Harvey Weinstein’s third New York rape trial ends in mistrial

AdvertisementSexual harassment and assaultWorldUnited States & CanadaHarvey Weinstein’s third New York rape trial ends in mistrialThe jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether the former Hollywood mogul raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 1:47am, 16 May 2026Harvey Weinstein’s third trial in New York over allegations he used his Hollywood clout to prey upon and sexually abuse women ended ‌in a mistrial on Friday, after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on a charge he raped the aspiring actress Jessica Mann.
Weinstein, 74, was a top film producer until sexual misconduct allegations led to his downfall and fuelled a wider social movement that encouraged women to come forward with accounts of sexual abuse by ⁠powerful men.
The case, brought by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, centred on allegations that Weinstein ‌raped Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 while Mann resisted and repeatedly said “No”.
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Scientists discover ‘shy plant’ that can count without even having a brain

PC: Google Gemini
Scientists have discovered that Mimosa pudica, known as the ‘shy plant,’ possesses the capacity for enumeration. This finding suggests intelligence isn't only found in creatures with brains. Professor Peter Vishton's team at William & Mary made this discovery; they learned that these plants don't just rely on time to track and anticipate changes in their environment; they use frequency instead. In experiments, researchers exposed the plants to random light cycles and observed that they exhibited anticipatory leaf-opening behaviour depending on the number of cycles it experienced. Such ‘non-neuronal cognition’ challenges our basic understanding of biology, suggesting that individual cells might learn in complex ways. This breakthrough could change our perspective on how plants perceive, process, and respond to their surroundings.
Scientists tested whether the shy plant can actually ‘count’ eventsAccording to the report published at William & Mary, the r..

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Peru’s leftist Sanchez to face Fujimori in presidential run-off

Peru’s leftist ⁠presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez will face ⁠Keiko Fujimori in the June run-off after narrowly securing second place in April’s first-round vote, official results showed Friday, with 100 per cent of votes tallied.
The month-long count led to allegations of fraud in ‌the politically turbulent South American nation, notably from right-wing candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who narrowly trailed Sanchez for much of the counting process.
Fujimori, the daughter of late former…

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Trump and Xi conclude ‘very successful’ talks but no deals confirmed

Trump and Xi conclude 'very successful' talks but no deals confirmed4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSuranjana TewariAsia business correspondentWatch: What did we learn from Trump's visit to China?US President Donald Trump left Beijing after a two-day summit saying he had struck “fantastic trade deals, great for both countries”, but few details have emerged on what the two superpowers agreed.
Trump arrived for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, accompanied by several CEOs: a high-profile business delegation spanning agriculture, aviation, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI) chips.
Trade was near the top of the agenda despite recent tensions over the Iran war, and businesses hoped for key deals as well as an extension of the tariff truce that is due to expire in November.
The visit was defined by warm rhetoric and symbolism. Trump was wooed with a packed itinerary that included an honour guard, a state banquet, ..

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Quote of the day by Mahatma Gandhi: “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

Mahatma Gandhi (Image: Wikipedia)
A lot of famous quotes survive because they sound clever. This one by Mahatma Gandhi survives for a different reason. It feels personal almost immediately.The line is short. Simple too. No dramatic language. No complicated philosophy. Still, people continue sharing it decades later because it quietly points toward something many individuals recognise in everyday life.Sometimes people speak beautifully without meaning much at all. And sometimes somebody says almost nothing, yet the emotion behind their silence feels completely genuine.That contrast sits at the centre of Gandhi’s quote.At first glance, the line appears to be only about prayer or religion. Spend a little more time with it though, and the meaning starts stretching far beyond spirituality. The quote touches sincerity, emotional honesty, human connection, and the strange emptiness that appears when actions lose genuine feeling underneath them.That probably explains why the line still feels ..

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‘An aggressor’: Iran tells UAE to ‘accept responsibility’ as tensions flare at Brics meeting in New Delhi

Iran delegation at Brics
Iran lashed out at the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, accusing Abu Dhabi of direct involvement in military operations against Tehran during a tense exchange at the Brics foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.The sharp escalation came a day after the UAE denied a claim by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had visited the Gulf country during the Iran war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier warned that “those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.” “I didn't name the UAE in my (BRICS) statement for the sake of unity. But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country,” he said, reported Reuters , citing Iranian state media. “When the attacks started, they didn't even issue a condemnation,” he added. Watch Iran Signals More Safe Passage For Indian Ships As BRICS Meet Faces West Asia Divide”We must live side ‌by side ⁠in peace, and this requires peaceful re..

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Trump pushes back on offshore wind as global industry expands rapidly

President Donald Trump's administration is actively impeding the growth of offshore wind projects across the United States, precisely as the industry stood on the brink of substantial expansion.
This clean energy source holds considerable promise for delivering vast amounts of power to U.S. coastlines.
Currently, three offshore wind farms are operational, with an additional three already supplying power as they complete construction or final testing phases. Despite more than 40 federal offshore wind leases being in place, the administration is reportedly repurchasing some, offering financial incentives for energy companies to abandon their offshore wind endeavors.
Trump has also implemented various other obstacles for the sector, while simultaneously prioritizing fossil fuel development.
Trump has also implemented various other obstacles for the sector, while simultaneously prioritizing fossil fuel development (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)His stance runs counter to many other coun..

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Newsom outlines his final budget proposal with no deficit, new major spending

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed a revised budget proposal without a deficit for his last year of office and the next, laying out a $350 billion spending plan that includes little new spending but also avoids major cuts.
Newsom is eager to safeguard programs that have defined his tenure as the leader of the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies. As he gears up for a possible presidential run in 2028, Newsom is promoting the budget as fiscally responsible because it protects California's progressive programs but also builds up the state's rainy day funds, a pointed rebuke to critics who say the state spends more than it has. The state’s spending has grown more than $100 billion since 2020, according to the legislative budget analysts.
“We’re cutting deficits. But we’re not cutting corners,” Newsom said.
Newsom can’t seek a third term and will leave office in January.
Revenues, driven mostly by the booming stock market and artifi..

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Xi-Trump summit day 1: everything you need to know from the meeting in Beijing

We have put together stories from our coverage of Xi and Trump’s meeting in Beijing. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Thucydides Trap, personal touches – all you need to know from Xi-Trump summit so far
The two leaders began the day with an extravagant welcome on the steps of the Great Hall of the People before heading in for talks.
2. After fanfare and banquet, day 1 of Trump’s China visit draws to a close
Xi and Trump are expected to discuss the…

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US moves to end fraud cases against Asia’s richest person, Gautam Adani

US authorities are moving to resolve the fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, according to people familiar with the matter, and end a criminal case that has hung over Asia’s richest person for more than a year.
The Justice Department may announce that they are dropping the charges as soon as this week, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. The Securities and Exchange Commission is also moving to settle a parallel civil fraud case it…

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