US gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols delivered excruciating accounts of sexual abuse endured under disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and how the FBI had botched its investigation before a US Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Biles and Raisman appeared before the US Senate Judiciary Committee alongside former Olympic teammate Maroney and former gymnast Nichols, who was the first gymnast to report abuse to USA Gymnastics.
All four gymnasts have publicly said they were abused by Nassar.
The hearing comes after US Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a scathing report in July that meticulously detailed the FBI's mishandling of the investigation.
Biles, speaking first, noted the failure and negligence of the organisations that were designed to protect her and other US gymnasts and demanded that Nassar's enablers be held accountable.
“I don’t want another young gymnast, Olympic athlete or any individual to experience the horror that I and hundreds of others have endured before, during and continuing to this day,” Biles said.
Biles, 24, is one of the most decorated US gymnasts of all time. She withdrew from the vault and uneven bars competitions at the Tokyo Olympics this year, citing mental health reasons. She was expected to medal in both events.
Maroney, speaking next, accused the FBI agents involved in the investigation of protecting a sexual predator. Maroney, who described Nassar as "more of a paedophile than he was a coach", recalled a three-hour phone call with an FBI agent in 2015 in which she detailed the abuse she had endured.
The FBI did not document her interview until 17 months later, when she found they made "entirely false claims" about what she said. By this time, Nassar had already been arrested on charges of possessing sexually explicit images of children.
“They chose to fabricate. They chose to lie about what I said and protect a serial child molester rather than protect not only me, but countless others,” she said.
“What is the point of reporting abuse if our own FBI agents are going to take it upon themselves to bury that report in a drawer?”
Mr Horowitz supported this claim in his own testimony, and added that the now-fired agent "could have bolstered Mr Nassar's defence."
They chose to lie about what I said and protect a serial child molester rather than protect not only me, but countless others
McKayla Maroney,
former US Olympic gymnast
Nichols and Raisman provided similar stinging rebukes of the FBI's investigation and detailed their own experiences of the agency's mishandling of the sex abuse probe.
"I remember sitting with the FBI agent and him trying to convince me that it wasn't that bad," Raisman said.
FBI Director Chris Wray, who testified alongside Mr Horowitz, announced that that one of the agents who participated in the botched investigation now no longer works for the agency in any capacity.
"I'm deeply and profoundly sorry," Mr Wray said.
Nassar was sentenced in federal court in 2017 to 60 years in prison for charges of possessing child sex abuse material. Later that year, he was sentenced to 175 years and up to 125 years, respectively, for molesting gymnasts under his care. More than 150 women at the time gave evidence that they had been sexually abused by Nassar.
Prosecutors estimate he sexually assaulted hundreds of women.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
