Elon Musk refused a request from Ukraine to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea's port city of Sevastopol last year, citing fears of being complicit in a "major" act of war. This has sparked debate about the role of technology companies in international conflicts and the power Musk has amassed through his various businesses. Musk's refusal to aid the Ukrainian attack may have been a moral decision, but it raises questions about the power of technology companies to influence international conflicts.
News Mash
A federal judge in Atlanta has denied White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' request to move his Georgia election subversion case to federal court, ruling that he had not met the "quite low" threshold to do so. Judge Steve Jones found that Meadows had not met his burden of proof that the case should be moved to federal court, and the case will now proceed in Georgia state court. Meadows' lawyers have not yet indicated whether they will appeal the ruling.
A federal appeals court has issued a ruling that limits the Biden administration's ability to contact social media companies to remove content it considers to be misinformation. The ruling allows the government to contact social media companies to ask them to remove content that it considers to be false or misleading, while also preventing it from coercing the companies to take down posts. This ruling is likely to have a significant impact on the way the Biden administration interacts with social media companies, and sets a precedent for future administrations.
This article discusses the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco late Friday night, killing at least 296 people and damaging buildings and historic landmarks. People took shelter and checked for news on their mobile phones, while videos posted online showed buildings reduced to rubble and dust. The Interior Ministry said the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue, and the government has declared a state of emergency and is mobilizing resources to help those affected.
A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco early Saturday morning, causing panic and destruction in major cities across the country. People were seen evacuating restaurants in Marrakech and gathering in the streets and alleyways to check for news on their phones. The extent of the damage caused by the earthquake is still unknown, but the Moroccan government is expected to release a statement soon about the quake and its effects.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued an emergency public health order suspending the open and permitted concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque for 30 days in response to a recent spate of gun violence. This order has been met with criticism from gun rights advocates, who argue that it infringes on their Second Amendment rights. The order will be in effect for 30 days and will be re-evaluated at the end of that period.
Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii has announced that the number of missing people after the devastating wildfires in Maui has dropped to 66, a startling decrease from the list released last week. The state is providing mental health services to survivors and families of victims, and is encouraging families to share information about any missing loved ones in the hopes of finding more people safe.
Justice Samuel Alito has refused to recuse himself from an upcoming tax case involving lawyer David Rivkin, who had interviewed Alito in two articles published in The Wall Street Journal. Sen. Richard Durbin had questioned Alito's participation in the case, but Alito released a statement saying there was no valid reason for his recusal. This decision has strengthened the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case in the coming months.