NORRISTOWN: Bill Cosby's lawyers scored a pair of rulings crucial to their strategy of painting his accuser as a money-grubbing liar, but they could not get the one prospective juror who seemed most willing to consider that idea.
The defense wanted a man who said he thought many of the women coming forward in the #MeToo movement were "jumping on the bandwagon," but prosecutors used a challenge to send him home.
They agreed on six other jurors, bringing the two-day total to seven. They already have eliminated more than 200 potential jurors.
Jury selection continues on Wednesday, with a dozen people invited back for individual questioning as the prosecution and defense look to fill 11 remaining spots. A third batch of 120 potential jurors also is being brought to the courthouse in suburban Philadelphia.
No major rulings are expected after Judge Steven O'Neill opened Tuesday's session by issuing back-to-back decisions favorable to the defense team that tried to force him off the case last month over his wife's work with sexual assault victims.
O'Neill granted the Cosby' team's request to call a woman who says accuser Andrea Constand talked about framing a celebrity before she lodged allegations against him in 2005. The judge also ruled that jurors can hear how much Cosby paid Constand in a 2006 civil settlement.
Jury selection moved briskly on Tuesday until late in the day, when a second pool of potential jurors proved more opinionated and less willing to serve than the panel that produced the first seven.
Two-thirds of the group said they already had formed an opinion about Cosby's guilt or innocence, and all but about 20 people begged off the case, saying it would be a hardship to serve.
Two of the people who made the cut said they had no knowledge of the Cosby case.
Five of the jurors picked so far are white and two are black, with four men and three women.
Cosby has pleaded not guilty to charges he drugged and molested Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He says the encounter with the former Temple University women's basketball administrator was consensual.
O'Neill's ruling allowing Marguerite Jackson to testify was at odds with his decision to block her from the first trial, which ended in a hung jury. O'Neill did not explain his change of heart but issued one caveat, saying he could revisit her testimony after Constand takes the stand.
During the first trial, O'Neill ruled that Jackson's testimony would be hearsay after Constand testified she did not know the woman.
Jackson, a longtime Temple University official, has said that she and Constand worked closely together, had been friends and had shared hotel rooms several times.
Since then, prosecutors have told Cosby's lawyers that Constand had modified her statement to acknowledge she "recalls a Margo."
Jackson has said Constand once commented to her about setting up a "high-profile person" and filing a lawsuit.
Constand's lawyer has said Jackson is not telling the truth.
Jackson's availability as a witness for Cosby could be crucial to a defense plan to attack Constand's credibility.
O'Neill hinted at a pretrial hearing last week that he might keep jurors from hearing Cosby's testimony from a deposition in Constand's lawsuit about giving quaaludes to women before sex — another potential boon to the defense. He said he would not rule on that until it is brought up at the retrial.
O'Neill previously gave a boost to the prosecution, ruling they can call five additional accusers in a bid to portray Cosby — the former TV star once revered as "America's Dad" for his family sitcom "The Cosby Show" — as a serial predator.
As jury selection proceeded, The Associated Press and other news organizations challenged an arrangement that forces reporters to watch the proceedings on a closed-circuit feed from another courtroom.
Montgomery County President Judge Thomas DelRicci scheduled a Wednesday morning hearing on the news media's legal challenge.
The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
Cosby gets pair of key rulings, but not 'bandwagon' juror
Cosby gets pair of key rulings, but not 'bandwagon' juror
- Bill Cosby's lawyers have failed to get a juror that backs their claim that many of the alleged victims "jumped on the bandwagon"
- Seven jurors have been selected from a possible 200
Hia Hub: Day 2 sees industry leaders discuss evolution of skin care, market opportunities
- Patrick Chalhoub: Many consumers, particularly men, are not fully engaged in skin care routines
- Session underscored a collective commitment to enhancing skin care knowledge and practices in the Middle East
RIYADH: Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle conference, is set to run until Nov. 3 and Thursday’s lineup of talks featured a session called “The Current Landscape of Beauty and the Evolution of Skin Care” that saw panelists discuss the desire to grow the skin care segment of the regional beauty industry.
Moderated by Lynn Al-Khatib, vice president of communications at luxury goods retailer and distributor Chalhoub Group, the session featured the likes of Patrick Chalhoub, group president of the Chalhoub Group; Franck Marilly, chairman of Shiseido EMEA; Hasmik Panossian, regional general manager of Sephora Middle East; Laurent Duffier, managing director of L’Oreal Middle East; and Henk van der Mark, vice president of retail, commercial and business development at Estee Lauder Companies EMEA.
Patrick Chalhoub spoke of the responsibility that comes with being a market leader, saying: “As a market leader in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Saudi Arabia, we carry a significant responsibility to grow the beauty market.”
Notably, while fragrances dominate the market, skin care usage lags behind at only 10 percent, compared to 35 percent globally and 50 percent in Asia.
This, according to the panelists, indicates a substantial opportunity for growth.
Chalhoub highlighted the potential growth area, saying: “Many consumers, particularly men, are not fully engaged in skin care routines, often using just one or two products daily.”
Marilly added to the discussion, reflecting on the cultural differences in skin care practices.
He said: “In Asia, skin care accounts for 50 percent of a $35 billion market. While the Middle East represents a smaller segment, we have ambitious goals.”
Marilly also underscored the importance of education, saying that “utilizing advanced technologies like skin analysis and DNA testing can greatly enhance consumer knowledge.”
The importance of technology was mirrored in the contribution of Duffier, who said that L’Oreal “harnesses scientific formulas and cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional results,” while referencing tools that analyze skin to suggest appropriate treatments.
He added: “The rising interest in cosmetic procedures among younger demographics indicates a strong demand for effective solutions.”
The importance of education and raising awareness about the power of skin care came up again and again.
Van der Mark said: “In Europe and Asia skin care is deeply embedded in cultural practices. In contrast, the Middle East shows a gap in skin care education and usage.”
He pointed out that with 60 percent of the population under 30 in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, according to the International Monetary Fund, there was a significant potential to engage younger consumers who prioritized health and wellness.
Panossian spoke of the importance of understanding customer needs, adding: “With over 3,000 Sephora stores globally, we gather valuable feedback on products and ingredients … consumers are increasingly focused on ingredients, so we prioritize transparency and authenticity in our communications.”
The session underscored a collective commitment to enhancing skin care knowledge and practices in the Middle East, with industry leaders agreeing on the need for collaboration, education, and innovation to drive growth in the market.
As the beauty landscape continues to evolve, these efforts will be essential in shaping a more informed and engaged consumer base.
AlUla, Ferrandi Paris team up to open culinary training college
- Ferrandi Paris AlUla Campus will open later this year, with an inaugural intake of 100 students
ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla has partnered with Ferrandi Paris to establish a culinary arts, tourism and hospitality training college in the city.
Announced on Thursday at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, the Ferrandi Paris AlUla Campus will open later this year, with an inaugural intake of 100 students.
It will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, taught by professionals from the Saudi Arabia-based Colleges of Excellence and following the Ferrandi Paris curriculum.
Open to high school graduates from AlUla and across the Kingdom, the program aims to equip students with vital skills to support the city’s growth as a global tourism and investment destination.
The partnership is in line with both the RCU’s broader goals of upskilling the AlUla community in sectors such as culture, heritage and tourism and Saudi Vision 2030, the commission said.
Ferrandi Paris is a prestigious culinary institution with more than a century of expertise in hospitality training. It said it would bring its hallmark high standards to the new college, enhancing AlUla’s educational and vocational offerings and fostering stronger Saudi-French cooperation.
Four Abu Dhabi restaurants retain Michelin stars in 2025 guide
ABU DHABI : Four restaurants in Abu Dhabi on Thursday retained their previously awarded Michelin star in the guide’s third edition for the Emirati city.
The third edition of the ceremony celebrated the city’s vibrant culinary scene.
The ceremony, which was held at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, did not see any new stars awarded to the city’s restaurants.
Instead, 99 Sushi Bar, Talea by Antonio Guida, Erth and Hakkasan all retained their Michelin stars.
Michelin star award criteria ranks the quality of ingredients, harmony of flavor, consistency over time and across the menu as well as the chef's personality in cooking.
Meanwhile, the new restaurants added to the Michelin Abu Dhabi guide were Bord’O by Nicolas Isnard, Broadway, Em Sherif Sea Caf, Mika and Ryba. These eateries are highlighted by Michelin, but not awarded stars.
The Michelin Guide Service Award was given to Mika, a restaurant in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island that blends Middle Eastern influences with a Mediterranean touch.
Bib Gourmand distinctions are awarded to restaurants that serve excellent food with moderate prices. The newly selected restaurants in this edition were Mika and Ryba.
Beirut Sur Mer, Almayass, Otoro, Tazal and Al-Mrzab retained their Bib Gourmand status.
The Opening of The Year Award was given to Ryba, a seafood restaurant located in Mina, Abu Dhabi. Chef Faisal Mohamed Al-Harmoodi said his goal was to share Emirati food with the world as he accepted the accolade on stage.
The Michelin Young Chef Award was given to Yasmina Hayek from Em Sherif Sea Cafe, a fine dining Mediterranean and Lebanese restaurant in Al Maryah Island.
“Abu Dhabi offers a diverse dining scene that caters both to luxury travelers and food enthusiasts,” said Michelin’s Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa Harkesh Jaggi.
Bruna Biancardi explores Saudi Arabia ahead of Hia Hub appearance
DUBAI: Brazilian influencer and model Bruna Biancardi arrived in Riyadh to attend the fourth edition of Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s conference on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.
The model, who is soccer superstar Neymar's partner, shared an Instagram story to remind fans of her special appearance at the event on Nov. 3.
She also gave fans a sneak peek of her time in Riyadh, sharing an Instagram Story post from her dinner at Japanese eatery Myazu with her 11.7 million Instagram followers.
The model and footballer also seemed to spent time on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, with Biancardi sharing images from a resort in the area.
Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle conference, returned for its fourth edition in Riyadh’s JAX District and will run until Nov. 3.
Review: Apple TV’s ‘Before’ is a showcase for Billy Crystal
- Creepy drama gives the famed comic a chance to show his serious side
LONDON: There are many unsettling things about Apple’s new psychological drama “Before”, but first among them is the sight of star Billy Crystal playing it absolutely straight — and not, as you might suspect, in a way that would enable the iconic funnyman to play it so seriously that it’s almost funny.
Here, Crystal is child psychologist Eli Adler, a gifted doctor struggling to come to terms with the recent suicide of his wife, Lynn. Not many laughs there, you’ll agree. While Eli is dealing with visions of Lynn, and recurring nightmares of hurling himself into an empty swimming pool, he finds a troubled young boy who won’t speak, scratching his hands bloody attempting to break into Eli’s house.
Eli’s colleague Gail (Sakina Jaffrey) has been trying to convince him to take on a new case — one of a troubled young boy who won’t speak and is plagued by horrifying visions. Before you can say “contrived coincidence,” we learn the two boys are, in fact, one and the same. What are the chances?
As Eli begins to investigate what led Noah (Jacobi Jupe) to stop speaking and start drawing creepy pictures of an abandoned barn — the same barn Eli finds in a picture among his wife’s things — the as-yet-unrevealed link between the two begins to solidify. With two episodes broadcast (of the 10 scheduled), the story behind whatever brought Eli and Noah together looks set to be eked out across the limited series, but writer/creator Sarah Thorp doesn’t hold out on audiences too much. So while there’s still a lot of hinting at seemingly unconnected elements — Noah’s visions of water leaking into his reality, his unnerving tendency to lapse into 17th-century Dutch, the often-sinister nature of Eli’s visions of Lynn — there’s enough dangled threads weaving together all of the above that viewers can feel like figuring out the mystery is achievable.
And, wonderfully, the cherry on the top is Crystal, demonstrating a gift for drama that few of his numerous roles ever hinted at. Eli is believably grief-stricken, world-weary and simply exhausted at the strangeness of what’s going on around him. Whatever the mystery at the heart of “Before” ends up being, the real gem here is the discovery of how effective a serious Billy Crystal can be.
