President Donald Trump has announced his plans to allow the opening of a trove of long-classified files on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.
In a Twitter post, he said he would allow the release “subject to receipt of further information”.
The files are scheduled to be opened by the US National Archives on October 26, but the president is entitled to extend their classified status.
JFK was shot dead by a sniper on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
The National Archives has already released most documents related to the assassination but a final batch remains under lock and key.
President Trump tweeted: “Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened.”
Congress ruled in 1992 that all JFK documents should be released within 25 years, unless the president decided the release would harm national security.
The archive contains more than 3,000 previously unreleased documents, and more than 30,000 that have been released before but with redactions.
It is unclear whether President Trump intends to allow the release in full or with redactions.
According to a Washington Post report, JFK assassination experts do not think the last batch of papers contains any bombshells.
However, the files may shed more light on Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities in Mexico City just months before the assassination.
Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in Dallas on the day of the shooting and charged with the president’s murder. He denied the charges, claiming he was a “just a patsy”.
He was gunned down by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while in police custody two days later, and the plot to kill JFK became the most powerful conspiracy theory in American history.
Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has unveiled plans to remove Catalonia’s leaders and take control of the separatist region.
Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting on October 21, PM Mariano Rajoy stopped short of dissolving Catalonia’s parliament but put forward plans for elections in the region.
The measures must now be approved by Spain’s Senate in the next few days.
The plans come almost three weeks after Catalonia held a disputed independence referendum on October 1.
Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont has ignored pleas from the national government to withdraw the independence bid.
Mariano Rajoy said the government had no choice but to push to impose direct rule, arguing that the Catalan government’s actions were “contrary to the law and seeking confrontation”.
This will be via Article 155 of Spain’s constitution, which allows it to impose direct rule in a crisis on any of the country’s semi-autonomous regions.
Spain’s Senate will vote within the week, PM Mariano Rajoy said at a press conference. He said it was “not our wish, it was not our intention” to trigger the article.
Spanish law dictates that elections must be held within six months of Article 155 being triggered, but the prime minister said it was imperative that the vote be held much sooner.
Catalonia’s regional government held a referendum to ask residents of the region if they wanted to break away from Spain.
Of the 43% of Catalans said to have taken part, 90% voted in favor of independence. However, many anti-independence supporters boycotted the ballot, arguing it was not valid.
Carles Puigdemont and other regional leaders then signed a declaration of independence, but immediately suspended it in order to allow for talks.
He then defied two deadlines set by the national government to clarify Catalonia’s position, and the government announced it would pursue Article 155.
Article 155 of the Spanish constitution allows the national government to impose direct rule over Spain’s semi-autonomous regions in the event of a crisis. It has never before been invoked in democratic Spain.
The article says that if a region’s government “acts in a way that seriously threatens the general interest of Spain”, Madrid can “take necessary measures to oblige it forcibly to comply”.
Catalonia currently enjoys significant autonomy from Spain, including control over its own policing, education and healthcare.
Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party (PP) holds a majority in the Senate, meaning the proposals are likely to pass.
Catalonia accounts for about a fifth of Spain’s economic output, and supporters of independence say the region contributes too much to the national economy.
Opponents argue that Catalonia is stronger as a part of Spain, and that breaking away would lead to economic disaster for the country as a whole.
Nearly 1,200 companies based in Catalonia have re-registered in other parts of Spain since the referendum, hoping to minimize instability, according to the AFP.
This week, Spain cut its national growth forecast for 2018 from 2.6% to 2.3%, blaming uncertainty over the future of Catalan independence.
BMW’s head office in Munich, Germany, was searched this week by EU officials investigating an alleged cartel among five German automakers, the company has confirmed.
EU investigators are looking into allegations that BMW, Daimler, VW, Audi and Porsche colluded to limit their spending on emissions technology.
The German automaker said EU staff had inspected its Munich offices, adding that it was assisting the regulators in their work.
Also on October 20, Daimler said it had filed an application for leniency.
Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, also has no current plans to set aside funds for possible fines, according to its CFO Bodo Uebber.
EU and German regulators are looking at allegations that the companies collaborated for decades on many aspects of development and production, disadvantaging customers and suppliers.
BMW said it wanted to make clear the distinction between potential violations of EU antitrust law, and the illegal manipulation of exhaust emissions, which it denies.
In July, VW defended its record after allegations that it teamed up with other German car giants to breach EU cartel rules.
Volkswagen said it was normal for manufacturers to exchange technical information to speed up innovation.
However, VW declined to comment on specific allegations that the five automakers colluded on price and technology.
Pablo Neruda was suffering from prostate cancer, but it was not life-threatening – leading the 16 international experts to conclude a third party could have possibly been involved.
They will now carry out tests on a toxin found in his remains, which were exhumed on a judge’s orders in 2013. It could be up to a year before the results are known.
Pablo Neruda was a supporter and personal friend of Chile’s deposed socialist President, Salvador Allende.
The poet died on September 23, 1973, 12 days after the military coup and three days after he had been offered asylum in Mexico.
According to Manuel Araya, the day Pablo Neruda died he called to say he had been injected in the stomach while he was asleep, and to come to the hospital quickly.
Pablo Neruda died that evening, and Manuel Araya says he has no doubt what killed him.
Malaysia has signed a “no find-no fee” deal with Texas-based Ocean Infinity to locate the wreckage of downed flight MH370.
According to Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester, the Malaysian government accepted an offer from Ocean Infinity.
Ocean Infinity will foot the bill if it fails to find the wreckage.
The disappearance of MH370 in March 2014 remains shrouded in mystery. The Malaysia Airlines flight fell off radar between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, with 239 people on board.
A massive maritime search operation for the plane cleared 120,000 sq km at an estimated cost of about A$200 million ($157 million), before it was suspended in January.
The company has not revealed the estimated cost of the new search. According to Darren Chester, Ocean Infinity will focus on a 25,000 sq km area identified by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau as having a “high probability” of containing the aircraft.
Ocean Infinity is using a centuries-old model known in the salvage industry as “no cure-no pay” – a type of deal usually applied in the recovery of valuable sunken cargo.
Under such a deal, a salvage company will take on the financial risk of a recovery and recoup from the owner a percentage of the cargo’s value if it is found, often 80 or 90%.
MH370 was carrying passengers and crew from 14 different countries when it disappeared. Most were from China and Malaysia.
Australia led the initial search, after aviation officials identified the ocean floor off its coast as the likely location of the wreckage. The country has agreed to provide technical assistance for the new search, Darren Chester said.
Earlier this month, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the government had received proposals from three private search companies – Ocean Infinity, Dutch firm Fugro and an unidentified Malaysian company.
Delivering its report into the MH370 disappearance earlier this month, Australia’s Transport Safety Bureau said it was “almost inconceivable” that the aircraft had not been found.
Ex- Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have expressed their concerns regarding the current political climate in the US, in comments seen as a veiled rebuke of President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Barack Obama urged Americans to reject the politics of “division” and “fear”, while George W. Bush criticized “bullying and prejudice” in public life.
They were speaking separately and neither mentioned President Trump by name.
Donald Trump, who has been critical of his two predecessors, is yet to comment.
Ex-presidents traditionally shy away from commenting publicly on their successors, and Barack Obama said on leaving office he would extend that courtesy for a time to Donald Trump, as George W. Bush had to him.
Barack Obama has broken his silence since to issue statements on President Trump’s efforts to dismantle ObamaCare, as well as his controversial “Muslim ban” and decision to abandon the Paris climate accord.
Speaking at a Democratic campaign event in Newark, New Jersey, Barack Obama said Americans should “send a message to the world that we are rejecting a politics of division, we are rejecting a politics of fear”.
The former president added: “What we can’t have is the same old politics of division that we have seen so many times before that dates back centuries.
“Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed. That’s folks looking 50 years back. It’s the 21st Century, not the 19th Century. Come on!”
Barack Obama touched on similar themes at another event later in Richmond, Virginia, saying: “We’ve got folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry, to demonize people who have different ideas, to get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage.”
Speaking just hours earlier in New York, George W. Bush said: “Bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication.
“There are some signs that the intensity of support for democracy itself has waned – especially among the young.”
Americans, the former president said, have “seen our discourse degraded by casual cruelty”.
“At times it can seem like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together.
“We’ve seen nationalism distorted into nativism, forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America.”
Both ex-presidents have until now largely avoided commenting publicly on President Trump’s policies.
Before his election last year, Donald Trump was highly critical of both Barack Obama and George W. Bush, describing each of them at one time or another as “perhaps the worst president in the history” of the US.
Since his inauguration in January, Donald Trump’s combative style and direct public comments on a number of key issues have caused controversy both among Democrats and Republicans.
The president has regularly blamed the media, which he says do not focus on his achievements and instead choose to concentrate on what he describes as “fake news”.
The diamond industry is a thriving one. From statement earrings and delicate necklaces to symbolic engagement rings and wedding bands, the sparkling rocks appear in an array of elegant jewellery around the globe. Usually a representation of eternal love, sometimes passed on through generations within a family, and almost always given to someone in the hopes of the sentiment and love lasting forever, it is therefore unsurprising that people are becoming more interested in the source of their diamonds.
As one of the rarest and most extraordinary gems on the planet, there is great value in understanding the origin of the stones and the journey taken from mine to ring. The increasing knowledge led to a decline in demand for diamonds for a few years, before picking up again in 2016. Although the market is currently thriving worldwide, there are still some dark corners that aren’t representative of the happiness and love typically portrayed by the gemstones.
What are conflict diamonds?
Also known as blood diamonds, conflict diamonds are those excavated from mines dominated by rebel units opposed to governments. These factions sell diamonds illegally to fund violence and invading armies.
Mountains of jewels are not the only outcome from these mines. Civil wars, human suffering and exploitation, environmental degradation, and destruction are all results from multiple diamond mines around the globe. The past two decades alone have seen seven countries in Africa experiencing civil wars, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, the Republic of Congo, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic.
Approximately 3.7 million lives have been lost from the wars fueled by the black diamond trade so far, with millions more missing. To date, there are still millions living with the consequences and suffering from broken homes, families, and lives. The rebel gangs are often liable for the violence caused in these areas. However, governments and mining companies are also responsible for a lot of the destruction caused in countries that aren’t at war.
Consumers are increasingly gaining awareness of the violence and histories of these diamonds, supported by the recognition of award-winning film, Blood Diamond, 2006. As a consequence, the fight against the carnage is rising, yet violence is still present in many mining areas around Africa, and a notable amount of gems are still joining the market undetected. Just ten years ago, the industry was predicted to be made up of between four and fifteen percent of conflict diamonds.
Having lived in both South Africa and Zimbabwe for 15 years, Nikolay, CEO of Taylor & Hart, recalls his time there:
“Growing up in South Africa, we were acutely aware of the human rights violations that were happening in neighbouring Zimbabwe, under the government of President Robert Mugabe. Millions of people were being oppressed by his regime, and thousands crossed the borders into South Africa as refugees, trying to find work illegally. When in 2008 we heard about the crackdown by the government on miners in the Marange mines, we decided to take an active position, and though at the time Zimbabwean diamonds were not considered ‘conflict’ by international standards, we would ensure we no longer knowingly offered them and have not ever since.”
The growth of ethically sourced diamonds
Concern grew as the ability to differentiate ethically sourced diamonds from blood diamonds became apparent. This resulted in the Kimberley Process (KP) being established in 2003, in an effort to make the entire industry conflict-free. There are 80 countries involved in the certification scheme so far, which has managed to reduce the number of conflict diamonds infiltrating the supply chain, leading to less than one percent of diamonds in current circulation estimated to be unethical.
Unfortunately, the KP is not flawless as multiple countries have declined to be a part of the scheme. There has also been a lot of criticism about how sufficient the verification of the diamonds is. Only governments, NGO’s, and professional industry bodies are included in the identification process and workers in areas such as Zimbabwe, who work under extremely high levels of brutality and denied fundamental rights, are excluded. Zimbabwe is a certified conflict-free country, and so any diamonds acquired from this country are marked as such, yet the suffering endured is not considered. Being paper-based is also an issue due to increased possibilities of tampering, imitation records, and loss.
The evolution of the fight against the blood diamond trade is accelerating, and more people and businesses are getting on board to help the suffering stop. The latest breakthrough comes from a company named Everledger. They are working with Blockchain technology and aim to transition the Kimberley Process to an entirely digital system. This will make information available to retailers and consumers, and the whole process will become more accurate.
Many people in the industry avoid any diamonds coming from Zimbabwe, due to them being unethical, even though they are conflict-free and so the KP is used as a reference guide only. CanadaMark can fill the gap of information for many traders as it details the origin and history of the gem. Consumers on the high street can also request certificates for their diamond purchases, which will state the country of origin.
Synthetic diamonds have been introduced as a solution to the problems in the verification of ethical diamonds and have a successful niche in the market. However, this could not replace authentic diamonds due to the additional challenges that would arise. The diamond industry is the only source of income for the local economy in many countries in South Africa and replacing that for lab produced gems would leave a more significant issue. 10 million people are currently affected by the financial economy from the diamond industry, and so millions of jobs would be lost if synthetic gems were to become mainstream.
Value of diamonds is increasing as demand rises and fewer sources are located.
During the cold months, we all want to look our best, but it is a little bit challenging to layer everything well and look fabulous. And if you don’t know to style the hunky sweaters, boots, coats and all the winter accessories, you will end up looking like a clown. We have some tips on looking your best when the temperatures drop, so stay tuned!
Accessorize For Warmth
Coats alone won’t keep out the cold! Take on the cold weather in style with these accessories:
A giant scarf that can also be used as a blanket;
An eye-catching woolly collar;
Chunky knit pom-pom beanie;
Wool beret;
Faux-fur mittens;
You can find so many interesting scarf designs that will keep you fabulous and cozy. Choose a design that can be left on as a part of your outfit.
Throw On A Vest
Fur vest is trendy and chic. They are perfect layering pieces and will keep you warm without keeping you too warm. You can make your simple outfit more interesting with a cozy, statement fur vest. You can also add rock ‘n’ roll, retro or rustic touches to an outfit with a denim vest. There are so many beautiful designs that will keep you warm and chic during the freezing days, so pick the one that you like the most and wear it with style.
Add Leather To Your Closet
A classic leather skirt can add some edge to your polished look, while a moto jacket can instantly provide a put-together vibe to any combination. Fashion designers are experimenting with new colors (metallics, pastels) and chic designs(corset belt, wide-leg trousers). Shirt dresses are timeless and are great for casual dinner with your closest friends, birthday party or anniversary. A faux-leather jacket is totally a lifetime piece. You can style it with anything you want and look fabulous. You can also go with a faux-leather skinny trousers – they look very stylish with a chunky knit, floaty top or simple tee.
Be Warm From Head To Toe
Over-the-knee boots will keep you warm and chic this winter. They look great on tall girls. The easiest way to style them is with a cozysweater dress. If you want to make a statement, wear your eye-catching boots in a combination with a bright blazer dress and printed turtleneck. Curvy girls can also wear this type of boots. They just need to find a pair that hits right above the knee, and create a long lean leg line with jeans or pants in a similar color. Long blouses or sweaters that hit below the hip look best in a combo with over-the-knee boots.
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.
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.
