The family of 16-year-old Murray Dowey, who died by suicide after being blackmailed on Instagram, is suing Meta, the platform’s owner. The lawsuit alleges Meta prioritized profit over safety, despite knowing about features that could prevent sextortion. Murray was a victim of online sextortion in December 2023, where he was tricked into sending intimate images and subsequently threatened. Meta has responded by acknowledging the “horrific crime” of sextortion while highlighting safety features, such as blocking suspicious accounts and restricting teen accounts, aimed at combatting the issue.
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China is implementing a 13% value-added tax (VAT) on condoms and contraceptives starting January 1st, reversing a three-decade exemption, as part of its efforts to boost the birthrate and modernize its tax laws. This move, included in a 2024 VAT law, follows the relaxation of the one-child policy and the introduction of various incentives like childcare subsidies, despite having a marginal impact on the country’s birth rate. While some experts believe this tax will have a negligible effect on fertility, others express concern about the message it sends, particularly for women, and highlight that the revenue generation is not the primary motivation. The tax change may be a shift towards less direct encouragement and an attempt to codify the tax system further.
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Authorities are investigating a possible connection between the mass shooting at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine others wounded, and the killing of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts. Investigators have identified a person of interest in the Brown University shooting, and are actively searching for them. Despite the extensive investigation, the attacker at Brown has managed to evade capture. Experts note that in high-profile shootings, the perpetrators often either die by suicide or are quickly apprehended, making this case unusual.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Peter Arnett has passed away at the age of 91. Arnett, known for his fearless reporting, covered conflicts from the Vietnam War, where he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1966, to the Gulf Wars, becoming a household name. He was also known for his exclusive interviews and his controversial comments during the Iraq War led to his dismissal from NBC. Arnett’s career spanned decades and various news outlets, leaving a lasting impact on journalism.
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NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, along with his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder, tragically died in a plane crash in North Carolina. The Cessna C550 private jet, owned by Biffle’s company, crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, killing all seven passengers, including friends Craig Wadsorth, Dennis and Jack Dutton. Biffle, known for his successful NASCAR career and philanthropic efforts, was remembered as a champion driver and a beloved member of the NASCAR community. The crash occurred during an attempted landing, prompting an investigation and leaving the community to mourn the loss of the Biffle family and the other victims.
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As influenza activity increases in the US, health officials are urging widespread vaccination and the use of antiviral medications, particularly as a concerning new variant circulates and pediatric deaths reach record highs. The CDC is monitoring the H3N2 virus subclade K and has highlighted policy changes in vaccine recommendations. Last year’s flu season was exceptionally severe, with a high number of hospitalizations, especially among children, where vaccine effectiveness ranged from 63% to 78% in preventing hospitalization. Despite early indications suggesting the new variant could impact vaccine effectiveness, health officials emphasize vaccination remains critical.
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Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking to overturn her conviction and sentence on federal sex trafficking charges through a petition filed in federal court. The petition alleges substantial new evidence, including juror misconduct, collusion, and due process violations. Evidence from litigation against the Federal Bureau of Prisons and others is cited, claiming exculpatory information was withheld and false testimony was presented. Maxwell, who is representing herself, was previously denied an appeal to the Supreme Court and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
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Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking to overturn her sex trafficking conviction, arguing that new evidence reveals constitutional violations during her 2021 trial, leading to a miscarriage of justice. This filing was made just before the public release of Epstein-related records, prompted by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which will include investigative materials. Maxwell’s legal team contends that releasing these records could prejudice a potential retrial if her petition is successful, highlighting the presence of unproven allegations. The Justice Department, adhering to the law and court orders, plans to release the materials, which Judge Paul A. Engelmayer has deemed do not identify anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell.
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A former Tennessee law enforcement officer is suing Perry County and its sheriff after being jailed for over a month for a Facebook meme referencing a comment by Donald Trump following a school shooting. The post was made in response to a vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk and was interpreted by the sheriff as a threat to a local high school, even though the meme referenced a different school in another state. Bushart was charged with “threatening mass violence at a school” and held on a $2 million bond. The lawsuit alleges violations of Bushart’s First and Fourth Amendment rights, seeks a jury trial, and claims he lost his post-retirement job due to the incarceration, while the county and officials have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
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On Thursday, a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina resulted in multiple fatalities. Flight records indicate a Cessna 550 took off from the airport shortly before crashing around 10:15 a.m. The FAA confirmed six people were on board the plane, although the exact number of fatalities and the presence of survivors are still unknown. Friends and family have identified retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family as being on the plane, which is owned by a private North Carolina company affiliated with Biffle. The airport is closed while the FAA and NTSB investigate the cause of the crash.
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John Q. Hosedrinker