Latest news with #politician
NHK
6 hours ago
- Politics
- NHK
Analysis: Thai PM's leaked call puts her political future at risk
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces growing pressure over comments she made in a leaked phone call with a major Cambodian politician. NHK World's Takaoka Chikashi explains the controversy and what comes next.
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Men alleging sexual abuse by Gareth Ward were scared to report it, witness tells trial
A mutual acquaintance of two men accusing NSW MP Gareth Ward of sexual abuse says both confided in her about the alleged incidents but were too fearful of the consequences if they went to police. Mr Ward, a formal Liberal Minister, now independent MP for Kiama, is on trial in the NSW District Court on five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent with a complainant, who was 24 at the time, at a Potts Point apartment in 2015. He has also denied indecently assaulting a second complainant, who was 18, at his Meroo Meadow home in 2013. Now in its fourth week, the trial on Thursday sat in Darlinghurst Court, after a burst water main temporarily closed Sydney's Downing Centre. It resumed with a political staffer giving evidence about a conversation she had with the older complainant after seeing a Facebook post in September 2020 that appeared to allude to a suicide attempt. She became emotional and had to compose herself as she explained her response to the post. She told the court she contacted the complainant and the pair met for drinks in Sydney where he allegedly told her he had been sexually abused by the politician after a night of drinking. "He told me he had been raped by Mr Ward," she said. The witness was asked what the complainant told her about how alcohol had affected him on the night. She said he told her "only that he couldn't stop the rape". The woman told the court the complainant was distressed and apologised repeatedly for telling her. Through tears, she told the court the complainant "blamed himself". "I reiterated to him that it was not his fault, regardless of what had happened," she said. She said the man told her he wasn't comfortable going to police because Mr Ward "had a lot of power" and he was worried what it might mean for his career. The woman told the court she stayed in touch with the complainant after the meeting, sending occasional messages to check on his wellbeing and to again encourage him to report the matter. She said in November 2020 she was contacted by the younger complainant. In a phone call she said "shocked" her, the younger complainant alleged he had been assaulted by Mr Ward after drinking alcohol at the MP's home. She said the man didn't go into much detail but said the assault happened in the politician's bed. "He said he had been drinking, was quite inebriated and he was assaulted by him," she told the court. She described the man's voice as "shaky" and he sounded "very distraught". The woman said the younger man reminded her of something he had told her in 2016, about him going through "quite serious" drug use. She said he told her that was "the reason he used substances." She said she encouraged him to go to police, but he said he wasn't comfortable with that. In April 2021, she said, she received a message from the first complainant that a journalist had contacted him about an incident involving Mr Ward on the South Coast, prompting her to make a formal police report. She then attended Parramatta police station and told officers what she knew about both complainants. She said she contacted the younger complainant to let him know she had gone to the police, and he responded that he "wasn't comfortable I had taken that step". She later also contacted the older complainant in a message, saying: "I don't ever want what happened to you to happen to anyone else." The woman told the court she did not believe the two complainants knew each other. While still under questioning by the prosecutor, the witness conceded she may have been mistaken about some details, including the older complainant's concerns about missed job opportunities. But she said her clearest memory of the night in Sydney in 2020 was his emotional state and how uncomfortable he was sharing what had happened. The trial continues, with the witness expected to continuing giving evidence tomorrow.
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
UK ban South Africa tough politician Julius Malema from di kontri
United Kingdom don permanently ban South African politician Julius Malema entry into di UK. Di UK Home Office tok say dem see di controversial politician 'non-conducive to di public good', as dem cite im support for Hamas and im past comments about white pipo for South Africa. Dis na di second time in two months UK go deny South Africa opposition leader entry into di kontri - but dem tell BBC say dis decision dey 'valid'. We still dey update dis tori!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Taken to D.C. Hospital in Ambulance
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was taken to the hospital on Tuesday, June 17, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. Noem, 53, was transported to a Washington, D.C. hospital. She suffered an allergic reaction and was taken to the hospital out of caution, McLaughlin said. The secretary is alert and recovering, McLaughlin confirmed. Additionally, CNN reports that the politician is conscious and spoke with her security detail. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. This is a developing story... Read the original article on People
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Suspect in killing of US politician went to homes of other lawmakers in same night, officials say
A man accused of killing a US politician and her husband went to the homes of other lawmakers that night, intending to kill them, officials said. Vance Boelter, 57, meticulously planned out his attacks, carrying out surveillance missions, taking notes on the homes and people he targeted and disguising himself as a police officer, according to Minnesota's acting US attorney Joseph Thompson. Authorities believe Boelter wore a mask as he posed as a police officer and shone a torch in the face of some of his victims to disguise his identity. "It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmare," said Mr Thompson. Boelter, 57, allegedly shot and wounded Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their Minneapolis home in the early hours of Saturday morning. He then travelled to the home of another state representative but she and her family were on holiday, so they didn't answer the door, said Mr Thompson. Video showed that Boelter rang the doorbell at around 2.24am on Friday but left when the family didn't respond. He then drove to the home of a state senator, but after the Hoffmans' adult daughter called emergency services to say her parents had been shot, a police officer was dispatched to conduct a wellness check. That officer saw Boelter's car parked up the street but thought he was another officer, said Mr Thompson. Boelter had reportedly altered his car to make it look more like a police car. He then left and drove to the home of lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, according to an FBI affidavit. Local police officers, also conducting a check, arrived to see Boelter fatally shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, according to the document. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside. Boelter was arrested on Sunday evening after a huge manhunt in a rural area in Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis. He faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in the deaths of the Hortmans and the wounding of Hoffman and his wife. Before his arrest, the father of five texted his family group chat saying: "Dad went to war last night ... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody," according to the affidavit. His wife got another text that said: "Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation... there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around," the document said. Several AK-style firearms and a list of about 70 names, which included politicians and abortion rights activists, were allegedly found inside his vehicle.
