Former Prince Andrew has been released from police custody following his arrest over allegations related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The arrest sparked international attention, with Andrew facing potential charges linked to misconduct in public office. Authorities continue investigating claims and reviewing evidence as the former royal navigates legal scrutiny and public criticism.


Epstein Files Probe: Former Prince Andrew Released from Custody | WION

UK police have arrested former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest follows reports that he may have sent trade documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010. Authorities are investigating the allegations amid significant public interest, stressing the importance of protecting the integrity and objectivity of the ongoing inquiry.


UK: Former Royal Andrew Windsor Arrested After His Ties with Epstein Came Out in the Open | WION

'Squid Game' actor O Yeong-su convicted of sexual harassment, receives suspended prison sentence; plans to appeal court decision.Watch the video to know more.

Squid Game actor Oh Young Soo convicted of sexual misconduct

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the witness stand Thursday and forcefully pushed back against what she described as “lies” about her romantic relationship with a special prosecutor during an extraordinary hearing over misconduct allegations that threaten to upend one of four criminal cases against Donald Trump.

US: Fani Willis kicks off her testimony by accusing attorney of lying

US: Donald Trump prosecutor Fani Willis accuses defense of 'lies' about misconduct

US: Fani Willis blames Trump co-defendants of 'lying' in court about misconduct

A woman, taking to TikTok, made a strange claim that she was sacked by her company for her mysterious antics at their Christmas party, after making a promise that she would ‘behave’. 
 
The woman said that she was thrown from her job after she attended the party and shared the termination letter, which was sent by her boss, on TikTok. 
 
The woman, whose name is Molly, shared a music clip from the famous movie “The Hangover” as well as Flo Rida’s “Right Round” as she made the promise that she would “behave at the staff party.” 
 
After this, a note appeared on the right side of her selfie which panned out as a letter sent by her boss to inform her that she had been sacked.

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“Dear Molly, It is with regret that I must confirm the outcome of my investigation into the events that took place at the staff Christmas party on Saturday evening,” reads the letter at the start.

<h2>Gross misconduct, says Molly's boss</h2>

The former employee of Molly, who did not speak about her occupation, informed the girl that she “risked putting the reputation of the nursery into disrepute” 
 
“This amounts to gross misconduct. As you are still on your probationary period, I had no option but to terminate your contract of employment with immediate effect,” the letter stated. 
 
However, the letter did not specifically detail what Molly did or the reason behind her firing. 
 
“You will be paid any holiday that you have accrued along with your hours for this month in your final pay packet on 7th January,” stated the letter.

Watch:&nbsp;Christmas nativity scene craft kept alive in Naples

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In another video, Molly said that she could not speak over the incident even though she was offered money to speak about it by people across social media. She accepted that allegedly there was involvement of somebody else and mentioned that they “played an equal part in what happened,” even though that person did not leave their job. 
 
“Unfortunately, without her permission, I can’t actually upload a story time [explain what happened] again but I mean if she one day says ‘you know what, go ahead with it, just don’t use my name, whatever,’ then I will post it,” said Molly. 
 
The comments by Molly on the original video were removed. The video has now more than 2.5 million views even though many curious users have been asking how this happened. 
 
“How come she kept her job but you got sacked when you both did the same?,” commented one person, replying to which Molly said, “She’s been there over 2 years, whereas I was fairly new.” 
 
“You can’t call it a story time and not tell us the story,” said another frustrated user. “If you both had a part to play, she [the friend] should have lost her job, too. Doesn’t matter how long she’s worked there,” told a third person.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman, taking to TikTok, made a strange claim that she was sacked by her company for her mysterious antics at their Christmas party, after making a promise that she would ‘behave’.

A woman, taking to TikTok, made a strange claim that she was sacked by her company for her mysterious antics at their Christmas party, after making a promise that she would ‘behave’. The woman said that she was thrown from her job after she attended the party and shared the termination letter, which was sent by her boss, on TikTok. The woman, whose name is Molly, shared a music clip from the famous movie “The Hangover” as well as Flo Rida’s “Right Round” as she made the promise that she would “behave at the staff party.” After this, a note appeared on the right side of her selfie which panned out as a letter sent by her boss to inform her that she had been sacked. Also read: Enjoy these heartwarming Christmas favourites with your family “Dear Molly, It is with regret that I must confirm the outcome of my investigation into the events that took place at the staff Christmas party on Saturday evening,” reads the letter at the start. Gross misconduct, says Molly's boss The former employee of Molly, who did not speak about her occupation, informed the girl that she “risked putting the reputation of the nursery into disrepute” “This amounts to gross misconduct. As you are still on your probationary period, I had no option but to terminate your contract of employment with immediate effect,” the letter stated. However, the letter did not specifically detail what Molly did or the reason behind her firing. “You will be paid any holiday that you have accrued along with your hours for this month in your final pay packet on 7th January,” stated the letter. Watch: Christmas nativity scene craft kept alive in Naples In another video, Molly said that she could not speak over the incident even though she was offered money to speak about it by people across social media. She accepted that allegedly there was involvement of somebody else and mentioned that they “played an equal part in what happened,” even though that person did not leave their job. “Unfortunately, without her permission, I can’t actually upload a story time [explain what happened] again but I mean if she one day says ‘you know what, go ahead with it, just don’t use my name, whatever,’ then I will post it,” said Molly. The comments by Molly on the original video were removed. The video has now more than 2.5 million views even though many curious users have been asking how this happened. “How come she kept her job but you got sacked when you both did the same?,” commented one person, replying to which Molly said, “She’s been there over 2 years, whereas I was fairly new.” “You can’t call it a story time and not tell us the story,” said another frustrated user. “If you both had a part to play, she [the friend] should have lost her job, too. Doesn’t matter how long she’s worked there,” told a third person. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Gross misconduct’: Woman fails to 'behave' at company's Christmas party, loses job

American rapper Kanye West is back in the news and this time it is for alleged actions of misconduct. Adidas has launched a probe into this matter after an exclusive article of a media outlet made some shocking claims about West's behaviour. Watch the video to know more.

Adidas launches probe in misconduct allegations against Kanye West

The case against a former political advisor accused of raping a colleague inside Australia's Parliament House has been dismissed, due to "misconduct" on the part of the jury.

Following a night out in March 2019, Brittany Higgins was allegedly sexually assaulted on the sofa of a government minister by Bruce Lehrmann. He claims they didn't engage in any sexual activity.

But after a 12-day trial and five days of discussion, the jury was expelled once it became known that one of its members had looked at academic material on sexual assault, which is against trial rules.

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"It may be that no harm has been done, but that is not a risk I can take," Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told a Canberra court.

As per Australian rules, a jury is expected to reach a judgement based on evidence presented in court, and not its own research.

Judge McCallum estimated that she had warned the jury about conducting their own research at least 17 times, and "probably much more" times.

A court representative found the academic paper after it fell off a table during "regular housekeeping" of the jury room.

Higgins waived her right to privacy before disclosing her narrative to authorities in early 2021 and went public with her allegations in prominent media and television interviews.

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Her accusations served as the impetus for what has been dubbed Australia's "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-opening-arguments-to-start-in-weinstein-sex-assault-trial-528000">MeToo moment</a>," which sparked protests and discussions about women's safety across the country and exposed a toxic work environment in Australian politics.

Higgins and&nbsp;Lehrmann shared an office with then-Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds, the court heard during the trial. They both had beverages on March 22, 2019, with coworkers and other people.

After spending hours at two Canberra bars, Higgins claimed to be the most drunk she had ever been, the jury was informed. The two then shared a cab to Parliament House.

As the jurors watched CCTV footage of her and Lehrmann entering the premises, she was sobbing inside the courtroom.

In a police interview that was shown to the jury, Higgins said that she had slept off in Minister Reynolds' office before waking up to find Lehrmann having sex with her.

She admitted to crying to the cops. She said, "I told him no; I told him to stop."

Higgins could not have given consent to intercourse since she was "unconscious," according to the prosecution.

The jury heard that she initially reported the alleged rape to authorities in the days that followed, but she later withheld filing a formal complaint out of fear of losing her work.

Although Lehrmann declined to testify, he stated that what was alleged "just didn't happen" in a police interview that was played to the court.

Parts of Higgins' testimony, according to his attorney Steven Whybrow, were "completely and absolutely inconsistent."

Higgins arrived in court to see the case's demise but fled before the judge made her decision.

When they were informed that they were being discharged, a few jury members were very angry.

They informed the court on Tuesday that they had so far been unable to come to a unanimous decision, but the judge promptly ordered them back to continue discussing.

"Everyone is disappointed at what happened but it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to say anything at this stage," Lehrmann's lawyer told media outside the court.

The issue of whether Lehrmann should stand trial again has not yet been debated by the parties, but Justice McCallum scheduled a date in February just in case.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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The case against a former political advisor accused of raping a colleague inside Australia's Parliament House has been dismissed, due to "misconduct" on the part of the jury.

The case against a former political advisor accused of raping a colleague inside Australia's Parliament House has been dismissed, due to "misconduct" on the part of the jury. Following a night out in March 2019, Brittany Higgins was allegedly sexually assaulted on the sofa of a government minister by Bruce Lehrmann. He claims they didn't engage in any sexual activity. But after a 12-day trial and five days of discussion, the jury was expelled once it became known that one of its members had looked at academic material on sexual assault, which is against trial rules. Also read | Judge permits Harvey Weinstein's former assistant to testify in sexual assault case "It may be that no harm has been done, but that is not a risk I can take," Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told a Canberra court. As per Australian rules, a jury is expected to reach a judgement based on evidence presented in court, and not its own research. Judge McCallum estimated that she had warned the jury about conducting their own research at least 17 times, and "probably much more" times. A court representative found the academic paper after it fell off a table during "regular housekeeping" of the jury room. Higgins waived her right to privacy before disclosing her narrative to authorities in early 2021 and went public with her allegations in prominent media and television interviews. Also read | Data of all its nearly 4mn customers compromised by the hack, says Medibank Her accusations served as the impetus for what has been dubbed Australia's "MeToo moment," which sparked protests and discussions about women's safety across the country and exposed a toxic work environment in Australian politics. Higgins and Lehrmann shared an office with then-Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds, the court heard during the trial. They both had beverages on March 22, 2019, with coworkers and other people. After spending hours at two Canberra bars, Higgins claimed to be the most drunk she had ever been, the jury was informed. The two then shared a cab to Parliament House. As the jurors watched CCTV footage of her and Lehrmann entering the premises, she was sobbing inside the courtroom. In a police interview that was shown to the jury, Higgins said that she had slept off in Minister Reynolds' office before waking up to find Lehrmann having sex with her. She admitted to crying to the cops. She said, "I told him no; I told him to stop." Higgins could not have given consent to intercourse since she was "unconscious," according to the prosecution. The jury heard that she initially reported the alleged rape to authorities in the days that followed, but she later withheld filing a formal complaint out of fear of losing her work. Although Lehrmann declined to testify, he stated that what was alleged "just didn't happen" in a police interview that was played to the court. Parts of Higgins' testimony, according to his attorney Steven Whybrow, were "completely and absolutely inconsistent." Higgins arrived in court to see the case's demise but fled before the judge made her decision. When they were informed that they were being discharged, a few jury members were very angry. They informed the court on Tuesday that they had so far been unable to come to a unanimous decision, but the judge promptly ordered them back to continue discussing. "Everyone is disappointed at what happened but it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to say anything at this stage," Lehrmann's lawyer told media outside the court. The issue of whether Lehrmann should stand trial again has not yet been debated by the parties, but Justice McCallum scheduled a date in February just in case. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australia Parliament rape trial jury discharged over 'misconduct'

British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday sacked Conor Burns, a minister at the trade department, following allegations of serious misconduct.

UK PM Liz Truss sacks trade minister Burns over allegations of serious misconduct

A huge controversy has erupted&nbsp;in Indian football. The All India Federation of Football (AIFF) on Thursday (June 30) took strict action and provisionally&nbsp;suspended an 'individual' (i.e.&nbsp;assistant coach)&nbsp;after the U-17 women's team accused the coaching official&nbsp;of misconduct. As an initial action, the Federation has provisionally suspended the individual pending further investigation.

The individual is now in a huge spot of bother as the&nbsp;AIFF has asked the coach&nbsp;to put all contact with the team at halt for now, return to India as soon as possible, and be physically present for further investigations. In this regard, the AIFF carried out&nbsp;in a statement, "An event of misconduct has been reported in the U17 women`s team currently on an exposure tour to Europe. The AIFF follows a zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline."

"As an initial action, the Federation has provisionally suspended the individual pending further investigation. The AIFF has asked the concerned individual to stop all contact with the team, return to India immediately, and be physically present for further investigations upon his arrival," the statement added.

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Speaking about the young Tigresses, the team recently took part&nbsp;in the sixth edition of the Torneo Female Football Tournament in Italy, held from June 22 to 26. They didn't have a fruiftul campaign as they lost to superior teams such as&nbsp;Italy and Chile. The Indian U-17 women's team were hammered by the Italians, losing 0-7. In their face-off&nbsp;against Chile, the Indian women conceded the game 1-3.

Following their disappointing run, the U-17 team has now shifted focus towards preparing for the Open Nordic Tournament WU16 in Norway. It will take place from&nbsp;July 1 (Friday) to July 7. Before the tournament, they have been effected by some outside noise, with the assistant coach returning home due to alleged misconduct, however, the team will be eager to shine in the forthcoming tournament. For the unversed, this will also&nbsp;be the first time that the Indian team will be participating in the NORDIC Tournament, as per&nbsp;an AIFF release.

A huge controversy has erupted in Indian football. The All India Federation of Football (AIFF) on Thursday (June 30) took strict action and provisionally suspended an 'individual' (i.

A huge controversy has erupted in Indian football. The All India Federation of Football (AIFF) on Thursday (June 30) took strict action and provisionally suspended an 'individual' (i.e. assistant coach) after the U-17 women's team accused the coaching official of misconduct. As an initial action, the Federation has provisionally suspended the individual pending further investigation. The individual is now in a huge spot of bother as the AIFF has asked the coach to put all contact with the team at halt for now, return to India as soon as possible, and be physically present for further investigations. In this regard, the AIFF carried out in a statement, "An event of misconduct has been reported in the U17 women`s team currently on an exposure tour to Europe. The AIFF follows a zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline." "As an initial action, the Federation has provisionally suspended the individual pending further investigation. The AIFF has asked the concerned individual to stop all contact with the team, return to India immediately, and be physically present for further investigations upon his arrival," the statement added. ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra Javelin throw, live streaming: When and where to watch Stockholm Diamond League 2022 in India? Speaking about the young Tigresses, the team recently took part in the sixth edition of the Torneo Female Football Tournament in Italy, held from June 22 to 26. They didn't have a fruiftul campaign as they lost to superior teams such as Italy and Chile. The Indian U-17 women's team were hammered by the Italians, losing 0-7. In their face-off against Chile, the Indian women conceded the game 1-3. Following their disappointing run, the U-17 team has now shifted focus towards preparing for the Open Nordic Tournament WU16 in Norway. It will take place from July 1 (Friday) to July 7. Before the tournament, they have been effected by some outside noise, with the assistant coach returning home due to alleged misconduct, however, the team will be eager to shine in the forthcoming tournament. For the unversed, this will also be the first time that the Indian team will be participating in the NORDIC Tournament, as per an AIFF release.

AIFF suspends coaching official after misconduct charges reported by India U-17 women's football team

Germany's Alexander Zverev was kicked out of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, for "unsportsmanlike conduct" after his doubles match, the men's tour said on Wednesday.

Zverev, partnering Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo in doubles, came perilously close to hitting umpire Alessandro Germani when he repeatedly assaulted the umpire's chair with his racquet after a 6-2 4-6 (10-6) defeat to the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.

"Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco," the ATP said in a statement.

Zverev's team did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mexican-open-daniil-medvedev-beats-frances-benoit-paire-in-pursuit-of-world-no-1-ranking-455587">Mexican Open: Daniil Medvedev beats France's Benoit Paire in pursuit of world no. 1 ranking</a>

After shaking hands with the opponents, the 24-year-old Zverev, ranked third in singles, approached the umpire`s chair and hit it repeatedly before heading towards his courtside seat, upset over a line call during the match earlier.

He approached the chair a second time and once again hit it while shouting expletives.

The former U.S. Open finalist completed a first-round win over American Jenson Brooksby in the Abierto Mexicano tournament at 4.55 am local time on Tuesday, the latest ever finish for a professional tennis match.

Last year's winner, Zverev was scheduled to meet fellow German Peter Gojowczyk, who will now get a walkover to advance to the quarter-finals. 
Zverev's angry outburst could earn him more sanctions from the men's governing body.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wion-exclusive-win-against-magnus-carlsen-a-big-boost-gives-confidence-says-chess-sensation-praggnanandhaa-455495">WION exclusive: Win against Magnus Carlsen a big boost, gives confidence, says chess sensation Praggnanandhaa</a>

In 2019, after an initial fine of $113,000, Australian Nick Kyrgios was handed a suspended ban of 16 weeks and an additional fine of $25,000 for "aggravated behaviour" by the ATP following an internal investigation.

The ATP in October last year also launched an internal investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev, by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova.

Germany's Alexander Zverev was kicked out of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, for "unsportsmanlike conduct" after his doubles match, the men's tour said on Wednesday.

Germany's Alexander Zverev was kicked out of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, for "unsportsmanlike conduct" after his doubles match, the men's tour said on Wednesday. Zverev, partnering Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo in doubles, came perilously close to hitting umpire Alessandro Germani when he repeatedly assaulted the umpire's chair with his racquet after a 6-2 4-6 (10-6) defeat to the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara. "Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco," the ATP said in a statement. Zverev's team did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. ALSO READ: Mexican Open: Daniil Medvedev beats France's Benoit Paire in pursuit of world no. 1 ranking After shaking hands with the opponents, the 24-year-old Zverev, ranked third in singles, approached the umpire`s chair and hit it repeatedly before heading towards his courtside seat, upset over a line call during the match earlier. He approached the chair a second time and once again hit it while shouting expletives. The former U.S. Open finalist completed a first-round win over American Jenson Brooksby in the Abierto Mexicano tournament at 4.55 am local time on Tuesday, the latest ever finish for a professional tennis match. Last year's winner, Zverev was scheduled to meet fellow German Peter Gojowczyk, who will now get a walkover to advance to the quarter-finals. Zverev's angry outburst could earn him more sanctions from the men's governing body. ALSO READ: WION exclusive: Win against Magnus Carlsen a big boost, gives confidence, says chess sensation Praggnanandhaa In 2019, after an initial fine of $113,000, Australian Nick Kyrgios was handed a suspended ban of 16 weeks and an additional fine of $25,000 for "aggravated behaviour" by the ATP following an internal investigation. The ATP in October last year also launched an internal investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev, by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova.

Mexican Open: Alexander Zverev expelled from Acapulco for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' after doubles loss

WHO chief Dr Tedros's home-country Ethiopia has slammed him for compromising the global health body's credibility. Palki Sharma tells you how the WHO chief faces accusations of cover-up & genocide in Ethiopia.

Gravitas: Home country Ethiopia slams Dr. Tedros for 'misconduct'

Two shareholder lawsuits filed this week accused the board of Google parent Alphabet of playing a direct role in covering up sexual misconduct claims against two former executives over the last five years.

The company declined to comment.

Both of the lawsuits seek to force Google to change its governance and oversight to stop future workplace conduct issues. They also call for Alphabet directors to pay damages to Alphabet for allegedly breaching their fiduciary duties and engaging in corporate waste.

The allegations stem primarily from large severance payments to Andy Rubin, who led Google's Android mobile operating division until 2014, and Amit Singhal, head of Google's search unit until 2016. Company investigations into both men had found accusations of sexual harassment against them to be credible, according to the lawsuits.

Rubin and Singhal have denied the allegations. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai apologized last year to employees for the companies' past handling of sexual misconduct cases and vowed to improve practices.

One of the two lawsuits in San Mateo County Superior Court in California cites minutes from Alphabet board and board committee meetings where the executives' situations were discussed.

Plaintiff James Martin obtained the documents through a "shareholder inspection demand," according to the lawsuit. Google provided them on the condition they not be published, according to his attorneys, and details from the minutes are redacted across at least eight pages in the 82-page lawsuit filed on Thursday.

Martin's attorney, Frank Bottini, said his team plans to show that Google suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages including payouts made to executives accused of sexual misconduct, lost productivity from employees around the world walking off the job briefly in November to protest the payouts and hits to its brand reputation.

The employee demonstrations followed a New York Times report in October that said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Rubin.

Ellen Winick Stross, an attorney for Rubin, said on Thursday that Martin's lawsuit, "like much of the recent media coverage, mischaracterizes Andy’s departure from Google and sensationalizes claims made about Andy by his ex-wife. Andy left Google voluntarily. Andy denies any misconduct, and we look forward to telling his story in court."

Employee organizers said they welcomed the lawsuits as they continue to push for further changes, including an employee representative on Alphabet's board.

The lawsuit calls for Alphabet to add at least three independent directors to its board and move to a "one share, one vote" stock structure to increase shareholder oversight of management decisions. Alphabet executives currently hold voting control through shares with 10 votes each.

"We'd like to see ... meaningful change in the tone at the company, the policies, the treatment of women, the reporting of sexual harassment and other issues," Bottini said.

The second case, brought on Wednesday by Northern California Pipe Trades Pension Plan and Teamsters Local 272 Labor Management Pension Fund, cites company filings and media reports. They are represented by the law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll.

Two shareholder lawsuits filed this week accused the board of Google parent Alphabet of playing a direct role in covering up sexual misconduct claims against two former executives over the last five years.

Two shareholder lawsuits filed this week accused the board of Google parent Alphabet of playing a direct role in covering up sexual misconduct claims against two former executives over the last five years. The company declined to comment. Both of the lawsuits seek to force Google to change its governance and oversight to stop future workplace conduct issues. They also call for Alphabet directors to pay damages to Alphabet for allegedly breaching their fiduciary duties and engaging in corporate waste. The allegations stem primarily from large severance payments to Andy Rubin, who led Google's Android mobile operating division until 2014, and Amit Singhal, head of Google's search unit until 2016. Company investigations into both men had found accusations of sexual harassment against them to be credible, according to the lawsuits. Rubin and Singhal have denied the allegations. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai apologized last year to employees for the companies' past handling of sexual misconduct cases and vowed to improve practices. One of the two lawsuits in San Mateo County Superior Court in California cites minutes from Alphabet board and board committee meetings where the executives' situations were discussed. Plaintiff James Martin obtained the documents through a "shareholder inspection demand," according to the lawsuit. Google provided them on the condition they not be published, according to his attorneys, and details from the minutes are redacted across at least eight pages in the 82-page lawsuit filed on Thursday. Martin's attorney, Frank Bottini, said his team plans to show that Google suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages including payouts made to executives accused of sexual misconduct, lost productivity from employees around the world walking off the job briefly in November to protest the payouts and hits to its brand reputation. The employee demonstrations followed a New York Times report in October that said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Rubin. Ellen Winick Stross, an attorney for Rubin, said on Thursday that Martin's lawsuit, "like much of the recent media coverage, mischaracterizes Andy’s departure from Google and sensationalizes claims made about Andy by his ex-wife. Andy left Google voluntarily. Andy denies any misconduct, and we look forward to telling his story in court." Employee organizers said they welcomed the lawsuits as they continue to push for further changes, including an employee representative on Alphabet's board. The lawsuit calls for Alphabet to add at least three independent directors to its board and move to a "one share, one vote" stock structure to increase shareholder oversight of management decisions. Alphabet executives currently hold voting control through shares with 10 votes each. "We'd like to see ... meaningful change in the tone at the company, the policies, the treatment of women, the reporting of sexual harassment and other issues," Bottini said. The second case, brought on Wednesday by Northern California Pipe Trades Pension Plan and Teamsters Local 272 Labor Management Pension Fund, cites company filings and media reports. They are represented by the law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll.

Alphabet board sued on allegations of sexual misconduct cover-up

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush said on Monday he was distraught when he read newspaper articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct, as a court began a hearing into his lawsuit against the publisher. 
 
In the first such case in Australia of the #MeToo era, Rush is suing News`s Corporation`s Australian arm over a series of articles saying he was the subject of a complaint to the Sydney Theatre Company in relation to its 2015 production of King Lear. 
 
Under the headline 'King Leer,'&nbsp;and in later articles, Sydney`s Daily Telegraph newspaper said the Oscar-winning actor, who played the starring role in the production, had been accused by a co-star of unspecified inappropriate conduct. 
 
"It was devastating," Rush, dressed in a navy suit, told the Federal Court in Sydney, where the hearing began after several months of pre-trial arguments. 
 
"I felt as though someone had poured lead into my head, I went into a kind of - this can`t be happening - I was numb," he said, adding he felt the stories implied he was a "major pervert" or guilty of major depravity. 
 
"It just didn`t relate to the experience that I`d had doing the production of Lear," he said. 
 
News Corporation is defending itself in the case, standing by the stories. 
 
The company`s lawyers have yet to make their arguments in court. 
 
Filed defence documents set out allegations Rush touched his co-star on the lower back while waiting in the wings and made groping gestures above her breasts during rehearsals. 
 
None of that detail was published in the vague, original news reports and Rush did not address it in his testimony, which continues. His lawyer had earlier said he denied all such behaviour. 
 
A spokeswoman for News Corporation in Australia declined to comment. 
 
Rush`s lawyer, Bruce McClintock, said the newspaper articles were written by a journalist desperate to find an Australian angle on the accusations levelled at U.S. film producer Harvey Weinstein, which gave rise to the #MeToo movement. 
 
Hundreds of women have since accused powerful men of sexual harassment and abuse. 
 
Rush won the Best Actor Oscar in 1997 for "Shine" and has since appeared in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. 
 
Since the publication of the articles, he has seen his annual income tumble from millions of dollars to thousands, McClintock said. 
 
"This newspaper ... destroyed my client`s reputation," McClintock said. "We are talking a very substantial claim for loss of income." 
 
Australian courts have previously imposed relatively modest caps on defamation payouts, however, Rush is seeking "special damages", a type of payout that is not capped. 
It is not clear how large a sum he could claim if he wins the case. 
 
Actor Rebel Wilson was able to secure a record payment of A$4.56 million ($3.25 million) in an unrelated defamation lawsuit in February, though that was overturned in June. 
Rush has voluntarily stepped down as president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television until the matter is resolved, while Australian show business figures have come to his defence, including fellow Australian actor Rachel Griffiths.

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush said on Monday he was distraught when he read newspaper articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct, as a court began a hearing into his lawsuit against the publisher.

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush said on Monday he was distraught when he read newspaper articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct, as a court began a hearing into his lawsuit against the publisher. In the first such case in Australia of the #MeToo era, Rush is suing News`s Corporation`s Australian arm over a series of articles saying he was the subject of a complaint to the Sydney Theatre Company in relation to its 2015 production of King Lear. Under the headline 'King Leer,' and in later articles, Sydney`s Daily Telegraph newspaper said the Oscar-winning actor, who played the starring role in the production, had been accused by a co-star of unspecified inappropriate conduct. "It was devastating," Rush, dressed in a navy suit, told the Federal Court in Sydney, where the hearing began after several months of pre-trial arguments. "I felt as though someone had poured lead into my head, I went into a kind of - this can`t be happening - I was numb," he said, adding he felt the stories implied he was a "major pervert" or guilty of major depravity. "It just didn`t relate to the experience that I`d had doing the production of Lear," he said. News Corporation is defending itself in the case, standing by the stories. The company`s lawyers have yet to make their arguments in court. Filed defence documents set out allegations Rush touched his co-star on the lower back while waiting in the wings and made groping gestures above her breasts during rehearsals. None of that detail was published in the vague, original news reports and Rush did not address it in his testimony, which continues. His lawyer had earlier said he denied all such behaviour. A spokeswoman for News Corporation in Australia declined to comment. Rush`s lawyer, Bruce McClintock, said the newspaper articles were written by a journalist desperate to find an Australian angle on the accusations levelled at U.S. film producer Harvey Weinstein, which gave rise to the #MeToo movement. Hundreds of women have since accused powerful men of sexual harassment and abuse. Rush won the Best Actor Oscar in 1997 for "Shine" and has since appeared in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Since the publication of the articles, he has seen his annual income tumble from millions of dollars to thousands, McClintock said. "This newspaper ... destroyed my client`s reputation," McClintock said. "We are talking a very substantial claim for loss of income." Australian courts have previously imposed relatively modest caps on defamation payouts, however, Rush is seeking "special damages", a type of payout that is not capped. It is not clear how large a sum he could claim if he wins the case. Actor Rebel Wilson was able to secure a record payment of A$4.56 million ($3.25 million) in an unrelated defamation lawsuit in February, though that was overturned in June. Rush has voluntarily stepped down as president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television until the matter is resolved, while Australian show business figures have come to his defence, including fellow Australian actor Rachel Griffiths.

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush distraught when he read newspaper articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct

Chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animations Studios, Johan Lasseter,60,&nbsp;is officially taking a &quot;six-month-long&quot;&nbsp;leave following accusations of misconduct, reports said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Hollywood Reporter&nbsp;accused the Pixar co-founder of&nbsp; &quot;grabbing, kissing, and making comments about physical attributes.&quot;

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lasseter released an internal statement addressed to all the employees stating that he recently had &quot;a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for him.&quot;&nbsp;

He further wrote that: &quot;It&#39;s never easy to face your missteps, but it&#39;s the only way to learn from them. As a result, I&#39;ve been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate, and champion I want to be. It&#39;s been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent,&quot;&nbsp;

Lassner also apologized to his peers, &quot;especially to those who had been ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign his intent was, everyone had the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected,&quot;&nbsp;he wrote in the statement.&nbsp;

He finally concluded the statement saying: &quot;As hard as it is for me to step away from a job I am so passionate about and a team I hold in the highest regard, not just as artists but as people, I know it&#39;s the best thing for all of us right now,&quot; he wrote. &quot;My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve.&quot;

Lasseter is one of the co-founders of Pixar and has given a boost to Disney&rsquo;s animation resurrection since 2006 releasing hits like &#39;Frozen&#39;, &#39;Toy Story&#39; and &#39;Coco&#39; - which releases on Thursday.&nbsp;

That same day, The Hollywood Reporter reported accusations against Pixar co-founder for 'grabbing, kissing, and making comments about physical attributes.'

Chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animations Studios, Johan Lasseter,60, is officially taking a "six-month-long" leave following accusations of misconduct, reports said on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter accused the Pixar co-founder of "grabbing, kissing, and making comments about physical attributes." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lasseter released an internal statement addressed to all the employees stating that he recently had "a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for him." He further wrote that: "It's never easy to face your missteps, but it's the only way to learn from them. As a result, I've been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate, and champion I want to be. It's been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent," Lassner also apologized to his peers, "especially to those who had been ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign his intent was, everyone had the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected," he wrote in the statement. He finally concluded the statement saying: "As hard as it is for me to step away from a job I am so passionate about and a team I hold in the highest regard, not just as artists but as people, I know it's the best thing for all of us right now," he wrote. "My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve." Lasseter is one of the co-founders of Pixar and has given a boost to Disney’s animation resurrection since 2006 releasing hits like 'Frozen', 'Toy Story' and 'Coco' - which releases on Thursday.

Pixar's John Lasseter takes leave of absence over misconduct allegations

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