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New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing increasing calls to resign after a Guatemalan migrant allegedly burned a woman alive. Elon Musk has joined critics, stating that Hochul should be recalled in response to the incident, which has sparked widespread outrage.



Kathy Hochul Faces Resignation Demands After Guatemalan Migrant Burns Woman Alive

Turkey
A blast ripped through an explosives factory in northwest Turkey on Tuesday, killing 12 people and injuring four, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that an investigation had been launched.
CNN Turk broadcast photographs showing a fireball and smoke rising from the factory building at the time of the blast, while the subsequent video showed the mangled metal framework of the building destroyed in the blast.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-ambulance-helicopter-slams-into-hospital-in-turkey-killing-all-4-onboard-785984">Also read: Video: Ambulance helicopter slams into hospital in Turkey, killing all 4 onboard</a>
The explosion occurred at a factory in the village of Kavakli in Balikesir province and CNN Turk cited the local governor as saying there was no suspicion of sabotage.
Many fire crews were sent to deal with the blaze, and health and security units were dispatched to the area while an investigation was launched, the government's communications directorate said.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The explosion occurred at a factory in the village of Kavakli in Balikesir province, and CNN Turk cited the local governor as saying there was no suspicion of sabotage.



Turkey A blast ripped through an explosives factory in northwest Turkey on Tuesday, killing 12 people and injuring four, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that an investigation had been launched. CNN Turk broadcast photographs showing a fireball and smoke rising from the factory building at the time of the blast, while the subsequent video showed the mangled metal framework of the building destroyed in the blast. Also read: Video: Ambulance helicopter slams into hospital in Turkey, killing all 4 onboard The explosion occurred at a factory in the village of Kavakli in Balikesir province and CNN Turk cited the local governor as saying there was no suspicion of sabotage. Many fire crews were sent to deal with the blaze, and health and security units were dispatched to the area while an investigation was launched, the government's communications directorate said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Turkey factory explosion: 12 killed, four injured in blast at explosives unit

Ginger Gaetz continues to stand by her husband, Matt Gaetz, despite the ongoing sexual misconduct allegations against him. The couple faces public scrutiny as the controversy unfolds, with Ginger maintaining her support amidst the legal and media storm.



Matt Gaetz’s Wife Ginger: Standing Strong Amid Allegations

Brasília, Brazil 
A man named Tanaru lived in a forest of the southwestern Brazilian Amazon for at least 26 years. It was reported he spent his life moving around his territory, building houses, and planting crops and hunting. And one thing that was strangest about him was he had dug numerous large holes inside his homes. 
In 1996, when a team of the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) tried contacting him, he refused to do so and aimed an arrow towards the team. The scene was shown in a 2009 documentary called Corumbiara. The team again put efforts into contacting him in 2007, but he again refused the contact leaving one team member injured by his arrow. For the next 15 years, Tanaru was left undisturbed. 
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Some people called him the “man of the hole” as they were unaware of why he dug a hole in his house. Altair Algayer, a Funai agent who spent decades protecting Tanaru and his forest territory, told The Guardian, “I don’t doubt the holes were linked to his spiritual world." 
In 2022, Algayer found Tanaru dead in his hammock. After his death, the land occupied by him all these years (around 19,800 acres) became subject to contention. 
The government prosecutors argued that since the land was historically acquired by him, it should be protected. However, the Brazilian justice enforced temporary-use restrictions to protect the land. Brazil's decision came while Tanaru was alive, so it became invalid after his death. And no further actions were taken regarding the land after that. 
Sandro Salonski, a lawyer representing non-Indigenous individuals holding title to the area, told the British newspaper, "Discussing the demarcation of an area devoid of Indigenous population is entirely unjustifiable and is not provided for in our federal constitution.”
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-protesters-agitate-the-burning-of-christmas-tree-near-syrias-hama-786525">Hundreds of protesters agitate the burning of Christmas tree near Syria's Hama</a>
But the federal public prosecutor Daniel Luis Dalberto showed his disagreement with Salonski, saying, “This territory should have been demarcated a long time ago. Tanaru’s death doesn’t change the fact that Indigenous people occupied this land since time immemorial, and it therefore belongs to the union." 
Brazil’s constitution allows Indigenous people to have exclusive rights on their lands. Salonski said the dead man was “the only survivor of the Tanaru people". 
(With inputs from agencies)

In 1996, when a team of the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) tried contacting him, he refused to do so and aimed an arrow towards the team. The scene was shown in a 2009 documentary called Corumbiara. The team again put efforts into contacting him in 2007, but he again refused the contact, leaving one team member injured by his arrow. For the next 15 years, Tanaru was left undisturbed. 



Brasília, Brazil A man named Tanaru lived in a forest of the southwestern Brazilian Amazon for at least 26 years. It was reported he spent his life moving around his territory, building houses, and planting crops and hunting. And one thing that was strangest about him was he had dug numerous large holes inside his homes. In 1996, when a team of the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) tried contacting him, he refused to do so and aimed an arrow towards the team. The scene was shown in a 2009 documentary called Corumbiara. The team again put efforts into contacting him in 2007, but he again refused the contact leaving one team member injured by his arrow. For the next 15 years, Tanaru was left undisturbed. Watch | Elon Musk Sets Target On The US Federal Reserve, Calls It 'Overstaffed' Some people called him the “man of the hole” as they were unaware of why he dug a hole in his house. Altair Algayer, a Funai agent who spent decades protecting Tanaru and his forest territory, told The Guardian, “I don’t doubt the holes were linked to his spiritual world." In 2022, Algayer found Tanaru dead in his hammock. After his death, the land occupied by him all these years (around 19,800 acres) became subject to contention. The government prosecutors argued that since the land was historically acquired by him, it should be protected. However, the Brazilian justice enforced temporary-use restrictions to protect the land. Brazil's decision came while Tanaru was alive, so it became invalid after his death. And no further actions were taken regarding the land after that. Sandro Salonski, a lawyer representing non-Indigenous individuals holding title to the area, told the British newspaper, "Discussing the demarcation of an area devoid of Indigenous population is entirely unjustifiable and is not provided for in our federal constitution.” Also read | Hundreds of protesters agitate the burning of Christmas tree near Syria's Hama But the federal public prosecutor Daniel Luis Dalberto showed his disagreement with Salonski, saying, “This territory should have been demarcated a long time ago. Tanaru’s death doesn’t change the fact that Indigenous people occupied this land since time immemorial, and it therefore belongs to the union." Brazil’s constitution allows Indigenous people to have exclusive rights on their lands. Salonski said the dead man was “the only survivor of the Tanaru people". (With inputs from agencies)

Brazil's 'man of the hole' died but what about his land?

Canada, then the Panama Canal, now Donald Trump again wants Greenland. Our next report tries to explore why the U.S. president-elect is hinting at an American territorial expansion. Watch in for more details!



Panama Leaders Reject Trump's Threat Of Canal Takeovers

Hama, Syria
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian areas of Damascus early Tuesday to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama in central Syria, AFP journalists witnessed.
"We demand the rights of Christians," protesters chanted as they marched through the Syrian capital towards the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Bab Sharqi neighbourhood.
The protests come a little more than two weeks after an armed coalition led by Islamists toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, who had cast himself as a protector of minorities in the Sunni-majority country.
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A demonstrator who gave his name as Georges told AFP he was protesting "injustice against Christians".
"If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore," he said.
The protests erupted after a video spread on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighters were foreigners from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid.
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In another video posted to social media, a religious leader from Syria's victorious Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) addressed residents, claiming those who torched the tree were "not Syrian" and promising they would be punished.
"The tree will be restored and lit up by tomorrow morning," he said.
The Islamist HTS movement, rooted in Al-Qaeda and supported by Turkey, has promised to protect minorities since its lightning offensive toppled Assad this month following years of stalemate.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The protests come a little more than two weeks after an armed coalition led by Islamists toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, who had cast himself as a protector of minorities in the Sunni-majority country.



Hama, Syria Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian areas of Damascus early Tuesday to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama in central Syria, AFP journalists witnessed. "We demand the rights of Christians," protesters chanted as they marched through the Syrian capital towards the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Bab Sharqi neighbourhood. The protests come a little more than two weeks after an armed coalition led by Islamists toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, who had cast himself as a protector of minorities in the Sunni-majority country. Also read | US scraps $10mn bounty on Syria’s new leader after talks in Syrian capital A demonstrator who gave his name as Georges told AFP he was protesting "injustice against Christians". "If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore," he said. The protests erupted after a video spread on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighters were foreigners from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid. Also watch | All weapons to come under state control: New Syrian leader In another video posted to social media, a religious leader from Syria's victorious Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) addressed residents, claiming those who torched the tree were "not Syrian" and promising they would be punished. "The tree will be restored and lit up by tomorrow morning," he said. The Islamist HTS movement, rooted in Al-Qaeda and supported by Turkey, has promised to protect minorities since its lightning offensive toppled Assad this month following years of stalemate. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Hundreds hit the streets as protest erupts over burning of Christmas tree near Syria's Hama

New York
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Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday (Dec 23) pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges. Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a court in Manhattan when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea.
Last week, the Manhattan district attorney charged him with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's initial appearance in New York's state's trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their charges over Thompson's murder.
<h2>No family in court, but dozens of women wait to support Mangione</h2>
American media reported on Tuesday that while Mangione did not have family in the Manhattan court on Monday, about two dozen women attended the arraignment in the public section of the gallery, many of them voicing support for the 26-year-old man.
Speaking to ABC News, a woman said that she came to court as she believed that Mangione was bringing attention to the need for universal healthcare in the United States (US). 
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The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said that she did not trust the media's coverage of the case and wanted to see the proceedings with her own eyes to draw any conclusion. 
Last year, Mangione underwent spinal surgery for chronic back pain and became a proponent of the medical procedure that changed his life for the better.
On Reddit, he repeatedly posted about his recovery and offered words of encouragement for people with similar conditions.
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However, missing from these posts were his explicit concerns about corporate greed in the country's health insurance industry which only appeared in a note that Mangione wrote. This note was found after he was detained in Thompson's murder.
An interesting point to note is that Mangione was never insured by UnitedHealthcare.
A 26-year-old woman, who also wished to remain unidentified, told ABC News that she related to Mangione after she fell off her parent's healthcare plan and couldn't afford COBRA coverage.
<h2>A growing frustration with American health insurance firms</h2>
Brian Thompson's murder has brought back to spotlight the growing frustration of Americans about the country's health insurance industry. 
Also watch | Who is Luigi Mangione- the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO?
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ABC News reported that there has been an outpour of support for Mangione and hostility towards the healthcare industry since Thompson's murder, with police personnel warning about the increased risk to healthcare executives.
(With inputs from agencies)

Brian Thompson's murder has brought back the spotlight on the growing frustration of Americans over the country's health insurance industry. 



New York Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday (Dec 23) pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges. Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a court in Manhattan when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. Last week, the Manhattan district attorney charged him with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's initial appearance in New York's state's trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their charges over Thompson's murder. No family in court, but dozens of women wait to support Mangione American media reported on Tuesday that while Mangione did not have family in the Manhattan court on Monday, about two dozen women attended the arraignment in the public section of the gallery, many of them voicing support for the 26-year-old man. Speaking to ABC News, a woman said that she came to court as she believed that Mangione was bringing attention to the need for universal healthcare in the United States (US). Also read | UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione pleads 'not guilty' to murder, terrorism charges The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said that she did not trust the media's coverage of the case and wanted to see the proceedings with her own eyes to draw any conclusion. Last year, Mangione underwent spinal surgery for chronic back pain and became a proponent of the medical procedure that changed his life for the better. On Reddit, he repeatedly posted about his recovery and offered words of encouragement for people with similar conditions. Also read | Luigi Mangione: A murder suspect 'too hot to be guilty' for Gen Z However, missing from these posts were his explicit concerns about corporate greed in the country's health insurance industry which only appeared in a note that Mangione wrote. This note was found after he was detained in Thompson's murder. An interesting point to note is that Mangione was never insured by UnitedHealthcare. A 26-year-old woman, who also wished to remain unidentified, told ABC News that she related to Mangione after she fell off her parent's healthcare plan and couldn't afford COBRA coverage. A growing frustration with American health insurance firms Brian Thompson's murder has brought back to spotlight the growing frustration of Americans about the country's health insurance industry. Also watch | Who is Luigi Mangione- the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO? ABC News reported that there has been an outpour of support for Mangione and hostility towards the healthcare industry since Thompson's murder, with police personnel warning about the increased risk to healthcare executives. (With inputs from agencies)

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Not kin, but dozens of women wait in court to support suspect Luigi Mangione

Elon Musk has targeted the US Federal Reserve, calling it "overstaffed" in a recent statement. The tech mogul’s remarks highlight growing concerns over the central bank's role in economic policy, particularly as inflation and interest rates remain key issues in the US economy.



Elon Musk Sets Target On The US Federal Reserve, Calls It 'Overstaffed'

The holiday season, often a bustling time for Starbucks, has turned contentious in a way as baristas across 12 cities in the U.S. escalate a strike that began last Friday, typically one of the busiest periods for the coffeehouse giant. Watch in for more details!

Starbucks Strike Expands During Holiday Demand

Is this a case of sugar-coating taxes? India's GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has surprised moviegoers and snack lovers by introducing different rates of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for popcorn. Prepacked salted popcorn will now attract a 12% GST, while caramelized popcorn faces a steep 18%. Earlier, the GST rate was uniformly 5% for all kinds of popcorn. Watch in for more details!



Caramel Popcorn Tax: Nirmala Sitharaman Explains Why Government Levied Extra GST

Bogota, Colombia
Fabio Ochoa Vasquez, a key figure in the infamous Medellín Cartel, has returned to Colombia after serving more than 20 years in a US prison. The 67-year-old was deported by US authorities and arrived at Bogota's El Dorado airport on Monday (Dec 23).
<h2>Who Is Fabio Ochoa?</h2>
Ochoa was a prominent leader within the Medellín Cartel, where he served as a senior lieutenant to Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord. Under their leadership, the cartel dominated the global cocaine trade throughout the 1980s, fuelling violent conflicts with the Colombian government and law enforcement. The cartel’s reign of terror lasted until Escobar died in 1993.
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<h2>Ochoa’s return to Colombia  </h2>
Upon arriving at Bogotá's El Dorado Airport, Ochoa stepped off a deportation flight wearing a grey sweatshirt and carrying his belongings in a plastic bag. Immigration officials, dressed in bulletproof vests, were on hand to greet him, though no police were present to arrest him. 
Ochoa's criminal history includes his involvement in the 1986 killing of Barry Seal, an American pilot who worked for the Medellín Cartel before turning informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. 
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<h2>The Ochoa brothers and the extradition deal  </h2>
In the early 1990s, Ochoa, along with his brothers Juan David and Jorge Luis, surrendered to Colombian authorities as part of a deal to avoid extradition to the US. The three were incarcerated but released in 1996. However, Ochoa’s criminal activities caught up with him once again, and in 1999, he was re-arrested on drug trafficking charges.
In 2001, Ochoa was extradited to the US in connection with a major drug smuggling conspiracy. He was the only defendant in the case who chose to go to trial, resulting in a conviction and a 30-year sentence. Many of his co-defendants received much lighter sentences after agreeing to cooperate with authorities.
(With inputs from agencies)

 

Ochoa was a prominent leader within the Medellín Cartel, where he served as a senior lieutenant to Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord.



Bogota, Colombia Fabio Ochoa Vasquez, a key figure in the infamous Medellín Cartel, has returned to Colombia after serving more than 20 years in a US prison. The 67-year-old was deported by US authorities and arrived at Bogota's El Dorado airport on Monday (Dec 23). Who Is Fabio Ochoa? Ochoa was a prominent leader within the Medellín Cartel, where he served as a senior lieutenant to Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord. Under their leadership, the cartel dominated the global cocaine trade throughout the 1980s, fuelling violent conflicts with the Colombian government and law enforcement. The cartel’s reign of terror lasted until Escobar died in 1993. Also read | Wanted drug smuggler Sunil Yadav shot dead in US, Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility Ochoa’s return to Colombia Upon arriving at Bogotá's El Dorado Airport, Ochoa stepped off a deportation flight wearing a grey sweatshirt and carrying his belongings in a plastic bag. Immigration officials, dressed in bulletproof vests, were on hand to greet him, though no police were present to arrest him. Ochoa's criminal history includes his involvement in the 1986 killing of Barry Seal, an American pilot who worked for the Medellín Cartel before turning informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Also read | South Korea opposition considering impeachment of acting president over refusal to meet party demand The Ochoa brothers and the extradition deal In the early 1990s, Ochoa, along with his brothers Juan David and Jorge Luis, surrendered to Colombian authorities as part of a deal to avoid extradition to the US. The three were incarcerated but released in 1996. However, Ochoa’s criminal activities caught up with him once again, and in 1999, he was re-arrested on drug trafficking charges. In 2001, Ochoa was extradited to the US in connection with a major drug smuggling conspiracy. He was the only defendant in the case who chose to go to trial, resulting in a conviction and a 30-year sentence. Many of his co-defendants received much lighter sentences after agreeing to cooperate with authorities. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Fabio Ochoa Vasquez? Medellín Cartel leader deported after over 20 years in US prison

Paris, France 
Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported. 
Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out. 
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A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail". 
"The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement. 
He further said that no visitors were put in danger. 
Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trying-civilians-lacks-transparency-us-uk-slams-pakistan-for-sentencing-civilians-786502">'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians</a>
Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported. 
(With inputs from agencies)

A fire broke out in Paris's most famous tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). Emergency services were reported on the scene, with thousands of visitors being evacuated. According to French media, a fire broke out in the elevator shaft between the first and second floors. 

 



Paris, France Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported. Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail". "The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement. He further said that no visitors were put in danger. Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames." Also read | 'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Fire breaks out in Eiffel Tower, thousands evacuated: Report

Moscow, Russia
A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room. The Russian foreign ministry said that 14 crew members were rescued and were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena, and two others are yet to be found. 
The ship left port in St. Petersburg 12 days back, and the ship's owner said it was en route to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East. It was carrying two cranes for the port, with each weighing 380 tonnes. 
Watch | 73% of South Koreans Support Developing Nuclear Weapons, Survey Shows
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Ursa Major was reportedly in the same area where another Russian ship named Sparta was last week and ran into trouble. At the beginning of December, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that Sparta was seen heading to Russia's naval base on the Syrian coast at Tartous. The report said the ship was there to move military equipment out of Syria after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad.
Further on Monday (Dec 23), the HUR said that Sparta had broken down off Portugal, but the problem had been fixed. But since Ursa Major is also known as Sparta III, it was not clear which ship the agency was referring to. 
It is still unknown what caused the explosion in the Ursa Major while it was between Oran in Algeria and the Spanish town of Aguilas.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/study-middle-children-tend-to-be-more-honest-than-siblings-786474">Study: Middle children tend to be more honest than their other siblings</a>
Ursa Major was built in 2009 and was placed under sanction after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The ship left port in St. Petersburg 12 days ago, and the ship's owner said it was en route to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East. It was carrying two cranes for the port, with each weighing 380 tonnes. 



Moscow, Russia A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room. The Russian foreign ministry said that 14 crew members were rescued and were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena, and two others are yet to be found. The ship left port in St. Petersburg 12 days back, and the ship's owner said it was en route to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East. It was carrying two cranes for the port, with each weighing 380 tonnes. Watch | 73% of South Koreans Support Developing Nuclear Weapons, Survey Shows Ursa Major was reportedly in the same area where another Russian ship named Sparta was last week and ran into trouble. At the beginning of December, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that Sparta was seen heading to Russia's naval base on the Syrian coast at Tartous. The report said the ship was there to move military equipment out of Syria after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad. Further on Monday (Dec 23), the HUR said that Sparta had broken down off Portugal, but the problem had been fixed. But since Ursa Major is also known as Sparta III, it was not clear which ship the agency was referring to. It is still unknown what caused the explosion in the Ursa Major while it was between Oran in Algeria and the Spanish town of Aguilas. Also read | Study: Middle children tend to be more honest than their other siblings Ursa Major was built in 2009 and was placed under sanction after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing

Paris, France 
Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial."
The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran
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"We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added.
The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court.
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process."
The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ship-ursa-major-sinks-after-engine-explosion-14-crew-members-rescued-others-missing-786489">Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing</a>
In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported.
Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion." 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial."



Paris, France Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial." The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran "We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added. The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process." The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year. Also read | Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported. Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slam Pakistan for sentencing civilians

Bethlehem is gearing up for another Christmas celebration, but this year’s festivities are overshadowed by the ongoing Gaza war. The historic city, known for its deep religious significance, faces a somber holiday season as tensions in the region continue to affect both local residents and pilgrims.



Bethlehem Prepares for Christmas Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict

New Delhi
In a mind boggling case of career swap, a PhD student from Texas in America has now quit studying for a lucrative career in adult entertainment company, OnlyFans. The woman named Zara Dar, revealed she quit PhD to pursue a career on OnlyFans and it’s already paying off. 
According to Zara, she has made more than $1 million on OnlyFans.
<h2>OnlyFans a more lucrative career choice for women?</h2>
Zara Dar revealed the same in a video posted on YouTube where she spoke of her decision to change her career. She can be heard saying, "Moving on to doing OnlyFans and content creation full-time it's not just a career choice it feels kind of like a gamble on the direction of my entire life.”
Dar has over one lakh subscribers on YouTube and she has been a student of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Her YouTube has tutorial videos on machine learning and neural networks.
Zara explained that she feels “liberated” having taken this decision. She added that this decision has freed her from "the expectations of an academic institution or the constraints of a corporate office."
"Thankfully, I avoided taking out any student loans. Now, I have an investment portfolio and am planning to buy my own house. These accomplishments are a testament to the tangible rewards of carving my own path and the freedom it has brought me," she concluded. 
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-good-news-for-alec-baldwin-manslaughter-case-closed-against-rust-actor-786389">Good news for Alec Baldwin! Manslaughter case closed against Rust actor</a>

The YouTube star revealed that she's left pursuing PhD because she has found a more stable career on OnlyFans. 



New Delhi In a mind boggling case of career swap, a PhD student from Texas in America has now quit studying for a lucrative career in adult entertainment company, OnlyFans. The woman named Zara Dar, revealed she quit PhD to pursue a career on OnlyFans and it’s already paying off. According to Zara, she has made more than $1 million on OnlyFans. OnlyFans a more lucrative career choice for women? Zara Dar revealed the same in a video posted on YouTube where she spoke of her decision to change her career. She can be heard saying, "Moving on to doing OnlyFans and content creation full-time it's not just a career choice it feels kind of like a gamble on the direction of my entire life.” Dar has over one lakh subscribers on YouTube and she has been a student of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Her YouTube has tutorial videos on machine learning and neural networks. Zara explained that she feels “liberated” having taken this decision. She added that this decision has freed her from "the expectations of an academic institution or the constraints of a corporate office." "Thankfully, I avoided taking out any student loans. Now, I have an investment portfolio and am planning to buy my own house. These accomplishments are a testament to the tangible rewards of carving my own path and the freedom it has brought me," she concluded. Also read: Good news for Alec Baldwin! Manslaughter case closed against Rust actor

This woman left PhD to make $1 million on OnlyFans: Meet Zara Dar

Washington, US
Eric Trump recently shared a post on the social media platform, X featuring his father, Donald Trump, humorously depicted as "buying" Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal through Amazon. 
The image shows Donald Trump scrolling on his phone, adding the three territories to his cart. Eric captioned it, “We are so back.”  
Also read |  <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-subsidies-to-canada-make-no-sense-suggests-canada-become-51st-us-state-785043">Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests it become 51st US state</a>
On Wednesday (Dec 18), Trump had proposed that Canada should join the United States. “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”, he wrote on his social media.
His comments have sparked discussions, especially given the ongoing tensions over trade and tariffs between the US and Canada.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-opposition-considering-to-impeach-acting-president-over-refusal-to-meet-partys-demand-786445">South Korea's opposition considering to impeach the acting president over refusal to meet party's demand</a>

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We are so back!!! <a href="https://t.co/PvybVULeAz">pic.twitter.com/PvybVULeAz</a>
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1871376220115669456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The recent post comes just a day after Donald Trump reiterated his longstanding desire to purchase Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity” for US national security. Trump has previously made similar remarks about the self-governing territory, arguing that it would be strategically important for the US to own it.
Earlier on Tuesday (Dec 10), Trump also mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him the "Governor of the Great State of Canada." Sharing a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada."
"I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! ," he added. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Additionally, on Wednesday (Dec 18), Trump proposed that Canada should join the United States.



Washington, US Eric Trump recently shared a post on the social media platform, X featuring his father, Donald Trump, humorously depicted as "buying" Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal through Amazon. The image shows Donald Trump scrolling on his phone, adding the three territories to his cart. Eric captioned it, “We are so back.” Also read | Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests it become 51st US state On Wednesday (Dec 18), Trump had proposed that Canada should join the United States. “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”, he wrote on his social media. His comments have sparked discussions, especially given the ongoing tensions over trade and tariffs between the US and Canada. Also read | South Korea's opposition considering to impeach the acting president over refusal to meet party's demand We are so back!!! pic.twitter.com/PvybVULeAz — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) December 24, 2024 × The recent post comes just a day after Donald Trump reiterated his longstanding desire to purchase Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity” for US national security. Trump has previously made similar remarks about the self-governing territory, arguing that it would be strategically important for the US to own it. Earlier on Tuesday (Dec 10), Trump also mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him the "Governor of the Great State of Canada." Sharing a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada." "I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! ," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Eric Trump posts image of Donald Trump ‘Buying’ Canada, Greenland and Panama Canal in new social media post

Israel’s Defence Minister has confirmed that the IDF assassinated former Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year. Defense Minister Israel Katz made the announcement as he warned that the military will decapitate the leadership of Yemen's Houthi Rebels. Watch in for more details!

Israel-Hamas War: Israel Warns It Will Decapitate Leadership Of Yemen's Houthi Rebels

Israel-Hamas War: Netanyahu Says, 'Ordered Israeli Forces To Destroy Houthi Infrastructure'

Ontario, Canada 
Recent studies found that middle children are more honest, humble, and enjoyable than their adult siblings in a family. It also said that middle children are one step ahead of their siblings in things like agreeableness, cooperation, and humility. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">Studies conducted </h2>
According to a study conducted by psychology professors at Brock University in Ontario and the University of Calgary in Alberta, Michael Ashton and Kibeom Lee found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns.
<h2 dir="ltr">Understanding birth order and personality </h2>
Some researchers have tried a long way to comprehend a link between birth order and personality. Below are some instances:
&gt; An Australian psychologist Alfred Adler claimed that firstborns are responsible, the youngest are coddled, and middle children often feel neglected leading to some traits in response to the behaviour they get. 
&gt; Some research previously traced some evidence that firstborns are little average than late borns in intellect trait.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/kids-more-likely-to-trust-robots-than-humans-reveals-study-727545">Kids more likely to trust robots than humans, reveals study </a>
<h2 dir="ltr">New studies </h2>
The new study understands whether personality trait levels could be linked to birth order and sibling number. It used measures with the people rating their own levels of traits like honesty-humility (H), emotionality (E), extraversion (X), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), and openness to experience (O).
Researchers also asked participants about the household in which they grew up and observed their birth order.
<h2 dir="ltr">An analysis </h2>
Scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada examined a set of data in a study about 700,000 adults from different backgrounds, assessing each one across major personality dimensions. Researchers discovered that cooperative traits such as honesty-humility and agreeableness were high for middle-born participants, followed by last-born and first-born people. 
&gt; In people having the same number of siblings, the firstborn averaged slightly lower compared to middle born and last born according to studies. 
&gt; The latest findings, according to researchers, point to one of the benefits of growing up with many siblings.

(With inputs from agencies)

Studies found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns. 



Ontario, Canada Recent studies found that middle children are more honest, humble, and enjoyable than their adult siblings in a family. It also said that middle children are one step ahead of their siblings in things like agreeableness, cooperation, and humility. Studies conducted According to a study conducted by psychology professors at Brock University in Ontario and the University of Calgary in Alberta, Michael Ashton and Kibeom Lee found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns. Understanding birth order and personality Some researchers have tried a long way to comprehend a link between birth order and personality. Below are some instances: > An Australian psychologist Alfred Adler claimed that firstborns are responsible, the youngest are coddled, and middle children often feel neglected leading to some traits in response to the behaviour they get. > Some research previously traced some evidence that firstborns are little average than late borns in intellect trait. Also Read: Kids more likely to trust robots than humans, reveals study New studies The new study understands whether personality trait levels could be linked to birth order and sibling number. It used measures with the people rating their own levels of traits like honesty-humility (H), emotionality (E), extraversion (X), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), and openness to experience (O). Researchers also asked participants about the household in which they grew up and observed their birth order. An analysis Scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada examined a set of data in a study about 700,000 adults from different backgrounds, assessing each one across major personality dimensions. Researchers discovered that cooperative traits such as honesty-humility and agreeableness were high for middle-born participants, followed by last-born and first-born people. > In people having the same number of siblings, the firstborn averaged slightly lower compared to middle born and last born according to studies. > The latest findings, according to researchers, point to one of the benefits of growing up with many siblings. (With inputs from agencies)

Study: Middle children tend to be more honest than their other siblings

South Korea
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday (Dec 24) said that they are considering impeaching acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he refused to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee by Christmas Eve. 
The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. 
“We have decided to exercise patience, taking into account the sentiments of the people, and wait until Thursday (Dec 26)to determine whether our demands are met,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said.
If the impeachment happens, it would be the first time in Korean history that both the president and the prime minister, the two key figures in the government body, would have been ousted by the parliament. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-in-south-korea-protesting-against-president-yoons-impeachment-blames-rigged-elections-785827">Also read: Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections</a>
The country has been reeling from a political crisis since Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law for a brief time, following which he was impeached. Now, Han, who has been serving as acting president after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon. 
If the impeachment bill is submitted, it must be voted on within 24-72 hours after being introduced at a plenary session in parliament. 
Initially, the opposition party demanded that Han approve bills while calling for special prosecutors to investigate Yoon over his martial law decree, and his wife for corruption and other allegations, by Tuesday. 
Watch | South Korea: Anti-Yoon Groups Demand His Official Removal From Presidency
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However, Han did not put the bills on the cabinet's agenda and called for the ruling and opposition parties to further negotiate. 
Following this, the opposition's floor leader Park stressed that there was no room for negotiations about the Yoon investigation. 
Han’s stance “left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings”, Park said during a press briefing and added that his party would “initiate impeachment proceedings against Han”.
He further said that it only needs a simple majority in the 300-member parliament to impeach Han. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. 



South Korea South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday (Dec 24) said that they are considering impeaching acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he refused to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee by Christmas Eve. The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. “We have decided to exercise patience, taking into account the sentiments of the people, and wait until Thursday (Dec 26)to determine whether our demands are met,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said. If the impeachment happens, it would be the first time in Korean history that both the president and the prime minister, the two key figures in the government body, would have been ousted by the parliament. Also read: Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections The country has been reeling from a political crisis since Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law for a brief time, following which he was impeached. Now, Han, who has been serving as acting president after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon. If the impeachment bill is submitted, it must be voted on within 24-72 hours after being introduced at a plenary session in parliament. Initially, the opposition party demanded that Han approve bills while calling for special prosecutors to investigate Yoon over his martial law decree, and his wife for corruption and other allegations, by Tuesday. Watch | South Korea: Anti-Yoon Groups Demand His Official Removal From Presidency × However, Han did not put the bills on the cabinet's agenda and called for the ruling and opposition parties to further negotiate. Following this, the opposition's floor leader Park stressed that there was no room for negotiations about the Yoon investigation. Han’s stance “left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings”, Park said during a press briefing and added that his party would “initiate impeachment proceedings against Han”. He further said that it only needs a simple majority in the 300-member parliament to impeach Han. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea opposition considering impeachment of acting president over refusal to meet party demand

The Senate has convened a parliamentary session to discuss the UAE's visa restrictions and the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The session aims to address concerns related to the impact on Pakistani workers and their families abroad, with a focus on finding solutions to ease the visa challenges. Watch in for more details!

Pakistani Travellers Need Police Verification Report To Obtain UAE Visa

Tbilisi, Georgia 
A Georgian gay couple has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing their two adopted sons. The couple William (34) and Zachary Zulock (36) adopted two brothers, who are now 12 and 10, from a Christian special-needs agency. The New York Post reported quoting Walton County District Attorney's office that the couple will spend the rest of their lives in jail without any parole. 
District Attorney Randy McGinley, while convicting them, said that the couple "truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else".
Watch | Donald Trump's Fight Over Canal Control Weighs Down Panama Assets
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The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." 
Zachary was a banker and William was a government officer. Despite their settled lives, the couple forcefully used to have sex with the children regularly and even used to record the abuse for child pornography. 
It was further reported that they used to boast about their heinous crime among their friends. One of the friends of the couple told police that one of them once shared a Snapchat story of one of the boys being abused and wrote, "I'm going to f*** my son tonight. Stand by.”
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-sleigh-must-be-in-the-shop-santa-on-bike-gets-away-from-florida-cops-in-high-speed-chase-786439">Watch- Sleigh must be in the shop: Santa on bike gets away from Florida cops in high-speed chase</a>
The couple used social media to pimp the two brothers to at least two men in the local paedophile sex ring. They were arrested in 2022 when police caught an alleged member of the ring downloading child pornography. The detained man later informed the authorities that the couple used to film pornography with the two young kids. 
The couple was charged guilty in court for aggravated child molestation as well as sexual exploitation of children. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." 



Tbilisi, Georgia A Georgian gay couple has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing their two adopted sons. The couple William (34) and Zachary Zulock (36) adopted two brothers, who are now 12 and 10, from a Christian special-needs agency. The New York Post reported quoting Walton County District Attorney's office that the couple will spend the rest of their lives in jail without any parole. District Attorney Randy McGinley, while convicting them, said that the couple "truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else". Watch | Donald Trump's Fight Over Canal Control Weighs Down Panama Assets The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." Zachary was a banker and William was a government officer. Despite their settled lives, the couple forcefully used to have sex with the children regularly and even used to record the abuse for child pornography. It was further reported that they used to boast about their heinous crime among their friends. One of the friends of the couple told police that one of them once shared a Snapchat story of one of the boys being abused and wrote, "I'm going to f*** my son tonight. Stand by.” Also read | Watch- Sleigh must be in the shop: Santa on bike gets away from Florida cops in high-speed chase The couple used social media to pimp the two brothers to at least two men in the local paedophile sex ring. They were arrested in 2022 when police caught an alleged member of the ring downloading child pornography. The detained man later informed the authorities that the couple used to film pornography with the two young kids. The couple was charged guilty in court for aggravated child molestation as well as sexual exploitation of children. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography

New Delhi, India
Christmas is almost here, a season to spread joy, love and celebration across the world. Celebrated on December 25, this holiday brings together families, friends and loved ones to cherish the moments, exchange gifts and share feasts.
According to the New Testament, Christmas marks the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ, who was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Christ is considered the messiah and saviour of mankind according to the prophecies.
Spread the Christmas spirit with your loved ones with these heartfelt messages, greetings and quotes in your wishes.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/90-year-old-cheng-chen-with-parkinsons-lifts-35-kg-in-heartwarming-senior-weightlifting-contest-786242">90-year-old Cheng Chen with Parkinson's lifts 35 kg in heartwarming senior weightlifting contest</a>
<h2>Christmas 2024: Wishes and messages</h2>
“May the magic of Christmas bring you endless happiness and joy. Have a wonderful holiday season!”
“Wishing you a holiday season full of warmth, joy, and magical memories.”
“Sending you Christmas cheer wrapped in warmth and love. May your holidays be as beautiful as you are!”
“Merry Christmas and happy New Year! May the holiday season offer you calmness, and the new year bring you wonderful business adventures.”
“May this festive season bring happiness and success to you and your family.”
“May this Christmas bring you closer to those you hold dear and shower you with happiness and success.”
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<h2>Christmas 2024: Quotes to share</h2>
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” – Bob Hope
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” – Norman Vincent Peale
“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ” – Mary Ellen Chase
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz

Spread the Christmas spirit with your loved ones with these heartfelt messages, greetings and quotes in your wishes to them



New Delhi, India Christmas is almost here, a season to spread joy, love and celebration across the world. Celebrated on December 25, this holiday brings together families, friends and loved ones to cherish the moments, exchange gifts and share feasts. According to the New Testament, Christmas marks the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ, who was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Christ is considered the messiah and saviour of mankind according to the prophecies. Spread the Christmas spirit with your loved ones with these heartfelt messages, greetings and quotes in your wishes. Also read | 90-year-old Cheng Chen with Parkinson's lifts 35 kg in heartwarming senior weightlifting contest Christmas 2024: Wishes and messages “May the magic of Christmas bring you endless happiness and joy. Have a wonderful holiday season!” “Wishing you a holiday season full of warmth, joy, and magical memories.” “Sending you Christmas cheer wrapped in warmth and love. May your holidays be as beautiful as you are!” “Merry Christmas and happy New Year! May the holiday season offer you calmness, and the new year bring you wonderful business adventures.” “May this festive season bring happiness and success to you and your family.” “May this Christmas bring you closer to those you hold dear and shower you with happiness and success.” Also read | Canadian man to feature in Guinness World Record 2025 book for stacking most Jenga blocks Christmas 2024: Quotes to share “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” – Bob Hope “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” – Norman Vincent Peale “Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ” – Mary Ellen Chase “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz

Christmas 2024: Wishes, messages, greetings, and quotes 

Brasilia
Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday.
According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is allowed by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodations, among other labour violations.
BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.
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In Brazil, "slavery-like conditions" include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers' health and any work that violates human dignity.
The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous.
Watch: Brazil: 10 Dead In Plane Crash, Several People Injured
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"We found that the work of ... these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions," she said.
"Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," said Durao.
The operation is ongoing, said Durao, and fines have not yet been issued.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.



Brasilia Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday. According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is allowed by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodations, among other labour violations. BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers. Also read: At least 22 die in bus accident in southeastern Brazil: Officials In Brazil, "slavery-like conditions" include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers' health and any work that violates human dignity. The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous. Watch: Brazil: 10 Dead In Plane Crash, Several People Injured × "We found that the work of ... these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions," she said. "Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," said Durao. The operation is ongoing, said Durao, and fines have not yet been issued. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Brazil officials find Chinese workers in 'slavery-like conditions' at BYD construction site

Ottawa, Canada
Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls.
“What is alarming is the scope and scale of it,” said Matt W.J. Richardson, head of intelligence at The Canadian Open Source Intelligence Centre. He noted that many accounts featured more than one female who he suspected was underage.
Within a day of his Dec. 16 report to authorities, all of the accounts had been removed from OnlyFans, said Richardson, whose organization trains law enforcement and government agencies in open source intelligence to help combat crimes such as human trafficking and child exploitation.
Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips.
Some of the accounts were linked to each other through promotional posts, suggesting they may have been controlled by the same person or group, Richardson said.
The images in the accounts featured females with physical attributes typical of those under the age of 18, Richardson said. Most had narrow hips and lacked physical maturation, he said. Many had narrow shoulders or appeared to be “well short of five feet tall,” he said.
Sexually explicit images of minors are banned in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, and are against OnlyFans rules. On its website, OnlyFans says it prohibits content featuring the exploitation or abuse of anyone under 18,  even if it’s adults “pretending to be” under 18.
The National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children (NCMEC) told Reuters it could not comment on reports made to its tip line. Generally, NCMEC said, it tries to confirm whether reported webpages actively host child sexual abuse material or exploitive content. When warranted, it notifies the company hosting the material; it's then up to the company whether to remove or block the content. In addition, all tips are “referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation,” NCMEC said.
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Responding to the findings of this story, an OnlyFans spokesperson said the company has a “zero tolerance approach” to child sexual abuse material on the platform and has “strict onboarding processes to ensure all creators are over the age of 18.” OnlyFans works closely with NCMEC to “thoroughly investigate any reports they receive from others about our platform,” the spokesperson said.
She did not respond to a question about why the 26 accounts were taken down only after Richardson reported them.
OnlyFans has said it vets all content and swiftly removes and reports any suspected child sexual abuse material when detected. The company has a “pre-check team” that uses technology to detect content that’s “extremely likely to be a child,” CEO Keily Blair said in a speech in August. OnlyFans invests heavily in content moderation, Blair has said, which allows it to “focus on keeping the community safe and keeping the community for adults only.” OnlyFans also says all content is ultimately reviewed by human moderators.
The spokesperson noted that OnlyFans itself made 347 reports to NCMEC in 2023, “vastly fewer than the millions of instances that are reported by other social media platforms where users can remain anonymous and where content is unmoderated.”
OnlyFans’ 4.1 million content creators typically sell explicit images and videos for a monthly subscription fee, plus one-off payments. The company keeps a fifth of the revenue. The subscriptions effectively place paywalls around nearly every OnlyFans account, making the site difficult to scrutinize.
In a July investigation, Reuters used US police and court records to document 30 complaints to law enforcement that child sexual abuse material appeared on OnlyFans between Dec. 2019 and June 2024. The case files examined by Reuters cited more than 200 explicit videos and images of kids, including some adults having oral sex with toddlers.
OnlyFans told Reuters at that time that NCMEC has “full access” to the site behind its paywalls. But NCMEC said access was “limited” to OnlyFans accounts reported to its tip line or connected to a missing child case. Aside from that, NCMEC said it “does not proactively monitor, moderate, or actively seek to review content at scale” behind the paywall of OnlyFans.
<h2>Emojis of lollipops &amp; baby bottles</h2>
In recent months, Reuters separately examined non-explicit public profile photos, bios and posts of OnlyFans creators who shared near-identical promotional language in their posts. Access to the material was open to the public without a paid OnlyFans subscription.
Female creators in 49 of those accounts had non-explicit profile photos that appeared childlike, according to three people with professional experience identifying child exploitation, including Richardson. Richardson said the 26 cases he reported to NCMEC overlapped with four of those Reuters identified.
Eric Silverman, a researcher for Culture Reframed, an organization focused on raising awareness about the harms of pornography to youth, said the 49 profile photos raised serious concern.
“Their appearance, wide-eyed, innocent look, the pouting, the finger in the mouth, all these are visual cues that convey childhood,” he said. “Even if every single one of them is verifiably 18 or older, you still have to confront the issue that OnlyFans is profiting from the sexual portrayal of women who appear to be underage.”
The accounts dated back months, as far as December 2023. All 49 of them were taken down after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.
A company spokesperson said OnlyFans reviewed the user names provided by Reuters. “In every case, the Creators’ Government identity documents had been checked and verified by a third party which confirmed the documents are valid, and all individuals are over the age of 18.”
The company did not answer a question about why the 49 accounts were removed. OnlyFans also did not respond when asked to identify the “third party” that confirmed the documents.
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Reuters could not verify the ages of the females featured in the profiles of the 49 accounts or whether their photos had been digitally altered. OnlyFans’ website says verified creators can post AI-generated content of themselves but must disclose it by, for example, including the hashtag #ai. The 49 accounts identified by Reuters didn’t have that hashtag or language flagging the use of AI.
The public details of those accounts often included emojis such as teddy bears, lollipops, or baby bottles. In their non-explicit profile photos, some females wore their hair in pigtails or braids. Others had braces. Many referred to themselves in diminutive terms such as “small,” “tiny,” “petite” or “mini.”
Some described themselves as “shy” or “innocent.” One profile description read, “If you came to my page, it means you love little, inexperienced girls like me!”
One profile photo was of a female, dressed in a skin-tight, rainbow-colored fishnet top and described on her OnlyFans page as a “petite princess” who “may look innocent​​” but is looking for a “well experienced man.”
“She doesn't even look 15,” said Lori Cohen, CEO of Protect All Children from Trafficking or PACT, a US non-profit dedicated to eradicating child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
“It's a very disturbing image,” Cohen said.
<h2>‘This isn’t small scale’</h2>
Richardson said the 26 accounts he reported suggested possible coordination by content creators.
Typically, an OnlyFans creator has a public profile with one or more photos, and subscribers can log in to view explicit content involving that creator. But in the cases examined by Richardson, the creators often posted images advertising multiple other females, some of whom appeared underage, and linked to those females’ OnlyFans accounts, he said.
“This isn't small scale. It's not like one or three or four,” said Richardson. “How many really are out there?”
In some of the 26 accounts Richardson reported on Dec. 16, the profile photo of the OnlyFans creator featured what looked like an adult female, he said, but the photos posted within the account included those of suspected underage females along with their OnlyFans account names.
“Some of them appear to be very young and tiny,” he said.
He said some of the content in the 26 accounts could have been “legacy CSAM”: sexually explicit photos taken when the female was a girl but posted when she was 18 or over. These would still violate laws governing child sexual abuse material, three legal experts told Reuters.
Richardson has previously conducted research into OnlyFans. In 2022, he and other researchers reported that they found creator profiles with “common indicators” of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, including keywords and other language. Shortly after their report was published, one US lawmaker entered it into the Congressional Record, the official chronicle of congressional proceedings.
In the 49 public profiles Reuters reviewed, many of the account names included the words – or variations of the words – “little,” “baby,” “sweet” or “Lolita.” Those names, when combined with images of young females, can be used to advertise child sexual abuse material, said the specialists consulted by Reuters.
The posts sometimes referred to females in schoolgirl or other child-oriented terms. One, for example, stated: ”The depraved babe @[account name redacted by Reuters] ran away from schоol.” It continued: “Subscribe and punish her!” The account was removed by Dec. 17, the day after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.
Bios or posts in the accounts Reuters identified often included references to females being 18 or having just turned 18. “I've been waiting to turn 18 for a long time so I could register on Onlyfans, and here I am,” read the profile of one female, who Cohen said appeared younger.
“There's a fullness to her face that is often associated with youth. She's got disproportionately large eyes, and children tend to have larger eyes on their face relative to adults,” said Cohen.
Even if the females actually were 18, child exploitation experts said that’s still a problem because the images themselves suggested they might be underage. “It creates a demand for younger and younger bodies,” said Cohen. “This type of behavior normalizes pedophilia.”
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It is unlikely that a person could be successfully prosecuted for child sexual abuse material in a scenario where an adult is posing as a minor, because governing statutes generally focus on the participant’s actual age, three legal experts told Reuters.
Among  the 49 accounts Reuters examined, the creators often used nearly identical language to describe themselves or particular sex acts.
“I don’t like parties or noisy clubs, I’m more of a home person, Netflix and chill is my kind of weekend,” one female wrote in her profile. Another used notably similar language: “I'm not a big fan of parties and noisy clubs. I'm more of a homebody, you know? Netflix and chill – that's my idea of a perfect weekend.”
As of mid-December, Reuters documented more than 150 instances in which posts from different accounts used identical or nearly identical language. Many of those posts, spread across 25 of the 49 accounts Reuters reviewed, also shared the same combinations of emojis.
A half dozen of those posts, all purporting to have been written by different creators, promised for instance that “this beauty will play with her tight holes just for you.”
Multiple others promised a “gorgeous doll for your hot desires” or a girl who “is all alone right now and needs some new attention.”
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips



Ottawa, Canada Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls. “What is alarming is the scope and scale of it,” said Matt W.J. Richardson, head of intelligence at The Canadian Open Source Intelligence Centre. He noted that many accounts featured more than one female who he suspected was underage. Within a day of his Dec. 16 report to authorities, all of the accounts had been removed from OnlyFans, said Richardson, whose organization trains law enforcement and government agencies in open source intelligence to help combat crimes such as human trafficking and child exploitation. Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips. Some of the accounts were linked to each other through promotional posts, suggesting they may have been controlled by the same person or group, Richardson said. The images in the accounts featured females with physical attributes typical of those under the age of 18, Richardson said. Most had narrow hips and lacked physical maturation, he said. Many had narrow shoulders or appeared to be “well short of five feet tall,” he said. Sexually explicit images of minors are banned in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, and are against OnlyFans rules. On its website, OnlyFans says it prohibits content featuring the exploitation or abuse of anyone under 18, even if it’s adults “pretending to be” under 18. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) told Reuters it could not comment on reports made to its tip line. Generally, NCMEC said, it tries to confirm whether reported webpages actively host child sexual abuse material or exploitive content. When warranted, it notifies the company hosting the material; it's then up to the company whether to remove or block the content. In addition, all tips are “referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation,” NCMEC said. Also read | ‘Gotta keep this s**ker for a little while,’ Trump signals averting ban on TikTok Responding to the findings of this story, an OnlyFans spokesperson said the company has a “zero tolerance approach” to child sexual abuse material on the platform and has “strict onboarding processes to ensure all creators are over the age of 18.” OnlyFans works closely with NCMEC to “thoroughly investigate any reports they receive from others about our platform,” the spokesperson said. She did not respond to a question about why the 26 accounts were taken down only after Richardson reported them. OnlyFans has said it vets all content and swiftly removes and reports any suspected child sexual abuse material when detected. The company has a “pre-check team” that uses technology to detect content that’s “extremely likely to be a child,” CEO Keily Blair said in a speech in August. OnlyFans invests heavily in content moderation, Blair has said, which allows it to “focus on keeping the community safe and keeping the community for adults only.” OnlyFans also says all content is ultimately reviewed by human moderators. The spokesperson noted that OnlyFans itself made 347 reports to NCMEC in 2023, “vastly fewer than the millions of instances that are reported by other social media platforms where users can remain anonymous and where content is unmoderated.” OnlyFans’ 4.1 million content creators typically sell explicit images and videos for a monthly subscription fee, plus one-off payments. The company keeps a fifth of the revenue. The subscriptions effectively place paywalls around nearly every OnlyFans account, making the site difficult to scrutinize. In a July investigation, Reuters used US police and court records to document 30 complaints to law enforcement that child sexual abuse material appeared on OnlyFans between Dec. 2019 and June 2024. The case files examined by Reuters cited more than 200 explicit videos and images of kids, including some adults having oral sex with toddlers. OnlyFans told Reuters at that time that NCMEC has “full access” to the site behind its paywalls. But NCMEC said access was “limited” to OnlyFans accounts reported to its tip line or connected to a missing child case. Aside from that, NCMEC said it “does not proactively monitor, moderate, or actively seek to review content at scale” behind the paywall of OnlyFans. Emojis of lollipops & baby bottles In recent months, Reuters separately examined non-explicit public profile photos, bios and posts of OnlyFans creators who shared near-identical promotional language in their posts. Access to the material was open to the public without a paid OnlyFans subscription. Female creators in 49 of those accounts had non-explicit profile photos that appeared childlike, according to three people with professional experience identifying child exploitation, including Richardson. Richardson said the 26 cases he reported to NCMEC overlapped with four of those Reuters identified. Eric Silverman, a researcher for Culture Reframed, an organization focused on raising awareness about the harms of pornography to youth, said the 49 profile photos raised serious concern. “Their appearance, wide-eyed, innocent look, the pouting, the finger in the mouth, all these are visual cues that convey childhood,” he said. “Even if every single one of them is verifiably 18 or older, you still have to confront the issue that OnlyFans is profiting from the sexual portrayal of women who appear to be underage.” The accounts dated back months, as far as December 2023. All 49 of them were taken down after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings. A company spokesperson said OnlyFans reviewed the user names provided by Reuters. “In every case, the Creators’ Government identity documents had been checked and verified by a third party which confirmed the documents are valid, and all individuals are over the age of 18.” The company did not answer a question about why the 49 accounts were removed. OnlyFans also did not respond when asked to identify the “third party” that confirmed the documents. Also read | Germans questions security measures after deadly car attack at Magdeburg Christmas market Reuters could not verify the ages of the females featured in the profiles of the 49 accounts or whether their photos had been digitally altered. OnlyFans’ website says verified creators can post AI-generated content of themselves but must disclose it by, for example, including the hashtag #ai. The 49 accounts identified by Reuters didn’t have that hashtag or language flagging the use of AI. The public details of those accounts often included emojis such as teddy bears, lollipops, or baby bottles. In their non-explicit profile photos, some females wore their hair in pigtails or braids. Others had braces. Many referred to themselves in diminutive terms such as “small,” “tiny,” “petite” or “mini.” Some described themselves as “shy” or “innocent.” One profile description read, “If you came to my page, it means you love little, inexperienced girls like me!” One profile photo was of a female, dressed in a skin-tight, rainbow-colored fishnet top and described on her OnlyFans page as a “petite princess” who “may look innocent” but is looking for a “well experienced man.” “She doesn't even look 15,” said Lori Cohen, CEO of Protect All Children from Trafficking or PACT, a US non-profit dedicated to eradicating child sexual exploitation and trafficking. “It's a very disturbing image,” Cohen said. ‘This isn’t small scale’ Richardson said the 26 accounts he reported suggested possible coordination by content creators. Typically, an OnlyFans creator has a public profile with one or more photos, and subscribers can log in to view explicit content involving that creator. But in the cases examined by Richardson, the creators often posted images advertising multiple other females, some of whom appeared underage, and linked to those females’ OnlyFans accounts, he said. “This isn't small scale. It's not like one or three or four,” said Richardson. “How many really are out there?” In some of the 26 accounts Richardson reported on Dec. 16, the profile photo of the OnlyFans creator featured what looked like an adult female, he said, but the photos posted within the account included those of suspected underage females along with their OnlyFans account names. “Some of them appear to be very young and tiny,” he said. He said some of the content in the 26 accounts could have been “legacy CSAM”: sexually explicit photos taken when the female was a girl but posted when she was 18 or over. These would still violate laws governing child sexual abuse material, three legal experts told Reuters. Richardson has previously conducted research into OnlyFans. In 2022, he and other researchers reported that they found creator profiles with “common indicators” of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, including keywords and other language. Shortly after their report was published, one US lawmaker entered it into the Congressional Record, the official chronicle of congressional proceedings. In the 49 public profiles Reuters reviewed, many of the account names included the words – or variations of the words – “little,” “baby,” “sweet” or “Lolita.” Those names, when combined with images of young females, can be used to advertise child sexual abuse material, said the specialists consulted by Reuters. The posts sometimes referred to females in schoolgirl or other child-oriented terms. One, for example, stated: ”The depraved babe @[account name redacted by Reuters] ran away from schоol.” It continued: “Subscribe and punish her!” The account was removed by Dec. 17, the day after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings. Bios or posts in the accounts Reuters identified often included references to females being 18 or having just turned 18. “I've been waiting to turn 18 for a long time so I could register on Onlyfans, and here I am,” read the profile of one female, who Cohen said appeared younger. “There's a fullness to her face that is often associated with youth. She's got disproportionately large eyes, and children tend to have larger eyes on their face relative to adults,” said Cohen. Even if the females actually were 18, child exploitation experts said that’s still a problem because the images themselves suggested they might be underage. “It creates a demand for younger and younger bodies,” said Cohen. “This type of behavior normalizes pedophilia.” Also read | Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography It is unlikely that a person could be successfully prosecuted for child sexual abuse material in a scenario where an adult is posing as a minor, because governing statutes generally focus on the participant’s actual age, three legal experts told Reuters. Among the 49 accounts Reuters examined, the creators often used nearly identical language to describe themselves or particular sex acts. “I don’t like parties or noisy clubs, I’m more of a home person, Netflix and chill is my kind of weekend,” one female wrote in her profile. Another used notably similar language: “I'm not a big fan of parties and noisy clubs. I'm more of a homebody, you know? Netflix and chill – that's my idea of a perfect weekend.” As of mid-December, Reuters documented more than 150 instances in which posts from different accounts used identical or nearly identical language. Many of those posts, spread across 25 of the 49 accounts Reuters reviewed, also shared the same combinations of emojis. A half dozen of those posts, all purporting to have been written by different creators, promised for instance that “this beauty will play with her tight holes just for you.” Multiple others promised a “gorgeous doll for your hot desires” or a girl who “is all alone right now and needs some new attention.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report

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