Star newsman Matt Lauer fired over sexual misconduct claims

Yahoo – AFP, Daniel WOOLLS, November 29, 2017

Matt Lauer, a fixture among American early morning news anchors, has been
fired by NBC for alleged sexual misconduct (AFP Photo/Slaven Vlasic)

Washington (AFP) - Star US morning news anchor Matt Lauer has been sacked over allegations of sexual misconduct, broadcast giant NBC announced Wednesday, in the latest fall from grace of a power player in the media and entertainment industry.

Lauer, 59, is a familiar face to American television viewers as the host of NBC's popular morning news show "Today" for more than 20 years.

He also led the network's coverage of many major news events, from the September 11th attacks to presidential campaigns and the Olympics.

His co-host Savannah Guthrie announced his termination on air as their program began.

"This is a sad morning here at 'Today' and at NBC News," Guthrie said.

The network said it fired Lauer after receiving a detailed account from one of his colleagues of what it called inappropriate sexual behavior on the job.

Lauer thus joins the ranks of other giants of American film, television and journalism who have fallen amid allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault in a groundswell of outrage that began weeks ago with a flood of charges against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The wave of allegations has reached Capitol Hill, where several lawmakers stand accused of inappropriate behavior, and nearly every day seems to bring another stunning case involving a well known public figure.

In a memo to staff, NBC chairman Andrew Lack said that on Monday night, the network received a detailed complaint accusing Lauer of inappropriate behavior.

"It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment," Lack wrote.

NBC said it was provided with evidence suggesting this may not have been an isolated incident.

Veteran journalist Katie Couric, who was Lauer's co-host for years, said in 2012 during an interview with the showbiz gossip news outlet TMZ that "Matt pinches me on the ass a lot."

She was responding to the question of what Lauer's most annoying habit was.

But Couric, the interviewer and the studio audience all laughed after her remark.

O'Reilly, Rose... and now Lauer

President Donald Trump, himself accused of harassment by more than a dozen women, seized on the Lauer news hungrily.

"Wow," he said on Twitter, adding that executives at NBC and its parent company Comcast should be fired for "putting out so much Fake News."

Trump was embarrassed in the final stretch of last year's presidential campaign by the release of audio in which he is heard boasting that his fame allowed him to grab women's genitals and get away with it.

At the time, he acknowledged the veracity of the so-called "Access Hollywood" tape and apologized publicly.

Trump has since changed his tune, and told a Republican senator shortly after his election victory that "we don't think it was my voice," The New York Times reported Wednesday, quoting a person familiar with that conversation.

And Trump has continued to suggest that the voice on the tape was not his, the Times said, quoting three people close to the president.

Firestorm in media world

Lauer was an NBC veteran, equally called upon to present serious news stories and lighter morning fare.

On the morning of the September 11, 2001 attacks, it was he who interrupted an interview to break news of the suicide airliner attacks against New York's World Trade Center.

During the 2016 election campaign, he oversaw a forum featuring Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Lauer's sacking comes a week after CBS fired Charlie Rose, one of America's most respected TV journalists, after eight women told The Washington Post he had made unwanted sexual advances toward them.

Rival television giant Fox News has long been rocked by allegations that its late former chairman Roger Ailes and ex-star presenter Bill O'Reilly, who was fired this year, settled multiple cases of sexual harassment brought by female colleagues.

Former Fox anchor Megyn Kelly, who has said she was sexually harassed at that network and now hosts an NBC show that comes on right after "Today," struck a firm tone in defense of harassment victims as she addressed Lauer's firing.

Lauer's NBC colleagues may be distressed at his ouster, Kelly said, "But when this happens what we don't see is the pain on the faces of those who found the courage to come forward, and it is a terrifying thing to do."

Hours after word of Lauer's firing broke, National Public Radio said its chief news editor, David Sweeney, had left the company over allegations of sexual harassment. NPR senior vice president of news Michael Oreskes resigned early this month, also over sexual misconduct allegations.

Then came yet another case Wednesday: Garrison Keillor, a writer and long-time radio host, saw his ties with Minnesota Public Radio severed over what it called inappropriate behavior with a co-worker.

The 75-year-old Keillor said in an email to the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he had inadvertently "put my hand on a woman's bare back" and later offered an apology that was accepted.

US Congress moves to tackle sexual harassment

Yahoo – AFP, Michael Mathes, November 27, 2017

Democratic comedian-turned-senator Al Franken returned to Washington Monday
after apologizing for allegations he harassed a colleague during an entertainment
tour a decade ago (AFP Photo/JIM WATSON)

Washington (AFP) - The US Congress returned to Washington Monday after the Thanksgiving break determined to tackle sexual harassment within its ranks, following a string of allegations targeting sitting lawmakers.

Comedian-turned-Democratic-senator Al Franken, under scrutiny over multiple allegations of misconduct, offered a fresh apology as he arrived on Capitol Hill, while veteran Democrat John Conyers has stepped down from a leadership position over similar claims.

Compounding the discomfort on Capitol Hill, President Donald Trump -- who himself has faced multiple accusations of harassment -- has doubled down on his support for Roy Moore, the embattled Republican Senate candidate from Alabama who stands accused of molesting or harassing teenage girls as young as 14.

As Washington began coming to grips with the extent of the problem in its midst, following broader revelations of endemic sexual harassment in Hollywood and the media, Congress has taken steps to right a listing ship.

The Senate recently approved a resolution calling for mandatory anti-harassment training for all senators and staff. The House of Representatives votes on a similar measure this week.

With fresh allegations targeting two unnamed lawmakers, a congresswoman introduced a House bill that would overhaul the antiquated process for filing sexual harassment complaints in Congress to allow for greater transparency, accountability, and victim support.

The Congressional Office of Compliance acknowledged last week that it has paid victims over $17 million in more than 260 settlements since 1997.

But under current rules, accusers are required to sign non-disclosure agreements in order to initiate complaints, and any financial settlement reached is secret and paid for by US taxpayers.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier's ME TOO CONGRESS Act would do away with such requirements, and force a lawmaker who settles a harassment claim to repay the government for the amount of the award.

"This is not a victim-friendly process," Speier, herself a victim of harassment as a young congressional staffer, told ABC Sunday, referring to the existing system.

Speier's legislation appears to have the support of top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who called for "an end to the days of secret settlements paid for by taxpayer dollars."

'No magic words'

On Monday, Senator Franken returned to Washington to face the scrutiny of his colleagues -- including fellow Democrats who have long called out the president over the allegations of misconduct levied against him.

Franken has apologized repeatedly after a sports broadcaster and former model, Leeann Tweeden, accused him of kissing her, and touching her without consent as she slept during a tour entertaining US troops deployed in Afghanistan.

Three women have since come forward to say Franken touched their buttocks inappropriately.

"I know that I have let a lot of people down," Franken told reporters outside his office in Congress. "To all of you, I just want to again say I am sorry.

"I know there are no magic words that I can say to regain your trust and I know that's going to take time. I'm ready to start that process and it starts with going back to work today."

Long a darling of the political left, Franken previously described a photograph that appeared to show him groping Tweeden's breasts while she was asleep in body armor, as "inexcusable" -- but has also insisted he would not leave the Senate.

Democratic leader Pelosi has also been forced to contend with one of her party's major figures, congressman Conyers, who stands accused of sexually harassing staff members.

Targeted by a House Ethics Committee investigation, the 88-year-old Conyers, the longest-serving lawmaker currently in Congress, has left his post on the leadership of the Judiciary Committee.

"No matter how great an individual's legacy, it is not a license for harassment," Pelosi tweeted.

For Republicans, the broader debate on harassment is tied up with the allegations targeting Moore, who has refused to exit his Senate race despite the accusation he assaulted several teenaged girls.

The leadership of Trump's Republican Party has withdrawn support for Moore, as have a number of senators, but the president himself has redoubled his support for the former Alabama judge.

Trump tweeted Sunday that "the last thing" Republicans need in the closely divided Senate is a Democrat like Moore's rival Doug Jones, who he described as "WEAK" on crime, immigration, gun rights and tax reform.

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"The way FEAR works" – 18 Nov 2017 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - New

'Smoking kills,' US tobacco firms say in court-ordered ads

Yahoo – AFP, November 26, 2017

Court-ordered tobacco company "corrective statements" about the health dangers
 of smoking, which have begun appearing in newspapers, were hailed by the American
Cancer Society (AFP Photo/PAUL J. RICHARDS)

Washington (AFP) - Smoking kills an average 1,200 Americans daily, US tobacco companies admitted Sunday in court-ordered "corrective statements" published in newspapers.

The ads began appearing 11 years after District Judge Gladys Kessler, in a 1,682-page opinion, ruled in 2006 that the companies violated racketeering laws by deceiving the public for decades on the health dangers of smoking.

She ordered them to publish corrective statements on five health topics, but the exact wording of those statements was held up pending tobacco company litigation.

In 2014 the companies and the government reportedly reached agreement that the ads would be published in major Sunday newspapers as well as on prime-time television for a year, and elsewhere including on cigarette packages.

"A Federal Court has ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Philip Morris USA, Altria and Lorillard to make this statement about the health effects of smoking," said the full-page newspaper ad, consisting simply of plain black type on an otherwise bare newspaper page.

"Smoking kills, on average, 1,200 Americans. Every day," it said.

The ad continued that "more people die every year from smoking than from murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes and alcohol, combined," with the last word highlighted.

It also listed various diseases and health conditions that "smoking also causes."

'A significant victory'

Kessler's ruling was part of a government racketeering case against major cigarette companies originally brought in September 1999.

Further court-ordered ads with additional health messages will continue appearing in the newspapers of more than 50 major cities through April, said the American Cancer Society.

Along with other health groups, the Cancer Society intervened in the case and made recommendations about the corrective statements.

Their publication is "a significant victory for public health," the Cancer Society said on its website.

"What this case has succeeded in doing is to finally force the tobacco industry to ’fess up to what it has known and done for the past 50 years," said Cliff Douglas, director of the Cancer Society's Center for Tobacco Control.

"The industry has deliberately addicted millions of people with a product it knew would kill as many as half of them years before their time."

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"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems  (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it),  Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse),  Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“…  The Shift in Human Nature

You're starting to see integrity change. Awareness recalibrates integrity, and the Human Being who would sit there and take advantage of another Human Being in an old energy would never do it in a new energy. The reason? It will become intuitive, so this is a shift in Human Nature as well, for in the past you have assumed that people take advantage of people first and integrity comes later. That's just ordinary Human nature.

In the past, Human nature expressed within governments worked like this: If you were stronger than the other one, you simply conquered them. If you were strong, it was an invitation to conquer. If you were weak, it was an invitation to be conquered. No one even thought about it. It was the way of things. The bigger you could have your armies, the better they would do when you sent them out to conquer. That's not how you think today. Did you notice?

Any country that thinks this way today will not survive, for humanity has discovered that the world goes far better by putting things together instead of tearing them apart. The new energy puts the weak and strong together in ways that make sense and that have integrity. Take a look at what happened to some of the businesses in this great land (USA). Up to 30 years ago, when you started realizing some of them didn't have integrity, you eliminated them. What happened to the tobacco companies when you realized they were knowingly addicting your children? Today, they still sell their products to less-aware countries, but that will also change.

What did you do a few years ago when you realized that your bankers were actually selling you homes that they knew you couldn't pay for later? They were walking away, smiling greedily, not thinking about the heartbreak that was to follow when a life's dream would be lost. Dear American, you are in a recession. However, this is like when you prune a tree and cut back the branches. When the tree grows back, you've got control and the branches will grow bigger and stronger than they were before, without the greed factor. Then, if you don't like the way it grows back, you'll prune it again! I tell you this because awareness is now in control of big money. It's right before your eyes, what you're doing. But fear often rules. ...”

Nobel literature academy shaken by #MeToo sex scandal wave

Geotv - AFP, 24 November 2017

STOCKHOLM: The Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Literature Prize, has been rattled by a sex scandal as several members, their wives and daughters accused an influential person with close ties to the prestigious institution of assault.

The #MeToo wave exposing sexual misconduct which began in Hollywood has shaken artistic, media and political circles in Sweden, one of the most gender equal countries in the world, as thousands of women have spoken up and campaigned against harassment.

Sweden´s prestigious literary scene was drawn into the fray on Tuesday when newspaper of reference Dagens Nyheter published the testimony of 18 women claiming to have been assaulted or raped by one of the most influential figures in Stockholm´s cultural scene.

The accused man´s name has not been published in the media due to Swedish laws on the presumption of innocence. But his identity is generally known by the public as he is a high-profile person in cultural circles and his name has appeared in online chat forums discussing the issue.

The man did not respond to AFP´s request for a comment, though he told Dagens Nyheter he was innocent.

Married to a writer with "close links to the Swedish Academy", the man runs a cultural club showcasing exhibitions, readings and performances by both the cultural elite and hopefuls -- including Nobel literature laureates -- and dubbed by some as "the Academy´s living room".

The club was partly funded by the Academy.

'Everyone has always known'

The alleged sexual assaults occurred between 1996 and 2017, some of them in the club´s premises, according to Dagens Nyheter.

Several women spoke openly, allowing the newspaper to reveal their identities, and their stories were corroborated by eyewitnesses, the paper said.

One of them claims to have been raped in an apartment in a posh Stockholm neighbourhood.

"Everyone knows and everyone has always known," that he was attacking young women, she says.

The women said they remained silent out of fear of jeopardising their careers because of the man´s connections and close relations with leading publishers, producers, directors and composers.

After a "crisis meeting" on Thursday evening, the Swedish Academy announced that it was cutting all ties with the accused, whom it had funded and allowed to manage an apartment it owns in an upscale Paris neighbourhood.

The Academy said in a statement that during the meeting, "it emerged that members of the Academy, daughters of Academy members, wives of Academy members and staff of the Academy have experienced unwanted intimacy or inappropriate behaviour" by the man.

The prominent institution said it would launch an internal inquiry to find out if the man "has had any direct or indirect influence on the Academy´s prizes, scholarships, and fundings of any kind".

Culture Minister Alice Bah Kuhnke said she regretted honouring him with the 2015 Order of The Polar Star, awarded to members of the Swedish royal family and foreigners for services to Sweden.

Former US gymnastics doctor pleads guilty to sex abuse

Yahoo – AFP, Jeff KOWALSKY, Nov 22, 2017

Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar admitted to seven counts of sex
abuse -- and apologized to his victims in court (AFP Photo/JEFF KOWALSKY)

Lansing (United States) (AFP) - Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Lawrence Nassar, accused of molesting more than 100 female athletes over several decades, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Nassar -- who was involved with USA Gymnastics for nearly three decades and worked with the country's gymnasts at four separate Olympic Games -- could be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison on the charges brought in Michigan.

Nassar faced 22 criminal counts of sexual assault in the Midwestern state, for abusing athletes under the guise of offering them medical treatment.

As part of a plea agreement, Nassar admitted to seven counts of abuse. Three of his victims were under 13 years old, and the others were between 13-15 years of age.

A handcuffed and seemingly gaunt Nassar appeared in court in an orange prison jumpsuit. Speaking softly and at times with heavy sighs, he pleaded guilty with a simple "yes" as each charge was read.

He then addressed the court with a statement.

He said he prayed for his victims and was "horribly sorry" for his crimes, which relate to events in Michigan that took place between 1998 and 2015.

"I want them to heal. I want this community to heal," Nassar said.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, addressing both Nassar and victims in the packed courtroom, said the former doctor's words "fall very short."

"You used that position of trust that you had in the most vile way -- to abuse children," Aquilina said.

"I agree that now is a time of healing. But, it may take them a lifetime of healing, while you spend your lifetime behind bars."

A 'monster'

Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are among those who have said Nassar abused them.

Raisman reacted to the court hearing on Twitter by calling Nassar "a MONSTER not a doctor."

Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Nassar, doubted his courtroom apology.

US 2012 Olympic gold medal winning gymnastic team members(L-R) Aly 

Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas are among those who have 

said Larry Nassar abused them (AFP Photo/TOBY JORRIN)

"He's a consummate narcissist. He's a master manipulator," Denhollander said at a post-hearing news conference.

"I don't believe there was anything sincere in what Larry said, other than his desire to refocus the attention on the good that he believed he did today."

The Michigan charges stemmed from Nassar's practice based at Michigan State University, where prosecutors said 125 victims have come forward alleging abuse.

Prosecutors told the court all of the victims had approved of the plea agreement, under which eight charges were dropped.

New 'safe sport policy'

Nassar's case was part of a wide-ranging scandal which forced the resignation of USA Gymnastics chief Steve Penny in March.

Penny was accused by victims of failing to quickly notify authorities about abuse allegations.

USA Gymnastics adopted a new "safe sport policy" in response to the Nassar scandal that requires "mandatory reporting" of suspicions of sexual abuse.

With Nassar now being held accountable for his crimes, three of his victims and their lawyers demanded additional accountability from officials who were aware of prior accusations.

Denhollander accused the university, and the US Olympics and gymnastics organizations of being "unable to acknowledge" past failures.

"You have failed to hold anyone accountable for allowing a pedophile to flourish for decades," she said.

A civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of about 100 of Nassar's alleged victims. Their attorney John Manly estimated that the total number could be as high as 160.

Manly accused Michigan State University of "stonewalling" his efforts to find out how university officials dealt with past allegations against Nassar, which had prompted a 2014 internal investigation.

The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but earlier this year announced policy reforms to address campus sexual assault.

Nassar has previously pleaded guilty to separate federal child pornography charges.

The judge in the state case set a January 12 sentencing hearing, during which victims will be given an opportunity to speak.

Nassar is also scheduled to appear in a separate plea hearing Monday on the remainder of the charges against him.

US gymnast Aly Raisman is the latest member of the USA Gymnastics team to

 reveal being sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar
(AFP Photo/Toshifumi KITAMURA)

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Jeffrey Tambor quits 'Transparent' after sex assault claims

Yahoo – AFP, November 20, 2017

Jeffrey Tambor says he won't return to the Amazon series "Transparent"
after sexual harassment claims against him (AFP Photo/Rich Fury)

Los Angeles (AFP) - After two women on the set of "Transparent" accused him of sexual harassment, Emmy-winning actor Jeffrey Tambor announced Sunday he is leaving the Amazon series, the latest Hollywood star embroiled in allegations of misconduct.

"Playing Maura Pfefferman on 'Transparent' has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life," Tambor told Deadline Hollywood magazine about the transgender role.

"What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago."

Deadline said the show had already been considering writing off the character played by the US actor, who has also won a Golden Globe for the role, after allegations first emerged against him earlier this month.

"I've already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue," Tambor said.

"Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don't see how I can return to Transparent."

Tambor has won critical acclaim for his portrayal of a transgender woman whose family is coming to terms with the transition.

The claims against him have been brought by his former assistant, transgender actress Van Barnes, and another transgender actress featured on the show, Trace Lysette.

Barnes said her former boss had propositioned her on several occasions, made lewd comments, groped her and threatened to sue her if she made the behavior known.

Lysette said Tambor had made lewd remarks of a sexual nature to her repeatedly, and had been "physical" with her at least once.

After those claims were made public, Tambor insisted that "I have never been a predator -- ever."

The accusations against Tambor come amid a surge of claims of sexual harassment leveled at senior male figures in the entertainment, media and political establishments, including Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

Actress Lena Dunham, the creator of HBO series "Girls," apologized to fans after she backed one of her show's male writers, who has been accused of sexual assault, and cast doubt on the claims.

Dunham -- who faced serious backlash over the comments -- said it was the "wrong time" to make such a statement, adding: "Every woman who comes forward deserves to be heard, fully and completely."

Elated Zimbabweans celebrate as Mugabe era fades

Yahoo – AFP, Susan Njanji and Fanuel Jongwe, November 18, 2017

There was a celebratory atmosphere across Zimbabwe as thousands turned out to
 voice their opposition to the decades-long autocratic rule of Presdient Robert
Mugabe (AFP Photo/Jekesai NJIKIZANA)

Harare (AFP) - Tens of thousands of overjoyed protesters flooded Zimbabwe's streets Saturday celebrating President Robert Mugabe's slipping power on the eve of crunch talks with the military to determine the veteran leader's fate.

In scenes of public euphoria not seen since independence in 1980, huge crowds marched, danced and sang their way through the capital Harare and other cities, demanding that Mugabe, 93, finally step down.

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Following the mass demonstrations, the catholic priest chairing talks between Mugabe and the military who seized power from him told state TV that the president would meet the generals for talks on Sunday.

The protests' huge turnout came after an unprecedented week in which the military seized power and put Mugabe under house arrest in response to his sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The marches were peaceful, despite a tense stand-off as heavily armed soldiers barred thousands of protesters from reaching Mugabe's official residence, the State House, in central Harare.

Such an open display of disloyalty would have been unthinkable just a week 

ago as dissent was routinely crushed by security forces (AFP Photo)

'New life after Mugabe'

The crowd got within 200 metres (220 yards) of the gates to the complex that has been the nerve centre of Mugabe's authoritarian rule before staging a sit-down protest.

The demonstrations were called by independence war veterans and included citizens of all ages, jubilant that Mugabe appeared to be on his way out.

"This is the best day of my life. We are hoping for a new life after Mugabe," said 38-year-old Sam Sechete at the main rally in Highfield, a working-class suburb of Harare.

A symbolic location, Highfield was where Mugabe gave his rousing first speech after returning from exile in Mozambique ahead of independence in 1980.

Demonstrators roared, whistled and chanted, brandishing placards proclaiming: "Not coup -- but cool" and "Mugabe must go!"

In central Harare, a group of young men tore down a green metal street sign bearing Robert Mugabe's name and smashed it repeatedly on the road before trampling it underfoot.

Major General Sibusiso Moyo, whose faltering delivery of an army statement on state TV marked the completion of the take-over on Wednesday, told journalists at the protests "the people of Zimbabwe are disciplined, orderly and they are unified".

In Bulawayo, the country's second-largest city, demonstrators sounded car horns, whistled and blew vuvuzelas as they gathered outside City Hall before briefly storming that city's State House. They were convinced to leave by troops.

Factfile on Zimbabwe. (AFP Photo/Gal ROMA)

Unthinkable a week ago

Such an open display of defiance would have been unthinkable just a week ago as dissent was routinely crushed by security forces.

But in a statement released on Friday, the army said it fully supported the protests.

The majority of Zimbabweans have only known life under Mugabe's rule, which has been defined by violent suppression, economic collapse and international isolation.

"I went to university but here I am selling bananas to earn a living. If it wasn't for Mugabe, I would be doing something else," said one protester, street vendor Abel Kapodogo, 34.

Many in the crowds were cheering the soldiers and stopping to shake their

hands (AFP Photo/Jekesai NJIKIZANA)

'Mugabe cornered'

Mugabe enraged many Zimbabweans when he did not resign following talks with the army's leaders on Thursday, with sources suggesting he was "buying time" to negotiate a favourable end to his 37-year reign.

He appeared publicly for the first time on Friday for a scheduled appearance at a graduation ceremony in Harare, further stoking speculation about his talks with General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the military power grab.

Nine of the 10 regional branches of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF have now called for him to go.

A ZANU-PF MP, and a national party official, who both declined to be named confirmed that the party's executive committee would meet Sunday to seek to have Mugabe removed as president and party leader.

It is unclear whether the body has the power to force Mugabe out but a resolution against him would be yet another serious blow to his authority.

There was a festive air in the streets (AFP Photo)

Clashing with Grace

The army seizure of power appeared to be the climax of a dispute over who would succeed the ailing leader.

Before being pushed out as vice president, Mnangagwa had clashed repeatedly with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52.

Both had been seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe, but Mnangagwa had the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Grace -- a political novice -- with derision.

ZANU-PF will also discuss removing Grace as head of the party's women's league at the Sunday summit.

The international community including the African Union, Britain and the United States has called for Zimbabwe's army to quickly relinquish power.

A small but noisy protest in London Saturday called for Mugabe to go.

Crowds of overjoyed protesters flooded Zimbabwe's streets celebrating the crumbling of President Mugabe's regime https://t.co/xkaYdQiU3G pic.twitter.com/WErIg1yLKr

— AFP news agency (@AFP) November 18, 2017

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President Mugabe and his wife Grace addressed party members after the vice

president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was sacked -- a move that was followed by 
themilitary's warning on Monday (AFP Photo/Jekesai NJIKIZANA)

Dutch nationals, one in Nepal, arrested for child sex abuse abroad

DutchNews, November 13, 2017

Two Dutch nationals have been arrested in connection with a major investigation into child pornography and child abuse abroad, the public prosecution department has confirmed. 

Henk K, who is 75, was arrested in Nepal on Friday and an unnamed 46-year old man was picked up at his home in Zuid-Holland. 

In total, four homes in the Netherlands were raided in connection with the investigation and further arrests have not been ruled out, the department said in a statement. 

Child rights organisation Terres des Hommes is keeping watch on at least 350 Dutch nationals who go on holiday to have sex with children, the Telegraaf said on Monday. Their number include the two men picked up last week, the paper said.

Spokesman Gideon van Aartsen told the Telegraaf that the 350 people came into the spotlight as part of a special cyberspace project and that their online activity is now being monitored. 

‘Child sex tourists have all sorts of friendships in countries where sex tourism is a problem,’ Van Aartsen told the paper. The organisation also says it works with airlines to monitor sex tourists’ travel arrangements. 

According to the Telegraaf, most of the 128 Facebook friends belonging to Henk K, arrested in Nepal at the weekend, are Nepalese teenagers. K, who is 75, has a house in Nepal and has been visiting the country for years. 

Top Thai royal aide sacked for 'evil acts': palace

Yahoo – AFP, November 11, 2017

The latest aide to fall from grace is Distorn Vajarodaya, a senior official in the Royal
Household Bureau who served as Grand Chamberlain under the late Thai King
Bhumibol Adulyadej (AFP Photo/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL)

Bangkok (AFP) - A senior Thai royal official has been sacked for "evil acts" including having an extramarital affair and forcing his alleged mistress to get an abortion, the palace said, the latest top aide to be axed under King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Vajiralongkorn, 65, took the throne one year ago following the death of his widely revered father King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for seven decades.

He has yet to attain his father's widespread popularity but remains insulated from any criticism by one of the world's harshest royal defamation laws.

Since ascending the throne the new monarch has axed a number of powerful palace officials from his father's era.

The latest aide to fall from grace is Distorn Vajarodaya, a senior official in the Royal Household Bureau who served as Grand Chamberlain under the late King Bhumibol and was often seen by the ailing monarch's side during the final years of his reign.

A statement published by the Royal Gazette late Friday stripped Distorn of his royal decorations and listed his alleged wrongdoings -- including having an extramarital affair, "forcing" his mistress to get an abortion, and then coercing her into marrying another man.

"When the woman got pregnant for the second time, he forced her to have another abortion but the woman refused. So he forced her to get married with another man she hadn't had a relationship with," the statement said.

Distorn was also accused of "using the King's name to avoid taxation in importing a foreign vehicle" to replace a damaged royal car.

The aide also allegedly ordered staff to forge documents about a donation to a royal foundation he chaired.

Thailand's lese majeste law, which criminalises insulting the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison per offence, makes it impossible to publicly counter such charges.

Many of those purged from the new monarch's inner circle have been charged with lese majeste and jailed.

In one of the most dramatic episodes, Vajiralongkorn divorced his third wife in late 2014 after half a dozen of her relatives were charged with lese majeste -- and later jailed -- for allegedly abusing their royal ties to him.

All media inside Thailand must heavily self-censor when reporting on the royal family to avoid falling foul of the defamation law.