Australian Teacher Avoids Jail for Student Sexual Abuse

Every day, numerous events occur around the world, making it impossible to keep up with the news flow. Therefore, we compile the main highlights in this digest. Today, we summarize the events of November 23.

Two Americans Planned to Turn an Entire Island into Sex Slaves 

In the US, two men from Texas, 21-year-old Gavin Rivers Weisenberg and 20-year-old Tanner Christopher Thomas, planned a bloody coup d«état on Gonâve Island, part of Haiti. They have been charged with conspiracy, according to The Guardian.

The men intended to buy a boat, weapons, and ammunition for the invasion and began preparations. Thomas enlisted in the United States Air Force »to gain military skills.« He then transferred to an Air Force base in Maryland to carry out his plan to recruit homeless people in Washington. Weisenberg traveled to Thailand to learn sailing and underwent firearms training.

They managed to learn Haitian Creole and started recruiting people. Homeless individuals from the capital were to be used as infantry during the invasion. Weisenberg and Thomas wanted to kill all men and use women and children as sex slaves to »fulfill their rape fantasies.« They now face life imprisonment. 

Scammers Use Different Schemes Based on Victim»s Age

Scammers tailor their schemes to each individual, with age playing a significant role in targeting victims, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs« department for combating illegal use of information and communication technologies.

9–17 years: schemes involve social media and online games. Scammers pose as streamers or project administrators, offer »prizes« or »level-ups,« and demand parents» card details, SMS codes, or phone access. Children are intimidated with fabricated «criminal cases» or «threats to the family.» Perpetrators also offer «side jobs» that often lead to involvement in illegal operations.

• 18–25 years: people in this age group are targeted through job offers and investments. They are asked for «activation fees,» training payments, or product purchases «to start.» Schemes involving «hacking of Gosuslugi» (government services) and «loan applications» are common. They are also scammed via dating sites, with requests to pay for tickets, gifts, or delivery.

• 26–40 years: this group faces similar earning schemes. They are offered «guaranteed investments,» high-paying freelance work, and trading platforms. Often, calls are made pretending to be from the Central Bank or Rosfinmonitoring (Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service), reporting suspicious transactions and persuading transfers to «reserve accounts.» Many deceptions involve marketplaces and dangerous links disguised as delivery or promotions.

• 45–60 years: for this age, scammers most often impersonate government or financial institution employees. They report «terrorism financing,» «account blockages,» and secure transfers or handovers to couriers. At the same time, calls from «utilities,» «tax authorities,» or «operators» are used to obtain codes and account access.

• 61 and older: multi-step schemes are used, simulating service hacks followed by calls from various government agencies. The «relative in trouble» bait remains relevant. Elderly citizens are also deceived by fake visits from housing office or postal workers to gain apartment access. They are frequently recruited as couriers.

Six Russian Athletes Allowed to Compete in Olympics 

The International Luge Federation (FIL) has allowed six athletes from Russia to participate in competitions under its auspices, according to the Russian Luge Federation«s press service.

They include Sofia Mazur, Daria Olesik, Ksenia Shamova, Alexander Gorbatsevich, Pavel Repilov, and Matvey Perestoronin. All compete in single-seater sleds and will perform in neutral status, TASS reports.

Watch of Couple Who Died on Titanic Sold at Auction 

A watch belonging to a couple who died on the Titanic in 1912 was sold for 1.78 million pounds (approximately 208.6 million rubles, or about $2.1 million at current rates). The auction results were announced by Henry Aldridge and Son.

The gold pocket watch by Jules Jurgensen belonged to German-American businessman Isidor Straus. He was traveling on the liner with his wife Ida.

When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began sinking, Straus refused a seat in a lifeboat. Ida also declined to save herself. They gave their spot to their maid, TASS writes.

The story of their final moments was featured in James Cameron»s film «Titanic.» They are depicted sitting together in a cabin filling with water.

Three-Year-Old Girl Found on Street in Jewish Autonomous Region 

A three-year-old child was found without outer clothing in the cold in Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Region (Russia). The regional Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported this.

«Early in the morning in Birobidzhan, a passerby found a undressed three-year-old child in the frost. A criminal case has been initiated,» the statement said.

According to police, the 22-year-old mother was drinking in company that evening. She then left her daughter alone in the apartment, asking a 38-year-old acquaintance to look after her. That person put the child to sleep and left. The girl was found by a passerby in only a light T-shirt, who called rescuers. Currently, the child«s life and health are not threatened.

The woman who saved the girl claims she found her with her husband around midnight local time. She suggested the child was afraid of her mother, as the girl reacted calmly to her husband but warily to her, according to Telegram channel 112. 

Turkey Plans to Discuss Two Key Issues with Russia 

Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he wants to call Russian President Vladimir Putin. The phone conversation may take place on Monday, November 24, 2025.

Erdoğan announced the talk at a press conference in South Africa, where he participated in the G20 summit. He noted that he intends to discuss with Putin a new grain corridor and specific steps for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

Fine Threatened for Building Ice Slide in Yard 

Constructing ice slides in residential courtyards violates improvement rules, according to lawyer Mikhail Salkin.

»You cannot build an ice slide in the yard; it«s a violation of improvement, unauthorized occupation of a land plot. If the yard land belongs to the house, and there is a decision by the owners» meeting, the slide height must not exceed 40 cm. If the slide is higher, it is considered a non-mechanized attraction, non-compliance with whose rules risks a fine of up to two thousand rubles,« the lawyer stated.

If the slide causes an injury, the penalty will be higher, he clarified in a conversation with NEWS.ru. The amount increases due to compensation for health damage. 

Teacher in Australia Avoids Responsibility for Student Abuse

In Australia, a former teacher avoided responsibility for sexual abuse of students. Mirror reports.

Foreign language teacher Helga Lam faced court on charges of sexually abusing several schoolchildren between 1978 and 1979. At the time, the students were aged 13 to 16. They filed civil lawsuits and secured compensation of 2.5 million Australian dollars.

However, Lam, now 71, was found not guilty because she »did not know that the sexual abuse harmed the students.« The judge exempted her from paying the amount, noting that »almost 50 years ago, everything was different,« and the educator likely did not understand »the consequences of sexual behavior between adults and minors.«

Other News

Every week, we compile a weekly summary. In this digest, we cover events, bills, and political decisions from the past week.

In addition to the weekly news digest, we gather key events from the special military operation. Read about how the battlefield situation changed and what decisions were made this week here.

Read how Russia, Ukraine, and Europe reacted to Trump»s peace plan. While optimistic words were previously heard about the project, things have now become more complicated.

Much is happening in show business as well. A housekeeper of psychic Vlad Cherevaty stole 12 million from him, journalist Margarita Simonyan lost her hair due to chemicals, and Tanya Bulanova«s backup dancers ran away. We covered all celebrity life stories in a separate article.