Donald Trump retweets far-right group's anti-Muslim videos

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The first tweet from Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, claims to show a Muslim migrant attacking a man on crutches.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> This was followed by two more videos of people Ms Fransen claims to be Muslim.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Responding to Mr Trump's posts, UK Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman said it was "wrong for the president to have done this".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Mrs May and other world leaders knew that "these are real threats that we have to talk about".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The original video was shared by US conservative commentator Ann Coulter who Mr Trump follows.</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trump wrong to share far-right videos - UK PM</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is Britain First big online?</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">What do the videos Trump retweeted actually show?</li> </ul> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> What did Trump retweet?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The first video purportedly shows a "Muslim migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches. However, the claim in this tweet appears to have little substance.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A spokesperson from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service told the BBC that the person arrested for the attack "was born and raised in the Netherlands" and was not a migrant, as claimed in the social media post.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Netherlands Embassy in Washington DC confirmed this on Twitter.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The second video retweeted by Mr Trump shows a man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> This video was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. The man in the clip says: "No-one but Allah will be worshipped in the land of the Levant," which could place him in Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The third video originates from the riots that took place in Egypt in 2013, and shows a man being pushed from the top of a building in Alexandria. In 2015, those involved in the the incident were prosecuted, and one man was executed.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Who are Britain First?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Britain First was founded in 2011 by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP). The group has grabbed attention on social media with controversial posts about what they deem "the Islamification of the UK".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It has put up members to run in European elections and by-elections on anti-immigration and anti-abortion policies, but has not secured any seats.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It also contested the most recent London mayoral election, receiving 1.2% of the vote.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But its social media strategy has made it much more successful online than at the ballot box. The party has nearly 2 million likes on Facebook - dwarfing the main UK political parties.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Ms Fransen, the group's deputy leader, has been charged with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour" during speeches she made in Belfast.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> She will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Thursday 14 December.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Why does it matter?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <strong style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America Reporter</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Donald Trump is once again using Twitter to weigh in on contentious religious-tinged political issues in the UK.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In the past, he's attacked London Mayor Sadiq Khan for mishandling a militant attack just hours after it occurred. He misattributed a rise in crime in England and Wales to the "spread of radical Islamic terror". Now, he has retweeted a series of unverified videos posted by a far-right British nationalist group.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> For the president, directing attention toward the UK seems to serve a domestic political purpose.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He cites events and opinions there as a warning to Americans of what could happen in the US if they do not heed his policy prescriptions on immigration and border security. The Muslim ban, the US-Mexico wall, increased deportations, the sharp reductions on refugee resettlement - it's all part of the president's "national security" package.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> While most Americans probably haven't heard of Britain First and are unfamiliar with European radical nationalist movements, there are white supremacist groups in the US that follow the actions of these overseas operations quite closely. The president on Wednesday signalled that he watches them too.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Deputy leader of Britain First Jayda Fransen" height="359" src="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/5C74/production/_98986632_hi043087190.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> What has the reaction been?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Trump's decision to retweet the videos met with dismay on social media.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Brendan Cox, whose wife, British MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist who shouted "Britain First" before committing the act, has condemned the action.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> TV presenter and journalist Piers Morgan, who has called himself a "friend" of the president, tweeted: "What the hell are you doing?"</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Please STOP this madness & undo your retweets," he said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a US-based civil rights group, said: "These are actions one would expect to see on virulent anti-Muslim hate sites, not on the Twitter feed of the president of the United States."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Trump's posts amount to incitement to violence against American Muslims," they added.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an anti-bigotry group, said the president's retweets would "embolden bigots in the US and abroad".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Muslim Council for Britain called on the UK government to "distance" itself from the comments.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "This is the clearest endorsement yet from the US president of the far-right and their vile anti-Muslim propaganda," a spokeswoman said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div> <br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />

Donald Trump retweets far-right group's anti-Muslim videos

The first tweet from Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, claims to show a Muslim migrant attacking a man on crutches. This...

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Mount Agung: Bali volcano alert raised to highest level

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Indonesian authorities have raised the state of alert on the island to its highest level.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The island's airport has now closed, leaving many stranded in the tourist hotspot destination.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Dark smoke has been seen billowing up to 3,400m (11,150ft) above the mountain's summit.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The National Board for Disaster Management said explosions were being heard 12km (7 miles) from the summit.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Bali's main resorts of Kuta and Seminyak are about 70km (43 miles) from the volcano.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The alert was raised to the level four from 06:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday, because of "the possibility and imminent risk of disaster".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> On Monday the disaster management agency said the volcano was emitting "continuous ash puffs" occasionally accompanied by "explosive eruptions" and a "weak sound of boom".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "The rays of fire are increasingly observed at night. This indicates the potential for a larger eruption is imminent," it said in a statement (in Indonesian) on its Facebook page.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Authorities have been distributing masks for local residents, and have ordered people within a widened 10km (six-mile) exclusion zone to evacuate the area.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The volcano first began belching thick smoke last week - its first eruption in more than 50 years. It has been rumbling ever since.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Bali volcano: What is it like waiting for an eruption?</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indonesia: Volcano nation</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Officials and volcanologists on Saturday confirmed that magma - molten rock - had been detected close to the volcano's surface.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The information director of Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency also tweeted that volcanic ash rain had fallen on the Lombok city of Mataram.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> About 25,000 people are thought to still be in temporary shelters after more than 140,000 people fled in recent months.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Mount Agung volcano erupts as seen from Besakih Temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on 26 November 2017." src="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/11278/production/_98946207_3e88d452-1257-4654-a13a-149ef83a2b1f.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Authorities first issued warnings of an imminent eruption and raised the alert to the highest level in September after detecting heightened volcanic activity, prompting mass evacuations.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But some islanders returned to their homes in October after the alert level was lowered with a decrease in activity.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> According to official estimates, the holiday island lost at least $110m (£83m) in tourism and productivity during that major evacuation.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It is home to more than 130 active volcanoes. The last time Mount Agung erupted, in 1963, more than 1,000 people died.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

Mount Agung: Bali volcano alert raised to highest level

The Indonesian authorities have raised the state of alert on the island to its highest level. The island's airport has now closed, le...

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US to stop arming anti-IS Syrian Kurdish YPG militia - Turkey

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said President Donald Trump had made the promise in a phone call to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The White House said it was making "adjustments" to its support for partners inside Syria but did not explicitly name the YPG.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Turkey has long complained about US support for the group.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Washington has viewed the YPG as a key player in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS), but Ankara brands the group's fighters as terrorists.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Turkey says the YPG is as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group it has been fighting for decades in south-eastern Turkey.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The US, however, has seen the YPG as distinct from the PKK. In May it announced it would supply arms to the Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which were poised to drive IS from its stronghold of Raqqa. It had previously armed only Arab elements of the SDF.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "President Trump instructed [his generals] in a very open way that the YPG will no longer be given weapons," Mr Cavusoglu was quoted as saying in the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He said Mr Trump gave his assurances after President Erdogan reiterated his concern over the continued supply of weapons and armoured vehicles to the YPG.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A major shift</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <strong style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Analysis: The BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> If this is true, it would be a major shift in US policy. The Kurds have proved to be valuable partners in the fight against IS.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It is notable that Washington's account of the call does not mention taking away the arms that the Trump administration agreed to give the YPG earlier this year - something Ankara has called for. Turkey feared the weapons would end up in the hands of fighters intent on creating an independent Kurdish state.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Pentagon is likely reassessing its needs in Syria as the fight against IS has waned in recent months. But whatever adjustments are being made, it is clear the US military has no plans to leave the war-torn country. It has been revealed that about 2,000 US troops are now based there - a significant increase since the Obama administration.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The White House confirmed the two leaders had spoken by phone and said Mr Trump "reaffirmed the strategic partnership" between the US and Turkey.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Handout picture from official Syrian Arab News Agency on November 21, 2017 shows members of the pro-Syrian government forces in a public square in the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal." src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/954C/production/_98902283_043136801-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete," the statement said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "We are progressing into a stabilisation phase to ensure that Isis [IS] cannot return. The leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has driven IS militants from much of the land it once controlled.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The YPG and its political arm, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), denies any direct links with the PKK, whose insurgency has left thousands dead.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But Mr Cavusoglu has previously said that every weapon obtained by the YPG constituted "a threat to Turkey".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The SDF declared victory in Raqqa last month after a four-month battle to retake the city from IS, which had ruled it for three years.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

US to stop arming anti-IS Syrian Kurdish YPG militia - Turkey

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said President Donald Trump had made the promise in a phone call to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip...

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Meryl Streep and Dame Judi Dench speak out about Harvey Weinstein

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Streep told the Huffington Post she was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" news.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> She went on to praise "the intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse", calling them "heroes".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Harvey Weinstein and Rose McGowan" src="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/115B5/production/_98239017_rosemcgowanharveyweinstein_gettyimages-73715379.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Dame Judi Dench also issued a statement saying she was "completely unaware" of the "horrifying" claims.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The British actress also praised those who had spoken up.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out," she said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Meanwhile, another British actress - Romola Garai - says she felt "violated" after being asked to visit Weinstein in his hotel room when she was 18 so he could "approve" her for a role.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Garai told The Guardian he opened to door in his dressing gown. "It was humiliating for me," she said, adding: "It was an abuse of power."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Oscar-winner Kate Winslet has also praised those, like Garai, who spoke out, telling Variety they are "incredibly brave", adding it had been "deeply shocking to hear".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo and Seth Rogen are among other leading actors to express similar sentiments.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Weinstein allegations have instigated a fierce debate about abuse of power in Hollywood and beyond.</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weinstein sacked after harassment claims</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conservatives call out 'liberal hypocrisy'</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hollywood reacts to Weinstein claims</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Top Hollywood producer 'sincerely sorry'</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Streep's statement followed criticism that leading Hollywood figures had maintained a "deafening silence" in the wake of the allegations against Weinstein that surfaced in the New York Times on Friday.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Streep said she wanted to make it clear that "not everybody" had known about the allegations, including herself.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The three-time Oscar-winner said the news had "appalled those of us whose work [Weinstein] championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Streep worked with Weinstein on such films as The Iron Lady and August: Osage County and jokingly referred to him as "God" in a 2012 acceptance speech.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally," Streep wrote about the allegations.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "And if everybody knew, I don't believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> She added: "The behaviour is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Weinstein was made an honorary CBE by the Queen in 2004 for his contribution to the British film industry.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A spokesman for Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had expressed "concern" about the allegations, but said his CBE was not a matter for her office but for the Honours Forfeiture Committee, where each case is "considered on its merits".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Speaking earlier on Monday, Britain's Emma Thompson said she was pleased the story had come out and described Weinstein as "a predatory man".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Male predatory behaviour is everywhere, not just in the film industry," the actress and screenwriter told the BBC.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Let's support those women who don't have the confidence to speak out."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Some male stars have also spoken out to denounce Weinstein and express support for the women he is alleged to have abused.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "What Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power," tweeted Avengers actor Mark Ruffalo about the claims.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I believe all the women coming forward about Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment," wrote Seth Rogen.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Actress Rose McGowan, who the New York Times claimed had reached a legal settlement with Weinstein in 1997, has also been highly vocal.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Ladies of Hollywood, your silence is deafening," she tweeted on Saturday, going on to tell the Hollywood Reporter that "men in Hollywood need to change ASAP".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> When the claims were first reported in the New York Times, Weinstein issued a statement in which he apologised.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it," he wrote.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But he later disputed the article, with one of his legal team claiming the newspaper's report was "saturated with false and defamatory statements".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Weinstein's lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said in another statement that he denied many of the allegations against him as "patently false".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Bloom later announced she had resigned as Mr Weinstein's adviser.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> 'Weinstein used power as a gateway'</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <strong style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By BBC media editor Amol Rajan</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The painful fact is, many, many people were aware of allegations about Weinstein's behaviour for years. He was, as the saying goes, hiding in plain sight, no doubt protected to some extent by his friendships with famous people and his ability to hand out internships to the likes of Malia Obama (who as far as we know was treated with the utmost civility).</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> That he was a major supporter of Hillary Clinton will have done him little harm, too.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Weinstein was the kind of man who used his power to be a gateway to both financial riches and fame: he controlled access to huge audiences, with all the money that can bring.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> If some of the claims made by actresses are true, it may be that Weinstein was - unforgivably - allowed to get away with it because of his power. Not just his power to make people very rich; also, his power to make them very famous.</div>

Meryl Streep and Dame Judi Dench speak out about Harvey Weinstein

Streep told the Huffington Post she was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" news. She went on to praise "the intrepi...

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Puigdemont: Spanish king ignored millions of Catalans

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In a TV address, Mr Puigdemont accused the king of adopting the Spanish government's position.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "This moment calls for mediation," he said. He has indicated that Catalonia could declare independence next week.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> King Felipe made his own TV address on Tuesday night, calling Sunday's Catalan referendum illegal and undemocratic.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Twenty-four hours later, Mr Puigdemont claimed that the king had rejected a moderating role granted to him by the Spanish constitution.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In response, the Spanish government in Madrid said it would not accept "blackmail" from the Catalan leader.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Puigdemont must return to the path of law before any negotiation could take place, it said said in a statement (in Spanish).</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> His criticism of the king showed that he was "out of touch with reality," it added.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Puigdemont told the BBC on Tuesday that he would declare independence "at the end of this week or the beginning of next".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Catalan government has said there will be an extraordinary meeting of parliament on Monday to discuss the outcome of the disputed referendum.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> While Catalan officials put the vote in support of independence at nearly 90%, final results have not yet been released. The turnout has been estimated as 42%.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In his statement on Wednesday evening, Mr Puigdemont did not give any further details of a possible declaration of independence.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Switching to Spanish from Catalan, he thanked Spanish citizens who had sent their "solidarity" to Catalonia.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> What happened on Sunday?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Nearly 900 people were hurt as police violently tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Thirty-three police officers were also injured, local medical officials said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Shocked by what they had seen, hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined street protests on Tuesday. A general strike was also called in protest at "the grave violation of rights and freedoms" seen during the ballot.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It was a rare public attack on the Spanish monarch but King Felipe himself, symbol of national unity, seldom addresses the country on TV, and President Puigdemont had to respond.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Composite image showing Carles Puigdemont (left) and Spanish King Felipe (R)" src="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/12B14/production/_98146567_puigdemontking.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> At a bar in the Catalan leader's home region, they clapped respectfully afterwards, happy with their leader and his call for mediation, and then they joked about the Game of Thrones TV series.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "We need a king like Jon Snow who tries to keep his lands together and is with the people," said one woman, laughing.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, by common agreement, was the Night King, wishing eternal winter on Catalonia.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I want a Spain that cares for all its cultures," she added more seriously. "Why not love them all? We don't understand the speech of Felipe VI."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

Puigdemont: Spanish king ignored millions of Catalans

In a TV address, Mr Puigdemont accused the king of adopting the Spanish government's position. "This moment calls for mediation,...

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