Nonstop flights are available from most major airports. More information for your vacation planning is available at aruba. Com. And now, bbc world news. Jane this is bbc world news america. Reporting from washington, im jane obrien. Judgment day for a serial abuser. Dr. Larry nassar gets prison up to 175 years in prison after heartrending testimony from a u. S. Gymnasts. We were ultimately Strong Enough to take you down, not by one, but an army of survivors. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days. Jane the bbc has an exclusive report from inside Northern Syria as President Trump urges turkey to draw down its military action in the country. Im Still Standing jane and Still Standing for at least a little while longer. Why elton john is planning one final world tour before exiting the stage. Jane welcome to our viewers on Public Television and around the globe. Saying that she just signed his death warrant, a judge in michigan handed down a sentence of up to 175 years against former usa gymnastics doctor larry nassar. The onetime medical expert and personal confidant to hundreds of young female athletes spent days hearing emotional testimony from his accusers. More than 150 of them filed personal statements against him. The bbcs north america correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan has been in the courtroom and sent this report. The tables have turned, larry. We are here. We have our voices. And we are not going anywhere. The amount of physical , mental, and Emotional Trauma this man has forced on us is immeasurable. Rajini during the last seven days, their voices and stories have become hard to ignore. 156 women say they were sexually abused by this man, larry nassar. Judge aquilina im giving 175 years, which is 2100 months. I just signed your death warrant. Rajini just married judge Rosemarie Aquilina invited other women who had abused by him to come forward. What started as 10 connections turned into an outpouring of testimony. Today she did not hold back. Judge aquilina your decision to assault was precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable. I wouldnt send my dogs to you, sir. You do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. Nassar haday larry this message for the women who were abused. An acceptable apology to all of you is impossible to write or convey. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days. Rajini described as a monster and satan in court, the former usa Gymnastics Team doctor treated hundreds of women over decades. From decorated olympians and statelevel gymnasts to the children of family friends, snet sent to him for medical treatment. Instead of taking away their pain, he stole their innocence. I think we saw another example of larry as a master manipulator. He didnt think he did anything wrong, so his words are empty. They are empty. They are empty i think we have started a tidal wave of people speaking up, because they feel supported, they feel validated, and that is not just for nassar victims. That is every victim of Sexual Assault and abuse. Rajini many here still wonder how larry nassar was able to womenyoung and vulnerable for so long and not be held to account. But those same young women demonstrated shear strength here in this court room. The judge described them as warriors and super women. Jane moment for women in sport generally . I think it is entirely possible that here in the United States or of seen so many different instances of power being held over women who seemingly dont have a whole lot of power, and the women gymnastics situation in particular, it is not only the abuse that was occurring, it was the coverup after the abuse that is so concerning to me, and that is why these things are unfortunately perpetuated for so very long a lot of times. I think all sports governing need to behe usoc careful unaware and do their job when an athlete comes to them and says there is something wrong. At the very least they should believe them which is not what was happening with the usa team, and then pursue and see what is going on. Jane as somebody who has been involved in top competitive sport and has witnessed and been involved in these sorts of relationships and powerful relationships close up, how does this happen . Try to give us a sense of how these relationships can become so abusive. Well, in particular, the case with a doctor and athlete is similar to a coach and an athlete. That doctor, that coach, is the steward of that person, the athlete of their dream. They are part of the gateway in which an athlete can get from their dream to the reality. In the case of usa gymnastics, that is why it is so diabolical, in my opinion, because you are taking athletes who are striving, young girls at that age, trying to be the best they can be and play for their countries, and the people who are supposed to safeguard them, train them, and help them get to that level are the ones that are bringing them down. That is why it is so difficult for them to really even say anything in the first place, because they feel like either they are going to wreck their own chances of getting to their dreams, which is the only thing they have wanted to do for so long, or they may not actually be believed, and a lot of times they have guilt about it. There are so many things going on in that dynamic, and it is very difficult. I really applaud all of those women who came forward and got their day to say what happened to them and to really see justice done. Christian part of the problem, it seems to me, in athletics in the United States, as was the case with the football abuse scandal here in the united kingdom, is that the governing body did not feel it had the ability to exert more influence over the clubs. Would you say that as part of the problem . I definitely think that is part of the problem. I think each governing body the clubs, as you said and the governing body over the clubs, Everybody Needs to understand that this is not ok. If there is a whisper or inclination of abuse that goes from the athlete to the club and the club to the governing body, action has to be taken. At least they have to acknowledge that there is something going on, and whenever the road leads to, whether it was true or not true, it has to be pursued. What ends up happening is you have a situation like you had with usa gymnastics where these girls are going and they are trying to do the right thing by telling someone, and no one is doing anything. One body thinks they dont have power over the other, and vice versa. When somebody needs to step up and take responsibility. I think it is important that all of the governing bodies do that and understand that. President trump has urged his turkish counterpart to roll back turkeys military operations in syria. During a call between the two leaders, mr. Trump warned about the risk of conflict in the area. This comes as tensions soared over turkeys military operations against u. S. Backed fighters. Our correspondent mark lowen has been the first to be granted access close to the front line. Mark the drill of war. Syrian Opposition Police training for a new front. They are backed by turkey. The two working sidebyside in the offensive against the Kurdish Militia, or ypg. Target, says turkey, is linked to the pkk, kurdish insurgents inside of turkey. Some troops here are kurds taking up arms against the Kurdish Militia. This commander denies he is betraying his people. I am taking part in this offensive not to fight the kurds but to save them from the terrorism of the ypg. They have planted terror into the heads of our youth. Mark shelling intensified as turkeys president vowed to neutralize every last terrorist. Many of those involved are sent from here to the nearby frontline. The terrain is bumpy, the threat is constant. Any car, any passerby, is scanned for explosives. We are patrolling the front line with turkish troops, the closest position of the ypg Kurdish Militia, just a few hundred meters in that direction where they fire artillery. We heard a couple of incoming mortars. The Turkish Military offensive is focused on clearing the villages around this area of the ypg, and turkey says it wants to establish a buffer zone pushing the militia about 20 miles deep away from its border into Northern Syria. Among local residents, there is trust in those keeping guard and in the operation itself. The Kurdish Militia stole our villages, killed our young people, and displaced us arabs, says this refugee. God should bless the military offensive. But ypg resistance is fierce. They are armed by the u. S. The kurds say civilians are being killed by turkish artillery. Turkey denies it. But for those in areas hit by airstrikes, it is hell. There is no one here. Im alone. There is no electricity and they are firing on us. They are taking the world with this. Everybody has left. Mark it is scarred by the legacy of a sevenyearlong war. In syria, territorys power, and as the country has fallen apart, turkey is determined to stop its ageold foes grabbing a piece of it. Mark lowen, bbc news, Northern Syria. Jane a look at the days other news, and in pakistan, the main suspect in the recent killing of a sixyearold has been remanded in custody for 14 days. The chief minister of Punjab Province says the suspect has confessed, and the dna matched samples from the crime scene. The murder triggered protests across the country. Judges in brazil have rejected an appeal by the former president Lula Da Silva against his corruption conviction. The three judges said he had broken the law by accepting a apartment from a Construction Company involved in a corruption scheme. They increased his original sentence from 9. 5 years to just over 12 years in jail. Apple has announced that changes that allow users to turn off the controversial feature that slows down iphones when batteries are running low. The firm was criticized in december after it admitted deliberately slowing down some aging Iphone Models to conserve battery life. It has promised to rectify the problem, but still faces lawsuits. And Tammy Duckworth will become the first sitting u. S. Senator to give birth later this year at the age of 50. The illinois democrat is a retired Army Lieutenant colonel who flew helicopters during the iraq war. She was the first female double amputee after suffering severe combat wounds in 2004. The socalled Islamic State group has said it was behind a suicide bomb and gun attack on a Childrens Charity in afghanistan. The offices of save the children in jalalabad were the target. At least two people were killed and 12 injured. Save the children has temporarily suspended all of its afghan programs. From kabul, this report. Reporter the International Charity save the children under fire by insurgents. The attack began with a car bomb outside the Aid Organization at 9 00 in the morning, followed by gunmen entering the compound. Residents fled the area as Afghan Special forces arrived to fight back. The Islamic State group said their militants carried out the attack, which killed at least two people and injured several more. Clashes continued for hours, a difficult and exhausting fight. I was in my shop when i heard the gunshots and explosions, and then suicide attackers stormed the building. The situation is quite bad. I saw several dead and injured bodies. It was around 9 00 a. M. When i heard gunshots, followed by a very big explosion. I think that was a car bomb. The gunshots and explosions continued for a while, and then Afghan Security forces arrived in the area. Reporter this is the latest attack on a Foreign Organization in afghanistan. Save the children has released a statement saying they have temporarily closed all of their programs and offices in the country. They said, we remain committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible. The assault comes four days after taliban gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the afghan capital, kabul. Five taliban militants attacked hotel intercontinental, which lasted 15 hours and killed 22 people, including 14 foreigners killed in the attack. Last year the International Committee of the red cross also suspended many of its operations in afghanistan after several of its staff were killed by isis militants. The group has ramped up attacks on Foreign Organizations as well as targets in afghanistan in the last few months. But Afghan Forces are hopeful that with the help of American Special forces, they can defeat i. S. Bbc news, kabul. Jane in an update to saturdays attack on the Continental Hotel in kabul, the u. S. State Department Says four u. S. Citizens were killed and 2 injured. You are watching bbc world news america. Cod still to come on tonights program jane the sun is going down on sir elton johns concerts. After half a century of touring, he has one last set of shows. In venezuela, the government has ordered fresh elections before the end of april. President Nicolas Maduro told thousands of his supporters at a rally that he is ready to seek another sixyear term. His potential challengers are in selfimposed exile or in jail. Maduro remainsas defiant under pressure. The decision to call elections in venezuela before the end of april came after the eu imposed sanctions on several senior government officials, expressing concern about the political crisis in the country. Instead of throwing the government introduces a right, it is thrown mr. Majuro it majurosed mr. Chances of reelection. Or sections, more elections. In a president in venezuela, donald trump does not decide. In venezuela, the European Union does not decide. The venezuelan people do. Reporter the announcement comes at the worst possible time for the venezuelan opposition. Performanceespite of protests, heavily repressed by Security Forces that ended with more than 140 people dead, they failed to bring down mr. Maduro. In the past, the opposition has called for early elections, but now its main leaders are either in jail or selfimposed exile. The path of dialogue has been discredited by the venezuelan dictatorship. It is a parody of dialogue that the regime is taking advantage of to buy time while the country is drowning in despair. Reporter in a country immersed in a Major Economic crisis come where food and medicine are short in supply and criminality faith inmany have lost elections, which they say are rigged in favor of the government. Mr. Maduro says that sanctions and if your list are to blame and imperialists are to blame. Sir elton john has announced he will stop touring to spend more time with his family, but only after one last extended encore. The legendary musician will hit the road for a series of 300 concerts over the next three years. He made the announcement in new york, and nick bryant has more. Nick elton john used a Virtual Reality show of previous performances to announce that he does not want to do the real thing anymore. After almost 50 years performing around the world, he has finally decided where his future lies, and it is away from immigration halls and the 180 flights a year. Elton id buy a big house where we both could live nick he wants to spend more time with his family. Elton ive never had that before, ive never had children, and it has changed my life. I love them so much and i dont like leaving them behind, and wherever i go, they say, please , daddy, dont dont go. I facetime them now. Youll be here yes, ill be here. Im Still Standing nick the ultimate piano man still clearly loves performing and will continue to release records, but he is 70 years old and has clocked up more than 4000 concerts in 75 countries. Elton enough. I just dont want to travel anymore. Ive been traveling since i was 17 in the back of a van. Although i travel in the most fantastic way, it is exhausting and i dont enjoy it. Nick it is a long goodbye. Elton it is a long goodbye. It is a threeyear tour, but im really, really looking forward to it. They will be happy shows. I wont regret it. I want to give my fans the best farewell possible. Nick no chance of a change of mind . Elton no. So goodbye, yellow brick road nick in three years time, a really will be goodbye yellow book road. The pianist who gave the world rocket man promises he will go out with a bang. Nick bryant, bbc news, new york. Jane for more, i spoke earlier with music expert at syracuse university. He has been touring since his teens, an awful long time. Are you surprised he has been going strong this long . Yeah, i think that is the right take on it. This is a guy who is in his 70s. I dont think most people at home have a real appreciation of how incredibly grueling a tour is, even if you are touring in high style like elton john. Jane my best memory of him is playing at princess dianas funeral, and it gave a sense of how he was able to break the mold. Exactly how has he changed the culture, not just in the u. K. , but globally . In one way certainly he was responsible or a big contributor of why the 1970s was this great era of flamboyance. More recently he was a huge advocate, powerful and effective advocate, for fundraising and awareness around hiv. These are two substantial legacies for him. I should also say, obviously, this is a guy with more top 10 hits than could fit on a single album. Obviously, the musical legacy is where you probably start. Jane it really is incredible. Neil diamond is also retiring. Are we seeing the end of an era . It is a little bit of an end you have been seeing. These baby boomers are aging. You can look at the passing of david bowie as part of this. It is a concern for the music business, not only on a human level these are relationships that have been forged for decades but on a business level, there are 15, 20, 25 acts out there you can regularly count on when they do the big grosstours, they will 250 million, 300 million, even upwards of 400 million on a tour. Who is out there who will fill this gap . And are those people out there . Jane what about the fans . Presumably most of them are baby boomers as well. Do these acts attract new fans anymore . If i am being honest, not so much. I think the promoters say absolutely, and sometimes they do. You see multiple generations, if dad or mom loves elton john, they might bring their kids. But by and large i went to a neil diamond show maybe a decade garden, Madison Square and for my money, one of the best single shows ive ever seen. But certainly the average age of that show was possibly 68 or 70. Jane bill, i dont want to be cynical, but three years does seem a long time to say goodbye. Is this about ticket sales . Ultimately . Well, you cannot blame the guy for taking one last big swing through the world. He is certainly going to cash in on it. You are looking at gross is probably in excess of 400 million for a tour like this. With elton and knowing it is his last hurrah, but i think that when you look at his career and everything you know about his financial health, i dont think this is a guy who really needs the money. There is a real connection between elton and his fans. Johnsill werde on elton long farewell. Finally, 2 decades after dolly the sheep, scientists in china have used the same technique to clone 2 monkeys. They were born several weeks ago at a laboratory in shanghai. Scientists say genetically identical monkeys will help research into human diseases. Critics say the work raises ethical concerns. Putting science aside, there are durable, are they not . Perhaps not. I think i prefer cats. Find more on that story and all the bases on our website, and to see what were working on at any time, check out facebook. I am jane obrien. Thank you for watching world news america. With the bbc news app, our vertical videos are designed to work around your lifestyle, so you can swipe your way through the news of the day and stay up to date with the latest headlines you can trust. Download now from selected app stores. Funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, and kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. Planning a vacation escape that is relaxing, inviting, and exciting is a lot easier than you think. You can find it here in aruba. Families, couples, and friends can all find their escape on the island with warm, sunny days, cooling trade winds, and the crystal blue caribbean sea. Nonstop flights are available from most major airports. More information for your vacation planning is available at aruba. Com. Bbc world news was presented by kcet, los angeles. Captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc woodruff good evening. Im judy woodruff. On the newshour tonight you are no longer victims. You are survivors. Woodruff after more than 150 girls and women testify to abuse by larry nassar, the former u. S. Gymnastics doctor is sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. Then, a changing kingdom. I sit down with the first female spokesperson for saudi arabia, to discuss the rights of women, and the brutal war in yemen. And, building americas first dolphin sanctuary. We follow baltimores National Aquarium as they scout the new location for a unique oceanside facility. There are many people talking about it, but it hasnt been
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