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Times
08-07-2025
- Times
Convicted paedophile calls residential school abuse claims ‘rubbish'
A convicted paedophile described allegations of abuse at a residential school as a 'load of rubbish' during evidence he gave to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. The inquiry is investigating abuse in residential settings including boarding schools, religious establishments and foster care. The former teacher, referred to as Evan, gave evidence on Tuesday via videolink from prison, where he is serving an eight-year sentence for sex offences. The rapist was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2021 for seven offences against five girls aged 12 to 16. Three of these occurred while he was a teacher at Ovenstone Residential School in Pittenweem, Fife, in the 1980s — though the girls were not pupils there. Ovenstone was a school for children with behavioural and emotional problems. The man was given anonymity by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) and was referred to as Evan. He was asked about three convictions of rape and sexual assault on the school premises, but denied the crimes had occurred, the inquiry heard. The former teacher repeatedly answered 'No comment' to allegations of violence and sexual assault made by the father of a pupil, and branded it a 'load of rubbish', the inquiry heard. Giving evidence, Evan described Ovenstone as 'the end of the line' for pupils he described as 'castaways', and recalled 'a little village school', praising the 'caring attitude' of staff he worked with in the Fife fishing village. Evan said: 'It was our job to reintegrate children into mainstream schools and society.' He denied general allegations of abuse, and said he was unaware of allegations of abuse during his time at the school. However, he replied 'No comment' to a string of allegations of violence. Ruth Innes KC, counsel for the inquiry, said: 'I'm going to ask you about allegations made against you [by a pupil's father]. Did you ever grab [the pupil] by the back of the head? 'Did you ever hit his head on a desk? Did you ever slam the lid of the desk down on his hands? 'Did you ever press your finger into his forehead making him bend his head back? Whilst doing that did you shout in his face? 'Did you ever hit him with a pool cue? Did you ever sexually assault him with a pool cue?' After replying 'No comment', Evan said: 'This has been investigated. All my lawyer said is to say 'no comment'. I am finding it very difficult, because that list is a load of rubbish.' Lady Smith, the inquiry chairwoman, said: 'It's a matter of fairness that the questions are given to you.' Evan said: 'I'm sorry it's just so frustrating, that I can't unload myself to you. Obviously I've got to do what my lawyer tells me to do.' Innes asked Evan if he had physically disciplined, physically assaulted or sexually assaulted any pupils — all of which he denied. She said: 'We know about the convictions and they did not involve any children attending Ovenstone. Did you commit any similar offences against any child at Ovenstone?' Evan said: 'No.' Innes said: 'Some of the offences in respect of which you were convicted took place at the time you were teaching — and in one case, on the premises. How was it you were able to commit the offences and not be detected?' Evan said: 'No comment on that.' Innes added: 'How was it you were able to commit those offences at Ovenstone and it not be detected?' Evan said: 'Quite simply because it never happened.' He described pupils as 'fragile' and 'castigated', the inquiry was told. Evan denied any awareness of staff abusing pupils, or peer group abuse, but said that there was a lack of training on child protection. He said: 'If children were being bullied, we cut that off very quickly, because these children were fragile in many ways.' He added: 'The six years I spent at Ovenstone were the happiest of my life. We built a playground; the kids developed emotionally and physically. I look back on it with fond memories. I've still got kids who are in touch with me.' The inquiry continues.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
Convicted paedophile brands residential school abuse allegations ‘rubbish'
A convicted paedophile described allegations of abuse at a residential school as a 'load of rubbish' during evidence he gave to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. The inquiry is investigating abuse in residential settings including boarding schools, religious establishments and foster care. On Tuesday, an ex-teacher referred to as Evan gave evidence via videolink from prison, where he is serving an eight-year sentence for sex offences. The rapist was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2021 for seven charges against five girls aged 12 to 16. Three of these overlapped the period when he was a teacher at Ovenstone Residential School in Pittenweem, Fife, in the 1980s – though the girls were not pupils there. The man was given anonymity by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) and was referred to as Evan. Ovenstone was a school for children with behavioural and emotional problems. He was asked about three convictions of rape and sexual assault on the school premises, but denied the crimes had occurred, the inquiry heard. The former teacher repeatedly answered 'no comment' to allegations of violence and sexual assault made by the father of a pupil, and branded it a 'load of rubbish', the inquiry heard. Giving evidence, Evan described Ovenstone as 'the end of the line' for pupils he described as 'castaways', and recalled 'a little village school', praising the 'caring attitude' of staff he worked with in the Fife fishing village. Evan said: 'It was our job to re-integrate children into mainstream schools and society.' He denied general allegations of abuse, and said he was unaware of allegations of abuse during his time at the school. However, he replied 'no comment' to a string of allegations of violence. Counsel for the inquiry Ruth Innes KC said: 'I'm going to ask you about allegations made against you [by a pupil's father]. Did you ever grab him by the back of the head? 'Did you ever hit his head on a desk? Did you ever slam the lid of the desk down on his hands? 'Did you ever press your finger into his forehead making him bend his head back? Whilst doing that did you shout in his face? 'Did you ever hit him with a pool cue? Did you ever sexually assault him with a pool cue?' After replying 'no comment', Evan said: 'This has been investigated. All my lawyer said is to say 'no comment'. I am finding it very difficult, because that list is a load of rubbish.' Chair of the inquiry, Lady Smith said: 'It's a matter of fairness that the questions are given to you.' Evan said: 'I'm sorry it's just so frustrating, that I can't unload myself to you. Obviously I've got to do what my lawyer tells me to do.' Ms Innes asked if he had physically disciplined any pupils; physically assaulted any pupils, or sexually assaulted any pupils – all of which Evan denied. She said: 'We know about the convictions and they did not involve any children attending Ovenstone. Did you commit any similar offences against any child at Ovenstone?' Evan said: 'No.' Ms Innes said: 'Some of the offences in respect of which you were convicted took place at the time you were teaching, and in one case on the premises. How was it you were able to commit the offences and not be detected?' Evan said: 'No comment on that.' Ms Innes added: 'How was it you were able to commit those offences at Ovenstone and it not be detected?' Evan said: 'Quite simply because it never happened.' He described pupils as 'fragile' and 'castigated', the inquiry heard. Evan denied any awareness of staff abusing pupils, or peer group abuse, but said that there was a lack of training on child protection. He said: 'If children were being bullied we cut that off very quickly, because these children were fragile in many ways.' Ms Innes said: 'Do you have any comment on lessons as to how to better protect children in the future?' Evan said: 'I would say there's an ongoing need for closer inspection, ongoing oversight as to what is going on in residential settings. 'It's a very intimate setting as you're there 24 hours a day. There needs to be an ongoing oversight into residential settings, both council and private, and it needs to be quite rigorous.' He added: 'The six years I spent at Ovenstone were the happiest of my life. We built a playground; the kids developed emotionally and physically. I look back on it with fond memories. I've still got kids who are in touch with me.' Lady Smith said: 'We are all doing the best we can in the interests of children who for one reason or another have to be in residential care.' The inquiry continues.
The Herald Scotland
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Reid renews call for 'urgent' Scottish grooming gangs probe
Ms Reid said those demands for a Scottish probe led to a "barrage of abuse by SNP-linked figures". In a letter to John Swinney, seen by The Herald, Ms Reid asked the First Minister to use his authority as party leader to make it clear he would not "tolerate a defensive attitude that refuses to concede there is a problem in Scotland, or promote the idea of Scottish exceptionalism that asserts that somehow or other the misogyny that drives so much child sexual abuse does not exist here." READ MORE Baroness Casey's report accused authorities of turning a blind eye, failing to act on warnings, and treating victims as if they were responsible for their own exploitation. It highlighted how children—often in care or already at risk—were coerced, raped and trafficked by multiple men, and later ignored or disbelieved. A central finding was the state's refusal to properly examine the role of ethnicity. The review prompted the Prime Minister to announce an inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales, despite previously accusing those calling for one of jumping on a far right bandwagon. Baroness Louise Casey's damning report forced the PM to u-turn When asked at the time if he would consider a similar probe north of the Border, the First Minister told press the independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) was currently in the middle of an extensive review of child protection policy and had the powers necessary to investigate grooming. The government later pointed to the national multi-agency Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group. However, Ms Reid argues that neither are adequate. In her letter, she points out that the SCAI 'is restricted in which children it can consider', as its terms of reference are 'to investigate the nature and extent of abuse of children whilst in care in Scotland' before December 17, 2014. Meanwhile, the Strategic Group had only met once this year and, Ms Reid said, 'can hardly be thought of as a mechanism to get to the bottom of the scale of organised child sexual abuse in Scotland'. One of the criticisms made of Ms Reid was that she had voted against Tory proposals to launch a national inquiry into the scandal in January. In her letter to Mr Swinney, she said she had little choice as the motion was attached to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and voting for it would have seen that legislation abandoned. Ms Reid said there was also 'new evidence to support the need for an inquiry now, which did not exist even as recently as January.' She told Mr Swinney: "Generations of children – particularly girls and young women – have been betrayed by a state that dismissed their cries for help. "At one end of the betrayal process, misogyny and class prejudice against made it far too easy for the men (and it was mostly men) to refuse to listen. "At the other were the men who burrowed within state institutions with the specific purpose of finding children to abuse. "So far, we have directed all our efforts towards the latter group and ignored the culpability of the former. That must change." READ MORE Earlier this year, members of a Romanian grooming gang in Dundee were convicted of raping and sexually abusing 10 women, and forcing one into prostitution. Just weeks later, in Glasgow, seven members of one of Scotland's biggest child sex abuse rings were given life-long sentences after subjecting three victims under the age of 13 to horrific sexual abuse and violence in a drug den dubbed "the beastie house." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Child sexual abuse and exploitation has a devastating impact, which is why we are taking action to ensure that children are protected from harm. "We have also established a national multi-agency Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group, to consider all UK and Scottish work and make recommendations to Ministers accordingly." Ms Reid said there needs to be an 'urgent' probe (Image: PA) The spokesperson continued: 'The independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is undertaking an extensive review of child protection policy and practice in Scotland and will report with recommendations for further development in due course. "Ministers are considering the need to establish a further inquiry into child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, should further information demonstrate a need for this. It is paramount that we maintain a resolute focus on ensuring that children and young people's needs and rights remain at the heart of this process. 'In the meantime, it is crucial to focus efforts and resource on working with partners across the system to support embedding and implementation of the National Child Protection Guidance and providing a trauma-informed response to victims.'
TECHx
19-06-2025
- Business
- TECHx
MBZUAI and Sorbonne Partner on Artificial Intelligence
Home » Emerging technologies » Artificial Intelligence » MBZUAI and Sorbonne Partner on Artificial Intelligence Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) announced a strategic academic partnership to enhance collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, education, and ethics. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday at the MBZUAI campus by Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI President, and Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, SUAD Chancellor, in the presence of senior leaders from both universities. The partnership aims to support MBZUAI's vision of becoming a global center for AI innovation and research. It also aligns with SUAD's Center for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), which operates from Abu Dhabi and Paris. Led by Professor Gérard Biau, SCAI contributes to advancing AI in Europe and the UAE and promotes interdisciplinary AI excellence. The MoU includes joint research initiatives focused on applying Artificial Intelligence across sectors such as healthcare, energy, climate science, transportation, and digital humanities. Both universities will co-supervise Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers to help develop advanced AI talent. Faculty and researcher exchanges will promote interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and enhance education. The collaboration also plans to upskill professionals and youth through joint courses, workshops, and summer schools covering AI fundamentals, generative AI, and AI ethics. Professor Eric Xing said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to the responsible development of AI technology. He highlighted the goal of combining MBZUAI's research expertise with SUAD's interdisciplinary strengths to foster AI knowledge exchange between France and the UAE, focusing on the cultural applications of AI. Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz reported that this formal collaboration strengthens the UAE's AI ecosystem. She noted the partnership links two key research centers with the objective of advancing AI innovation and supporting the nation's economic and industrial growth. The agreement also calls for engagement with public and private sector partners to apply AI solutions to real-world challenges. Furthermore, the universities will contribute to ethical AI frameworks and data governance guidelines. Plans include producing white papers, best practices, and policy research to shape responsible AI use regionally and globally. Attending the signing from MBZUAI were Professor Sami Haddadin, Vice President for Research; Dekyi Liang, Vice President and Chief of Staff; and Joni Cholwich, Senior Advisor. From SUAD, attendees included Dr. Majed Al Khemeiri, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs; Dr. Clio Chaveneau, Head of SAFIR Research Institute; and Manon Al Hakim, Chief of Staff. This MoU marks a significant step in uniting two of the UAE's leading AI institutions to combine expertise, empower talent, and position the UAE as a global hub for Artificial Intelligence innovation and transformation. Partnership supports UAE's national AI priorities in research and education Joint initiatives span healthcare, energy, climate, and transportation sectors Focus on ethical AI development, education, and cross-border collaboration
Business Insider
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
LEGENDARY HUMANITY, Announces Strategic Bitcoin Reserves and Enhancements to the VIVI Token Ecosystem
Singapore, Singapore, June 11th, 2025, Chainwire LEGENDARY HUMANITY PTE. LTD. (Headquarters: Singapore, CEO: Takamasa Suzuki) has announced today its asset management strategy utilizing Bitcoin (BTC). This initiative aims to stabilize the long-term value of the VIVI token ecosystem and enhance utility for token holders. This project bridges the gap between the real and digital worlds by integrating Web3 and digital fashion, leveraging AI-powered 3D scanning technology 'SCAI' for NFT authentication and fashion RWA. This announcement is part of a strategic initiative to enhance the financial stability and long-term sustainability of the project moving forward. Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Policy LEGENDARY HUMANITY will strategically accumulate Bitcoin (BTC) in stages using a portion of its internal funds. This Bitcoin initiative is not intended for the sale of financial products for asset management purposes, but rather as part of the project's autonomous financial strategy for the Web3 era. Quarterly Ecosystem Participation Rewards Point system and incentive exchange based on contributions to the project Enhancing the value of experiences within the ecosystem and providing new opportunities for participation Through this dual-pronged strategy of 'Bitcoin accumulation × token revenue distribution,' LEGENDARY HUMANITY aims to transcend the role of a mere digital fashion RWA project and serve as a 'fashion finance infrastructure' that fosters a cycle between fashion culture and RWA. This system is designed as part of the utility value associated with token ownership and is not intended to provide specific investment returns or principal guarantees. Main use cases and benefits of VIVI tokens: Digital fashion utility Early access to limited NFT collections 3D avatar customization features in metaverse spaces Discounts on virtual showroom rentals These features are made possible by SCAI's high-definition 3D scanning technology, enabling a digital asset experience. Access to physical × digital fusion events Based on the number of VIVI tokens held, the following benefits will be provided in stages through a tier system. Tier 1 (50,000 VIVI): Annual fashion event invitation (by lottery) Tier 2 (100,000 VIVI): Side event shipboard party invitation (by lottery) Tier 3 (200,000 VIVI): Rental rights for physical archive items The team prioritizes compliance with the legal frameworks of Singapore and other countries, collaborating with external law firms to strengthen our ongoing compliance framework. Moving forward, the team aims to continue striving for the establishment of a safe and sustainable token ecosystem, creating value through both technology and trust. LEGENDARY HUMANITY PTE. LTD. specializes in AI-powered 3D scanning technology called 'SCAI,' digitizing human-designed masterpieces and authenticating and storing them as NFTs. Our mission is to connect the value of precious assets to the future. Contact CSO Kenji Fujii
