02-02-2019

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NEWS SATURDAY, FeBRUARY 2, 2019 2 33rd 'Jatiya Kobita Utshab 2019' begins DHAKA : The 33rd edition of 'Jatiya Kobita Utshab' (national poetry festival) started on Friday at the Dhaka University's Central Library square, reports UNB. This year's slogan of the two-day festival is 'Bangalir joy kobitar joy' (the victory of Bangali is the victory of poetry). The festival originally began in 1987 with a view to raising voices through poems against dictatorship and tyranny. Jatiya Kobita Utshab 2019, organised by Jatiya Kobita Parishad, is dedicated to the 50-year anniversary of mass uprising of 1969 and its martyrs. The inauguration took place after paying homage to National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Patua Kamrul Hasan and the martyrs of Language Movement. Noted Bangladeshi poet Asad Chowdhury opened the festival. In his speech, he noted how poems, &zwj;as part of literature, have always been an inspiration for the Bangali. "Jatiya Kobita Parishad, as a platform, is against communalism, fundamentalism and tyranny. We want to declare that the victory of Bangali is the victory of poetry," he said, adding that a Parliament free of war criminals is a great achievement. Jatiya Kabira Parishad General Secretary Tariq Sujat said Bangladeshi poets have always stood for progress. He expressed concerns about rules followed for national awards distribution. "The rules and regulations formulated during the dictatorship are still being followed when these awards are distributed. The process of selecting the awardees is still Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Rangpur celebrated the 71st founding anniversary of student's organization through colourful programmes on the Town Hall premises on Thursday. Photo : Star Mail 23 drug peddlers held in Khulna KHULNA : Police arrested 106 people, including 23 drug peddlers, from different parts of the district from Thursday to Friday morning, reports UNB. Md Anisur Rahman, additional superintendent of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), said 63 people were arrested in regular drives on various charges. Thirteen of them were drug peddlers. Sixty-eight grams of marijuana and seven yaba pills were seized from them, he said. On the other hand, 43 people, including 10 drug peddlers, were arrested in special drives. Police seized 150 grams of marijuana, 22 yaba pills, and six bottles of phensedyl, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of KMP Sheikh Moniruzzaman Mithu. 63 people held in Satkhira SATKHIRA : Police arrested 63 people from different parts of the district in a special drive from Thursday evening to Friday morning, reports UNB. Sub-inspector Azam Khan of the Special Branch of Satkhira district police said they conducted the drive and arrested them on various charges. questionable; hence I urge the government to take necessary steps to maintain the honour of these prizes," he added. Poet Ruby Rahman, in her proclamation of the event, said Jatiya Kobita Utshab 2019 declares the inevitable victory of Bangali. "All the spirit of Bangladeshis' struggle for freedom centers the Language Movement. Every curve of this uprising has offerings of poetry," she added. Festival convener Rabiul Hussain hoped that in the coming days, poets and their poetry will continue to encourage the nation in all movements and struggles. Jatiya Kobita Parishad President Dr Mohammad Samad in his speech urged the government to declare February 1 as the 'National Poetry Day'. He urged all to take oath to prevent the rise of anti-liberal forces in the country in future. This year, poet Habibullah Siraji will be honoured for his contribution to poetry by Jatiya Kobita Parishad on the second day of the festival. Famed names of Bangla literature including Nirmalendu Gunn, Mahadev Saha, Kazi Rozi, Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir and many others will grace the festival. Nineteen foreign poets from 11 countries including India, Sweden, Maldives, Turkey, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Spain, Uruguay, Congo and Malaysia will participate in sessions alongside Bangladeshi poets. The festival will be celebrated with many sessions for recitation, seminar, discussion and exhibition on poets and poetry. Several stalls have been set up Islam never endorses terrorism, militancy: Khasru NETRAKONA : Terming Islam as a religion of peace, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru said yesterday that Islam never endorses terrorism, corruption and militancy. All the past Awami League governments and the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took many steps for the spread of Islamic education across the country. Khasru applauded various important steps undertaken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for upholding Islamic spirit and spreading Islamic education across the country. During the post-independence period Bangabandhu allotted a land for building Kakrail mosque in the capital city and also allotted the land for holding Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi area, he said. The state minister said Bangabandhu also established Islamic Foundation to flourish Islamic education in the country. He was speaking as chief guest at a reception accorded to him by Islamic Oikya Jote Netrakona district unit at the local public hall here. Chaired by president of Islami Oikya Jote Netrakon district unit Moulana Delwar Hussain, the function was addressed, among others, by mayor of Netrakona pourasava Nazrul Islam Khan, general secretary of district Red Crescent Society Gazi Muzammel Hussain Tuku and vice president of Jatiya Party Netrakona district unit Ali Osman Siddiqui. Khasru said that the government of Sheikh Hasina was awarded the repute of "mother of Koumi education" by the Alems and Ulamas of the country for giving recognition to the Koumi education in the Koumi Madrasas. with books on poetry. The festival is open for all. It will end on Saturday night with Kobitar Gaan (songs of poetry). Poet Ruby Rahman, in her proclamation of the event, said Jatiya Kobita Utshab 2019 declares the inevitable victory of Bangali. "All the spirit of Bangladeshis' struggle for freedom centers the Language Movement. Every curve of this uprising has offerings of poetry," she added. Festival convener Rabiul Hussain hoped that in the coming days, poets and their poetry will continue to encourage the nation in all movements and struggles. Jatiya Kobita Parishad President Dr Mohammad Samad in his speech urged the government to declare February 1 as the 'National Poetry Day'. He urged all to take oath to prevent the rise of anti-liberal forces in the country in future. This year, poet Habibullah Siraji will be honoured for his contribution to poetry by Jatiya Kobita Parishad on the second day of the festival. Famed names of Bangla literature including Nirmalendu Gunn, Mahadev Saha, Kazi Rozi, Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir and many others will grace the festival. Nineteen foreign poets from 11 countries including India, Sweden, Maldives, Turkey, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Spain, Uruguay, Congo and Malaysia will participate in sessions alongside Bangladeshi poets. The festival will be celebrated with many sessions for recitation, seminar, discussion and exhibition on poets and poetry. Several stalls have been set up with books on poetry. Earlier, the state minister attended as chief guest the annual sports competition of Netrakona Holy Child Kinder Garten School on local Muktarpara ground here. He distributed prizes among the winners of the competition. He also attended a rally organized by Bangla daily newspaper "Daily Jugantor" at Netrkona press club marking the 20th founding anniversary of the newspaper. Khasru applauded various important steps undertaken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for upholding Islamic spirit and spreading Islamic education across the country. During the post-independence period Bangabandhu allotted a land for building Kakrail mosque in the capital city and also allotted the land for holding Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi area, he said. The state minister said Bangabandhu also established Islamic Foundation to flourish Islamic education in the country. He was speaking as chief guest at a reception accorded to him by Islamic Oikya Jote Netrakona district unit at the local public hall here. Chaired by president of Islami Oikya Jote Netrakon district unit Moulana Delwar Hussain, the function was addressed, among others, by mayor of Netrakona pourasava Nazrul Islam Khan, general secretary of district Red Crescent Society Gazi Muzammel Hussain Tuku and vice president of Jatiya Party Netrakona district unit Ali Osman Siddiqui. Khasru said that the government of Sheikh Hasina was awarded the repute of "mother of Koumi education" by the Alems and Ulamas of the country for giving recognition to the Koumi education in the Koumi Madrasas. Rangpur Fine Arts Academy (RFAA) organised a five-day workshop on watercolor in Rangpur yesterday. Photo : Star Mail PSTU teacher's association polls on february 14 Md. Naeem Hossain, PSTU: The polls of Patuakhali science and technology University Teacher's Association(PSTUTA) would be held on February 14. The chief election commissioner professor Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman declared the schedule. The CEC of PSTUTA election said, The last date of submission nomination paper is February 11 and the scrutiny of nomination paper will be held on same date. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is February 12. The EC has published the manuscript of voter list already. Robber beaten by mob in Gopalganj dies GOPALGANJ : A suspected member of an inter-district robber gang died on Friday from injuries sustained during mob beating in the district's Muksudpur Upazila, reports UNB. He succumbed to his injuries at Muksudpur Health Complex around noon. Police identified the man as Din Islam, 35, son of Babul Sheikh of Shelkhola village of the upazila. Muksudpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mostafa Kamal Pasha said two robbers - Din and Bashar Fakir - went to one Kamal's house for robbery at Dignagar village on Wednesday night. Locals caught them during robbery bid and beat them up before handing them over to police. The men were admitted to upazila health complex. "Din Islam is a member of an inter-district robbery gang and accused in five robbery cases," the OC said. Housewife 'commits suicide' in Chattogram CHATTOGRAM : A housewife apparently killed herself following family feud at Balurchara area in the port city on Friday morning, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Akhi Akhter, 18, wife of Rabiul Awal of the area. Akhi had an altercation with her husband in the morning after he had made a comment implicating her and his younger brother, Assistant Sub-Inspector Alauddin Talukdar of Chittagong Medical College police outpost said quoting their family members. Akhi later tried to take her own life by hanging herself from an iron rod on the building's roof, the police officer said. Family members took her to CMCH but doctors pronounced her dead, the ASI added. Muksudpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mostafa Kamal Pasha said two robbers - Din and Bashar Fakir - went to one Kamal's house for robbery at Dignagar village on Wednesday night. Netherlands' Damen Shipyards keen to invest in Bangladesh DHAKA : Damen, a very common name in global shipping industry, wants to invest in Bangladesh in a bigger way, says its top executive, reports UNB. Chief Executive Officer of Damen René Berkvens expressed their investment interest to Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal during a meeting held in The Hague recently. Bangladesh's geo-strategic position, political stability and economic growth of last 10 years are key elements to consider Bangladesh as Damen's next investment destination, said the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Friday. Ambassador Belal and Embassy officials paid a visit to Damen Shipyard at Gorinchem, The Netherlands and have seen different models of water going vessels available in the yard. Damen's investment in Bangladesh would open up a new avenue for Bangladesh's shipping sector and accelerate economic benefit, said the Bangladesh Embassy. With regard to investment, Damen would look for common basis of understanding and long term relation, it said. Since the 1970s, Damen is active in shipping sector of Bangladesh. Damen has been providing dredgers to Bangladesh since long. This leading company is having significant cooperation with BIWTA, Ministry of Water Resources, Khulna Shipyard, Chattogram Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast-Guard, said the Embassy. During the meeting, Ambassador Belal apprised the CEO of Damen about Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 and how the Bangladesh government is taking preparations to implement the plan phase by phase. He requested Damen to be part of this historic plan and approached him to come up with a plan of business expansion in Bangladesh. In response to Ambassador's request, the International workshop on Thalassemia held TBT report: The closing ceremony of a fourday-long International Workshop on Thalassaemia was held at Bangladesh College of Physicians (BCPS) auditorium at Mohakhali in the capital recently. Under the joint initiative of Non Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program, Health department Mohakhali and International Thalassaemia Federation, the program was presided over by Additional Director General (Planning and Development) of Health Department Prof Dr A H M Enayet Hossain. The program was started by national anthem and inaugurated by Dr Nr Mohammad, Line director (NCDC), Health department. Dr Mustafizur Rahman Deputy Program manager (NCDC) in Bangladesh briefed the improvement of prevention of Thalassaemia disease. Among others foreign guest Professor N Dalton Clinical Director, N H foundation, Dr Pal Telfer, representative of International Thalassaemia Foundation, Meri Petro, N H Foundation gave the speech. President of MDC Professor Dr Habibulantah was present as the special guest in the program. CEO promised to visit Bangladesh in April 2019 to verify the potentials of investment in Bangladesh. Ambassador Belal assured him all-out support to make his visit successful. Ambassador Belal also highlighted both ongoing and upcoming mega projects in Bangladesh and urge them to be part of this development journey. Damen, a 91-year old family owned company with a turnover of 2 billion Euro is having substantial presence in Poland, Romania, Vietnam, Dubai, China, Sharjah, Cape Town. Under the umbrella of Damen Shipyards group, worldwide they have 52 companies (in the Netherlands 24 and international 28) which has been creating employment for 12000 employers. They have the capacity to provide all kinds of vessels, like- tug boats, offshore vessels, high speed craft and ferries, pontoons and berges, dredging and specials, defence and security vessels and yachts. Since the 1970s, Damen is active in shipping sector of Bangladesh. Damen has been providing dredgers to Bangladesh since long. This leading company is having significant cooperation with BIWTA, Ministry of Water Resources, Khulna Shipyard, Chattogram Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast-Guard, said the Embassy. During the meeting, Ambassador Belal apprised the CEO of Damen about Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 and how the Bangladesh government is taking preparations to implement the plan phase by phase. He requested Damen to be part of this historic plan and approached him to come up with a plan of business expansion in Bangladesh. In response to Ambassador's request, the CEO promised to visit Bangladesh in April 2019 to verify the potentials of investment in Bangladesh. Trader found dead in sylhet SYLHET : A trader was found dead inside his business establishment in front of Tajpur College beside Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Osmaninagar upazila on Thursday, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Yusuf Ali, 24, owner of 'Mayer Doa', a shop of auto-rickshaw parts and son of Riasat Ali of Golapganj upazila. Being informed by local people, police recovered the body of Yusuf Ali from his shop in the morning and sent it to Sylhet Osmani Medcial College and Hospital morgue, said SM Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Osmaninagar Police Station. The head, ear and some portion of Yusuf's face was found smashed as he was hit by a hard object, said police. However, the motive behind the killing could not be known yet.
INTERNATIONAL SATURDAy, FEBRUARy 2, 2019 3 The funeral procession of a woman sexually enslaved by Japanese soldiers as a girl during WWII concluded Friday near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, where Kim Bok-dong had protested for decades against what she called Japanese failure to come to terms with its wartime brutality. Photo : AP Woman enslaved by Japan’s military mourned near protest site The funeral procession of a woman sexually enslaved by Japanese soldiers as a girl during WWII concluded Friday near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, where Kim Bok-dong had protested for decades against what she called Japanese failure to come to terms with its wartime brutality, reports UNB. Hundreds of mourners, many dressed in black and holding paper cutouts of yellow butterflies that the 92- year-old had adopted as a symbol, crowded around a bronze statue of a girl representing the thousands of Asian women experts say the Japanese military forced into front-line brothels as it pursued colonial ambitions. The memorial, which mixed grief with simmering anger toward Tokyo, was the culmination of an hours-long march that wrapped up a five-day commemoration of Kim, who had regularly led rallies at the site to demand that Japan more fully acknowledge the suffering of the so-called "comfort January was officially Australia’s hottest month on record Australia sweltered through its hottest month on record in January and the summer of extremes continued with wildfires razing the droughtparched south and flooding in expanses of the tropical north, reports UNB. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the January record on Friday as parts of the northern hemisphere had record cold. Australia's scorching start to 2019 - in which the mean temperature across the country for the first time exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) - followed Australia's thirdhottest year on record. Only 2005 and 2013 were warmer than 2018, which ended with the hottest December on record. Heat-stressed bats dropped dead from trees by the thousands in Victoria state and bitumen roads melted in New South Wales during heatwaves last month. New South Wales officials say drought-breaking rains are needed to improve the water quality in a stretch of a major river system where hundreds of thousands of fish died in two mass deaths during January linked to excessive heat. A South Australia state government report on Thursday found that too much water had been drained from the river system for farming under a management plan that did not take into account the impact of climate change on the river's health. The South Australian capital Adelaide on Jan. 24 recorded the hottest day ever for a major Australian city - a searing 46.6 C (115.9 F). On the same day, the South Australian town of Port Augusta, population 15,000, recorded 49.5 C (121.1 F) - the highest maximum anywhere in Australia last month. Bureau senior climatologist Andrew Watkins described January's heat as unprecedented. women," the euphemism given to the women and girls enslaved by the Japanese and a term embraced by some of the dwindling number of victims over "sex slave." Japanese leaders have previously offered apologies or expressions of remorse, but many of the women and their supporters want reparations from Tokyo and a fuller apology. Of the 239 Korean women who have come forward as victims, only 23 are still alive. Kim, who died Monday and had been suffering from cancer, had been a beloved leader of the protest movement, often sitting beside the bronze statue at weekly rallies that have been held since 1992 on a strip of sidewalk across from the site of the embassy. Her death has been met with grief around South Korea, with President Moon Jae-in crediting her relentless advocacy for giving South Koreans the "braveness to face the truth." As the limousine carrying Kim's remains slowly rolled up to the statue Friday morning, mourners carried 94 vertical funeral banners that represented Kim's age when counted in the traditional Korean manner and were marked with phrases thanking Kim and demanding Japanese reparations and remorse. Many people cried during the march that started at City Hall. Led by an activist who shouted into a microphone from a truck, the marchers chanted anti-Japan slogans such as "Japan formally apologize!" and "Japan provide formal compensation!" "You always looked out for her and now grandma (Kim) is in a good place," said a tearful Lee Yong-su, another former sex slave, as she sat beside the statue and stroked its cheek and arms. "I feel very sorry and sad. We all know that voice that would shout (during the rallies). She can shout no more and she never received a formal apology." Pence praises DEA help in convict Maduro allies U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has congratulated the Drug Enforcement Administration for helping bring drug trafficking convictions against several members of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's family and inner circle, reports UNB. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Maduro's socialist regime and it is backing the claim to Venezuela's presidency by Juan Guaido, who heads the South American nation's opposition-controlled National Assembly. Speaking to several dozen DEA employees, Pence said Thursday: "Your investigations have targeted the corrupt narco-dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro and helped bring drug trafficking indictments and convictions against several members of Maduro's family and inner circle." Two nephews of Maduro's wife were found guilty in New York of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. and sentenced in 2016 to 18 years in prison. The United States strongly rejects offers from Mexico, Uruguay and the Vatican to mediate a dialogue between embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the head of the country's opposition-controlled congress, Juan Guaido. A senior U.S. administration official explicitly mentioned the three in a briefing Thursday and added that "we reject any talks of any type of efforts that would allow Maduro to maintain himself in power." The official repeated the U.S. government's position that Maduro is no longer the president of the country. Canada and many Latin American nations also have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, arguing that Maduro's re-election last May was invalid because his strongest opponents were barred from running. The U.S. official briefed reporters on the condition of not being quoted by name. Mexico and Uruguay announced Wednesday that they will hold an international conference Feb. 7 to discuss the Venezuela crisis. Both countries have not recognized Guaido as president. A senior U.S. administration official explicitly mentioned the three in a briefing Thursday and added that "we reject any talks of any type of efforts that would allow Maduro to maintain himself in power." The official repeated the U.S. government's position that Maduro is no longer the president of the country. Canada and many Latin American nations also have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, arguing that Maduro's re-election last May was invalid because his strongest opponents were barred from running. A U.S. official says the United States is ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela whenever and however is decided by Juan Guaido, the head of the oppositioncontrolled congress who is challenging President Nicolas Maduro. People chant anti-government slogans in a walkout against President Nicolas Maduro, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Venezuelans are exiting their homes and workplaces in a walkout organized by the opposition to demand that Maduro leave power. Photo : AP 3 students killed in South Africa school walkway collapse At least three students are dead and "scores" are trapped in the rubble after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, a South African official said Friday, reports UNB. Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at the Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark. Two boys and a girl were killed, Lesufi said. "It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state," he said. The school has been closed. It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Local media posted photos of a large slab and scattered bricks with the scene blocked off by emergency tape. Emergency services provider Netcare911 said at least four people may have died and at least five people were critically injured. The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed. A statement by AfriForum, a civil society organization that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders. US imposes visa restrictions on Ghana over deportees The United States says it has imposed visa restrictions on Ghana, saying the West African nation is not cooperating in taking back its deported nationals, reports UNB. A Department of Homeland Security statement says Ghana "has denied or unreasonably delayed accepting their nationals ordered removed from the United States." The statement issued Thursday says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered consular officials to impose visa restrictions on some categories of visa applicants and "without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population." Iran starts marking 40th anniversary of Islamic Revolution Iran is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, overturned 2,500 years of monarchical rule and brought hard-line Shiite clerics to power, reports UNB. The anniversary starts every year on Feb. 1 - the day Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 returned from France after 14 years in exile to become the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Across the country on Friday, sirens rang out from trains and boats and church bells chimed at 9:33 a.m. - the exact time Khomeini's chartered Air France Boeing 747 touched down 40 years ago at Tehran's International Mehrabad airport. The 10-day anniversary festivities, known as the "Ten Days of Dawn," end on Feb. 11, the date Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's government collapsed. Iran on Friday kicked off days-long celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, overturned 2,500 years of monarchical rule and brought hard-line Shiite clerics to power. Photo : AP Former South Korean governor convicted of sexual abuse A South Korean appeals court sentenced a former provincial governor to 3½ years in prison on Friday on charges of sexually abusing his secretary, in the highest profile conviction yet from investigations triggered by the country's growing #MeToo movement, reports UNB. A Seoul High Court official said Ahn Hee-jung was found guilty on most counts after being accused of molestation, sexual assault and abuse of authority. The official did not want to be named, citing office rules. Ahn, 54, had been considered a possible presidential candidate, and was a runner-up to current President Moon Jae-in in the ruling party's presidential primary in April 2017. But he stepped down as governor of South Chungcheong province last March amid public anger over allegations of sexual abuse raised by his thensecretary, Kim Ji-eun. Kim said in a television interview that Ahn had raped her several times since June 2017 and that she couldn't say no because of how powerful he was. A lower court acquitted Ahn in August, citing a lack of evidence proving that he abused his authority to force his secretary to have sex. Ahn, who said the sex was consensual, can appeal the conviction to the Supreme Court. After Friday's verdict was announced, Ahn told the judge that "I have nothing to say," according to Yonhap news agency, and was later escorted in handcuffs by court officials to a bus that took him to a correction center in southern Seoul. In a statement released through her lawyer, Kim thanked the court for seeing "the truth, just the way it is," and said she hopes the verdict will give strength to other victims of sexual abuse who have struggled in their attempts to seek accountability. Ahn is the first prominent politician to be jailed after being accused in the country's growing #MeToo movement Vatican magazine denounces sexual abuse of nuns by priests against sexual misconduct, which has led to indictments and convictions of powerful men in arts, sports and government after victims came forward. Last week, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former senior prosecutor Ahn Tae-geun to two years in prison for abusing his authority by transferring junior colleague Seo Jihyeon to an unfavorable provincial job in 2015 after she demanded that he The Vatican's women's magazine is denouncing the sexual abuse of nuns by priests - and the resulting "scandal" of religious sisters having abortions or giving birth to children who are then not recognized by their fathers, reports UNB. The February issue of "Women Church World," a monthly magazine distributed alongside the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, was published Friday. It cited Pope Francis' own analysis of abuse by saying clerical power was at the root of the problem. It said nuns have been silenced for years by fear of retaliation against themselves or their orders if they report the priests who molested them. The publication marks a significant public acknowledgment from inside the Vatican of the problem that the Holy See has long known about but has done next to nothing to address. Last year, after The Associated Press and other media reported on the scandal, the international association of women's religious orders urged sisters to report abuse to police and their superiors, a significant shattering of the silence that has long kept the problem secret. In the article, editor Lucetta Scaraffia notes that for centuries women in the church have been depicted as "dangerous and temptresses," which has complicated the acceptance within the Catholic hierarchy that they can be victims of unwanted sexual advances by priests. "But here Pope Francis' analysis about abuse can be of some help: If you point to power, to clericalism, the abuse against religious sisters takes on another aspect and can finally be recognized for what it is: that is an act of power in which touch becomes a violation of one's personal intimacy," she wrote. The article noted that reports written by religious sisters were presented to Vatican officials in the 1990s about the problem of priests sexually abusing nuns in Africa - they were considered "safe" partners at the height of the HIV crisis. apologize for allegedly groping her at a funeral. Seo went public with her allegations in January last year. South Korea's human rights commission plans to interview thousands of adult and child athletes about a culture of abuse in sports after a wave of female athletes, including two-time Olympic short-track speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee, said they had been raped or assaulted by their coaches. Australian PM urges caution ahead of landmark banking misconduct report Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned against any rash response to the landmark banking royal commission, reports UNB. The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry delivered its final report to Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Friday who will release it to the public after the share market closes on Monday. Ahead of receiving the document, which is expected to be hundreds of pages long, Morrison predicted it would contain "legitimate" criticism of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). However, Morrison said he would not be taking drastic action to avoid damaging the economy. "It will be a question of what suggestions or measures they put on the table but I will be very mindful that I want to see the oil that lubricates our financial system - which is access to credit - continues to flow, otherwise the consequences would be quite significant," he told Fairfax Media on Friday. "The easiest way to ensure nobody gets hurt is to lend nobody any money. But if nobody gets lent any money then everybody gets hurt. So I think we have to be sensible." Commissioner Kenneth Hayne conducted 68 days of public hearings to form the report, hearing from 134 witnesses and receiving more than 10,000 submissions. He heard evidence of Australia's biggest financial institutions knowingly taking money from dead customers and charging hundreds of millions of dollars in fees for services they never delivered. Financial services giant AMP made 20 false statements to ASIC about charging for services it never provided, the commission heard. Experts have speculated that Hayne will recommend a complete overhaul of how banks pay their staff from the bottom up as well as forcing them to sell wealthmanagement divisions to avoid conflicts of interest.
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