Call 911 immediately if you know of or see anything. Thank you.
A judge in France on Thursday found the former husband of Gisèle Pelicot, who admitted to drugging and raping her repeatedly over the course of almost a decade and inviting dozens of other men to assault her as well, guilty of aggravated rape. Forty-nine men whom Dominique Pelicot brought into his home to assault his wife were also convicted Thursday as part of the same landmark trial.
The man convicted of orchestrating the sustained assaults over the years was given the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while his co-accused were handed sentences ranging from three to 15 years.
Over the course of the trial, Gisèle Pelicot — who insisted that her full name be published and the court proceedings be made public — was praised for her courage and became a symbol of the fight against sexual violence in France and around the world.
This story contains references to suicide, and may be triggering for those affected by self-harm, suicide or suicidal thoughts.
Sadly, The Kids Online Safety Act is not on the agenda before Congress wraps up the year.
Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said the leading nonprofit advocating for the legislation is not pleased with the decision.
“[Speaker Mike Johnson] committed today to tackling online safety in the beginning of the year but he also said that he was going to support KOSA this year so actions speak louder than words,” Golin said.
Lawmakers have repeatedly revised the legislation. The latest version includes additional language-defining terms like reasonable care and reiterating the bill shall not infringe on the First Amendment.
“I never thought it infringed on anyone’s free speech rights but now it has been clarified and clarified and clarified and clarified even more and now has the support of free speech advocates like Elon Musk,” Golin said.
However, opposition said the revisions are largely cosmetic and still leaves language that could lead to censorship. Equality NY Executive Director Amanda Babine remained concerned social media platforms or policymakers could interpret LGBTQ+ content as inappropriate for children.
The Boulder Police Department is investigating after six college students were taken to the hospital after overdosing on possibly tainted cocaine at a party Saturday night.
According to police, between 10-10:30 p.m., officers were called to the hospital and the Kappa Sigma fraternity in the 1100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue for reports of adult men who were sick and overdosing. According to the school, Kappa Sigma was expelled from the interfraternity council in 2015 due to safety and welfare violations.
Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has revolutionized how we interact with technology, offering innovative tools and solutions. However, this technology also introduces significant risks, particularly to children. At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), we are deeply concerned about the potential for GAI to be used in ways that sexually exploit and harm children.
Over the past two years, NCMEC’s CyberTipline has received more than 7,000 reports related to GAI-generated child exploitation. These reports represent only the cases we are aware of, and there are likely many more unreported or unidentified instances. As this technology becomes more pervasive, and public awareness grows, we expect these numbers to grow.
GAI technology enables the creation of fake imagery, including synthetic media, digital forgery, and nude images of children, through tools like “nudify” apps. These manipulative creations can cause tremendous harm to children, including harassment, future exploitation, fear, shame, and emotional distress. Even when exploitative images are entirely fabricated, the harm to children and their families is very real.
The risks don’t stop at images. GAI is being used to manipulate children in other ways, such as generating realistic text prompts that predators use to groom or exploit victims. Offenders have even leveraged GAI in sextortion cases, using explicit AI-generated imagery to coerce children into providing additional content or money. Financial sextortion is a growing threat, and GAI tools make it easier for offenders to target children.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Friday her decision to seek the death penalty against two men charged with the abduction, assault, and murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in June.
Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, both Venezuelan nationals, face capital murder charges for the June 16 abduction, sexual assault, and strangulation of Nungaray.
Her body was discovered in shallow water under a bridge in Houston’s Greenspoint area the following day. Both men remain in custody at the Harris County Jail.
“Jocelyn’s murder was as vile, brutal and senseless as any case in my tenure as district attorney,” Ogg said Friday. “And it was made worse by knowing that these two men were here illegally and, had they been held after being captured at the border, they would never have had the opportunity to murder Jocelyn and destroy her family’s future.”
CALLING ALL WARRIORS! We are thrilled to share a monumental update: yesterday, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (SICAA) passed out of the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent! This is an incredible milestone for our movement, and it would not have been possible without your tireless advocacy, dedication, and support.
But as we celebrate this moment, we must also prepare for the crucial fight ahead. With time running out in this legislative session, we now need to channel all our energy into ensuring SICAA passes in the House next week.
Here’s where we stand and how you can help:
Senate Success: The unanimous consent vote underscores the bipartisan recognition of the urgent need for reform. This is a testament to the survivors, advocates, and allies who have relentlessly championed this cause.
The House Battle: The finish line is in sight, but passing the bill in the House is our final hurdle. Every moment counts as we push representatives to take a stand for vulnerable youth.
We need all hands on deck to secure a House vote and ensure its success. Be Ready for Action Alerts. We’ll send out specific calls to action throughout the week as developments arise. Please respond quickly and rally your networks.
The passing of SICAA in the Senate shows the power of our collective voice. Together, we’ve already made history—but the real change happens when this bill becomes law. Let’s give it everything we’ve got in this final push.
Thank you for being a part of this historic movement. Your dedication is what makes moments like this possible.
The 77-year-old musician, who brought his touring career to an end last year and has been sober for 34 years, has helped fellow celebrities including Eminem and Robbie Williams to recover from addiction.
As he was named Time magazine’s icon of the year, Sir Elton said marijuana is “addictive” and added: “It leads to other drugs. And when you’re stoned – and I’ve been stoned – you don’t think normally.
“Legalising marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”
In a 1999 interview with Sir David Frost, Sir Elton disclosed that the throat problems he experienced midway through an Australian tour in the 1980s were caused by marijuana, and said he had given up using the drug after advice from doctors.
