Weekly News Roundup

#DeleteFacebook

The Guardian, The Observer and The New York Times reported that data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica used information gleaned from hundreds of millions of Facebook profiles to try and influence how Americans voted in the 2016 US election.

The former Vice President of Cambridge Analytica (CA) was Trump’s former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and  ex-Cambridge Analytica employee Chris Wylie is blowing the whistle on how they conducted “research” for the election.

He told The Guardian his firm, “exploited Facebook to harvest millions of people’s profiles … and built models to exploit what we knew about them and target their inner demons”.

After that story first broke, Channel 4 in the UK revealed Cambridge Analytica’s CEO boasted to undercover journalists about using misinformation campaigns to influence election campaigns.

The Last Male Northern White Rhino in the World has Died

In a post on Facebook, Ol Pejeta Conservancy said that Sudan, 45, was suffering from “age-related complications” and had to be euthanised:

“It is with great sadness that Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Dvůr Králové Zoo announce that Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino, age 45, died at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on March 19th, 2018. Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds. His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal. The veterinary team from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him.”

Weinstein’s Accusers Just Got Released From Their Non-Disclosure Agreements

The Weinstein Company has cancelled all non-disclosure agreements made between Harvey Weinstein and a number of women who had accused him of sexual misconduct, following news that the company had filed for bankruptcy as of Monday night.

The company, which booted Weinstein in October last year, said that the move would help the victims find justice:

“Today, the Company also takes an important step toward justice for any victims who have been silenced by Harvey Weinstein. Since October, it has been reported that Harvey Weinstein used non-disclosure agreements as a secret weapon to silence his accusers. Effective immediately, those ‘agreements’ end.

No one should be afraid to speak out or coerced to stay quiet. The Company thanks the courageous individuals who have already come forward. Your voices have inspired a movement for change across the country and around the world.

Cynthia Nixon could be the First Female and First Openly Gay New York City Governor

Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon says she’ll run in New York’s Democratic primary for governor in September.

In a video on Twitter, Nixon said, “We want our government to work again.”

“This is a time to be visible,” Nixon said. “This is a time to fight.”

Sixty-year-old Cuomo was favoured 66 per cent to 19 per cent over Nixon in a recent poll.

Nixon identifies as bisexual. If Nixon is elected, she would be both the first governor of New York to be female and to be openly a member of the LGBTQI community.

Youngest of Canadian Cocaine Trio ‘Recruited by Sugar Daddy’

The youngest of the glamorous “cocaine babes” who imported cocaine in suitcases on a luxury cruise across the Pacific to Sydney has told a court a man she called “my sugar daddy” recruited her.