R&amp;B singer R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing women, girls and boys, almost 20 years after first facing allegations. The 55-year-old was found guilty on all nine charges he faced, and the punishment was announced by Judge Ann Donnelly in the Brooklyn federal court.

"The verdict is in: R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years," the US attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a tweet. The prosecutors asked for at least 25 years in prison for the disgraced singer as they believed that he "poses a serious danger to the public."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/salah-abdeslam-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole-for-role-in-2015-paris-attacks-493107">Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam sentenced to life in prison without parole</a>

"His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. He has shown no remorse or respect for the law," prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo according to AFP.

Kelly is also facing another trial in Chicago which will be starting from August 15. In that case, Kelly and two of his associates were accused of rigging his 2008 pornography trial and also perjury.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-first-country-other-than-russia-to-recognise-ukraine-separatist-republics-of-donetsk-and-lugansk-493080">Syria recognises Ukraine separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk</a>

During the course of the trial, a total of 45 witnesses – 11 being alleged victims of Kelly – appeared in front of the court and he was even found guilty of racketeering – the worst of the charges.

The biggest aspect of the R Kelly trial was his controversial relationship with late singer Aaliyah whom he illegally married when she was just 15 years old. AFP reported that his former manager admitted to bribing officials in order to get fake identification for Aaliyah in order to complete the marriage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/rb-superstar-r-kellys-notorious-history-of-sex-allegations-and-convictions-492880" hreflang="en">R&amp;B superstar R. Kelly's notorious history of sex allegations and convictions</a>

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R&B singer R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing women, girls and boys, almost 20 years after first facing allegations. The 55-year-old was found guilty on all nine charges he faced, and the punishment was announced by Judge Ann Donnelly in the Brooklyn federal court.

R&B singer R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing women, girls and boys, almost 20 years after first facing allegations. The 55-year-old was found guilty on all nine charges he faced, and the punishment was announced by Judge Ann Donnelly in the Brooklyn federal court. "The verdict is in: R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years," the US attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a tweet. The prosecutors asked for at least 25 years in prison for the disgraced singer as they believed that he "poses a serious danger to the public." Also read | Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam sentenced to life in prison without parole "His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. He has shown no remorse or respect for the law," prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo according to AFP. Kelly is also facing another trial in Chicago which will be starting from August 15. In that case, Kelly and two of his associates were accused of rigging his 2008 pornography trial and also perjury. Also read | Syria recognises Ukraine separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk During the course of the trial, a total of 45 witnesses – 11 being alleged victims of Kelly – appeared in front of the court and he was even found guilty of racketeering – the worst of the charges. The biggest aspect of the R Kelly trial was his controversial relationship with late singer Aaliyah whom he illegally married when she was just 15 years old. AFP reported that his former manager admitted to bribing officials in order to get fake identification for Aaliyah in order to complete the marriage. R&B superstar R. Kelly's notorious history of sex allegations and convictions WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Singer R Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison on sexual abuse charges

Ghislaine Maxwell was handed a 20-year prison sentence by a court in New York on Tuesday. The court found her guilty of helping her then-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein in sexually abusing minor girls.

Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison over sex trafficking

A Chinese court has sentenced a man to 18 years in jail for sexually assaulting a female employee of Alibaba Group during a work trip.

The court found Zhang Guo, a client of the Chinese e-commerce platform, guilty of intoxicating the woman, whose surname is Zhou, with alcohol and then forcing himself on her during a business dinner in July 2021.

Jinan Huaiyin District People's Court found him "guilty of forcible indecency, sexually assaulting the victim against her will while she was drunk", state media outlet the Global Times reported.

He first committed the crime at a restaurant and again the next day in the woman’s hotel room.

According to reports, the woman was later fired by Alibaba after she made her allegations public.

Guo, who has been in custody for nearly a year, has about eight months left to serve of his sentence.

The verdict is significant considering that the majority of sexual assault cases do not make it to court in China, with the conviction rate being dismal.

Though many expressed sympathies for the victim, there was also equal amount of criticism against her on social media for getting drunk. There was condemnation, too, of the country's office drinking culture and Alibaba's handling of the case.

The woman first made her ordeal public by sharing an 11-page document accounting the incident. She alleged that her manager raped her in a hotel room while she was unconscious after a "drunken night" last summer.

The incident triggered rage on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, with many demanding action against the Alibaba Group.

The public backlash forced Alibaba to fire her co-worker, while the two executives who failed to act on the allegation also resigned.

A memo was issued saying Alibaba was "staunchly opposed to forced drinking culture".

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Chinese court has sentenced a man to 18 years in jail for sexually assaulting a female employee of Alibaba Group during a work trip. The court found Zhang Guo, a client of the Chinese e-commerce platform, guilty of intoxicating the woman, whose surname is Zhou, with alcohol and then forcing himself on her during a business dinner in July 2021.

A Chinese court has sentenced a man to 18 years in jail for sexually assaulting a female employee of Alibaba Group during a work trip. The court found Zhang Guo, a client of the Chinese e-commerce platform, guilty of intoxicating the woman, whose surname is Zhou, with alcohol and then forcing himself on her during a business dinner in July 2021. Jinan Huaiyin District People's Court found him "guilty of forcible indecency, sexually assaulting the victim against her will while she was drunk", state media outlet the Global Times reported. He first committed the crime at a restaurant and again the next day in the woman’s hotel room. According to reports, the woman was later fired by Alibaba after she made her allegations public. Guo, who has been in custody for nearly a year, has about eight months left to serve of his sentence. The verdict is significant considering that the majority of sexual assault cases do not make it to court in China, with the conviction rate being dismal. Though many expressed sympathies for the victim, there was also equal amount of criticism against her on social media for getting drunk. There was condemnation, too, of the country's office drinking culture and Alibaba's handling of the case. The woman first made her ordeal public by sharing an 11-page document accounting the incident. She alleged that her manager raped her in a hotel room while she was unconscious after a "drunken night" last summer. The incident triggered rage on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, with many demanding action against the Alibaba Group. The public backlash forced Alibaba to fire her co-worker, while the two executives who failed to act on the allegation also resigned. A memo was issued saying Alibaba was "staunchly opposed to forced drinking culture". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chinese man who sexually assaulted Alibaba employee sentenced to 18 years in jail

At least 600 young people were documented as having been abused by Catholic priests in the German diocese of Muenster, but the actual number of victims could be 10 times higher, a report published Monday said.

The diocese has official records on 610 abuse victims, according to the report by the University of Muenster—around a third more than indicated by a previous study from 2018.

However, historian Natalie Powroznik, who was involved in the study, said the true number of victims could be much higher, with "about 5,000 to 6,000 affected girls and boys" in the diocese.

At least 5,700 individual acts of sexual abuse have been committed by a total of 196 clergymen, including 183 priests, according to the report.

Five percent of the clergymen involved were found to be serial offenders who had victimised more than ten people, and less than ten percent had faced any legal consequences.

At the peak of the abuse during the 1960s and 1970s, there were on average two cases per week in the diocese, the report said.

Three in four victims were boys, the majority between 10 and 14 years old, with many of the acts committed against altar boys or at children's and youth camps.

The study reported considerable psychological consequences for the victims reaching into adulthood, including depression and suicidal thoughts, with indications of attempted suicide in 27 cases.

Widespread abuse

The bishop of Muenster, Felix Genn, is due to comment in detail on the study on Friday.

The authors accuse Genn, who has been the bishop of Muenster since 2009, of failing to take action against abusers.

In an initial response on Monday, Genn said he would "naturally accept responsibility for the mistakes I myself made in dealing with sexual abuse".

Germany's Catholic Church has been rocked by a string of reports in recent years that have exposed widespread abuse of children by clergymen.

A study commissioned by the German Bishops' Conference in 2018 concluded that 1,670 clergymen in the country had committed some form of sexual attack against 3,677 minors between 1946 and 2014.

However, the real number of victims is thought to be much higher.

In January, a report into the diocese of Munich and Freising found indications of sexually abusive behaviour in 235 people it investigated, including 173 priests, while there were at least 497 victims.

The report also found former pope Benedict XVI had knowingly failed to take action to stop four priests accused of child sex abuse in in the 1980s, when he was the archbishop of Munich.

Another report published last year exposed the scope of abuse committed by priests in Germany's top diocese of Cologne.

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At least 600 young people were documented as having been abused by Catholic priests in the German diocese of Muenster, but the actual number of victims could be 10 times higher, a report published Monday said.

At least 600 young people were documented as having been abused by Catholic priests in the German diocese of Muenster, but the actual number of victims could be 10 times higher, a report published Monday said. The diocese has official records on 610 abuse victims, according to the report by the University of Muenster—around a third more than indicated by a previous study from 2018. However, historian Natalie Powroznik, who was involved in the study, said the true number of victims could be much higher, with "about 5,000 to 6,000 affected girls and boys" in the diocese. At least 5,700 individual acts of sexual abuse have been committed by a total of 196 clergymen, including 183 priests, according to the report. Five percent of the clergymen involved were found to be serial offenders who had victimised more than ten people, and less than ten percent had faced any legal consequences. At the peak of the abuse during the 1960s and 1970s, there were on average two cases per week in the diocese, the report said. Three in four victims were boys, the majority between 10 and 14 years old, with many of the acts committed against altar boys or at children's and youth camps. The study reported considerable psychological consequences for the victims reaching into adulthood, including depression and suicidal thoughts, with indications of attempted suicide in 27 cases. Widespread abuse The bishop of Muenster, Felix Genn, is due to comment in detail on the study on Friday. The authors accuse Genn, who has been the bishop of Muenster since 2009, of failing to take action against abusers. In an initial response on Monday, Genn said he would "naturally accept responsibility for the mistakes I myself made in dealing with sexual abuse". Germany's Catholic Church has been rocked by a string of reports in recent years that have exposed widespread abuse of children by clergymen. A study commissioned by the German Bishops' Conference in 2018 concluded that 1,670 clergymen in the country had committed some form of sexual attack against 3,677 minors between 1946 and 2014. However, the real number of victims is thought to be much higher. In January, a report into the diocese of Munich and Freising found indications of sexually abusive behaviour in 235 people it investigated, including 173 priests, while there were at least 497 victims. The report also found former pope Benedict XVI had knowingly failed to take action to stop four priests accused of child sex abuse in in the 1980s, when he was the archbishop of Munich. Another report published last year exposed the scope of abuse committed by priests in Germany's top diocese of Cologne. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

5,700 acts of sexual abuse committed by German Catholic priests: Report

A woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1970s began her court testimony on Monday, describing how she and a friend met the comedian as teenagers and accompanied him to the famed Playboy Mansion. 
 
Judy Huth, who has filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby for unspecified damages, told jurors she was playing frisbee at a public park on a weekday when she noticed a movie filming nearby. She and a friend, Donna Samuelson, walked closer and recognized Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier and other actors. 
 
Cosby approached the girls and they "bantered," she said, before he invited them to meet him the following Saturday at a tennis club. She and Samuelson were "excited," she said. 
 
"We were kids. It was a celebrity. It was out of the norm, that`s for sure," she said. 
 
Huth said she and Samuelson met Cosby at the tennis club, then followed him by car to his home, played a few games of pool and followed him to another location. Huth realized it was the Playboy Mansion when Cosby pointed out a picture of Hugh Hefner on the wall. 
 
Huth, 64, is set to continue her testimony on Tuesday. 
 
In her lawsuit, Huth said Cosby forced her to perform a sex act while she was at the mansion. She previously said the incident occurred in 1974, when she was 15, but recently said she now believes it was 1975. 
 
The civil trial in California, one of the last legal cases against Cosby, is taking place 11 months after Cosby was freed from prison when Pennsylvania`s highest court threw out his sexual assault conviction in a different case. 
 
Cosby`s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean said in opening statements that the alleged assault of Huth was a "fabrication," though Cosby did not dispute that he invited Huth and her friend to the mansion. 
 
"The evidence is going to show that Ms Huth is not telling the truth," she said. 
 
Huth's friend, Samuelson, recounted her recollection of events earlier Monday. Bonjean challenged her account of the mansion visit, noting that Samuelson had recalled playing a Donkey Kong arcade game, which was not introduced until 1981. 
 
Cosby, 84, is not expected to attend the trial. 
 
The comedian and actor is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show," earning him the nickname "America`s Dad." 
 
But his family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults over nearly five decades. 
 
In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, an employee at Temple University in Philadelphia, in his home in 2004. 
 
Pennsylvania`s Supreme Court overturned Cosby`s conviction in June 2021, after Cosby had served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence. 
 
The court said Cosby should not have faced the charges because a previous district attorney had publicly promised in 2005 not to prosecute him. In March, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review that decision. 
&nbsp;

A woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1970s began her court testimony on Monday, describing how she and a friend met the comedian as teenagers and accompanied him to the famed Playboy Mansion.

A woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1970s began her court testimony on Monday, describing how she and a friend met the comedian as teenagers and accompanied him to the famed Playboy Mansion. Judy Huth, who has filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby for unspecified damages, told jurors she was playing frisbee at a public park on a weekday when she noticed a movie filming nearby. She and a friend, Donna Samuelson, walked closer and recognized Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier and other actors. Cosby approached the girls and they "bantered," she said, before he invited them to meet him the following Saturday at a tennis club. She and Samuelson were "excited," she said. "We were kids. It was a celebrity. It was out of the norm, that`s for sure," she said. Huth said she and Samuelson met Cosby at the tennis club, then followed him by car to his home, played a few games of pool and followed him to another location. Huth realized it was the Playboy Mansion when Cosby pointed out a picture of Hugh Hefner on the wall. Huth, 64, is set to continue her testimony on Tuesday. In her lawsuit, Huth said Cosby forced her to perform a sex act while she was at the mansion. She previously said the incident occurred in 1974, when she was 15, but recently said she now believes it was 1975. The civil trial in California, one of the last legal cases against Cosby, is taking place 11 months after Cosby was freed from prison when Pennsylvania`s highest court threw out his sexual assault conviction in a different case. Cosby`s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean said in opening statements that the alleged assault of Huth was a "fabrication," though Cosby did not dispute that he invited Huth and her friend to the mansion. "The evidence is going to show that Ms Huth is not telling the truth," she said. Huth's friend, Samuelson, recounted her recollection of events earlier Monday. Bonjean challenged her account of the mansion visit, noting that Samuelson had recalled playing a Donkey Kong arcade game, which was not introduced until 1981. Cosby, 84, is not expected to attend the trial. The comedian and actor is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show," earning him the nickname "America`s Dad." But his family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults over nearly five decades. In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, an employee at Temple University in Philadelphia, in his home in 2004. Pennsylvania`s Supreme Court overturned Cosby`s conviction in June 2021, after Cosby had served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence. The court said Cosby should not have faced the charges because a previous district attorney had publicly promised in 2005 not to prosecute him. In March, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review that decision.

Bill Cosby accuser describes going to Playboy Mansion with the comedian

Kubbra Sait, of 'Sacred Games’ fame, will be launching her memoir titled, ‘Open Book: Not quite a Memoir’ in which she discloses that she was a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager. The actor opened up about being abused as a child and how, in order to save her family from being 'destroyed’, she had to endure it.&nbsp;

In her book, she claimed that it took her many years to tell her mother about how she had been molested 'under her nose' in her house. Kubbra also said her mother recently apologised to her, decades after the abuse. She says she was abused by her uncle for two-and-a-half years, whom she named ‘X’ in her book.&nbsp;

Kubbra, talking about her distressing experience in the book, claimed that she was just 17 years old when she was embroiled in the ‘greatest tragedy’ known to her. She recalls going to a Bangalore restaurant with her family regularly, when the owner became friendly with both her and her brother, Danish. The man even helped her mother with her finances. The man began sexually abusing Kubbra shortly after this and requested her to not refer to him as her uncle.

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"When Mumma sighed at the reprieve that cash provided, I sighed too. Just then, a hand slid to the back seat of the car where I was sitting and slid up my dress. X, who was no longer my uncle, smiled as he rubbed my thigh. I was numb in that moment… He started frequenting our home, and Mumma would laugh with and cook for him. In front of her, he would kiss my cheek and say, ‘Oh my Kubrati, you’re my favourite little one’. Although uncomfortable, I kept quiet," an excerpt from Kubbra’s book read.

Giving more details of the incident, she wrote that the abuser was married and had a child, and in the curse of the sexual assault, he became a father for the second time. She wrote that if Kubbra resisted him, he would stop taking her mother's calls. According to Kubbra, her mother was completely unaware of anything that was going on between X and her daughter and would chastise the actor for allegedly fighting with X when he refused to assist the family. Kubbra further claimed that she was being sexually molested and that no one in her immediate vicinity 'could even tell.'

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The actor revealed how it all started when she was taken to a hotel by X. Before kissing her on the lips, he stroked her face. She was numb, confused and perplexed, she added.

Claiming that X threatened her, saying ‘it would destroy us’ if she ever told them about the sexual assault, the actor stated that she believed what he said and added that if she had to deal with a similar thing now, she would have done it differently. Her mind and soul ‘felt dead’ at that time.&nbsp;

Kubbra Sait’s last appearances were in ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’, ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare’, both in 2020. She rose to fame with her portrayal of Kuku in the hit Netflix web series 'Sacred Games' in which she plays the role of a transgender woman.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Kubbra Sait, of 'Sacred Games’ fame, will be launching her memoir titled, ‘Open Book: Not quite a Memoir’ in which she discloses that she was a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager.

Kubbra Sait, of 'Sacred Games’ fame, will be launching her memoir titled, ‘Open Book: Not quite a Memoir’ in which she discloses that she was a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager. The actor opened up about being abused as a child and how, in order to save her family from being 'destroyed’, she had to endure it. In her book, she claimed that it took her many years to tell her mother about how she had been molested 'under her nose' in her house. Kubbra also said her mother recently apologised to her, decades after the abuse. She says she was abused by her uncle for two-and-a-half years, whom she named ‘X’ in her book. Kubbra, talking about her distressing experience in the book, claimed that she was just 17 years old when she was embroiled in the ‘greatest tragedy’ known to her. She recalls going to a Bangalore restaurant with her family regularly, when the owner became friendly with both her and her brother, Danish. The man even helped her mother with her finances. The man began sexually abusing Kubbra shortly after this and requested her to not refer to him as her uncle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kubbra Sait (@kubbrasait) × Also Read: POTUS Joe Biden plays 'Butter' to make BTS 'feel at home' during their White House visit "When Mumma sighed at the reprieve that cash provided, I sighed too. Just then, a hand slid to the back seat of the car where I was sitting and slid up my dress. X, who was no longer my uncle, smiled as he rubbed my thigh. I was numb in that moment… He started frequenting our home, and Mumma would laugh with and cook for him. In front of her, he would kiss my cheek and say, ‘Oh my Kubrati, you’re my favourite little one’. Although uncomfortable, I kept quiet," an excerpt from Kubbra’s book read. Giving more details of the incident, she wrote that the abuser was married and had a child, and in the curse of the sexual assault, he became a father for the second time. She wrote that if Kubbra resisted him, he would stop taking her mother's calls. According to Kubbra, her mother was completely unaware of anything that was going on between X and her daughter and would chastise the actor for allegedly fighting with X when he refused to assist the family. Kubbra further claimed that she was being sexually molested and that no one in her immediate vicinity 'could even tell.' Also Read: Did Charlie Puth just confirm a collab with BTS? The actor revealed how it all started when she was taken to a hotel by X. Before kissing her on the lips, he stroked her face. She was numb, confused and perplexed, she added. Claiming that X threatened her, saying ‘it would destroy us’ if she ever told them about the sexual assault, the actor stated that she believed what he said and added that if she had to deal with a similar thing now, she would have done it differently. Her mind and soul ‘felt dead’ at that time. Kubbra Sait’s last appearances were in ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’, ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare’, both in 2020. She rose to fame with her portrayal of Kuku in the hit Netflix web series 'Sacred Games' in which she plays the role of a transgender woman.

'Sacred Games' star Kubbra Sait alleges sexual abuse by family friend as a teen

Leader of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World) church Naason Joaquin Garcia has pleaded guilty to allegations of child sexual abuse days before he is due to stand trial. The Light of the World is a huge church and has millions of members worldwide

Garcia has pleaded guilty to assault on young church members around Los Angeles for number of years.

"As the leader of La Luz del Mundo, Naason Joaquin Garcia used his power to take advantage of children," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

"He relied on those around him to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault."

According to prosecutors, Garcia (53) exploited his position and forced underage girls to commit sexual acts.

During the course of the investigation they alleged Garcia and his co-defendants had told victims that refusing to comply with his wishes would be acting against God.

Garcia had faced a raft of charges relating to alleged wrongdoing up to his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport in 2019.

The preacher, who was charged alongside two other church members, had been due to stand trial, starting on Monday.

But his guilty pleas to three counts mean he will now be sentenced next week, and is expected to face several years' jail.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Leader of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World) church Naason Joaquin Garcia has pleaded guilty to allegations of child sexual abuse days before he is due to stand trial.

Leader of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World) church Naason Joaquin Garcia has pleaded guilty to allegations of child sexual abuse days before he is due to stand trial. The Light of the World is a huge church and has millions of members worldwide Garcia has pleaded guilty to assault on young church members around Los Angeles for number of years. "As the leader of La Luz del Mundo, Naason Joaquin Garcia used his power to take advantage of children," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. "He relied on those around him to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault." According to prosecutors, Garcia (53) exploited his position and forced underage girls to commit sexual acts. During the course of the investigation they alleged Garcia and his co-defendants had told victims that refusing to comply with his wishes would be acting against God. Garcia had faced a raft of charges relating to alleged wrongdoing up to his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport in 2019. The preacher, who was charged alongside two other church members, had been due to stand trial, starting on Monday. But his guilty pleas to three counts mean he will now be sentenced next week, and is expected to face several years' jail. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Head of Mexican megachurch admits sexual abuse of children in US

The leader of one of&nbsp;Thailand's biggest political parties apologised on Tuesday over the conduct of a former executive accused by more than a dozen women of sexual abuse in what some activists have called the country's first "MeToo" moment.

Prinn Panitchpakdi, 44, resigned as deputy leader of the Democrat Party last week and was charged on Saturday with sexual abuse and rape after complaints were filed against him by five women separately.

Prinn, the son of former World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Supachai Panitchpakdi, has denied the charges and was freed on bail on Sunday.

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Nine more women have since come forward with similar allegations against Prinn, according to police. Prinn has made no public comment since the new allegations were made and said he was unavailable when contacted by Reuters on Tuesday.

Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit, a close associate of Prinn, on Tuesday apologised over the scandal and acknowledged his role in endorsing him as a senior party member.

"I'm deeply sorry and must apologise for everything that has happened that was linked to a Democrat Party member," Jurin told a news conference, without elaborating.

"As a party leader, I must acknowledge that I was a key part in an effort to bring Prinn into the party."

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The hashtag #MeToo has trended on social media in&nbsp;Thailand since last week, with users expressing outrage over the scope of the alleged misconduct and a perception of impunity for the political elite.

Jurin, who is commerce minister and deputy prime minister in the ruling coalition, said his party stands against sexual harassment and violence against children and women.

He also resigned as chairman of two government committees on gender equality and women's policies, and said the Democrat Party would conduct its own internal investigation.

"We will not step in to protect Prinn, nor intervene in the justice process," he said.

Trairong Piwpan, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed to Reuters that 14 victims had so far come forward with allegations against Prinn, nine of whom met on Monday with police, who were considering the cases.

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According to Sittra Biabungkerd of the People's Lawyers Foundation, a legal assistance group representing the victims, all were between 17 and 30 at the time of the alleged offences, some of which were more than a decade ago, and five have said they were raped.

"There are many others who are still afraid to come forward," Sittra told Reuters.

The leader of one of Thailand's biggest political parties apologised on Tuesday over the conduct of a former executive accused by more than a dozen women of sexual abuse in what some activists have called the country's first "MeToo" moment.

The leader of one of Thailand's biggest political parties apologised on Tuesday over the conduct of a former executive accused by more than a dozen women of sexual abuse in what some activists have called the country's first "MeToo" moment. Prinn Panitchpakdi, 44, resigned as deputy leader of the Democrat Party last week and was charged on Saturday with sexual abuse and rape after complaints were filed against him by five women separately. Prinn, the son of former World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Supachai Panitchpakdi, has denied the charges and was freed on bail on Sunday. Also read | Vietnamese man tries to row from Thailand to India to see wife Nine more women have since come forward with similar allegations against Prinn, according to police. Prinn has made no public comment since the new allegations were made and said he was unavailable when contacted by Reuters on Tuesday. Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit, a close associate of Prinn, on Tuesday apologised over the scandal and acknowledged his role in endorsing him as a senior party member. "I'm deeply sorry and must apologise for everything that has happened that was linked to a Democrat Party member," Jurin told a news conference, without elaborating. "As a party leader, I must acknowledge that I was a key part in an effort to bring Prinn into the party." Watch | Thailand's prime minister visits Saudi Arabia, calls it a 'new journey The hashtag #MeToo has trended on social media in Thailand since last week, with users expressing outrage over the scope of the alleged misconduct and a perception of impunity for the political elite. Jurin, who is commerce minister and deputy prime minister in the ruling coalition, said his party stands against sexual harassment and violence against children and women. He also resigned as chairman of two government committees on gender equality and women's policies, and said the Democrat Party would conduct its own internal investigation. "We will not step in to protect Prinn, nor intervene in the justice process," he said. Trairong Piwpan, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed to Reuters that 14 victims had so far come forward with allegations against Prinn, nine of whom met on Monday with police, who were considering the cases. Also read | Thailand drops pre-arrival COVID-19 test for foreign visitors According to Sittra Biabungkerd of the People's Lawyers Foundation, a legal assistance group representing the victims, all were between 17 and 30 at the time of the alleged offences, some of which were more than a decade ago, and five have said they were raped. "There are many others who are still afraid to come forward," Sittra told Reuters.

Thailand party apologises as sexual misconduct cases mount against executive

In pics: Thousands of protesters gather to call for help of Ukraine in US

An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a teacher to death for raping 13 girls at an Islamic school, upholding the prosecutor’s plea for death penalty.

The case of Herry Wirawan has stunned Indonesia and has drawn attention to the need to protect children from sexual violence in religious boarding schools.

Wirawan was initially sentenced to life in prison. However, the prosecutor who had requested the death penalty filed an appeal after Wirawan was sentenced to life in prison by court in Bandung in February.

The judge in a statement on Monday said that&nbsp;the defendant will now be&nbsp;punished with the death penalty. Herry’s lawyer, Ira Mambo, declined to comment on whether an appeal would be filed, citing the need to see the full court judgement.

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During the&nbsp;February trial, it was revealed that Herry sexually abused 13 girls between the years 2016 and 2021, his victims were between the ages of 12 to 16 and eight of them fell pregnant following the rape.

The uncle of one of Herry's victims, Hidmat Dijaya said that "we initially wanted punishments of life in prison and chemical castration so that he would feel the pain from his crime", but that they feel "the death sentence represents justice."

The rape case in Bandung has also brought attention to the issue of sexual abuse in Indonesian schools, with 14 of the 18 incidents reported to the Child Protection Commission last year occurring in Islamic boarding schools.

Officials in Indonesia, including the country’s child protection minister, have backed calls for the death sentence, despite the fact that the country’s human rights commission thinks the declared death penalty is not appropriate.

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Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim majority country, includes tens of thousands of Islamic boarding schools and some other religious schools, which are often the only way for children from poor families to get&nbsp;educated.

(With inputs from agencies)

An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a teacher to death for raping 13 girls at an Islamic school, upholding the prosecutor’s plea for death penalty. The case of Herry Wirawan has stunned Indonesia and has drawn attention to the need to protect children from sexual violence in religious boarding schools.

An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a teacher to death for raping 13 girls at an Islamic school, upholding the prosecutor’s plea for death penalty. The case of Herry Wirawan has stunned Indonesia and has drawn attention to the need to protect children from sexual violence in religious boarding schools. Wirawan was initially sentenced to life in prison. However, the prosecutor who had requested the death penalty filed an appeal after Wirawan was sentenced to life in prison by court in Bandung in February. The judge in a statement on Monday said that the defendant will now be punished with the death penalty. Herry’s lawyer, Ira Mambo, declined to comment on whether an appeal would be filed, citing the need to see the full court judgement. Also read | Indonesia greets Ramadan with mass prayer as Covid curbs ease During the February trial, it was revealed that Herry sexually abused 13 girls between the years 2016 and 2021, his victims were between the ages of 12 to 16 and eight of them fell pregnant following the rape. The uncle of one of Herry's victims, Hidmat Dijaya said that "we initially wanted punishments of life in prison and chemical castration so that he would feel the pain from his crime", but that they feel "the death sentence represents justice." The rape case in Bandung has also brought attention to the issue of sexual abuse in Indonesian schools, with 14 of the 18 incidents reported to the Child Protection Commission last year occurring in Islamic boarding schools. Officials in Indonesia, including the country’s child protection minister, have backed calls for the death sentence, despite the fact that the country’s human rights commission thinks the declared death penalty is not appropriate. Also read | A new hope? Rare Sumatran rhino born in captivity in Indonesia Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim majority country, includes tens of thousands of Islamic boarding schools and some other religious schools, which are often the only way for children from poor families to get educated. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian teacher condemned to death for raping 13 students

Police in Australia has confirmed on Tuesday that Gareth Ward (40), a state MP from Australia's New South Wales (NSW) has been charged with sexually abusing a man and a teenage boy.

Ward has been a former state minister.

According to the police, he has been charged with three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.

The crimes were committed between 2013 and 2015 with a 27-year-old man and a 17-year-old being the survivors of sexual assault, as per the charges.

"Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015," said New South Wale Police on their website.

The statement further said that Ward had been granted conditional bail and that he was due to appear in court on May 18, 2022.

Ward has denied the allegations.

"I will be instructing my lawyers to seek to bring this matter before the courts as quickly as possible and I look forward to demonstrating my innocence there," he said on Tuesday in a statement as quoted by theh Independent.

“While others have already attempted to prosecute my case in the media rather than the courts, out of respect for our system of justice I will not be doing the same."

“Accordingly, I will be making no further comment at this time.”

Police in Australia has confirmed on Tuesday that Gareth Ward (40), a state MP from Australia's New South Wales (NSW) has been charged with sexually abusing a man and a teenage boy.

Police in Australia has confirmed on Tuesday that Gareth Ward (40), a state MP from Australia's New South Wales (NSW) has been charged with sexually abusing a man and a teenage boy. Ward has been a former state minister. According to the police, he has been charged with three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault. The crimes were committed between 2013 and 2015 with a 27-year-old man and a 17-year-old being the survivors of sexual assault, as per the charges. "Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015," said New South Wale Police on their website. The statement further said that Ward had been granted conditional bail and that he was due to appear in court on May 18, 2022. Ward has denied the allegations. "I will be instructing my lawyers to seek to bring this matter before the courts as quickly as possible and I look forward to demonstrating my innocence there," he said on Tuesday in a statement as quoted by theh Independent. “While others have already attempted to prosecute my case in the media rather than the courts, out of respect for our system of justice I will not be doing the same." “Accordingly, I will be making no further comment at this time.”

Australia: Sexual abuse charges slapped against state MP Gareth Ward 

A UK watchdog has accused the government of not listening to the victims of the "sex for aid" scandal and failing to tackle abuse in the humanitarian sector.

The case pertains to a revelation that Oxfam employees sexually exploited victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, following which the British government in 2018 launched an initiative to tackle sexual exploitation in the aid sector.

The government held an international safeguarding summit to tackle the problem.

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (Icai) said the government failed to tackle the issue as it was adopting a "top-down" approach.

In the report, the agency said the government needed to listen to and learn from recipients of aid who remained reluctant to report abuse allegations.

"The UK has played an important role in galvanising international action on protecting people from sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian crises," The Guardian quoted Icai’s commissioner, Sir Hugh Bayley, as saying.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/oxfam-says-former-haiti-director-admitted-hiring-sex-workers-33343">Oxfam says former Haiti director admitted hiring sex workers</a>

But its top-down approach requires those delivering UK aid to spend more time reporting back to the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] than listening to the people they are seeking to protect and addressing their needs.

Their report found that abuse cases were still underreported.

Citing a survey done in Uganda, Icai said it found people were hesitant to report cases to agencies because of long investigation processes and concerns about corruption and not being believed.

Mechanisms for dealing with complaints were often overwhelmed because they dealt with a broad range of safeguarding issues beyond sexual exploitation, Icai added.

Stephanie Draper, chief executive of Bond, a network of charities and NGOs in the UK, told the Guardian that FCDO had "taken important steps" but progress was being held back by a lack of data "around incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and what works where and how to address and prevent it".

(With inputs from agencies)

A UK watchdog has accused the government of not listening to the victims of the "sex for aid" scandal and failing to tackle abuse in the humanitarian sector. The case pertains to a revelation that Oxfam employees sexually exploited victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, following which the British government in 2018 launched an initiative to tackle sexual exploitation in the aid sector.

A UK watchdog has accused the government of not listening to the victims of the "sex for aid" scandal and failing to tackle abuse in the humanitarian sector. The case pertains to a revelation that Oxfam employees sexually exploited victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, following which the British government in 2018 launched an initiative to tackle sexual exploitation in the aid sector. The government held an international safeguarding summit to tackle the problem. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (Icai) said the government failed to tackle the issue as it was adopting a "top-down" approach. In the report, the agency said the government needed to listen to and learn from recipients of aid who remained reluctant to report abuse allegations. "The UK has played an important role in galvanising international action on protecting people from sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian crises," The Guardian quoted Icai’s commissioner, Sir Hugh Bayley, as saying. Also read | Oxfam says former Haiti director admitted hiring sex workers But its top-down approach requires those delivering UK aid to spend more time reporting back to the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] than listening to the people they are seeking to protect and addressing their needs. Their report found that abuse cases were still underreported. Citing a survey done in Uganda, Icai said it found people were hesitant to report cases to agencies because of long investigation processes and concerns about corruption and not being believed. Mechanisms for dealing with complaints were often overwhelmed because they dealt with a broad range of safeguarding issues beyond sexual exploitation, Icai added. Stephanie Draper, chief executive of Bond, a network of charities and NGOs in the UK, told the Guardian that FCDO had "taken important steps" but progress was being held back by a lack of data "around incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and what works where and how to address and prevent it". (With inputs from agencies)

UK government failed to listen to victims of ‘sex for aid’ scandal, says watchdog

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools.

Herry Wirawan, 36, was found guilty of raping 13 female students -- all minors -- and impregnating at least eight of them by Bandung district court in West Java.

The revelations sparked national outrage, with a senior government official saying President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the case.

A family of a female student reported Wirawan to the police last year for raping and impregnating their teenage daughter. The pattern of sexual abuse committed by Wirawan soon emerged.

During the trial, it was revealed he had raped the children -- many from poor families attending the school on scholarships -- over five years.

Prosecutors requested chemical castration and the death penalty for the accused, who asked the judge for leniency to allow him to raise his children.&nbsp; 
Wirawan arrived in court in handcuffs and kept his head down as judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi sentenced him to life in prison.

The court said restitution for the victims will be paid by the government.

The chairman of Indonesia's Child Protection Commission said Tuesday's verdict meant "justice for the victims has been served".

'There will be more'

But a family member of one of the victims told AFP he was "very disappointed" that Wirawan did not receive a harsher sentence and warned that leniency would embolden other abusers.

"This wound will never be healed as long as we live, maybe until we die. The pain we are feeling is indescribable. We don't feel heard," said Hidmat Dijaya, an uncle of one of the 13 victims.

"If the sentence is lenient like this, there will be more Islamic teachers who will abuse children," he added.

"We will let God as the highest judge punish him. We can only pray because those judges failed to represent our hurt and pain."

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools.

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools. Herry Wirawan, 36, was found guilty of raping 13 female students -- all minors -- and impregnating at least eight of them by Bandung district court in West Java. The revelations sparked national outrage, with a senior government official saying President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the case. A family of a female student reported Wirawan to the police last year for raping and impregnating their teenage daughter. The pattern of sexual abuse committed by Wirawan soon emerged. During the trial, it was revealed he had raped the children -- many from poor families attending the school on scholarships -- over five years. Prosecutors requested chemical castration and the death penalty for the accused, who asked the judge for leniency to allow him to raise his children. Wirawan arrived in court in handcuffs and kept his head down as judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi sentenced him to life in prison. The court said restitution for the victims will be paid by the government. The chairman of Indonesia's Child Protection Commission said Tuesday's verdict meant "justice for the victims has been served". 'There will be more' But a family member of one of the victims told AFP he was "very disappointed" that Wirawan did not receive a harsher sentence and warned that leniency would embolden other abusers. "This wound will never be healed as long as we live, maybe until we die. The pain we are feeling is indescribable. We don't feel heard," said Hidmat Dijaya, an uncle of one of the 13 victims. "If the sentence is lenient like this, there will be more Islamic teachers who will abuse children," he added. "We will let God as the highest judge punish him. We can only pray because those judges failed to represent our hurt and pain." (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian teacher gets life in jail for raping 13 students

Three graduate students from Harvard University have sued the varsity, for allegedly failing to act against a “star” Anthropology professor who sexually abused female students for decades and “contributing” to the culture of abuse.

The plaintiffs—Margaret Czerwienski, Lilia Kilburn and Amulya Mandava—have alleged that John Comaroff, a professor of African and African American Studies and of Anthropology, "kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students’ careers if they complained,” according to the lawsuit.

The doctoral students, who have approached a federal court in Massachusetts, claimed that when students tried to report Comaroff to the varsity and warned the other faculty members about him, Harvard remained “indifferent”.

They claimed that Harvard administrators “brushed them aside and opted to protect its star professor over vulnerable students.”

“Harvard even allowed its investigatory process to be used in service of Professor Comaroff’s campaign of professional blacklisting,” the lawsuit reads.

The plaintiffs also said they are not alone in these experiences.

Comaroff was sent on unpaid leave last month after the university’s probe found that he breached sexual harassment and professional conduct policies, according to the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson.

But the complainants called these actions “inadequate” and are seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be decided by a jury trial, as well as attorney fees, according to the lawsuit.

Harvard University, however, refuted claims of inactions. In a statement to CNN, they said that the lawsuit is “in no way a fair or accurate representation of the thoughtful steps taken by the University.”

Meanwhile, attorneys for Comaroff, who is identified in the lawsuit but is not named as a defendant, said in a statement&nbsp;that he "categorically denies" ever harassing or retaliating against any student, CNN reported.

He also denied allegations that he kissed or inappropriately touched a student.

(With inputs from agencies)

Three graduate students from Harvard University have sued the varsity, for allegedly failing to act against a “star” Anthropology professor who sexually abused female students for decades and “contributing” to the culture of abuse.

Three graduate students from Harvard University have sued the varsity, for allegedly failing to act against a “star” Anthropology professor who sexually abused female students for decades and “contributing” to the culture of abuse. The plaintiffs—Margaret Czerwienski, Lilia Kilburn and Amulya Mandava—have alleged that John Comaroff, a professor of African and African American Studies and of Anthropology, "kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students’ careers if they complained,” according to the lawsuit. The doctoral students, who have approached a federal court in Massachusetts, claimed that when students tried to report Comaroff to the varsity and warned the other faculty members about him, Harvard remained “indifferent”. They claimed that Harvard administrators “brushed them aside and opted to protect its star professor over vulnerable students.” “Harvard even allowed its investigatory process to be used in service of Professor Comaroff’s campaign of professional blacklisting,” the lawsuit reads. The plaintiffs also said they are not alone in these experiences. Comaroff was sent on unpaid leave last month after the university’s probe found that he breached sexual harassment and professional conduct policies, according to the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. But the complainants called these actions “inadequate” and are seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be decided by a jury trial, as well as attorney fees, according to the lawsuit. Harvard University, however, refuted claims of inactions. In a statement to CNN, they said that the lawsuit is “in no way a fair or accurate representation of the thoughtful steps taken by the University.” Meanwhile, attorneys for Comaroff, who is identified in the lawsuit but is not named as a defendant, said in a statement that he "categorically denies" ever harassing or retaliating against any student, CNN reported. He also denied allegations that he kissed or inappropriately touched a student. (With inputs from agencies)

3 students sue Harvard for ignoring sexual abuse and retaliation by accused professor

Responding to a report that he had mishandled four cases involving the sexual abuse of minors while he was an archbishop in Germany decades ago, retired Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Tuesday that “abuses and errors” had taken place under his watch, and asked for forgiveness, although he denied any misconduct.

“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church,” Benedict said in a written response to the findings in the report commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church in Munich. “All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” he said in the response made public by the Vatican. “Each individual case of sexual abuse is appalling and irreparable.”

The report, and the accusations by investigators that Benedict had misled them, sent shocks through a Roman Catholic Church that has for a quarter century been devastated by revelations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The allegations related to Benedict’s time in Munich reached the very top of the church hierarchy, and they came not long after a separate report commissioned by the Vatican itself cast a shadow over Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, for failing to root out abusers in his church.

Benedict, whose backers point out that as pope he did much to throw abusers out of the church, has sought to put himself in a better light. But critics have found his answers more legalistic than pastoral and short of what many victims of abuse and their advocates long to hear from the former head of the church.

“He is repeating words of apology that have fallen on deaf ears for decades,” said Mike McDonnell, communications manager with Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a global association known as SNAP.

“True apologies are followed by true amends, and that is a concept that the church doesn’t seem able to grasp,” he said, adding that the letter issued Tuesday followed a pattern of abuse, institutional acknowledgement and lack of action that victims have long complained about.

On Tuesday, Benedict recalled again that he had met with dozens of abuse victims during his eight-year papacy and over many apostolic trips. He had, he said, “seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.”

Benedict, 94, also expressed indignation that the Munich law firm that conducted the investigation had accused him of being less than honest in his initial answers, which he had provided in 82 written pages.

The lawyers had presented evidence in a news conference that the pontiff had participated in a meeting about the transfer of an abusive priest to his diocese for therapy, though he had claimed not to have attended. The discrepancy, Benedict insisted in the new response, was an honest mistake that emerged from the editing process of his answer.

“To me it proved deeply hurtful that this oversight was used to cast doubt on my truthfulness, and even to label me a liar,” Benedict said.

That defensive tone also ran through an analysis accompanying the letter by four legal experts who had assisted the retired pope. They wrote that the report “contains no evidence for an allegation of misconduct or conspiracy in any cover-up” on the part of Benedict.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, an advocacy group for victims, said Benedict’s response — which she described as “boilerplate” — was a “deep disappointment and missed opportunity.”

Instead, Benedict “conceded nothing,” Doyle said in a statement, and did not take meaningful responsibility for the abuse and a cover-up. “The church is poorer for it,” she added.

The report was commissioned by the German archdiocese that investigated how the church had handled cases of sexual abuse between 1945 and 2019. Benedict, at the time Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982.

The report said at least 497 victims of abuse had been identified over the 74-year period it examined, and found that Benedict had mishandled four cases during his nearly five years as archbishop. Benedict’s legal experts said in their analysis that the investigators had not shown that Benedict knew of the criminal history of any of the four priests in question.

The investigators had previously expressed doubt about that assertion.

Days after the report was issued, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict’s personal secretary, admitted Benedict was at the meeting about moving the abusive priest. But Benedict has maintained he did not know why the priest was being transferred to his diocese, only that he needed therapy.

Responding to a report that he had mishandled four cases involving the sexual abuse of minors while he was an archbishop in Germany decades ago, retired Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Tuesday that “abuses and errors” had taken place under his watch, and asked for forgiveness, although he denied any misconduct.

Responding to a report that he had mishandled four cases involving the sexual abuse of minors while he was an archbishop in Germany decades ago, retired Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Tuesday that “abuses and errors” had taken place under his watch, and asked for forgiveness, although he denied any misconduct. “I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church,” Benedict said in a written response to the findings in the report commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church in Munich. “All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” he said in the response made public by the Vatican. “Each individual case of sexual abuse is appalling and irreparable.” The report, and the accusations by investigators that Benedict had misled them, sent shocks through a Roman Catholic Church that has for a quarter century been devastated by revelations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The allegations related to Benedict’s time in Munich reached the very top of the church hierarchy, and they came not long after a separate report commissioned by the Vatican itself cast a shadow over Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, for failing to root out abusers in his church. Benedict, whose backers point out that as pope he did much to throw abusers out of the church, has sought to put himself in a better light. But critics have found his answers more legalistic than pastoral and short of what many victims of abuse and their advocates long to hear from the former head of the church. “He is repeating words of apology that have fallen on deaf ears for decades,” said Mike McDonnell, communications manager with Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a global association known as SNAP. “True apologies are followed by true amends, and that is a concept that the church doesn’t seem able to grasp,” he said, adding that the letter issued Tuesday followed a pattern of abuse, institutional acknowledgement and lack of action that victims have long complained about. On Tuesday, Benedict recalled again that he had met with dozens of abuse victims during his eight-year papacy and over many apostolic trips. He had, he said, “seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.” Benedict, 94, also expressed indignation that the Munich law firm that conducted the investigation had accused him of being less than honest in his initial answers, which he had provided in 82 written pages. The lawyers had presented evidence in a news conference that the pontiff had participated in a meeting about the transfer of an abusive priest to his diocese for therapy, though he had claimed not to have attended. The discrepancy, Benedict insisted in the new response, was an honest mistake that emerged from the editing process of his answer. “To me it proved deeply hurtful that this oversight was used to cast doubt on my truthfulness, and even to label me a liar,” Benedict said. That defensive tone also ran through an analysis accompanying the letter by four legal experts who had assisted the retired pope. They wrote that the report “contains no evidence for an allegation of misconduct or conspiracy in any cover-up” on the part of Benedict. Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, an advocacy group for victims, said Benedict’s response — which she described as “boilerplate” — was a “deep disappointment and missed opportunity.” Instead, Benedict “conceded nothing,” Doyle said in a statement, and did not take meaningful responsibility for the abuse and a cover-up. “The church is poorer for it,” she added. The report was commissioned by the German archdiocese that investigated how the church had handled cases of sexual abuse between 1945 and 2019. Benedict, at the time Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. The report said at least 497 victims of abuse had been identified over the 74-year period it examined, and found that Benedict had mishandled four cases during his nearly five years as archbishop. Benedict’s legal experts said in their analysis that the investigators had not shown that Benedict knew of the criminal history of any of the four priests in question. The investigators had previously expressed doubt about that assertion. Days after the report was issued, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict’s personal secretary, admitted Benedict was at the meeting about moving the abusive priest. But Benedict has maintained he did not know why the priest was being transferred to his diocese, only that he needed therapy.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI asks forgiveness over handling of abuse cases

Queen Elizabeth II has stripped her second son Prince Andrew of all royal titles. He's no longer 'his royal highness' but a private citizen. What privileges did he enjoy as member of the British Royal Family? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Prince Andrew stripped of all royal titles

Britain's Prince Andrew will defend himself against a US civil suit alleging sexual abuse as a private citizen. This after the Royal Family removed Prince Andrew's military links and royal patronages.

UK's Prince Andrew loses royal and military links amid sexual assault allegations

A US judge has denied Prince Andrew's plea to dismiss Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit accusing the royal of sexually abusing her when she was underage.

Prince Andrew to face sexual assault case, US judge denies plea

A female North Korean soldier describes the misery she faces in Kim Jong Un's army, where she faces sexual assault, abortions without anaesthesia, and malnutrition.

A former soldier described the difficult life she and other female soldiers had in the army.

According to her, up to 70% of women are subjected to sexual assault or harassment.

They get by on a few spoonfuls of corn each day and are subjected to group punishments.

Women are compelled to use sanitary pads made from worn footwraps. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-10-years-in-power-a-look-back-at-his-reign-in-north-korea-437013">Also read | Kim Jong Un's 10 years in power: A look back at his reign in North Korea</a>

According to an exiled North Korean, sexual torture, abortions without anaesthesia, and starvation rations are among the horrors women suffer in Kim Jong Un's army.

Jennifer Kim, a former soldier, said female combatants were forced to use damp footwraps as sanitary pads and were subjected to cruel and unusual collective punishments.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Inside North Korea: A defector's horror story

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-inside-north-korea-a-defectors-horror-story-439131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

One punishment consisted of soaking the hands in cold water and then hanging from an iron rod that froze to the palms, tearing the flesh off when freed.

She believed that 70 percent of women in North Korea's army, including herself, had been sexually assaulted or harassed.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un sending an SOS signal to the world?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-sending-an-sos-signal-to-the-world-395227/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a report by Dailymail, Jennifer Kim, 23, said, "If I refuse his request, I can't become a member of the Workers' Party of Korea.&nbsp;

If I return to society without being able to attend the party, I'm perceived as a problem child and I will be stigmatised for the rest of my life.

That means you won't be able to get a good job, and it will be a problem when you try to marry. What could I have chosen?

In the end, I was sexually assaulted by him.

(With inputs from agencies)

A female North Korean soldier describes the misery she faces in Kim Jong Un's army, where she faces sexual assault, abortions without anaesthesia, and malnutrition.

A female North Korean soldier describes the misery she faces in Kim Jong Un's army, where she faces sexual assault, abortions without anaesthesia, and malnutrition. A former soldier described the difficult life she and other female soldiers had in the army. According to her, up to 70% of women are subjected to sexual assault or harassment. They get by on a few spoonfuls of corn each day and are subjected to group punishments. Women are compelled to use sanitary pads made from worn footwraps. Also read | Kim Jong Un's 10 years in power: A look back at his reign in North Korea According to an exiled North Korean, sexual torture, abortions without anaesthesia, and starvation rations are among the horrors women suffer in Kim Jong Un's army. Jennifer Kim, a former soldier, said female combatants were forced to use damp footwraps as sanitary pads and were subjected to cruel and unusual collective punishments. Watch | Gravitas: Inside North Korea: A defector's horror story One punishment consisted of soaking the hands in cold water and then hanging from an iron rod that froze to the palms, tearing the flesh off when freed. She believed that 70 percent of women in North Korea's army, including herself, had been sexually assaulted or harassed. Watch | Gravitas: Is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un sending an SOS signal to the world? According to a report by Dailymail, Jennifer Kim, 23, said, "If I refuse his request, I can't become a member of the Workers' Party of Korea. If I return to society without being able to attend the party, I'm perceived as a problem child and I will be stigmatised for the rest of my life. That means you won't be able to get a good job, and it will be a problem when you try to marry. What could I have chosen? In the end, I was sexually assaulted by him. (With inputs from agencies)

Women face sexual abuse, abortions, and starvation in Kim Jong-un’s army

Victims of jailed former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar are to receive $380 million after reaching a settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers, attorneys said on Monday.

The settlement -- one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sex abuse -- ends a five-year legal battle that erupted following the abuse scandal that rocked the US Olympic movement.

Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics (USAG) and Michigan State University (MSU).

Hundreds of women -- including Olympic gold medallists such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney -- have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them over the course of his more than two-decade career.

Monday's settlement, which includes claims from Biles, Raisman and Maroney, was confirmed during a hearing in a federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis.

The deal means some $880 million in settlements have now been reached following an earlier $500 million settlement from MSU in 2018.

"We prevailed for one simple reason, the courage and tenacity of the survivors," John Manly, who represents more than 180 women abused by Nassar, said in a statement confirming details of the agreement.

"These brave women relived their abuse publicly, in countless media interviews, so that not one more child will be forced to suffer physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in pursuit of their dreams."

Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with allegations against Nassar in 2016, welcomed Monday's settlement.

"This chapter is finally closed," Denhollander wrote on Twitter. "Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next."

FBI targeted 
USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after a tidal wave of allegations against Nassar swamped the organization.&nbsp;

The Wall Street Journal reported that Monday's settlement was reached after the TIG Insurance Company agreed to pay a "substantial share" of the settlement.&nbsp;

The deal includes a $34 million payment directly from the USOPC, as well as a $6 million loan from the USOPC to USA Gymnastics.

As part of the agreement, a victim of abuse will be put on the board of directors of USA Gymnastics.&nbsp;

In September, Olympic champion Biles and other victims of Nassar gave devastating testimony in the US Senate, excoriating US sports officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for failing to act against Nassar when complaints against the doctor first emerged.

USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI in July 2015, but he continued to work at MSU and sexually abused at least 70 more women until a newspaper exposed him in September 2016.

"We suffered and continue to suffer because no one at the FBI, USAG or USOPC did what was necessary to protect us," said Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medallist.

Biles' fellow Olympic gold medallist Maroney, said during the hearing she had reported abuse by Nassar in 2015 during a three-hour telephone interview with an FBI agent, but it was "minimized and disregarded." &nbsp;

"Not only did the FBI not report my abuse but when they eventually documented my report 17 months later, they made entirely false claims about what I said," Maroney told the hearing.

Manly said on Monday attorneys would continue their fight to hold officials from the FBI, USAG and USOPC accountable.

"There is one more chapter yet to be written, the criminal prosecution of the FBI officials who failed to investigate and stop Nassar together with the USAG and USOPC officials who conspired with them to impede the investigation," Manly said.

"We will continue to pursue justice on behalf of the hundreds of little girls and young women who were molested as a direct result of their obstruction of justice," he said.

Victims of jailed former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar are to receive $380 million after reaching a settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers, attorneys said on Monday.

Victims of jailed former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar are to receive $380 million after reaching a settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers, attorneys said on Monday. The settlement -- one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sex abuse -- ends a five-year legal battle that erupted following the abuse scandal that rocked the US Olympic movement. Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics (USAG) and Michigan State University (MSU). Hundreds of women -- including Olympic gold medallists such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney -- have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them over the course of his more than two-decade career. Monday's settlement, which includes claims from Biles, Raisman and Maroney, was confirmed during a hearing in a federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis. The deal means some $880 million in settlements have now been reached following an earlier $500 million settlement from MSU in 2018. "We prevailed for one simple reason, the courage and tenacity of the survivors," John Manly, who represents more than 180 women abused by Nassar, said in a statement confirming details of the agreement. "These brave women relived their abuse publicly, in countless media interviews, so that not one more child will be forced to suffer physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in pursuit of their dreams." Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with allegations against Nassar in 2016, welcomed Monday's settlement. "This chapter is finally closed," Denhollander wrote on Twitter. "Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next." FBI targeted USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after a tidal wave of allegations against Nassar swamped the organization. The Wall Street Journal reported that Monday's settlement was reached after the TIG Insurance Company agreed to pay a "substantial share" of the settlement. The deal includes a $34 million payment directly from the USOPC, as well as a $6 million loan from the USOPC to USA Gymnastics. As part of the agreement, a victim of abuse will be put on the board of directors of USA Gymnastics. In September, Olympic champion Biles and other victims of Nassar gave devastating testimony in the US Senate, excoriating US sports officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for failing to act against Nassar when complaints against the doctor first emerged. USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI in July 2015, but he continued to work at MSU and sexually abused at least 70 more women until a newspaper exposed him in September 2016. "We suffered and continue to suffer because no one at the FBI, USAG or USOPC did what was necessary to protect us," said Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medallist. Biles' fellow Olympic gold medallist Maroney, said during the hearing she had reported abuse by Nassar in 2015 during a three-hour telephone interview with an FBI agent, but it was "minimized and disregarded." "Not only did the FBI not report my abuse but when they eventually documented my report 17 months later, they made entirely false claims about what I said," Maroney told the hearing. Manly said on Monday attorneys would continue their fight to hold officials from the FBI, USAG and USOPC accountable. "There is one more chapter yet to be written, the criminal prosecution of the FBI officials who failed to investigate and stop Nassar together with the USAG and USOPC officials who conspired with them to impede the investigation," Manly said. "We will continue to pursue justice on behalf of the hundreds of little girls and young women who were molested as a direct result of their obstruction of justice," he said.

Gymnasts abused by team doctor Nassar reach $380 million settlement

Victims of jailed former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar are to receive $380 million after reaching a settlement with USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic committee.

Larry Nassar sexual abuse victims reach $380 mn settlement with USA Gymnastics

In the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, USA gymnastics & US Olympic committee reach a settlement with multiple victims of Nassar.

Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal: USA gymnastics & US Olympic committee reach a settlement

A 19-year-old man from Florida was arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of a politician online in exchange for cash.

Jeremy Kamperveen, a plantation worker, was arrested last month and charged with extortion and cyberstalking Florida state senator Lauren Book from the Democratic party.

Kamperveen also allegedly texted sexually explicit photos and asked for $5,000 in gift cards in exchange for destroying the photos.

At that time, the identity of the victim wasn’t revealed, until Book released a statement on Thursday saying that she was the one who received the threatening messages.

“Three weeks ago, I became the victim of ongoing sexual harassment and extortion,” Book said.

“I immediately notified law enforcement and began working closely with them to track those responsible for sending threatening and disturbing images and messages to my phone, including distorted, fake and stolen images created in an effort to intimidate, threaten, and extort me.”

Book had complained to the police on November 12, claiming a cyberstalker had sent her two photos of her exposed breasts that she "had taken of herself and only shared with a close friend.”

She is chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and a longtime advocate for victims of child abuse and sexual abuse. She leads a group called Lauren’s Kids.

According to police, Kamperveen, who lives in Book’s district and is a registered Democrat, does not have a criminal record.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 19-year-old man from Florida was arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of a politician online in exchange for cash. Jeremy Kamperveen, a plantation worker, was arrested last month and charged with extortion and cyberstalking Florida state senator Lauren Book from the Democratic party.

A 19-year-old man from Florida was arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of a politician online in exchange for cash. Jeremy Kamperveen, a plantation worker, was arrested last month and charged with extortion and cyberstalking Florida state senator Lauren Book from the Democratic party. Kamperveen also allegedly texted sexually explicit photos and asked for $5,000 in gift cards in exchange for destroying the photos. At that time, the identity of the victim wasn’t revealed, until Book released a statement on Thursday saying that she was the one who received the threatening messages. “Three weeks ago, I became the victim of ongoing sexual harassment and extortion,” Book said. “I immediately notified law enforcement and began working closely with them to track those responsible for sending threatening and disturbing images and messages to my phone, including distorted, fake and stolen images created in an effort to intimidate, threaten, and extort me.” Book had complained to the police on November 12, claiming a cyberstalker had sent her two photos of her exposed breasts that she "had taken of herself and only shared with a close friend.” She is chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and a longtime advocate for victims of child abuse and sexual abuse. She leads a group called Lauren’s Kids. According to police, Kamperveen, who lives in Book’s district and is a registered Democrat, does not have a criminal record. (With inputs from agencies)

19-year-old man arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of Florida state senator

She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on.

A neighbor interrupted the attack, and Shira Isakov was flown by helicopter to the nearest hospital in southern Israel in critical condition, with doctors giving her a 20 per cent chance of living through the night.

She made it through, surviving, as she put it, “against all the odds.”

Just 14 months later, Isakov, 33, a former account director at the Israeli branch of McCann, the international advertising firm, has emerged as a powerful force for legal and social change in the country, using her newfound voice and nationwide prominence to advance Israel’s struggle to combat violence against women.

Activists in Israel have long criticised laws they say favor abusers over victims and point to a history of lax law enforcement and lenient sentencing, with many nonfatal cases ending in plea deals with little or no prison time.

The Israeli government had long “shut its eyes to domestic violence,” said professor Shalva Weil, an expert on violence against women at the Seymour Fox School of Education at Hebrew University and the founder of the Israel Observatory on Femicide, adding that the sentencing of offenders was often “very arbitrary and light.”

But since the attack, Isakov has become a household name in Israel, and a hero to many, not because she was a victim of horrific abuse but because of how her case, and her speaking out, have helped shift Israel’s legal landscape — especially when it comes to the laws protecting abusers’ parental rights and their ability to control decisions about a child’s medical care and schooling from prison.

The assault on Isakov took place on the eve of the Jewish New Year in September 2020. She had been on the phone with her parents when it began, and they heard the blows and her cries in real time.

The viciousness of the attack made headlines across Israel, but what has made Isakov an agent of change was the decision she made to go public with her story as she regained consciousness after six days in intensive care.

Her brother Ofer had photographed her as she lay in her hospital bed, horribly disfigured. When she could speak again, he asked her permission — if she was not too embarrassed, he said — to publish the pictures and show the country what her husband, Aviad Moshe, had done.

“I told him ‘I’m not embarrassed, that’s what happened to me, that’s what I look like,’ ” she recounted last week in an interview at home, in the Tel Aviv apartment she had once shared with Moshe. “The shame is on him.”

She said she did not hesitate to make the decision and was willing to share the details to encourage other women not to ignore the warning signs of a dangerous relationship.

“For a woman who is usually well-groomed and presentable, it’s not pleasant to be seen with your face full of stitches, bruised, with all the left side smashed, head shaved, and teeth knocked out,” she said, “But I refused to hide.”

The news media at first blurred the pictures of her purple, swollen face and scalp crisscrossed with angry red cuts and stab wounds. But after a nurse told her that the courts had acquiesced to the request of her husband to bar publication of his name, to protect his and his family’s reputation, she insisted on being identified in the news media.

Her national prominence grew when Isakov and her neighbor, Adi Guzi, who banged on the door during the assault and then pushed her way into the house at great personal risk, were among 14 Israelis honored for their contribution to society at Israel’s annual Independence Day ceremony in April.

Until last year, Isakov had led a largely ordinary, middle-class Israeli life. Her parents immigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and she was born and raised in Karmiel, a quiet town in the Galilee hills in Israel’s north, moved to Tel Aviv at 19 and earned a degree in business administration from the Open University.

She married Moshe, an electrical engineer, soon after they met. Their son, Leon, was born in November 2018.

The first act of violence came during an argument the next summer. Isakov complained to police that Moshe had shoved and kicked her. Moshe said that Isakov had attacked him first, and the file was closed for lack of evidence.

“We made up and decided to give our relationship another chance,” she said. But she told Moshe that “A second time, if there was one, would mean divorce.”

Two months later, Moshe was offered a 12-month contract for work in Mitzpe Rimon, a remote town in the Negev desert. The couple decided to move, leaving their small but stylish apartment near the coast in Tel Aviv for the arid south.

There they conceived a second child, but Isakov later miscarried, just two hours after a particularly heated argument. From that point on, she said, the tension in the household escalated and the atmosphere turned ugly.

Ten days later, on the eve of the Jewish holiday, Isakov phoned her parents to say she was coming with Leon to spend the holiday in Karmiel. Moshe blocked her from leaving, and threw her to the floor. She told him the marriage was over and he began beating her.

Moshe, now her ex-husband, is in prison, convicted in August of attempted murder. He is awaiting a hearing on his sentencing and could spend 20 years or more in prison.

Isakov’s personal struggle is far from over, with more surgery ahead.

But since the attack, her accomplishments in the legal arena have been substantial, and her advocacy is credited with having raised awareness among both politicians and the general public of some of the shortcomings in the way Israeli society has dealt with domestic abuse, and its aftermath.

One early legal victory came when the court also convicted Moshe of child abuse, although Leon, while deeply traumatized, was not physically hurt — a judicial precedent for Israel, according to Ben Maoz, Isakov’s lawyer.

The next battle came when Isakov sought therapy for Leon and was told by the hospital that she needed to get the signature of the boy’s father. Registering Leon at a new kindergarten and getting him routine inoculations also required Moshe’s signature. Moshe refused to sign.

Isakov and her lawyer turned to a concerned member of parliament, Oded Forer, who had visited her in the hospital as a member of the parliamentary committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality and is now the minister of agriculture. Within months, the government amended the law so as to automatically cancel the legal guardianship rights of a parent charged with the murder or attempted murder of the other parent or the sexual assault of a child.

Isakov now is seeking a similar amendment of the Names Law that would allow her to unilaterally change Leon’s surname from Moshe to Isakov without having to fight her ex-husband in court. And she is pushing for sanctions on convicted abusers who refuse to attend treatment programs in prison.

Isakov has also become a source of support for other victims of violence and their families. She recently raised $50,000 for gift cards for women in shelters. She is campaigning to raise the state grants paid to relatives who are bringing up the children of murdered women.

This month, she began lecturing around the country on an almost daily basis at the invitation of local councils and high-profile companies and is fully booked through the end of the year.

The determination of Isakov to increase attention on domestic violence and her ability “to speak beautifully and calmly about her trauma and to help others,” Weil said, is helping Israel make noticeable progress.

Isakov’s openness has been “very effective in decreasing the rate of severe domestic violence and in the end, preventing the next femicide,” Weil said, noting that in 2021, the number of women killed has dropped by a quarter compared with the same period last year.

With the scars on her forehead faintly showing under her makeup, Isakov makes it a point to emphasize in her public speeches that she refused to pity herself.

“I didn’t choose what happened to me,” she tells her audiences. “But I have chosen my path forward in life, what I do with myself and how I bring up my child.”

She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on.

She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on. A neighbor interrupted the attack, and Shira Isakov was flown by helicopter to the nearest hospital in southern Israel in critical condition, with doctors giving her a 20 per cent chance of living through the night. She made it through, surviving, as she put it, “against all the odds.” Just 14 months later, Isakov, 33, a former account director at the Israeli branch of McCann, the international advertising firm, has emerged as a powerful force for legal and social change in the country, using her newfound voice and nationwide prominence to advance Israel’s struggle to combat violence against women. Activists in Israel have long criticised laws they say favor abusers over victims and point to a history of lax law enforcement and lenient sentencing, with many nonfatal cases ending in plea deals with little or no prison time. The Israeli government had long “shut its eyes to domestic violence,” said professor Shalva Weil, an expert on violence against women at the Seymour Fox School of Education at Hebrew University and the founder of the Israel Observatory on Femicide, adding that the sentencing of offenders was often “very arbitrary and light.” But since the attack, Isakov has become a household name in Israel, and a hero to many, not because she was a victim of horrific abuse but because of how her case, and her speaking out, have helped shift Israel’s legal landscape — especially when it comes to the laws protecting abusers’ parental rights and their ability to control decisions about a child’s medical care and schooling from prison. The assault on Isakov took place on the eve of the Jewish New Year in September 2020. She had been on the phone with her parents when it began, and they heard the blows and her cries in real time. The viciousness of the attack made headlines across Israel, but what has made Isakov an agent of change was the decision she made to go public with her story as she regained consciousness after six days in intensive care. Her brother Ofer had photographed her as she lay in her hospital bed, horribly disfigured. When she could speak again, he asked her permission — if she was not too embarrassed, he said — to publish the pictures and show the country what her husband, Aviad Moshe, had done. “I told him ‘I’m not embarrassed, that’s what happened to me, that’s what I look like,’ ” she recounted last week in an interview at home, in the Tel Aviv apartment she had once shared with Moshe. “The shame is on him.” She said she did not hesitate to make the decision and was willing to share the details to encourage other women not to ignore the warning signs of a dangerous relationship. “For a woman who is usually well-groomed and presentable, it’s not pleasant to be seen with your face full of stitches, bruised, with all the left side smashed, head shaved, and teeth knocked out,” she said, “But I refused to hide.” The news media at first blurred the pictures of her purple, swollen face and scalp crisscrossed with angry red cuts and stab wounds. But after a nurse told her that the courts had acquiesced to the request of her husband to bar publication of his name, to protect his and his family’s reputation, she insisted on being identified in the news media. Her national prominence grew when Isakov and her neighbor, Adi Guzi, who banged on the door during the assault and then pushed her way into the house at great personal risk, were among 14 Israelis honored for their contribution to society at Israel’s annual Independence Day ceremony in April. Until last year, Isakov had led a largely ordinary, middle-class Israeli life. Her parents immigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and she was born and raised in Karmiel, a quiet town in the Galilee hills in Israel’s north, moved to Tel Aviv at 19 and earned a degree in business administration from the Open University. She married Moshe, an electrical engineer, soon after they met. Their son, Leon, was born in November 2018. The first act of violence came during an argument the next summer. Isakov complained to police that Moshe had shoved and kicked her. Moshe said that Isakov had attacked him first, and the file was closed for lack of evidence. “We made up and decided to give our relationship another chance,” she said. But she told Moshe that “A second time, if there was one, would mean divorce.” Two months later, Moshe was offered a 12-month contract for work in Mitzpe Rimon, a remote town in the Negev desert. The couple decided to move, leaving their small but stylish apartment near the coast in Tel Aviv for the arid south. There they conceived a second child, but Isakov later miscarried, just two hours after a particularly heated argument. From that point on, she said, the tension in the household escalated and the atmosphere turned ugly. Ten days later, on the eve of the Jewish holiday, Isakov phoned her parents to say she was coming with Leon to spend the holiday in Karmiel. Moshe blocked her from leaving, and threw her to the floor. She told him the marriage was over and he began beating her. Moshe, now her ex-husband, is in prison, convicted in August of attempted murder. He is awaiting a hearing on his sentencing and could spend 20 years or more in prison. Isakov’s personal struggle is far from over, with more surgery ahead. But since the attack, her accomplishments in the legal arena have been substantial, and her advocacy is credited with having raised awareness among both politicians and the general public of some of the shortcomings in the way Israeli society has dealt with domestic abuse, and its aftermath. One early legal victory came when the court also convicted Moshe of child abuse, although Leon, while deeply traumatized, was not physically hurt — a judicial precedent for Israel, according to Ben Maoz, Isakov’s lawyer. The next battle came when Isakov sought therapy for Leon and was told by the hospital that she needed to get the signature of the boy’s father. Registering Leon at a new kindergarten and getting him routine inoculations also required Moshe’s signature. Moshe refused to sign. Isakov and her lawyer turned to a concerned member of parliament, Oded Forer, who had visited her in the hospital as a member of the parliamentary committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality and is now the minister of agriculture. Within months, the government amended the law so as to automatically cancel the legal guardianship rights of a parent charged with the murder or attempted murder of the other parent or the sexual assault of a child. Isakov now is seeking a similar amendment of the Names Law that would allow her to unilaterally change Leon’s surname from Moshe to Isakov without having to fight her ex-husband in court. And she is pushing for sanctions on convicted abusers who refuse to attend treatment programs in prison. Isakov has also become a source of support for other victims of violence and their families. She recently raised $50,000 for gift cards for women in shelters. She is campaigning to raise the state grants paid to relatives who are bringing up the children of murdered women. This month, she began lecturing around the country on an almost daily basis at the invitation of local councils and high-profile companies and is fully booked through the end of the year. The determination of Isakov to increase attention on domestic violence and her ability “to speak beautifully and calmly about her trauma and to help others,” Weil said, is helping Israel make noticeable progress. Isakov’s openness has been “very effective in decreasing the rate of severe domestic violence and in the end, preventing the next femicide,” Weil said, noting that in 2021, the number of women killed has dropped by a quarter compared with the same period last year. With the scars on her forehead faintly showing under her makeup, Isakov makes it a point to emphasize in her public speeches that she refused to pity herself. “I didn’t choose what happened to me,” she tells her audiences. “But I have chosen my path forward in life, what I do with myself and how I bring up my child.”

Stabbed 20 times by her husband, she now fights laws favoring abusers

A new report has found that 63% of Australia's female parliamentarians or legislators have been sexually harassed, as have 1 in 3 Parliament staffers. Earlier, reports claimed the prayer room in Australia's parliament is routinely used for sex. Palki Sharma tells all about it.

Gravitas: Report: 1 in 3 workers in Australian Parliament are sexually harassed

The 14-year-old girl was eating ice cream with friends one afternoon in 1994, around a picnic table at a summer arts camp in Michigan, she said, when a “tall, thin woman” with a “cute little Yorkie” walked by.

The campers asked if they could pet the dog, but soon after the girl’s friends left her alone with the woman, a man joined them, and asked the girl about the camp and her other interests. He said he was a benefactor who gave to the camp and supported young talent. When the girl said she lived in Palm Beach, Florida, the man said, “What a coincidence, we live there too.” He asked for her phone number.

Testifying on Tuesday in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the 14-year-old from Florida, now an adult identified in court only as “Jane,” described for jurors how what seemed like a chance encounter with Maxwell — the woman with the Yorkie — and Jeffrey Epstein led to years of sexual abuse.

The abuse took place at Epstein’s properties in Florida, New Mexico and New York, and at times involved groups of people, she said. Sometimes, she said, Maxwell took part in the sex acts.

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8d2eef06-5ab4-4973-8ffc-105fb9265331" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Maxwell.jpg" />

For years, Jane testified, she told nobody about the abuse, confiding in loved ones only after she had cut off contact with Epstein, around 2002. Jane — who identified herself as a working actor — did not tell law enforcement about her allegations until after Epstein’s death in 2019, in part out of concern, she said, that she would face professional blowback in Hollywood.

As the first accuser to take the stand in Maxwell’s trial, Jane painted a picture of how Maxwell and Epstein brought her into their lives, and how what seemed like mentorship and special treatment soon evolved into sexual abuse.

Weeks after the initial meeting in Michigan, Jane said, she got home from school — it was early in her eighth grade year — to find that Epstein had called to invite her and her mother to his house for tea. A chauffeur came to retrieve them and brought them to Epstein’s home.

It was the first of many such visits she would make, but her mother never joined them again. The home was impressive, she said, and so were Epstein and Maxwell, even if their conduct was sometimes confusing or overwhelming.

As she described those early days, Jane at times laughed at herself, gestured broadly and spoke directly to the jury. But as she turned to her accounts of her abuse — and later, as Maxwell’s lawyer sought on cross-examination to challenge her recollections — Jane’s tone grew more serious.

At several points throughout Jane’s testimony, Maxwell leaned forward in her chair at the defense table, put on a pair of glasses and took notes.

“From the very beginning there was a lot of bragging about how they were friends with essentially everyone,” Jane said, adding that Maxwell and Epstein would engage in “name dropping” — she recalled them citing public figures like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Mike Wallace. The effect was to suggest that “they were very well connected and affluent.”

Jane said she was soon visiting Epstein’s Palm Beach home every week or two, and Maxwell was a steady presence. At first, Maxwell came across as a big sister figure — “odd and “quirky,” Jane said, “but she was nice.” Jane said Maxwell took her to the movies and shopping for shirts and a cashmere sweater, and to Victoria’s Secret for underwear: "basic-looking ones" like “white cotton briefs.”

But soon, Maxwell began talking to her about sex, Jane said. One day, Jane said, Maxwell was among a group of women lounging topless or naked around Epstein’s pool.

Another day, when she was still 14, Jane testified, she was speaking with Epstein in his office when he told her he could introduce her to talent agents and “make things happen” for her. Then he “abruptly” ended the conversation, took her hand and said, “Follow me,” as he guided her outside and into the pool house.

Inside, Jane said, Epstein led her to a couch and took off his sweatpants. He pulled her on top of him and “proceeded to masturbate,” she testified in a halting voice. After he was done, she said, he went into a bathroom to clean up, then “acted like nothing had happened.”

“I was frozen in fear,” Jane said. She testified that she did not tell anyone about what had happened inside the pool house, adding: “I was terrified and felt gross and I felt ashamed.”

Shortly after that incident, Jane said, Maxwell joined them in Epstein’s bedroom; while the two adults touched each other, they guided her to join them. In later visits, Maxwell and Epstein brought Jane to the house’s massage room, where Maxwell explained how Epstein liked to be massaged.

A prosecutor, Alison Moe, asked about Maxwell’s demeanor during those incidents.

“I would say it seemed very casual, like it was very normal, like it was not a big deal,” Jane said.

Jane’s often emotional testimony came on the second day of Maxwell’s trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on charges she helped Epstein recruit, groom and ultimately sexually abuse girls as young as 14.

Prosecutors have said that Jane and three other accusers, all now adults, will testify under pseudonyms or partial names in the trial.

The defense has made it clear it plans to seek to undermine Jane’s credibility in cross-examination by suggesting that she is playing a role, and that she only decided to cooperate with the government and implicate Maxwell because she believed it would help her secure a claim with the Epstein victim fund, which awarded her $5 million.

Late Tuesday afternoon, one of Maxwell’s lawyers, Laura Menninger, began her cross-examination by pressing Jane about the delay in reporting her claims and sought to point out gaps in her memory of her teenage years in Florida. Her cross-examination is expected to continue Wednesday morning.

Before then, Moe, the prosector, asked Jane whether she had ever publicly revealed her identity as a victim of Epstein and Maxwell.

No, Jane said, nor did she want to.

“I’ve always just wanted to put this past me. I moved on with my life,” Jane said. “I work in the entertainment industry and victim shaming is still very present to this day.” Talking publicly could also affect her career, she said.

“I didn’t really want any part of it,” she said. “I just wanted it to go away.”

The 14-year-old girl was eating ice cream with friends one afternoon in 1994, around a picnic table at a summer arts camp in Michigan, she said, when a “tall, thin woman” with a “cute little Yorkie” walked by.

The 14-year-old girl was eating ice cream with friends one afternoon in 1994, around a picnic table at a summer arts camp in Michigan, she said, when a “tall, thin woman” with a “cute little Yorkie” walked by. The campers asked if they could pet the dog, but soon after the girl’s friends left her alone with the woman, a man joined them, and asked the girl about the camp and her other interests. He said he was a benefactor who gave to the camp and supported young talent. When the girl said she lived in Palm Beach, Florida, the man said, “What a coincidence, we live there too.” He asked for her phone number. Testifying on Tuesday in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the 14-year-old from Florida, now an adult identified in court only as “Jane,” described for jurors how what seemed like a chance encounter with Maxwell — the woman with the Yorkie — and Jeffrey Epstein led to years of sexual abuse. The abuse took place at Epstein’s properties in Florida, New Mexico and New York, and at times involved groups of people, she said. Sometimes, she said, Maxwell took part in the sex acts. For years, Jane testified, she told nobody about the abuse, confiding in loved ones only after she had cut off contact with Epstein, around 2002. Jane — who identified herself as a working actor — did not tell law enforcement about her allegations until after Epstein’s death in 2019, in part out of concern, she said, that she would face professional blowback in Hollywood. As the first accuser to take the stand in Maxwell’s trial, Jane painted a picture of how Maxwell and Epstein brought her into their lives, and how what seemed like mentorship and special treatment soon evolved into sexual abuse. Weeks after the initial meeting in Michigan, Jane said, she got home from school — it was early in her eighth grade year — to find that Epstein had called to invite her and her mother to his house for tea. A chauffeur came to retrieve them and brought them to Epstein’s home. It was the first of many such visits she would make, but her mother never joined them again. The home was impressive, she said, and so were Epstein and Maxwell, even if their conduct was sometimes confusing or overwhelming. As she described those early days, Jane at times laughed at herself, gestured broadly and spoke directly to the jury. But as she turned to her accounts of her abuse — and later, as Maxwell’s lawyer sought on cross-examination to challenge her recollections — Jane’s tone grew more serious. At several points throughout Jane’s testimony, Maxwell leaned forward in her chair at the defense table, put on a pair of glasses and took notes. “From the very beginning there was a lot of bragging about how they were friends with essentially everyone,” Jane said, adding that Maxwell and Epstein would engage in “name dropping” — she recalled them citing public figures like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Mike Wallace. The effect was to suggest that “they were very well connected and affluent.” Jane said she was soon visiting Epstein’s Palm Beach home every week or two, and Maxwell was a steady presence. At first, Maxwell came across as a big sister figure — “odd and “quirky,” Jane said, “but she was nice.” Jane said Maxwell took her to the movies and shopping for shirts and a cashmere sweater, and to Victoria’s Secret for underwear: "basic-looking ones" like “white cotton briefs.” But soon, Maxwell began talking to her about sex, Jane said. One day, Jane said, Maxwell was among a group of women lounging topless or naked around Epstein’s pool. Another day, when she was still 14, Jane testified, she was speaking with Epstein in his office when he told her he could introduce her to talent agents and “make things happen” for her. Then he “abruptly” ended the conversation, took her hand and said, “Follow me,” as he guided her outside and into the pool house. Inside, Jane said, Epstein led her to a couch and took off his sweatpants. He pulled her on top of him and “proceeded to masturbate,” she testified in a halting voice. After he was done, she said, he went into a bathroom to clean up, then “acted like nothing had happened.” “I was frozen in fear,” Jane said. She testified that she did not tell anyone about what had happened inside the pool house, adding: “I was terrified and felt gross and I felt ashamed.” Shortly after that incident, Jane said, Maxwell joined them in Epstein’s bedroom; while the two adults touched each other, they guided her to join them. In later visits, Maxwell and Epstein brought Jane to the house’s massage room, where Maxwell explained how Epstein liked to be massaged. A prosecutor, Alison Moe, asked about Maxwell’s demeanor during those incidents. “I would say it seemed very casual, like it was very normal, like it was not a big deal,” Jane said. Jane’s often emotional testimony came on the second day of Maxwell’s trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on charges she helped Epstein recruit, groom and ultimately sexually abuse girls as young as 14. Prosecutors have said that Jane and three other accusers, all now adults, will testify under pseudonyms or partial names in the trial. The defense has made it clear it plans to seek to undermine Jane’s credibility in cross-examination by suggesting that she is playing a role, and that she only decided to cooperate with the government and implicate Maxwell because she believed it would help her secure a claim with the Epstein victim fund, which awarded her $5 million. Late Tuesday afternoon, one of Maxwell’s lawyers, Laura Menninger, began her cross-examination by pressing Jane about the delay in reporting her claims and sought to point out gaps in her memory of her teenage years in Florida. Her cross-examination is expected to continue Wednesday morning. Before then, Moe, the prosector, asked Jane whether she had ever publicly revealed her identity as a victim of Epstein and Maxwell. No, Jane said, nor did she want to. “I’ve always just wanted to put this past me. I moved on with my life,” Jane said. “I work in the entertainment industry and victim shaming is still very present to this day.” Talking publicly could also affect her career, she said. “I didn’t really want any part of it,” she said. “I just wanted it to go away.”

Accuser describes Maxwell and Epstein ensnaring and abusing her at 14

According to a report published on Tuesday, one in three people working in Australia's parliament has experienced sexual harassment, following an independent inquiry into parliamentary workplace culture.

One in every three employees sexually harassed in Australian Parliament, says report

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church.<o:p></o:p>

The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission"&nbsp;of journalism. He said it was extremely important that these cases were uncovered and presented infront of the world.<o:p></o:p>

He thanked the journalists for stepping out of the newsrooms to discover and present what was happening around the world. This helps counter misinformation that is spread online these days, he said, and added that "not everything can be told through email, the phone, or a screen."<o:p></o:p>

"(I) thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims," the Pope said.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-appoints-first-woman-to-serve-as-secretary-general-of-vatican-city-426890">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-appoints-first-woman-to-serve-as-secretary-general-of-vatican-city-426890/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The leader thanked the journalists while he was speaking at a ceremony to honour two veteran correspondents (Philip Pullella of Reuters and Valentina Alazraki of Mexico's Noticieros Televisa) who had spent their time covering the Vatican.<o:p></o:p>

Pope Francis was talking about the sexual abuse scandals that had hit the headlines in 2002. Journalists had uncovered several cases where minors had been sexually assaulted and abused by clerics. It was revealed that there was a silent culture of concealment within the Church about these issues.<o:p></o:p>

The exposure of these cases in 2002 continued and since then scandals have been making headlines across the globe. Recently, in October, it was revealed that more than 200,000 children have been abused by French clerics over the past 70 years.<o:p></o:p>

While journalists have, in the past, accused Pope Francis of not acting quickly on these cases, the leader thanked the media houses for their work and said the journalists have "to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less fear it".<o:p></o:p>

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission" of journalism.

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission" of journalism. He said it was extremely important that these cases were uncovered and presented infront of the world. He thanked the journalists for stepping out of the newsrooms to discover and present what was happening around the world. This helps counter misinformation that is spread online these days, he said, and added that "not everything can be told through email, the phone, or a screen." "(I) thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims," the Pope said. WATCH | The leader thanked the journalists while he was speaking at a ceremony to honour two veteran correspondents (Philip Pullella of Reuters and Valentina Alazraki of Mexico's Noticieros Televisa) who had spent their time covering the Vatican. Pope Francis was talking about the sexual abuse scandals that had hit the headlines in 2002. Journalists had uncovered several cases where minors had been sexually assaulted and abused by clerics. It was revealed that there was a silent culture of concealment within the Church about these issues. The exposure of these cases in 2002 continued and since then scandals have been making headlines across the globe. Recently, in October, it was revealed that more than 200,000 children have been abused by French clerics over the past 70 years. While journalists have, in the past, accused Pope Francis of not acting quickly on these cases, the leader thanked the media houses for their work and said the journalists have "to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less fear it".

Pope Francis thanks journalists for exposing sexual abuse cases

The turmoil over allegations of sexual abuse at Liberty University seems to have worsened as around 10 people have joined an existing lawsuit by saying they were drugged, raped, sexually assaulted or abused at the varsity, according to a new filing. It also said the people in power are refusing to act. &nbsp;

Alleging the university created an unsafe environment, Jane Does 13-22 joined the first 12 anonymous plaintiffs in suing the private school for the amount to be determined during the trial, revealed a status report from the US District Court for the eastern district of New York on Thursday. &nbsp;

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"Since the complaint was filed, additional plaintiffs and witnesses have come forward. It is likely that, if the case does not resolve amicably, a First Amended Complaint will be filed on behalf of Jane Does 1-through-22, including certain current students at Liberty University," the status report of plaintiffs said. &nbsp;

It also asked the court to grant counsel's motion for leave to appear pro hac vice and place the matter on standby for three months in accordance with the university's request for "an opportunity to discuss an amicable resolution prior to the filing of a First Amended Complaint." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/key-to-bidens-climate-agenda-likely-to-be-cut-because-of-manchin-opposition-421381" hreflang="en">Key to Biden’s climate agenda likely to be cut because of Manchin opposition</a>

In July 20 filing, the original 12 plaintiffs alleged that the university "intentionally created a campus environment where sexual assault and rapes are foreseeably more likely to occur than they would in the absence of Liberty's policies." &nbsp;&nbsp;

"In short, Liberty University weaponised its sexual violence reporting policies by (a) offering the victims of sexual violence a confusingly worded amnesty that (b) was often ignored altogether in practice," said the complaint. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The turmoil over allegations of sexual abuse at Liberty University seems to have worsened as around 10 people have joined an existing lawsuit by saying they were drugged, raped, sexually assaulted or abused at the varsity, according to a new filing.

The turmoil over allegations of sexual abuse at Liberty University seems to have worsened as around 10 people have joined an existing lawsuit by saying they were drugged, raped, sexually assaulted or abused at the varsity, according to a new filing. It also said the people in power are refusing to act. Alleging the university created an unsafe environment, Jane Does 13-22 joined the first 12 anonymous plaintiffs in suing the private school for the amount to be determined during the trial, revealed a status report from the US District Court for the eastern district of New York on Thursday. Also Read: With new hypersonic missile test in August, China surprised US officials "Since the complaint was filed, additional plaintiffs and witnesses have come forward. It is likely that, if the case does not resolve amicably, a First Amended Complaint will be filed on behalf of Jane Does 1-through-22, including certain current students at Liberty University," the status report of plaintiffs said. It also asked the court to grant counsel's motion for leave to appear pro hac vice and place the matter on standby for three months in accordance with the university's request for "an opportunity to discuss an amicable resolution prior to the filing of a First Amended Complaint." Also Read: Key to Biden’s climate agenda likely to be cut because of Manchin opposition In July 20 filing, the original 12 plaintiffs alleged that the university "intentionally created a campus environment where sexual assault and rapes are foreseeably more likely to occur than they would in the absence of Liberty's policies." "In short, Liberty University weaponised its sexual violence reporting policies by (a) offering the victims of sexual violence a confusingly worded amnesty that (b) was often ignored altogether in practice," said the complaint. (With inputs from agencies)

10 more plaintiffs join lawsuit against Liberty University over sexual abuse

Major Western donors have pressed the World Health Organization to launch a deeper external probe demanding how a major sexual abuse scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving its staff was allowed to happen, diplomats told Reuters.

Some 83 aid workers, a quarter of them employed by the WHO, were involved in sexual exploitation and abuse during the country's Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020, an independent commission said last month.

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Women accused local and foreign aid workers of demanding sex in exchange for jobs and there were nine alleged rapes, the panel said in a report on the large-scale abuse in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and aides have shared its draft action plan with major donors - including the United States, Britain, European powers, Canada and Australia - prompting their calls for an external oversight body while the WHO also revamps internal policies, diplomats said.

The probe should examine how WHO management reacted to growing allegations and aim to establish wider accountability, they said.

The management plan, currently being revised and expected to be presented to WHO's 194 member states on Thursday, should set out robust action and identify management failures to prevent future abuses in emergency operations, they added.

"My understanding for the delay is they are actually beefing it up," a Western diplomat told Reuters.

The WHO said in an email reply that it has consulted staff, member states and others on its comprehensive plan to address the report`s recommendations and prevention in its operations.

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"The consultations with member states continue this week. WHO will integrate their feedback into the plan; we aim to finalise it shortly and present it to member states," it said.

A second Western diplomat said, "the draft needs to specifically mention and include an external investigation and be independent."

"Enormous Concern"&nbsp;

The UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) would be well-suited to lead the review "which should find mechanisms to ensure accountability goes as high as it needs to", he said.

"A lot of countries view these reports with enormous concern and are looking to the WHO for a major response that goes beyond treating the symptoms of the problem and makes sure something like this can never happen again," he added.

Tedros, who is seeking re-election next year, has said that WHO had terminated the contracts of four WHO employees and his priority was to hold perpetrators to account. His U.N. agency would address "management and staff failures".

Tedros, who visited Congo 14 times during the outbreak, launched the initial probe a year ago after an investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian in which more than 50 women accused aid workers from the WHO and other charities of demanding sex.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-covid-19-update-high-infection-rate-in-0-19-age-group-in-india-globally-new-cases-fall-by-9-419214">WHO COVID-19 Update: High infection rate in 0-19 age group in India, globally new cases fall by 9%</a>

The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), asked whether any of its employees were implicated in the scandal, told Reuters on Wednesday: "At this point we have not received any information linking any of the subjects identified to UNICEF."

The commission cited "clear (WHO) structural failures and unpreparedness to manage the risks of incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse" and internal emails showing that the agency was aware of some incidents by May 2019.

A third diplomat said,&nbsp;"clearly it is an unfinished investigation".

"We don't have full sight of the delegation of authority or management reporting process," she said, adding that a cultural change was required, with greater emphasis on prevention and risk mitigation measures.

Another diplomat said, "we are calling for zero tolerance to be embedded in operations. We will be watching closely."

Major Western donors have pressed the World Health Organization to launch a deeper external probe demanding how a major sexual abuse scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving its staff was allowed to happen, diplomats told Reuters.

Major Western donors have pressed the World Health Organization to launch a deeper external probe demanding how a major sexual abuse scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving its staff was allowed to happen, diplomats told Reuters. Some 83 aid workers, a quarter of them employed by the WHO, were involved in sexual exploitation and abuse during the country's Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020, an independent commission said last month. Also Read | Travellers vaccinated with WHO approved Covid vaccines can enter US: CDC Women accused local and foreign aid workers of demanding sex in exchange for jobs and there were nine alleged rapes, the panel said in a report on the large-scale abuse in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and aides have shared its draft action plan with major donors - including the United States, Britain, European powers, Canada and Australia - prompting their calls for an external oversight body while the WHO also revamps internal policies, diplomats said. The probe should examine how WHO management reacted to growing allegations and aim to establish wider accountability, they said. The management plan, currently being revised and expected to be presented to WHO's 194 member states on Thursday, should set out robust action and identify management failures to prevent future abuses in emergency operations, they added. "My understanding for the delay is they are actually beefing it up," a Western diplomat told Reuters. The WHO said in an email reply that it has consulted staff, member states and others on its comprehensive plan to address the report`s recommendations and prevention in its operations. Also read | WHO experts back extra COVID-19 jab for immunocompromised "The consultations with member states continue this week. WHO will integrate their feedback into the plan; we aim to finalise it shortly and present it to member states," it said. A second Western diplomat said, "the draft needs to specifically mention and include an external investigation and be independent." "Enormous Concern" The UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) would be well-suited to lead the review "which should find mechanisms to ensure accountability goes as high as it needs to", he said. "A lot of countries view these reports with enormous concern and are looking to the WHO for a major response that goes beyond treating the symptoms of the problem and makes sure something like this can never happen again," he added. Tedros, who is seeking re-election next year, has said that WHO had terminated the contracts of four WHO employees and his priority was to hold perpetrators to account. His U.N. agency would address "management and staff failures". Tedros, who visited Congo 14 times during the outbreak, launched the initial probe a year ago after an investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian in which more than 50 women accused aid workers from the WHO and other charities of demanding sex. Also read | WHO COVID-19 Update: High infection rate in 0-19 age group in India, globally new cases fall by 9% The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), asked whether any of its employees were implicated in the scandal, told Reuters on Wednesday: "At this point we have not received any information linking any of the subjects identified to UNICEF." The commission cited "clear (WHO) structural failures and unpreparedness to manage the risks of incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse" and internal emails showing that the agency was aware of some incidents by May 2019. A third diplomat said, "clearly it is an unfinished investigation". "We don't have full sight of the delegation of authority or management reporting process," she said, adding that a cultural change was required, with greater emphasis on prevention and risk mitigation measures. Another diplomat said, "we are calling for zero tolerance to be embedded in operations. We will be watching closely."

WHO donors seek deeper probe into Congo sexual abuse: Diplomats

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