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Published by DPA Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike. -/Ukrinform/dpa A series of Russian attacks starting early last week has “destroyed” 30% of Ukraine’s power stations, resulting in “massive blackouts across the country,” President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on Tuesday. Zelensky added that there was “no space left for negotiations with Putin’s regime.” Russia has been hitting Ukrainian cities with missile and drone strikes for the past week, with fresh impacts on Tuesday knocking out power and water supplies to eastern parts of Kiev. Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on all residents to save electricity and stock up on drinking water. Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike. Oleksii Chumachenko/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A judge dismissed part of the sexual misconduct lawsuit against Kevin Spacey. Before the ‘House of Cards’ actor – who has been accused of assaulting Anthony Rapp at a party in 1986 when Rapp was just 14 years old and Spacey was more than a decade older – testified in court, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. The judge – who wasn’t convinced by the evidence presented by Rapp’s lawyers – allowed his accusations of battery to proceed. Testifying against the claims on Monday (17.10.22), Spacey said: “They are not true. Everything about what was happening in that house was something I had to keep to myself. “We never, ever, talked about it. I have never talked about these things publicly ever.” Rapp filed a civil suit against Spacey after a 2020 criminal charge of sexual assault was dismissed by a judge and has been seeking compensation for mental and emotional suffering, medical expenses and loss of work. During his own time on the stand Rapp, now 50, was asked whether he lied about his accusations. He responded: “I have not. It was something that happened to me that was not okay.” Earlier this month, Spacey’s lawyer claimed Rapp made the allegations “for attention, for sympathy and to raise his own profile” because he was jealous of the success the ‘American Beauty’ star enjoyed while his own acting career floundered. Jennifer Keller said in opening arguments: “One of the cardinal rules of the so-called MeToo movement (is) that you have to believe the victim. You’ll see that Mr Spacey said ‘This didn’t happen, I don’t remember it’. “They told him to apologise. It was cleverly set up by Mr Rapp… He’s been telling this story to raise his own profile. “He never became the international star Kevin Spacey did. He has been simmering with resentment. It’s not easy to defend this, after 30 years. “As Mr Spacey’s star rose, Mr Rapp grew resentful. ‘Rent’ (the musical) was the apex of his career. He peaked in 2000 and grew bitter. So he became an out gay actor. I don’t know if he would have been a leading man anyway.” According to court documents, Rapp claimed that during a party in Manhattan, Spacey lifted him up and his hand “grazed” his buttocks as he did so. He then alleged the actor placed him back down on a bad and “briefly placed his own clothed body partially beside and partially across” his. He said the alleged incident lasted no more than two minutes and there had been “no kissing, no undressing, no reaching under clothes, and no sexualised statements or innuendo.” Spacey has previously offered his “sincerest apology” to the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ actor for any “deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour” but said he did not recall the incident. And he previously pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting three men between March 2005 and April 2013 in the UK, while in 2019, charges of indecent assault and sexual assault were dropped in Massachusetts. View the full article

Published by Relaxnews By Chris DELMAS / AFP Meta has developed measures and implemented rules to ban content considered hateful, including so-called “groomer” rhetoric. This theory, which propagates the myth that people in the LGBTQ community pose a threat to minors, violates Meta’s hate speech policies. However, the tech group is reportedly benefiting from ads featuring this kind of message. Meta has developed measures and implemented rules to ban content considered hateful, including so-called “groomer” rhetoric. This theory, which propagates the myth that people in the LGBTQ community pose a threat to minors, vi… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Embattled actor Kevin Spacey took the witness stand Monday at his Manhattan trial, where he launched into his testimony by revealing his rocky relationship with a “neo-Nazi” father who verbally abused him because he suspected his son was gay. Spacey, who is being sued in Manhattan federal court by actor Anthony Rapp in a $40 million civil lawsuit that claims the older actor aggressively came on to him in 1986 when he was 14, told jurors that his father was a white supremacist who ”used to yell at me about the idea I might be gay because I was interested in theater, and he didn’t enc… Read More View the full article

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Published by DPA Rosalia, born and raised in Catalonia — home to a separatist movement that’s been fighting for autonomy from Spain for over a century — has been embraced by many in Spain as a poster girl for the country’s burgeoning cultural renaissance. Álex Zea/EUROPA PRESS/dpa “It was like I almost drowned!” Inside one of Mexico City’s posh five-star hotels, Rosalía sinks into a cushy office chair across from me, already winded on the third day of her Latin American tour, in support of her universally acclaimed album, “Motomami.” If it wasn’t from the altitude sickness that reared its head during her first night in Mexico — “I thought I needed an oxygen tank,” she said — it was from the reception the 29-year-old Spanish pop star received inside the capital city’s Benito Juárez International Airport, where she was ambushed by a swarm of screaming fans and photographers. For what felt like hours, she said, she hid behind her curtain of dark tresses, as her bodyguard pushed through the crowd and shuffled her into a black car. “It just hit me,” she said, “what it meant to my fans that I came from so far away.” Donning a space bun hairdo, baggy blue jeans and a Harley-Davidson shirt with flames on the sleeves, Rosalía cradled a fan-bespoke Dr. Simi plush doll, which Mexican fans have taken to toss at their favorite singers during concerts. My Chemical Romance, the Killers and Gorillaz have all amassed their own Dr. Simi collections; last month, Lady Gaga narrowly dodged a Dr. Simi to the face. Rosalía had collected at least five so far. “This one has my tattoos,” she said, comparing the inside of the doll’s hands to her own — inked with fashionably worn, scraggly letters spelling out “Motomami.” On the doll’s thigh, a fan reproduced Rosalía’s garter belt tattoo, a tribute to the Austrian feminist performance artist Valie Export. The concept of “Motomami,” Rosalía explained, was first inspired by her mother Pilar Tobella: her chief business adviser, as well as an avid biker, who could expertly zip through the alleys and hills of Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Rosalía’s birthplace, in Catalonia. Moreover, Rosalía added, “Motomami” is the incarnation of her own “drive for artistic and sexual liberation.” Released in March, “Motomami” put the gas on Rosalía’s ascent to worldwide pop stardom. A survey of flamenco and Caribbean heritage music like bachata and reggaetón, modulated through a glitchy funhouse filter of hyper-pop, the record debuted on the top of Spotify’s global albums chart. Featuring guest stars the Weeknd, James Blake and the Neptunes, “Motomami” became the year’s most critically acclaimed album on Metacritic — even topping Beyoncé’s celebrated “Renaissance.” Rosalía already set the bar high with her 2018 sophomore release, a rousing flamenco-pop fusion dubbed “El Mal Querer,” which loosely translates to “a toxic love.” Released on Sony Latin, it actually began as her baccalaureate thesis project at the Superior Catalonia School of Music: a musical retelling of the 13th century Occitan romance “Flamenca.” In 2019, “El Mal Querer” won the Latin Grammy for album of the year; in 2020, Rosalía claimed the Grammy for Latin rock, urban or alternative album, beating out reggaetón superstars Bad Bunny and J Balvin, who, with the advent of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, have led an unprecedented Hispanic takeover of pop charts around the world. Rosalía’s accolades grabbed the attention of Grammy-winning producer and composer Noah Goldstein, who oversaw the Kanye West albums “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and “Yeezus.” He first met Rosalía in 2019, while she recorded a track for one of his clients at Electric Lady Studios in New York; after he sat in on a session with one of her producers, David Rodríguez, Rosalía’s manager, Rebeca León, asked Goldstein to work on “Motomami.” “Rosalía is the truth,” Goldstein told the Los Angeles Times. “I was floored when I first heard her sing. She can go light and airy, or sometimes, beautiful and aggressive.” As an example, he cites her vocal melisma on the flamenco track, “Bulerías” — “nobody else in pop can touch that,” he said. “She’s a creative genius,” he added. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, so at this point, I just know when I see it. The artists that I work with fight to find the balance between something that can be appreciated by a mass audience, but also challenge them and push things forward. They don’t compromise their vision. Kanye’s the same way. To me, the best art makes all of us question traditions. Rosalía is a progressive artist.” At the first of two sold-out concerts at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, the buzz of 10,000 fans, some festooned in leather biker chic, swelled to a roar as Rosalía emerged in a blue dress outfitted with shoulder pads, smacking on an invisible piece of chewing gum. This has become her go-to performance routine for the song “Bizcochito,” a plinky feminist communique of a reggaetón track that inspired a chewing gum challenge on TikTok. On behalf of the objectified female subjects of hip-hop songs, she declared in Spanish, “I am not, nor will I ever be, your babycakes!,” as thousands shrieked along. TikTok has served as the artist’s primary canvas as of late. It’s where she tests many of her looks, and where in March she broadcast a sensational live performance of “Motomami,” a popular strategy among the most internet-savvy of pop stars. The social platform directly inspired her Mexico City stage setup: a stark white background that heightened the contrast of her undulating silhouette, as she and her dancers swanned, twerked and wrestled each other into knots. Rosalía’s backup dancers — an international, all-male modern dance crew, choreographed by Mecnun and the Jacob Jonas company — circled one another with cameras in hand, making sure to zoom in on the beads of sweat emanating from each others’ pores. Their images were projected onto large screens designed to look like iPhones; in turn, fans recorded the scenes on their own camera phones. “People who see the world through their eyes now see the world through their screens,” she explained after the show. At the core of the record’s identity, said Rosalía, is the fragmented chaos of the internet that she grew up on. If a bolero like “Delirio de Grandeza” seems discordant when juxtaposed with the industrial furor of “CUUUUuuuuuute,” that’s because it’s supposed to be; she says the microblogging site Tumblr was in part her inspiration for the diaristic sound collage that became “Motomami.” “It’s because of the internet that the world today is so globalized,” said Rosalía, who herself took inspiration from her online discovery of records by Bjork and M.I.A. “Globalization [means] artists are being exposed to so many things from so many different places. It makes art more about the journey than the destination. … I really identify with that.” Like its creator, “Motomami” is well-traveled. In the three years she spent writing and recording the album, Rosalía jetted between studios in Miami, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, where she lived through most of the pandemic. She also passed some time in New York with enigmatic singer-songwriter Frank Ocean, who, as she recalls in the track “Saoko,” told her to “crack open the world like a nut.” She then stayed with rapper Tokischa in the Dominican Republic, where they wrote the songs “Linda” and “La Combi Versace” and enjoyed a plantain lasagna dish called pastelon, courtesy of Tokischa’s mother. Some of those travels were shared with her boyfriend of almost three years, Puerto Rican pop star Rauw Alejandro. Although Rosalía and Alejandro collaborate on music often — like her made-for-TikTok earworm “Chicken Teriyaki,” on which Alejandro is a co-writer — she says they’re holding off on releasing anything as a duo. “To get feelings mixed up in business is so tricky,” she says. “Our connection is very strong, but we’re still learning each other and building a foundation.” Although she was born and raised in Catalonia — home to a separatist movement that’s been fighting for autonomy from Spain for over a century — Rosalía has been embraced by many in Spain as a poster girl for the country’s burgeoning cultural renaissance. She made her first movie appearance by singing in “Pain and Glory,” the 2019 film from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who frequents her concerts. Musicians such as Don Patricio, as well as Catalan artist Rigoberta Bandini, have also lauded her for elevating the country’s music to new heights. Yet to her critics, Rosalía has become an avatar for Spanish colonization, which has left behind an unrelenting caste system in Latin America and its other former colonies — one that continues to privilege artists and others with white European ancestry. Whereas Rosalía cites the differences between people as points of inspiration for her art — take her interest in flamenco, which she says was sparked from the Andalusian communities in her hometown, or the distinctly Black Caribbean genres like reggaetón and bachata, which she reveled in at parties as a teen girl — others point out that the very groups she’s inspired by are still not afforded the same level of institutional support or commercial value as white artists. These are observations that Rosalía does not contest, but during her time in Latin America, she’s been forced to face them more soberly. “I don’t feel proud of what my ancestors have done, or proud at all of that past,” she said. “I think we should be conscious about that past. I want us to look forward to a better future. I come here with the utmost respect and will to learn from people.” It’s this mind-set that moved bachata superstar Romeo Santos to collaborate with Rosalía on his new album, “Formula Vol. 3.” She and Santos co-wrote the latest single, “El Panuelo,” a classic bachata number suffused with Rosalía’s nimble, vocal acrobatics. “I respect [her] creative space, her interpretation, her essence,” Santos told the L.A. Times. “We don’t need to change our language, our rhythms, or our essence to fit in. Artists like Bad Bunny and Rosalía, they make me proud.” To her credit, Rosalía rarely accepts such praise without citing her sources. Much like an academic, she peppers most of her songs with the names of her influences, as if to build a bibliography for her listeners, in hopes that they may absorb what she has from them. For example, she shouts out the Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Plan B on “Candy,” and credits Dominican singer Omega for inspiring the “violent mambo” of her latest single, “Despechá.” “I wouldn’t have gotten where I am had I not studied flamenco,” she said. “Or boleros, soul, jazz, bossa nova. I tried singing in Portuguese to better understand bossa nova. Then I tried singing in English to better understand American jazz standards. I studied bachata for years before I got lucky enough to record with Romeo Santos!” Rosalía’s world tour continued in the US and Puerto Rico, starting with a show in San Juan. “I study, and I bring my personal point of view into what I’ve learned,” she concluded. “That’s why I do this job. That’s why I make music in many styles, from other places — it leads to more expressions. It makes me a better artist. To learn from people is the biggest blessing. And to share it, too.” Spanish singer Rosalia, here in Fuengirola, in Spain. Álex Zea/EUROPA PRESS/dpa View the full article

Published by PopCrush Madonna is in her TikTok era. The Queen of Pop went viral Oct. 9 for participating in a TikTok trend where she seemingly came out. She also joined TikTok personality Terri Joe on a live stream Oct. 13. Now, she’s back again with a video set to the viral “Period Ahh Period Uhh” song. @madonna ♬ original sound – #1 Hottie In the video, Madonna is seen wearing fish net tights and harnesses in what appears to be her bathroom while dancing to the track that spawned a slew of memes after going viral. She also lip syncs the lyrics and flashes the camera her middle finger. “Period Ahh Period Uhh” is a… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Emma Corrin believes Prince Diana was “so queer” in “many ways”. The 26-year-old star – who came out as queer last year and later revealed they are non-binary and use gender neutral pronouns -is best known for portraying the late royal in season four of ‘The Crown’, a part also taken on by bisexual actress Kristen Stewart in ‘Spencer’. Emma declared: “In many ways Diana was so queer.” Emma believes Diana – who had sons Princes William and Harry with ex-husband King Charles – was the definite “other” within the royal family and always embraced “outsiders”. Meanwhile, the ‘My Policeman’ star reflected on how they felt like they were “being born” when embarking on their first queer relationship. They told the Sunday Times Style magazine: “[It felt] like being born a bit. Opening my eyes to this whole other way of life that felt so right. And so beautiful. And in quite a terrifying way it called into question everything I’d been assuming about myself and about the way I loved people before and how I felt.” Emma thinks people are “normally quite good” about referring to them using the right pronouns, but admitted it matters less with people they know well because it is about “feeling seen”. Asked if people are respectful or if they have to do a lot of correcting, they said: “It’s half and half. People are normally quite good at it. But pronouns are a strange thing in themselves. It’s a weird little bit of language that comes to mean so much, and really struggles to reflect anyone’s true feeling of self.” The ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ star admitted there are “always those voices” that advised them not to talk about their gender identity so openly but they would rather be “boldly” themself. They said: “There are always those voices. “Luckily none of them I work with closely, but you are aware of them. I notice there’s always that voice in your head that’s, like, if I come out of this, if I define myself as this thing, will it mean that people won’t trust me with certain parts? But you can dig yourself into such a hole of hypotheticals … “I would much rather be boldly myself and comfortable than not.” Emma thinks being non-binary has helped them stay sane in their career. They explained: “It really gives some distance in between the two things, you’re right. And it makes me feel separate in a way that keeps me sane, I think. It’s a really interesting one and one that I’m just kind of figuring out, because it has all been so recent and it’s still this journey that I’m on. “I feel so different in my life every day and in my body every day to the roles that I depict normally, especially these two recent ones, because yes, they’re very, very straight, very feminine. “I think I’m drawn to the feminine characters I’m drawn to because it’s an exploration of what, especially in Connie’s case, makes them female and it’s almost a critique of that. “The majority of my experience my whole life has been with femininity and I consider my gender and sexuality not a rejection of that, but an embrace of fluidity and more parts of me, the masculine parts as well and everything in between.” View the full article

Published by The Bangkok Post Read humans at ฺBook Expo Thailand 2022 published : 17 Oct 2022 at 14:51 newspaper section: [Guru](http://search.bangkokpost.com/search/result_advanced?category=news&xNewsSection=Guru) The ongoing 27th Book Expo Thailand 2022 offers more than books as reading material. You can also learn from ‘human books’ similar to The Human Library movement, which began in Denmark. Photo credit: Gon Photography Don’t judge a person by their cover by sitting across someone you don’t usually interact with, conversing with them, and, most importantly, learning and unlearning stereotypes attached to them. The ‘… Read More View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by Euronews (English) Queen have released a new song. Well, it’s not exactly new. It’s an unreleased song they recorded in 1988 when legendary lead singer Freddie Mercury was still alive. ‘Face it Alone’ was recorded in the sessions for Queen’s 1989 album ‘The Miracle’. The band had forgotten about the recording but rediscovered it when they returned to the sessions as part of a reissue box-set for the album, set to be released 18 November. It’s the first song featuring Mercury’s vocals released in over eight years. “We did find a little gem from Freddie, that we’d kind of forgotten about,” drummer Roger Taylor sai… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Ghislaine Maxwell is speaking out about her feelings for Prince Andrew and his headline-making legal battle with Virginia Giuffre. The disgraced former socialite admitted she still cares for the embattled royal in a recent interview at Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution in Florida, where she is expected to serve her 20 year sentence. mega This admission comes months after Andrew reached a settlement with Virginia. The royal’s world was turned upside down when the now 39-year-old alleged she’d been sex trafficked by Ghislaine and Jeffrey Epstein, and forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was only 17-years-old — a story Ghislaine admitted to be following. PRINCE ANDREW IS ‘FUMING’ OVER PRINCE CHARLES & PRINCE WILLIAM’S DECISION TO NOT LET HIM BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT “He is paying such a price for the association with Jeffrey Epstein,” she explained. “I care about him, and I feel so bad for him.” mega The 60-year-old also claimed that the infamous photo of Andrew with his arm around Virginia — then known as Virginia Roberts — must have been faked, before lamenting the trauma her affiliation with the convicted pedophile has caused people around her. PRINCE ANDREW & GHISLAINE MAXWELL WERE ‘VERY CLOSE’ & FLIRTY WHILE ON JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S PRIVATE ISLAND, EX-MAID CLAIMS “There are many people who have been impacted by this story who have been cancelled, some friends of mine who never even met Epstein lost their jobs,” she confessed. “People who literally had nothing to do with him whatsoever have been cancelled.” mega “I think for all those people, including some of them who never met him, it’s been a very heavy price that has been paid due to the cancel culture,” she continued. “So, you know, from that perspective, I think it’s been very difficult for a lot of people.” Maxwell also accepted that her friendship with Andrew “could not survive” her guilty conviction, adding that she has no “expectation” that they would ever be close again. As OK! previously reported, Andrew and Maxwell were longtime friends and rumored to be lovers. Palace staff and others who had close associations with the two described their relationship as “flirty” and noted they had “an easy warmth around each other.” Maxwell spoke with DailyMail on her friendship with Andrew. View the full article

Published by Knewz By Alex Lang New York (Knewz) — Disgraced socialite and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell said she was thankful former President Donald Trump offered her support after her arrest. Maxwell spoke to CBS for an upcoming special and offered her gratitude to the former president, according to Newsweek. “We knew each other and mingled in the same circles, in New York, Palm Beach. I was very grateful when he wished me well after (the arrest). He got bad media for it, but he dared, while others didn’t,” she said, according to Newsweek. “I was honored [Trump] remembered me. Well, he is known to say what… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega; @THEREALJENSHAH/INSTAGRAM Andy Cohen dropped a major hint about a potential Real Housewives cast shake-up while attending BravoCon 2022 this weekend. Although Jen Shah was spotted at the New York-based event, she sparked rumors after she wasn’t involved in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City panel. When asked why, the Bravo exec seemingly hinted this is likely the end of the road for the embattled reality star. mega “Once we wrapped [Season 3 and] she pled guilty, I think that was kind of, unfortunately, the end of, you know, the engagement there,” he explained. “But I hope to sit down with her and talk to her at some point on camera because I have a lot of questions for her.” ANDY COHEN, KYLE RICHARDS & MORE: HERE’S ALL OF THE BRAVOLEBRITIES WHO SKIPPED TERESA GIUDICE’S LAVISH WEDDING As OK! previously reported, Shah changed her plea to guilty on Monday, July 11, days before her bombshell wire fraud trial was set to begin. “In 2012 to March 2021 in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere I agreed with others to commit wire fraud,” Shah confessed to Judge Sidney Stein. “I knew this was wrong. I knew many people were harmed and I’m so sorry.” bravo Federal prosecutors have called for Shah to spend up to 14 years behind bars. Aside from potential prison time, Shah also agreed to pay more than $9 million to her fraud victims. The television personality’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 28. DANCING HER LEGAL TROUBLES AWAY: ‘RHOSLC’ STAR JEN SHAH TWERKS ON STAGE AT LATTO CONCERT DESPITE LOOMING FRAUD TRIAL Although many fellow Housewives have spoken out against Shah throughout the fraud scandal, one cast member has stuck by her side. RHOSLC costar Heather Gay teased she would remain close with Shah even if she is sentenced to jail time. @THEREALJENSHAH/INSTAGRAM “Listen, I’ve had prison boyfriends before. I know the whole routine!” she joked. “I’m not worried about that. I was born for this.” Last month, Gay also praised her friend’s personality, saying: “As much as you think you know her and can predict her or judge her or evaluate her based on the show, it is one-umpteenth of the charisma, the magnetism, the star power, and the force of energy that she is.” Page Six reported Cohen’s comments. Gay spoke with DailyMail about her friendship with Shah. View the full article

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune Adam Lambert is coming full circle in three very different ways. Together, they tie his past, present and future together with a flair perfectly suited for this charismatic “American Idol” alum and lead singer in Queen. Lambert is now at work on his first musical. It will follow a concept album, featuring songs from the musical, targeted for a late 2023 or early 2024 release. In turn, the musical and album have been preceded by the release of his version of “Mad About the Boy” earlier this month, which is being used as the theme song for the 2023 film documentary “Mad About the Boy — The Noel … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany has started a new programme to admit Afghans deemed most at risk following last year’s Taliban takeover in Kabul, the interior and foreign ministries said on Monday. Berlin has pledged to take in around 38,000 Afghans particularly at risk under the rule of the hardline Islamists, and some 26,000 people have already arrived in Germany. The new programme will admit 1,000 Afghans per month and their family members. It targets particularly exposed Afghans who are active in women’s and human rights advocacy or those at risk for working in the fields of justice, politics, … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters NEW YORK (Reuters) -Kevin Spacey took the witness stand on Monday and denied claims made in a civil lawsuit by actor Anthony Rapp, who says the Oscar-winning star made an unwanted sexual advance in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Rapp, now 50, testified earlier this month that an intoxicated Spacey – then 26 and acting on Broadway – climbed on top of him at a party at his Manhattan apartment. Rapp, at the start of his own Broadway career at the time, said he was able to “swerve my way out” but that the experience scarred him. Spacey’s attorney asked him on Monday about Rapp’s suggestion during the trial that Spacey was a “fraud” for not coming out as homosexual sooner. “To call someone a fraud is to, I guess, say that you think they are living a lie,” the 63-year-old said. “I wasn’t living a lie. I was just reluctant to talk about my personal life,” Spacey said. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday dismissed Rapp’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, stating that the claim repeated his allegations of battery against Spacey. Kaplan allowed the battery claim to stand, and it will be considered by a jury after Spacey makes his case and both sides present closing arguments. Last week, Spacey’s lawyer challenged Rapp’s memory of the 1986 incident during cross-examination, questioning him on why he described the encounter of having occurred in a bedroom when Spacey lived in a studio at the time. Rapp, who starred in the Broadway musical “Rent,” sued Spacey in November 2020 and is seeking $40 million in damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Spacey won Oscars for best actor in “American Beauty” and best supporting actor in “The Usual Suspects,” but his career largely ended after more than 20 men accused him of sexual misconduct. Netflix dropped him from its political drama series “House of Cards” and Christopher Plummer replaced him in the role of J. Paul Getty in “All the Money in the World” weeks before the movie’s scheduled release in 2017. Spacey faces a criminal trial in London next year after pleading not guilty to five sex offense charges over alleged assaults between 2005 and 2013. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Lisa Shumaker and Mark Porter) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Long before he shot to political stardom as a senior advisor to former President Donald Trump in the late 20-teens or even married model Ivanka Trump nearly a decade earlier, Jared Kushner was a New York City businessman grappling with both the real estate market — and his family’s jaw-dropping drama. From his formative years to helping his father, Charles Kushner, navigate his legal woes, here’s a look inside Jared’s life long before joining the Trump family. College Questions mega Despite graduating from Harvard University in 2003 with a B.A. in government, some suspicions have arisen surrounding how, exactly, Jared nabbed a spot at the prestigious Ivy League school. “There was no way anybody in the administrative office of the school thought he would on the merits get into Harvard,’’ an official from the figure’s former New Jersey school spilled to The Guardianback in 2016, adding that “his GPA did not warrant it, his SAT scores did not warrant it.” “We thought, for sure, there was no way this was going to happen,” they continued. “Then, lo and behold, Jared was accepted. It was a little bit disappointing because there were at the time other kids we thought should really get in on the merits, and they did not.’’ SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET: INSIDE THE KUSHNER’S FAMILY’S DRAMA & SCANDALS As such, rumors began to swirl surrounding how money may have played a role in Jared’s acceptance, with ProPublica reporting that Charles had promised a $2.5 million donation to the university as his son began scoping out colleges. A representative for Kushner Companies ultimately denied “the allegation,” as she dubbed it, explaining that any alleged connection between this donation and Jared’s acceptance was “is and always has been false.” “[Charles and Seryl Kushner] are enormously generous and have donated over 100 million dollars to universities, hospitals and other charitable causes,” Risa Heller told the nonprofit newsroom of Jared’s parents at the time. “Jared Kushner was an excellent student in high school and graduated from Harvard with honors,” she continued, though as the outlet noted, roughly 90 percent of Jared’s Ivy League could also claim the latter achievement. Dad’s Legal Drama mega The questions surrounding Jared’s college admissions isn’t the Kushner family’s only scandal. In 2003, officials began probing Charles over whether he had made any illegal campaign donations. Their efforts were aided by William Schulder, the mogul’s brother-in-law and former business associate. Upon learning that Schulder was helping with this investigation, the once highly-respected real estate developer fired back, devising a plan in which he hired a sex worker for his in-law, who was married to his sister at the time, and recorded their sexual encounter. Charles then showed the incriminating tape to his sister. Nearly two years following the initial investigation, Charles was convicted of multiple crimes, including witness tampering, illegal campaign contributions and tax fraud. He served 14 months in federal prison before completing his sentence in a halfway house, a debacle that seriously impacted Jared. “After a couple days of spending time with him and getting that situation as settled as it was going to get, I get back to New York, back to my apartment on Mercer Street and I basically just sat on the floor and I started crying,” he recalled in an interview last month. JARED KUSHNER ADMITS HE ‘SAT ON THE FLOOR AND STARTED CRYING’ AFTER HIS DAD’S LEGAL WOES WERE REVEALED Part of these intense emotions, Jared said, came from grappling with how drastically his life had changed. “I realized that there was a lot of things I was angry at,” he explained, naming that at the time, he felt irked at several parties, including both his dad as well as the individuals who prosecuted the case. Yet amid these tough feelings, Jared said he came to a realization that shaped his perspective on the world. “Any time there was a challenge, a lot of people get very angry or trying to figure out why it happened or what they could’ve done different,” the businessman revealed. “I always would just say ‘OK, well, it is what it is, how do I take the variables we have and try to make it as good as it can be?’” Dealing With Donald mega In 2007, roughly two years after Charles’ emotional conviction, Jared met his future wife, Ivanka, through a mutual friend, who seemingly introduced the pair for business reasons. “They very innocently set us up thinking that our only interest in one another would be transactional,” Ivanka recalled of her husband in 2015. “Whenever we see them, we’re like, ‘The best deal we ever made!’” Though Jared and Ivanka, who were both 25 when they first started dating, briefly called it quits in 2008 due to religious differences — the real estate mogul and his family are Modern Orthodox Jews —the pair ultimately reconciled, with Ivanka beginning the process of converting to the faith. Prior to popping the question, Jared spoke with the model’s famous father about the state of their romance in context with Judaism. “I could feel my voice shake as I managed to say that Ivanka and I were getting more serious and that she was in the process of converting,” Jared recalled in his new memoir, Breaking History: A White House Memoir. DONALD TRUMP TRIED TO INTIMIDATE JARED KUSHNER BY TELLING HIM TOM BRADY WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN IVANKA “Well, let me ask you a question. Why does she have to convert? Why can’t you convert?” his soon-to-be father-in-law reportedly quipped. After explaining that it had been Ivanka’s choice to convert to Judaism, The Apprentice icon fired back, noting that Jared had football star Tom Brady was also reportedly interested in his daughter. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Last summer, Prince Harry shocked the masses when he announced he’d be writing his very first book. “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story — the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned — I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think,” he wrote in a press release. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.” Since then, the Duke of Sussex has rarely commented on his upcoming work, leaving the public curious as to what they can expect to read when they turn through the pages. Scroll down to learn more about the highly anticipated book. mega When Is It Coming Out? Upon the official announcement, it was stated that the tome would be released in fall 2022 — but the timeline seems to be ever-changing. In fact, over the summer, Publishing Random House didn’t include the book on in their fall lineup, leaving consumers confused. Just a couple of weeks later, an insider toldOK! the release date was being pushed in the wake of the news that Michelle Obama would be releasing a memoir on November 15. “There is no way Harry can compete with Michelle. Not only will she have another best-seller, but she will for weeks,” the source explained. “Penguin Random House wanted to have Harry’s book on shelves in time for the key Thanksgiving and Christmas markets, but because of Michelle that could all change.” How Much Money Is He Being Paid For It? Radar previously claimed the Duke of Sussex received a $15 million advance for the work, though an actual monetary figure has yet to be confirmed. However, Harry did reveal a portion of his earnings will be donated to charity. Other sources claimed he’s earning upwards of $20 million. mega What’s The Book About? In the book’s official synopsis, the publishers stated, “Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him.” The summary continued, “Covering his lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the frontlines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father, Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait, one that shows readers that behind everything they think they know lies an inspiring, courageous, and uplifting human story.” Some think Harry could drop plenty of scandalous bombshells about the royal family as well, from who made comments about son Archie‘s skin color to his true feelings towards his stepmother, Queen Consort Camilla. mega Is It Being Rewritten After Queen Elizabeth’s Death? A source claimed the dad-of-two is “currently updating” the contents to “include the passing of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.” Since the work was rumored to be finished before her passing, the insider noted publishers are “so paranoid it will leak” that they “use a secret name when referring to the memoir — it’s called the ‘GKH’ project, which is the nickname his mother Princess Diana used for her beloved son. ‘GKH’ stood for Good King Harry!” What Does The Royal Family Think? Though the monarchy has yet to address Harry’s project, an insider told OK! that King Charles is pleading with his youngest son to scrap the work all together. “Once the dust settles, you can bet that Prince Harry will be summoned to speak to the King. There is no circumstance in the world where the King will not address the book before it is published,” stated the source. “He has an obligation to the protect the crown. He will beg Harry not to release the book. The bigger question is whether or not he will be able to persuade Harry to cancel it, at whatever cost.” View the full article

Published by AFP Gabriel Zarate crosses the border to work in San Diego as an English teacher during the day and returns home in the evening to Mexico Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) – While many migrants risk their lives chasing the American dream, Gabriel Zarate fled the rising cost of living in California and moved to the Mexican border city of Tijuana. The 38-year-old Chilean American now crosses over to work in San Diego as an English teacher during the day and returns home in the evening to Mexico. “One of the biggest reasons is the cost of living in Tijuana. It’s significantly cheaper than in California,” Zarate said. Also, he added: “I love Mexican people and food.” His neighbor and fellow English teacher Mike Rachfal also made the move from San Diego, where he used to pay $1,275 a month to rent a studio. “Here it’s about half that,” the 36-year-old said. The cheaper rents can be a sensitive subject in Mexico, where wages are much lower than in the United States and people are also facing increasing living costs. Tijuana is one of the cities with the fastest-rising real estate prices in Mexico — up 10.7 percent in the first quarter of 2022 from a year earlier, according to the state-owned Federal Mortgage Society. The average price of properties bought by US citizens is around $270,000 — “three times lower than what the same property would cost in the United States,” said Ruth Sastre, president of the local realtors association. Construction boom In Tijuana, a bustling city with a reputation for gang violence, new apartment buildings are springing up with “For Sale” signs in English and prices in dollars. With more than 1,000 murders in the city already this year, security is an important consideration, but Zarate said that “in general I feel fine in Tijuana, especially downtown or around the border.” “It’s like any big city. There will always be places rougher or more complicated than others,” he added. It is a similar story just south of Tijuana in Rosarito on the Pacific coast. Following a real estate boom that began a decade ago, up to around 12,000 people from the United States now live in the resort city, said Jesus Rincon Vargas, president of the local construction industry association. In total around 1.6 million US citizens are estimated to live in Mexico, according to their country’s embassy, which does not keep official records. They can stay for up to six months with a tourist visa, or apply for residency. ‘Friendly culture’ Along with the lifestyle and cost of living, the relatively relaxed immigration rules are part of the appeal for remote workers flocking to Mexico, notably the capital. Brian McDonald, a 34-year-old software developer from the US state of Oklahoma, has spent more than a year in the Latin American country, lured by its budding technology scene. “Mexico City seems like it’s kind of a gateway for expanding companies and I like working with start-ups,” he said. “It’s a very friendly culture,” McDonald added. Office-sharing company WeWork has seen a “significant influx of digital nomads” in districts of Mexico City popular with foreigners, said spokeswoman Cristina Sancen. “Mexico City has an incomparable climate. For foreigners, it’s definitely a cheaper city. It’s also a cosmopolitan and highly developed city with start-ups and corporations,” she added. Some foreigners working for US firms are also choosing to base themselves south of the border. Kirsty Hall, 23, from Scotland, picked Mexico City as a remote working location while helping to set up a San Francisco-based tech start-up. “I can walk everywhere here. I can cycle. Today I roller-skated to work. Public transport is awesome and it’s very cheap. People are very welcoming too,” Hall said. The influx of foreigners has divided opinion among residents of the capital, some of whom see the city’s popularity as one of the reasons behind gentrification and rising rents. “I heard there’s some prejudice towards digital nomads within Mexico City but I haven’t experienced it personally,” said Blazej Mosinski, 23, from Poland, who is doing a San Francisco internship remotely “purely for financial reasons.” Other challenges of working remotely in Mexico include slower internet speeds than in US technology hubs and safety concerns. “I was robbed by the police two weeks ago, just walking home,” McDonald said. But “the rest — the good food, the cost of living — offsets all of those things,” he added. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brad Pitt is said to have been so “embarrassed” about a spot on his bum while filming his ‘Thelma and Louise sex scene a make-up artist covered it up between takes. His co-star on the 1991 film Geena Davis, 66, made the claim about the 58-year-old actor in her new autobiography, ‘Dying of Politeness’, in which she also said Brad’s abs were sprayed with Evian water by the film’s director Ridley Scott during the shoot. She said in an extract from the memoir, quoted by The Sun on Sunday (16.10.22): “Brad, for his part, couldn’t have cared less about all the fuss over his looks. “He was just embarrassed about a tiny little pimple on his butt that the make-up gal re-covered after each take.” Geena also said she only agreed to show more flesh than she wanted in the scene for director Ridley Scott after queues of body doubles started to audition to stand in for the actress. She added in her book: “I was uncomfortable with the projected extent of skin I was being asked to show, so Ridley Scott found himself interviewing a slew of body doubles who were more used to flashing the flesh than I was. “A line of them snaked through the lot where we were filming, right past my trailer door, and I couldn’t stand it any longer – I’d worked as a model, after all – so I told Ridley I’d do it. “I needn’t have worried. Ridley seemed much more concerned about how Brad looked than I did in that scene, making sure the lighting was just so, and even personally spraying Brad’s abs with Evian.” Dad-of-six Bard, currently embroiled in an ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, 47, recently said he was really “grateful” he got the chance from director Ridley Scott, 84, and Geena to feature in ‘Thelma and Louise, in which he played conman and petty thief JD who rips off cash from Geena’s character Thelma, sending her and Louise, played by Susan Sarandon, now 76, into a spiral of theft and disaster that famously ends with them driving off a cliff. Brad said about landing the role, and his regret he made his voice so high in the role: “I had nothing to show for myself, except for my work as an extra, and they took a chance on me. “I’m more aware of how high my voice is in it. My a** must have been clenched so tight, being the first one. “I think they (the filmmakers) were desperate, to tell you the truth. They were already shooting because a week later I was on set, working.” He added he was picked for the part at his final audition in a head-to-head with five other actors who he said included George Clooney. Brad said Geena picked him after exclaiming: “The blond one… hello!” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jeff Mason and Mike Stone PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden described as “devastating” testimony and video from a Jan. 6 committee hearing two days ago, featuring congressional leaders in tense phone calls with Pentagon and White House officials during the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Biden was speaking to reporters during a stop at an ice cream shop in Oregon as he campaigned for Tina Kotek, who is running for governor of the state. “I think it’s been devastating,” Biden said when asked about the latest hearing. “The case has been made, it seems to me, fairly overwhelming.” Biden said he had been going out of his way not to comment on the proceedings. “Any more I say about it, you … are going to ask me if I’m trying to influence the attorney general. I’m not. I’ve not spoken with him at all,” Biden said, referring to Attorney General Merrick Garland, whose Justice Department has the authority to pursue criminal charges related to the Capitol attack. Some of the video footage came from the family of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi present at the Capitol that day. One of the clips showed the California Democrat in a call with Republican Vice President Mike Pence. “When I spoke to him, I said, ‘I’m so afraid for you to be in the Capitol still,'” Pelosi said on Saturday during remarks at a San Francisco community farming event. Pence responded that the Secret Service thought more attention would be drawn if he and his entourage left the Capitol, Pelosi said. “Lord knows what might have happened if that entourage went out there,” she added. The House committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by Donald Trump’s supporters voted unanimously on Thursday to subpoena the former president, a move that could lead to criminal charges if he does not comply. The hearing followed eight others earlier this year and one in July 2021. There were no live witnesses on Thursday, but the panel presented videotaped testimony to build a case that Trump’s efforts to overturn his November 2020 presidential election defeat constituted illegal conduct far beyond normal politics. The committee’s vote on Thursday may have been its last public action before the Nov. 8 congressional elections that will determine whether Biden’s Democrats continue to control the House and Senate. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Mike Stone; Editing by Sandra Maler, Diane Craft, Paul Simao and Tomasz Janowski) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jamie Lee Curtis has thanked her godson Jake Gyllenhaal for rebooting her Hollywood career. The ‘Halloween’ actress, 63, said the actor, 41, is responsible for getting her to star in the reboot of the horror franchise that made her name, which she said has led to a career renaissance. Jamie told NME about agreeing to reprise her role as terrorised babysitter Laurie Strode from John Carpenter’s 1978 ‘Halloween’ hit in director David Gordon Green’s 2018 take on the slasher film: “It wasn’t even a thought in my head to do another ‘Halloween’ movie. “I didn’t want to, but then I got a call from Jake Gyllenhaal, my godson who I’ve known since he was a little boy. Jake had worked with David Gordon Green and he said David wanted to speak to me. So I told him to pass my number along and the phone rang again just a minute later.” Jamie added about David’s version of ‘Halloween’: “David had hidden an indie drama in the middle of a horror film. He made something intimate that was layered in bloody tissue and exploding heads. I read it in about an hour and called him back immediately, ‘OK, let’s go’.” David’s ‘Halloween’ had the highest-grossing opening weekend for a film with a female lead over the age of 55 in history and was soon picked up for another two sequels also starring Jamie. Jamie added: “There was no mention of a trilogy when we started in 2018. I didn’t think I would do it ever again. Later, David mentioned that there were these three stories – ‘Halloween’, ‘Halloween Kills’ and ‘Halloween Ends’. And here we are. “I am a creature of habit. I am at my core loyal – and I’m loyal to Laurie. I will look back on my life and think that was a good quality. “That film (‘Halloween’ 2018) changed my entire life. More so (thank the original.) At 63, I have an entire career. “Now I’m a producer. I’m a writer, I’m a director, I’m an active boss, I’m a creative partner. I can collaborate with artists in a way that I’ve always dreamed of. I never expected to be making the movies that I’m making now. “I’m looking at this as a decade of creativity, 60 to 70, that I never expected. “I always knew I was an incredible collaborator, but all of a sudden my life has exploded creatively.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English King Charles is reportedly set to give priority to the presence of charity workers over aristocrats at his upcoming coronation. His Majesty may even scrap a lengthy section of the traditional crowning ceremony known as the “homage” – in which hereditary peers line up to honour the new royal – to give greater prominence to volunteers for good causes. The Mail on Sunday (16.10.22) also said it understands the accommodation of charity workers at his coronation will mean peers and members of the aristocracy could be required to enter a ballot to secure a seat at the event. It added experts who have spent years researching how the Charles’ coronation will be planned are on the verge of releasing a new report setting out what the UK can expect. Written by academics at the Constitution Unit at University College London, and based on interviews with royal insiders over several decades, the publication said the report will “reveal a fascinating insight into the arduous planning involved”. Dr Bob Morris from UCL’s Constitution Unit and author of ‘Inaugurating a New Reign: Planning for Accession and Coronation’, told the Mail on Sunday: “There will inevitably be many changes in the next Coronation, not least because there has been a great change in the status of the aristocracy over the past 70 years. “There are no longer hereditary peers being created and, save for the 90 left in the Lords, the peerage has no legislative function. “So, it would be very difficult to see how you could justify fitting anything like the numbers of the peerage attending Westminster Abbey in 1953. “There would have to be a ballot for a limited number from the 90 peers to attend the Coronation instead. “The King has made it clear that he is conscious that we live in straitened times, and that the Coronation will have to reflect that.” Charles’ coronation date has been announced as May 6 2023, almost 70 years after the Queen was crowned in June, 1953. The 73-year-old monarch is said to be aiming for a “slimmed-down” coronation compared with his late mother’s. It has been reported his ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London, will last just over an hour, have fewer rituals and be more diverse than the ceremony at which Queen Elizabeth was crowned. The Mail on Sunday previously reported the plans for Charles’ coronation are contained in a blueprint dubbed Operation Golden Orb, which apparently contains details on how he will reduce his coronation from the three hours of the late Queen’s. A source told the publication: “The King has stripped back a lot of the Coronation in recognition that the world has changed in the past 70 years.” The publication also reported the guest list for the event will be cut from 8,000 to 2,000, with “hundreds of nobles and parliamentarians missing out”. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel Gibson has been cleared to testify about a conversation he had with one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers. But the actor, 66, cannot be questioned on the stand about his previous anti-Semitic remarks as a lawyer requested. Judge Lisa B Lench made the rulings on Friday (14.10.22) ahead of ‘Braveheart’ actor Mel being lined up to inform a jury about a conversation he had with a masseuse, who is one of Weinstein’s latest alleged victims to come forward against the shamed Hollywood boss. Mel’s involvement was challenged by lawyers for Weinstein at the start of his latest trial in Los Angeles, which sees him on 11 charges of sexual assault and rape. They claimed Mel’s infamous anti-Semitic remarks in 2006 and 2010 meant he could be biased against Weinstein, who is Jewish. But Judge Lench ruled it had little bearing on what the ‘Lethal Weapon’ actor’s testimony may contain about his conversation with the masseuse, who will be known as Jane Doe #3 at the hearings. Weinstein, 70, is accused of committing sexual battery by restraint against the woman. Prosecutors say after getting a massage from the woman at a California hotel in Beverly Hills in May 2010, a naked Weinstein followed her into the bathroom and committed a sex act on himself. Weinstein’s attorney Mark Werksman argued for Mel being questioned about his anti-Semitic remarks by saying: “Any evidence of Mr Gibson’s racism or anti-Semitism would give rise to a bias against my client, who challenged him.” Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez said even tough Mel’s previous comments were “despicable” they had no relevance for the matter about what he knew about his conversation with the masseuse. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty in his new trial and denied any non-consensual sexual activity. He is serving a 23-year sentence for a 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault in New York and the state’s highest court has agreed to hear his appeal in that case. Weinstein was brought to Los Angeles for a trial that began on Monday (10.10.22), five years after a string of women’s stories about his behaviour spurred on the #MeToo movement. The trial is expected to last eight weeks, and the judge and attorneys will return to the jury selection process on Monday morning (17.10.22), with opening statements set to start on October 24. View the full article

Published by Reuters (This Oct. 13 story has been corrected to clarify the circumstances under which companies in the EU can ban religious signs, including headscarves.) By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU companies can ban the visible wearing of religious signs, including headscarves, if the rules apply to all workers, the European Union’s top court said on Thursday, the latest ruling on an issue that has divided Europe for years. However, it said that if one religion is effectively discriminated against by the ban then companies may need to demonstrate to a court that there is a legitimate need for it. The ruling centred on a case concerning a Muslim woman who was told when she applied to do a six-week work traineeship at a Belgian company that she would not be allowed to wear a headscarf. The firm said it has a neutrality rule, meaning no head covering is allowed on its premises, be it a cap, hat or scarf. The woman took her grievance to a Belgian court, which subsequently sought advice from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg. “The internal rule of an undertaking prohibiting the visible wearing of religious, philosophical or spiritual signs does not constitute direct discrimination if it is applied to all workers in a general and undifferentiated way,” the CJEU judgment said. However, the court said an employer’s neutrality rule could be deemed indirectly discriminatory if it results in someone of a particular religion or belief being put at a disadvantage. It said that in this particular dispute, it would be up to a works tribunal in Brussels to determine if that was case. The court said a difference in treatment of employees would not constitute indirect discrimination if it were objectively justified by a legitimate aim on the part of the company, which the employer would have to demonstrate. The CJEU last year said that EU companies could ban employees from wearing a headscarf under certain conditions, if they needed to do so to project an image of neutrality to customers. In Germany, headscarf bans for women at work have been contentious for years, mostly with regard to aspiring teachers at state schools and trainee judges. France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim minority, prohibited the wearing of Islamic headscarves in state schools in 2004. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by John Chalmers and David Clarke) View the full article