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artist-filed-copyright-for-this-ai-generated-art-it-was-denied-he-is-not-appealing-decision-765625">Also read: Artist filed copyright for this AI-generated art. It was denied. He is now appealing decision</a> 
 
Mark Torres, the actor who was the model behind the Burkina Faso video, told The Guardian he felt violated and vulnerable to see his image coopted.

“I’m in shock, there are no words right now....I have never felt so violated and vulnerable,” The Guardian quoted Torres as saying.

“I don’t want anyone viewing me like that. Just the fact that my image is out there, could be saying anything...People will think I am involved in the coup,” added Torres.

“Knowing that this company I trusted my image with will get away with such a thing makes me so angry. This could potentially cost lives, cost me my life when crossing a border for immigration.”

"It’s not me, it’s just my face. But they’ll think I’ve agreed to it,” said Dan Dewhirst, who acted in creating the original anchor that was used in the Venezuela video.

“Countless people contacted me about it … But there were probably other people who saw it and didn’t say anything, or quietly judged me for it."

“I was furious. It was really, really damaging to my mental health," he said, adding it caused an overwhelming amount of anxiety.

The Guardian also quoted an unidentified former Synthesia employee, who said that the AI cannot unlearn once its trained to create a model based on a real person's body language.

That would require the complete removal of the AI model, he said.

Synthesia told the paper that it does not allow stock avatars for political content, including 'content that is factually accurate but may create polarisation'. 
 
Founded in 2017 by a team including Victor Riparbelli and Steffen Tjerrild,&nbsp;Synthesia's clients include Microsoft, Zoom, Xerox and Ernst &amp; Young. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

AI-generated human avatars can deliver your scripts with perfect diction and look so natural. But what if the videos are used to support repressive regimes and criminal enterprises?

AI-generated human avatars can deliver your scripts with perfect diction and look so natural. But what if the videos are used to support repressive regimes and criminal enterprises? This is what happened with avatars generated through the AI app Syenthesia, and the actual humans used for creating the AI models are now speaking up. According to a report in The Guardian, the technology of the London-based startup that recently achieved unicorn status (market value of $1 billion) was deployed to support Ibrahim Traoré, who led the military coup of 2023 in Burkina Faso. Well-groomed AI anchors were used in the videos that appeared on platforms like Telegram, asking people to rally behind the junta leader-turned-president. Watch: Risks and dangers of artificial intelligence × Synthesia mainly is intended for creating marketing videos. But the deepfakes were used for generating propaganda videos on the platform, violating its own terms of service. The actors, on whose body language the AI models were trained, are feeling betrayed and their mental health impacted due to negative association. Also read: OpenAI says cybercriminals using ChatGPT to influence US elections Synthesia, which claims it has improved its content moderation, was belied as The Guardian was still able to generate videos by giving it controversial scripts. The Synthesia videos were used in misinformation by states including Russia and China. Two pro-Venezuela videos featuring fake news segments presented by Synthesia avatars appeared on YouTube and Facebook. One fake anchor condemned “western media claims” of economic instability and poverty in Venezuela. In one video, an AI avatar said he is the chief executive of a cryptocurrency platform. Also read: Artist filed copyright for this AI-generated art. It was denied. He is now appealing decision Mark Torres, the actor who was the model behind the Burkina Faso video, told The Guardian he felt violated and vulnerable to see his image coopted. “I’m in shock, there are no words right now....I have never felt so violated and vulnerable,” The Guardian quoted Torres as saying. “I don’t want anyone viewing me like that. Just the fact that my image is out there, could be saying anything...People will think I am involved in the coup,” added Torres. “Knowing that this company I trusted my image with will get away with such a thing makes me so angry. This could potentially cost lives, cost me my life when crossing a border for immigration.” "It’s not me, it’s just my face. But they’ll think I’ve agreed to it,” said Dan Dewhirst, who acted in creating the original anchor that was used in the Venezuela video. “Countless people contacted me about it … But there were probably other people who saw it and didn’t say anything, or quietly judged me for it." “I was furious. It was really, really damaging to my mental health," he said, adding it caused an overwhelming amount of anxiety. The Guardian also quoted an unidentified former Synthesia employee, who said that the AI cannot unlearn once its trained to create a model based on a real person's body language. That would require the complete removal of the AI model, he said. Synthesia told the paper that it does not allow stock avatars for political content, including 'content that is factually accurate but may create polarisation'. Founded in 2017 by a team including Victor Riparbelli and Steffen Tjerrild, Synthesia's clients include Microsoft, Zoom, Xerox and Ernst & Young. (With inputs from agencies)

Fake videos of AI avatars were used to promote brutal regimes. Now actors behind them are speaking up

The Oswal couple faces serious allegations of exploiting and kidnapping their domestic servant. Reports suggest that the couple mistreated their servant, leading to accusations of forced labor and unlawful confinement. The case has sparked widespread attention, with authorities investigating the claims and public outrage growing over the alleged abuse.

Oswal Couple Accused of Exploitation and Kidnapping Of Their Servant | World News | WION

Infosys has issued up to 1,000 offer letters to freshers of the 2022 batch after almost 2.5 years, as per the IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) on September 2.

NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja said, “These young engineers, who have been waiting for nearly two years, now have a confirmed joining date of October 7, 2024. This is a huge win for NITES and all the students who stood strong in the face of uncertainty and delay.”

The positions are for software engineers, with the joining date being October 7. These roles were initially offered by the Bengaluru-headquartered company in 2022.

These software engineers were expected to complete two pre-training sessions in 2024, one of which was recently conducted on August 19.

Saluja further added, “However, we remain vigilant… if Infosys fails to honour this commitment and breaches the joining date, we will not hesitate to organise a protest right in front of the Infosys office.”

<h2>NITES claims&nbsp;</h2>

NITES has levelled allegations on Infosys for exploiting employees based in Pune. The union claims that Infosys breached its initial salary contract.

After the completion of pre-training required for system engineers and digital specialist engineers by the IT giant, employees said that the lowered the salaries promised during the recruitment process.

A petition has been filed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment urging them to lead an investigation over the allegations. The union is determined to seek justice for the employees and to make certain that Infosys follows fair labour practices.

<h3>The Infosys response&nbsp;</h3>

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh recently stated that the company would honour the offers made to freshers, and proceed with their onboarding as per the scheduled joining date. He mentioned that there might be some changes to the onboarding of certain employees.

“Every offer that we have given, that offer will be for someone who will join the company. We changed some dates but beyond that, everyone will join Infosys and there is no change in that approach,” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh was quoted as saying. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Infosys has issued up to 1,000 offer letters to freshers of the 2022 batch after almost 2.5 years, as per the IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) on September 2.

Infosys has issued up to 1,000 offer letters to freshers of the 2022 batch after almost 2.5 years, as per the IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) on September 2. NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja said, “These young engineers, who have been waiting for nearly two years, now have a confirmed joining date of October 7, 2024. This is a huge win for NITES and all the students who stood strong in the face of uncertainty and delay.” The positions are for software engineers, with the joining date being October 7. These roles were initially offered by the Bengaluru-headquartered company in 2022. These software engineers were expected to complete two pre-training sessions in 2024, one of which was recently conducted on August 19. Saluja further added, “However, we remain vigilant… if Infosys fails to honour this commitment and breaches the joining date, we will not hesitate to organise a protest right in front of the Infosys office.” NITES claims NITES has levelled allegations on Infosys for exploiting employees based in Pune. The union claims that Infosys breached its initial salary contract. After the completion of pre-training required for system engineers and digital specialist engineers by the IT giant, employees said that the lowered the salaries promised during the recruitment process. A petition has been filed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment urging them to lead an investigation over the allegations. The union is determined to seek justice for the employees and to make certain that Infosys follows fair labour practices. The Infosys response Infosys CEO Salil Parekh recently stated that the company would honour the offers made to freshers, and proceed with their onboarding as per the scheduled joining date. He mentioned that there might be some changes to the onboarding of certain employees. “Every offer that we have given, that offer will be for someone who will join the company. We changed some dates but beyond that, everyone will join Infosys and there is no change in that approach,” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Infosys issues offer letters to 1000 freshers of 2022 batch, after 2.5 years of campus hiring

Britain's richest family has been accused of spending more on a dog than a servant in a court statement by prosecutors. Billionaire Hinduja family is facing allegations of trafficking and abuse of staff at their Lake Geneva villa. Watch in for more details!

Hinduja family accused of human trafficking and exploitation

A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain’s richest family on Friday for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. Britain's rich's family has now issued a statement claiming that they were appalled by the verdict and will take their case to a higher court Watch in for more details!

More 'exploitation' charges against the Hindujas family

A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain’s richest family on Friday for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. Watch in for more details!

Hinduja family members sentenced to jail

Sex traffickers are making around £21,000 per year from each victim through profits gained from forced labour, according to projections made by&nbsp;the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Worldwide earnings from forced labour soared to $236 billion (£185 billion) annually, with a growing number of individuals being affected by slavery, the United Nations' labour agency said in a report.

Though sexual exploitation accounts for 27 per cent of forced labour cases, it brings in 73 per cent of the total illegal profits, as per ILO data.

The latest figures released by the ILO represent a 37 per cent increase compared to those disclosed in 2014.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-third-of-domestic-workers-in-malaysia-working-in-forced-labour-conditions-604977" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/a-third-of-domestic-workers-in-malaysia-working-in-forced-labour-conditions-604977&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwif_L-fkoCFAxWR6jgGHesYBAAQFnoECAAQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3tM-525aZl1qvcavnRQkcn&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-third-of-domestic-workers-in-malaysia-working-in-forced-labour-conditions-604977" target="_blank">A third of domestic workers in Malaysia working in&nbsp;forced labou</a>

The ILO highlights that these unlawful gains should rightfully belong to the workers, but are instead kept by their exploiters using illegal methods.

The surge in profits is linked to an increase in individuals facing forced labour and higher revenues generated through exploiting victims.

The report said more than 27 million people are trapped in different forms of modern slavery.

Traffickers, criminals and unethical employers are making nearly $10,000 per victim on average, according to the agency.

Industries utilising labour generate $35 billion annually for exploiters while the service industry contributes around $21 billion.

In terms of profits from forced labour, Europe and central Asia lead the way, with Asia and the Pacific coming close, followed by the Americas.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-on-forced-labour-276-million-modern-slaves-across-globe-515796" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-on-forced-labour-276-million-modern-slaves-across-globe-515796&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwif_L-fkoCFAxWR6jgGHesYBAAQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1cdBnAty5yGYEWjWxz2BMF&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-on-forced-labour-276-million-modern-slaves-across-globe-515796" target="_blank">Report on&nbsp;forced labour: '27.6 million modern slaves across globe'</a>

The Director General of the ILO Gilbert Houngbo stressed the importance of taking action to eliminate forced labour.

This harmful practice sustains poverty cycles and exploitation while also degrading dignity, he said.

“Forced labour perpetuates cycles of poverty and exploitation and strikes at the heart of human dignity," said the ILO chief.

"We now know that the situation has only got worse. The international community must urgently come together to take action to end this injustice, safeguard workers’ rights and uphold the principles of fairness and equality for all.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Sex traffickers are making around £21,000 per year from each victim through profits gained from forced labour, according to projections made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Sex traffickers are making around £21,000 per year from each victim through profits gained from forced labour, according to projections made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Worldwide earnings from forced labour soared to $236 billion (£185 billion) annually, with a growing number of individuals being affected by slavery, the United Nations' labour agency said in a report. Though sexual exploitation accounts for 27 per cent of forced labour cases, it brings in 73 per cent of the total illegal profits, as per ILO data. The latest figures released by the ILO represent a 37 per cent increase compared to those disclosed in 2014. Also read: A third of domestic workers in Malaysia working in forced labou The ILO highlights that these unlawful gains should rightfully belong to the workers, but are instead kept by their exploiters using illegal methods. The surge in profits is linked to an increase in individuals facing forced labour and higher revenues generated through exploiting victims. The report said more than 27 million people are trapped in different forms of modern slavery. Traffickers, criminals and unethical employers are making nearly $10,000 per victim on average, according to the agency. Industries utilising labour generate $35 billion annually for exploiters while the service industry contributes around $21 billion. In terms of profits from forced labour, Europe and central Asia lead the way, with Asia and the Pacific coming close, followed by the Americas. Also read: Report on forced labour: '27.6 million modern slaves across globe' The Director General of the ILO Gilbert Houngbo stressed the importance of taking action to eliminate forced labour. This harmful practice sustains poverty cycles and exploitation while also degrading dignity, he said. “Forced labour perpetuates cycles of poverty and exploitation and strikes at the heart of human dignity," said the ILO chief. "We now know that the situation has only got worse. The international community must urgently come together to take action to end this injustice, safeguard workers’ rights and uphold the principles of fairness and equality for all.” (With inputs from agencies)

Sex traffickers are making profits of billions of dollars from forced labour: ILO report

Karen Farquharson, a Scottish woman, has received compensation exceeding $44,664 (approximately ₹37 lakh) after her employer accused her of using menopause as a constant "excuse" to skip work.

Having been employed at the engineering firm Thistle Marine since 1995, with an annual salary of around $46,000, Farquharson ultimately resigned from her position.

Jim Clark, the managing director of Thistle Marine, located in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, reportedly dismissed Farquharson's medical condition, urging her to "just get on with it," as reported by BBC. Farquharson decided to take legal action against the company, citing unfair dismissal and harassment. She described her 72-year-old boss as a "dinosaur" who resisted change.

<h2>Disappointment and frustration</h2>

At the age of 49, Farquharson expressed her profound disappointment with the company she had been a part of for 27 years. She stated, "They treated me like rubbish. Mr. Clark didn't like change. He didn't like being challenged on things. He didn't move with the times. I tried to explain some issues in what you can say and what you can't say, and it just fell on deaf ears." She also revealed that Clark often referred to employees who took sick leave as 'snowflakes'.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/french-startup-will-take-to-take-people-to-space-in-a-balloon-heres-how-590070">French startup will take people to space in a balloon. Here's how</a>

<h2>Legal proceedings&nbsp;</h2>

Clark, the founder of Thistle Marine in the late 1970s, appeared before the tribunal in Aberdeen. In August 2021, Farquharson informed Clark about her menopausal symptoms, including anxiety, loss of concentration, and brain fog. In December 2022, she worked from home for two days due to heavy snowfall and menopausal bleeding. Upon her return to the office the following day around 2 pm, Clark made a sarcastic remark, saying, "Oh, I see you've made it in."

Farquharson explained her situation, but Clark dismissed her symptoms, claiming that everyone experiences "aches and pains." During the tribunal, Clark insisted that his comments were innocent and accused Farquharson of seeking money for her upcoming wedding.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Florida considers ban on discussion of menstruation

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The panel acknowledged Clark as a "blunt, self-made man and successful businessman" with "many admirable qualities" but observed a lack of empathy. They concluded, "It became clear to us that he has little time or respect for those, unlike himself, who are not able to work as hard or without illness as he has."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Karen Farquharson, a Scottish woman, has received compensation exceeding $44,664 (approximately ₹37 lakh) after her employer accused her of using menopause as a constant "excuse" to skip work.

Karen Farquharson, a Scottish woman, has received compensation exceeding $44,664 (approximately ₹37 lakh) after her employer accused her of using menopause as a constant "excuse" to skip work. Having been employed at the engineering firm Thistle Marine since 1995, with an annual salary of around $46,000, Farquharson ultimately resigned from her position. Jim Clark, the managing director of Thistle Marine, located in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, reportedly dismissed Farquharson's medical condition, urging her to "just get on with it," as reported by BBC. Farquharson decided to take legal action against the company, citing unfair dismissal and harassment. She described her 72-year-old boss as a "dinosaur" who resisted change. Disappointment and frustration At the age of 49, Farquharson expressed her profound disappointment with the company she had been a part of for 27 years. She stated, "They treated me like rubbish. Mr. Clark didn't like change. He didn't like being challenged on things. He didn't move with the times. I tried to explain some issues in what you can say and what you can't say, and it just fell on deaf ears." She also revealed that Clark often referred to employees who took sick leave as 'snowflakes'. Also read | French startup will take people to space in a balloon. Here's how Legal proceedings Clark, the founder of Thistle Marine in the late 1970s, appeared before the tribunal in Aberdeen. In August 2021, Farquharson informed Clark about her menopausal symptoms, including anxiety, loss of concentration, and brain fog. In December 2022, she worked from home for two days due to heavy snowfall and menopausal bleeding. Upon her return to the office the following day around 2 pm, Clark made a sarcastic remark, saying, "Oh, I see you've made it in." Farquharson explained her situation, but Clark dismissed her symptoms, claiming that everyone experiences "aches and pains." During the tribunal, Clark insisted that his comments were innocent and accused Farquharson of seeking money for her upcoming wedding. Also watch | Gravitas: Florida considers ban on discussion of menstruation The panel acknowledged Clark as a "blunt, self-made man and successful businessman" with "many admirable qualities" but observed a lack of empathy. They concluded, "It became clear to us that he has little time or respect for those, unlike himself, who are not able to work as hard or without illness as he has." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Misogyny at work: $44K awarded to woman taunted by boss for 'menopause' problems

Studies show that passion for work can lead to exploitation in a work environment. Is loving your job now a crime? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Passion for work has its own disadvantages

Nearly 200 countries have voted to add a raft of sharks to the list of species protected under global trade rules. More than 50 species of sharks are to be given protection from over-exploitation in what's being seen as a milestone for shark conservation.

WION Climate Tracker: 200 countries vow to protect Sharks

A lawsuit filed in San Francisco accuses online gaming firm Roblox Corp of enabling a California girl's sexual and financial exploitation by adult men.

Tech Talk: Roblox sued over girl's sexual and financial exploitation

The Boy Scouts of America won pivotal support from a committee representing sexual abuse victims for a $2.7 billion settlement of their claims against the youth organization as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy, according to a court filing.

Ahead of a Feb. 22 hearing before a U.S. bankruptcy judge, the official committee representing victims in Boy Scouts' Chapter 11 case has agreed to drop its long-standing objections to the settlement, the filing showed. The Boy Scouts, founded in 1910, previously has apologized for the abuse and committed itself to equitably compensate people who were abused as children.

More than 82,000 abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts, which has called the deal the largest sexual abuse settlement in history.

The Irving, Texas-headquartered nonprofit organization, which had earlier secured separate backing from tens of thousands of abuse victims, will still need to get the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein to sign off on the settlement.

In a vote tally announced in January, 73.57% of claimants supported the settlement plan, short of the 75% threshold the organization had been seeking. BSA has been in mediation with holdouts in recent weeks, working to bring in more support.

Under the deal, the Boy Scouts would establish a $2.7 billion trust to compensate men who have said they were sexually abused as children by troop leaders. In 2020, the Boy Scouts filed for Chapter 11 protection - allowing for reorganization under U.S. bankruptcy laws - in Delaware to resolve decades of abuse allegations.

Flood of lawsuits

While the assent of two-thirds of creditors is all that is typically required for a Chapter 11 plan, judges often look for "overwhelming" creditor support in large, complex Chapter 11 cases before signing off on them.

The money for the trust is coming from the Boy Scouts, local councils, insurers and organizations that have chartered Scouting units and activities, including churches.

The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after being hit by a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits when several U.S. states passed laws letting accusers sue over allegations dating back several decades. Those claimants are now creditors of the organization, so they must sign off on any plans to restructure and exit bankruptcy.

Groups representing survivors have disagreed over whether the settlement total is large enough. Some victims and plaintiffs' attorneys have said that the average payout per person under the deal would be far lower than other sex abuse cases, like that of USA Gymnastics.

The amount of money each of the survivors would receive depends on the severity of the alleged abuse, as well as when and where it occurred, among other factors. They could receive as little as $3,500 or up to $2.7 million for the most severe cases, according to court papers.

Survivors have sent Silverstein thousands of letters, many of which include stories of abuse or frustration with the settlement offer.

A group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice has been a longtime proponent of the plan, while the official committee had maintained that it offered too little, considering the large number of surviving victims who would be sharing the settlement sum.

The Boy Scouts of America won pivotal support from a committee representing sexual abuse victims for a $2.7 billion settlement of their claims against the youth organization as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy, according to a court filing.

The Boy Scouts of America won pivotal support from a committee representing sexual abuse victims for a $2.7 billion settlement of their claims against the youth organization as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy, according to a court filing. Ahead of a Feb. 22 hearing before a U.S. bankruptcy judge, the official committee representing victims in Boy Scouts' Chapter 11 case has agreed to drop its long-standing objections to the settlement, the filing showed. The Boy Scouts, founded in 1910, previously has apologized for the abuse and committed itself to equitably compensate people who were abused as children. More than 82,000 abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts, which has called the deal the largest sexual abuse settlement in history. The Irving, Texas-headquartered nonprofit organization, which had earlier secured separate backing from tens of thousands of abuse victims, will still need to get the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein to sign off on the settlement. In a vote tally announced in January, 73.57% of claimants supported the settlement plan, short of the 75% threshold the organization had been seeking. BSA has been in mediation with holdouts in recent weeks, working to bring in more support. Under the deal, the Boy Scouts would establish a $2.7 billion trust to compensate men who have said they were sexually abused as children by troop leaders. In 2020, the Boy Scouts filed for Chapter 11 protection - allowing for reorganization under U.S. bankruptcy laws - in Delaware to resolve decades of abuse allegations. Flood of lawsuits While the assent of two-thirds of creditors is all that is typically required for a Chapter 11 plan, judges often look for "overwhelming" creditor support in large, complex Chapter 11 cases before signing off on them. The money for the trust is coming from the Boy Scouts, local councils, insurers and organizations that have chartered Scouting units and activities, including churches. The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after being hit by a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits when several U.S. states passed laws letting accusers sue over allegations dating back several decades. Those claimants are now creditors of the organization, so they must sign off on any plans to restructure and exit bankruptcy. Groups representing survivors have disagreed over whether the settlement total is large enough. Some victims and plaintiffs' attorneys have said that the average payout per person under the deal would be far lower than other sex abuse cases, like that of USA Gymnastics. The amount of money each of the survivors would receive depends on the severity of the alleged abuse, as well as when and where it occurred, among other factors. They could receive as little as $3,500 or up to $2.7 million for the most severe cases, according to court papers. Survivors have sent Silverstein thousands of letters, many of which include stories of abuse or frustration with the settlement offer. A group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice has been a longtime proponent of the plan, while the official committee had maintained that it offered too little, considering the large number of surviving victims who would be sharing the settlement sum.

Boy Scouts of America wins support for sex abuse settlement, may emerge from bankruptcy

Thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia after the plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs, activists and officials said on Tuesday. 
 
Some Filipinos are forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, said Garry Martinez, chairman of the Migrante group which works for the millions of Filipino overseas workers worldwide. 
 
&quot;Some of them have nothing to eat and have to go through the garbage for food,&quot; said Martinez. 
 
India said on Monday it was negotiating with Saudi authorities to repatriate thousands of its own nationals after they lost their jobs, leaving them with no money to return home. 
 
Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament in New Delhi she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages. 
 
In Manila, Migrante coordinator Gilbert Saludo, who returned from Saudi Arabia last month after two years working there said as many as 20,000 Filipinos could be affected. Saludo said that while Manila had extended financial aid to them so far, it was not clear how long this could last. The labour problem appeared likely to worsen, he added. &quot;It will get much worse because so much of the income of Saudi Arabia comes from oil... so their budget for infrastructure and other projects will not be met and more people will be affected,&quot; Saludo told AFP. 
 
The Philippine Labour Department said Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello had visited Saudi Arabia last month to address the problem but would not elaborate. 
 
Pakistan said 8,520 of its nationals in Saudi Arabia had not been receiving their salaries for several months. A foreign ministry statement said that &quot;most of the workers want to leave these companies but only after settling their dues&quot;. The Pakistan embassy had set up special centres and a fund to provide aid, food, medicine and shelter. &quot;The (Pakistani) embassy has further informed that Saudi King has issued a decree for urgent payment of dues to workers by the concerned,&quot; the office of the prime minister said. 
 
&quot;We stand by our hardworking workers who are away from their homeland to earn a living for their families. They are our strength and pride. We will help them out in all possible ways,&quot; Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement. 
 
The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week but repatriation has been complicated by restrictive labour regulations. Swaraj cited a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country. 
 
In Manila, the Migrante officials also said Filipinos could not leave because they lacked proper permits or were still awaiting months of back pay. 
 
(AFP)

Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuse

Thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia after the plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs, activists and officials said on Tuesday. Some Filipinos are forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, said Garry Martinez, chairman of the Migrante group which works for the millions of Filipino overseas workers worldwide. "Some of them have nothing to eat and have to go through the garbage for food," said Martinez. India said on Monday it was negotiating with Saudi authorities to repatriate thousands of its own nationals after they lost their jobs, leaving them with no money to return home. Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament in New Delhi she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages. In Manila, Migrante coordinator Gilbert Saludo, who returned from Saudi Arabia last month after two years working there said as many as 20,000 Filipinos could be affected. Saludo said that while Manila had extended financial aid to them so far, it was not clear how long this could last. The labour problem appeared likely to worsen, he added. "It will get much worse because so much of the income of Saudi Arabia comes from oil... so their budget for infrastructure and other projects will not be met and more people will be affected," Saludo told AFP. The Philippine Labour Department said Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello had visited Saudi Arabia last month to address the problem but would not elaborate. Pakistan said 8,520 of its nationals in Saudi Arabia had not been receiving their salaries for several months. A foreign ministry statement said that "most of the workers want to leave these companies but only after settling their dues". The Pakistan embassy had set up special centres and a fund to provide aid, food, medicine and shelter. "The (Pakistani) embassy has further informed that Saudi King has issued a decree for urgent payment of dues to workers by the concerned," the office of the prime minister said. "We stand by our hardworking workers who are away from their homeland to earn a living for their families. They are our strength and pride. We will help them out in all possible ways," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement. The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week but repatriation has been complicated by restrictive labour regulations. Swaraj cited a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country. In Manila, the Migrante officials also said Filipinos could not leave because they lacked proper permits or were still awaiting months of back pay. (AFP)

Thousands of jobless Asians including Indians stranded in Saudi

In recent weeks, packs of shoeless boys and girls have been coaxed off the streets where they have spent their childhoods, crying and frightened as they are loaded onto buses in Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa. 
 
The crackdown on child begging comes after years of inaction and is praised by children&#39;s groups but greeted with anger by powerful Islamic figures in the west African nation. 
 
The children are from a mix of poor or homeless families and others known as &quot;talibes&quot; - boys sent out to beg by Islamic tutors to make money for their boarding schools. 
 
They are brought to Guinddi Children&#39;s Centre in the capital accompanied by social workers, where they are interviewed and checked for signs of maltreatment and disease. 
 
&quot;The children are generally unaccompanied. When they come here we ask them for the telephone number of their tutor or Koranic teacher and they give it to us,&quot; explained Maimouna Balde, director of the Guinddi centre. 
 
Parents, or Islamic teachers known as &quot;marabouts&quot;, will generally come and pick up the children themselves, Balde said, whereupon the centre&#39;s staff explain that if their charges are found on the streets again they will be prosecuted. 
 
The operation will continue &quot;for as long as there are children on the streets&quot;, she said. 
 
With 270 street kids picked up in the first two weeks of July in Dakar, according to the authorities, the initiative is a long way from dealing with the 30,000 talibes estimated to be begging daily. 
 
Often from poor rural families, the talibes are sent to Dakar and other Senegalese cities nominally to memorise the Koran, but are often left vulnerable to abuse and receiving little education. 
 
Sometimes the journey home is long: on July 11 nine children were repatriated to neighbouring Guinea after being collected from the streets, according to one Guinean charity. 
 
The current crackdown is the first time a decade-old law has been firmly applied, with parents or guardians of child beggars potentially facing two to five years in jail and fines of up to 2,000,000 CFA ($3,355). 
 
&quot;There are fattened calves hidden behind this education system to exploit children through begging, which is an easy and profitable business,&quot; Niokhobaye Diouf, national director of child protection services. 
 
Parents of street children should be assessed to see if they could benefit from state welfare and health programmes to deter them from relying on their children&#39;s labour, he said. 
 
Talibes are told to beg for food and money and not to return to their &quot;daara&quot; - Islamic school, until they have collected enough.&nbsp; 
 
Even late at night in Dakar children only visibly out of kindergarten can be seen shaking empty tins of food, trying to get enough to be allowed to finish up for the day. 
 
Dealing with the systematic slavery of children in Senegal in this way has been attempted and then abandoned by the state several times before. 
 
Until now, the power of tradition means few have been willing to challenge the marabouts, given their status and the respect they are afforded as Islamic scholars. 
 
Muslim elder Sidy Lamine Niasse told journalists the government &quot;doggedly pursued daaras&quot; to &quot;stigmatise and demonise&quot; them. 
 
But the schools have a long history of abuse: in February, the Senegalese authorities found 20 boys aged between six and 14 kept in chains by their marabout, resulting in a rare prosecution. 
 
Mustapha Lo, president of the national federation of Koranic schools, said the street sweep was taken without consulting Muslim educators and downplayed the concerns relayed by children&#39;s charities. 
 
&quot;The majority of us manage our Koranic schools without making the children beg on the streets. Some Koranic teachers do that because they lack any other financial means,&quot; Lo said. 
 
Countering their arguments, Diouf said the government hopes to reform the daaras curriculum while giving them a better level of financial support. 
 
More than their education is at stake: the authorities want to avoid children falling prey to jihadist recruiters in the region, who are luring young men away with promises of riches and glory. 
 
(AFP)

The kids are homeless or from poor families. 'Talibes' are boys made to beg by Islamic tutors to fund their boarding schools

In recent weeks, packs of shoeless boys and girls have been coaxed off the streets where they have spent their childhoods, crying and frightened as they are loaded onto buses in Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa. The crackdown on child begging comes after years of inaction and is praised by children's groups but greeted with anger by powerful Islamic figures in the west African nation. The children are from a mix of poor or homeless families and others known as "talibes" - boys sent out to beg by Islamic tutors to make money for their boarding schools. They are brought to Guinddi Children's Centre in the capital accompanied by social workers, where they are interviewed and checked for signs of maltreatment and disease. "The children are generally unaccompanied. When they come here we ask them for the telephone number of their tutor or Koranic teacher and they give it to us," explained Maimouna Balde, director of the Guinddi centre. Parents, or Islamic teachers known as "marabouts", will generally come and pick up the children themselves, Balde said, whereupon the centre's staff explain that if their charges are found on the streets again they will be prosecuted. The operation will continue "for as long as there are children on the streets", she said. With 270 street kids picked up in the first two weeks of July in Dakar, according to the authorities, the initiative is a long way from dealing with the 30,000 talibes estimated to be begging daily. Often from poor rural families, the talibes are sent to Dakar and other Senegalese cities nominally to memorise the Koran, but are often left vulnerable to abuse and receiving little education. Sometimes the journey home is long: on July 11 nine children were repatriated to neighbouring Guinea after being collected from the streets, according to one Guinean charity. The current crackdown is the first time a decade-old law has been firmly applied, with parents or guardians of child beggars potentially facing two to five years in jail and fines of up to 2,000,000 CFA ($3,355). "There are fattened calves hidden behind this education system to exploit children through begging, which is an easy and profitable business," Niokhobaye Diouf, national director of child protection services. Parents of street children should be assessed to see if they could benefit from state welfare and health programmes to deter them from relying on their children's labour, he said. Talibes are told to beg for food and money and not to return to their "daara" - Islamic school, until they have collected enough. Even late at night in Dakar children only visibly out of kindergarten can be seen shaking empty tins of food, trying to get enough to be allowed to finish up for the day. Dealing with the systematic slavery of children in Senegal in this way has been attempted and then abandoned by the state several times before. Until now, the power of tradition means few have been willing to challenge the marabouts, given their status and the respect they are afforded as Islamic scholars. Muslim elder Sidy Lamine Niasse told journalists the government "doggedly pursued daaras" to "stigmatise and demonise" them. But the schools have a long history of abuse: in February, the Senegalese authorities found 20 boys aged between six and 14 kept in chains by their marabout, resulting in a rare prosecution. Mustapha Lo, president of the national federation of Koranic schools, said the street sweep was taken without consulting Muslim educators and downplayed the concerns relayed by children's charities. "The majority of us manage our Koranic schools without making the children beg on the streets. Some Koranic teachers do that because they lack any other financial means," Lo said. Countering their arguments, Diouf said the government hopes to reform the daaras curriculum while giving them a better level of financial support. More than their education is at stake: the authorities want to avoid children falling prey to jihadist recruiters in the region, who are luring young men away with promises of riches and glory. (AFP)

Senegal rescues 270 child beggars from the streets

Nineteen Myanmar human trafficking victims have been rescued in Thailand, state media and an activist group said today, a rare policing success against criminal networks that dominate the region. 
 
The group were discovered by Thai police locked up on an Indonesian-flagged fishing vessel off the coast of Thailand&#39;s southern Pattani district on Sunday, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported. 
 
The raid was launched after the families of some of those on board managed to alert the Myanmar Association in Thailand, a local support group, about their plight. 
 
Kyaw Thaung, director of the association, told AFP that the victims, some of whom were as young as 13, were lured with the promise of work in Bangkok but instead found themselves locked on the fishing vessel. 
 
&quot;A police force raided the fishing boat to Indonesia and found 19 Burmese workers there,&quot; he said. &quot;They had been there about 10 days already.&quot; 
 
A Burmese broker was arrested at the scene, he added.&nbsp; 
 
Thai police did not respond to requests for comment but a source at Myanmar&#39;s human trafficking police division in Naypyidaw confirmed to AFP that the raid rescued 19 citizens.&nbsp; 
 
Drawn by the lure of comparatively higher wages, millions of Myanmar&#39;s poor work inside Thailand, often in unregulated industries where they routinely face exploitation and abuse by unscrupulous employers. 
 
The kingdom had long been a human trafficking hub, aided by officials who either turned a blind eye or were complicit in the grim but lucrative trade. 
 
Since seizing power in 2014, Thailand&#39;s junta government has tried to clean up the country&#39;s image, launching a crackdown last year against human traffickers with some success. 
 
It has also tried to reform the country&#39;s multi-billion-dollar fishing sector, which has long been accused of using widespread slave labour. 
 
But Sunday&#39;s raid suggests criminal networks are still finding ways to traffic or press-gang vulnerable migrant workers. 
 
(AFP)

This is a rare police success in this trafficking hub, where officials can turn a blind eye or are complicit in the grim, lucrative trade

Nineteen Myanmar human trafficking victims have been rescued in Thailand, state media and an activist group said today, a rare policing success against criminal networks that dominate the region. The group were discovered by Thai police locked up on an Indonesian-flagged fishing vessel off the coast of Thailand's southern Pattani district on Sunday, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported. The raid was launched after the families of some of those on board managed to alert the Myanmar Association in Thailand, a local support group, about their plight. Kyaw Thaung, director of the association, told AFP that the victims, some of whom were as young as 13, were lured with the promise of work in Bangkok but instead found themselves locked on the fishing vessel. "A police force raided the fishing boat to Indonesia and found 19 Burmese workers there," he said. "They had been there about 10 days already." A Burmese broker was arrested at the scene, he added. Thai police did not respond to requests for comment but a source at Myanmar's human trafficking police division in Naypyidaw confirmed to AFP that the raid rescued 19 citizens. Drawn by the lure of comparatively higher wages, millions of Myanmar's poor work inside Thailand, often in unregulated industries where they routinely face exploitation and abuse by unscrupulous employers. The kingdom had long been a human trafficking hub, aided by officials who either turned a blind eye or were complicit in the grim but lucrative trade. Since seizing power in 2014, Thailand's junta government has tried to clean up the country's image, launching a crackdown last year against human traffickers with some success. It has also tried to reform the country's multi-billion-dollar fishing sector, which has long been accused of using widespread slave labour. But Sunday's raid suggests criminal networks are still finding ways to traffic or press-gang vulnerable migrant workers. (AFP)

19 Myanmar human trafficking victims rescued in Thailand

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