Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's surprise attendance at the G7 summit in Hiroshima sparked a media frenzy, with reporters scrambling to get as close to him as possible during his brief visit. Though some journalists lamented not being able to ask the president a question, one reporter praised the opportunity as a career boost. “It’s so great you got to ask him a question!” a reporter from Taiwan said after she randomly grabbed my shoulder to get my attention. “That’s a huge advantage for your career.” Zelenskiy visited Hiroshima to lay flowers at the Atomic Bomb Memorial and focused on talks about nuclear disarmament, which dominated discussions during the G7 summit.
UK citizens are being warned about the risks of using mobile banking apps, after discovering that fraudsters are using increasing sophisticated methods to hack into smartphones and gain access to banking apps. Detective Superintendent John Roch, head of economic crime at the Metropolitan Police in London, said that although banking app technology was secure, criminals were exploiting human behaviour and "shoulder surf" victims while they entered their PIN before stealing their mobile phone. Once thieves have access to bank apps, they can see the victim's bank accounts and their savings and investments. Roch commented: "If you start to think of it like that, would you walk into a bar, put it down and turn your back on it? Probably not. The potential outcome is devastating for victims."
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, has called on child trauma victims to be treated appropriately by professionals responsible for their care. The comments followed a report which revealed survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing were told that the attack would make them stronger. Recalling the personal stories of young people and Prince William, who is patron of the National Emergencies Trust, both underlined the need for specialized trauma-focused support for UK child survivors of terrorism. Among the key recommendations to emerge from the study, conducted by Lancaster University, are better training in trauma care both in the classroom and healthcare settings, greater acknowledgment of the long-term impact of traumatic events, and closer engagement with young survivors.
A LaLiga TV commentator has sparked outrage online by claiming Vinicius Jr "is not an angel" and that he "provokes other teams" after the Real Madrid star was sent off for his reaction to being the victim of racist abuse from the stands during a 1-0 defeat to Valencia on Sunday. While LaLiga TV covered the game, co-commentator Toni Padilla said that while it's important to stand against racism, Vinicius should not be free from blame for the sending off. Padilla's comments have subsequently sparked outrage online, while some Twitter users questioned who will protect Vinicius Junior in Spain against the abuse. The incident has garnered attention in the press and on social media, with the publication of video footage showing Vinicius being subjected to a barrage of racist slurs that were directed at him by the Valencia supporters. As reported on Wednesday, LaLiga faces backlash over its lack of action on repeated racist abuse incidents.
Strategic partners Poland and Ukraine spar over painful past
The Toronto Star
23-05-22 15:01
Polish and Ukrainian officials have publicly exchanged accusations regarding a painful past which includes the mass murder of tens of thousands of Poles at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists. Ukraine’s ambassador in Poland insisted that any suggestions of the country or President apologising for the atrocities in 1943-44 were unacceptable. Though they both share views on regional security, the murders are a major cause of tension between the two nations. However, Poland has pressed Ukraine for permission to carry out exhumations to identify remains, believing that this will help “strength bilateral relations” and combat vulnerabilities to third parties seeking to undermine ties.
A national compensation scheme for victims of child sexual abuse is to be introduced in England following a recommendation by the seven-year independent inquiry into this form of abuse. Thousands of victims who were “let down by institutions in the past” will be able to claim fixed term compensation paid by the government. The inquiry recommended that applicants to the scheme should have experienced abuse “where there is a clear connection to state or non-state institutions”. It also criticised current civil and criminal compensation schemes for failing to provide adequate accountability and reparation. The government will consult on how the scheme should operate.
Pope sends Vatican official to Bolivia as abuse allegations escalate
The Toronto Star
23-05-23 01:00
The Vatican has dispatched one of its top investigators of sex crimes, Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, to Bolivia amid a pedophilia scandal that has shaken the country in recent months. The visit comes as former Jesuit seminarian, Pedro Lima, who has vowed to reveal more information on alleged cases of abuse, arrived in the country. Bertomeu’s visit, though planned earlier, aims to analyse the progress made in the field of the culture of prevention promoted by the Vatican. The Bolivian Episcopal Conference has said that Bertomeu’s trip is not directly tied to the recent allegations.
Skincare company Bioré and influencer Cecilee Max-Brown have issued apologies for a TikTok post referencing a school shooting as part of a partnership campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month. The post depicted Max-Brown discussing her anxiety since surviving the 2023 school shooting at Michigan State University, and encouraging the “strip away the stigma of anxiety” message with Bioré’s deep cleansing pore strips. The post was criticised for insensitivity to the school shooting victims and using a tragic event to promote pore strips. Bioré and Max-Brown both apologised and took down the post less than a day after it was posted.
Sexual history will no longer be available as evidence in court cases brought by rape victims, according to a new set of proposals from the UK’s Law Commission, which is exploring different evidential approaches as part of an effort to increase conviction rates and prevent complainants from dropping out. Lawyers will also have to obtain written permission from a judge if they plan to use a victim’s sexual history as part of their case. The proposals are based on the Canadian model, which is designed to ensure fairer access to justice for victims.
