News
Former French teacher charged with abusing dozens of teenagers since the 1960s
Authorities claim that Jacques Leveugle maintained a record of the abuse, which reportedly occurred in multiple countries, leading investigators to urge potential additional victims to step forward.
A French national, aged 79, is facing charges related to the rape and sexual assault of 89 teenagers, with allegations spanning multiple countries and decades, dating back to the 1960s.
The suspect, Jacques Leveugle, was taken into custody in south-east France after his nephew discovered a USB drive containing alleged details of his interactions with minors, according to Grenoble prosecutor Etienne Manteaux.
Authorities have chosen to publicly identify the suspect due to the fact that only around 40 of the 89 alleged victims have been identified so far.
Prosecutor Manteaux urged potential victims to come forward, stating that now is the opportune time to do so.
The alleged crimes are said to have occurred between 1967 and 2022, according to police.
Leveugle's occupation involved working with children at holiday camps, where he served as an informal teacher or assistant, as stated by the prosecutor.
A timeline of Leveugle's movements, tracing back to the 1960s, has been released, highlighting his presence in various locations over the years.
It is alleged that the suspect may have committed assaults not only in France but also in several other countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
According to Manteaux, Leveugle would often engage in tutoring and teaching during his travels, where he would meet young people and allegedly have sexual relations with them.
Leveugle was apprehended in 2024, following a visit to his brother's residence in the Isère department, near the city of Grenoble in south-eastern France, where he was living at the time in Morocco.
The nephew of the suspect, who had suspicions about his uncle's activities, examined a USB drive belonging to Leveugle during his absence in October 2023, allegedly discovering extensive written and photographic records of his interactions with minors.
The prosecutor described Leveugle as having a complex personality, stating that the victims who have come forward described him as someone who spent time helping them learn foreign languages and develop their cultural awareness.
Manteaux explained that while significant progress has been made in identifying victims, some entries in Leveugle's journal only included first names, creating a challenge for investigators, which led to the decision to launch a public appeal for additional victims to come forward.
During questioning, Leveugle allegedly confessed to the murders of his mother and aunt, claiming to have smothered them with cushions.
The suspect is accused of killing his mother in 1974, while she was terminally ill with cancer, and his 92-year-old aunt in 1992.
According to the prosecutor, Leveugle explained that his aunt had begged him not to leave for the Cévennes, prompting him to take the decision to end her life.
Leveugle allegedly justified the killings by stating that he hoped someone would show him the same mercy if he were in a similar situation at the end of his life.
A separate investigation has been launched into the alleged murders.
Under French law, alleged assaults that occurred prior to 1993 are subject to the statute of limitations, making prosecution impossible; however, Manteaux emphasized the importance of gathering a comprehensive understanding of Leveugle's alleged crimes.
In recent high-profile cases in France, perpetrators kept records of their activities, which ultimately contributed to their convictions.
In the case of Dominique Pélicot, who was jailed for 20 years, videos of men assaulting his wife, whom he had drugged, served as key evidence.
Similarly, former doctor Joêl Le Scouarnec, also jailed for 20 years, had compiled detailed computer records of his molestation of hundreds of children in a hospital, which proved crucial in securing his conviction.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
-
News7 hours agoAustralian Politics Faces Questions Over Gender Equality Amid Sussan Ley’s Appointment
-
News4 hours agoFarage Says Reform to Replace Traditional Tory Party
-
News4 hours agoWrexham Pair Seek Win Against Former Team Ipswich
-
News9 hours agoLiberal Party Removes Australia’s First Female Leader
-
News7 hours agoUK Braces for Cold Snap with Snow and Ice Alerts Expected
-
News4 hours agoHusband’s alleged £600k theft for sex and antiques blamed on drug side effects
-
Business10 hours agoBBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool
-
News7 hours agoCanadian Town Unites in Mourning After Mass Shooting Leaves Community Reeling