Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he was shocked and disgusted by the latest sex scandal that has hit his government, adding that he wanted more women to join politics.

Australian PM 'disgusted' by sex scandal in govt, wants more women in politics

The first woman to accuse New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment Saturday joined protesters in a rally calling for his impeachment, and spoke out publically for the first time.

Lindsey Boylan was the first of eight women to make accusations against the governor, claiming he kissed her on the lips.

“Someone who abuses their power doesn’t just do it to one woman or one community; they do it, on some level, to every person and every community,” Boylan said Saturday.

“When the governor should have been focused on leading us out of this pandemic, he was instead focused on covering up the deaths of 15,000 New Yorkers and smearing me and my reputation,” Boylan said, in an extended interview with the New Yorker Magazine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/current-aide-accuses-new-york-governor-of-suggestive-comments-harassment-371806">Also read |&nbsp;Current aide accuses New York governor of suggestive comments, harassment</a>

A total of eight women have now come forward, charging Cuomo with sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour. The latest is Alyssa McGrath, a current aide in Cuomo’s adminsitration. She told The New York Times that Cuomo would ogle at her body, remark on her looks and make suggestive comments to her and another executive aide.

On Saturday, though, many people rallied in support of the governor outside his office in the city.

Cuomo, meanwhile, refuses to resign despite calls from within his own party. It’s a long road ahead before the governor would face a Senate trial.

The 63-year-old governor has denied any wrongdoing, though he has acknowledged it had been a “custom” for him to kiss and hug people when greeting them. He has said he was sorry if his behaviour had made “people feel uncomfortable.”

Cuomo has vowed to cooperate with the investigation overseen by the state’s attorney general while refusing to step down before the inquiry is concluded.

The flurry of allegations in recent weeks has led to a growing clamour among prominent fellow Democrats in New York for his resignation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-await-outcome-of-sexual-misconduct-probe-for-cuomos-resignation-370682">Also read |&nbsp;Biden to await outcome of sexual misconduct probe for Cuomo's resignation</a>

New York state Attorney General Letitia James last week named a team of outside lawyers to lead an investigation into accusations the governor harassed women through unwelcome, sexualised comments and inappropriate physical contact, including unsolicited kissing.

(with inputs)

The first woman to accuse New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment Saturday joined protesters in a rally calling for his impeachment, and spoke out publically for the first time.

The first woman to accuse New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment Saturday joined protesters in a rally calling for his impeachment, and spoke out publically for the first time. Lindsey Boylan was the first of eight women to make accusations against the governor, claiming he kissed her on the lips. “Someone who abuses their power doesn’t just do it to one woman or one community; they do it, on some level, to every person and every community,” Boylan said Saturday. “When the governor should have been focused on leading us out of this pandemic, he was instead focused on covering up the deaths of 15,000 New Yorkers and smearing me and my reputation,” Boylan said, in an extended interview with the New Yorker Magazine. Also read | Current aide accuses New York governor of suggestive comments, harassment A total of eight women have now come forward, charging Cuomo with sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour. The latest is Alyssa McGrath, a current aide in Cuomo’s adminsitration. She told The New York Times that Cuomo would ogle at her body, remark on her looks and make suggestive comments to her and another executive aide. On Saturday, though, many people rallied in support of the governor outside his office in the city. Cuomo, meanwhile, refuses to resign despite calls from within his own party. It’s a long road ahead before the governor would face a Senate trial. The 63-year-old governor has denied any wrongdoing, though he has acknowledged it had been a “custom” for him to kiss and hug people when greeting them. He has said he was sorry if his behaviour had made “people feel uncomfortable.” Cuomo has vowed to cooperate with the investigation overseen by the state’s attorney general while refusing to step down before the inquiry is concluded. The flurry of allegations in recent weeks has led to a growing clamour among prominent fellow Democrats in New York for his resignation. Also read | Biden to await outcome of sexual misconduct probe for Cuomo's resignation New York state Attorney General Letitia James last week named a team of outside lawyers to lead an investigation into accusations the governor harassed women through unwelcome, sexualised comments and inappropriate physical contact, including unsolicited kissing. (with inputs)

New York governor accuser Lindsey Boylan speaks out at NYC rally

The Democratic head of the state assembly in New York has greenlighted a formal investigation of the sexual harassment claims against embattled governor Andrew Cuomo -- increasing the chances of his impeachment.

Impeachment by the New York state assembly requires a simple majority in the lower house and two-thirds in the upper house. The last time it happened was in 1913.

Since the end of February, the 63-year-old Cuomo, whose third term is due to expire in 2022, has been under scrutiny after several women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.

Additionally, on Wednesday, a newspaper in the state capital Albany reported explosive claims that Cuomo put his hand under the blouse of a female staffer and touched her "aggressively" at the end of 2020 in his private residence.

The allegations prompted 59 Democratic lawmakers from the state assembly -- which has a total of 213 members, most of them from Cuomo's Democratic Party -- to join dozens of Republicans who have publically called for his resignation.

After meeting with lawmakers, Democratic assembly speaker Carl Heastie said Thursday he was "authorising the Assembly Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation" -- the first step towards an eventual impeachment.

"The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious," Heastie said in a statement. "The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence."

That investigation will run alongside another probe already announced by New York state Attorney General Letitia James.&nbsp;

The governor, meanwhile, has so far ruled out resignation and insisted that he never touched anyone inappropriately, though he apologised if he "hurt" any of his accusers.

The Democratic head of the state assembly in New York has greenlighted a formal investigation of the sexual harassment claims against embattled governor Andrew Cuomo -- increasing the chances of his impeachment.

The Democratic head of the state assembly in New York has greenlighted a formal investigation of the sexual harassment claims against embattled governor Andrew Cuomo -- increasing the chances of his impeachment. Impeachment by the New York state assembly requires a simple majority in the lower house and two-thirds in the upper house. The last time it happened was in 1913. Since the end of February, the 63-year-old Cuomo, whose third term is due to expire in 2022, has been under scrutiny after several women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior. Additionally, on Wednesday, a newspaper in the state capital Albany reported explosive claims that Cuomo put his hand under the blouse of a female staffer and touched her "aggressively" at the end of 2020 in his private residence. The allegations prompted 59 Democratic lawmakers from the state assembly -- which has a total of 213 members, most of them from Cuomo's Democratic Party -- to join dozens of Republicans who have publically called for his resignation. After meeting with lawmakers, Democratic assembly speaker Carl Heastie said Thursday he was "authorising the Assembly Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation" -- the first step towards an eventual impeachment. "The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious," Heastie said in a statement. "The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence." That investigation will run alongside another probe already announced by New York state Attorney General Letitia James. The governor, meanwhile, has so far ruled out resignation and insisted that he never touched anyone inappropriately, though he apologised if he "hurt" any of his accusers.

New York governor faces impeachment inquiry over sexual harassment claims

New York governor Andrew Cuomo, already under investigation for sexual harassment, is facing more serious allegations of groping a female employee.

This female employee was the sixth woman to have accused Cuomo of harassment.

But on Wednesday, it reported new details of the unnamed woman's encounter with the governor, citing a person with "direct knowledge" of her claims.

According to the newspaper, the woman had been called to Cuomo's governor's mansion in Albany last year on the "apparent pretext" of helping him with a problem with his phone.

"They were&nbsp;alone in Cuomo's private residence&nbsp;on the second floor when he closed the door and allegedly reached under her blouse and began to fondle her, according to the source," the newspaper wrote.

The employee also said the powerful Democratic governor touched her inappropriately on other occasions, according to the newspaper.&nbsp;

And the daily reported that her story first came out when she, along with other staff members, watched Cuomo give a press conference on March 3 denying earlier allegations. She became emotional before telling a female supervisor what had happened.&nbsp;She hasn't registered a formal complaint as of now.

Cuomo denied the new allegation, which he told the newspaper was "gut-wrenching." He has repeatedly denied all the claims against him and said that he would await the results of an independent investigation into the allegations, overseen by the state attorney general Letitia James.&nbsp;

Previous accusers have referred to sexual harassment or inappropriate gestures. One former aide, Lindsey Boylan, has alleged that the governor gave her an unsolicited kiss on the lips and suggested that they play strip poker, allegations Cuomo has denied.&nbsp;

Cuomo, initially praised for his state's handling of the pandemic, has suffered a spectacular fall from grace, with Republicans and his accusers also calling for his resignation. The new claim further weakens the position of the governor, who has been in power for 10 years and whose term expires in 2022.&nbsp;

New York governor Andrew Cuomo, already under investigation for sexual harassment, is facing more serious allegations of groping a female employee. This female employee was the sixth woman to have accused Cuomo of harassment.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo, already under investigation for sexual harassment, is facing more serious allegations of groping a female employee. This female employee was the sixth woman to have accused Cuomo of harassment. But on Wednesday, it reported new details of the unnamed woman's encounter with the governor, citing a person with "direct knowledge" of her claims. According to the newspaper, the woman had been called to Cuomo's governor's mansion in Albany last year on the "apparent pretext" of helping him with a problem with his phone. "They were alone in Cuomo's private residence on the second floor when he closed the door and allegedly reached under her blouse and began to fondle her, according to the source," the newspaper wrote. The employee also said the powerful Democratic governor touched her inappropriately on other occasions, according to the newspaper. And the daily reported that her story first came out when she, along with other staff members, watched Cuomo give a press conference on March 3 denying earlier allegations. She became emotional before telling a female supervisor what had happened. She hasn't registered a formal complaint as of now. Cuomo denied the new allegation, which he told the newspaper was "gut-wrenching." He has repeatedly denied all the claims against him and said that he would await the results of an independent investigation into the allegations, overseen by the state attorney general Letitia James. Previous accusers have referred to sexual harassment or inappropriate gestures. One former aide, Lindsey Boylan, has alleged that the governor gave her an unsolicited kiss on the lips and suggested that they play strip poker, allegations Cuomo has denied. Cuomo, initially praised for his state's handling of the pandemic, has suffered a spectacular fall from grace, with Republicans and his accusers also calling for his resignation. The new claim further weakens the position of the governor, who has been in power for 10 years and whose term expires in 2022.

New York governor faces more serious accusation from the sixth woman

Another woman has accused New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. The unknown staffer is the sixth women to accuse Cuomo of the wrongdoing.

Another women accuses Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, sixth woman to come forward

More than three years after the massive social media-led #MeToo movement on sexual misconduct, which started in Hollywood and swept all walks of life across the world, much remains to be done in addressing the problem. Are women's complaints of sexual harrassment at workplace being addressed?

Global firms lag on sex harassment, says report

The Governor of New York has decided not to step down even after serious allegations against him. The decision remains the same even after top US officials demand his resignation.

New York: Andrew Cuomo continues to stay defiant

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York has refused to resign but have issued an apology for the sexual harassment allegations against him. 3 women had accused him of the charges.

New York: Andrew Cuomo apologizes but refuses to resign

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called on Saturday for an outside review following a report of sexual misconduct allegations against him by a second former aide, compounding problems for one of America's most well-known Democratic politicians.

Cuomo calls for outside review after second former aide alleges sexual misconduct

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her.&nbsp;

Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state.&nbsp;

She said that the New York governor asked her several inappropriate questions related to her personal life, including age differences in romantic relationships.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-accused-of-misrepresentation-of-covid-deaths-363157/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared," Bennett said in the report.&nbsp;

Cuomo agreed for an independent probe, saying it will be headed by a former federal judge.&nbsp;

"I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate," the New York governor said in a statement on Saturday.

The latest allegations come after New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio joined a chorus of political leaders on Thursday demanding an independent investigation into the claims of another Cuomo aide who has also made accusations of sexual harassment.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-aide-of-new-york-governor-cuomo-accuses-him-of-sexual-harassment-349811">Former aide of New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment</a>

"We need a full and independent investigation," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is also a Democrat and long-time rival of Cuomo.&nbsp;

Lindsey Boylan, who worked under Cuomo from 2015 to 2018, said the New York governor kissed her on the mouth forcefully and suggested playing strip poker during a flight.

She also said Cuomo went "out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs."

Boylan made these allegations in a blog post published on Wednesday and she first opened up about her harassment in December last year in which she said Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet. 
&nbsp;

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her. Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state.

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her. Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state. She said that the New York governor asked her several inappropriate questions related to her personal life, including age differences in romantic relationships. Watch | "I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared," Bennett said in the report. Cuomo agreed for an independent probe, saying it will be headed by a former federal judge. "I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate," the New York governor said in a statement on Saturday. The latest allegations come after New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio joined a chorus of political leaders on Thursday demanding an independent investigation into the claims of another Cuomo aide who has also made accusations of sexual harassment. Also read | Former aide of New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment "We need a full and independent investigation," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is also a Democrat and long-time rival of Cuomo. Lindsey Boylan, who worked under Cuomo from 2015 to 2018, said the New York governor kissed her on the mouth forcefully and suggested playing strip poker during a flight. She also said Cuomo went "out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs." Boylan made these allegations in a blog post published on Wednesday and she first opened up about her harassment in December last year in which she said Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet.

Another woman who worked under New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment

Shortly after the premiere of the first episode of “Allen v. Farrow,” an HBO documentary series that reexamines Dylan Farrow’s decades-old sexual abuse allegations against filmmaker Woody Allen, her adoptive father, a spokesperson for Allen released a statement Sunday night slamming the series, calling it a “shoddy hit piece.”

Letty Aronson, Allen’s sister, sent the statement — attributed to a spokesperson — shortly after the first episode aired, on behalf of Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, the filmmaker’s wife and the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow. In 1992, Farrow, Allen’s longtime girlfriend, learned of the relationship between Allen and Previn when Previn was a first-year college student. That relationship is also the subject of scrutiny in the four-part docuseries.

Neither Allen nor Previn participated in the series, but it does include audio excerpts from Allen’s recent memoir, “Apropos of Nothing.”

“These documentarians had no interest in the truth,” the statement said. “Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods.”

On Monday, the publisher of Allen’s memoir, Skyhorse, raised another objection to the series: that the filmmakers had used snippets from the audiobook without permission. In a statement, the president and publisher of Skyhorse, Tony Lyons, said that the “unauthorized” use of the audio in the first episode was “clear, willful infringement under existing legal precedent.” 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-after-woody-allen-publisher-threatens-lawsuit-allen-v-farrow-makers-respond-365556" hreflang="en">After Woody Allen publisher threatens lawsuit, 'Allen v. Farrow' makers respond</a>

Lyons said in the statement that the filmmakers did not request permission to use the excerpts and that the publisher learned late last week that the episodes make “extensive” use of the audiobook. The publisher’s lawyer notified HBO on Friday that “if the use of the audiobook were anywhere near what we were hearing, it would constitute copyright infringement,” he said.

The memoir was originally set to be published last year by Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group until dozens of Hachette employees staged a walkout in protest and the publisher reneged. About two weeks later, his book was published by Arcade Publishing, an imprint of the independent publisher Skyhorse.

In response to the publisher’s objections, an HBO spokesperson provided a statement from the filmmakers, saying, “The creators of ‘Allen v. Farrow’ legally used limited audio excerpts from Woody Allen’s memoir in the series under the Fair Use doctrine.” The doctrine has been invoked to allow artists and journalists — including documentary filmmakers — to use limited amounts of copyrighted works for certain purposes, including using the material to illustrate an argument or to serve as the subject of a critique. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/mia-farrow-says-bringing-woody-allen-into-her-family-is-the-great-regret-of-her-life-365451">Mia Farrow says bringing Woody Allen into family is the 'great regret' of life</a>

Episode 1 includes extensive interviews with Mia Farrow and Dylan Farrow, who accused Allen of sexual assault when she was 7 years old. It also included interviews with family and friends who said that even before Aug. 4, 1992 — the day that Dylan Farrow says Allen assaulted her — they witnessed behavior from Allen toward his daughter that they saw as inappropriate.

Allen has long denied the abuse allegations, arguing that Mia Farrow had coached Dylan to make the allegations after learning about his relationship with Previn.

In Sunday’s statement, Allen continued to deny the claims.

“As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false,” the statement said. “Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place.”

In later episodes, the series raises questions about one of those investigations, in particular: a report issued by the Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic, at the Yale-New Haven Hospital, which found Dylan uncredible after interviewing the child nine times during a seven-month period. According to the series, all the contemporaneous interview notes from those sessions were destroyed when the final report was issued. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/woody-allen-mia-farrow-soon-yi-previn-dylan-farrow-a-timeline-365343" hreflang="en">Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi Previn, Dylan Farrow: A Timeline</a>

Prosecutors in Connecticut, where Dylan Farrow says that Allen sexually assaulted her, declined to prosecute Allen in 1993. The state’s attorney said that he did so to spare Dylan the trauma of a trial but that he believed she had been molested.

The statement said that Allen and Previn were approached about the documentary less than two months ago and were “given only a matter of days” to respond to it. It also said it was “sadly unsurprising” that HBO was airing the series, considering a production deal it had made with Ronan Farrow, Dylan Farrow’s brother, who has spoken in support of his sister, including in the series. (Ronan Farrow, an investigative journalist who has reported extensively on sexual misconduct, has a deal with HBO to create investigative documentary specials, though he was not on the production team for “Allen v. Farrow.”)

Shortly after the premiere of the first episode of “Allen v. Farrow,” an HBO documentary series that reexamines Dylan Farrow’s decades-old sexual abuse allegations against filmmaker Woody Allen, her adoptive father, a spokesperson for Allen released a statement Sunday night slamming the series, calling it a “shoddy hit piece.

Shortly after the premiere of the first episode of “Allen v. Farrow,” an HBO documentary series that reexamines Dylan Farrow’s decades-old sexual abuse allegations against filmmaker Woody Allen, her adoptive father, a spokesperson for Allen released a statement Sunday night slamming the series, calling it a “shoddy hit piece.” Letty Aronson, Allen’s sister, sent the statement — attributed to a spokesperson — shortly after the first episode aired, on behalf of Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, the filmmaker’s wife and the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow. In 1992, Farrow, Allen’s longtime girlfriend, learned of the relationship between Allen and Previn when Previn was a first-year college student. That relationship is also the subject of scrutiny in the four-part docuseries. Neither Allen nor Previn participated in the series, but it does include audio excerpts from Allen’s recent memoir, “Apropos of Nothing.” “These documentarians had no interest in the truth,” the statement said. “Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods.” On Monday, the publisher of Allen’s memoir, Skyhorse, raised another objection to the series: that the filmmakers had used snippets from the audiobook without permission. In a statement, the president and publisher of Skyhorse, Tony Lyons, said that the “unauthorized” use of the audio in the first episode was “clear, willful infringement under existing legal precedent.” Also read: After Woody Allen publisher threatens lawsuit, 'Allen v. Farrow' makers respond Lyons said in the statement that the filmmakers did not request permission to use the excerpts and that the publisher learned late last week that the episodes make “extensive” use of the audiobook. The publisher’s lawyer notified HBO on Friday that “if the use of the audiobook were anywhere near what we were hearing, it would constitute copyright infringement,” he said. The memoir was originally set to be published last year by Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group until dozens of Hachette employees staged a walkout in protest and the publisher reneged. About two weeks later, his book was published by Arcade Publishing, an imprint of the independent publisher Skyhorse. In response to the publisher’s objections, an HBO spokesperson provided a statement from the filmmakers, saying, “The creators of ‘Allen v. Farrow’ legally used limited audio excerpts from Woody Allen’s memoir in the series under the Fair Use doctrine.” The doctrine has been invoked to allow artists and journalists — including documentary filmmakers — to use limited amounts of copyrighted works for certain purposes, including using the material to illustrate an argument or to serve as the subject of a critique. Also read: Mia Farrow says bringing Woody Allen into family is the 'great regret' of life Episode 1 includes extensive interviews with Mia Farrow and Dylan Farrow, who accused Allen of sexual assault when she was 7 years old. It also included interviews with family and friends who said that even before Aug. 4, 1992 — the day that Dylan Farrow says Allen assaulted her — they witnessed behavior from Allen toward his daughter that they saw as inappropriate. Allen has long denied the abuse allegations, arguing that Mia Farrow had coached Dylan to make the allegations after learning about his relationship with Previn. In Sunday’s statement, Allen continued to deny the claims. “As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false,” the statement said. “Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place.” In later episodes, the series raises questions about one of those investigations, in particular: a report issued by the Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic, at the Yale-New Haven Hospital, which found Dylan uncredible after interviewing the child nine times during a seven-month period. According to the series, all the contemporaneous interview notes from those sessions were destroyed when the final report was issued. Also read: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi Previn, Dylan Farrow: A Timeline Prosecutors in Connecticut, where Dylan Farrow says that Allen sexually assaulted her, declined to prosecute Allen in 1993. The state’s attorney said that he did so to spare Dylan the trauma of a trial but that he believed she had been molested. The statement said that Allen and Previn were approached about the documentary less than two months ago and were “given only a matter of days” to respond to it. It also said it was “sadly unsurprising” that HBO was airing the series, considering a production deal it had made with Ronan Farrow, Dylan Farrow’s brother, who has spoken in support of his sister, including in the series. (Ronan Farrow, an investigative journalist who has reported extensively on sexual misconduct, has a deal with HBO to create investigative documentary specials, though he was not on the production team for “Allen v. Farrow.”)

Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn call HBO docuseries a 'shoddy hit piece'

For years, the account given by Woody Allen’s then-7-year-old adopted daughter Dylan Farrow in the days following Aug. 4, 1992, when she says he sexually assaulted her, has been central to her case against him.

The specialists who heard the child’s account then and in later years have been divided on whether it was credible or whether it was coerced by her adoptive mother, Mia Farrow. But the public has only heard Dylan, as an adult, recount what she told her mother nearly 30 years ago.

Now Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s four-part documentary, “Allen v. Farrow,” which premiered Sunday on HBO (and streams on HBO Max), will for the first time include video footage of Dylan, recorded by her mother, describing what happened to her just days after she said Allen molested her.

The film is the latest development in a case that has been debated for nearly 30 years. It made headlines again in 2014 when Allen received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes — and Dylan Farrow wrote an open letter, posted by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, recounting her story in detail in response.

Then, in September 2018, New York magazine published a lengthy interview with Soon-Yi Previn, her first extended remarks on her relationship with Allen, who began to date her mother, Mia, when Previn was a young girl. Allen and Previn began a romantic relationship in 1991, when Previn was 21.

Allen has long denied assaulting his daughter and argued that Mia Farrow coached Dylan to say she had been assaulted after discovering that he and Previn were having an affair.

This timeline highlights important dates and developments in the narrative that has its roots in the 1970s. Based on New York Times articles and other news reports, it is a guide, not a comprehensive accounting, and will be updated periodically.

1977

Mia Farrow and her husband, André Previn, adopt Soon-Yi Previn from Korea; she is believed to be about 7 years old.

1979

Woody Allen and Farrow are introduced at Elaine’s, the Manhattan restaurant, and later begin a relationship.

1985

Farrow adopts a baby girl, Dylan, who was born in Texas.

1987

Farrow and Allen have a son, Ronan. Farrow would later suggest in a 2013 Vanity Fair interview that Frank Sinatra may have been his father.

December 1991

Allen adopts Dylan and Moses Farrow, one of Mia Farrow’s sons, whom she adopted in 1980. Allen, who is 56, begins an affair with Farrow’s 21-year-old daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, around this time.

Jan. 13, 1992

Farrow discovers nude photographs of Previn in Allen’s apartment. He later testifies in court that he thought the affair would remain secret.

Aug. 1, 1992

With the affair between Allen and Previn continuing, Farrow calls Susan Coates, a psychologist who had been helping the family, and describes Allen as “satanic and evil” and begs her to “find a way to stop him.”

Aug. 4, 1992

According to Dylan Farrow, Allen abused her that day, touching her genitalia. She was 7 at the time. She detailed her accusation in January 2018 on “CBS This Morning”:

DYLAN FARROW: I was taken to a small attic crawl space in my mother’s country house in Connecticut by my father. He instructed me to lay down on my stomach and play with my brother’s toy train that was set up. And he sat behind me in the doorway, and as I played with the toy train, I was sexually assaulted … As a 7-year-old I would say, I would have said he touched my private parts.

GAYLE KING: Mmm-hmm. OK.

FARROW: Which I did say.

KING: All right. All right.

FARROW: As a 32-year-old, he touched my labia and my vulva with his finger.

Aug. 5, 1992

Casey Pascal, a friend of Mia Farrow’s, tells her that Dylan’s babysitter described observing Allen in a position with Dylan that seemed inappropriate. According to Vanity Fair, Farrow immediately asked Dylan about it, and she gave her account to her mother.

Farrow calls Coates, the psychologist, and says Dylan has complained that Allen has abused her. A major question later considered in court was whether Farrow had coached her daughter during this period. According to later court testimony by Coates, she is struck by Farrow’s calm during the call, as opposed to her agitated state in the Aug. 1 call.

Aug. 13, 1992

Allen sues Farrow in New York state court for custody of Ronan, Dylan and Moses Farrow.

Aug. 17, 1992 
Allen releases a statement confirming his relationship with Previn, saying it is “real and happily all true.” The same day, Connecticut state police announce that they are investigating Allen. The focus: the allegations that he molested Dylan.

Aug. 18, 1992

Allen makes a public appearance to say he is “saddened” by the child abuse allegations and calls them “false” and “outrageous.”

Nov. 1992

Vanity Fair publishes “Mia’s Story,” a lengthy reported piece about Farrow, her family, the abuse allegations and her history with Allen.

Nov. 22, 1992

Allen speaks on “60 Minutes” and defends himself against the molestation allegations.

March 18, 1993

After a seven-month inquiry by a team of child abuse investigators at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Allen’s lawyers say he has been cleared of molesting Dylan Farrow. Mia Farrow’s legal team calls the confidential report “incomplete and inaccurate.” The report, which was commissioned by Connecticut law enforcement, was never officially released, but media outlets reported some of its contents. 
March 19, 1993

The custody trial begins. Allen takes the stand and describes the disintegration of his relationship with Mia Farrow. He testifies that she threatened him in phone calls and flew into rages in front of the children after the two started falling out.

March 25, 1993

Farrow takes the stand. She goes into detail about what Dylan told her the previous summer. She says she worried that Allen had a sexual attraction to Dylan from when she was 2 years old.

May 3, 1993

A sworn statement from John M. Leventhal, the doctor who led the Yale-New Haven team, is released to the public. It theorizes that Dylan was emotionally unstable and coached by Farrow to accuse Allen. The Yale-New Haven team interviewed Dylan nine times and said she changed details throughout the interviews; Leventhal said in his statement that he had interviewed her, but Vanity Fair reported years later that he had not.

June 7, 1993

Allen loses the custody battle. Acting Justice Elliott Wilk of the state Supreme Court says Allen is “self-absorbed, untrustworthy and insensitive.” He denies Allen visitation rights with Dylan.

Sept. 24, 1993

Frank Maco, a state attorney in Connecticut, announces that while he has “probable cause” to prosecute Allen, he will decline to press charges to spare Dylan the trauma of a trial. Maco says he believes that Dylan had been molested.

Dec. 23, 1997

Allen marries Previn.

June 24, 2001

Allen gives a long interview to Time magazine’s Walter Isaacson recounting his relationship with Soon-Yi — “The heart wants what it wants,” he says — and again denies the allegations by Dylan and Mia Farrow.

June 17, 2012

After years of relatively little news coverage of Allen and Mia and Dylan Farrow, Ronan Farrow posts on Twitter: “Happy father’s day — or as they call it in my family, happy brother-in-law’s day.”

November 2013

Dylan Farrow goes on the record for the first time in an interview with Vanity Fair. She is 28 now and describes receiving entreaties from Allen from when she was 18. She says of the alleged abuse by Allen: “There’s a lot I don’t remember, but what happened in the attic I remember. I remember what I was wearing and what I wasn’t wearing.”

Jan. 12, 2014

In response to Allen receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes, which Diane Keaton accepted on his behalf, Ronan Farrow posts on Twitter: “Missed the Woody Allen tribute — did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after 'Annie Hall'?”

Feb. 1, 2014

Dylan Farrow writes an open letter recounting her story in detail, posted by Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.

Feb. 4, 2014

After the letter, Mia Farrow posts on Twitter: “I love my daughter. I will always protect her. A lot of ugliness is going to be aimed at me. But this is not about me, it’s about her truth.”

Feb. 5, 2014

In response to Dylan’s open letter, Moses Farrow defends Allen in an interview with People magazine, saying Mia Farrow coached the children to hate Allen. He says Dylan was never molested and that Mia Farrow was a bully.

Feb. 7, 2014

Allen, writing in the Opinion section of The Times, denies the allegations again.

2014

Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin, two friends and stars in Allen films, defend him in the face of Dylan Farrow’s accusations. Cate Blanchett, the star of Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” is more circumspect, saying she hopes Allen and the family “find some sort of resolution and peace.” Lena Dunham calls Dylan “courageous” and urges people to read her open letter.

May 11, 2016

In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Ronan Farrow writes about the struggles Dylan faced in getting her story out and says he believes Dylan’s account.

October 2017

The New York Times, and then Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker, publish articles about sexual harassment, abuse and rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

Allen says he feels “sad for Harvey” and warns against “a witch hunt atmosphere.” He later calls Weinstein “a sad, sick man.”

March 2, 2020

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, announces that it will publish Allen’s memoir, “Apropos of Nothing,” on April 7. The book is described as a comprehensive account of his life, “both personal and professional,” including details about his relationships with “family, friends and the loves of his life.”

In a statement on Twitter, Dylan Farrow harshly criticizes Hachette, which had previously published Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill,” which recounts how he reported sexual assault allegations against Weinstein. She calls the decision to publish Allen’s memoir “an utter betrayal.”

March 5, 2020

Dozens of Hachette employees stage a walkout in protest. The next day, Hachette announces it will no longer publish “Apropos of Nothing.”

March 23, 2020

Allen’s book is published by Arcade Publishing. In the book, he again denies that he sexually abused Dylan and calls the allegations “a total fabrication from start to finish.”

Feb. 21, 2021

The HBO documentary “Allen v. Farrow” makes public for the first time the video footage from 1992 when Mia Farrow recorded Dylan, at age 7, reporting that Allen had sexually assaulted her.

For years, the account given by Woody Allen’s then-7-year-old adopted daughter Dylan Farrow in the days following Aug. 4, 1992, when she says he sexually assaulted her, has been central to her case against him.

For years, the account given by Woody Allen’s then-7-year-old adopted daughter Dylan Farrow in the days following Aug. 4, 1992, when she says he sexually assaulted her, has been central to her case against him. The specialists who heard the child’s account then and in later years have been divided on whether it was credible or whether it was coerced by her adoptive mother, Mia Farrow. But the public has only heard Dylan, as an adult, recount what she told her mother nearly 30 years ago. Now Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s four-part documentary, “Allen v. Farrow,” which premiered Sunday on HBO (and streams on HBO Max), will for the first time include video footage of Dylan, recorded by her mother, describing what happened to her just days after she said Allen molested her. The film is the latest development in a case that has been debated for nearly 30 years. It made headlines again in 2014 when Allen received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes — and Dylan Farrow wrote an open letter, posted by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, recounting her story in detail in response. Then, in September 2018, New York magazine published a lengthy interview with Soon-Yi Previn, her first extended remarks on her relationship with Allen, who began to date her mother, Mia, when Previn was a young girl. Allen and Previn began a romantic relationship in 1991, when Previn was 21. Allen has long denied assaulting his daughter and argued that Mia Farrow coached Dylan to say she had been assaulted after discovering that he and Previn were having an affair. This timeline highlights important dates and developments in the narrative that has its roots in the 1970s. Based on New York Times articles and other news reports, it is a guide, not a comprehensive accounting, and will be updated periodically. 1977 Mia Farrow and her husband, André Previn, adopt Soon-Yi Previn from Korea; she is believed to be about 7 years old. 1979 Woody Allen and Farrow are introduced at Elaine’s, the Manhattan restaurant, and later begin a relationship. 1985 Farrow adopts a baby girl, Dylan, who was born in Texas. 1987 Farrow and Allen have a son, Ronan. Farrow would later suggest in a 2013 Vanity Fair interview that Frank Sinatra may have been his father. December 1991 Allen adopts Dylan and Moses Farrow, one of Mia Farrow’s sons, whom she adopted in 1980. Allen, who is 56, begins an affair with Farrow’s 21-year-old daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, around this time. Jan. 13, 1992 Farrow discovers nude photographs of Previn in Allen’s apartment. He later testifies in court that he thought the affair would remain secret. Aug. 1, 1992 With the affair between Allen and Previn continuing, Farrow calls Susan Coates, a psychologist who had been helping the family, and describes Allen as “satanic and evil” and begs her to “find a way to stop him.” Aug. 4, 1992 According to Dylan Farrow, Allen abused her that day, touching her genitalia. She was 7 at the time. She detailed her accusation in January 2018 on “CBS This Morning”: DYLAN FARROW: I was taken to a small attic crawl space in my mother’s country house in Connecticut by my father. He instructed me to lay down on my stomach and play with my brother’s toy train that was set up. And he sat behind me in the doorway, and as I played with the toy train, I was sexually assaulted … As a 7-year-old I would say, I would have said he touched my private parts. GAYLE KING: Mmm-hmm. OK. FARROW: Which I did say. KING: All right. All right. FARROW: As a 32-year-old, he touched my labia and my vulva with his finger. Aug. 5, 1992 Casey Pascal, a friend of Mia Farrow’s, tells her that Dylan’s babysitter described observing Allen in a position with Dylan that seemed inappropriate. According to Vanity Fair, Farrow immediately asked Dylan about it, and she gave her account to her mother. Farrow calls Coates, the psychologist, and says Dylan has complained that Allen has abused her. A major question later considered in court was whether Farrow had coached her daughter during this period. According to later court testimony by Coates, she is struck by Farrow’s calm during the call, as opposed to her agitated state in the Aug. 1 call. Aug. 13, 1992 Allen sues Farrow in New York state court for custody of Ronan, Dylan and Moses Farrow. Aug. 17, 1992 Allen releases a statement confirming his relationship with Previn, saying it is “real and happily all true.” The same day, Connecticut state police announce that they are investigating Allen. The focus: the allegations that he molested Dylan. Aug. 18, 1992 Allen makes a public appearance to say he is “saddened” by the child abuse allegations and calls them “false” and “outrageous.” Nov. 1992 Vanity Fair publishes “Mia’s Story,” a lengthy reported piece about Farrow, her family, the abuse allegations and her history with Allen. Nov. 22, 1992 Allen speaks on “60 Minutes” and defends himself against the molestation allegations. March 18, 1993 After a seven-month inquiry by a team of child abuse investigators at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Allen’s lawyers say he has been cleared of molesting Dylan Farrow. Mia Farrow’s legal team calls the confidential report “incomplete and inaccurate.” The report, which was commissioned by Connecticut law enforcement, was never officially released, but media outlets reported some of its contents. March 19, 1993 The custody trial begins. Allen takes the stand and describes the disintegration of his relationship with Mia Farrow. He testifies that she threatened him in phone calls and flew into rages in front of the children after the two started falling out. March 25, 1993 Farrow takes the stand. She goes into detail about what Dylan told her the previous summer. She says she worried that Allen had a sexual attraction to Dylan from when she was 2 years old. May 3, 1993 A sworn statement from John M. Leventhal, the doctor who led the Yale-New Haven team, is released to the public. It theorizes that Dylan was emotionally unstable and coached by Farrow to accuse Allen. The Yale-New Haven team interviewed Dylan nine times and said she changed details throughout the interviews; Leventhal said in his statement that he had interviewed her, but Vanity Fair reported years later that he had not. June 7, 1993 Allen loses the custody battle. Acting Justice Elliott Wilk of the state Supreme Court says Allen is “self-absorbed, untrustworthy and insensitive.” He denies Allen visitation rights with Dylan. Sept. 24, 1993 Frank Maco, a state attorney in Connecticut, announces that while he has “probable cause” to prosecute Allen, he will decline to press charges to spare Dylan the trauma of a trial. Maco says he believes that Dylan had been molested. Dec. 23, 1997 Allen marries Previn. June 24, 2001 Allen gives a long interview to Time magazine’s Walter Isaacson recounting his relationship with Soon-Yi — “The heart wants what it wants,” he says — and again denies the allegations by Dylan and Mia Farrow. June 17, 2012 After years of relatively little news coverage of Allen and Mia and Dylan Farrow, Ronan Farrow posts on Twitter: “Happy father’s day — or as they call it in my family, happy brother-in-law’s day.” November 2013 Dylan Farrow goes on the record for the first time in an interview with Vanity Fair. She is 28 now and describes receiving entreaties from Allen from when she was 18. She says of the alleged abuse by Allen: “There’s a lot I don’t remember, but what happened in the attic I remember. I remember what I was wearing and what I wasn’t wearing.” Jan. 12, 2014 In response to Allen receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes, which Diane Keaton accepted on his behalf, Ronan Farrow posts on Twitter: “Missed the Woody Allen tribute — did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after 'Annie Hall'?” Feb. 1, 2014 Dylan Farrow writes an open letter recounting her story in detail, posted by Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. Feb. 4, 2014 After the letter, Mia Farrow posts on Twitter: “I love my daughter. I will always protect her. A lot of ugliness is going to be aimed at me. But this is not about me, it’s about her truth.” Feb. 5, 2014 In response to Dylan’s open letter, Moses Farrow defends Allen in an interview with People magazine, saying Mia Farrow coached the children to hate Allen. He says Dylan was never molested and that Mia Farrow was a bully. Feb. 7, 2014 Allen, writing in the Opinion section of The Times, denies the allegations again. 2014 Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin, two friends and stars in Allen films, defend him in the face of Dylan Farrow’s accusations. Cate Blanchett, the star of Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” is more circumspect, saying she hopes Allen and the family “find some sort of resolution and peace.” Lena Dunham calls Dylan “courageous” and urges people to read her open letter. May 11, 2016 In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Ronan Farrow writes about the struggles Dylan faced in getting her story out and says he believes Dylan’s account. October 2017 The New York Times, and then Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker, publish articles about sexual harassment, abuse and rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Allen says he feels “sad for Harvey” and warns against “a witch hunt atmosphere.” He later calls Weinstein “a sad, sick man.” March 2, 2020 Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, announces that it will publish Allen’s memoir, “Apropos of Nothing,” on April 7. The book is described as a comprehensive account of his life, “both personal and professional,” including details about his relationships with “family, friends and the loves of his life.” In a statement on Twitter, Dylan Farrow harshly criticizes Hachette, which had previously published Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill,” which recounts how he reported sexual assault allegations against Weinstein. She calls the decision to publish Allen’s memoir “an utter betrayal.” March 5, 2020 Dozens of Hachette employees stage a walkout in protest. The next day, Hachette announces it will no longer publish “Apropos of Nothing.” March 23, 2020 Allen’s book is published by Arcade Publishing. In the book, he again denies that he sexually abused Dylan and calls the allegations “a total fabrication from start to finish.” Feb. 21, 2021 The HBO documentary “Allen v. Farrow” makes public for the first time the video footage from 1992 when Mia Farrow recorded Dylan, at age 7, reporting that Allen had sexually assaulted her.

Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi Previn, Dylan Farrow: A Timeline

This week, one name made a lot of headlines -- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

An economist and a former finance minister of Nigeria, she has become the first woman and the first African to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

But she is the exception, not the norm.

This very week, another woman from Africa made headlines -- Angie Mot Shekga. She is South Africa's education minister.

She said educated men do not rape after being hit by a storm of rebukes.

The minister's spokesperson later clarified she was trying to motivate students to be at school.

Here's something else that happened this week. A video emerged from Brazil. It captured a lawmaker touching a female colleague inappropriately.

This man is Fernando Cury, the state deputy of Sao Paulo.

WATCH|

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-patriarchy-in-public-life-364925/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This incident occured on December 16, 2020, but the video went viral this week.

The male lawmaker denies any wrongdoing. He says he did not harass his colleague, and all he wanted to do was offer a hug.

This man is now being probed for sexual harassment..

Also this week, a woman in Australia said that she was raped in the country's parliament.

The woman could not file a complaint, because she was scared about the repercussions on her career.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised this week, and said he would ensure that any young woman working in parliament is as safe as possible.

Then in Japan, a woman was elected as the Tokyo Olympics 2020 chief -- Seiko Hashmito.

She resigned to fill in for former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori, after he was forced to resign over sexist comments.

He had said women speak too much at meetings. So to compensate for the blunder, Tokyo 2020 was given a woman chief.

Here's what happened next. The country's ruling party floated a proposal. It said women will be invited to attend a key meeting of the party.

But there is a clause -- the women must not speak. They can only "look" at the kind of discussion, and submit their opinion afterwards.

In short, we are still dictated and dominated by patriarchy. It's everywhere.

As many as 37 countries have passport restrictions -- specific to women; 17 countries restrict women from traveling without permission; in 18 countries, a woman needs her husband's permission to work...

How will a woman access her rightful place in public life, and fight sexism and patriarchy -- if she does not even have right to make these basic decisions?

How will she do it if she's told to just note, and not speak as a pre-condition to attend meetings?

As we head into the weekend, let this be some food for thought...

This week, one name made a lot of headlines -- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. An economist and a former finance minister of Nigeria, she has become the first woman and the first African to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

This week, one name made a lot of headlines -- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. An economist and a former finance minister of Nigeria, she has become the first woman and the first African to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO). But she is the exception, not the norm. This very week, another woman from Africa made headlines -- Angie Mot Shekga. She is South Africa's education minister. She said educated men do not rape after being hit by a storm of rebukes. The minister's spokesperson later clarified she was trying to motivate students to be at school. Here's something else that happened this week. A video emerged from Brazil. It captured a lawmaker touching a female colleague inappropriately. This man is Fernando Cury, the state deputy of Sao Paulo. WATCH| This incident occured on December 16, 2020, but the video went viral this week. The male lawmaker denies any wrongdoing. He says he did not harass his colleague, and all he wanted to do was offer a hug. This man is now being probed for sexual harassment.. Also this week, a woman in Australia said that she was raped in the country's parliament. The woman could not file a complaint, because she was scared about the repercussions on her career. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised this week, and said he would ensure that any young woman working in parliament is as safe as possible. Then in Japan, a woman was elected as the Tokyo Olympics 2020 chief -- Seiko Hashmito. She resigned to fill in for former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori, after he was forced to resign over sexist comments. He had said women speak too much at meetings. So to compensate for the blunder, Tokyo 2020 was given a woman chief. Here's what happened next. The country's ruling party floated a proposal. It said women will be invited to attend a key meeting of the party. But there is a clause -- the women must not speak. They can only "look" at the kind of discussion, and submit their opinion afterwards. In short, we are still dictated and dominated by patriarchy. It's everywhere. As many as 37 countries have passport restrictions -- specific to women; 17 countries restrict women from traveling without permission; in 18 countries, a woman needs her husband's permission to work... How will a woman access her rightful place in public life, and fight sexism and patriarchy -- if she does not even have right to make these basic decisions? How will she do it if she's told to just note, and not speak as a pre-condition to attend meetings? As we head into the weekend, let this be some food for thought...

Food for thought for the weekend: Sexism in public life

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill&nbsp;criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous&nbsp;domestic violence law.

The new law "criminalises sexual harassment, especially in the workplace", the official National News Agency reported.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-imran-khan-in-spotlight-as-pakistan-passes-new-rape-law-350282">PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law</a>

As per the new law, all perpetrators, if proven guilty, can be sentenced to up to two years of prison time and will be fined 20 times the value of the minimum wage of the country — which amounts up to&nbsp;$450 (675,000 Lebanese pounds).

In addition to this, the parliament also decided that the&nbsp;maximum penalties will be reserved especially for harassment faced by women and others in workplaces and all public and educational institutions.

The Parliament has also expanded the definition of domestic violence — a moe which has been waited for since the legislation's establishment in 2014. Earlier, several activists had criticised the legislation for having a narrow definition of 'domestic violence' and for&nbsp;failing to specifically criminalise marital rape. However, now, the parliament said it "penalises economic and psychological violence".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-bid-to-affirm-dignity-of-lgbtq-over-370-religious-leaders-demand-end-to-conversion-therapy-350475">In a bid to affirm dignity of LGBTQ, over 370 religious leaders demand end to conversion therapy</a>

UN Women Lebanon praised the law's endorsement of "important protection-related measures that strengthen the legal framework to end violence against women" in the country.

While the decision has been welcomed by masses, several activists still feel the ruling fails to give full protection and justice to women.

The legislation allows victims to use criminal justice system, instead of civil courts, due to which the victims will have to be named and the cases will be made public. "This is a major obstacle for victims and does not give them the incentive to file complaints," said&nbsp;Karim Nammour, a lawyer.

Another obstacle is that the Parliament has failed to lay down penalties for marital rape. "Marriage to the victim should not exempt a sexual offender from punishment," explained&nbsp;Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch in an interview to AFP.

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous domestic violence law.

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous domestic violence law. The new law "criminalises sexual harassment, especially in the workplace", the official National News Agency reported. Also read| PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law As per the new law, all perpetrators, if proven guilty, can be sentenced to up to two years of prison time and will be fined 20 times the value of the minimum wage of the country — which amounts up to $450 (675,000 Lebanese pounds). In addition to this, the parliament also decided that the maximum penalties will be reserved especially for harassment faced by women and others in workplaces and all public and educational institutions. The Parliament has also expanded the definition of domestic violence — a moe which has been waited for since the legislation's establishment in 2014. Earlier, several activists had criticised the legislation for having a narrow definition of 'domestic violence' and for failing to specifically criminalise marital rape. However, now, the parliament said it "penalises economic and psychological violence". Also read| In a bid to affirm dignity of LGBTQ, over 370 religious leaders demand end to conversion therapy UN Women Lebanon praised the law's endorsement of "important protection-related measures that strengthen the legal framework to end violence against women" in the country. While the decision has been welcomed by masses, several activists still feel the ruling fails to give full protection and justice to women. The legislation allows victims to use criminal justice system, instead of civil courts, due to which the victims will have to be named and the cases will be made public. "This is a major obstacle for victims and does not give them the incentive to file complaints," said Karim Nammour, a lawyer. Another obstacle is that the Parliament has failed to lay down penalties for marital rape. "Marriage to the victim should not exempt a sexual offender from punishment," explained Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch in an interview to AFP.

Historic ruling: Lebanon's parliament criminalises sexual harassment

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement

Zhou&nbsp;Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018. She accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her when she was an intern at state broadcaster CCTV.

China's first-ever civil code -- passed in May -- expanded the definition of sexual harassment, but many women are still reluctant to come forward and it is rare for cases like this to make it to court.

"I'm very nervous," she told AFP on Wednesday ahead of the hearing. "But whether we win or lose the case, it has meaning."&nbsp;

"If we lose, it allows the questions we raised at least to remain in history. Someone will have to give us an answer."&nbsp;

Zhou Xiaoxuan's&nbsp;case against Zhu was originally filed under the "personality rights" law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body -- but her lawyers have asked for it to be considered under the new legislation.

She said she found herself alone in a dressing room with Zhu in 2014, and that he groped her after asking if she wanted to continue to work for the channel after her internship.

Zhu is a former host of the country's annual Spring Festival Gala -- one of the world's most-watched television shows -- and other major broadcast events.

He has denied the allegations, and launched his own court case accusing her of damaging his reputation.The woman&nbsp;was among a wave of people who came forward in 2018 when an emerging #MeToo movement rocked China.

When Zhou&nbsp;initially reported the case to police, she said she was told that speaking out would affect the image of the state broadcaster where Zhu worked and hurt the feelings of those who admired him.

"These (experiences) make you feel like your existence is very insignificant," she told AFP.&nbsp;

"Actual harm inflicted on your body can't even compare with the other party's illusory fame and power."

Many women are reluctant to speak out in China's conservative society where victims can also face blame.

But the woman&nbsp;has no regrets about launching the case and says that even if it is unsuccessful, she hopes it will encourage more women to speak up.

"Even if I had to experience this all over again, I don't regret it. In this process I developed an emotional connection with many women and men who had similar experiences," she said.

"I think all of this is still meaningful."

Although China's #MeToo movement was restrained by online censorship and a tightening on civil community issues, several well-known individuals came under fire over allegations of sexual misconduct, including the former head of the government-run Buddhist association.

Lawyer Lu Xiaoquan told AFP that although disputes over sexual harassment can now be taken to court, "having these laws cannot fundamentally change the difficulties sexual harassment victims face."

(With AFP inputs)

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement Zhou Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018.

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement Zhou Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018. She accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her when she was an intern at state broadcaster CCTV. China's first-ever civil code -- passed in May -- expanded the definition of sexual harassment, but many women are still reluctant to come forward and it is rare for cases like this to make it to court. "I'm very nervous," she told AFP on Wednesday ahead of the hearing. "But whether we win or lose the case, it has meaning." "If we lose, it allows the questions we raised at least to remain in history. Someone will have to give us an answer." Zhou Xiaoxuan's case against Zhu was originally filed under the "personality rights" law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body -- but her lawyers have asked for it to be considered under the new legislation. She said she found herself alone in a dressing room with Zhu in 2014, and that he groped her after asking if she wanted to continue to work for the channel after her internship. Zhu is a former host of the country's annual Spring Festival Gala -- one of the world's most-watched television shows -- and other major broadcast events. He has denied the allegations, and launched his own court case accusing her of damaging his reputation.The woman was among a wave of people who came forward in 2018 when an emerging #MeToo movement rocked China. When Zhou initially reported the case to police, she said she was told that speaking out would affect the image of the state broadcaster where Zhu worked and hurt the feelings of those who admired him. "These (experiences) make you feel like your existence is very insignificant," she told AFP. "Actual harm inflicted on your body can't even compare with the other party's illusory fame and power." Many women are reluctant to speak out in China's conservative society where victims can also face blame. But the woman has no regrets about launching the case and says that even if it is unsuccessful, she hopes it will encourage more women to speak up. "Even if I had to experience this all over again, I don't regret it. In this process I developed an emotional connection with many women and men who had similar experiences," she said. "I think all of this is still meaningful." Although China's #MeToo movement was restrained by online censorship and a tightening on civil community issues, several well-known individuals came under fire over allegations of sexual misconduct, including the former head of the government-run Buddhist association. Lawyer Lu Xiaoquan told AFP that although disputes over sexual harassment can now be taken to court, "having these laws cannot fundamentally change the difficulties sexual harassment victims face." (With AFP inputs)

Court hearing begins in sexual harassment case marking China's MeToo movement

Women in Spain marched on Wednesday (November 25) to highlight how lockdowns due to the pandemic had left many trapped with their abusers and exposed to greater danger. The marches in Madrid and Bilbao marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Spanish women join global call for end to domestic violence

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks. 
 
Jensen, 59, had in recent days admitted to and apologised for having harassed women over the course of his 30-year career, after two women accused him of touching them inappropriately in 2012 and 2017. 
 
On Sunday, the head of the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party told daily Jyllands-Posten that she had been informed of eight other people who had either been harassed by Jensen or who had witnessed harassments. 
 
Jensen, who has served as mayor for 11 years, received the support of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday to continue as mayor, but threw in the towel nonetheless.

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"Now I have slept on it. This is going to overshadow all the political work I want to do. That is why I have decided to resign as mayor," he told reporters on Monday. 
 
He also stepped down as deputy head of the Social Democrats, a post he had held since 2015. 
 
Thousands of women have come forward in recent weeks with accounts of sexism and harassment in the Nordic country, which is often viewed as a bastion of gender equality. 
 
Earlier this month, the leader of the Social Liberal party, Morten Ostergaard, resigned after it emerged he had placed his hand on the thigh of a female colleague 10 years earlier. 
 
In 2017 a public discussion arose in Denmark as the #MeToo movement emboldened women across the world to speak out about their experiences of discrimination and sexual assault. 
 
However, a widespread change in Danish attitudes did not materialise.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/metoo-iranian-women-break-silence-about-sexual-abuse-through-twitter-324450" hreflang="en">#MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter</a> 
 
The issue became a national talking point in late August when presenter Sofie Linde, a household name, stunned viewers of a live TV gala by recounting how a senior television executive offered to advance her career in exchange for oral sex, 12 years earlier. 
 
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday called for a change in cultural attitudes.&nbsp; 
 
"Harassment and violations can not be defended. Together we must create a culture where it is not okay. Neither in words nor actions," she wrote in a statement.

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks.

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks. Jensen, 59, had in recent days admitted to and apologised for having harassed women over the course of his 30-year career, after two women accused him of touching them inappropriately in 2012 and 2017. On Sunday, the head of the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party told daily Jyllands-Posten that she had been informed of eight other people who had either been harassed by Jensen or who had witnessed harassments. Jensen, who has served as mayor for 11 years, received the support of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday to continue as mayor, but threw in the towel nonetheless. Also read: The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement "Now I have slept on it. This is going to overshadow all the political work I want to do. That is why I have decided to resign as mayor," he told reporters on Monday. He also stepped down as deputy head of the Social Democrats, a post he had held since 2015. Thousands of women have come forward in recent weeks with accounts of sexism and harassment in the Nordic country, which is often viewed as a bastion of gender equality. Earlier this month, the leader of the Social Liberal party, Morten Ostergaard, resigned after it emerged he had placed his hand on the thigh of a female colleague 10 years earlier. In 2017 a public discussion arose in Denmark as the #MeToo movement emboldened women across the world to speak out about their experiences of discrimination and sexual assault. However, a widespread change in Danish attitudes did not materialise. Also read: #MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter The issue became a national talking point in late August when presenter Sofie Linde, a household name, stunned viewers of a live TV gala by recounting how a senior television executive offered to advance her career in exchange for oral sex, 12 years earlier. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday called for a change in cultural attitudes. "Harassment and violations can not be defended. Together we must create a culture where it is not okay. Neither in words nor actions," she wrote in a statement.

Copenhagen mayor resigns as #MeToo wave swells

A statue of Medusa, a well-known figure from Greek mythology, has been installed in New York City as a commemoration and honour to the #MeToo movement.

Artist busts the myth around Medusa: Statue honours #MeToo movement

When it comes to prevention of sexual harassment, everybody agrees that strong efforts are need of the hour. But when it comes to deciding what may prevent sexual harassment, the opinions differ. Words like "asking for it", "immoral,"too short" are casually flung around and it leaves many of us exasperated.

But its doubly disturbing when a university makes use of similar phrases in the 'guidlines' it issues to prevent sexual harassment.

Guanxi University in China is in line of fire lately. The 'guidelines' issues by the university appear completely directed at women rather than men. It advices women on what choices they need to make in order to "avoid temptation"

Sample this

“Don’t wear overly revealing tops or skirts. Don’t wear low-cut dresses or expose your waist or back, to avoid creating temptation,” the guide said.&nbsp;

The guidelines have been issued on August 1. Reuters confirmed that spaghetti-strap tops had been banned in the library of the University.

What is peculiar about such guidelines or general discussion around sexual harassment is that it almost always targets women. Usual descriptions of women's clothes follow and they prescribed to avoid (a long list of things)

Wouldn't the issue be solved if men are taught to not make unwanted sexual advances? Won't it create a difference if men are taught to accord basic respect to women. But men are seldom at the receiving end during conversation on sexual harassment.

Guanxi University is receiving flak on social media ever since the news about the guidelines broke. There has not been any clarification or response reported from the side of the university. 
&nbsp;

When it comes to prevention of sexual harassment, everybody agrees that strong efforts are need of the hour. But when it comes to deciding what may prevent sexual harassment, the opinions differ.

When it comes to prevention of sexual harassment, everybody agrees that strong efforts are need of the hour. But when it comes to deciding what may prevent sexual harassment, the opinions differ. Words like "asking for it", "immoral,"too short" are casually flung around and it leaves many of us exasperated. But its doubly disturbing when a university makes use of similar phrases in the 'guidlines' it issues to prevent sexual harassment. Guanxi University in China is in line of fire lately. The 'guidelines' issues by the university appear completely directed at women rather than men. It advices women on what choices they need to make in order to "avoid temptation" Sample this “Don’t wear overly revealing tops or skirts. Don’t wear low-cut dresses or expose your waist or back, to avoid creating temptation,” the guide said. The guidelines have been issued on August 1. Reuters confirmed that spaghetti-strap tops had been banned in the library of the University. What is peculiar about such guidelines or general discussion around sexual harassment is that it almost always targets women. Usual descriptions of women's clothes follow and they prescribed to avoid (a long list of things) Wouldn't the issue be solved if men are taught to not make unwanted sexual advances? Won't it create a difference if men are taught to accord basic respect to women. But men are seldom at the receiving end during conversation on sexual harassment. Guanxi University is receiving flak on social media ever since the news about the guidelines broke. There has not been any clarification or response reported from the side of the university.

Avoid 'overly revealing' clothes to 'avoid temptation': Chinese university guidelines spark debate

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment.

Park Won-soon, whose body was recovered on a mountain in the capital, is by far the most high-profile politician to be implicated in a harassment case in South Korea. He offered a general apology in a suicide note -- handwritten with ink and brush -- found at his official residence and released by city authorities.

"I'm sorry to everyone. I thank everyone who has been with me in my life," he wrote, asking to be cremated and his ashes scattered at his parents' graves. "I'm sorry to my family, to whom I only caused pain."

"Bye everyone," he signed off, without referring to the allegations against him.

A heavyweight figure in the ruling centre-left Democratic party, Park ran South Korea's sprawling capital for nearly a decade. He did not shy away from expressing his ambitions to replace incumbent President Moon Jae-in in 2022.

His death came a day after his former secretary filed a police complaint -- said to involve sexual harassment -- against him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-missing-seoul-mayor-found-dead-311987">Also read |&nbsp;South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead</a>

According to a document purporting to be the statement of Park's victim, who worked as his personal secretary from 2015, he committed "sexual harassment and inappropriate gestures during work hours", including insisting she hug him in the bedroom adjoining his office.

After work, she said, he sent her "selfies of himself in his underwear and lewd comments" on a messenger app.

The police confirmed a complaint had been filed but declined to confirm the details.

Park's death means the investigation will automatically be closed.

South Korea has seen a widespread #MeToo movement in the last two years, sparked by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral.

Park is the country's highest-profile politician to die by suicide since former president Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped off a cliff in 2009 after being questioned over corruption allegations involving family members.

A memorial altar was to be set up in front of the Seoul city hall for citizens to pay respects.

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment.

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment. Park Won-soon, whose body was recovered on a mountain in the capital, is by far the most high-profile politician to be implicated in a harassment case in South Korea. He offered a general apology in a suicide note -- handwritten with ink and brush -- found at his official residence and released by city authorities. "I'm sorry to everyone. I thank everyone who has been with me in my life," he wrote, asking to be cremated and his ashes scattered at his parents' graves. "I'm sorry to my family, to whom I only caused pain." "Bye everyone," he signed off, without referring to the allegations against him. A heavyweight figure in the ruling centre-left Democratic party, Park ran South Korea's sprawling capital for nearly a decade. He did not shy away from expressing his ambitions to replace incumbent President Moon Jae-in in 2022. His death came a day after his former secretary filed a police complaint -- said to involve sexual harassment -- against him. Also read | South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead According to a document purporting to be the statement of Park's victim, who worked as his personal secretary from 2015, he committed "sexual harassment and inappropriate gestures during work hours", including insisting she hug him in the bedroom adjoining his office. After work, she said, he sent her "selfies of himself in his underwear and lewd comments" on a messenger app. The police confirmed a complaint had been filed but declined to confirm the details. Park's death means the investigation will automatically be closed. South Korea has seen a widespread #MeToo movement in the last two years, sparked by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral. Park is the country's highest-profile politician to die by suicide since former president Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped off a cliff in 2009 after being questioned over corruption allegations involving family members. A memorial altar was to be set up in front of the Seoul city hall for citizens to pay respects.

Seoul mayor died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment

Justin Bieber, Ansel Elgort & other celebs who have been falsely accused of sexual misconduct

Two years ago, Zhou Xiaoxuan publicly accused one of China's most recognizable people of groping and forcibly kissing her, setting off a firestorm in a country that did not specify sexual harassment as a legal offence.

Last week Zhou and dozens of other women who started China's #MeToo movement won a small victory when the nation's parliament enacted legislation that for the first time defines actions that can constitute sexual harassment.

The reference in the new civil code, approved on Thursday by a session of the National People's Congress, is largely a symbolic step. While it holds schools, businesses and other organisations responsible for preventing and dealing with sexual harassment, it does not lay out guidelines for enforcement.

"The civil code is a big step, but much more will need to be fleshed out," said Darius Longarino, a senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. "After all, U.S. sexual-harassment law is still developing after decades and grappling with its failures, as laid bare by #MeToo."&nbsp;

Still, some lawyers and activists say the civil code offers for the first time a nationally recognised enumeration of sexual harassment as a legal offence.

Article 1,010 of the new code says a person may be held liable "for speech, words, images or bodily actions that have been used to carry out sexual harassment against a person's wishes."&nbsp;

The development could pave the way for further changes to allow sexual-harassment victims to seek redress, six lawyers and activists interviewed by Reuters said.

The parliament's Legislative Affairs Commission and China's State Council did not respond to faxed requests for comment about the decision to define sexual harassment in the civil code.

Victims come forward

China's #MeToo movement took off in 2018 when a college student in Beijing publicly accused her professor of sexual harassment. It spread to NGOs, media and other industries.

Zhou's accusation against Zhu Jun, a well-known TV personality, was one of the most prominent. In a series of social media posts, she described a 2014 incident when she was an intern working for him at state broadcaster CCTV.

She says he tried to reach into her dress and drag her onto himself, and then forcibly kissed her. Zhou's accusation quickly went viral.&nbsp;

Zhu denies the allegations and is countering Zhou. He could not be reached, and his lawyer declined to comment on the case or the new legislation.

Some activists and lawyers are hopeful that the movement is starting to lead to real change, starting with the mention in the civil code.&nbsp;

"MeToo's spread has made a huge push on this matter of law," said Zhou, who says much more needs to be done to protect the rights of sexual-violence victims. "But this may be a process, and you can't solve it in one leap."&nbsp;

More than a year and a half later, there have been no hearings in the case brought by Zhou in September 2018. Most Chinese #MeToo cases remain unresolved, activists say.&nbsp;

Zhou filed hers under the category "personality rights" - a broad term in Chinese law that includes rights applying to one's body and health - because sexual harassment was not recognised as a legal cause of action.

"If you wanted to go bring a court case, then you had to bring a labour dispute - it was very difficult," said a woman who brought her own #MeToo accusation against a prominent charity founder in 2018 and who works under the name Huahua for privacy and safety. She ultimately chose not to take her accusation to court.

Sexual harassment remains sensitive in China. The movement, despite bursts of grassroots activity, has faced government pressure and censorship, the activists said.

&nbsp;he State Council did not respond requests for comment about the allegations of pressure and censorship.

Two years ago, Zhou Xiaoxuan publicly accused one of China's most recognizable people of groping and forcibly kissing her, setting off a firestorm in a country that did not specify sexual harassment as a legal offence.

Two years ago, Zhou Xiaoxuan publicly accused one of China's most recognizable people of groping and forcibly kissing her, setting off a firestorm in a country that did not specify sexual harassment as a legal offence. Last week Zhou and dozens of other women who started China's #MeToo movement won a small victory when the nation's parliament enacted legislation that for the first time defines actions that can constitute sexual harassment. The reference in the new civil code, approved on Thursday by a session of the National People's Congress, is largely a symbolic step. While it holds schools, businesses and other organisations responsible for preventing and dealing with sexual harassment, it does not lay out guidelines for enforcement. "The civil code is a big step, but much more will need to be fleshed out," said Darius Longarino, a senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. "After all, U.S. sexual-harassment law is still developing after decades and grappling with its failures, as laid bare by #MeToo." Still, some lawyers and activists say the civil code offers for the first time a nationally recognised enumeration of sexual harassment as a legal offence. Article 1,010 of the new code says a person may be held liable "for speech, words, images or bodily actions that have been used to carry out sexual harassment against a person's wishes." The development could pave the way for further changes to allow sexual-harassment victims to seek redress, six lawyers and activists interviewed by Reuters said. The parliament's Legislative Affairs Commission and China's State Council did not respond to faxed requests for comment about the decision to define sexual harassment in the civil code. Victims come forward China's #MeToo movement took off in 2018 when a college student in Beijing publicly accused her professor of sexual harassment. It spread to NGOs, media and other industries. Zhou's accusation against Zhu Jun, a well-known TV personality, was one of the most prominent. In a series of social media posts, she described a 2014 incident when she was an intern working for him at state broadcaster CCTV. She says he tried to reach into her dress and drag her onto himself, and then forcibly kissed her. Zhou's accusation quickly went viral. Zhu denies the allegations and is countering Zhou. He could not be reached, and his lawyer declined to comment on the case or the new legislation. Some activists and lawyers are hopeful that the movement is starting to lead to real change, starting with the mention in the civil code. "MeToo's spread has made a huge push on this matter of law," said Zhou, who says much more needs to be done to protect the rights of sexual-violence victims. "But this may be a process, and you can't solve it in one leap." More than a year and a half later, there have been no hearings in the case brought by Zhou in September 2018. Most Chinese #MeToo cases remain unresolved, activists say. Zhou filed hers under the category "personality rights" - a broad term in Chinese law that includes rights applying to one's body and health - because sexual harassment was not recognised as a legal cause of action. "If you wanted to go bring a court case, then you had to bring a labour dispute - it was very difficult," said a woman who brought her own #MeToo accusation against a prominent charity founder in 2018 and who works under the name Huahua for privacy and safety. She ultimately chose not to take her accusation to court. Sexual harassment remains sensitive in China. The movement, despite bursts of grassroots activity, has faced government pressure and censorship, the activists said. he State Council did not respond requests for comment about the allegations of pressure and censorship.

In nod to #MeToo, China codifies sexual harassment by law

An international group of labour unions said Monday it has filed a complaint against McDonald's for what it called systematic sexual harassment at the fast-food chain's restaurants around the world.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/customer-shoots-mcdonalds-employee-after-being-told-to-leave-due-to-coronavirus-restrictions-297394">Also read: Customer shoots McDonald's employee after being told to leave due to coronavirus restrictions</a>

The complaint, filed at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s offices in the Netherlands, was the first of its kind to target a multinational company, its authors said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mcdonalds-misses-profit-target-as-competition-delivers-breakfast-plant-burgers-257623">Also read: McDonald's misses profit target as competition delivers breakfast, plant burgers</a>

"McDonald's workers have sounded the alarm about sexual harassment and gender-based violence for years, but a company with a culture rotten from the top has failed to take meaningful action to address the problem," Sue Longley, general secretary of the International Union of Food Workers, said in a statement.

"Because McDonald's has neglected to act to create a safe workplace, the Dutch government should make use of this complaint to empower workers to effectively address the rampant harassment they face under the Golden Arches," she said.

The complaint also targets two investment banks, APG Asset Management of the Netherlands and Norges Bank of Norway, which together have holdings worth $1.7 billion in the food giant.

The complainants noted that the OECD's guidelines "require due diligence by institutional shareholders in companies to ensure responsible business conduct."

The unions said it was the "first-ever complaint brought to the OECD to aim systematic sexual harassment at a multinational company."

'McDonald's culture'

The document cites witness testimony of "attempted rape, indecent exposure, groping, and sexual offers."&nbsp;

It said the victims, some as young as 16, "said they were ignored, mocked, or punished when they reported it. Some had their hours cut back and others were fired."

It also cited cases of "touching, forced kissing and other forms of unwanted bodily contact" in branches of the food chain in numerous countries including the United States, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and France, among others.

In France, it cited a case in which a McDonald's manager allegedly "installed a cellphone camera in the women's changing room, and secretly filmed young women changing their clothes."

"Gender-based violence and harassment is part of McDonald's culture," the complaint alleged.

McDonald's said in a statement it would review the complaint when it had received it, stressing that the food giant is a "people-first company.

"There is a deeply important conversation around safe and respectful workplaces in communities throughout the US and around the world," the company said.&nbsp;

"Around the world, we believe that McDonald's and its business partners have a responsibility to take action on this issue and are committed to promoting positive change," it added.

Last year, the firm fired its CEO, Steve Easterbrook, for having a consensual relationship with a member of staff in violation of company policy.

The complaint will be examined by the Dutch government, which has up to three months to decide whether to launch a process of mediation with the company.

The OECD does not have the power to fine or penalize the company, said Lance Compa, an expert on international labour law.

But the complainants hope mediation "could lead to an agreement and a template for McDonald's operations around the world," and in particular to allow "workers to bring their own experiences and ideas to the table to help shape policies to combat harassment and gender-based violence."

The unions, which include the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions and the Service Employees International Union of the United States and Canada, said they brought the case in the Netherlands because in the United States, where the company is headquartered, McDonald's "insists it has no responsibility for employment conditions, employment relations, or workplace abuses in the more than 90 per cent of its stores operated by franchisees."

The unions chose the Netherlands because it is the "nerve centre" of the fast-food giant's European operations, and also the headquarters of APG bank.&nbsp;

McDonald's is the largest restaurant chain in Europe, where it employs almost 500,000 people, 90 per cent of them working in franchises.

An international group of labour unions said Monday it has filed a complaint against McDonald's for what it called systematic sexual harassment at the fast-food chain's restaurants around the world.

An international group of labour unions said Monday it has filed a complaint against McDonald's for what it called systematic sexual harassment at the fast-food chain's restaurants around the world. Also read: Customer shoots McDonald's employee after being told to leave due to coronavirus restrictions The complaint, filed at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s offices in the Netherlands, was the first of its kind to target a multinational company, its authors said. Also read: McDonald's misses profit target as competition delivers breakfast, plant burgers "McDonald's workers have sounded the alarm about sexual harassment and gender-based violence for years, but a company with a culture rotten from the top has failed to take meaningful action to address the problem," Sue Longley, general secretary of the International Union of Food Workers, said in a statement. "Because McDonald's has neglected to act to create a safe workplace, the Dutch government should make use of this complaint to empower workers to effectively address the rampant harassment they face under the Golden Arches," she said. The complaint also targets two investment banks, APG Asset Management of the Netherlands and Norges Bank of Norway, which together have holdings worth $1.7 billion in the food giant. The complainants noted that the OECD's guidelines "require due diligence by institutional shareholders in companies to ensure responsible business conduct." The unions said it was the "first-ever complaint brought to the OECD to aim systematic sexual harassment at a multinational company." 'McDonald's culture' The document cites witness testimony of "attempted rape, indecent exposure, groping, and sexual offers." It said the victims, some as young as 16, "said they were ignored, mocked, or punished when they reported it. Some had their hours cut back and others were fired." It also cited cases of "touching, forced kissing and other forms of unwanted bodily contact" in branches of the food chain in numerous countries including the United States, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and France, among others. In France, it cited a case in which a McDonald's manager allegedly "installed a cellphone camera in the women's changing room, and secretly filmed young women changing their clothes." "Gender-based violence and harassment is part of McDonald's culture," the complaint alleged. McDonald's said in a statement it would review the complaint when it had received it, stressing that the food giant is a "people-first company. "There is a deeply important conversation around safe and respectful workplaces in communities throughout the US and around the world," the company said. "Around the world, we believe that McDonald's and its business partners have a responsibility to take action on this issue and are committed to promoting positive change," it added. Last year, the firm fired its CEO, Steve Easterbrook, for having a consensual relationship with a member of staff in violation of company policy. The complaint will be examined by the Dutch government, which has up to three months to decide whether to launch a process of mediation with the company. The OECD does not have the power to fine or penalize the company, said Lance Compa, an expert on international labour law. But the complainants hope mediation "could lead to an agreement and a template for McDonald's operations around the world," and in particular to allow "workers to bring their own experiences and ideas to the table to help shape policies to combat harassment and gender-based violence." The unions, which include the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions and the Service Employees International Union of the United States and Canada, said they brought the case in the Netherlands because in the United States, where the company is headquartered, McDonald's "insists it has no responsibility for employment conditions, employment relations, or workplace abuses in the more than 90 per cent of its stores operated by franchisees." The unions chose the Netherlands because it is the "nerve centre" of the fast-food giant's European operations, and also the headquarters of APG bank. McDonald's is the largest restaurant chain in Europe, where it employs almost 500,000 people, 90 per cent of them working in franchises.

Sexual harassment ‘rampant’ at McDonald’s, international labour group tells OECD in complaint

Most of us believe that to fix the wrongs of our society, we need to raise the younger&nbsp;generations with more responsibility.&nbsp;

It is while we hold this optimism in our hearts that we are encountered with the ground reality of our teenagers and how we are still far away from bridging the gap of inequality between genders.

Purported screenshots from a group chat under the name of ‘Bois Locker Room’ have overwhelmed social media since Saturday night. The group is said to be formed on Instagram in the last week of March by hundreds of young high school and college-going boys.&nbsp;

The purpose of the formation of the group is claimed to be sharing pictures of mostly underage girls as young as 14 years old, while passing pervertedly sexually explicit comments, expressing their intentions with these girls including threats of sexual violence.

The pictures in question have different sources, while some are taken from Instagram accounts of the girls, others are reportedly morphed or had been sent in confidence.

Some of us might not even be surprised by the content of these chats for we have lived under the same environment and experienced the same things back in our school days.&nbsp;

Yes, we’ve managed to move a step forward from how things were 5-7 years ago, now we’re at least starting to hold our boys accountable, moving away from the long-lived narrative of “boys will be boys” but how does that alone fix the issue?&nbsp;

All the group members in question belong to well-reputed South Delhi and Noida schools, if this is how toxic the situation is in some of the best schools in the country, then are we even ready to address the gravity of the situation that might be looming in the bigger picture? &nbsp;

Most of us can relate to how normal the objectification and violation of privacy used to feel back in school and that we had to unlearn that normalisation once we were able to think for ourselves if we ever did manage to unlearn it.&nbsp; 
 
The important question that needs to be addressed is how did we or these children even manage to learn it in the first place? That too at an age when we are still starting in the world and most of our opinions and behaviours are just an enactment of what we have observed around us.&nbsp;

If we look at things this way, holding these boys accountable in isolation seems to be an unfair way to go about it. Schools, parents, media, and everyone else responsible for the bringing up of this generation need to be called out for their role in the failure of prevention if not the promotion of the cycle of patriarchy.&nbsp;

One of the schools in question is my alma mater and I, from personal experience, can affirm that the school itself implicitly promotes patriarchal norms.&nbsp;

It used to seem that the school’s response to incidents of harassment was to put its girls in more ‘modest’ clothing. The school changed its uniform for girls, mandating suits and dupattas for them as soon as they start developing their bodies in an attempt to ‘protect them’ and not ‘distract the boys’.

I can recall how our juniors were disallowed to wear sarees on their farewell due to complaints of catcalling from my batch and the authorities' problems with the blouse designs. 
&nbsp; 
The topic of menstruation was discussed in a closed auditorium only in the presence of girls and we were even given an excuse that we could tell the boys as to where we had to go.&nbsp;

Sex education was never included in the curriculum, neither were we made aware of cyberbullying and how to deal with it. '

I can also recall teachers being aware of the circulation of some photographs back in my time and not taking any stance on the issue in an official capacity.&nbsp;

The school never felt approachable if any personal experiences had to be discussed and even the presence of counsellors was never emphasised, students were made to go visit them if they continued to display “problematic behaviour” like having persistently low grades or flouting classes, thus attaching a stigma around visiting these counsellors.&nbsp;

Our schools need to realise the importance of sex education and the role it can play in establishing a more gender-sensitive ground. These are adolescents who are starting to discover and develop their sexuality, repressing their curiosity might lead to violent and toxic outbursts.&nbsp;

It is very important to guide them through this process and to ensure a healthy outlet for it, more importantly, to inculcate values of respect towards the other gender.&nbsp;

It should become an essential part of the curriculum rather than a forced duty which is brushed off in the form of one or two workshops that are held at the school’s convenience.&nbsp;

The lack of presence of sex education in schools and at home leads to kids trying to satiate their curiosity on the internet and we are all aware of the downright sexual objectification of women that exists there. It is important to remember that teenagers have impressionable minds and they will emulate the things they pick on from their environment, role models, and peers. Parents as well need to let go off the taboo around sex education and create a judgment-free zone with their children.

Therefore, it’s not just schools and parents who need to champion the cause of raising a more responsible generation, it's the media too. Content created in the form of songs and movies is deeply entrenched in toxic masculinity and on most occasions normalises objectification of women.&nbsp;

There is a dire need for the industry to discontinue its promotion of misogynistic and patriarchal practices. It's time the media realises that it's not merely a reflection of social values of the society but that it plays a pivotal role in setting the social norm and the impact that has on the impressionable youth.&nbsp;

How is this generation expected to be better than the ones before them if there were no active changes in the way they are brought up?&nbsp;

Instead of imposing more restrictions on girls, we need to focus on creating an environment where everyone can feel safe and comfortable. Values of gender sensitivity, empowerment, and empathy need to be inculcated and promoted as the new “cool” if we are to reach gender equality in our lifetime.&nbsp;

It’s time we start holding accountable everyone that is involved in bringing up this generation and ensure that active measures are being taken to instill values of gender equality in the generation that we have such high hopes from.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Most of us believe that to fix the wrongs of our society, we need to raise the younger generations with more responsibility. It is while we hold this optimism in our hearts that we are encountered with the ground reality of our teenagers and how we are still far away from bridging the gap of inequality between genders.

Most of us believe that to fix the wrongs of our society, we need to raise the younger generations with more responsibility. It is while we hold this optimism in our hearts that we are encountered with the ground reality of our teenagers and how we are still far away from bridging the gap of inequality between genders. Purported screenshots from a group chat under the name of ‘Bois Locker Room’ have overwhelmed social media since Saturday night. The group is said to be formed on Instagram in the last week of March by hundreds of young high school and college-going boys. The purpose of the formation of the group is claimed to be sharing pictures of mostly underage girls as young as 14 years old, while passing pervertedly sexually explicit comments, expressing their intentions with these girls including threats of sexual violence. The pictures in question have different sources, while some are taken from Instagram accounts of the girls, others are reportedly morphed or had been sent in confidence. Some of us might not even be surprised by the content of these chats for we have lived under the same environment and experienced the same things back in our school days. Yes, we’ve managed to move a step forward from how things were 5-7 years ago, now we’re at least starting to hold our boys accountable, moving away from the long-lived narrative of “boys will be boys” but how does that alone fix the issue? All the group members in question belong to well-reputed South Delhi and Noida schools, if this is how toxic the situation is in some of the best schools in the country, then are we even ready to address the gravity of the situation that might be looming in the bigger picture? Most of us can relate to how normal the objectification and violation of privacy used to feel back in school and that we had to unlearn that normalisation once we were able to think for ourselves if we ever did manage to unlearn it. The important question that needs to be addressed is how did we or these children even manage to learn it in the first place? That too at an age when we are still starting in the world and most of our opinions and behaviours are just an enactment of what we have observed around us. If we look at things this way, holding these boys accountable in isolation seems to be an unfair way to go about it. Schools, parents, media, and everyone else responsible for the bringing up of this generation need to be called out for their role in the failure of prevention if not the promotion of the cycle of patriarchy. One of the schools in question is my alma mater and I, from personal experience, can affirm that the school itself implicitly promotes patriarchal norms. It used to seem that the school’s response to incidents of harassment was to put its girls in more ‘modest’ clothing. The school changed its uniform for girls, mandating suits and dupattas for them as soon as they start developing their bodies in an attempt to ‘protect them’ and not ‘distract the boys’. I can recall how our juniors were disallowed to wear sarees on their farewell due to complaints of catcalling from my batch and the authorities' problems with the blouse designs. The topic of menstruation was discussed in a closed auditorium only in the presence of girls and we were even given an excuse that we could tell the boys as to where we had to go. Sex education was never included in the curriculum, neither were we made aware of cyberbullying and how to deal with it. ' I can also recall teachers being aware of the circulation of some photographs back in my time and not taking any stance on the issue in an official capacity. The school never felt approachable if any personal experiences had to be discussed and even the presence of counsellors was never emphasised, students were made to go visit them if they continued to display “problematic behaviour” like having persistently low grades or flouting classes, thus attaching a stigma around visiting these counsellors. Our schools need to realise the importance of sex education and the role it can play in establishing a more gender-sensitive ground. These are adolescents who are starting to discover and develop their sexuality, repressing their curiosity might lead to violent and toxic outbursts. It is very important to guide them through this process and to ensure a healthy outlet for it, more importantly, to inculcate values of respect towards the other gender. It should become an essential part of the curriculum rather than a forced duty which is brushed off in the form of one or two workshops that are held at the school’s convenience. The lack of presence of sex education in schools and at home leads to kids trying to satiate their curiosity on the internet and we are all aware of the downright sexual objectification of women that exists there. It is important to remember that teenagers have impressionable minds and they will emulate the things they pick on from their environment, role models, and peers. Parents as well need to let go off the taboo around sex education and create a judgment-free zone with their children. Therefore, it’s not just schools and parents who need to champion the cause of raising a more responsible generation, it's the media too. Content created in the form of songs and movies is deeply entrenched in toxic masculinity and on most occasions normalises objectification of women. There is a dire need for the industry to discontinue its promotion of misogynistic and patriarchal practices. It's time the media realises that it's not merely a reflection of social values of the society but that it plays a pivotal role in setting the social norm and the impact that has on the impressionable youth. How is this generation expected to be better than the ones before them if there were no active changes in the way they are brought up? Instead of imposing more restrictions on girls, we need to focus on creating an environment where everyone can feel safe and comfortable. Values of gender sensitivity, empowerment, and empathy need to be inculcated and promoted as the new “cool” if we are to reach gender equality in our lifetime. It’s time we start holding accountable everyone that is involved in bringing up this generation and ensure that active measures are being taken to instill values of gender equality in the generation that we have such high hopes from. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Bois Locker Room: It's high time to bury 'boys will be boys' excuse

In Pakistan, which has become a hell for women's freedom in the world, there is a clamour for the 'Women's March'. Often women who have been victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and forced marriage have started protest.

Pakistan: Hearing on case against the 'Aurat March' at Islamabad High Court

India's sports ministry has said 35 complaints of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/judge-on-harvey-weinstein-rape-trial-tells-jurors-to-not-use-case-to-make-a-statement-on-metoo-274774">sexual harassment</a> had been lodged relating to alleged incidents at national training centers from 2011 to 2019.

The ministry said 27 of the complaints were made by athletes against coaches at centers run by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

"So far, a penalty has been imposed on 14 people who have been found guilty, and inquiry is under progress in 15 cases. The rest of the cases are either acquitted by the concerned court or could not be established," the ministry said in a statement.

Sports minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mou-signed-between-forum-of-indian-food-importers-and-neea-to-strengthen-trade-ties-271667">Kiren Rijiju</a> said he has asked the SAI to complete the probe into the pending cases over the next four weeks.

"There is zero tolerance for sexual harassment on the SAI campus. The inquiries that are underway will be speeded up," he said in a statement.

"We will ensure that the already existing system of addressing sexual harassment cases and protecting our athletes&nbsp;is made more robust.

"Athletes spend their formative years at SAI centers and it is our foremost responsibility to give them a safe environment."

Former SAI director-general Neelam Kapur said the actual number of such incidents could be higher.

"I do believe that many incidents of sexual harassment are not reported. It is both the fear of retribution and the lack of awareness about the redress system," Kapur told reporters.

"Therefore it is incumbent on the leadership to ensure that all reported cases are dealt with seriously, expeditiously and when proved the punishment is exemplary.

"This must be a zero-tolerance area for sports in India."

India's sports ministry has said 35 complaints of sexual harassment had been lodged relating to alleged incidents at national training centers from 2011 to 2019.

India's sports ministry has said 35 complaints of sexual harassment had been lodged relating to alleged incidents at national training centers from 2011 to 2019. The ministry said 27 of the complaints were made by athletes against coaches at centers run by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). "So far, a penalty has been imposed on 14 people who have been found guilty, and inquiry is under progress in 15 cases. The rest of the cases are either acquitted by the concerned court or could not be established," the ministry said in a statement. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju said he has asked the SAI to complete the probe into the pending cases over the next four weeks. "There is zero tolerance for sexual harassment on the SAI campus. The inquiries that are underway will be speeded up," he said in a statement. "We will ensure that the already existing system of addressing sexual harassment cases and protecting our athletes is made more robust. "Athletes spend their formative years at SAI centers and it is our foremost responsibility to give them a safe environment." Former SAI director-general Neelam Kapur said the actual number of such incidents could be higher. "I do believe that many incidents of sexual harassment are not reported. It is both the fear of retribution and the lack of awareness about the redress system," Kapur told reporters. "Therefore it is incumbent on the leadership to ensure that all reported cases are dealt with seriously, expeditiously and when proved the punishment is exemplary. "This must be a zero-tolerance area for sports in India."

Received over 30 complaints of sexual harassment from 2011-2019: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju

After two years of legal battle, Harvey Weinstein and the board of his collapsed film studio have reached a preliminary $25 million settlement agreement with dozens of his alleged victims of sexual harassment. The agreement would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself, according to lawyers involved in the negotiations.

Weinstein to pay his way out of 'MeToo' with $25 million deal

The three lead actresses of 'Bombshell', Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, teamed up on Tuesday night (December 10), a day after both Theron and Robbie were nominated for their roles at the Golden Globes.

The film focuses on the sexual harassment claims against Fox News chief Roger Ailes by female presenters, including Gretchen Carlson (Kidman) and Megyn Kelly (Theron). Robbie's character, Kayla Pospisil, is an amalgamation of several other presenters who made similar claims.

The accusations happened a year before the #metoo and Time's Up scandals that electrified Hollywood in 2017.

Theron, who was the producer of the film, told Reuters "When this story broke it was only the tip of the iceberg and then two years later we find ourselves with all these allegations of so many men in powerful positions taking advantage of that position but that wasn't the case when this story broke so I feel like we're gradually exposing that giant piece of ice underneath and I think there's going to be more. I think we've started something that's ignited a conversation and a need for women to really share their truth that is unstoppable right now."

Although Carlson and Kelly's harassment claims in the film are historic, Pospisil's are featured at the end of Ailes' career at Fox News.

Asked if there was light at the end of the tunnel for sexual harassment in the workplace, Robbie replied, "In the instance of Fox News and Hollywood with Roger Ailes breaking and Harvey Weinstein breaking and all the ones that happened in between - they both exist in an industry that has a public platform and a voice that can be projected to the world more readily than a lot of other industries so I think there's still so much that needs to be fixed and acknowledged, particularly in other industries that don't have that public platform."

Despite the fact the film is about female empowerment, the film is directed and written by men. Jay Roach, who directed the film, said, "The reason she said we should do it together as a man and woman or as men and women is that that's probably what's going to have to happen to help fix these situations." He added, "It would be so cool if men joined in the fight a little more and also, it's simple things like trusting women to believe the accusers as a default position so that when you hear something, you go 'Oh I'd like to hear her story' as opposed to 'I don't believe her story'."

Theron hit the headlines when her performance as Megyn Kelly was revealed in the first trailer. However, her uncanny resemblance also caused issues on set.

Writer Charles Randolph said "You're sitting on set and she says something and you look over to respond and suddenly Megyn Kelly is looking back at you. Oh god, that's crazy."

But Theron isn't the only actor who underwent a transformation. John Lithgow is almost as unrecognizable as Roger Ailes and said his wife wouldn't talk to him for a few hours after seeing the film for the first time, as she found it so disturbing.

He said "You get yourself all done up and you look in the mirror and you're so startled by the sight of yourself, it's good. It takes you out of the sense of yourself. I felt like a big sloppy man."

'Bombshell' goes on release in Los Angeles and New York on December 13 before going nationwide in the US a week later.

The three lead actresses of 'Bombshell', Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, teamed up on Tuesday night (December 10), a day after both Theron and Robbie were nominated for their roles at the Golden Globes.

The three lead actresses of 'Bombshell', Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, teamed up on Tuesday night (December 10), a day after both Theron and Robbie were nominated for their roles at the Golden Globes. The film focuses on the sexual harassment claims against Fox News chief Roger Ailes by female presenters, including Gretchen Carlson (Kidman) and Megyn Kelly (Theron). Robbie's character, Kayla Pospisil, is an amalgamation of several other presenters who made similar claims. The accusations happened a year before the #metoo and Time's Up scandals that electrified Hollywood in 2017. Theron, who was the producer of the film, told Reuters "When this story broke it was only the tip of the iceberg and then two years later we find ourselves with all these allegations of so many men in powerful positions taking advantage of that position but that wasn't the case when this story broke so I feel like we're gradually exposing that giant piece of ice underneath and I think there's going to be more. I think we've started something that's ignited a conversation and a need for women to really share their truth that is unstoppable right now." Although Carlson and Kelly's harassment claims in the film are historic, Pospisil's are featured at the end of Ailes' career at Fox News. Asked if there was light at the end of the tunnel for sexual harassment in the workplace, Robbie replied, "In the instance of Fox News and Hollywood with Roger Ailes breaking and Harvey Weinstein breaking and all the ones that happened in between - they both exist in an industry that has a public platform and a voice that can be projected to the world more readily than a lot of other industries so I think there's still so much that needs to be fixed and acknowledged, particularly in other industries that don't have that public platform." Despite the fact the film is about female empowerment, the film is directed and written by men. Jay Roach, who directed the film, said, "The reason she said we should do it together as a man and woman or as men and women is that that's probably what's going to have to happen to help fix these situations." He added, "It would be so cool if men joined in the fight a little more and also, it's simple things like trusting women to believe the accusers as a default position so that when you hear something, you go 'Oh I'd like to hear her story' as opposed to 'I don't believe her story'." Theron hit the headlines when her performance as Megyn Kelly was revealed in the first trailer. However, her uncanny resemblance also caused issues on set. Writer Charles Randolph said "You're sitting on set and she says something and you look over to respond and suddenly Megyn Kelly is looking back at you. Oh god, that's crazy." But Theron isn't the only actor who underwent a transformation. John Lithgow is almost as unrecognizable as Roger Ailes and said his wife wouldn't talk to him for a few hours after seeing the film for the first time, as she found it so disturbing. He said "You get yourself all done up and you look in the mirror and you're so startled by the sight of yourself, it's good. It takes you out of the sense of yourself. I felt like a big sloppy man." 'Bombshell' goes on release in Los Angeles and New York on December 13 before going nationwide in the US a week later.

Charlize Theron on Hollywood sexual harassment: There's going to be more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mcdonalds-hr-chief-exits-after-ceo-shakeup-260024">McDonald's&nbsp;Corp</a> agreed to&nbsp;pay&nbsp;$26&nbsp;million&nbsp;to&nbsp;settle&nbsp;a nearly seven-year-old&nbsp;lawsuit&nbsp;accusing the fast-food chain of underpaying US&nbsp;staff at its corporate-owned restaurants in&nbsp;California.

The preliminary&nbsp;settlement resolves claims that the company used a timekeeping system that cheated workers out of overtime, barred workers from taking rest breaks during their shifts, and forced workers to clean and iron their uniforms out of pocket.

It resolves claims by about 38,000 cashiers and cooks in&nbsp;California, and is the largest&nbsp;wage&nbsp;settlement against Chicago-based&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;in the United States, representatives for the plaintiffs said.

The accord requires&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;to&nbsp;pay&nbsp;required overtime, track&nbsp;pay&nbsp;electronically, provide rest breaks during rather than at the start or end of shifts, and provide replacement work uniforms when old uniforms become damaged or worn out.

McDonald's&nbsp;denied wrongdoing as part of the&nbsp;settlement. The accord requires court approval.

In a statement,&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;said it still believes its employment practices complied with&nbsp;California&nbsp;labor law. It also said it is improving training at company-owned restaurants "to promote continued compliance with all&nbsp;wage&nbsp;and hour laws."

McDonald's&nbsp;has long been a target of labor organizers who claim it underpays workers and provides unsafe working conditions at company-owned and franchised restaurants.

On November&nbsp;12, the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-to-probe-work-of-israeli-facial-recognition-startup-it-funded-262511"> American Civil Liberties Union</a> and workers in Michigan sued&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;for allegedly allowing sexual harassment to flourish at its restaurants.

Then on November&nbsp;21, a group of Chicago-area workers sued&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;and several franchisees over a recent restaurant redesign that they said left them vulnerable to physical attacks by angry customers.

Lawyers for the&nbsp;California&nbsp;workers may seek fees of up to one-third of the&nbsp;settlement amount, according to court papers.

McDonald's&nbsp;has roughly 14,000 US&nbsp;restaurants, of which approximately 95 per cent&nbsp;are franchised. It has more than 38,000 restaurants worldwide.

McDonald's Corp agreed to pay $26 million to settle a nearly seven-year-old lawsuit accusing the fast-food chain of underpaying US staff at its corporate-owned restaurants in California.

McDonald's Corp agreed to pay $26 million to settle a nearly seven-year-old lawsuit accusing the fast-food chain of underpaying US staff at its corporate-owned restaurants in California. The preliminary settlement resolves claims that the company used a timekeeping system that cheated workers out of overtime, barred workers from taking rest breaks during their shifts, and forced workers to clean and iron their uniforms out of pocket. It resolves claims by about 38,000 cashiers and cooks in California, and is the largest wage settlement against Chicago-based McDonald's in the United States, representatives for the plaintiffs said. The accord requires McDonald's to pay required overtime, track pay electronically, provide rest breaks during rather than at the start or end of shifts, and provide replacement work uniforms when old uniforms become damaged or worn out. McDonald's denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The accord requires court approval. In a statement, McDonald's said it still believes its employment practices complied with California labor law. It also said it is improving training at company-owned restaurants "to promote continued compliance with all wage and hour laws." McDonald's has long been a target of labor organizers who claim it underpays workers and provides unsafe working conditions at company-owned and franchised restaurants. On November 12, the American Civil Liberties Union and workers in Michigan sued McDonald's for allegedly allowing sexual harassment to flourish at its restaurants. Then on November 21, a group of Chicago-area workers sued McDonald's and several franchisees over a recent restaurant redesign that they said left them vulnerable to physical attacks by angry customers. Lawyers for the California workers may seek fees of up to one-third of the settlement amount, according to court papers. McDonald's has roughly 14,000 US restaurants, of which approximately 95 per cent are franchised. It has more than 38,000 restaurants worldwide.

McDonald's to pay $26 million to settle California wage lawsuit

A university in Saint-Petersburg on Thursday launched a centre to study domestic violence after a professor murdered and dismembered his girlfriend, sparking criticism of the school.

The Saint Petersburg State University, a prestigious school in Russia's second-largest city, this week fired historian Oleg Sokolov after he confessed to chopping up his former student lover Anastasiya Yeshchenko and disposing of her body.

It came under intense criticism from former students, who said the professor had a history of acting inappropriately and complaints were ignored -- charges the school denied.

On Thursday, the university said it decided to "create a research centre that will study the problem of domestic violence in its entirety."

The university called domestic violence "one of the most urgent social problems of modern times".

Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in Russia but efforts by activists to lobby for a specialised law against violence and protect victims have failed. Police do not normally intervene, even in severe cases.&nbsp;

The move by the university to establish the research centre follows accusations it has encouraged an atmosphere for sexual harassment and should have fired Sokolov long before the murder.&nbsp;

A petition to dismiss and investigate several university officials, including the head of its Institute of History where 63-year-old Sokolov worked, has gathered nearly 80,000 signatures.

Sexual relations between faculty and students were "common" at the institute, where the "system" was to "sleep with your instructors and only study the area of their speciality", wrote former student Yulia Balakhonova on Snob.ru website, where she works.

Sokolov "should have been fired long before the murder," she wrote.

Another former student Yulia Chernyavskaya posted a photo of her professor giving her an embrace and kiss on the cheek on Facebook, describing "ordinary sexism" in the department.

"Everybody knows that female students have given birth to the children of several history professors," she wrote, adding it was normal to hear comments about "lovely legs" or "wiggling butts" from lecturers, while one told jokes about rape.

A university in Saint-Petersburg on Thursday launched a centre to study domestic violence after a professor murdered and dismembered his girlfriend, sparking criticism of the school.

A university in Saint-Petersburg on Thursday launched a centre to study domestic violence after a professor murdered and dismembered his girlfriend, sparking criticism of the school. The Saint Petersburg State University, a prestigious school in Russia's second-largest city, this week fired historian Oleg Sokolov after he confessed to chopping up his former student lover Anastasiya Yeshchenko and disposing of her body. It came under intense criticism from former students, who said the professor had a history of acting inappropriately and complaints were ignored -- charges the school denied. On Thursday, the university said it decided to "create a research centre that will study the problem of domestic violence in its entirety." The university called domestic violence "one of the most urgent social problems of modern times". Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in Russia but efforts by activists to lobby for a specialised law against violence and protect victims have failed. Police do not normally intervene, even in severe cases. The move by the university to establish the research centre follows accusations it has encouraged an atmosphere for sexual harassment and should have fired Sokolov long before the murder. A petition to dismiss and investigate several university officials, including the head of its Institute of History where 63-year-old Sokolov worked, has gathered nearly 80,000 signatures. Sexual relations between faculty and students were "common" at the institute, where the "system" was to "sleep with your instructors and only study the area of their speciality", wrote former student Yulia Balakhonova on Snob.ru website, where she works. Sokolov "should have been fired long before the murder," she wrote. Another former student Yulia Chernyavskaya posted a photo of her professor giving her an embrace and kiss on the cheek on Facebook, describing "ordinary sexism" in the department. "Everybody knows that female students have given birth to the children of several history professors," she wrote, adding it was normal to hear comments about "lovely legs" or "wiggling butts" from lecturers, while one told jokes about rape.

Russian school to study 'domestic violence' after grisly murder

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr, already facing a criminal case over accusations he touched a woman`s breasts in a bar and pinched another`s buttocks in a nightclub, has been charged in connection with a third woman, his lawyer said on Wednesday. 
 
Gooding is expected to appear in court Thursday and plead not guilty to the charges, according to his lawyer, Mark Heller.

The charges are not yet public, and a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance declined to provide details. Heller said the charges stemming from the third accuser were "similar" to those involving the other two women, and that all are misdemeanours. 
 
"Each accuser is totally fraudulent," Heller said, adding that there was video of all three alleged incidents exonerating his client. 
 
Gooding, 51, won a best-supporting actor Oscar in 1997 for the film 'Jerry Maguire'&nbsp;and is known for roles in movies including 'A Few Good Men'&nbsp;and 'The Butler'&nbsp;and in the television miniseries 'The People v. O.J. Simpson.' 
 
He was previously charged with one count of forcible touching and one count of sexual abuse in connection with each of the first two accusers. He pleaded not guilty on Oct. 15. 
 
Prosecutors said at the time that they hoped to establish a pattern of behaviour at Gooding`s trial using testimony from 12 additional women who have said they were subjected to unwanted touching and advances by the actor in bars and clubs. 
 
It was not clear whether the accuser behind the new charges is one of the 12. 
 
Gooding, who is divorced, is one of dozens of men in politics, entertainment, sports and the business world who have been accused of sexual misconduct since allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein triggered the #MeToo movement. 
 
Weinstein is scheduled to stand trial in New York in January on charges of rape and assault involving two women. He has denied any non-consensual sex.

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr, already facing a criminal case over accusations he touched a woman`s breasts in a bar and pinched another`s buttocks in a nightclub, has been charged in connection with a third woman, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr, already facing a criminal case over accusations he touched a woman`s breasts in a bar and pinched another`s buttocks in a nightclub, has been charged in connection with a third woman, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Gooding is expected to appear in court Thursday and plead not guilty to the charges, according to his lawyer, Mark Heller. The charges are not yet public, and a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance declined to provide details. Heller said the charges stemming from the third accuser were "similar" to those involving the other two women, and that all are misdemeanours. "Each accuser is totally fraudulent," Heller said, adding that there was video of all three alleged incidents exonerating his client. Gooding, 51, won a best-supporting actor Oscar in 1997 for the film 'Jerry Maguire' and is known for roles in movies including 'A Few Good Men' and 'The Butler' and in the television miniseries 'The People v. O.J. Simpson.' He was previously charged with one count of forcible touching and one count of sexual abuse in connection with each of the first two accusers. He pleaded not guilty on Oct. 15. Prosecutors said at the time that they hoped to establish a pattern of behaviour at Gooding`s trial using testimony from 12 additional women who have said they were subjected to unwanted touching and advances by the actor in bars and clubs. It was not clear whether the accuser behind the new charges is one of the 12. Gooding, who is divorced, is one of dozens of men in politics, entertainment, sports and the business world who have been accused of sexual misconduct since allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein triggered the #MeToo movement. Weinstein is scheduled to stand trial in New York in January on charges of rape and assault involving two women. He has denied any non-consensual sex.

Cuba Gooding Jr charged with unlawfully touching third woman: Lawyer

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