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Fashion mogul categorically denies serial rapes accusations
Finnish-Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, on trial in Toronto for alleged serial rapes, categorically denied any sexual misconduct as he wrapped up several days of defense testimony on Friday. The 82-year-old founder of Nygard International has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting four women and a 16-year-old girl in Canada's largest city between 1988 and 2005. In court, defense attorney Brian Greenspan asked Nygard how he could firmly reject the allegations given that he could not recall dealings with any of his accusers. "The type of allegations that were said and were described is the type of conduct that I know that I have never done, I never would do," Nygard replied. On the stand, he also disputed elements of the complainants' testimonies including that he attended a Rolling Stones concert with one of them, offered an emergency birth control pill to a girl after allegedly raping her, or called another from a plane to arrange a date. Nygard said he didn't own a private jet in the late 1980s and said phones on commercial aircraft "in those years, to my recollection, were almost nonexistent. In other words, you couldn't even do that." He took issue also with characterizations of him as "always being with young women. Well, well, it isn't true." He pointed to a one-time travel companion in the late 1980s who was six years older than him, as an example. The prosecution has accused Nygard of having used his "power and status as a wealthy fashion designer to lure and sexually assault young women." Nygard is to face cross-examination next week. He also faces sexual assault charges in Quebec and Manitoba, as well as extradition to the United States, where he has been accused of raping dozens of women and girls, racketeering and trafficking. The post Fashion mogul categorically denies serial rapes accusations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manhunt for US shooter presses on, leaving small town in fear
Thousands of anxious small-town Maine residents began a second day under lockdown Friday as police waging a sprawling manhunt struggled to find a US Army reservist accused of killing 18 people in America’s deadliest mass shooting this year. Dozens of law enforcement agents surrounded the family home of the suspect, Robert Card, 40, but by mid-evening agents left the property in Bowdoin, near Lewiston, Maine, to hunt for him elsewhere. A wide area around Lewiston remained locked down Friday, more than 24 hours after Card allegedly went on a rampage in which 13 people were also wounded. People in Lewiston were on edge, buzzing with talk of Card and the massacre. "Uneasy," said resident Jeremy Hiltz, when asked how he felt. "It's a small community . When something like this happens, everybody knows somebody" affected." Authorities erected roadblocks, ordered schools and businesses closed, and told residents to stay indoors. Governor Janet Mills said the suspect was considered armed and dangerous. Card was seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Just-in-Time bowling alley on Wednesday. In early evening, law enforcement agents surrounded the Card family home in Bowdoin, bringing in armored vehicles, and sending up drones and a helicopter. State police warned "please come outside" and "we don't want anyone to get hurt" over a loudspeaker near the home, but later said the warnings were routine and not confirmation that Card was inside. One longtime neighbor, Dave Letarte, said news of the shooting "floored me." "I would have never expected that from him," he told AFP of Card. Joseph Walker, a manager at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, was among those killed Wednesday night, his father, Leroy Walker, told NBC News. Walker said his family was "suffering and dying in a nightmare we don't understand." "We were up all night. We didn't know where to go, who to turn to," he said. Terror at bowling alley One survivor told television reporters that he was 15 feet (5 meters) from the gunman when he opened fire at the bowling alley. He thought at first it was a balloon popping. "And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon and he was holding a weapon, I just booked it down the lane and I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up into the machine and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes until the cops got there," he said. Card is a member of the US Army Reserve, but had not been deployed in any combat zone. US media reported that he had recently been sent for psychiatric treatment after he said he was hearing voices. Hundreds of police in military style camouflage gear, as well as FBI agents, flooded the search zone in what Lewiston police chief David St. Pierre called "an all-hands-on-deck approach." Republicans oppose new laws This latest shooting is one of the deadliest in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people. Mass shootings are common in the United States, a country with more privately owned guns than people, and strong political opposition to even minor restrictions on access. The country has recorded at least 565 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nongovernmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. President Joe Biden called Maine's governor to offer federal support, and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff at the White House and all government buildings. Biden added that the gun violence that plagues the United States "is not normal, and we cannot accept it," urging lawmakers to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. A Maine Democrat who holds a seat in the US House of Representatives, Jared Golden, flipped on this ban, saying that after the shooting in his state his previous opposition to such a restriction, which is supported by most in his party, was a mistake. "I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war, like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime," Golden said Thursday. "The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure," he added. But in a reminder that Congress will not be considering stronger gun ownership laws anytime soon, the newly installed Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, told Fox News that the reason for so many mass shootings in the United States "is the human heart, not guns." The post Manhunt for US shooter presses on, leaving small town in fear appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is readying a ground war in Gaza, pressing ahead with plans that have troubled allies and threaten to worsen an already cascading humanitarian crisis. Facing ever-louder international calls to temper Israel's ferocious 19-day bombing campaign in the Hamas-controlled territory, Netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address. He told fellow Israelis still grieving and angry after Hamas's bloody attacks: "We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence," while insisting Israel will decide how the war is prosecuted. On 7 October, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to official tallies. US President Joe Biden is among the foreign leaders stepping up public calls for Israel to "protect innocent civilians" and to follow the "laws of war" as it pursues Hamas targets. Thousands of Gazans are already believed to have died in Israel's aerial assault, with the toll expected to rise substantially if tens of thousands of Israeli troops massed around Gaza move in. Biden on Wednesday said he had privately suggested Israel should get hostages out if possible before any ground invasion. "It's their decision, but I did not demand it", Biden said, as he called on Congress to allocate more money for Israeli defense. Speaking in Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron warned: "A massive intervention that would put civilian lives at risk would be an error." But boasting of "raining down hellfire on Hamas" and killing "thousands of terrorists", Netanyahu said his war cabinet and the military would determine the timing of a "ground offensive" to "eliminate Hamas" and "bring our captives home." "I will not detail when, how, or how many," he said. 'It's a massacre' Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry puts the number of Palestinian deaths at 6,500, including many children and 700 people killed in a single 24-hour window this week. AFP could not independently verify the ministry's claims, and US President Biden has stated he has "no confidence" in the Hamas ministry figures. While the exact toll from the war in Gaza is unclear, the depth of the suffering is not in question. Entire neighborhoods have been razed, overflowing hospitals carry out procedures without anesthetic, and residents have been forced to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues. "They're not waging war on Hamas, they're waging war on children," raged Abu Ali Zaarab, after his family home was bombed in the southern town of Rafah. "It's a massacre." About 1.4 million people -- more than half the population -- have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The UN says 12 of the territory's 35 hospitals have closed due to damage or insufficient fuel, and a key UN aid agency serving almost 600,000 Palestinians "began to significantly reduce its operations." Israel has cut off Gaza's normal supply corridors for water, food, and other necessities, and fewer than 70 relief trucks have entered the impoverished territory since the war began. None contained fuel, which Israel fears Hamas will use for rockets and explosives. Aid agencies have warned that more people will die if medical equipment, water desalination plants, and ambulances stop operating because of a lack of fuel. Once the generators stop, hospitals will "turn into morgues", the Red Cross has warned. Hospitals are also struggling with a shortage of medicines and equipment. "There's not enough anesthetic," said Ahmad Abdul Hadi, an orthopedic surgeon working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. "The wounded are in severe pain but we can't wait for the procedure, so we're forced to do the operation. We performed a number of surgeries without anesthetic. It's tough and painful, but with the lack of resources, what can we do?" A regional 'explosion' The war has sparked fears of a regional conflagration if it draws in more of Israel's enemies. Since October 7, Israel has launched thousands of reprisal strikes in Gaza, but it has also hit targets in Lebanon and Syria. Late Wednesday, Lebanon-based Hezbollah fired what Israel said was a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone. Israel's military said it had intercepted the missile and "struck the source of the launch" in retaliation. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria's government are backed by Iran, which denies Israel's right to exist. Tehran's top diplomat on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza. Jordan's King Abdullah became the latest leader to warn that ongoing violence could "lead to an explosion" in the region. His wife Queen Rania accused Western leaders of a "glaring double standard" for not condemning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in its bombardment of Gaza. Violence has also risen sharply in the occupied West Bank, where health officials said more than 100 Palestinians had been killed, mostly in raids by Israeli troops or in clashes with Israeli settlers. The post Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday for talks with regional counterparts, his ministry's spokeswoman has confirmed. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported earlier that the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia had been invited to meet for the talks. "We confirm Lavrov's planned talks in Tehran on Monday," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the TASS and RIA news agencies. The talks come amid tensions over the Middle East and unresolved disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which launched a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh last month. Armenia later confirmed that its foreign minister would attend the meeting. A full list of attendees has not yet been released, but Armenia's northern neighbor Georgia said Sunday that it would not be attending, its foreign ministry told the Interpressnews agency. Georgia applied for EU membership together with Ukraine and Moldova after Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor in February 2022. Since launching its assault, Russia has turned to Iran for military support and economic partnerships as both countries face a raft of Western sanctions. Western countries have accused Tehran of supporting Russia's offensive in Ukraine by providing it with large quantities of drones and other weaponry. The post Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drones attack U.S. forces in Iraq
Drones attacked American and coalition forces in Iraq in the last 24 hours but all unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down with troops suffering only minor injuries. The United States Central Command reported the attacks Wednesday but did not say the source of the drones. Pro-Iranian forces have threatened to attack American troops in Iraq because of Washington’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas. “In western Iraq, US forces engaged two drones, destroying one and damaging the second, resulting in minor injuries to coalition forces. Separately in northern Iraq, US forces engaged and destroyed a drone, resulting in no injuries or damage,” CENTCOM said. There are around 2,500 American soldiers and a thousand troops from other members of the anti-Islamic State coalition in Iraq in a training and advisory role, after the official end of their combat mission in December 2021. A US defense official said earlier on Wednesday that two “one-way drones” had been downed when they attempted to attack American and coalition forces in Iraq, while Kurdish counter-terrorism forces said in a statement that an explosives-laden drone had crashed Wednesday in the Arbil governorate in the country’s north. The drone shootdowns came a day after a strike on a hospital in Gaza left hundreds dead, with Hamas blaming Israel, which in turn said another Palestinian armed group was responsible. Hamas launched a surprise assault inside Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taking hostages back into Gaza. After Israel declared war and began retaliatory strikes, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians as well, according to Hamas health authorities. Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq have accused Israel and the US of carrying out a “massacre” in Gaza, with one of them — the powerful Ketaeb Hezbollah group — demanding that American forces leave Iraq or face attack. The post Drones attack U.S. forces in Iraq appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
War in Israel a new front in US election campaign
The surprise Hamas assault on Israel has opened up a new front in the US election campaign as Republicans accuse President Joe Biden of being soft in his defense of Israel and in his handling of Iran. "I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel -- time and time again –- and Joe Biden has been weak," Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Saturday on Fox News. Americans will choose a new president and control of Congress in November 2024, with Biden, 80, seeking another term in a race that looks likely to pit him against former president Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. Trump used the stunning Hamas attack by land, sea, and air at dawn Saturday to target Biden. “The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as weak and ineffective and with a very weak leader,” he said. Other Republican presidential hopefuls, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, also dismissed Biden as weak. US stands with Israel A stern-faced Biden gave a short speech from the White House on Saturday to stress firm US support for Israel. "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas," Biden said. "In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back." Republicans zeroed in on a recent decision by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans who were being held prisoner in Iran. Tehran is the main sponsor of Hamas, which the United States and other countries classify as a terrorist group. Senator Rick Scott, for instance, said that in unfreezing that money -- it was transferred to a bank account in Qatar for use only for humanitarian purposes -- the United States had in effect financed the Hamas attack, which won praise from Iran. That charge angered the White House, which called it a "shameful lie" and insisted that the money was tightly controlled in how it could be used and none of it had been spent. A senior administration official speaking to reporters on Saturday accused Republicans of spreading disinformation. Help from congress The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas' large-scale attack, but that there was "no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others." Aside from the 2024 election, the Republican attacks pose political problems for Biden. The United States already provides billions of dollars a year for Israel but Biden will need Congress if he wants to send more now that Israel has declared itself at war with Hamas. That means Biden has to work with the Republicans, who are blocking passage of a yearly budget. Making matters worse, the House of Representatives is in chaos and limbo now because of the ouster of its speaker, Kevin McCarthy, last week in a revolt by a handful of far right Republicans. The White House would also like the Senate to approve Jack Lew soon to be the new American ambassador to Israel. His nomination was announced more than a month ago. This will require goodwill from the Republican minority in that chamber. The post War in Israel a new front in US election campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mexico says ex-diplomat accused of sex crimes arrested in Israel
Mexican writer and former diplomat Andres Roemer, who faces multiple accusations of sex crimes, has been arrested in Israel, Mexico's president said Monday. Roemer "will be extradited," Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at his regular morning press conference. The allegations against Roemer, which number about 60 according to activists, began in February 2021 when the Mexican dancer Itzel Schnaas accused him of sexual assault. The 60-year-old former Mexican consul in San Francisco and goodwill ambassador to UNESCO "categorically" denied the first accusation. But he withdrew from social media in the face of mounting allegations that he had touched women inappropriately after meeting them on a work pretext. Mexico requested Roemer's extradition in June 2021. Its foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that Israeli police detained Roemer on Sunday "for extradition purposes, at the request of the Mexican Government." "Although there are no extradition treaties with the State of Israel, the arrest... was carried out based on the principle of reciprocity and international cooperation, based on the good bilateral relationship that exists in all areas between both countries," it said. The post Mexico says ex-diplomat accused of sex crimes arrested in Israel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
French rapper MHD faces verdict over youth’s murder
Acclaimed French rapper MHD was on Saturday awaiting with eight co-accused a verdict in the trial over the murder of a young man in Paris in 2018. MHD, whose real name is Mohamed Sylla, once again insisted on his innocence as he made his final statements before the court retired to render the verdict after three weeks of proceedings. "From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case and I will continue to maintain my innocence," he told the packed court. The prosecutor has asked for an 18-year prison sentence for the rapper, acquittals for two of the accused, and jail sentences of 13-20 years for the others. The verdict is due to be delivered later in the day. His seven co-accused present in court -- an eighth is being tried in absentia -- have also insisted they were not involved in the violent attack on Loic K. in July 2018 that resulted in his death. The death of the 23-year-old man has been portrayed by investigators as a settling of scores between rival gangs. MHD, who rose to fame with a distinctive blend of West African sounds with US-style hip-hop, was charged with homicide in January 2019 and imprisoned. He has denied taking part in the assault, which saw the victim rammed by a black Mercedes and then beaten up and stabbed by around a dozen people in a gritty part of the capital's 10th arrondissement. But a local resident filmed the incident from his window, and the Mercedes was quickly identified as belonging to MHD. Other witnesses identified the rapper by his haircut or a Puma sweatshirt, for which he was a brand ambassador, according to investigative reports seen by AFP. The incident concerns the Cite des Chaufourniers, a low-income estate in the area that the former pizza delivery driver continued to frequent despite his fame. He was released in the summer of 2020 after a year and a half in custody as the investigations continued and released a new album. MHD is seen as a pioneer of afro-trap, which mixes hip-hop and African traditions. The football-mad performer, who was born in France to Guinean and Senegalese parents, is best known for "Afro Trap Part 3 (Champions League)", a song in praise of the Paris Saint-Germain football club. The post French rapper MHD faces verdict over youth’s murder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Accused of rape, Russell Brand speaks of ‘distressing’ week
British comedian and actor Russell Brand on Friday spoke of an "extraordinary and distressing week" in his first public comments since rape and assault allegations were aired against him, but did not address the claims. "Obviously it's been an extraordinary and distressing week and I thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information you are being presented with," he said on a video posted to his YouTube channel, which has 6.64 million subscribers. "I need your support now more than ever, more than I ever imagined I would," he added. But he did not comment on the joint investigation by The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 television in which four women made claims of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse against him. Then on Thursday, a woman accused Brand of exposing himself to her in 2008. Brand criticized the British government for asking tech companies to take action against him. Denouncing what he described as "deep state and corporate collusion" and "media corruption and censorship", he said he would post a longer video on Monday. In a video released last week, just before the story broke, Brand, 48, denied the allegations against him, which are said to have taken place between 2006 and 2013. He said his relationships had always been "consensual", even during a period when he admitted he was "very, very promiscuous". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman called the allegations "very serious and concerning". Sunak "has been clear there should never be any space for harassment, regardless of where it is found", he added. Brand's publisher Bluebird announced that "all future publishing" with the comedian had been put on hold. Video-sharing platform YouTube has also demonetized his content. /jj © Agence France-Presse The post Accused of rape, Russell Brand speaks of ‘distressing’ week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
British comedian Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assault: media
British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse during a seven-year period, according to the results of a media investigation published Saturday......»»
Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott
Professional women's tennis tournaments return to China on Monday, less than two years after the WTA vowed to boycott the country out of concern for player Peng Shuai and risks to its players and staff. The WTA tournament opening Monday in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou will be the first in mainland China since 2019 -- and while no top-20 stars are expected to attend, it is set to attract plenty of attention. The WTA suspended activities in China in December 2021, when former world doubles number one Peng briefly disappeared after making -- and then withdrawing -- accusations of sexual assault against a senior Chinese leader. Saying the issue was "bigger than business", the tennis body insisted it would not hold events in China until Beijing guaranteed the safety of Peng. "Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China," WTA chief Steve Simon said at the time. Peng published a long social media post in November 2021 saying she had been "forced" into sex during a years-long, on-and-off relationship with Zhang Gaoli, a married ex-vice premier of China 39 years her senior. She has since denied she accused anyone of sexual assault and described the situation as a "huge misunderstanding". Peng has not been seen outside China since the allegations were made. In April this year though, the WTA announced the resumption of tournaments, admitting its "principled stand... a powerful message to the world" had not been able "to bring about change". "It was, in my opinion, a complete capitulation, because it was pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about China that China wasn't going to offer a free or fair investigation into the sexual assault claims," China-based sports expert Mark Dreyer told AFP. "I really do feel they've undone all that good will that they had gained by taking a principled stance." Dreyer added that the suspension had been largely symbolic as most international sporting events were put on hold during the pandemic under China's strict zero-Covid policy. - An economic choice - China is a crucial market for the WTA, given the quality of local infrastructure and investment as well as TV rights and sponsorship deals with mainland partners. "The choice to return is an economic one," Lionel Maltese, a former member of the executive committee of the French Tennis Federation, told AFP. "The income generated in China has a strong impact on the financing and income of all players." Before the pandemic, the WTA organized 10 tournaments in China each year -- with a total of $30 million in prize money -- out of more than 60 tournaments globally. These included the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, which in 2019 offered the largest tennis prize in history: $4.4 million. China is also home to five players on the world's top 100 list. They include 20-year-old Zheng Qinwen, world number 22 and recent quarter-finalist at the US Open, and 21-year-old Wang Xinyu, this year's French Open women's doubles winner. These stars have boosted the popularity of tennis in China, along with the market's economic potential. "If you have enough big names, the money will come, the tournaments will come," Dreyer told AFP. - 'Convictions' - The headliners in Guangzhou are likely to be world number 24 Magda Linette from Poland and Romania's Sorana Cirstea, currently world number 26. It is unclear if any players will be vocal about Peng, with Maltese saying there was "no leadership among players on ethical issues". "Very few athletes are taking a stand," he said. But France's Alize Cornet, ranked 99th globally, announced this week she would skip the tournament. "Staying true to my convictions and careful about my health, I decided that I will not be playing in China this year," she wrote on social media. Peng herself could make an appearance. After her initial disappearance from public view, she has made what appeared to be orchestrated appearances at multiple sporting events, including the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022. ehl-tjx/reb/qan © Agence France-Presse The post Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis apologize for letters of support for Masterson
Husband and wife Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologized for writing character testimonials for Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to 30 years, Thursday, 8 September. All three starred in "The 70's Show", a sitcom hit that aired in 2000s. Kutcher and Kunis' letters went viral after the conviction and the severe backlash and condemnation of the public has left them addressing the issue on Kutcher's Instagram. "We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson," began Kutcher, and Kunis followed with, "We support the victims and we have done this historically through our work..." The couple, particularly Kutcher, has been branded as a hypocrite especially since he even testified in Congress on behalf of victims of human trafficking. Commenters have said it is typical for people to pay lip service, supporting victims of sexual assault until it's their friend who's accused and/or convicted. A lot of the tongue-in-cheek comments said, what can be expected of parents who don't bathe their kids? In reference to their admission a couple of years ago that Kutcher and Kunis don't bathe their kids until they smell. The other members of the cast have remained silent, save for Debra Joe Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who also wrote letters on Masterson's behalf. The post Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis apologize for letters of support for Masterson appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Popstar Lizzo named in employee harassment suit
US performer Lizzo has been sued by three of her former dancers who allege the body-positive pop diva created a hostile work environment, court filings seen by AFP showed Tuesday. The suit filed in Los Angeles accuses Lizzo, whose self-love message has resonated around the globe, as well as other defendants of various violations of California labor law. "Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez allege sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment, among other things," the law firm representing them said in a statement. "Davis and Williams were eventually fired while Rodriguez resigned over the appalling behavior," it added. One of the allegations centers around an Amsterdam red-light district sex show which the dancers say they felt pressured to attend. At the show Lizzo pressured her dancers to interact with the nude performers, the suit alleges. It also alleges that Lizzo's dance leader, Shirlene Quigley, frequently made sexual comments and proselytized her Christian beliefs, especially against pre-marital sex, "regardless of protestations." The dancers also say that there was an extended dispute over compensation between legs of Lizzo's global tour. The lawsuit alleges that white managers from Lizzo's production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., which was also named in the complaint, "often accused the Black members of the dance team of being lazy, unprofessional, and having bad attitudes." "Not only do these words ring familiar as tropes used to disparage and discourage Black women from advocating for themselves, but the same accusations were not levied against dancers who are not Black," according to the complaint cited in the statement. "Only the dance cast -- comprised of full-figured women of color -- were ever spoken to in this manner, giving Plaintiffs the impression that these comments were charged with racial and fat-phobic animus," it added. Representatives for Lizzo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The post Popstar Lizzo named in employee harassment suit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump indicted for trying to overturn 2020 US election
Donald Trump was indicted on Tuesday over his efforts to upend the results of the 2020 US election -- the most serious legal threat yet to the former president as he campaigns to return to the White House. It is the third criminal indictment of the 77-year-old Trump since March and charges him with three counts of conspiracy and one count of obstruction. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is already scheduled to go on trial in Florida in May of next year for allegedly mishandling top-secret government documents. The new charges, two of which carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison, raise the prospect of Trump being embroiled in more legal proceedings at the height of what is expected to be a bitter and divisive presidential campaign. The indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith accuses Trump of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the 6 January 2021, joint session of Congress held to certify Democrat Joe Biden's election victory. Trump is also accused in the 45-page indictment of seeking to disenfranchise American voters with his false claims that he won the November 2020 presidential election. "Shortly after election day -- which fell on 2 November 2020 -- the Defendant launched his criminal scheme," the indictment, handed down by a grand jury in Washington, said. "The purpose of the conspiracy was to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud," it said. Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor at the Hague, said the January 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters was "an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy." "It was fueled by lies," Smith told reporters in brief remarks. "Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the US government -- the nation's process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election." Part of that plan, the indictment alleges, was to have then-vice president Mike Pence use his role as presiding officer over the January 6 joint session to throw out several states' votes. Pence ultimately refused, issuing a public statement saying that he did not believe the Constitution allowed him that power. As Trump's supporters later stormed the US Capitol, where Pence was in hiding, Trump tweeted that his vice president "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done." White House silence The White House on Tuesday maintained silence on Trump's historic indictment. Biden, who is seeking reelection next year, continued his beach vacation in Delaware, dining out with First Lady Jill Biden before seeing the film "Oppenheimer." Trump's campaign, meanwhile, issued a blistering statement, comparing his prosecution to "Nazi Germany in the 1930s" and stating that he had followed "advice from many highly accomplished attorneys" -- a likely line of defense at trial. The indictment mentions six co-conspirators but none are identified and Trump, who is to be arraigned on Thursday, is the only named defendant. The case is expected to be heard by US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, an appointee of former Democratic president Barack Obama. Smith said he is seeking a "speedy trial." Trump furious Trump lashed out at the special counsel, calling him "deranged" and accusing him of issuing "yet another Fake Indictment" to "interfere with the presidential election." "Why didn't they do this 2.5 years ago?" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Why did they wait so long? "Because they wanted to put it right in the middle of my campaign," he said. "Prosecutorial misconduct!" Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation as a political "witch hunt" by the Department of Justice. Besides the classified documents charges, the former president also faces a criminal trial in New York for allegedly paying election-eve hush money to a porn star. Georgia prosecutors are also looking into whether Trump illegally attempted to overturn the 2020 election outcome in the southern state. As president, Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for seeking political dirt on Biden from Ukraine and over the events of January 6 but he was acquitted by the Senate both times. Pence, who is competing against Trump in the Republican primary, said on Twitter -- now rebranded as X -- that Tuesday's indictment "serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States." The post Trump indicted for trying to overturn 2020 US election appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US actor Kevin Spacey cleared of UK sex offenses
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was acquitted on Wednesday in Britain of nine alleged sex offenses, in the latest court victory for the Oscar winner who was one of the first huge stars felled by the #MeToo movement. The star of "American Beauty" and drama series "House of Cards", who turned 64 on Wednesday, was acquitted by majority verdicts in London following a trial lasting several weeks. "I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today," he told reporters outside court. It comes less than a year after a New York court dismissed a $40 million sexual misconduct civil lawsuit brought against him, and follows charges of indecent and sexual assault being dropped in Massachusetts in 2019. Spacey's once-stellar career has been halted by the various allegations of sexual offences, which first emerged in 2017 and which he has always denied. The actor told Germany's Die Zeit that he expected to mount a comeback following the acquittal. "I know that there are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London," he told the German national weekly. "The second that happens, they're ready to move forward." Madness The jury in London, which began considering the charges on Monday, cleared Spacey of all nine counts that he faced, after more than 12 hours of deliberations. The alleged offences included seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. They were said to have occurred in 2005 and 2008 in London, and in 2013 in Gloucestershire, western England. Jurors heard evidence from the four alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons. British rock star Elton John was also among those to testify, as a witness for Spacey. The prosecution claimed he was a "sexual bully" who revelled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. One of victims, a former aspiring actor, said he woke up to find Spacey performing a sex act on him, suggesting the actor "drugged" him. He was accused of grabbing another man's crotch "so hard" while driving to a fundraising event, that the car nearly came off the road. Spacey, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, called the claims "madness" and a "stab in the back". He had been on unconditional bail since first being charged in Britain last year, and on Wednesday walked out of the south London court a free man. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had charged him following "a thorough investigation" by London's Metropolitan Police. "It is the role of the jury to consider the charges and we respect the decision of the court," a spokesman added. Career success Spacey enjoyed a highly successful decades-spanning career with roles such as a middle-aged father lusting after a teen in "American Beauty," a serial killer in "Se7en" and the villain in "Superman Returns". He worked as artistic director at London's Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. In 2017 he was one of the first stars caught up in the global #MeToo movement as he was accused of sexual assault by multiple young men. He was dropped from the final season of the political drama "House of Cards" and other projects. A New York court dismissed a $40 million civil sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him in October last year. The complainant, actor Anthony Rapp, alleged the star had assaulted him when he was 14. He brought the civil case after being told it was too late to bring a criminal charge but failed to convince the jury in that case. In 2019, charges of indecent and sexual assault were dropped against Spacey in Massachusetts. The post US actor Kevin Spacey cleared of UK sex offenses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Void twice around
The illegality of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, can be found even in the most basic precepts of judicial proceedings like the principle of Ne Bis in Idem, which is commonly known as double jeopardy. It is a universally held principle that a person cannot be charged twice for the same crime, or charged again based on the same facts. The principle, thus, introduces a huge question on the legitimacy of ICC’s intrusion into the local judiciary considering that the complaints of alleged summary killings in the conduct of the war on drugs that it is investigating are already being prosecuted in domestic courts. The Pacific McGeorge School of Law asked in a paper, “The Principle of Complementarity and the International Criminal Court: The Role of Ne Bis in Idem,” about a situation in which a state has prosecuted an accused for an “ordinary” crime of murder or rape — can the ICC subsequently try the accused for genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity?” “While there is no definitive answer from the ICC as yet, the better answer to the question is ‘no,’” according to the paper. It said the ICC cannot try an accused when the accused has already been tried, whether convicted or acquitted, for the “same conduct,” whatever the legal characterization is of the crime. The paper, nonetheless, cited exceptions, such as “a sham trial, meaning that the purpose was to shield the accused from responsibility or the proceedings were otherwise lacking in independence or impartiality in a manner that was inconsistent with bringing the accused to justice.” “There could be a finding of a sham trial if the state trial was for a very minor crime, such as assault, as that could evince a purpose of shielding the accused when the underlying acts were homicide,” the paper noted. Cases involving so-called extrajudicial killings, or EJK, are being litigated in local courts which places them within the scope of the ne bis in idem principle. Another assumption that experts on international law have indicated to be at the center of the debates on the ICC’s authority to probe the war on drugs is complementarity. It provides that rather than the ICC, governments have priority in proceeding with cases within their jurisdiction. This principle means that the Court will complement, but not supersede, national jurisdiction. Local courts will continue to have priority in investigating and prosecuting crimes committed within their jurisdictions, but the ICC will act when national courts are “unable or unwilling” to perform their tasks. According to the article, a case is not admissible in the ICC if a state with primary jurisdiction is willing and able to proceed with the investigation and prosecution or if the accused was already tried and further prosecution is now barred under the ne bis in idem provision. Limitations on the authority of the ICC are also found in the Rome Statute which created it. “Articles 17 and 20 are both part of the section of the statute on ‘jurisdiction, admissibility, and applicable law.’ As such, they are limitations on the Court’s ability to consider a case.” The paper added that the admissibility provisions are designed to limit the ICC and foster state prosecutions. According to the document, “It will benefit the accused, the states, and the international community to continue to evaluate the delicate balance of the principle of complementarity with the application of the upward and downward ne bis in idem provisions in practice and to amend the statute as needed to achieve a fair administration of justice.” A review is far from what the ICC has undertaken, thus far, after it rammed through its probe on the war on drugs, claiming that the pace of rendering justice in the country had failed to satisfy it. The post Void twice around appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elton John testifies for defense at Spacey sex assault trial
British rock star Elton John on Monday gave evidence as a witness for the defense at the sexual assault trial of Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey. The two-time Oscar winner denies 12 charges concerning four men, including indecent assault, which are alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. Giving evidence via video link from Monaco, the musician, and his husband David Furnish were questioned about Spacey attending an annual ball at their home in Windsor, west of London. One of the alleged victims has accused Spacey of sexually assaulting him while he was driving the actor to the fundraising event, claiming he grabbed "so hard" they nearly came off the road. Spacey, 63, had earlier told the Southwark Crown Court in London that the incident "never happened", adding that he was "not on a suicide mission". He said there had been a mutual flirtation between them and admitted to having touched the man but not in a "violent, aggressive, painful way". Responding to questions from the prosecution, John said he recalled Spacey, dressed in "white tie", attending the fundraising event in the early 2000s. "He was on a flight, he came on a private jet and he came straight to the ball," John told the court, adding that Spacey stayed overnight at their home after the event. "I can't remember him coming after that," John said. Asked if he came straight from the private jet, the singer said, "I assume so, yes". Furnish, who was first to give evidence, also said he remembered Spacey's presence at the social event. "He was an Oscar-winning actor, there was a lot of excitement he was at the ball," the filmmaker told the jury. "Other than attending the ball I have no memory of Kevin coming to the house ever again," he added. 'Like another son' John was among the several celebrities that Spacey mentioned in court when he entered the witness box earlier in the trial. He spoke of giving a ping pong table to actress Judi Dench after they worked on the 2001 film "The Shipping News" together, saying they developed a "lovely friendship". Spacey grew emotional on Monday, dabbing his eyes as the court heard character statements from friends and family. "House" and "Dead Poets Society" star Robert Sean Leonard described Spacey as "positive, supportive, and respectful", while Chris Lemmon, son of "Some Like It Hot" actor Jack Lemmon, said Spacey was "like another son" to his father. Spacey is an Academy Award winner for "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty", and was artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre between 2004 and 2015. At the opening of the trial late last month, the prosecution claimed Spacey was a "sexual bully" who reveled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. The court has heard from the four alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, one of whom, a former aspiring actor, said he woke up to Spacey performing a sex act on him, suggesting the actor "drugged" him. Last week Spacey in his testimony denied the sexual assault charges and described the prosecution's case against him as "weak". He has previously told the court his world "exploded" when he was first accused of sexual assault several years ago by US actor Anthony Rapp in the United States, adding that he "lost everything in a matter of days". Rapp's allegations were found not proven last year. The trial continues. The post Elton John testifies for defense at Spacey sex assault trial appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Actor Kevin Spacey calls sex assault case against him ‘weak’
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey on Friday spent a second day in the witness box at a London court, denying sexual assault charges and claiming the prosecution case against him was weak. The two-time Oscar winner, 63, is on trial accused of sexually assaulting four men dating back more than 20 years, including when he was artistic director at London's Old Vic theatre. The prosecution has claimed he was a "sexual bully" who reveled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. Spacey began giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court in south London on Thursday, calling himself a "big flirt" but denying any aggressive behavior. On Friday, he was questioned about one man who alleged that he drugged him and performed a sex act on him while he was asleep at his London flat. The "American Beauty" and "The Usual Suspects" actor said the pair were "consensually together in a romantic situation", rejecting claims that the alleged victim was asleep when he was assaulted. Lawyer Christine Agnew told him: "Well, that is the prosecution case." Spacey replied: "And it's a weak one." The defense case is that the complainants, who cannot be named as they have anonymity for life under English law, have exaggerated or fabricated their claims. Spacey described himself as an "affectionate person", saying he had "consensual interactions" with two of the complainants, but accepted he "definitely misread" signs from one other. His alleged victims "did not let me know" if they went further with him than they intended, he told the court, suggesting they may have regretted it later. One, who alleged that Spacey grabbed him in the crotch "like a cobra", may have been motivated by "money, money and then money", he suggested. Spacey denies 12 charges concerning four men, including sexual assault and indecent assault, which are alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. On Thursday, he told the court his world "exploded" when he was first accused of sexual assault by US actor Anthony Rapp in the United States. "There was a rush to judgement and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days," he said. Rapp's allegations were found not proven last year. The post Actor Kevin Spacey calls sex assault case against him ‘weak’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Spacey denies ‘aggressive’ behavior in UK sex assault trial
Kevin Spacey said Thursday he was a "big flirt" but denied any "aggressive" behavior as the Hollywood actor entered the witness box of his sexual assault trial in south London. The Southwark Crown Court has earlier heard the testimony of four men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, accusing Spacey of sexual offenses between 2001 and 2013. One complainant alleged the actor assaulted him multiple times and, in particular, grabbed him while he was driving Spacey to a party, nearly causing him to "come off the road". Spacey in his testimony admitted to having touched the man but said "it didn't happen in a violent, aggressive, painful way". "It was gentle... and it was, in my mind, romantic," Spacey, wearing a dark suit and glasses, told the jury. Spacey claimed there was a mutually flirtatious relationship between them and described himself as a "big flirt". But the alleged victim "made it clear that he did not want to go any further," the 63-year-old actor added. Spacey said he felt "crushed" after the allegations were made against him, saying it was like a "stab in the back". Asked about the testimony of another alleged victim, who accused Spacey of making crude remarks at a celebrity event before grabbing his crotch, Spacey described them as "madness". "I never said any of the things that he claims I said to him and wouldn't and never have to anyone in my life," Spacey said. He also claimed he didn't recognize the complainant when shown a photo of him. Spacey, an Academy Award winner for "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty", was the artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre from 2004 to 2015. He has denied three counts of indecent assault, seven counts of sexual assault, and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. He has also pleaded not guilty to one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial continues. The post Spacey denies ‘aggressive’ behavior in UK sex assault trial appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
France rugby prop Haouas sentenced to new prison term for assault
France rugby prop Mohamed Haouas on Friday received his second prison sentence in two months as he was given an 18-month term -- nine of them suspended -- for aggravated assault. The 29-year-old's punishment comes a month after he was sentenced to a year in jail for having hit his wife. His sentence on Friday will more than likely result in him having to go to jail, said his lawyer Marc Gallix, who added he would appeal. Gallix conceded the sentence of the court for the offense committed in 2014 "was not harsh" because "one sees clearly that he is the most involved, that he inflicts the most aggressive punches." "If one adds the nine months from today's judgment to the 12 months for the marital violence, if I do not appeal and the punishment is definitive, he will go to prison," added Gallix. Gallix said he hoped that by appealing Haouas could serve his one-year sentence out of prison either by wearing an electronic bracelet or due to parental duties as he has a child aged under 10 -- the appeal court could take two years to issue a decision. Haouas's latest problems emanated from a brawl he and around a dozen friends became involved in with a nightclub owner outside a bakery on 1 January 2014, after emerging from a discotheque. The prosecutor compared Haouas and his five co-accused of acting like a "pack of wolves" and that Haouas had been their leader. The judge deciding on how he serves his year's sentence for assaulting his wife is due to deliver the decision in the autumn. Fall from grace Gallix said it would be preferable if Haouas should not wear a bracelet and instead was out on parental duties whereby he could also undergo psychological counseling and a marital violence awareness course. This would permit the 16-times capped prop to "exercise his profession," said Gallix. Haouas is due to play for Top 14 side Clermont next term -- the club lost a case on Monday demanding that his contract be canceled. They have the right to appeal. It is quite a fall from grace for Haouas who for a while was undisputed first choice for France head coach Fabien Galthie. He even regained his place in the squad after receiving a suspended 18-month sentence in 2022 for his role in a series of burglaries in 2014. However, following his conviction for assaulting his wife, Gauthier told him there was no possibility of him being selected for the squad for the Rugby World Cup which takes place later this year and is being hosted by France. Haouas had already blotted his copybook on two occasions on the pitch for France, twice being sent off in Six Nations matches with Scotland -- the latter one earlier this year. The post France rugby prop Haouas sentenced to new prison term for assault appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»