• Britain's Prince William is in Africa this week to discuss threats to conservation ahead of a London conference on the illegal wildlife trade. The Duke of Cambridge was in Namibia on Tuesday and will visit Tanzania and Kenya. On Monday he met Namibian Vice President Nangolo Mbumba. The prince's weeklong trip ends Sunday. Kensington Palace said Prince William is making the "private working trip" as president of the United for Wildlife group and patron of Tusk, another conservation organization. The prince has campaigned against the killing of elephants, rhinos, pangolins and other species. He has also noted that poaching has a human toll when rangers are killed, communities lose the benefits of wildlife tourism and criminal networks flourish. Britain hosts a meeting on the illegal wildlife trade on Oct. 11-12.
• Reality television star Thomas Ravenel was arrested Tuesday after a former nanny said he fondled her at his South Carolina home featured in his TV show Southern Charm nearly four years ago. Ravenel, 56, was charged with misdemeanor second-degree assault and battery, according to a sworn statement from Charleston Police which said they had photos of the injuries caused when the woman's underwire bra cut into her chest and her shirt got caught around her neck as Ravenel tried to forcibly take off her clothes. Bravo released a statement shortly after saying Ravenel would no longer appear on the network's Southern Charm show. Ravenel is already a felon. He was arrested in 2007 less than a year into his term as South Carolina treasurer after he bought cocaine for himself and his friends. The real estate developer pleaded guilty and spent 10 months in prison. In 2014, Ravenel pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Long Island, N.Y., resulting in his license being suspended for six months. The former nanny said she was in Ravenel's Charleston home in January 2015 when he took off her pants and fondled her, according to the sworn statement. The woman also said Ravenel put his genitals in her face and made vulgar comments, according to the affidavit. She immediately called her family and pictures were taken of her injuries, police said. "It has affected me every single day since he has done this. It's not a situation where someone wins or loses. We all lost," the nanny said in court, according to The Post and Courier of Charleston. Ravenel and his lawyer didn't comment on the charge as he was released on his own recognizance after the bond hearing, media outlets reported. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
A Section on 09/26/2018