DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Afghan electoral body invalidates all votes in Kabul All votes cast in Kabul during the October parliamentary election are invalid, Afghanistanʼs Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) announced on Thursday. The IECC cited 25 reasons for annulling the results in the capital, including fraud and mismanagement during the conduct of the October 20 poll. "There were serious outstanding problems in Kabul that could hurt the fairness, transparency and inclusiveness of the election," said IECC spokesman Ali Reza Rohani. The finding must be upheld by the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC), which has overall authority over the ballot, More than a month after the vote, official results from the election have only been announced for only 14 of Afghanistanʼs 33 provinces, casting a shadow over the credibility of an election process that was marred by violence and allegations of fraud. More than one million votes were counted in Kabul, accounting for about a quarter of the around 4 million votes cast nationwide.
Yemen peace talks begin in Sweden UN-brokered peace talks between the warring parties in Yemenʼs conflict began on Thursday in Sweden. The meeting isthe latest attemptto end a civil war that has ravaged the country and brought it to the brink of famine. Representatives of Yemenʼs government, the UN special envoy Martin Griffiths and members of the Houthi rebel militia will participate in the talks. The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have been locked in a power struggle with the Saudibacked Yemeni government since late 2014, when the rebels took hold of the capital Sanaa. Griffiths had attempted to bring the two sides together for UN-sponsored talks in Geneva in September, but the rebels failed to appear. Direct talks took place previously in 2015 and 2016, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
277/2018 • 7 DECEMBER, 2018
French government scraps fuel tax hike after yellow-vest protests Despite the decision, protests may continue
Chinaʼs Huawei finance chief arrested in Canada, faces extradition to US The chief financial officer of Chinaʼs Huawei Technologies, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 and faces extradition to the United States, Canadaʼs Department of Justice said on Wednesday. Mengʼs arrest is related to alleged violations of US sanctions, according to Reuters news agency. A bail hearing for her extradition is set for Friday. Read more: ZTE, Huawei bans: Genuine security concerns or part of China trade spat? Huawei issued a statement saying Meng, also the companyʼs deputy chairman and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was detained while changing flights in Canada, in order to face "unspecified charges" in New York. The tech company said it complies with all laws and rules where it operates. The company also said it was "not aware of any wrongdoing" by Meng.
Australian court clears ex-archbishop of child sex abuse cover-up The French government announced the fuel tax rise had been scrapped from the 2019 budget after weeks of protests and the worst rioting in Paris in decades. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe hadannounced a six-month postponementof the tax on Tuesday, but on Wednesday he and President Emmanuel Macron decided the tax would not be part of the 2019 budget, according to Secretary of Equality Marlene Schiappa. Macron has left Philippe to make the public statements concerning the protests. Philippe made it known that "the tax is now abandoned" in the 2019 budget. The government was "ready for dialogue" he said. Environment Minister Francois de Rugy confirmed in a TV interview that the fuel tax due on January 1 was "scrapped for the year 2019" in its entirety. Negotiating with the protesters, called "gilets jaunes" for wearing high-visibility yellow vests, has been difficult for the government as the leaderless activists are spread throughout rural and urban France and include people with grievances beyond objections to the
fuel duty. Jacline Mouraud, one of the self-proclaimed spokespeople was unimpressed by the announcement, "I think it comes much too late." Macronʼs move was "on the right path but, in my opinion, it will not fundamentally change the movement," she said. Mouraud said the various groups wearing the yellow vests would make their own decisions about what to do next, but encouraged protesters to push other demands such as a rise in the minimum wage. Further protests are anticipatedthis coming weekend with some politicians calling for more security measures. Trade unions and farmers have threatened to join the protests. Laurent Wauquiez, head of the Republicans party called for a state of emergency to be declared saying, "That would enable the security forces to be protected and it would also enable us to protect those who want to march peacefully without being taken hostage."
A New South Wales court on Thursday ruled against the landmark conviction of former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson for concealing child sex abuse within the church. The 68-year-old became theworldʼs most senior Catholic official to be convicted of the crime in May, but the Newcastle District Court found there was reasonable doubt of his guilt. "There is no proper basis upon which I can rely to reject the evidence of the appellant," Judge Roy Ellis told the court in his summing up.
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277/2018 • 7 December, 2018
Two ships collide in Mediterranean near Corsica The collision between the Tunisian and Cypriot ships spilled a trail of pollution stretching 4 kilometers across the water. Italy and France have sent ships to assist with cleanup efforts. Two cargo ships collided in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Corsica on Sunday, causing an oil spill, coastal authorities said. The Ulysse, operated by the Tunisian operator CTN, ran into the Cyprus-based CLS Virgina while it was anchored about 30 kilometres (20 miles) off the northern tip of the island at around 7:30 a.m. local time, the regional naval authority said in a statement. Read more: Time to clean up the ocean garbage dump No one was injured but "the collision caused considerable damage, with an opening several meters long in the CLS Virginiaʼs hull," the statement said. The spill created a trail of pollution 4 kilometers long and several hundred meters wide, heading away from Corsica to the northwest, toward the French and Italian mainland, the statement continued.
Vietnamʼs dog meat culture clashes with modern tastes Hoang has been eating dog meat since he was young. He canʼt imagine there will be a time that he wonʼt be eating it at least twice a month. However, Vietnamese officials announced in September that dog and cat meat should no longer be served in the inner districts of the capital city Hanoi because itʼs offensive to tourists and can spread diseases like rabies. Read more: Illegal dog meat trade raises moral questions Dog meat lovers and restaurant owners fear that the government will try to expand the ban and decide to officially forbid eating dog and cat meat entirely. "I donʼt see how they can ban it. The demand is just too high," Hoang said at a restaurant in Vietnamʼs largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. In a small alley in Ho Chi Minh City, at least four restaurants serve dog meat, or Thịt chó. People gather around small tables to dine on the canine meat, complementing it with rice wine or beer. Hoang, who declined to give his full name, is sitting at a table with three good friends. "For us itʼs a tradition to eat dog meat. Itʼs just as normal as eating seafood or chicken," he told DW. 2
Weapons for a ʼstrategicʼ partner Germany and Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia is one of the German arms industryʼs top customers, despite human rights concerns over Yemen. It took the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi for Germany to temporarily halt arms exports. Most of the time, the planes swoop down without warning to unleash death and destruction: a busload of children on their way to school, mourners at a funeral and guests at a wedding party, a family of six asleep in their beds — they are all examples of the tens of thousands of Yemenis killed or injured in deadly airstrikes that target them for no apparent military reason. In Yemen, each new day brings "a
China says Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation for bribery Interpol President Meng Hongwei, who had gone missing in late September, is under investigation for bribery and other crimes, the Chinese Security Ministry announced on Monday. Meng is accused of "accepting bribes and is suspected of violating the law," the ministry said in a statement. It also hinted at a political dimension by stating Meng was being probed because of his own "willfulness and for bringing trouble upon himself." Meng, a senior security official in China as well as the first Chinese head of Interpol, has beenmissing since September 25 while on a trip to his native country. On Sunday, Chinaʼs anti-graft body had said that "Public Security Ministry Vice Minister Meng Hongwei is currently under
Asia Bibi: Pakistan top court hears blasphemy appeal amid Islamist threats On Monday, Pakistanʼs Supreme Court began the hearing of Asia Bibiʼsfinal appeal against her 2010 death penalty. The three-judge bench said it has reserved the verdict on the appeal, however the judges did not say when they will announce it. If the top court upholds her death sentence, the only recourse for the 53-year-old would be toappeal to the countryʼs president for clemency. In 2014, her death sentence was upheld by the Lahore High Court. Rights group Amnesty International dubbed the verdict a "grave injustice." Religious extremists in Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group, have warned the authorities against reversing the blasphemy verdict."If there is any attempt to hand her [Bibi] over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement.
new face of tragedy," Ali Jameel told DW on a crackling phone line from the capital, Sanaa. When it comes to tragedy, Jameel is an expert: He works for a Yemeni human rights organization, Mwatana, that despite the odds and risks its researchers face, including arbitrary detention, painstakingly documents human rights violations committed by both sides in a conflict that has been dragging on for more than three years. investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law," without specifying its allegations. China has been cracking down on corruption under President Xi Jinping. Interpol later said Meng had resigned as president of the international police organization with immediate effect. It named South Korean national Kim Jong Yang, who was Senior Vice-President, as acting president.
Attack on Iranian military parade may harden domestic and regional policies A deadly attack on an Iranian military parade may strengthen hardliners in the country and send al-
ready heightened tensions across the Middle East soaring, asTehran points its finger at the United States and its Gulf Arab allies. The rare attack claimed by Arab separatists killed 12Revolutionary Guard (IRGC)members and 13 others in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, which is home to Shiite Iranʼs Sunni Arab minority. It was the deadliest attack in the country in nearly a decade. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "mercenary terrorists" who carried out a crime in "continuation of the conspiracies by the US-backed regimes in the region," while the IRGC under his command vowed "deadly and unforgiving revenge," if need be abroad. Iran did not name a particular Arab country, but the accusations appeared to be aimed at regional rivals Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
277/2018 • 7 December, 2018
Remembering George H.W. Bush subtly shows what was lost in Trump era The memorial service for George H.W. Bush honored the life of the last World War II veteran president. For once, political Washington seemed to hark back to its traditional ways. For about two hours on this frigid December morning all living presidentsgathered to honor one of their ownat the cityʼs National Cathedral. Foreign dignitaries including the current and former leaders of key United States allies, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, were not only present but, in the case of Mulroney, who gave a eulogy, played a significant role in the proceedings. And the fact that President Donald Trump was invited this time — unlike at the memorial service held for Republican
Migrant caravan ʼcould not be larger giftʼ for Donald Trump "Remember the midterms", US President Donald Trump reminded his 55 million followers on Twitter on Tuesday in a sequence of tweets focused on the so-called migrant caravan that is making its way through Mexico towards the US border. If there was ever any doubt that Trump would forego the attentiongrabbing visuals of thousands of Latin American migrants braving brutal conditions to trek tens of miles per day in hopes of reaching the US, a series of presidential tweets sent out in the past couple of days erased it. Using military jargon to describe the caravan and alleging — without offering evidence — that criminals and "unknown Middle Easterners" were part of the group, Trump faulted Democrats and US courts for standing in the way of a tougher immigration policy, and El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the home countries of most of the migrants, for not preventing them from making the journey.
Senator John McCain three months ago at the very same place, where he was persona non grata — speaks to the character of George H.W. Bush and his family, who planned the event. The late President Bush and his family wanted this to be a moment where the nation comes together to remember and honor the service of one its leaders and where the current political strife, party affiliations and deep divisions that plague this country are put aside, albeit for just a few hours. They chose to do this despite the fact that Bush previously had made no secret of his disdain for Trump and his brand of politics.
Friedrich The Great?
Businesses like CDU leadership contender Friedrich Merz. He is German chair of the worldʼs biggest
wealth manager, BlackRock. But that could spoil his political ambitions.
Financial Times editor given one week to leave Hong Kong Outraged Hong Kong media and legal groups pushed the government on Monday to provide an explanation for why a Western journalist had his visa renewal denied. Financial Times Asia news editor Victor Mallet was denied a new work visa after hosting a talk by a pro-independence activist.
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277/2018 • 7 December, 2018
Aircraft makers are optimistic about Farnborough despite Brexit The Farnborough Airshow is a major trade venue for the aeronautical industry. As manufactures set up their displays their thoughts hover between anticipation of the next big order and fears of Brexit says Andreas Spaeth. The global aviation industry will come together on Monday at the Farnborough airfield southwest of London for its biennial industry fair — the second largest in the world after the Paris Air Show. The UK has traditionally been one of the worldʼs leading aviation countries and the Farnborough trade fairʼs roots date all the way back to 1920. It moved to its current location in 1948. Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules.Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules.
Indiaʼs currency tumbles amid rising oil prices The rupee has dropped over 12 percent against the US dollar since the beginning of 2018, earning it the unfortunate distinction of Asiaʼs worst performing currency this year. Economists blame risingglobal crude prices for the slide. India imports 80 percent of its oil needs and soaring prices have blown a hole in the nationʼs finances. The country also imports huge quantities of items like gold and electronics, swelling its import bill further. Indiaʼs current account deficit (CAD) will also likely widen to 2.8 percent of GDP in financial year 2018 — up from 1.9 percent last year — according to consultancy Nomura Research Institute. CAD is a measure of the flow of goods, services and investments in and out of the country. Still, macroeconomic problems resulting from a higher CAD and depreciating rupee are not Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs biggest concerns. His administration is more worried about growing public discontent due to the rise in petrol and diesel prices. 4
Venezuelan President Maduro visits Moscow to ask Russia for more money Russian President Putin has voiced strong support for his Venezuelan counterpart but made no mention of new loans. Beleaguered South American leader Nicolas Maduro is dependent upon Russia for his survival. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro traveled to Russia in hopes of securing political and financial assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although Venezuela is currently in arrears to the tune of billions of dollars to Russia, Putin voiced strong support for his South American counterpart when the two met on Wednesday. Acknowledging that Moscow realizes "the situation in Venezuela remains dire," Putin told Maduro: "We support your efforts
Foreign investment in the United States of America down sharply
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States plunged by a staggering 32 percent in 2017 year on year, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported. Investment totaled $259.6 billion (€221.2 billion),with the figure representing the second year of declineafter a peak in 2015 when foreign investorsʼ expenditure in the US hit $439.5 billion. Last year, most foreign investments in the US came from neighboring Canada which contributed $66.2 billion. European Union member states accounted for 40 percent of the 2017 FDI total. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the drop in foreign investment in the United States is part of a global trend.Not just a US problem OECD researchers noted that FDI levels were down 18 percent worldwide in 2017.
Hotel Palazzo Zichy H-1088 Budapest, Lőrinc pap tér 2. T.: +36 1 235 4000 reservation@hpz.hu www.hotel-palazzo-zichy.hu/
China: Multiple deaths in chemical plant blast Authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have opened an investigation into a blast at an industrial complex that left 19 people dead, state news agency Xinhua reported Friday. The explosion ripped through the Yibin Hengda Technology complex in the city of Yibin at 6:30 p.m. (1030 UTC) Thursday, sparking a fire that burned late into the night, Xinhua said. County officials said that 12 people wounded in the blast had been taken to hospital and were in a stable condition.Read more: China convicts dozens for last yearʼs giant explosions in Tianjin Reports in the Sichuan Dailysaid the force of the explosion reduced three buildings to their steel frames and shattered the windows of nearby properties. China, the worldʼs largest producer of chemicals, has sought to improve industrial safety standards following aseries of highprofile accidentsin recent years.
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toachieve mutual understanding in societyand all your actions aimed atnormalizing relations with the opposition." Putin also said, "We condemn any terrorist action; any attempts to change the situation by force." ʼWe are winningʼ Maduro, who was reelected in a disputed vote in May, told Putin: "We have faced various threats and aggression but we have learned how to deal with them. We are standing firm, we are winning."
Paradigm Shift: German smartphones, made differently
Imagine rural Germany instead of Silicon Valley, sustainability instead of profits. Germanyʼs first smartphone company is different in many ways, not just in the modular design of its devices. At first glance, the Shift phone looks like most smartphones these days — a black cuboid with rounded edges and a screen covering most of the front. But a closer look reveals several lines of text, discreetly printed on the back of the phone: "Warning: Smartphones can be time killers. There is no greater gift for you today than the next 24 hours. Use them wisely, people are more important than machines." Although successful and growing fast, profit isnʼt the main priority here. That is in large part due to the companyʼs founders, two brothers who live in a tiny village in rural Hesse. With their t-shirts, hoodies, sneakers and thick beards, Carsten and Samuel Waldeck would look right at home in a co-working space in Berlin or San Francisco. But the CTO and CEO of smartphone maker Shift hail from Falkenberg, a tiny hamlet in rural Hesse. Itʼs where they grew up, where they live and where their company is headquartered, in a converted barn.
277/2018 • 7 December, 2018
Visit Budapest’s most charming Basilica Advent Fair Now open!
The Advent Fair by St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most atmospheric in Budapest. Centrepieced by a towering Christmas tree and a free ice-rink for kids, stalls offer delicious dishes and all things jolly, while special light shows projected onto the façade of the Basilica make every night special. See below for tips on what to eat, drink and buy – and find out what film star Antonio Banderas was up to here last year! Right in the city centre, this Christmas fair has been improv-
Client Earth: Changing environmental law, the world over James Thornton, head of public interest law firm Client Earth, holds governments around the world accountable for environmental damage. He tells DW how the law can be harnessed for the good of people and the planet. James Thornton: The thing that allows a really small group of people to change the world is using the enormous power of the law. Legal systems encapsulate, really, what a society thinks about itself and the rules that people in the particular society have mutually agreed to be governed by. It always includes enforcement mechanisms. If, for example, a government has passed a law about air pollution or water pollution and then it doesnʼt do the right thing and protect the people like the law says, we — using the power of the law — can go to the courts and force the government to do the right thing.
Alma Abonyi designer bag under every Christmas tree!
ing year upon year, offering an enchanted experience for all ages. The main attraction is a recent one, illuminated visuals projected onto the façade of the historic Basilica. Look out for them in the evenings, screened every half-an-hour after sunset, from 4:30pm. 2D and 3D short stories both feature and 3D glasses are available from stalls around the market.
and draws on her own experiences of coming out as gay. "Her work explores issues surrounding queer identity, landscape, language technology and time," judges said. The 44-year-old artist said she felt "quite overwhelmed" about winning the award. "The stories that I am telling, although they are mine and are personal, are stories that a lot of people — well, I guess queer people — have experienced," the Glasgow-based artist told British broadcaster the BBC, upon recieving the prize.
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Culture
Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER. NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC
Charlotte Prodger wins Turner Prize for smartphone video British artist Charlotte Prodger has won the prestigious Turner Prize for art with a video shot on an iPhone. The film snippets center on her experiences of coming out as gay. Charlotte Prodger has won the 2018 Turner Prize, Britainʼs most prestigious award for art. The 44-year-old received the award for an autobiographical video entitled "BRIDGIT," shot over the course of a year on her iPhone. Judges praised "the painterly quality" of the work, which questions gender and identity
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50% SALE on every left piece of the first leather collection, until on stock! Visit almaabonyi.com for more information! "Itʼs unbelievable but from the first leather collection there are only a few pieces left. You can get them with 50% discount now, until Christmas, as long as we have them on stock!" Foto: Forgeron Studio
Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.
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277/2018 • 7 December, 2018
Adam Peaty criticism leads to Fina promising to ʼmoderniseʼ By Nick Hope
Swimmingʼs international governing body says it will look to "improve and modernise" following criticism from Olympic champion Adam Peaty. Briton Peaty is among a host of leading swimmers to have criticised Finaʼs governance over the past year. "It feels like weʼre still in 1970," Peaty, 23, told BBC Sport. But Fina responded on Wednesday to say it is planning to launch an "innovative" new competition in 2019 in order to attract "the best athletes". "Fina will continue to make every effort to protect and improve the competition calendar and promote its harmonious development," the statement added. Peaty, along with other athletes, has been particularly frustrated by the bodyʼs lack of dialogue in key decision-making.
New Bayern signing Alphonso
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica
Have fans reluctantly accepted their teamʼs ʼB-Listʼ status?
A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against arch-rivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament front-runner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a side-footed missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.
Manchester United:
Manchester Unitedʼs players were clapped off the pitch after the 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Manchester Unitedʼs hopes and ambitions have slipped so alarmingly this season that a routine show of grit that left them eighth in the Premier League drew warm applause from Old Trafford at its conclusion. Jose Mourinhoʼs side battled back twice to earn a point in an eventful, if scrappy, 2-2 draw against Arsenal
- but was the sanguine reaction at the final whistle acceptance this is now as good as it gets under the current regime? United are eight points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, 18 behind leaders Manchester City, and are the only team in the Premier Leagueʼs top nine with a minus goal difference.
Davies arrives in Munich
After a start to the season that has had some Bayern Munich fans clamoring for a big signing in the January transfer window, one that could eventually turn out to be a big one has already arrived in the Bavarian capital. After flying into Munich on Tuesday,Alphonso Davies,who just turned 18 earlier this month, underwent medical checks and took part in his first training session with his new club this Wednesday. "My first impressions of the training ground were great," Davies said in a video posted on Bayern Munichʼs website. "As a kid I dreamed of being part of such a big club. Now I am and itʼs unbelievable. .. I just want to work as hard as I can in training and hopefully get some games." 6
USA Gymnastics files for bankruptcy, citing sex abuse lawsuits The governing body is being sued by hundreds of women who were sexually abused by Larry Nassar, a former team doctor. The filing could complicate efforts by the victims to recover damages. USA Gymnastics, the sportʼs governing body in the United States, on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Indianapolis, where it is based. The organization is facing 100 lawsuits representing 350 athletes in various US courts who blame it for failing to supervise Larry Nassar, a former national team doctor accused
of sexually abusing them. Nassar was sentenced to up to 300 years in prison in two different trials in Michigan last February. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy would allow for USA Gymnastics to reorganize while protecting it from creditors. Kathryn Carson, the recently elected chairwoman of the board of directors, cited the lawsuits as the "primary reason" for the filing and that is based on legal expediency rather than fiscal distress. "This is not a liquidation. This is a reorganization," she said, who described the financial condition of the organization as "stable."