abuse

René Redzepi steps down from Noma after abuse reports and protests at Los Angeles pop-up René Redzepi, the co-founder of Copenhagen’s Noma, said he is stepping down from the acclaimed restaurant after reports and testimony about past abuse at his business, adding fresh turbulence to one of the world’s most influential dining rooms just as it launched a pop-up in Los Angeles. “After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away,” Redzepi said in an Instagram post. His announcement…

Irish book-keeper wins more than £23,000 for racial harassment at Leeds employment tribunal An Irish employee has been awarded more than £23,000 after a Leeds employment tribunal found she was racially harassed at work by the director of engineering firm West Leeds Civils. The tribunal ruled that Bernadette Hayes, a book-keeper, was subjected to repeated abuse linked to her Irish heritage, including being called “potato,” “paddy,” “stupid paddy” and “pikey,” terms the judge described as “offensive and humiliating” and…

Synthetic Drug Crisis in West Africa: A Public Health Emergency A new report warns that the proliferation of synthetic drugs across West Africa presents the most "urgent and complex" public health and security challenges facing the region. Published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the report says the burden of consumption—and its devastating consequences—falls disproportionately on young people. "The crisis has grown so severe that since 2024, two countries have declared states of…

Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, has called for a thorough investigation into any Irish links to the convicted U.S. sex offender’s network, telling RTÉ’s The Late Late Show that she is in Ireland to meet “some powerful leaders” and press for action. Phillips’ appeal comes a week after the Dáil was told that a witness statement contained in the so‑called Epstein files alleged a young girl was trafficked through Ireland “for politicians and notable men for the purposes of sex.” “There needs to be a thorough…

Spain’s High Court prosecutors have shelved a preliminary investigation into singer Julio Iglesias, ruling the court lacks jurisdiction because the alleged crimes occurred outside Spain and the accusers do not reside in the country. The decision, outlined in a filing seen by Reuters, halts the probe at the national level while leaving open the possibility of prosecution in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, where the alleged conduct took place. Women’s Link Worldwide, a rights group, lodged the complaint on Jan. 5 on…

Somalia’s child-protection reckoning after a teenager’s killing — and a rare death sentence The killing of 14-year-old orphan Saabirin Saylaan in Galkayo has jolted Somalia into a painful examination of how the state, communities and families protect — and fail — their children. A court in Puntland State convicted caregiver Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, 34, of murder and sentenced her to death, an exceptional punishment in a child-abuse case that underscores both the scale of public outrage and the fragility of Somalia’s protective…

Malaysia’s High Court on Friday sentenced former Prime Minister Najib Razak to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of abuse of power and money laundering tied to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, deepening the legal reckoning over a case that has reshaped the country’s politics and reputation. Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the sentences “are to run concurrently,” and ordered fines and asset seizures. Najib’s lawyers said they will appeal the ruling next week. The verdict adds to a cascade of criminal cases…

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission warned this week that technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence (TFGBV) is moving from the margins into the mainstream, forcing many women and girls to silence themselves online and offline. The statement, released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, said that journalists, activists, politicians and young women in Zimbabwe are among the most affected and urged stronger enforcement of existing laws. "Women and girls are increasingly…

MOGADISHU — Somali police in the Hamarweyne district arrested a Somali National Army soldier on Saturday after a video widely shared on social media appeared to show him abusing a woman vendor at the busy Hamarweyne market, authorities said. The suspect was identified by police as Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim, a member of the Somali National Army. He is in custody and will be transferred to court, the Banadir Regional Police Command said in a statement. “The suspect is in police custody and will be referred to the…

Namibia’s children exposed: online life and the quiet rise of digital harm Snapshot of a hidden crisis A new study has lifted the lid on a worrying trend in Namibia: an estimated 20,000 children are exposed to online sexual exploitation and abuse every year, according to research published by the Disrupting Harm project. The study, which maps technology‑facilitated abuse of children, also finds that roughly 80 percent of Namibians aged 12 to 17 use the internet — primarily for schoolwork and social media — creating both…