James Clarke, 81, charged over historical child sex abuse
James Clarke with an address in Canada faces three charges dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.
2023-09-16 19:48
Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate present victim's statement to Romanian authorities amid ongoing lawsuit
Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate's alleged victim accused them of confining several women and brainwashing them
2023-09-14 15:25
Durex is recruiting condom testers
Safe sex is imperative — especially given a nearly 24 percent increase in STI diagnoses
2023-09-13 16:18
Australia MP says male colleague used to breathe on her neck in parliament
Karen Andrews says the physical harassment and crude comments occurred inside parliament.
2023-09-12 12:17
What happens at a sexual health check-up?
With record levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis cases reported by the UK Health Security Agency, it’s important to take sexual health seriously – and not just for young people. In fact, the number of common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among over-65s increased by 20% from 2017 to 2019, according to the Local Government Association. This is why if you are sexually active, regular testing is necessary whatever your age – even if you don’t have any symptoms. “Sexual health check-ups are important because STIs can be silent but can also have significant health implications,” says Dr Priyanka Patel, consultant ambulatory gynaecologist at London Gynaecology. “STIs such as chlamydia can affect female fertility, and STIs such as HIV weaken the immune system.” To mark Sexual Health Week (September 11-17), Dr Patel talks through some key points about STI screening… How often should you have an STI check? “You need to have an STI check whenever you have a new partner, especially if you’re not using condoms, or think you were exposed to an STI,” says Patel. “Everyone should have an STI screen, including an HIV test, every year if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners.” Testing is also advised for anyone who develops possible symptoms. These may include unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus; pain when peeing; blisters, sores, lumps or skin growths on the genitals or anus; itching or a rash. What will you be asked at a check-up? You can find your nearest sexual health clinic via the NHS to book an appointment. Many sexual health services now offer free self-sampling kits to order online for people who don’t have any symptoms and want to do a check-up at home. “Men may have to hold their urine before testing, but women do not need to do anything in particular to prepare,” Patel says. “You will be asked about your sexual history, partners, contraceptive use and general health. You will be asked for details about your recent sexual partners and types of sex you have.” These questions may feel personal or intrusive but are important to ensure the correct tests are done. Remember, taking care of your sexual health is about being safe and empowered and healthcare professionals are there to help. What tests are done? “The testing will depend on the answers you give about the types of sex you have,” says Patel. “Vaginal, throat and anal swabs may be done – these will be used to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.” To do this, the clinician rubs a cotton bud inside the area for a few seconds. A blood sample will be taken to test for syphilis and HIV. Patel continues: “If you have symptoms, then the clinician will usually carry out a speculum examination to look at the health of the vagina and cervix.” How do you get STI test results? The way your results are delivered varies between clinics, and they will advise when you should expect to hear back. “Most will send results via a text message or give you a number to call for results,” says Patel, while some have a ‘no news is good news’ policy, meaning if you don’t hear anything then you’ve got the all-clear. For home testing kits, you’ll get a notification to say your samples were received and results are usually sent via text message. “If you test positive for an STI, they will arrange for treatment and offer support,” Patel explains – which goes for both clinic and self-sampling. She adds: “It’s important to notify partners of any positive results and the sexual health clinic can also assist in anonymous partner notification.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 9 arthritis myths we all need to stop believing Prince Harry spotted at Windsor Castle on anniversary of Queen’s death How the weather can change the way you dream
2023-09-11 15:18
Italy's PM Meloni champions 'family values.' But critics say she's doing little to protect women from violence
When Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made an official visit to the crime-ridden Neapolitan suburb of Caivano last week, she promised a "radical reclamation" of a territory she admitted "the state had failed."
2023-09-10 15:29
Johnny Kitagawa's sexual abuse: Japan's worst kept secret
For decades, sexual assault accusations marred his career - and for decades, the media failed to investigate.
2023-09-08 19:58
Johnny Kitagawa: J-pop agency's new boss Higashiyama also faces abuse allegations
Noriyuki Higashiyama said he could not recall if he had sexually assaulted juniors at the boyband agency.
2023-09-08 12:21
Ukraine war: Curfews and closures mark a Friday night in Kyiv
Last orders at 10pm, a midnight curfew, and Russian air raids. How does a night out work in a war?
2023-09-08 08:20
Johnny Kitagawa: J-pop agency boss resigns over predator's abuse
Julie Fujishima admits for the first time that rampant sexual abuse took place in her uncle's agency.
2023-09-07 16:27
Trump suffers loss in second E Jean Carroll defamation case
A judge has ruled that Donald Trump is liable for defaming the writer who accused him of rape.
2023-09-07 02:23
TikTok star teacher is arrested for allegedly having sex with 16-year-old in Thailand
TikTok star and American English teacher Luke Rockwell was arrested in Thailand after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl he met online, according to reports. Mr Rockwell, An American, was arrested in Bangkok on 2 September, NBC News reported. @English_with_teacherluke, as he is known online, appeared in court on Monday night and was released on bail, according to NBC. His TikTok account, which boasts 1.3m followers, has been set to private. According to The Bangkok Post, Mr Rockwell was accused of filming their sexual encounters. NBC News spoke to the girl’s mother, who said that the pair met in March just after the girl had turned 16. She said they met at Mr Rockwell’s home because he didn’t want to be seen in public with the minor. Although the teen and the social media influencer first had protected sex, Mr Rockwell showed medical documents to the teen that indicated he was healthy, so they had unprotected sex, the girl’s mom said. Months later, on 25 August, the teen was suffering from bleeding and pain, her mom told NBC News; three days later she told her mother about her relationship with Mr Rockwell, and was taken to a hospital before filing a police report. Five days later, the 16-year-old’s mom continued, the hospital confirmed she had STIs. On 31 August, the police issued a warrant for Mr Rockwell’s arrest. “The police could not find him still on Friday so they asked if my daughter can lure him out for a meeting and we did that together with police presence while she texted him. And that’s how he was arrested on Saturday,” the girl’s mother told NBC. “I was so shocked and it gave me a big punch in the chest. I was filled with sorrow and anger when I found out what he did [the recordings] to my daughter,” the teen’s mother added, saying she was disappointed that the influencer was granted bail. The upset mother also told The DailyMail, “Teacher Luke told her to keep everything a secret until she turned 18. He told my daughter that he loved her and would let her come live with him when she’s no longer a minor.” After the girl tested positive for gonorrhea and shared the results with the influencer, the mother told NBC, Mr Rockwell “promised that he would take responsibility for the costs.” “I’m not complaining to the police because I want money or compensation. I don’t care about the money,” she continued. “I want every woman and child to know how evil Teacher Luke is. It’s embarrassing for me to tell people about what’s happening to my family but I hope it prevents Teacher Luke from ever taking advantage of any girl in the future.” Lieutenant General Thitsit Sangsawan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division who called for the arrest operation, told NBC: “The American suspect was arrested for sex with a minor who is over 15 years old but not exceeding 18 years and recording the act of sex with a minor.” “Additionally, he is accused of taking a minor away from their parents, guardian, or caretaker without reasonable cause, willingly and intentionally,” the lieutenant general continued. “The suspect surrendered willingly and was cooperative. He has confessed to the relationship with the minor.” The case is still under investigation, police added. According to Thailand Law Library, although the age of consent in the country is 15, anyone who “takes away” someone over the age of 15 but under 18 “for indecent act with consent of such person, shall be punished with imprisonment of not exceeding five years or fined not exceeding ten thousand Baht ($280), or both.” Read More TikTok is divided on Mac’s squirt plumping gloss stick, but our beauty buffs love it TikToker sparks backlash for complaining about popular European vacation spots: ‘Dying to go home’ Death investigation underway, thousands trapped: What we know about 2023 Burning Man festival’s flooding chaos
2023-09-06 01:51