Lexus is the latest business to distance itself from The Weinstein Company, saying on October 17 that it was evaluating their partnership.
Harvey Weinstein has been accused of rape, assault and harassment, but has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual relationships.
Amid the fallout over the scandal, Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, also resigned on October 17 over allegations of harassment.
Roy Price took a “leave of absence” on October 12 after Isa Hackett, a producer on the Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, told the Hollywood Reporter he allegedly harassed her in 2015.
Spain is prepared to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy on October 21, as its leader, Carles Puigdemont, threatened to declare independence.
The government said ministers would meet to activate Article 155 of the constitution, allowing it to take over running of the region.
Carles Puigdemont said earlier the Catalan parliament would vote on independence, backed in a disputed referendum on October 1, if Spain “continues repression”.
Some fear the moves could spark unrest.
The government statement said: “The Spanish government will continue with the procedures outlined in Article 155 of the Constitution to restore legality in Catalonia’s self-government.
“It denounces the attitude maintained by those in charge of the Generalitat [Catalan government] to seek, deliberately and systematically, institutional confrontation despite the serious damage that is being caused to the coexistence and the economic structure of Catalonia.
“No-one doubts that the Spanish government will do all it can to restore the constitutional order.”
Article 155 of Spain’s 1978 constitution, which cemented democratic rule after the death of General Franco three years earlier, allows Madrid to impose direct rule in a crisis but it has never been invoked.
Political leaders in Madrid and Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital, have been engaged in a tense stand-off since the disputed referendum, which Catalan leaders say resulted in a “Yes” vote for independence but which Spain’s supreme court regards as illegal.
Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy set the deadline of 10:00 local time for Carles Puigdemont to offer a definitive answer on the independence question, and called on him to “act sensibly”.
The prime minister said in parliament on October 18: “It’s not that difficult to reply to the question: has Catalonia declared independence? Because if it has, the government is obliged to act in one way, and if it has not, we can talk here.”
This was the second and final deadline, as Madrid says Carles Puigdemont on October 16 failed to clarify whether he had declared independence.
PM Mariano Rajoy is due to attend an EU summit in Brussels on October 19.
On October 21, the government will be expected to draw up a list of specific measures under Article 155 of the constitution, launching the transfer of powers from Catalonia to Madrid.
This fall, younger moviegoers will have the opportunity to learn about a strange time in the already-strange 1970s.
The oddities of that decade go beyond style, music, and politics to a brief resolution of the eternal question, “Are men naturally better tennis players than women?” To your surprise, the answer may not be the same as the answer to, “Am I eligible for Traffic School?”
Older viewers of the film “Battle of the Sexes” may enjoy the reminder of a moment when this question was answered “Not at all,” when the top women’s tennis player at the time, Billie Jean King, soundly defeated former great Bobby Briggs in a very public spectacle.
That may have settled the ‘girls vs. boys’ question for a few years, but the battle continues today on other fronts.
For instance, there is a definite question about whether male drivers are better than female drivers.
Insurance companies aren’t much help. Or maybe they have too much data to deal with. Or maybe it truly is complicated and people will believe what they want, regardless of statistics.
But generally, men are known to be more aggressive on the road and women are generally less so, although this doesn’t necessarily factor in age, race or environment.
Both genders have varying rates of accidents, but because men tend to take more risks, they sustain a higher rate of damage or death behind the wheel. They are also more likely to be at fault in an accident.
In their defense, men, generally do have more knowledge of the limits and performance of their vehicles, so are less likely to have rollover accidents than women.
Women, however, do have lower rates of insurance and are less likely to get tickets than males. But they are more prone to having more accidents, especially at intersections. Though these are at lower speeds, they can still be fatal, driving up the statistics on the women side.
Does this mean that one gender needs to find an online traffic school right away? Not necessarily.
Some studies show that some people are better drivers simply because they think they are. If you believe that your gender, and especially you, are a better driver than others, then you may convince yourself this is the truth and drive better.
This may be the key to success working with a driver who makes you scared or uncomfortable. Rather than saying, “you need to drive more like a boy” or “you need to drive more like a girl” and having to define this statement by giving specific examples, you might have to consider more of a general statement like, “I know you can do this because you’re a great driver and a credit to your gender.”
Warning – just saying this may cause the person to automatically hear, ‘they like my driving so I don’t have to change a thing.” So, you might have to find ways to diplomatically offer suggestions for improvements without sounding like you’re being critical (or ‘mansplaining’).
One suggestion is simply to provide more practice – if one person routinely drives and the other routinely is a passenger, there might be some nervousness when the roles are switched. But the more someone practices, higher their confidence behind the wheel will grow along with the ability to perform well.
If a spouse/partner doesn’t want to provide this one-on-one education, drivers can consider trying a refresher through a ca traffic school, where they can learn more advanced techniques or driving methods.
The main takeaway with either gender is to focus on staying as safe as possible, which includes always wearing your seatbelt and refraining from texting, eating or other distractions.
The band said in a written statement: “Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss… on the lips.”
Gord Downie’s lyrics often referenced Canadian culture and mythology, which endeared the band to fans who were used to seeing Canadian musicians “Americanize” their music to appeal to an international audience.
The Tragically Hip’s first full-length album, Up to Here, was full of the kinds of blues-tinged party songs like New Orleans is Sinking that helped make the band one of Canada’s most in-demand live acts across the country.
However, it was the band’s subsequent albums, infused with obscure references to Canadian history and hockey and experimental song structures like Fireworks and Bobcaygeon that truly defined the sound of the Tragically Hip.
The band never made it big in the US – a fact that didn’t seemed to bother Gord Downie or his band too much.
At home, they regularly sold out stadiums, but south of the border, they could often be found playing small-town bars, mostly filled with Canadian fans who had made the trek just to see them.
Far from a sign of failure, their lack of international fame only helped seal their reputation at home as a national treasure. Nine out of the band’s 13 studio albums went to No 1 on Canada’s music charts, and all of them cracked the top 10.
Shortly after Gord Downie announced his cancer diagnosis last year, the band went on a sold-out nationwide summer tour, which helped raise C$1 million ($800,000) for brain cancer research.
The tour culminated in a final show in Kingston, Ontario, the band’s hometown, that was broadcast live across Canada.
In the final year of his life, Gord Downie released a solo album and graphic novel titled The Secret Path, inspired by the true story of an indigenous boy who died while trying to escape a residential school.
For his work on reconciliation, Gord Downie was awarded an Order of Canada by PM Justin Trudeau.
Learn some useful tips for healthy eating for students
Sometimes all that essay writing and all the other assignments keep you so busy that you don’t even have time to eat properly. No wonder that after a few years in school students get digestion issues along with their education certificates. Here are some useful tips that may help you to make sure your diet is healthy, even when your workload is far from that.
So what are the main reasons why it’s hard for students to keep a healthy diet?
Lack of free time
On the average, you’ll need around 1 – 1,5 hours to cook a proper meal. You’ll probably say that it’s a luxury you just can’t afford – and you’ll be absolutely right. If your schedule is stuffed, one task to complete after another, it’s extremely hard to find as much as an hour of free time. Usually, there are so many things to do students try to do a few things at the same time (like wolfing down some fast food, working on essay topics and answering important emails, all at once).
The only way out of the situation is eating some convenience food or going to fast food restaurants. Needless to say, this kind of food is not the healthiest. Try to eat at least three times a day and avoid grabbing snacks in between your meals.
Lack of money
Many students just don’t have enough money to buy all ingredients for healthy meals. And it’s not that they are constantly cash-strapped. It’s just that more often than not, young people think they can spend their money on some “more useful” things than quality food (whether it’s a Prada handbag or a custom essay that saves you from trouble). Sounds familiar? Remember: by buying quality food products you invest in your future well-being. So spend money wisely and buy healthy foods.
Downright laziness
This is maybe one of the main reasons why students keep a not so healthy lifestyle. It’s just that when your workload is overwhelming, you get tired to much that the last thing you want to do is spend time cooking a healthy meal.
Image source Flickr
Useful tips: how to improve your diet
Tip 1: Learn to cook healthy food
Yes, anyone can cook eggs or warm some canned soup in a microwave. But something like roast chicken and potatoes may seem like mission impossible for many. So how can you improve your cooking skills? Well, there are lots of websites and YouTube video channels that can teach you how to cook healthy and easy meals. Ask your moms and grannies about some cooking secrets. Odds are, you’ll find that cooking is not as hard as you think. It can even be a lot of fun!
Try to experiment. Memorize (or write down) some simple recipes that will help you when you don’t have much time. You can keep ingredients for your meals prepared and packaged in your fridge so you could cook them quickly without spending much time on preparation. You’ll see that very soon you’ll get a knack of it and kill two birds with one stone: keep your diet healthy and do some quality essay writing.
Tip 2: Cook your meals in advance
If you don’t have much time for cooking after your classes are over, learn to cook in advance, for a few days ahead. Isn’t it great to come home tired and hungry, warm some food you’ve cooked a day before and eat without having to hurry anywhere? And it won’t be some low quality convenience food, but your own home cooking!
Tip 3: Take turns to cook
If you live with roommates, it’s probably they have the same diet issues you do. So wouldn’t it be easier to combine your efforts in order to solve your eating issues? Do a sort of a brainstorming session and think of a cooking schedule that will benefit you all. If you take turns cooking healthy homemade food, this will significantly improve your diet and allow you to forget about the lack of time issue. Besides, it will let you save some money too (remember, you might need it for that essay writing service).
Eat healthy, stay healthy – it’s quite possible, even if you are the most diligent student ever.
Lena Headey, who plays Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, has accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment.
According to the Game of Thrones star, Harvey Weinstein was “furious” after she resisted his advances. She made the revelation in a series of Twitter posts.
Lena Headey joins a list of over 40 women who have accused the Hollywood producer of misconduct.
Also on October 17, Harvey Weinstein, 65, resigned from the board of directors of his eponymous film production company.
He has been accused of rape, assault and harassment, but has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual relationships.
Despite being fired as chairman of The Weinstein Company studio on October 8, Harvey Weinstein had continued until October 17 to hold a position on the company’s board.
According to Variety magazine, Harvey Weinstein – who has been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that present the Oscar awards – still owns 22% of his company’s stock.
Amid the fallout over the Weinstein accusations, Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, also resigned on October 17 over allegations of harassment.
Roy Price took a “leave of absence” on October 12 after Isa Hackett, a producer on the Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, told the Hollywood Reporter he allegedly harassed her in 2015.
In her Twitter posts, Lena Headey described sharing an elevator with Harvey Weinstein after he had invited her to his room to show her a script.
Image source Wikimedia
The Game of Thrones actress recalled: “The lift was going up and I said to Harvey, <<I’m not interested in anything other than work, please don’t think I got in here with you for any other reason, nothing is going to happen>>.
“I don’t know what possessed me to speak out at that moment, only that I had such a strong sense of don’t come near me.
“He was silent after I spoke, furious.”
“He walked me back to the lift by grabbing and holding tightly to the back of my arm,” she said, adding that she felt “completely powerless”.
After Harvey Weinstein allegedly “whispered” that she should not tell anyone about the encounter, Lena Headey writes: “I got into my car and cried.”
Her story comes as other Hollywood actresses shared their stories of harassment and impropriety in show business.
On October 16, Reese Witherspoon said she had been harassed by an unnamed film director when she was just 16, during a speech to the Elle Women in Hollywood event.
Jennifer Lawrence, who has won a Best Actress Oscar, spoke at the same event and described a casting call where she was made to stand in front of producers who criticized her weight.
DreamWorks film studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg meanwhile told a Wall Street Journal conference of Harvey Weinstein: “Make no mistake about it: he is a monster.”
Jeffrey Katzenberg added Harvey Weinstein had been protected by other men around him, who he described as “a pack of wolves”.
Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg also got involved by writing a Facebook post about his early days at Miramax Films.
He wrote the movies Beautiful Girls and Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead at the time Harvey Weinstein’s profile was rising in the film industry.
In his Facebook post, Scott Rosenberg said that while he never heard any rape allegations, he was aware of Harvey Weinstein’s “dreadful” behavior – and said “everybody” else knew, too.
“I was there. And I saw you. And I talked about it with you,” the screenwriter wrote.
“You, the big producers; you, the big directors; you, the big agents; you, the big financiers.
“And you, the big rival studio chiefs; you, the big actors; you, the big actresses; you, the big models.
“You, the big journalists; you, the big screenwriters; you, the big rock stars; you, the big restaurateurs; you, the big politicians.”
Scott Rosenberg said others chose to ignore what was going on because they were enjoying themselves and because women were told it would ruin their careers if they said anything.
At the end of his post, Scott Rosenberg apologized for not doing anything.
“I reaped the rewards and I kept my mouth shut,” he said.
“And for that, once again, I am sorry.”
Lauren Holly has also come forward, sharing her story of harassment, describing an encounter she had with Harvey Weinstein.
The pair arranged a meeting in a hotel, which the Beautiful Girls actress didn’t find “abnormal at all” because she had routinely met producers, writers and directors in their suites.
Lauren Holly described the early stages of the meeting as normal, but said things turned sour when Harvey Weinstein walked into the hotel suite “wearing a hotel bathrobe”.
“He said, <<OK, let’s get to it, this is what we’ve got going on at my company, these are the scripts we have in the pipeline, this is what I think might be right for you>>, and he gestured for me to follow him.”
Lauren Holly recounted that she followed him into the bedroom part of the suite as he continued talking.
Harvey Weinstein then showered and, when he emerged, started to approach her.
Lauren Holly said she started to run away, but that Harvey Weinstein began to threaten her, saying she needed to “keep him as [her] ally” and that it would be a “bad decision” if she left the room.
At that point, Lauren Holly said, she “pushed him and ran”.
Reese Witherspoon has revealed she was assaulted by an unnamed film director when she was 16.
In a speech at an Elle Women in Hollywood event on October 16, the Oscar-winning actress said she felt “true disgust at the director”.
She also said she felt “anger… at the agents and producers who made me feel silence was a condition of my employment”.
Reese Witherspoon said she had suffered multiple other “experiences of harassment and s**ual assault” during her career.
The actress didn’t go into detail about her experiences as a 16-year-old, but added: “I wish I could tell you that that was an isolated incident in my career, but sadly, it wasn’t.”
Reese Witherspoon said she didn’t speak about those experiences “very often”.
However, she went on: “After hearing all the stories these past few days… the things that we’re kind of told to sweep under the rug and not talk about, it’s made me want to speak up and speak up loudly because I felt less alone this week than I’ve ever felt in my entire career.
“And I’ve just spoken to so many actresses and writers, and particularly women who’ve had similar experiences, and many of them have bravely gone public with their stories.
“And that truth is very encouraging to me and to everyone out there in the world because you can only heal by telling the truth.”
Reese Witherspoon said she didn’t sleep before giving her speech because of “the feelings I’ve been having about anxiety, about being honest, the guilt for not speaking up earlier or taking action”.
The actress referred to the fact it had “been a hard week for women in Hollywood” following the Harvey Weinstein allegations.
However, she said she believed there was a new attitude towards harassment, which would address “the abuse of power in this business and every business”.
Reese Witherspoon added: “I feel really, really encouraged that there will be a new normal.”
Two key members of the Catalan independence movement, Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, have been held without bail while they are under investigation for sedition.
They were leading figures in the October 1 independence vote, which the Madrid government regards as illegal.
Their detention led to protests overnight, with more expected across Catalonia on October 17.
Jordi Sánchez, who heads the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), a pro-independence organization, and Jordi Cuixart, leader of Omnium Cultural, appeared before the High Court in Madrid on October 16.
The two men are being investigated over a protest on September 20 in which a crowd blocked Civil Guard officers inside a building in Barcelona, Catalonia’s regional capital.
Following the October 1 referendum, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence, but halted its implementation to allow negotiations.
Carles Puigdemont has called for talks to take place over the next two months.
However, the Spanish government has warned that Catalonia must revoke the declaration or face direct rule from Madrid.
Carles Puigdemont has also angered Madrid by refusing to clarify whether or not he declared independence last week.
The Catalan president, who has been given until October 19 to clarify his position, hit out at the government on Twitter following news of Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart’s detention.
“Spain jails Catalonia’s civil society leaders for organizing peaceful demonstrations. Sadly, we have political prisoners again,” he wrote.
In a video recorded before his court appearance and released on his Twitter account after his detention, Jordi Cuixart instructs separatists to “never lose hope because the people of Catalonia have earned their future”.
Daphne Caruana Galizia, a prominent Maltese blogger, who had accused the island’s government of corruption, has died in a car bomb attack, according to police.
The 53-year-old was reportedly killed when the car she was driving exploded shortly after she left her home in Bidnija, near Mosta.
According to local media, one of her sons heard the blast and rushed outside.
PM Joseph Muscat, whom Daphne Caruana Galizia accused of wrongdoing earlier this year, denounced the killing.
“I condemn without reservations this barbaric attack on a person and on the freedom of expression in our country,” the prime minister said in a TV statement.
“Everyone knows Ms Caruana Galizia was a harsh critic of mine, both politically and personally, as she was for others too.”
However, Joseph Muscat stressed there could be “no justification… in any way” for such action.
“I will not rest before justice is done.”
On October 16, thousands of people attended a candlelit vigil in the resort town of Sliema.
Malta Television reported that Daphne Caruana Galizia had filed a complaint to the police two weeks ago to say she had received threats but gave no further information.
Police have opened a murder inquiry.
Newspaper reports said the explosion had left debris from the rental car she was driving strewn across the road and in a nearby field.
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death comes four months after Joseph Muscat’s Labor Party won an election he called early because of the blogger’s allegations linking him and his wife to the Panama Papers scandal.
The couple denied claims that they had used secret offshore bank accounts to hide payments from Azerbaijan’s ruling family.
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s popular blog had also targeted opposition politicians, calling the country’s political situation “desperate” in her final post.
Malta has asked for international help – including the FBI in the US – to find the perpetrator, the spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family has requested that the magistrate in charge of the investigation be replaced, the Malta Independent reports.
It said the current magistrate had on a number of occasions been the subject of criticism by Daphne Caruana Galizia.
In a statement released on October 15, Colin Kaepernick’s lawyers wrote: “We can confirm that this morning we filed a grievance under the CBA on behalf of Colin Kaepernick.
“This was done only after pursuing every possible avenue with all NFL teams and their executives.
“If the NFL (as well as all professional sports leagues) is to remain a meritocracy, then principled and peaceful political protest – which the owners themselves made great theatre imitating weeks ago – should not be punished and athletes should not be denied employment.
“Such a precedent threatens all patriotic Americans and harkens back to our darkest days as a nation. Protecting all athletes from such collusive conduct is what compelled Mr. Kaepernick to file his grievance.
“Colin Kaepernick’s goal has always been, and remains, to simply be treated fairly by the league he performed at the highest level for and to return to the football playing field.”
Some players from the 49ers again knelt during the anthem before their match on October 15.
They were playing for the first time since VP Mike Pence walked out of their game in Indianapolis, after several members of the team did not stand.
The results were announced by the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena. The CNE is dominated by government loyalists and has been accused of pro-government bias by the opposition.
The council came under fire earlier this year when the company providing the voting systems for July’s elections for the constituent assembly said the turn-out figures for that poll had been manipulated.
The CNE dismissed those allegations and used a different company for October 15 vote.
President Nicolas Maduro praised the results as proof that Venezuela has “the best electoral system in the world” and opposition leaders have called for street protests to be held on October 16.
Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of Austria’s conservative People’s Party, is set to win the country’s general election, projections suggest.
He is also on course to become the world’s youngest national leader.
The People’s Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second.
Short of a majority, the People’s Party could seek an alliance with the anti-immigration Freedom Party.
Addressing his supporters on October 15, Sebastian Kurz said: “It is time for change in this country. Today is a strong order for us, to change this country, and I say thank you to you all who made this possible.
“I’m overwhelmed, I am happy, and I look forward to working for Austria.”
Before the election, Sebastian Kurz served as Europe’s youngest-ever foreign minister, after he was appointed in 2013 aged just 27.
In May 2017, he became the leader of the People’s Party. He began his political career in the youth wing of the party, which he chaired before moving on to serve on Vienna’s city council.
Nicknamed “Wunderwuzzi” (very roughly translated as wonder hotshot), Sebastian Kurz has been compared to the young leaders of France and Canada, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau.
Much like Emmanuel Macron, Sebastian Kurz has created a movement around himself, rebranding the People’s Party – which has been in power for more than 30 years – as “The New People’s Party”.
Immigration was the dominant issue in the run-up to the vote, and Sebastian Kurz moved his party to the right in the wake of Europe’s 2015 refugee crisis.
The young man appealed to conservative and right-wing voters with pledges to shut down migrant routes to Europe, cap benefit payments to refugees, and bar immigrants from receiving benefits until they have lived in Austria for five years.
The rightward shift was seen as a response to the success of the Freedom Party, which narrowly missed out on the presidency in December when Norbert Hofer was defeated by Alexander Van der Bellen, head of the Greens.
The stance proved popular with Austrian voters after a huge influx of undocumented refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Freedom Party accused Sebastian Kurz of stealing their policies with their candidate, Heinz-Christian Strache, calling him an “imposter”.
Sebastian Kurz is on course to win the lion’s share of the vote but not a majority. If the forecasts are correct, he will need to form a coalition, most likely with the Freedom Party.
The last coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservatives fell apart this spring – and there may be reluctance to renew it. However, an alliance with the populist, far-right Freedom Party could prove controversial among Austria’s EU counterparts.
Sebastian Kurz refused to discuss his plans, saying only that he would talk to other parties. He says he wants to wait for final results.
The board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to expel Harvey Weinstein following numerous allegations of assault made against him.
The organization behind the Oscars said its board “voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority” to expel the Hollywood film producer.
The board’s members include Hollywood figures such as Tom Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg.
Harvey Weinstein’s films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations and won 81.
In a statement, the Academy said governors voted to expel Harvey Weinstein “not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in s**ually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over”.
They added: “What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society.”
The emergency board meeting followed an avalanche of accusations against Harvey Weinstein by more than two dozen women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rose McGowan, who alleges that he raped her in a hotel room.
The NYPD and the UK police are investigating the allegations.
Harvey Weinstein has apologized for some aspects of his behavior but insisted that any contacts he had were consensual, and he denies accusations of harassment, rape and assault.
The 65-year-old’s expulsion comes after Bob Weinstein told the Hollywood Reporter that his “sick and depraved” brother should be “kicked out” of the Academy.
Harvey Weinstein’s expulsion means he will no longer be able to vote for nominees or winners in the Oscars.
Hollywood figures were quick to praise the move but some have called for the Academy to take similar action against other members.
It is only the second time a member has been expelled. Carmine Caridi had his membership revoked in 2004 after he allegedly sent confidential film preview videos to a friend which ended up online.
As the co-founder of Miramax Pictures and the Weinstein Company, Harvey Weinstein produced some of the most celebrated movies, including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love.
Harvey Weinstein has been thanked dozens of times in Oscar acceptance speeches, and in 2012 Meryl Streep jokingly referred to him as “God” onstage.
As accusations against Harvey Weinstein began to mount in recent days, film industry heavyweights came out to publicly condemn him and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) suspended his membership.
The French government is reportedly considering revoking Harvey Weinstein’s Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian distinction, and there have been calls from some British politicians for his honorary CBE title to be revoked.
During an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Bob Weinstein called his brother “sick and depraved” and said he had no idea of “the type of predator that he was”.
Bob Weinstein refused to comment on reports that he and the board of Weinstein Company were aware of his brother’s settlements with women during recent contract negotiations, saying only that the board “did not know the extent of my brother’s actions”.
He went on to call Harvey Weinstein’s apology statement “utter insanity” and a “lame excuse”.
“I’ll tell you what I did know,” he said.
“Harvey was a bully, Harvey was arrogant…that I knew.”
Earlier, Bob Weinstein denied media reports that the Weinstein Company – which has placed Harvey Weinstein on indefinite leave – could now be closed or sold.
However, several large film projects have been pulled from the company already, and reports in the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal said that financers had begun to pressure the board to sell.
Everyone needs protection. And if you feel that you stay protected enough in the real world, you still feel not safe because of cyber world threats. Now the most popular tool for remaining absolutely private and secure in the daily usage of Worldwide Web is a virtual private network. Although these systems exist for a long time, they still bring confusion due to presence of several myths among users. If you want to choose the right service without becoming confused, read on.
5 myths about virtual private networks:
Virtual private networks cooperate with our governments, disclosing all suspicious activities we make. The key purpose of any virtual private network – to make your internet usage available only for you. Any service on http://bestvpnrating.com/ considers privacy and reputation at top places and there is no interest for them in disclosing your personal information;
Virtual private networks provide the same quality of service: Most think of a VPNs market as a market of perfect competition where the level of security always remains the same. But that is not so. There are still top notch services with higher quality (typically, their prices stay higher) and more affordable services with lower quality. If you pay more for the service, you know why do you do that;
With free virtual private network my internet usage can still be private: Although free VPNs still provide security and encrypt your data flow, don’t forget that any provider should somehow earn revenues to cover costs. So, if there is no provider’s fees, providers will do that with adds or selling your data to IT companies;
Virtual private networks always lower internet speed. Although encrypting data flows takes time, modern services learned how to make the internet the same way fast as without VPN. So if you feel that your test version of VPN works slower – change it to a faster one;
With VPN my Internet is almost secure: Reliable VPN will never replace antivirus programs and your awareness. Even though VPN is active, avoid visiting suspicious sites and downloading apps from not reliable developers. With the right service, you are still under a threat of installing malware or getting phishing messages, which may help hackers reach important files.
How to avoid mistakes choosing your provider?
There are a lot of virtual private network offerings on the Internet and it is up to you to choose exactly the one, which satisfies your expectations. Think carefully, why do you need privacy, which operations you are going to perform and use your answers to choose a provider, which satisfies your expectations. If you are not sure that the information on advertisements is worth relying on, read VPN reviews. Written by experienced professionals, these reviews will reveal an unbiased view on any interested provider so you will not make a mistake with your choice.
Bob Weinstein has denied media reports that the film production company he and his brother Harvey co-founded could be closed or sold.
He said in a statement: “Our banks, partners and shareholders are fully supportive of our company.
“Business is continuing as usual.”
On October 8, the company fired Harvey Weinstein amid a slew of harassment allegations.
The claims have prompted police investigations in both the US and UK.
On October 13, the scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein – who produced movies including Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – deepened when he was accused of rape by Rose McGowan.
The Hollywood producer was already facing claims of rape, assault, groping and harassment.
Harvey Weinstein, who is believed to be in Europe seeking therapy, has insisted through a spokeswoman that any contacts he had were consensual.
According to recent reports, since the avalanche of claims began, the company has been trying to disassociate itself from its co-founder and save the business with efforts made to buy Harvey Weinstein out, rebrand and keep creative partners on board.
However, the Los Angeles Times said that financers had begun to pressure the company to sell and potential buyers were circling.
The Wall Street Journal also reported the company was “exploring a sale or shutdown” and was “unlikely to continue as an independent entity”.
The company is thought to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars but before the recent allegations had already faced questions about its future prospects amid increasing competition from media streaming services.
On October 13, Goldman Sachs said it was investigating options to sell the small stake it holds, citing the reported “inexcusable behavior”.
Rose McGowan has publicly accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of raping her.
In a series of tweets, the actress also accused Amazon Studio chief Roy Price of having ignored her when she made the allegation earlier.
Amazon has put Roy Price – himself accused on October 12 of harassing a female producer – on leave of absence.
Harvey Weinstein, 65, denies any assaults. There was no comment from Roy Price.
Meanwhile, the NYPD and UK police have launched investigations into assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. The NYPD is looking into an allegation dating from 2004 and reviewing whether there are any additional complaints. London’s Met Police has received an allegation of assault in the London area in the 1980s.
Addressing Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Twitter, Rose McGowan – who has appeared in Scream, The Black Dahlia and TV series Charmed – criticized the company for doing business with Harvey Weinstein.
“I told the head of your studio that HW raped me,” the actress tweeted.
“Over & over I said it. He said it hadn’t been proven. I said I was the proof.”
Twitter briefly suspended McGowan for violating its terms and policies after she included a personal phone number in tweets about abuse allegations.
Some prominent figures, notably from the entertainment world, said they would boycott the platform on October 13 in protest, using the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter.
Roy Price was separately accused by Isa Hackett, a producer of one of Amazon’s shows, of inappropriate behavior in a taxi and at a corporate dinner in 2015, the Hollywood Reporter writes.
Isa Hackett reported the incident to Amazon executives immediately, she was quoted as saying, and an outside investigator was brought in.
She was not told the outcome of the investigation but did not see Roy Price again at any events involving her shows, she added.
In a statement, Amazon said: “Roy Price is on leave of absence effective immediately. We are reviewing our options for the projects we have with The Weinstein Co.”
Three women earlier accused Harvey Weinstein of rape in an investigative article in The New Yorker magazine.
They are Italian actress and director Asia Argento, former aspiring actress Lucia Evans and a third woman who was anonymous.
The same article says 10 other women told the author that Harvey Weinstein had either harassed or assaulted them between the 1990s and 2015.
The New York Times broke the story on October 5, when it detailed decades of allegations of l harassment against Harvey Weinstein.
The producer has insisted through a spokeswoman that any contacts he had were consensual.
Director Oliver Stone has said he believes that Harvey Weinstein should not be judged prematurely.
“If he broke the law it will come out,” he told reporters on a visit to South Korea for a film festival.
“I believe that a man shouldn’t be condemned by a vigilante system.”
In a subsequent social media post, however, Oliver Stone expressed a wish to “recuse” himself from a TV series about Guantanamo Bay “as long as The Weinstein Company is involved”.
Oliver Stone wrote on Facebook that he was “appalled” by the allegations made against Harvey Weinstein and “commend[ed] the courage of the women who’ve stepped forward”.
The death toll from northern California wildfires has climbed to 31, as officials warned that conditions would worsen.
Hundreds of people remain missing as at least 22 fires rampaged across the state’s famous wine country.
More than 8,000 firefighters are now battling the flames.
The fires have destroyed more than 3,500 buildings and homes over 170,000 acres and forced the evacuation of about 25,000 people.
According to officials, 17 people are now confirmed killed in Sonoma County, with another 8 in Mendocino County, 4 in Yuba County and two in Napa County.
The updated casualty figures mean the wildfires are the deadliest in California since 1933, when 29 people died in fires at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Strong winds that have fanned the flames eased in recent days, but forecasters warned they were set to pick up again on Friday night.
Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said recovery teams with cadaver dogs were searching the smoldering ruins of homes.
“We have found bodies that were completely intact, and we have found bodies that were no more than ash and bone,” he said.
It is not yet clear what started the fires on October 8, but officials say power lines blown over by strong winds could be the cause.
One of the greatest threats to life is believed to be around the town of Calistoga, Napa County, where the entire population of 5,000 has been ordered to evacuate.
Geyserville, a town of around 800 people, and the community of Boyes Hot Springs, both in Sonoma, were also evacuated.
The huge fires have sent smoke and ash over San Francisco, about 50 miles away, and over some towns and cities even further south.
At least 13 Napa Valley wineries have been destroyed, a vintners’ trade group says.
Starting a new business requires a lot of groundwork. If you don’t create a stable foundation for your company, it’s difficult to keep track of all of the small details and tasks that need to be done to keep your business afloat. This is why it’s important to create a business plan. A good business plan gives you an outline to follow while building your business and helps you stay on track. To succeed, make sure you include these elements in your business plan.
Financial Considerations
You can’t accept payments from clients or customers unless you have a payment system and plan in place. It’s important to choose a global payment system, like BlueSnap, that integrates with your eCommerce platform and allows you to accept payments from around the world.
Additionally, you need to open a business bank account, find reliable accounting software, and develop a plan to determine how money flows through your company. You need to determine what percentage of money should go back into the business, what percentage you need to save, and what percentage goes into your personal bank account. It’s also really important to have a financial disaster plan in place so you know that your business won’t be impacted by unexpected events.
You need to keep a running tally of the money you need during the startup phase of your business, especially if you don’t plan to use loans or have investors. Include an estimated summary in your business plan, and adjust the amount of money dedicated to specific projects as your business grows.
Growth Goals
To scale your business, you need to plan for growth. This means you need to have outlined goals for each month, quarter, and year. When creating your goals, it’s important to be realistic. For example, you don’t want to set a goal to release an in-depth product within the next six months if you don’t have the time or funds to complete the project. Keeping your business goals simple and realistic allows you to stay focused on important tasks that help your business grow. However, it doesn’t mean that you should chuck all of your ideas out the window. Keep a list or file filled with ideas to implement in the future, and each time you set a new goal, review your ideas to see if any of them are feasible.
Digital Marketing Expectations
Digital marketing can jumpstart your business if it’s done correctly. So include a detailed digital marketing plan that details your overall goals and objectives within your business plan so you know exactly what needs to be done and you have a plan to accomplish your goals. Some things to consider include:
What platforms to use when marketing your business — instead of jumping in head first, take the time to build each platform slowly so you really connect with your target market.
What type of digital marketing you plan to use — do you want to use paid advertising, content marketing, or a combination of both?
What type of team you need to put in place to accomplish your marketing and sales goals.
Your marketing budget — if you have a tight budget, consider starting with low-cost options and working your way up to more expensive marketing tactics.
Building a business isn’t easy, but the process grows a lot smoother when you’re prepared. Create a detailed business plan that helps you establish working procedures and defines your business goals to keep yourself and your employees on track.
The US and UK police are conducting investigations into assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
The NYPD is looking into an allegation dating from 2004 and is reviewing whether there are any additional complaints.
Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police has received an allegation of assault in the London area in the 1980s.
Harvey Weinstein, 65, has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual intercourse.
The NYPD said it was “looking to speak” to an individual who had made an allegation dating from 2004.
Assistant Commissioner J. Peter Donald said: “Based on information referenced in published news reports, the NYPD is conducting a review to determine if there are any additional complaints relating to the Harvey Weinstein matter.
“No filed complaints have been identified as of this time.”
The force also appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
London’s Met Police, meanwhile, said it had been passed the allegation of assault by Merseyside Police.
A Merseyside Police statement said it “can confirm a report was received at 8.40 am on Wednesday (October 11, 2017) of an alleged s**ual assault in the London area in the 1980s”.
The investigations come as more women publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of inappropriate behavior, harassment or assault.
Kate Beckinsale is one of the latest, saying she had an encounter with the film producer at the age of 17, at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The actress said on Instagram she was told to go to Harvey Weinstein’s room, where he “opened the door in his bathrobe”.
“After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed.
“A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting. I realized he couldn’t remember if he had assaulted me or not,” the British actress said.
Cara Delevingne also said Harvey Weinstein tried to kiss her as she tried to leave a hotel room.
Emma Thompson also said sh4 found him to be a “bully” when his company Miramax owned the rights to her film Nanny McPhee.
According to The New Yorker, three women have accused Harvey Weinstein of rape.
His spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister has said the producer “obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.
“Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path.”
Speaking on October 11, Harvey Weinstein said: “We all make mistakes – second chance I hope.”
The movie mogul told TMZ: “Guys I’m not doing OK but I’m trying; I’ve got to get help. I’m hanging in – I’m trying my best.”
TMZ reported Harvey Weinstein was heading to Arizona to a treatment facility.
As he departed in a car, the producer made a plea for fair treatment from reporters, saying: “I’ve always been loyal to you guys… I’ve been a good guy.”
Meanwhile, the hosts of the Oscars are to hold emergency talks this weekend to consider Harvey Weinstein’s future role.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said the allegations of assault against him were “repugnant”.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has already suspended Harvey Weinstein’s membership.
A statement has also been issued by Cannes Film Festival, which Harvey Weinstein attended many times.
President Pierre Lescure said the festival had been “dismayed to learn of the accusations”.
The US withdrawal will become effective at the end of December 2018 – until then, the US will remain a full member. The US will establish an observer mission at the Paris-based organization to replace its representation, the state department said.
Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted he had instructed his foreign ministry to “prepare Israel’s withdrawal… in parallel with the United States”.
The decision follows a string of UNESCO decisions that have drawn criticism from the US and Israel.
In 2011, the US cut its funding to UNESCO in protest at its decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians.
Last year, Israel suspended co-operation with UNESCO after the agency adopted a controversial resolution which made no reference to Jewish ties to a key holy site in Jerusalem.
The resolution also criticized Israel’s activities at holy places in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
Then earlier this year, PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned UNESCO for declaring the Old City of Hebron in the West Bank a Palestinian World Heritage site.
He accused UNESCO of ignoring Judaism’s ancient connection to the city, which includes the crypt where its matriarchs and patriarchs are buried.
Office leases vary from city to city, and the laws regarding them do also. Getting yourself an office for your business is a big step, and thus requires a lot of consideration. First of all, you’ll need to know whether you can expand, and secondly, what expansion is going to take out of you. Below are a few of those important considerations that absolutely need to be thought out at length, usually with the entire company in mind.
This is the main concern for obvious reasons, yet there’s a great amount of variance in why. For example, if you need to hold a meeting and your table isn’t big enough to fit everyone who needs to be there, can an event furniture rental fit in more items for you?
Of course, this is a small consideration compared to the other elements: the rentable space inside your office may come to a lot more than you originally thought, as each square foot is taxed by the landlord.
Also be sure to consider where in a building you want to be. The ground floor has walk in privileges, and the top floor has the view. Usually, the ground floor will have a higher taxable rate, so weigh up whether or not that will be a good investment.
Whether You Can Keep Up with the Costs
This isn’t only the rent each month, but the maintenance and utility bills that you’re going to incur. Knowing who has to pay for what is integral to bypassing any extraneous costs that you did not know you agreed upon when signing the lease. If the lease lasts longer than the usual year, you may be in for a downfall if you find yourself in a situation like this.
To make sure you aren’t accosted by extra expenses, have an agreement set out with a landlord from the beginning, of everything you would have to pay for. Anything that they can claim back when it comes to garnering money out of you should be defined by the law and not whimsical means. It means you won’t have random bills slipped through your door when the landlord needs the money, and you won’t be down in your profit due to this kind of manipulation.
When it comes to the rent cost, this can go up and down depending on how long you plan to stay, and where you are situated. Knowing why your rent may go up is a good preliminary step to take, and therefore calculating your taxes and expenses in advance will give you a good baseline on how much is needed to set aside.
Commercial real estate has both benefits and drawbacks to it, and with the rising inflation across the world, you can never be sure if the rent prices will be up or down. Do your research, get the lease length you know you can keep up with, and let your business growth soar as a result.
President Donald Trump has threatened to challenge media licenses for NBC News and other news networks after unfavorable reports.
The president took aim at NBC, which made him a star on The Apprentice, after the broadcaster reported he wanted to boost America’s nuclear arsenal almost tenfold.
President Trump labeled NBC report “fake news” and “pure fiction”.
NBC also angered the White House last week when it said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had called President Trump “a moron”.
Donald Trump tweeted on October 12: “With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!”
Welcoming Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to Washington later in the day, the president denied the NBC story.
“It is frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write, and people should look into it,” President Trump said at the White House.
When asked if he wanted to increase the country’s arsenal, the president said he only ever discussed keeping it in “perfect condition”.
“No, I want to have absolutely perfectly maintained – which we are in the process of doing – nuclear force.
“But when they said I want 10 times what we have right now, it’s totally unnecessary, believe me.”
Donald Trump added: “I want modernization and I want total rehabilitation. It’s got to be in tip-top shape.”
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis also disputed NBC’s story, saying in a statement: “Recent reports that the President called for an increase in the US nuclear arsenal are absolutely false.
“This kind of erroneous reporting is irresponsible.”
President Trump’s tweet about news networks provoked a free-speech uproar.
Walter Shaub, who led the US Office of Government Ethics under President Barack Obama, said it could lead to “the point when we cease to be a democracy”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said President Trump’s comment was a poor example for other world leaders.
NBC News reported that President Trump told a top-level meeting at the Pentagon in July that he wanted to dramatically boost the American stockpile of atomic missiles.
The president reportedly made the request after seeing a downward-sloping curve on a briefing slide charting the gradual decrease in US nuclear weapons since the 1960s.
Attributing its report to three officials in the room, NBC said President Trump’s request surprised those present, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
NBC reported that President Trump had also called for additional US troops and military equipment.
The US has 7,100 nuclear weapons and Russia has 7,300, according to the US non-partisan Arms Control Association.
Media commentators say Donald Trump would struggle to remove broadcasters’ licenses if he wished to do so.
The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates broadcasters, issues licenses not to networks as a whole, but to local stations.
The latest bout began on October 9, and weather officials have warned that the tropical depression may intensify into a more powerful storm in coming days.
The northern Yen Bai and Hoa Binh provinces have been particularly hard hit, with reports of widespread inundation and deadly landslides, and homes washed away.
On October 11, several people, including a Vietnam News Agency reporter, were swept away by a torrential river after a bridge they were crossing in Yen Bai collapsed, local media said.
According to state media, meanwhile 18 people were buried in an overnight landslide in Hoa Binh, with most of them still missing by October 12.
Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed for rescue efforts. A disaster agency official told AFP that they were “mobilizing all forces to search for the missing”.
If you’re a gamer, it makes sense to want to know a little more about how games function and why they’re so successful and getting us hooked. No one wants to feel like a lemming that gets easily trapped in the need to keep playing and coming back. But anyone who has ever played games will know that we all do that. So, how does it happen? Here are some of the factors that are most important in keeping is coming back for more.
Simplicity and Complexity
Once we feel like we’ve mastered the mechanic of the game, we want to push further or even learn even more about it. Some of the most simple games actually have the most to learn. For example, fighting games are simple on the surface. Two in-game characters fight each other until one wins. But there is a huge range of combos and moves that can be learned. So, the simplicity draws people in, while the complexity keeps them coming back.
Rewards
Rewards are often given in games. This can happen in many different ways. For example, if you continue playing through a game, you will often unlock new things that allow you to do new things and get more mileage out of the game. Then there are the more overt examples of games that give out rewards for winning, such as Unibet roulette. These all work on the same basis. We want to win and be rewarded, and that makes us want to keep playing.
Going One Better
High scores have long been features of gaming, and this goes all the way back to Pac-Man. It’s a great way to keep us coming back because we can see how well we did last time and how well we might do if you just give the game one more try. And then one more, and one more. It’s no surprise that so many very simple games have lasted a long time and remained popular when they use this basic technique.
For many games, it’s our need for social connections that keep us coming back for more. Large online multiplayer games can feed our need to interact with other people and make connections. They simulate that social interaction very well. And these days, most gamers use gaming as a tool for socialising with friends. They play games together and talk to each other via microphones and headsets.
In-Game Leveling Up
Studies and research have found that games that have a leveling up mechanic build into them are much more successful at getting us hooked on the gameplay. If we’re a level 1, we want to become a level 2. And if we’re a level 78, we want to be a level 79. And on it goes. You can see this in expansive video games like Skyrim, Destiny and World of Warcraft. We want to feel like we’re getting better and continually pushing on to the next level.
Video games keep us coming back for more, and now you know how. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t spend so much time playing them.
Matt Damon has denied trying to “kill” a story about Harvey Weinstein’s behavior when it was investigated by journalist Sharon Waxman thirteen years ago.
Sharon Waxman has said she looked into rumors that an employee of Harvey Weinstein in Italy was procuring women for him.
The journalist said Matt Damon and Russell Crowe called her to vouch for the employee.
However, Matt Damon has said he did not know the detail of the allegations.
“I would never, ever, ever try to kill a story like that,” the actor told Deadline.
“I just wouldn’t do that. It’s not something I would do, for anybody.”
Sharon Waxman, who then worked for the New York Times, was ultimately unable to publish any allegations relating to Harvey Weinstein’s behavior.
Matt Damon said Harvey Weinstein told him the New York Times story would be claiming the Italian executive “had no professional experience”. He said the producer asked him to “tell her that he was a professional and you had a good experience, and that was it”.
He said: “I was never conscripted to do anything. We vouch for each other, all the time.”
The actor added: “I’m sure I mentioned to her that I didn’t know anything about the rest of her piece, because I didn’t.”
Matt Damon said that he had never seen inappropriate behavior during time spent making films with Harvey Weinstein.
“I think a lot of actors have come out and said, <<everybody’s saying we all knew>>. That’s not true,” the actor said.
“This type of predation happens behind closed doors, and out of public view. If there was ever an event that I was at and Harvey was doing this kind of thing and I didn’t see it, then I am so deeply sorry, because I would have stopped it.”
Russell Crowe hasn’t commented.
Sharon Waxman claimed the 2004 New York Times story was “gutted” after “intense pressure” from Harvey Weinstein. The paper went on to break the story of the latest allegations at the weekend.
The New York Times’ executive editor Dean Baquet, who wasn’t working for the paper in 2004, said: “It is unimaginable to me that The Times killed a story because of pressure from Harvey Weinstein, who was and is an advertiser.”
