What's doing some digging…The Justice Dept. Over the weekend, the DOJ said it launched an investigation to figure out how leaks of classified intelligence documents ended up on social media. As early as February, docs — more than 100 of them — detailing everything from the war efforts in Ukraine to assessments on China and the Middle East were posted on platforms like Twitter, Discord, and 4Chan. US officials said the documents appear real, though some numbers are wrong and some of the docs may have been altered. It's unclear how damaging this could all be, but the leaks exposed how the US spies on its allies as well as its adversaries. It also initially raised concerns ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive this spring, but so far none of the docs appear to share major information about those plans. While some Ukrainian officials are pointing fingers at Russia as the culprit, the US is still looking into who's responsible — with some officials reportedly speculating the source may have been American. …Oh and speaking of controversies on social media, Twitter's labeled the BBC as "government funded media" on the platform, almost a week after it labeled NPR "state-affiliated media." Both news orgs pointed out that they're editorially independent and not state-run.
Who's weighing in on a high-profile case…Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX). On Saturday, he called for the pardon of an Army sergeant convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester. In 2020, Daniel Perry shot and killed 28-year-old Garrett Foster at an Austin demonstration, while driving an Uber near protesters. Perry's lawyers argued that Foster pointed an AK-47 at Perry and that he'd shot Foster five times in self-defense. But prosecutors argued Perry had other options, including driving away. A jury convicted Perry of murder — his sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow. Now, Abbott's saying Perry, who faces life in prison, should be pardoned under the state's "stand your ground" law. The measure allows Texans to fire their weapon if they feel threatened. Now it's up to a Texas parole board to issue a pardon recommendation for Perry. If that happens, Abbott's expected to sign it.
What's cracking down…Iran. Over the weekend, Iranian police said they've started to install cameras in public places to help them crack down on unveiled women. Reminder: last year, the police killing of Mahsa Amini led to nationwide protests against the country's hijab law. While those protests have largely subsided, women have been openly defying the law, burning their hijabs and refusing to wear them. Now, police say the "smart" cameras will help them send a text message to violators, warning them against breaking the rules and reportedly threatening them with court proceedings.
While Timothée Chalamet may be getting a different kind of lip kit…Taylor Swift's moving on from "the 1."
Who played the best by par at this year's Masters Tournament…Jon Rahm.
What's smashing the box office…The Super Mario Bros. |
No comments:
Post a Comment