“A jury has found Meta and Google liable for $3 million in damages [sic] on Wednesday, March 25 in a landmark trial over allegations that their popular social media apps, including Instagram and YouTube, are designed to get children addicted. The Los Angeles case centers on a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., who said she became addicted to Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram at a young age. The jury found Google and Meta were negligent in the design of both apps and failed to warn about their dangers [sic]. … Kaley G.M. alleged in the case that she became addicted to social media apps as a teenager because of their attention-grabbing design, in turn worsening her mental health, according to court filings.” (03/25/26)
“Sarah Mullally has been formally installed as archbishop of Canterbury, marking the start of her public ministry as the first woman to lead the Church of England. The former nurse on Wednesday took her seat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine at Canterbury Cathedral before 2,000 guests that included heir to the British throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, as well as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and religious leaders. She will serve as the spiritual head of the global Anglican Communion, which has about 85 million members worldwide. … While Mullally’s appointment in October drew sharp criticism from the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference, made up largely of churches in Africa and Asia that oppose moves towards same-sex blessings and women’s leadership, the bloc this month abandoned earlier plans to appoint a parallel figurehead to rival Canterbury, opting instead to establish a new council.” (03/25/26)
“Drones coming from Russian airspace hit their territories, Latvian and Estonian authorities said on Wednesday. One drone ‘struck the chimney of the Auvere power plant’ in Estonia, the country’s internal security ISS said in a statement, while another fell on Latvian territory. The Auvere power plant, operated by the Enefit Power group, is located in northeastern Estonia, near the town of Narva on the Russian border. ‘These are the effects of Russia’s large-scale war of aggression,’ said ISS Director General Margo Palloson, expressing concern about ‘the occurrence of such incidents in the future.’ Prosecutors are supervising an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said in a post on X that the drone that fell on Latvian territory was apparently Ukrainian.” (03/25/26)
“Among the classified records taken to Mar-a-Lago by President Trump were documents so sensitive that one had been distributed to just six people, while another set was relevant to his business interests. The disclosure, made to the House Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into the probes into Trump, offers new details about the types of records the president took with him to Florida after losing the 2020 election. The public is still barred from seeing former special counsel Jack Smith’s report surrounding the investigation that prompted him to bring Espionage Act charges against Trump after 300 documents with classified markings were discovered at his Florida estate. … The Justice Department on Wednesday called [ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD)] ‘blinded by hatred of President Trump,’ and claimed without providing further details that the Smith memo contains ‘salacious and untrue claims about President Trump.'” (03/25/26)
“China Eastern Airlines said on Wednesday it placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, marking another success for the French company after it raked in big orders from Chinese airlines in December and amid uncertainties related to a widely speculated potential deal between its rival Boeing and Beijing. … Last year, Airbus secured orders for 148 A320 aircraft from several Chinese airlines and a state-owned aircraft leasing group. China Eastern was not part of that deal. While Airbus keeps taking in orders, the speculated Boeing deal has yet to materialise, with the delayed visit to China by US President Donald Trump adding more uncertainty.” (03/25/26)
“The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that internet providers are not liable for copyright infringement by their users, delivering an opinion in Cox v. Sony and tossing a $1 billion verdict. ‘Under our precedents, a company is not liable as a copyright infringer for merely providing a service to the public with knowledge that it will be used by some to infringe copyrights,’ Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the opinion. ‘Accordingly, we reverse.’ The ruling marks a significant win for broadband providers facing pressure from copyright owners to police subscriber activity. Cox Communications now cannot be held liable for piracy by its internet service subscribers of songs owned by Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and other labels, ending their billion-dollar-plus music copyright lawsuit.” (03/25/26)
“A jury convicted a Wisconsin man of election fraud and identity theft for requesting the ballots of Republican state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Democratic Racine Mayor Cory Mason without their consent. Jurors in Racine County on Tuesday found Harry Wait guilty of two misdemeanor election fraud charges and one felony identity theft charge following a two-day trial. He was acquitted of a second count of identity theft. Wait leads a group that makes false election claims, including that Wisconsin’s elections are riddled with fraud and that President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Trump lost Wisconsin in 2020 by about 21,000 votes. Wait admitted in 2022 that he requested Vos’ and Mason’s ballots to try to prove that the state’s voter registration system is vulnerable to fraud.” (03/25/26)
“Slavery was the ‘most horrendous crime that took place in the history of mankind,’ Ghana’s foreign minister has told the BBC ahead of a landmark vote at the UN General Assembly. Member states are set to vote on a resolution – led by Ghana — to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as ‘the gravest crime against humanity.’ The proposal urges UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. The resolution is likely to face resistance, as countries like the UK have long rejected paying reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs. But the proposal’s advocates, which include the African Union and the Caribbean Community, say it is a step towards healing and justice.” (03/25/26)
“The Pentagon said on Wednesday it had reached framework agreements with BAE, Lockheed and Honeywell to boost production of defense systems and munitions as part of its shift to ‘wartime footing.’ … The announcements come more than three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel launched a war on Iran.” (03/25/26)
“Top Republican in the North Carolina Senate Phil Berger conceded his GOP primary race Tuesday after a second recount left him behind by a mere 23 votes, ending Berger’s long hold on the Triad-area seat and setting up a leadership shake-up in a key battleground state. ‘While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,’ Berger wrote in a statement Tuesday after the results of the second recount confirmed Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page won the District 26 race. ‘Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state’s outlook and reputation. It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation.’ Berger’s defeat is a major upset in North Carolina politics, particularly after President Donald Trump had endorsed him and fellow state Republicans had reportedly urged Page to end the primary challenge.” (03/25/26)
