![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaOutrage over Brazilian tourist’s gang rape in IndiaPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The issue of rape has often triggered protests in IndiaBy Meryl SebastianBBC News, DelhiThe alleged gang rape of a tourist with Brazilian-Spanish dual nationality in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has led to outrage.The 28-year-old woman and her husband, who were on a motorbike tour, had stopped for the night in Dumki district when the alleged attack took place.Police say that they have arrested four men and are searching for three more.The identities of the men, who are also accused of beating the woman’s partner, have not been disclosed yet.The couple had travelled to several parts of Asia on their motorbikes before arriving in India a few months ago. Over the weekend, the woman posted a video on their Instagram page which has 234,000 followers.”Seven men raped me. They have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things [were taken] because what they wanted was to rape me,” she said in Spanish, adding that the men beat them and threatened to kill them.In a separate video, the husband, who is Spanish, said: “My mouth is destroyed, but my partner is worse than me. They have hit me with the helmet several times, with a stone on the head. Thank goodness she was wearing the jacket and that stops the blows a little.”The videos are no longer up on their page.Dumka’s police superintendent Pitamber Singh Kherwar told reporters the couple flagged down a patrol van which took them to a local health centre for treatment. “The couple were speaking in a mixture of English and Spanish so the patrolling team could not understand them initially. But they appeared visibly injured so they were taken for treatment,” he said, adding that the couple then told doctors about the alleged rape.The Brazilian embassy in India told the BBC that the woman and her husband “were victims of a serious criminal attack”. The embassy said it had contacted the woman and local authorities as well as the Spanish embassy, as the couple had used Spanish passports to enter India.”The Spanish embassy said that it had offered all the assistance available, including psychological care, but that the victims had declined the offer as they were already being looked after by the Indian emergency services,” the Brazilian embassy said, adding that it would continue to “monitor all developments”.The BBC has reached out to the Spanish embassy for comment.”We need to stand united in our commitment to end violence against women everywhere in the world,” the Spanish embassy in India posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.Conversations around rape and sexual violence became more prominent in India after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in Delhi led to huge protests and changes to the country’s rape laws. But tens of thousands of rapes are reported every year and activists say there is still a long way to go to tackle the issue.Over the weekend, several women shared their stories of dealing with unwanted sexual attention while travelling in India.The chief of India’s National Commission for Women, Rekha Sharma, also sparked criticism after she responded to a post from a US journalist who wrote that while India was one of his favourite places, “the level of sexual aggression” he witnessed while living in the country was “unlike anywhere else I have ever been”. He also gave a couple of examples of sexual assault faced by women he knew.”Did you ever report the incident to police?” Ms Sharma wrote. “If not then you are totally an irresponsible person. Writing only on social media and defaming whole country is not good choice.”The response led to an outpouring of criticism from people on social media.Several people have also left comments under the couple’s Instagram and YouTube videos, expressing solidarity and sympathy with them.Read more India stories from the BBC:India economy beats expectations with 8.4% growthRihanna among celebrities in India for Ambani galaIndia village in the eye of a political stormTwo children ran away. It took 13 years to get home againDisney plans $8.5bn merger for ailing India unitRelated TopicsRape in IndiaWomen in IndiaAsiaIndiaTop StoriesUS urges more aid for starving people in GazaPublished10 hours agoTrump supporters target black voters with AI fakesPublished4 hours agoHaiti declares state of emergency after huge jailbreakPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Ukrainian teenagers who returned for their school promDid the last Budget deliver growth and cheap beer?Mystery of giant star sand dunes solvedCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?The Papers: Hunt looks for £9bn and German leaks on UkraineA pioneering women’s World Cup erased from history’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’ Video’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winner’There was heartache but we had to keep going’Elsewhere on the BBCExclusive access to two of F1’s biggest teams…Featuring star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Alex AlbonAttributionSounds’Thick smoke fills the air, and vehicles are damaged’Watch the moment a private jet crashes onto a highway in FloridaAttributioniPlayerCan you spot the real from the AI?See if you can get full marks…AttributionBitesizeA satirical poke at the world of pop musicRob Brydon narrates this six-part musical odyssey about a novelty band…AttributionSoundsMost Read1Trump supporters target black voters with AI fakes2Mystery of giant star sand dunes solved3Haiti declares emergency after huge jailbreak4Hunt looks for £9bn and German leaks on Ukraine5Nikki Haley defeats Trump in Washington DC primary6MI6 ‘more exciting than James Bond film’, says spy7Nissan accused of dumping its electric car pioneers8Boulter beats Kostyuk to win San Diego titleAttributionSport9Warning cost of living fund closure ‘catastrophic’10New US-Russian crew heads to space station](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/BC45/production/_132779184_gettyimages-1242702754-594x594.jpg)
newsinsightplus.com
- 28yearold
- 8.5bn
- March 4, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaOutrage over Brazilian tourist’s gang rape in IndiaPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The issue of rape has often triggered protests in IndiaBy Meryl SebastianBBC News, DelhiThe alleged gang rape of a tourist with Brazilian-Spanish dual nationality in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has led to outrage.The 28-year-old woman and her husband, who were on a motorbike tour, had stopped for the night in Dumki district when the alleged attack took place.Police say that they have arrested four men and are searching for three more.The identities of the men, who are also accused of beating the woman’s partner, have not been disclosed yet.The couple had travelled to several parts of Asia on their motorbikes before arriving in India a few months ago. Over the weekend, the woman posted a video on their Instagram page which has 234,000 followers.”Seven men raped me. They have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things [were taken] because what they wanted was to rape me,” she said in Spanish, adding that the men beat them and threatened to kill them.In a separate video, the husband, who is Spanish, said: “My mouth is destroyed, but my partner is worse than me. They have hit me with the helmet several times, with a stone on the head. Thank goodness she was wearing the jacket and that stops the blows a little.”The videos are no longer up on their page.Dumka’s police superintendent Pitamber Singh Kherwar told reporters the couple flagged down a patrol van which took them to a local health centre for treatment. “The couple were speaking in a mixture of English and Spanish so the patrolling team could not understand them initially. But they appeared visibly injured so they were taken for treatment,” he said, adding that the couple then told doctors about the alleged rape.The Brazilian embassy in India told the BBC that the woman and her husband “were victims of a serious criminal attack”. The embassy said it had contacted the woman and local authorities as well as the Spanish embassy, as the couple had used Spanish passports to enter India.”The Spanish embassy said that it had offered all the assistance available, including psychological care, but that the victims had declined the offer as they were already being looked after by the Indian emergency services,” the Brazilian embassy said, adding that it would continue to “monitor all developments”.The BBC has reached out to the Spanish embassy for comment.”We need to stand united in our commitment to end violence against women everywhere in the world,” the Spanish embassy in India posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.Conversations around rape and sexual violence became more prominent in India after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in Delhi led to huge protests and changes to the country’s rape laws. But tens of thousands of rapes are reported every year and activists say there is still a long way to go to tackle the issue.Over the weekend, several women shared their stories of dealing with unwanted sexual attention while travelling in India.The chief of India’s National Commission for Women, Rekha Sharma, also sparked criticism after she responded to a post from a US journalist who wrote that while India was one of his favourite places, “the level of sexual aggression” he witnessed while living in the country was “unlike anywhere else I have ever been”. He also gave a couple of examples of sexual assault faced by women he knew.”Did you ever report the incident to police?” Ms Sharma wrote. “If not then you are totally an irresponsible person. Writing only on social media and defaming whole country is not good choice.”The response led to an outpouring of criticism from people on social media.Several people have also left comments under the couple’s Instagram and YouTube videos, expressing solidarity and sympathy with them.Read more India stories from the BBC:India economy beats expectations with 8.4% growthRihanna among celebrities in India for Ambani galaIndia village in the eye of a political stormTwo children ran away. It took 13 years to get home againDisney plans $8.5bn merger for ailing India unitRelated TopicsRape in IndiaWomen in IndiaAsiaIndiaTop StoriesUS urges more aid for starving people in GazaPublished10 hours agoTrump supporters target black voters with AI fakesPublished4 hours agoHaiti declares state of emergency after huge jailbreakPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Ukrainian teenagers who returned for their school promDid the last Budget deliver growth and cheap beer?Mystery of giant star sand dunes solvedCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?The Papers: Hunt looks for £9bn and German leaks on UkraineA pioneering women’s World Cup erased from history’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’ Video’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winner’There was heartache but we had to keep going’Elsewhere on the BBCExclusive access to two of F1’s biggest teams…Featuring star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Alex AlbonAttributionSounds’Thick smoke fills the air, and vehicles are damaged’Watch the moment a private jet crashes onto a highway in FloridaAttributioniPlayerCan you spot the real from the AI?See if you can get full marks…AttributionBitesizeA satirical poke at the world of pop musicRob Brydon narrates this six-part musical odyssey about a novelty band…AttributionSoundsMost Read1Trump supporters target black voters with AI fakes2Mystery of giant star sand dunes solved3Haiti declares emergency after huge jailbreak4Hunt looks for £9bn and German leaks on Ukraine5Nikki Haley defeats Trump in Washington DC primary6MI6 ‘more exciting than James Bond film’, says spy7Nissan accused of dumping its electric car pioneers8Boulter beats Kostyuk to win San Diego titleAttributionSport9Warning cost of living fund closure ‘catastrophic’10New US-Russian crew heads to space station
[ad_1] The woman and her husband were on a motorbike tour in India when the alleged assault took place.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDefamation defeat a double-edged sword for TrumpPublished12 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIndictments of Donald TrumpImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Donald Trump has framed his legal woes as part of a ‘witch hunt’ against him by his political opponentsBy Sam CabralBBC NewsA New York jury has said Donald Trump must pay $83.3m (£65.6m) to E Jean Carroll, a writer he was found to have defamed by denying her allegation of sexual assault. Legal experts say the award is a message to the former president to stop smearing her. But will it work?Last year Ms Carroll won another civil case in which a separate jury found Mr Trump legally responsible for sexually abusing and defaming her, and awarded her $5m in damages.The outcome in the first case did nothing to deter the former president in denying Ms Carroll’s story, personally attacking the writer and claiming he had never met her.But after Friday’s hefty legal bill, he notably did not denigrate the former Elle columnist in his reaction online, instead calling the case a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt”.Mr Trump – who is currently facing four criminal indictments and could soon have to dish out millions more dollars in a New York civil trial relating to business fraud – has often claimed the cases against him are politically motivated.Trump turns his legal battles into campaign spectacleTrump blasts judge as New York fraud trial nears endTrump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean CarrollIn terms of his election campaign, his mounting legal woes have been both a boon and a bane for him, said Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University.”It’s hurt the general population’s views of him, but it’s fuelled and strengthened his base, and even driven some Republicans on the fence to ‘stay loyal’ to the cause,” Prof Reeher told the BBC.”Trump has been trying to wear these legal troubles as a badge of honour for his victimisation, and of his commitment to his supporters.”But he added that, while Mr Trump’s “witch hunt” framing may benefit him in the ongoing Republican primary contest, how it translates to the general election remains to be seen.Recent polling has shown Mr Trump locked in a tight race with President Joe Biden, and even edging ahead in some cases, in a prospective rematch of their 2020 race.That “says as much about Biden and the Democrats as it does about Trump”, said Prof Feeder, alluding to the president’s weak job approval ratings and concerns about his age.Even if Mr Trump does genuinely believe he has been wronged by Ms Carroll, and most of his supporters agree, Friday’s verdict reflects how nine of his peers, sitting in the jury box, felt about his conduct.Lawyers for Ms Carroll pointed out throughout the trial that Mr Trump was still defaming her both in and out of court.In closing arguments, they asked the jurors – seven men and two women – to deliver the kind of penalty that will “make him stop”.Image source, ReutersImage caption, E Jean Carroll hugs her team after the verdict was read out”This is a large sum. This is a very, very large sum,” said Dmitriy Shakhnevich, an attorney and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.”What the jury is saying is this is a wealthy man who’s not stopping, and the only way to stop him is to hurt him [financially].”Of the $83m awarded to Ms Carroll, $65m of it is punitive damages. An award for punitive damages “relies on severity of the conduct”, Prof Shakhnevich noted.Conservative lawyer John Yoo told Fox News: “The whole point of this… is to tell Donald Trump to shut up.”I can’t believe his lawyers haven’t succeeded in telling him: campaign for president, make your accusations about a two-tiered justice system, but leave this alone.”And, though the ex-president is signalling his intention to appeal, legal experts told the BBC he is unlikely to win.The sum of punitive damages “is not so disproportionate to the compensatory damages that it will raise any red flags, and so I would expect that it will stick”, RonNell Andersen Jones, a professor at the University of Utah said.Prof Jones said Mr Trump’s online reaction – taking aim at Mr Biden and the legal system, but not reiterating lies about Ms Carroll – may be an early clue that the damages could have some deterrent effect.University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias said the Republican’s “misbehaviour throughout the trial” may have hurt his case.Prof Tobias argued there was a distinct “lack of respect which Trump exhibited for the judge, the jurors, the opposing counsel, especially Carroll and the civil trial process”.It is extremely unlikely that the Supreme Court would grant an appeal, he added, because the justices rarely ever review cases involving such civil trials.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Why Trump must pay $83m to E Jean CarrollFormer federal prosecutor Mitch Epner said Mr Trump has avoided having to pay Ms Carroll any money so far by transmitting a deposit to the court while the appeals process plays out.Mr Epner expects Mr Trump will do the same with these much higher damages – stumping up either cash or an appeal bond as a deposit.Without that, he added, Ms Carroll could start seizing the former president’s personal assets around the country, even putting liens on his real estate.But after Mr Trump’s commanding victories in the first two Republican primary contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, there is no sign that Friday’s verdict will slow his march to the party’s presidential nomination.”The first test will be South Carolina,” said Brian Crowley, a long-time political analyst, referring to the Republican primary vote on 24 February.”With polls showing him well ahead of Nikki Haley, she has an opportunity to use this ruling to push the idea that Trump has too much drama that could cost him the election against Biden.” Related TopicsIndictments of Donald TrumpUS election 2024Donald TrumpUnited StatesMore on this storyTrump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean CarrollPublished41 minutes agoTrump takes legal risk on stand in defamation trialPublished1 day agoNikki Haley fights on, but this is Trump’s party nowPublished3 days agoTop StoriesUK halts aid to UN agency over claims staff helped Hamas attackPublished59 minutes ago‘I thought mum left me, she’d been sent to prison’Published14 hours agoFire on ship linked to Britain after Houthi attackPublished3 hours agoFeaturesHuge push for Gaza aid – but little hope for those sufferingBali bomb families face accused at Guantanamo Bay’What terminal cancer has taught me about life’Jess Glynne says she ‘fell out of love with music’The Kindertransport refugees who made Britain homeTwins separated and sold at birth reunited by TikTokCheese, beef, cars: What UK-Canada trade rift meansGolden age or dying days for British theatre?Israel reined in by ICJ ruling – but will it obey?Elsewhere on the BBCA Scottish wild swimming road-trip!Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill take the plunge at Scotland’s breath-taking wild swimming spotsAttributioniPlayerScientists uncover alcohol’s hidden dangersInvestigating what alcohol is and why so many people love to drink itAttributioniPlayerCould this Italian dream turn into a real nightmare?Amanda Holden and Alan Carr don their boiler suits to renovate a dilapidated house in TuscanyAttributioniPlayerBritish television’s greatest double actEric and Ernie share their remarkable journey through TV appearances, rare radio material and BBC archivesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1UK halts aid to UN agency after Hamas attack claim2John Lewis planning major workforce cuts3Boy with IQ of 162 says football comes first4Warning over children using viral skincare products5Fire on ship linked to Britain after Houthi attack6‘I thought mum left me, she’d been sent to prison’7Greta Thunberg joins marchers in airport protest8Defamation defeat a double-edged sword for Trump9’Alfie’s killer threatened to torture me to death’10The Traitors TV final reaches dramatic conclusion](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/5C5C/production/_132444632_trump.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAntoinette Lattouf: ABC presenter sacked over Gaza post ignites row in AustraliaPublished19 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Antoinette LattoufImage caption, Antoinette Lattouf inside the ABC Sydney studioBy Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, SydneyOn 20 December Antoinette Lattouf signed off from the Sydney radio show she was hosting with a promise she’d be back the next day.”Can’t wait,” she told listeners.But the veteran journalist and presenter did not return to the airwaves. Later that afternoon she was sacked, with her boss saying the order had come from “above”.She was only three days into a week-long stint filling in as host of the local Mornings show on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Just hours earlier she insists she was told it was going well.But behind the scenes, her appointment to the coveted role had attracted ardent lobbying from pro-Israel groups who accused her of antisemitism and bias.Lattouf – who is of Lebanese heritage – says she fears the ABC buckled under external pressure, sacking her based on political opinion and race. She has launched a wrongful termination case.The broadcaster vehemently denies this and says Lattouf was let go because she broke its directions on social media by re-sharing a Human Rights Watch (HRW) post about the Israel Gaza war. Her dismissal has triggered a wave of public outrage and created turmoil at the public broadcaster – raising questions over its independence and reviving concerns over how it supports staff, particularly those who are culturally diverse, when they come under attack.Criticism over activismLattouf is believed to be the first Arab-Australian woman to be a reporter on commercial television, and today is a regular staple on Australian airwaves or in its local newspapers.But the 40-year-old has also made a name for herself as an activist on issues like racism, discrimination in media and mental health.Before she was hired by the ABC, Lattouf attracted criticism for social media posts on the Israel Gaza war which decried the impact on Palestinian civilians.In some posts she accused Israel of targeting and killing journalists in Gaza, something echoed by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists but which Israel denies.She also drew ire for an article she co-authored in which online verification experts questioned video which purported to show pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “gas the Jews” at a march in Sydney. The ABC has stressed the critical importance of impartiality and also has strict social media requirements. It bans posts which could damage its reputation.Lattouf has long been a regular contributor to the ABC, and agreed to curtail her social media use when she started her presenting stint.But she says she was told sharing information from “reputable” sources like human rights groups was fine, and so on 19 December shared a post from HRW which said Israel was using starvation as a tool of war. Israel denies the accusation.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Palestinians queuing for food in RafahLattouf’s post came hours after the ABC itself had covered the HRW report, and Lattouf claims other ABC employees had also shared the post. She also alleges other staff have written “far more inflammatory” social media posts in the past but remain employed.”The difference between them is they are white and I have an Arab background,” she told the BBC.She wants a public apology from the ABC, compensation, and a similar role back on air.But in its reply to Ms Lattouf’s legal action, the ABC said her case was “entirely misconceived”, and she was taken off-air “because she failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy”.She was paid for all five shifts, it added.Swift backlashThe case sparked an immediate uproar in Australia.HRW wrote to the ABC Chair, Ita Buttrose, saying it was “troubling” that its “factual” material had been deemed “controversial'”, something it said could have a “chilling effect” on Australian journalism.The media union also called the decision to remove Lattouf “incredibly disturbing”, while Minister for Industry Ed Husic said people expressing a “peaceful” view “shouldn’t feel like their jobs are on the line”.Protestors have graffitied ABC offices in Perth and Melbourne, and crowdfunding for Lattouf’s legal fees has already raised over A$90,000 (£40,100; $62,500).Others, defending the broadcaster’s decision to sack her, argued she shouldn’t have been hired for the role in the first place – given her history on the issue. But a series of leaked WhatsApp chats have in recent days have dramatically intensified the storm.Dozens of messages from two groups seen by the BBC show a concerted letter-writing campaign against Lattouf in the days before she was fired.The hundreds of members in both groups – one called Lawyers for Israel and another called J.E.W.I.S.H Australian creatives and academics – were encouraged to write directly to ABC boss David Anderson, the ABC board and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, ABC board chair Ita Buttrose has been embroiled in the controversy”It is important ABC hears not just from individuals in the community but specifically lawyers so they feel there is an actual legal threat,” wrote one member of Lawyers for Israel, Nicky Stein, something she later admitted “a bit cheeky”.Some letter-writers claimed they had received direct responses from board chair Ita Buttrose and when news of Lattouf’s exit spread, many congratulated themselves.”Good riddance to bad rubbish,” one person said.”No doubt the PP [pro-Palestinians] will start whinging now about censorship and the Jewish lobby controlling the media,” another wrote.And when she launched her legal case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) one person called her lawyer, who is Jewish, a “traiter”.Several members of the Lawyers for Israel chat have denied the group – which included Jewish community leaders – was controlled by any bodies or intended for organised lobbying.Ms Stein told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) it was simply “a group of lawyers concerned about Israel and rising antisemitism”. Staff revoltThe WhatsApp messages sparked a livid meeting of the ABC staff union, attended by about 200 people.One of the broadcaster’s most senior journalists, global affairs editor John Lyons, reportedly said the release of the messages marked “one of [the ABC’s] darkest days”.”When I read those WhatsApp messages, for the first time ever… I felt embarrassed to work for the ABC,” he said, according to the SMH.”I was embarrassed that a group of 156 lawyers could laugh at how easy it was to manipulate the ABC.”The meeting culminated in a rare vote of no confidence in the ABC boss David Anderson.Union members made a list of demands, giving the editorial leadership team until Monday to respond. They have previously threatened a walkout if their concerns aren’t addressed.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The ABC board has called the criticism of David Anderson “abhorrent”The ABC board responded by calling its own emergency meeting and passing a unanimous vote of confidence in Anderson.”Any suggestion I would not defend our position when external pressure is applied – regardless of where that pressure is coming from – is offensive and incorrect,” he said in a statement.He agreed to meet staff – but “in the coming weeks”.The case has reopened old wounds for the ABC.It has revived concerns about how it treats diverse staff, after an ugly saga last year in which pioneering Aboriginal journalist Stan Grant quit over what he called a failure to protect him from racist attacks.And it’s also fed uneasiness about the broadcaster’s independence. Advocates worry that politicised appointments to the ABC board, its government-dictated funding model, and increased – often frenzied – scrutiny is jeopardising its work. Racism furore reignites scrutiny of Australian mediaPolitical influence row hits Australia ABCThe saga also comes as the broader Australian media grapples with tension over the impartiality of its coverage of the Israel Gaza war.Most notably, ABC political reporter Nour Haydar left the public broadcaster this month over its coverage of the war, as well as its treatment of culturally diverse staff. The ABC has defended its impartiality and said it is “continuing to progress” on diversity matters despite having its “most representative” workforce ever. Lattouf says its these broader themes that make her case so important.”It is not just about me. It’s about free speech, it’s about racism… and crucially, it’s also about a fair, independent and robust ABC,” she told reporters last week.After a failed mediation meeting, the ABC is now attempting to have Lattouf’s case thrown out, arguing it didn’t actually sack her.The matter is back at the FWC in March, and Lattouf says she’s in it for the long haul.”I’m willing and prepared to fight for as long as it takes,” she said.Related TopicsJournalismAustraliaMore on this storyIsrael Gaza war: History of the conflict explainedPublished15 November 2023Racism furore reignites scrutiny of Australian mediaPublished23 May 2023Who’s behind Israel-Gaza disinformation and hate online?Published15 October 2023Gaza Strip in maps: How life has changed in three monthsPublished15 JanuaryTop StoriesTrump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean CarrollPublished11 hours agoShip linked to Britain on fire after Houthi attackPublished45 minutes agoWWE boss Vince McMahon quits after sex abuse claimPublished8 hours agoFeaturesWhy defamation defeat is a double-edged sword for TrumpBali bomb families face accused at Guantanamo BaySumo, Surfing and Sabalenka: Photos of the weekThe Papers: ‘The King’s fine’ and ‘Klopp shock’Golden age or dying days for British theatre?Israel reined in by ICJ ruling – but will it obey?Fierce row after sacking of ABC presenter over Gaza postWoodpeckers and sparrowhawks: Your Birdwatch 2024 pictures’It’s my calling to stop knife-crime killers’Elsewhere on the BBCA Scottish wild swimming road-trip!Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill take the plunge at Scotland’s breath-taking wild swimming spotsAttributioniPlayerScientists uncover alcohol’s hidden dangersInvestigating what alcohol is and why so many people love to drink itAttributioniPlayerCould this Italian dream turn into a real nightmare?Amanda Holden and Alan Carr don their boiler suits to renovate a dilapidated house in TuscanyAttributioniPlayerBritish television’s greatest double actEric and Ernie share their remarkable journey through TV appearances, rare radio material and BBC archivesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Ship linked to Britain on fire after Houthi attack2Trump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean Carroll3‘I thought mum left me, she’d been sent to prison’4Warning over children using viral skincare products5WWE boss Vince McMahon quits after sex abuse claim6’Alfie’s killer threatened to torture me to death’7Who won The Traitors: TV final reveals all to fans8’What terminal cancer has taught me about life’9The Papers: ‘The King’s fine’ and ‘Klopp shock’10Defamation defeat a double-edged sword for Trump](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/4AD2/production/_132445191_whatsappimage2024-01-25at4.10.30pm.jpg)
