MeToo back in the headlines as major sexual assault cases and legal battles unfold; activists and survivors keep pressuring for accountability and reform. Key bio: started 2006 on Myspace; global movement against sexual abuse/harassment.
Jessica Mann has returned to the witness stand in Manhattan, testifying for a third time that Harvey Weinstein forced himself on her in a March 2013 hotel encounter. Defense lawyers are cross-examining her about emails, a contemporaneous cellphone note and ongoing friendly messages; Weinstein has denied nonconsensual sex and remains in custody.
France has approved a new law allowing the faster return of colonial-era artifacts. The legislation removes previous procedural hurdles, enabling negotiations between museums and countries of origin. The reform aims to address longstanding demands from African nations and reshape France's cultural diplomacy, with the process now more streamlined and open to claims based on provenance.
The Trump administration has settled all legal proceedings with Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD graduate from Tufts University, allowing her to return to Turkey after a yearlong battle over her revoked US student visa. The visa was canceled due to her co-authorship of a 2024 op-ed critical of Tufts' response to Israel's Gaza war. The settlement acknowledges her lawful status during her US stay.
Recent articles highlight ongoing changes in education, emphasizing critical thinking, civic engagement, and the importance of human interaction. Teachers like Leon Smith are recognized for fostering inclusion and civic awareness, while debates continue over technology's role and social skills in society. These developments reflect broader societal shifts.
The Manhattan retrial of Harvey Weinstein on a rape charge has ended in a mistrial after jurors fail to reach a verdict on the charge. He faces one count of rape in the third degree; the case has seen three separate trials in New York. Mann testified; Weinstein has denied the allegation.
The Justice Department has opened a criminal inquiry into whether E. Jean Carroll committed perjury during depositions in her civil suits against Donald Trump. The probe is focusing on Carroll's 2022 testimony about who paid her legal fees, including later-disclosed support from Reid Hoffman’s nonprofit; prosecutors in Chicago are leading the review.