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Brazilian Supreme Court Blocks Elon Musk’s X Over Legal Dispute

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Brazilian Supreme Court Blocks Elon Musk's X Over Legal Dispute

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been suspended in Brazil due to his refusal to establish a legal agent, according to a copy of the decision obtained by The Associated Press.

The move intensifies the ongoing conflict between the two men over free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.

On Wednesday night, Justice Alexandre de Moraes warned Elon Musk that X may be barred in Brazil if he did not comply with his order to select a representative, setting a 24-hour deadline. The corporation has not had a representation in the country since early this month.

In his judgement, de Moraes allowed internet service providers and app stores five days to prohibit access to X and stated that the platform would stay barred until they complied with his demands.

He also stated that individuals or businesses who use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access X will face a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900).

Elon Musk’s Conflict with Brazilian Authorities

Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” according to de Moraes.

Brazil is a crucial market for X, which has experienced a decline in advertising since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022. According to market research firm Emarketer, almost one-fifth of the Brazilian population, or 40 million people, use X at least once a month.

X had tweeted on its official Global Government Affairs page late Thursday that it expected de Moraes to shut it down, “simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents.”

“When we tried to defend ourselves in court, Judge de Moraes threatened our Brazilian lawyer with incarceration. Even after she resigned, he froze all of her financial accounts,” the business stated.

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“Our challenges to his clearly illegal activities were either disregarded or ignored. Judge de Moraes’ colleagues on the Supreme Court are either reluctant or unable to challenge him.

X has fought with de Moraes over its refusal to comply with instructions to restrict users.

Accounts that have previously been shut down on Brazilian demands include MPs from former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing party and activists accused of harming Brazilian democracy.

Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has frequently argued that the justice’s actions constitute censorship, and his case has been supported by Brazil’s political right. He has frequently criticised de Moraes on his platform, describing him as a dictator and tyrant.

De Moraes’ supporters argue that his actions against X were legal, supported by the majority of the court’s complete bench, and served to protect democracy at a time when it was under threat.

His decree on Friday is based on Brazilian law, which requires international corporations to establish presence in the country so that they can be alerted of legal cases against them.

Given that operators are aware of the widely publicised standoff and their obligation to comply with de Moraes’ order, as well as the ease with which they can do so, X could be offline as soon as 12 hours after receiving their instructions, according to Luca Belli, coordinator of the Technology and Society Centre at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Rio de Janeiro.

The stoppage is not unusual in Brazil.

Lone Brazilian judges shut down Meta’s WhatsApp, the country’s most popular messaging service, three times in 2015 and 2016, citing the company’s failure to comply with police requests for user data.

In 2022, de Moraes threatened the messaging app Telegram with a statewide closure, claiming it had consistently refused requests from Brazilian authorities to deactivate profiles and give information. He ordered Telegram to appoint a local agent; the firm eventually obliged and remained online.

X and its prior incarnation, Twitter, have been banned in a number of countries, the majority of which are authoritarian regimes, including Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan.

Other countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, have temporarily stopped X to address discontent and instability. Twitter was banned in Egypt following the Arab Spring uprisings, dubbed the “Twitter revolution,” but has since been reinstated.

A search on X on Friday revealed hundreds of Brazilian users looking for VPNs that could allow them to continue using the site by making it appear as if they were logged in from outside the country.

It was not immediately obvious how Brazilian authorities would control this conduct and impose the fines mentioned by de Moraes.

Mariana de Souza Alves Lima, well known as MariMoon, informed her 1.4 million X followers that she would be heading to rival social network BlueSky, tweeting a screenshot and writing, “That is where I’m going.”

X stated that it intends to disclose what it calls de Moraes’ “illegal demands” and accompanying court documents “in the interest of transparency.”

Also on Thursday evening, Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service provider, announced on X that de Moraes blocked its finances this week, preventing it from conducting any transactions in the country, where it has over 250,000 users.

“This order is based on an invalid finding that Starlink should be held liable for the unconstitutional fines issued against X. It was given in secret, without providing Starlink with the due process mandated by the Brazilian Constitution. Starlink stated that it intends to take legal action in the case.

Elon Musk responded to users who shared tales of the freeze, adding insults to de Moraes. “This guy @Alexandre is an outright criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as a judge,” she tweeted.

Elon Musk later said on X that SpaceX, which operates Starlink, will provide free internet service in Brazil “until the matter is resolved” because “we cannot receive payment, but don’t want to cut anyone off.”

In his ruling, de Moraes stated that he ordered the freezing of Starlink’s assets because X did not have enough funds in its accounts to satisfy escalating fines, and that the two companies belong to the same economic group.

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Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

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Trudeau, Montreal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

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Baby Gorilla, Calgary Zoo
The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

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lotto max, Canada

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

  1. Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
  2. Numbers cannot be repeated
  3. Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
  4. Each play buys 3 lines
  5. Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)

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