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While you were sleeping: 16 November 2017

While you were sleeping: 16 November 2017

Class action suit for Weinstein, massive sale for Da Vinci painting, and Serena Williams to tie the knot.

Thursday, 16 November 2017

“If you try to predict the future, know that you will be wrong. The trick is to be as least wrong as possible; and be ready to change when you see how wrong you are!”
Sir Michael Howard

 
 

Emmerson Mnangagwa may – or may not – turn out to be Zimbabwe’s saving grace. But that would be a rather peripheral benefit of the military coup (or non-coup) that happened early on Wednesday morning, almost certainly masterminded by Mnangagwa. 

 
 
 

Class action suit for Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein has now become the subject of a class action suit. It was filed on Wednesday by an actress on behalf of several other women: they accuse Weinstein of sexually assaulting them. The accusers allege that Weinstein “isolated (the) plaintiff and the class members in an attempt to engage in unwanted sexual conduct that took many forms: flashing, groping, fondling, battering, sexual assault, attempted rape and/or completed rape”.

 

Da Vinci painting sells for over $450m

A 500-year-old painting believed to have been created by Leonardo da Vinci has gone under the hammer for over $450-million. The staggering amount has set a new world record for the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction. The painting, a depiction of Jesus Christ entitled “Salvator Mundi” had been lost for years before being discovered in 2005. It is one of just 20 paintings known to have been created by Da Vinci.

 

Charles Manson in serious condition

Serial killer Charles Mansion has been put in hospital in a serious condition. Media reports indicated that the 83-year-old murderer is in a serious condition and would not “get any better” anytime soon. Responsible for the deaths of seven people from his “family” ranch in California, it is unlikely Manson’s suffering is to be met with much sympathy.

 

Serena Williams to marry today

Tennis megastar Serena Williams will be tying the knot today in New Orleans. Williams will be marrying Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in a seriously glitzy affair, involving 250 guests. A-list VIPs include Jay Z, Beyonce, and Eva Longoria, among others. No phones will be allowed, as Williams secured an exclusive – and no doubt lucrative – deal with Vogue to capture the event.

 
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IN NUMBERS

400%

The percentage increase in meth smuggling attempts into Britain when Breaking Bad was at its most popular.

 

FACTS OF THE DAY

Today in 1938 LSD is first synthesised. It has been featured at electro-rave festivals ever since.

Game publisher Electronic Arts has been voted “The Worst Company in America” two years in a row, 2012 and 2013.

 

 

 

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