Global Pulse

分类： society

  • Committee hears final arguments in probe of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades

    Committee hears final arguments in probe of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades

    HONG KONG – After months of public hearings and evidence gathering, an independent statutory inquiry into Hong Kong’s worst residential fire in more than 50 years entered its final stage Wednesday, as legal teams for all parties prepared to lay out their closing arguments ahead of the panel’s upcoming final report. The deadly blaze broke out in November last year at Wang Fuk Court, a dense suburban residential complex in Tai Po, where the fire rapidly spread across seven interlinked apartment buildings. The disaster left 168 people dead and displaced hundreds of residents, destroying a tight-knit community that had anchored the neighborhood for generations.

    Within a month of the fire, the Hong Kong government established the three-member independent inquiry committee, tasked with pinpointing the root causes of the blaze and the high death toll, examining systemic gaps in building fire safety regulation, and delivering actionable policy recommendations. The panel is led by High Court Judge David Lok, with non-judicial members including Executive Council member Chan Kin-por and Hospital Authority Board director Rex Auyeung. From the start, the inquiry was scheduled to conclude its work within nine months, leaving bereaved families and displaced survivors waiting for long-awaited answers.

    Over the course of hearings that launched in March, lead inquiry counsel Victor Dawes laid out preliminary findings showing multiple overlapping failures directly contributed to the scale of the disaster. Key contributing issues included disabled fire alarms and non-functional fire hose systems, non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting used in ongoing renovation works at the complex, and unauthorized foam board window installations that accelerated the spread of flames and toxic smoke.

    Closing arguments are set to wrap up by Friday, with legal representation for survivors, the Hong Kong government, the inquiry panel, and multiple involved contractors set to present their final positions. Crucially, the inquiry committee does not have the mandate to rule on civil or criminal legal liability – that process is already being pursued independently by local law enforcement and the courts.

    Testimony throughout the hearings has revealed a web of missteps and miscommunication between contractors and property managers. Martin Ho, counsel for ISS EastPoint Properties, the complex’s property management firm, told the inquiry that the company’s in-house electrician accidentally disabled the fire alarm system while carrying out routine maintenance on water tanks. While Ho called the error regrettable, he argued the mistake could have been prevented if a representative from the complex’s fire safety installation contractor had been on-site during the work, as required. He added that when a second contractor later identified the disabled alarm, the firm failed to follow up on the issue – noting that one senior director of the contracting firm admitted the wider industry has a widespread culture of refusing to correct other companies’ errors, a practice Ho described as “baffling.”

    Aaron Chan, representing a director of one of the involved fire safety contractors, pushed back on shifting full blame to his client, acknowledging that a functional fire alarm system would have reduced casualties but asking the panel to also consider the limited window residents had to escape the rapidly spreading fire and other contextual factors. The exchange led Judge Lok to interject, reminding Chan not to imply fire alarms were ineffective, a suggestion Chan quickly denied, reiterating he only sought to have the panel consider multiple contributing factors.

    For survivors who packed the inquiry gallery Wednesday, the closing arguments have reinforced a growing sense that involved parties are working to deflect blame rather than accept accountability. Betty Ho, a former Wang Fuk Court resident who lost family in the fire, told reporters outside the hearing she is uncertain the inquiry will uncover the full truth, but still holds out hope the panel will secure justice for the 168 victims. “I don’t think we’ll get what we hoped for in the end,” she said.

    Another displaced resident, Patrick Liu, said he has little expectation of a clear accountability finding. “Basically, everyone is just shirking responsibility. There’s no need to even think about it,” Liu said, adding that he would wait for the inquiry’s final report and upcoming criminal trial to learn who bore ultimate responsibility for the disaster.

    Beyond identifying the direct causes of the blaze, the committee is also investigating deep-rooted systemic problems in Hong Kong’s building maintenance and renovation sector, including widespread bid-rigging that has been linked to lowered safety standards and unqualified contractors. On Wednesday, a representative from Hong Kong’s Competition Commission told the inquiry that bid-rigging cartels operate across the city’s construction sector, with some groups tied to criminal triad organizations. To date, the inquiry has heard evidence from former residents, government regulators, fire safety experts, and industry insiders, and has admitted CCTV footage, corporate records, and personal text messages as evidence. The committee’s final report will include a full analysis of the fire’s causes, assessment of systemic risks, and recommendations to update existing fire safety regulations and penalty frameworks to prevent similar disasters.

    Separate from the inquiry, Hong Kong law enforcement has already pursued criminal charges over the fire. In June, authorities filed charges against seven individuals and two companies involved in the Wang Fuk Court renovation project, including the lead contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering Co. and architectural consultancy Will Power Architects Company. Charges include manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, and professional negligence. Prosecutors allege the firms and their leaders committed gross negligence in overseeing construction materials and work procedures, and conspired to defraud apartment owners by hiding prior litigation records against Prestige and inflating the firm’s score in the tender evaluation process to win the renovation contract.

  • Bangkok bar fire toll rises to 32 as PM vows venue overhaul

    Bangkok bar fire toll rises to 32 as PM vows venue overhaul

    A devastating blaze that ripped through a popular Bangkok entertainment venue has pushed the confirmed death toll up to 32, Thai authorities announced Wednesday, with the country’s prime minister pledging a sweeping, nationwide overhaul of safety regulations for bars, clubs and public gathering spots. The fire broke out Sunday night at Rong Beer Na Lad Phrao, a well-frequented restaurant and bar located on Bangkok’s Lad Phrao road, and spread with alarming speed, trapping patrons inside the structure as smoke and flames engulfed the space. In the aftermath of the disaster, investigators have been working to unpack both the root cause of the fire and the series of safety failures that turned a manageable emergency into one of the capital’s deadliest public incidents in recent years, with dozens of victims’ bodies recovered near locked or unmarked exit routes.

    Footage of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to the fire site, released by his office and reviewed by Agence France-Presse, reveals critical flaws in the venue’s emergency exit layout. On-site officials told the prime minister the bar had two fully functional exit doors, but one was marked exclusively for staff, with no clear signage indicating it could serve as a public emergency escape route. This lack of clear marking left patrons unaware of the alternative exit as the fire spread, Anutin observed during his visit. When pressed on the reasoning behind the unmarked door, one first responder at the scene suggested the bar’s management had intentionally hidden the exit to prevent customers from leaving without paying their bills. Further investigation also found a second potential escape route was locked at the time of the blaze, a dangerous oversight that left Anutin expressing public outrage: “How could this happen?”

    In response to the tragedy, the Thai government has ordered an urgent, full safety inspection of every registered entertainment venue across the country. Anutin also announced that officials would launch a full review of national venue classification regulations, after it was revealed that Rong Beer Na Lad Phrao did not hold a valid license to host live music — despite regularly staging live performances for large crowds. “Businesses that do not comply with regulations are not sustainable, and the owner of this venue will face the utmost prosecution,” the prime minister added. The bar’s owner was admitted to an intensive care unit immediately after the fire, though authorities have not released an update on his current condition as of Wednesday.

    Longstanding concerns have been raised about Thailand’s enforcement of public health and safety regulations, particularly for entertainment venues operating in major tourist and population centers. The 2009 Santika Club fire, which broke out during New Year’s Eve celebrations in central Bangkok, killed 67 people and injured more than 200 others, highlighting systemic gaps in venue safety enforcement that have persisted for decades. A building safety expert speaking to AFP earlier this week confirmed that Rong Beer Na Lad Phrao lacked all of the mandatory safety systems required to host the large crowds and live events it regularly organized.

    As of Wednesday’s update from the Bangkok municipal government-run Erawan Emergency Medical Centre, 73 people were injured in the blaze, with more than a dozen still listed in critical condition in hospitals across the capital. Grieving relatives of the deceased have been gathering at Police General Hospital in Bangkok this week to identify and claim the remains of their loved ones, as authorities work to complete their investigation into the disaster.

  • France’s National Assembly will give final approval to assisted-dying bill after years of debate

    France’s National Assembly will give final approval to assisted-dying bill after years of debate

    After more than three years of legislative wrangling and decades of public debate over end-of-life care, France’s lower parliamentary chamber, the National Assembly, is set to cast the final decisive vote on a controversial bill legalizing medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients on Wednesday.

    The bill, which was first proposed by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration in 2021, is widely projected to pass the final vote, having already secured majority support across three previous readings in the National Assembly. Under France’s unique legislative framework, the lower house holds final authority over legislation when disagreements arise between the two parliamentary chambers. Despite the conservative-majority Senate voting to reject the measure, that opposition will not block the bill’s advancement.

    The legislation establishes a tightly regulated framework for end-of-life choice. To qualify for lethal medication, patients must meet a strict set of criteria: they must be at least 18 years old, hold French citizenship or legal residency, have a serious, incurable, life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage, and experience persistent, untreatable unbearable physical suffering. Psychological suffering alone does not meet the eligibility threshold, and patients with severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s are explicitly excluded from accessing the option.

    All requests for medically assisted suicide must be initiated by the patient themselves. A mandatory 15-day review period by a medical team is required after the initial request, followed by a minimum two-day reflection period before the patient confirms their decision. Once approved, patients may choose the time and location of the procedure — whether at home or in a medical facility — and may have family members present. A treating physician or nurse will confirm the patient’s final decision and remain on-site to address any unexpected complications, and all associated costs will be fully covered by France’s national health insurance system. Only patients physically unable to self-administer the lethal medication are permitted to receive direct assistance from a medical provider.

    Following the National Assembly’s expected approval, Senate President Gérard Larcher has confirmed he will refer the legislation to the Constitutional Council for a constitutional compliance review, which can take up to one month to complete. The new law will only go into effect after the Council issues a favorable ruling.

    Public opinion in France has shifted steadily in favor of expanded end-of-life choice over the past 20 years, with recent polling and a 2023 national report confirming a majority of French people support the legalization reform. Advocacy groups like the Association for the Right to Die With Dignity frame the legislation as a long-overdue expansion of personal autonomy. “A law that creates a new right never forces anyone to exercise it. It does, however, ensure that every person … can remain at the heart of medical decisions that concern them and have their wishes respected,” group president Jonathan Denis noted in a statement.

    Opponents of the bill, however, have raised significant ethical concerns. Anti-euthanasia organization Alliance Vita argued in an open letter to President Macron that the measure risks placing unspoken pressure on vulnerable older adults, people living with illness, and people with disabilities. The group contends that expanded access to high-quality palliative care, rather than legalized assisted dying, is the only dignified response to end-of-life suffering.

    For years, many French people seeking end-of-life choice have traveled to neighboring European countries where medically assisted suicide or euthanasia is already legal to access the care they want. If adopted, France will join more than a dozen countries around the world that have legalized regulated end-of-life options. Euthanasia is already permitted under strict conditions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Colombia, Australia, and New Zealand, while medically assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Austria, and multiple U.S. states.

  • Death toll from Bangkok bar fire rises to 32 as 2 more die in hospital

    Death toll from Bangkok bar fire rises to 32 as 2 more die in hospital

    Three days after a devastating fire swept through a popular Bangkok beer bar, leaving at least 32 dead and dozens more fighting for their lives, survivors and grieving relatives gathered at a local police station on Wednesday to give official witness statements, recover left-behind personal belongings, and push for long-overdue financial compensation. The inferno broke out late Sunday night at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao venue, a crowded nightlife spot in the Thai capital, according to updates from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Officials confirm that 70+ people were injured in the blaze, with 24 still clinging to life in critical condition in local hospitals, while the official investigation into the exact cause of the fire remains ongoing.

    Thai police have revealed that most victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms, spaces many fled to in a desperate bid to escape the spreading flames and toxic smoke. Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the country’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, told reporters Wednesday that the vast majority of fatalities were caused by smoke inhalation, with only a small number of deaths resulting directly from severe burn injuries.

    For 26-year-old Natthaphong Lakhorn, the horror of that night remains vivid. He was at the venue with four companions, seated near the main stage, when the first signs of the blaze emerged. He told reporters he initially spotted thick white smoke billowing from the stage area, and mistakenly assumed it was just a planned dry ice effect for an upcoming performance — before quickly realizing the venue was engulfed in an uncontrolled fire. “When the fire broke, I just ran, and then all power went out,” Natthaphong recalled, speaking from the Phahonyothin Police Station where he was giving his formal statement. He shared that one of his companions, a close relative, did not escape the blaze. “It was so hectic.” Natthaphong, who suffered burns to his ears and forehead that were still covered in bandages during his Wednesday visit, said he plans to file for compensation to cover his ongoing medical costs.

    His account of the escape also contradicts an earlier police claim that the venue’s back door was not used by evacuees: Natthaphong said he escaped through that exact exit, located near the bathrooms, where a security guard was already on site using a flashlight to guide panicked guests to safety.

    The police station walls were lined with photos of personal items — mobile phones, bags, wallets and other belongings — left behind by guests during the chaotic evacuation, as relatives came to claim the possessions of their lost loved ones. For 25-year-old Kanticha Singkhon, Wednesday’s trip was to collect her mother’s handbag and other effects; her mother was among those killed in the fire. With her mother’s passing, Kanticha is now the sole guardian for her younger brother, and she has criticized bar owners for failing to proactively reach out to grieving families to support them through the aftermath.

    “Most of the victim’s families are from out of town, many would have already had to travel back to their hometowns to arrange funeral services,” Kanticha explained. “I want bar owners to be the ones to reach out to families, rather than forcing us to come all the way here to the police station on our own.” A lawyer representing the bar owners has told local Thai media that an initial one-off compensation payment of 10,000 Thai baht — equal to roughly 300 U.S. dollars — will be offered to all affected families and survivors. But Kanticha says that sum falls far short of what is needed, and that she has yet to receive any communication or financial support from the venue’s owners. “That amount isn’t even enough to cover a funeral,” she said. “I had to take out a loan just to arrange my mom’s burial, and I haven’t heard anything from anyone at the bar.”

  • 5yo boy dies after being hit by car at Cloverdale, Perth

    5yo boy dies after being hit by car at Cloverdale, Perth

    A devastating traffic incident in Perth’s southern suburb of Cloverdale has left a 5-year-old boy dead and a 48-year-old woman in critical condition, after both were struck by a Toyota LandCruiser four-wheel-drive while crossing Belgravia Street shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

    Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately to the crash site following reports of the collision. Eyewitness accounts shared with local broadcaster 7News confirm that paramedics administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the young boy at the scene in an effort to save his life. Despite the quick intervention of first responders, the child was pronounced dead after being transported to Perth Children’s Hospital for urgent care.

    The 48-year-old woman, who is known to the deceased boy, sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision. She was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remains in critical condition as of the latest updates from authorities.

    According to Western Australia Police statements, the 4WD driver remained at the scene after the crash and did not suffer any injuries. In the wake of the fatal incident, a WA Police Force spokesperson issued a renewed public appeal for road safety, reminding all motorists to prioritize caution behind the wheel.

    “ The WA Police Force continues to urge all motorists to take care on the road. Drive safely and keep in mind the wellbeing of yourself and others,” the spokesperson said.

    Major Crash investigation teams have opened an official inquiry into the exact circumstances of the collision. Authorities are asking any members of the public who witnessed the crash or have dashcam, security or mobile phone footage of the incident to submit the material via official channels or contact Crime Stoppers to assist with the ongoing investigation.

  • Tai chi practitioners seek balance and well-being in fast-paced Beijing

    Tai chi practitioners seek balance and well-being in fast-paced Beijing

    On crisp Beijing mornings, beneath the sprawling ancient pines that fill the grounds of the Temple of Heaven, hundreds of people move in synchronized, gentle harmony. One arm arcs slowly upward while the other lowers to the side — the iconic posture “White Crane Spreads Its Wings” — a core movement of tai chi, a 300-year-old mind-body practice that remains deeply woven into modern Chinese daily life.

    For 64-year-old Ye Guirong, who now leads a 30-member local tai chi group named Cypress Grove on the temple’s grounds, this open-air space provides an unmatched setting for daily practice. “The environment is great and the air is good too,” she says. “You can see we’re surrounded by trees.” A retiree who discovered the group while exploring the city on post-retirement walks in 2010, Ye recalls being drawn to the practice immediately. “I thought it looked good, so I started practicing,” she says. Today, she carries forward the tradition of passing down tai chi movements from instructor to student: when newcomers join, she teaches foundational forms, then reviews and corrects progress over time until practitioners master each level before advancing.

    Most of the regulars gathering at the Temple of Heaven are retirees in their 60s and older, split between small groups practicing to soft, relaxing background music from portable speakers and solo practitioners moving in quiet solitude. Ye’s group has continued to draw new participants: 59-year-old Zu Hong, the group’s newest member, mastered a 24-movement routine in just one month and is already preparing to begin her second sequence. “I thought tai chi looked very beautiful,” Zu says. “I wanted to exercise, so I came here to the Temple of Heaven.”

    The practice holds deep roots at the Temple of Heaven, a 15th-century architectural complex commissioned by a Ming Dynasty emperor. Designed to serve as a ceremonial site where emperors acted as intermediaries between humanity and heaven, offering sacrifices and prayers for abundant harvests, its iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests remains one of China’s most recognizable cultural landmarks. Today, while the complex draws millions of tourists annually, its surrounding public gardens remain open space for local residents to carry on daily traditions like tai chi.

    Beyond its gentle physical movements, tai chi is rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, holding dual meaning as both a martial art (formally called Taijiquan) and a school of thought rooted in traditional understandings of the body and wellness. A core concept tying tai chi to Chinese philosophy is qi, the vital life energy believed to flow through all living things and the natural world. In traditional Chinese medicine, long-term health depends on the unobstructed flow of qi through a network of pathways called meridians that connect the body’s organs and limbs. Traditional treatments from acupuncture to movement practices like tai chi aim to regulate and strengthen this flow.

    “Practices like tai chi and qigong are all about activating, regulating or improving the flow of qi in the body,” explains James Miller, a professor of Humanities at Duke Kunshan University in Jiangsu province. “That’s something very key to Daoism, but it’s also part of the broader Chinese conception of the body and of the world.” Beyond the human body, qi is also believed to animate natural landscapes — which, Miller notes, is one reason traditional Chinese culture favors building temples in mountain settings: they are valued not only for their natural beauty, but for their close connection to the qi of the natural world, a benefit practitioners say amplifies the benefits of outdoor tai chi practice.

    Today, multiple distinct styles of tai chi are practiced across China and around the world, each with its own specific forms and techniques. Ye’s group gathers promptly at 7:40 every morning to practice the widely popular Yang-style tai chi for an hour and a half, rotating through sequences ranging from 24 to 48 movements, and occasionally incorporating traditional props like swords or folding fans. For the group’s regulars, the benefits speak for themselves: “Through exercising, everyone’s health has improved,” Ye says. “Our spirits are especially good.”

    The oldest widely recognized form of the practice is Chen-style tai chi, developed in the 17th century by Chen Wangting, a former military commander who turned to spiritual cultivation later in life. “He practiced Daoist methods of self-cultivation including meditation,” explains Chen Haitao, a fifth-generation Chen-style tai chi master. “Then one day he experienced a sudden awakening: the meridians throughout his body all opened, his mind became enlightened, and wisdom suddenly emerged.” Transformed by this experience, Chen Wangting developed structured movement forms to share this state of balanced wellness with others, binding together the practice’s physical and philosophical roots.

    For modern practitioners, that dual focus remains intact: the movements provide a accessible path to practice, while the underlying philosophy gives that practice purpose. “One of the great benefits of Taijiquan is that it is suitable for everyone,” Chen Haitao says. “As long as you learn the basic principles correctly and maintain proper alignment, whoever practices it will benefit from it.”

    This report was compiled with contributions from AP video journalist Wu Jia. The Associated Press’ religion coverage receives support through collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP retains sole responsibility for this content.

  • Wife describes moment husband nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane

    Wife describes moment husband nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane

    A routine commercial flight on a Ryanair aircraft turned into a harrowing near-disaster when a male passenger came inches from being pulled head-first out of a broken cabin window at altitude, according to a firsthand account from his wife. The shocking incident, which unfolded mid-air, has sent ripples through the global aviation community, raising new questions about in-flight safety protocols on low-cost carriers.

    In her emotional retelling of the event, the passenger’s wife described the split-second chaos that followed the sudden failure of the window structure. Within moments of the unexpected breach, rapid decompression created a powerful suction force that pulled her husband toward the opening, with his upper body already pushed partially outside the aircraft before fellow passengers and crew could intervene to pull him back to safety.

    Aviation safety officials have confirmed that they have launched an official investigation into the incident to determine what caused the window to fail mid-flight. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has also stated that it is cooperating fully with investigators, while declining to share additional details pending the outcome of the probe. The injured passenger was reportedly given medical attention after the plane made an emergency landing at the nearest available airport, though updates on his current condition have not yet been released to the public.

    This near-tragedy comes as aviation regulators worldwide continue to review maintenance standards for older commercial aircraft fleets, with safety advocates noting that even rare in-flight structural failures highlight the need for consistent, rigorous inspection schedules to protect passengers and crew.

  • What we know about latest fatal ICE shooting

    What we know about latest fatal ICE shooting

    A deadly shooting carried out by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has left one man dead in the northeastern U.S. state of Maine, prompting an independent review of the incident by BBC Verify’s fact-checking and investigative team. The verification unit, which specializes in cross-checking visual evidence and public claims to reconstruct chaotic events, is currently conducting a frame-by-frame analysis of amateur and surveillance video captured at the scene of the killing. The examination aims to answer lingering public questions about the sequence of events that led to the officer opening fire, including potential factors like the man’s actions, the context of the ICE operation, and the positioning of all parties involved when the fatal shot was fired. As of this update, no full findings from the review have been released to the public, with the team still working to corroborate details from the footage with witness accounts and official statements from ICE officials. The incident has drawn local attention to the conduct of federal immigration enforcement actions in the state, as communities and observers await clarity on the circumstances of the killing.

  • Billionaire Warren Buffett stops donations to Bill Gates charity

    Billionaire Warren Buffett stops donations to Bill Gates charity

    For two decades, billionaire investor Warren Buffett stood as one of the most significant backers of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pouring more than $47 billion into the organization’s global charitable work. That long-standing partnership has now come to an abrupt end, just months after new details of Bill Gates’ professional and personal ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

    When Buffett first made his commitment to the foundation in 2006, he pledged irrevocably to donate annual shares of his holding company Berkshire Hathaway to the foundation for the entirety of his lifetime. This week, however, the 95-year-old investor released a revised list of recipient organizations for his annual multi-billion dollar stock gifts, and the Gates Foundation was noticeably absent from the roster. Instead, all of the upcoming donations will be divided between four family-led foundations tied to Buffett’s own relatives.

    Buffett announced a timeline to fully distribute his remaining Berkshire Hathaway shares by December 31, 2034, a full eight years from now. Acknowledging the inherent uncertainty of human lifespan, he noted that regardless of circumstances, all of his remaining stock would be transferred to the four family foundations by that deadline one way or another.

    The break in donations follows a cascade of new revelations about Gates’ relationship with Epstein, a financier who died in 2019 in a New York prison while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Declassified documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in early 2024 first pulled the connection back into the public spotlight, and Gates testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee in June to answer questions about his years of interactions with Epstein.

    During his congressional testimony, Gates explained that he was first introduced to Epstein in 2011, with the meeting framed around a potential opportunity to raise billions of dollars for the Gates Foundation’s core global health initiatives. Gates acknowledged he was aware that Epstein had prior criminal convictions, including a 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor, but said he failed to grasp the full scope of Epstein’s crimes. “I should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” Gates told the committee, adding that even if Epstein had delivered on his promised fundraising, the connection would never have been justified.

    Buffett has not explicitly referenced either Gates or Epstein in his official statements about the revised donation plan. But in comments to CNBC back in March, Buffett confirmed he had not spoken to Gates since the Epstein connection was publicly re-examined earlier this year. He added at the time that he wanted to avoid being placed in a position where he could be called as a witness in any ongoing proceedings related to the case.

    In a response to the end of Buffett’s donations, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation expressed gratitude for his 20 years of support. The organization emphasized that it remains on solid financial footing, with Bill Gates’ own $200 billion commitment to the foundation’s endowment that will allow its work to continue through 2045.

    The end of Buffett’s donations marks another major shift for the foundation in recent years, following the 2021 divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates after 27 years of marriage. Last year, Melinda French Gates stepped down from her role as co-chair of the foundation she co-founded, and has since launched her own initiatives focused on gender equity, including a $1 billion commitment to advancing women’s rights across the United States. Buffett and the Gates couple first partnered in 2010 to launch the Giving Pledge, a global initiative that encourages the world’s ultra-wealthy to donate the majority of their fortunes to charitable causes during their lifetimes or through their estates.

  • German man, 68, charged over alleged serial rapes of drugged women

    German man, 68, charged over alleged serial rapes of drugged women

    A shocking case of serial sexual violence has unfolded in Germany, where Berlin prosecutors have formally charged a 68-year-old man with drugging and raping 14 women he connected with through online dating platforms — and recorded the attacks on his personal devices. Prosecutors confirmed the defendant faces 22 counts of aggravated rape connected to the 14 identified victims, though investigators suspect he carried out non-consensual sexual acts against a total of 58 women over more than a decade of criminal activity.

    The investigation into the man traces back to March 2025, when his profile appeared in chat logs linked to another sexual offender already under police surveillance following an anonymous tip. That co-person of interest has since died, but authorities moved quickly to search the 68-year-old’s Berlin residence last year. It was not until several months after the raid, however, that a forensic digital specialist uncovered graphic video footage of the assaults stored on devices seized from the home, which confirmed the suspected offenses.

    Since March 2026, the accused has been held in pre-trial detention, and he has thus far declined to make any public statement regarding the allegations against his person. The case file has now been passed to Berlin’s court system, which will schedule procedural hearings to determine whether a full public trial will proceed.

    According to official case details, the suspect’s alleged pattern of abuse followed a consistent template: he would first build contact with women via online dating platforms, then invite them to meet in person before lacing their drinks with a combination of sedative drugs and alcohol. Disturbingly, none of the 14 victims connected to the pending charges have any memory of being assaulted; they only learned of the attacks when investigators showed them the recovered video footage.

    To date, law enforcement has successfully identified 30 of the 58 women captured in the suspect’s video records, while 10 others remain unaccounted for, with efforts to confirm their identities ongoing.

    This high-profile case comes less than a week after another related sexual violence conviction made headlines in Berlin. A 32-year-old doctor of Chinese origin was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of aggravated rape, after the regional court found he was a member of an online chat group that shared tactics for raping unconscious, sedated women, and repeatedly distributed advice to other group members on carrying out these attacks. In that ruling, the presiding judge drew attention to a disturbing modern shift in sexual offending, noting that “sexual offences are no longer committed silently and in secret, but are publicly shared on the internet and applauded.”

    In the current case against the 68-year-old, prosecutors were forced to drop 36 counts of alleged rape connected to one victim that occurred between 2010 and 2014, due to Germany’s existing five-year statute of limitations for most rape offenses. The 22 counts that do proceed fall under the 20-year statute of limitations for aggravated rape involving the use of force.

    The limitations of current German law exposed by this case have given new momentum to long-debated legal reforms pushed by the country’s Justice Ministry. Just last month, Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig announced her support for extending the general statute of limitations for rape from five years to 20 years. Hubig has also put forward draft legislation that would create a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of using so-called “date-rape drugs” to commit rape or robbery.

    The proposed reform comes in response to a 2024 ruling from Germany’s highest court, which found that date-rape drugs added to a victim’s drink did not qualify as “dangerous items” under the current legal definition for sexual assault cases. That ruling effectively capped the mandatory minimum sentence for these offenses at three years. Under the government’s draft amendment, all dangerous substances and items used during the commission of a sexual offense or robbery will be reclassified alongside traditional weapons and dangerous implements, closing the legal loophole exposed by the high court’s decision.