☕️ Harvey Weinstein is back on trial

Good morning!

In some developing news this morning, the European Union have fined Apple $570m and Meta $220m for demonstrating anti-competitive behavior across the continent. Both Apple and Meta have said they will challenge the fine, but the really interesting response will come from the White House.

It was only a few weeks ago that President Trump passed an executive order stating that American companies could not be unfairly targeted by regulators overseas. This is the first real test of that position.

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Some headlines from this morning:

• President Donald Trump has announced U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will be lowered "substantially". There is currently a 145% tariff rate on goods imported to the U.S. from China, which was announced earlier this month. The President has now said he believes a tariff deal with China will happen “pretty quickly”. He added: "They're gonna do very well, and I think they're going to be happy, and we're gonna live together very happily and ideally work together.”

• More than 80% of the world’s coral reefs are currently undergoing harmful levels of bleaching, according to an international group of scientists. The group includes the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It’s the world’s fourth major bleaching in the last 30 years, and has been underway since 2023. Coral bleaching happens when changing conditions (like warming oceans) make coral eject their colourful algae and turn white. Bleached coral is more at risk of starvation and disease, which can lead to reefs and ecosystems dying.

• A major wildfire in east New Jersey has forced thousands from their homes and closed off main roads, causing significant delays. So far, no fatalities have been reported. At least 25,000 people will be without power until later today. The blaze is around 10% contained, according to the NJ Forest Fire Service, which is investigating what caused the fire. The service will give a press conference with more updates later today.

• An El Paso judge has allowed a woman to hug her brother’s murderer, at the conclusion of a court hearing over a racially-motivated mass shooting. In 2019, Patrick Crusius opened fire at a Walmart in the Texas-Mexico border town, after posting a racist manifesto online. Crusius, who pleaded guilty earlier this week, killed 23, including Arturo Benavides. During Benavides’ sister’s victim impact statement in court on Tuesday, she said she wished Crusius could have learned about Hispanic culture, and said she wanted to hug him to show him forgiveness, which the judge allowed.

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At least 26 people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on tourists visiting Pahalgam, a town in the Himalayas.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi labelled the killings a terrorist attack.

The region’s top official told the BBC it is the largest attack on civilians in years.

Pahalgam is part of the Kashmir region, which is divided between Pakistani and Indian control.

Background

The region of Kashmir borders India, Pakistan, and China.

When Britain relinquished control of the Indian peninsula in 1947, it split the region into two countries – India and Pakistan.

Kashmir became a flashpoint of conflict between the new nations, with both fighting for control. After the UN intervened, the area was officially split into Pakistani control in the north and Indian control in the south.

More conflicts have followed, driven by religious tensions between the Muslim majority in Pakistan and the Hindu majority in India.

Militant groups opposed to Indian rule also operate in the region. India has accused Pakistan of supporting these groups, which it denies.

Over 500,000 Indian troops are currently stationed in the area.

Decline in violence

In 2019, Modi imposed a military crackdown on its section of Kashmir, and began to govern it directly.

The Indian Government says violence has since decreased.

Since 2019, domestic tourism has increased by 30%, including to Pahalgam.

Attack

The attack was carried out at a popular meadow lookout outside of Pahalgam, only accessible on foot or by horse.

The official death toll is yet to be released, but according to local media reports, at least 26 people have been killed and many more injured.

In response, Modi ended an official visit to Saudi Arabia early, and vowed to bring “those behind this heinous act… to justice.”

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Former film producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on sexual assault and rape charges begins in New York today.

It comes after he successfully appealed a 2020 conviction on the grounds that one witness should not have been allowed to give evidence.

Weinstein is already serving a 16 year sentence for a separate conviction of rape and sexual assault committed in Los Angeles. He maintains his innocence.

2020 conviction

Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of historical rape and sexual assault charges which were alleged to have occured in New York. The charges related to allegations made by three female actors.

He was accused of demanding sexual favors in exchange for helping the actors advance their careers – something the prosecution described as “common behaviour and a well-known secret throughout the film industry”.

Weinstein was also said to have abused his power and influence to force unwanted sexual encounters.

He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

2022 conviction

In 2022, Weinstein was sentenced to a further 16 years in prison after being found guilty on three counts of rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles.

Weinstein was to begin serving his 16-year sentence after the conclusion of his 23-year New York prison term.

He is currently challenging these convictions.

Appeal

In early 2024, the New York Court of Appeals found “egregious errors” in the process that led to Weinstein’s 2020 conviction.

This largely related to allowing the court to hear testimony from women who claimed that Weinstein assaulted them, even though they were not part of the charges he faced.

These witnesses detailed alleged sexual assaults committed by Weinstein, to demonstrate a pattern of behaviour by him.

However, the court found that Weinstein wasn’t judged on the conduct for which he was charged, but rather “irrelevant, prejudicial, and untested allegations of prior bad acts”.

The panel of judges voted 4-3 in favour of upholding the appeal.

They called it an “abuse of judicial discretion” to allow “untested allegations” in court.

What’s next?

Weinstein’s trial will focus on the same sexual assault and rape charges brought against him in 2020, but also include an additional count of sexual assault brought by an unnamed female complainant last year.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks, and opening addresses from the defence and prosecution will likely begin today.