France’s Parliament passed a law Wednesday that makes it illegal to pay for sex. Offenders may be fined up to €3,750 (about $4,300) and required to attend classes about the conditions of sex workers.
The controversial law makes France the fifth European country to criminalize the clients of prostitutes, joining Sweden, Norway, Iceland and the U.K., according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Pimping is already penalized across the region.
The law also establishes measures to help prostitutes find new work, and makes it easier for foreign sex workers to acquire temporary residency permits.
France’s Socialist government welcomed the new legislation. The bill’s architect Maud Olivier told AFP: “This law is essential to ending the idea that it is normal to buy someone’s body.”
But some of France’s nearly 30,000 prostitutes did not share Olivier’s conviction. About 60 demonstrators, including sex workers, protested the new law outside the Parliament, some carrying a sign that read, “Don’t Liberate Me, I’ll Take Care of Myself!”
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
WhatsApp Extends Encryption to Photos, Video and Other Messages
(SAN FRANCISCO) — WhatsApp says it’s now using a powerful form of encryption to protect the security of photos, videos, group chats and voice calls in addition to the text messages sent by its more than a billion users around the globe.
The popular service owned by Facebook began applying “end-to-end” encryption to standard messages sent on Android smartphones in 2014. After gradually expanding to other formats, WhatsApp confirmed Tuesday that its encryption now works with all forms of communication on its app for Android phones, Apple’s iPhones and other devices.
WhatsApp’s use of encryption has already caused friction in Brazil, where authorities recently arrested and then released a Facebook Inc. executive after the company said it was unable to unscramble a user’s encrypted messages. That’s because end-to-end encryption automatically encodes each message with an algorithm that can only be unlocked by the sender and recipient.
A handful of less-popular services, including Signal, Wickr and Telegram, use end-to-end encryption, while others don’t use encryption at all. Google, Facebook and Yahoo use less extensive encryption to protect emails and messages while they’re in transit, to prevent outsiders from eavesdropping. But those companies retain the ability to scan messages at certain points and can unlock them under a court order.
Apple uses end-to-end encryption for its iMessage service, but some experts say WhatsApp’s method may be more secure because it provides a security code that senders and recipients can use to verify a message came from someone they know — and not from a hacker posing as a friend.
WhatsApp uses encryption technology from Open Whisper Systems, a San Francisco group that developed its software with private funding and government grants, including a State Department program that encouraged encryption as a defense against repressive regimes.
The popular service owned by Facebook began applying “end-to-end” encryption to standard messages sent on Android smartphones in 2014. After gradually expanding to other formats, WhatsApp confirmed Tuesday that its encryption now works with all forms of communication on its app for Android phones, Apple’s iPhones and other devices.
WhatsApp’s use of encryption has already caused friction in Brazil, where authorities recently arrested and then released a Facebook Inc. executive after the company said it was unable to unscramble a user’s encrypted messages. That’s because end-to-end encryption automatically encodes each message with an algorithm that can only be unlocked by the sender and recipient.
A handful of less-popular services, including Signal, Wickr and Telegram, use end-to-end encryption, while others don’t use encryption at all. Google, Facebook and Yahoo use less extensive encryption to protect emails and messages while they’re in transit, to prevent outsiders from eavesdropping. But those companies retain the ability to scan messages at certain points and can unlock them under a court order.
Apple uses end-to-end encryption for its iMessage service, but some experts say WhatsApp’s method may be more secure because it provides a security code that senders and recipients can use to verify a message came from someone they know — and not from a hacker posing as a friend.
WhatsApp uses encryption technology from Open Whisper Systems, a San Francisco group that developed its software with private funding and government grants, including a State Department program that encouraged encryption as a defense against repressive regimes.
The new Japanese assertiveness in Asia Pacific
But far from confining its strategic focus to major powers, Tokyo also made an unprecedented effort to reach out to smaller nations, particularly those in China's backyard.
Shortly after reassuming his position at the helm of Japanese government, Abe made a high-profile tour across Southeast Asia, visiting Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Simultaneously, he dispatched his Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Australia, while Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Myanmar.
Unlike any of its predecessors in recent memory, the Abe administration has made a concerted effort to simultaneously deepen Japan's economic presence across Asia and to pursue expanded security cooperation with like-minded nations.
Abe wasted no time underlining the significance of his charm-offensive across Southeast Asia.
Beyond economic interests, the Abe administration is primarily concerned with China's growing military might and naval assertiveness in adjacent waters, which form the bedrock of Japan's trade linkages.
As early as the 1990s, Japan's economy amounted to 15 percent of the global economic output, but this fell to 10 percent by 2008 and is expected to shrink to as low as 6 percent in 2030.
In the same period, China's share in the global economic output experienced an explosive growth: From only 2 percent in 1990, it is expected to reach as high as 25 percent in 2030.
Shortly after the 2008 global financial crisis, China displaced Japan to become the world's second largest economy, ending almost six decades of Japanese economic hegemony in Asia. This was a huge strategic blow to Tokyo.
Beyond economic interests, however, the Abe administration is primarily concerned with China's growing military might and naval assertiveness in adjacent waters, which form the bedrock of Japan's trade linkages.
Japan is also worried about China's growing military footprint in the South China Sea. In response, it has rapidly upgraded its relations with like-minded, Southeast Asian nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam, which have been at the forefront of international efforts at constraining Chinese maritime assertiveness.
Japanese submarines will next visit Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay. To push back against China, Japan is intent on aiding Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
But what is certain is that the Abe administration, unlike any of its predecessors, has committed a bulk of its diplomatic capital to deepen the Japanese strategic footprint in Southeast Asia and the broader region. Japan is finally back to the Asian strategic chessboard.
Shortly after reassuming his position at the helm of Japanese government, Abe made a high-profile tour across Southeast Asia, visiting Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Simultaneously, he dispatched his Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Australia, while Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Myanmar.
Unlike any of its predecessors in recent memory, the Abe administration has made a concerted effort to simultaneously deepen Japan's economic presence across Asia and to pursue expanded security cooperation with like-minded nations.
Abe wasted no time underlining the significance of his charm-offensive across Southeast Asia.
Beyond economic interests, the Abe administration is primarily concerned with China's growing military might and naval assertiveness in adjacent waters, which form the bedrock of Japan's trade linkages.
As early as the 1990s, Japan's economy amounted to 15 percent of the global economic output, but this fell to 10 percent by 2008 and is expected to shrink to as low as 6 percent in 2030.
In the same period, China's share in the global economic output experienced an explosive growth: From only 2 percent in 1990, it is expected to reach as high as 25 percent in 2030.
Shortly after the 2008 global financial crisis, China displaced Japan to become the world's second largest economy, ending almost six decades of Japanese economic hegemony in Asia. This was a huge strategic blow to Tokyo.
Beyond economic interests, however, the Abe administration is primarily concerned with China's growing military might and naval assertiveness in adjacent waters, which form the bedrock of Japan's trade linkages.
Japan is also worried about China's growing military footprint in the South China Sea. In response, it has rapidly upgraded its relations with like-minded, Southeast Asian nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam, which have been at the forefront of international efforts at constraining Chinese maritime assertiveness.
Japanese submarines will next visit Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay. To push back against China, Japan is intent on aiding Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
But what is certain is that the Abe administration, unlike any of its predecessors, has committed a bulk of its diplomatic capital to deepen the Japanese strategic footprint in Southeast Asia and the broader region. Japan is finally back to the Asian strategic chessboard.
Clinical Trial Of Treatment To Cure Paedophiles
Paedophiles are being treated with medication as part of a groundbreaking study to see whether it can prevent them from abusing children.
In the first scientific trial of its kind, men who are having sexual fantasies about children are being given a drug normally used to treat prostate cancer.
The drug, called degarelix, dramatically lowers levels of the male sex hormone testosterone, roughly to those of a prepubescent boy.
Sky News was given exclusive access to the trial at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
Lead researcher Dr Christoffer Rahm said the drug had been shown to reduce sex drive in cancer patients, raising hopes that it could also reduce the risk of paedophiles sexually abusing children.
He said: "What is considered to be a negative side effect when you use the drug for advanced prostate cancer - reduced sexual arousal - is the effect we want to have in this context (treating paedophilia)."
The researchers will give a single injection of degarelix to 60 paedophiles who volunteer to join the study. None of the men have sexually abused children.
They will be compared with an equal number of men given dummy placebo injections.
Neither the men nor the doctors will know who is getting active medication and it is the first time a rigorous scientific trial has been done on paedophilia treatment.
Past attempts at chemical castration have been anecdotal and inconclusive.
But degarelix is a newer drug that has an immediate testosterone-lowering effect.
Dr Rahm said: "It's important we have evidence-based treatment.
"We need to shift the focus away from what to do when the damage is already done on to preventing the sexual abuse happening in the first place."
Sky News met one young man involved in the study. We agreed to protect his identity and gave him a fake name.
'Anders' has not abused children, but fears he might.
told Sky News: "We didn't choose to be this way. Nobody would, obviously. And yet nobody accepts us, everybody hates us, we can't be open with it.
"Hopefully (the drug) will take my mind off these things so I don't have to be so frustrated and miserable."
All the men in the study will have a series of MRI brain scans taken while they look at computer-generated images.
Anders' brain scan shows more activity in areas involved in visual processing and arousal when he sees images of children.
The researchers hope to identify a typical 'brain pattern' of a paedophile and that treatment will normalise the scan results.
They are also putting the men through psychological tests to see whether lowering testosterone levels works.
They are appealing for £38,000 in public donations on the crowdfunding site Walacea to carry out the study.
Sweden has a national helpline called PrevenTell that encourages men with 'unwanted sexuality' to come forward.
Men can be referred for psychological interventions and treatment with anti-depressants.
But if the new study is a success they will also be offered testosterone-lowering treatment.
The doctors say 5% of the adult population has sexual fantasies involving children and new ways are urgently needed to prevent them from becoming child abusers.
But it is controversial.
Peter Saunders, founder of the National Assocation for People Abused in Childhood, said: "The abuse of children is not always about a sexual urge.
"We need to look at the whole person, not just one part of their anatomy. It may not solve that person's dangerous inclination."
Ivanka Trump’s Chinese-Made Scarves Are Being Recalled
Ivanka Trump’s line of Chinese-made scarves are being recalledWednesday for failing to meet the U.S. Federal Flammability Standard.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that the scarves, produced in China and made completely from rayon, are a safety hazard, according to the New York Times.
“This is a dangerous product,” said Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the CPSC.
Trump is the daughter of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who frequently denounces the loss of American manufacturing jobs overseas.
The CPSC advises consumers to return Trump’s scarves for a full refund.
Missing Jade Lynch Found 'Safe And Well'
Missing teenager Jade Lynch has been found "safe and well" in the Wigan area.
The 14-year-old was last seen in her home town of St Helens in Merseyside on 26 March.
"I'm pleased to announce that Jade was located safe and well in the Wigan area of Greater Manchester at approximately 9.30pm today, Wednesday 6th April," Detective Superintendent Jon Betts of Cheshire Police said.
"Now that we have located Jade we are currently in the process of returning her to a place of safety.
"We will continue to work with our partners to support Jade and her family over the coming days."
Police said earlier they had received a number of "promising" leads, including possible sightings in Manchester city centre.
They also described her as "an extremely vulnerable person".
On the day she disappeared, she left home heading for St Helens town centre with her two younger brothers.
She told them she was going to meet somebody and they parted company in the Duke Street area, where she was last seen.
The teenager’s social media accounts fell silent and her mobile phone was found at her home.
Her elder sister yesterday made an appeal for her safe return.
Stephanie Lynch said: "We really want her back. We love her so much. We just want to know she's safe. All kinds of things are running through our minds."
Jilted Girlfriend Is FBI Most-Wanted Fugitive
A woman accused of arranging the murder of her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend has been added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives list.
Federal investigators told a news conference on Wednesday they are offering a $100,000 reward for the arrest of Brenda Delgado.
The 33-year-old is suspected of involvement in the murder-for-hire death of Dr Kendra Hatcher.
The 35-year-old dentist was fatally shot in the head on 2 September last year in the parking garage of her apartment building in Dallas, Texas.
Delgado is only the ninth woman ever to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives list since it was created in 1950.
The FBI said her addition "underscores violent and calculative nature of the crime she's accused of committing".
Investigators warned Delgado should be considered armed and dangerous.
Police have arrested two other people in the case, the accused gunman, Kristopher Love, and the alleged getaway car driver, Crystal Cortes.
Federal investigators told a news conference on Wednesday they are offering a $100,000 reward for the arrest of Brenda Delgado.
The 33-year-old is suspected of involvement in the murder-for-hire death of Dr Kendra Hatcher.
The 35-year-old dentist was fatally shot in the head on 2 September last year in the parking garage of her apartment building in Dallas, Texas.
Delgado is only the ninth woman ever to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives list since it was created in 1950.
The FBI said her addition "underscores violent and calculative nature of the crime she's accused of committing".
Investigators warned Delgado should be considered armed and dangerous.
Police have arrested two other people in the case, the accused gunman, Kristopher Love, and the alleged getaway car driver, Crystal Cortes.
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