Florida Passes Social Media Ban

Global Recap
February 23, 2024 • Read in: 6 minutes

✅ Are you under 16?
✅ Do you live in Florida?

If so, you might not like today’s news.

The Sunshine State passed a law that prohibits kids under 16 from using social media platforms.

Now it’s off to Gov. DeSantis’ desk.

✅ House: 108-7 vote.
✅ Senate: 23-14 vote.

Opposition: Critics say the bill violates the First Amendment and that parents should have the final say on their children’s online activities.
Precedent: Similar laws in other states have been blocked by federal courts for being unconstitutional.
Skepticism: Florida’s governor has expressed doubts about the bill’s effectiveness and said parents need to play a role in monitoring use.

In a bold and broad move, the US is slapping over 500 new sanctions on Russia.

Scale: These sanctions are the largest single tranche since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Targets: The sanctions target Russia’s military-industrial complex and companies in third-countries that facilitate Russia’s access to goods.
EU: The US Treasury Department’s announcement comes just two days following the EU’s own proclamation of sanctions against the Kremlin.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu revealed his vision for Gaza’s future following the war with Hamas.

He wants to demilitarize the enclave, seal its border with Egypt, and overhaul its civil and education systems.

Security: Israel will have full control over Gaza’s entry and exit points, and will work to eliminate any weapons or rockets in the Strip.
Civil: Israel will cut off Qatar’s funding to Gaza, and will replace The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) with other aid agencies. It will also promote “de-radicalization” in the schools and media.
Political: Israel will reject any international pressure to recognize a Palestinian state and will insist on its “security control” over the entire area west of Jordan.

“Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

India has asked Russia to release some of its nationals who are working for the Russian army in Ukraine.

Recruits: The request comes after a newspaper report revealed that around 100 Indians had been recruited by Russia in the past year.
Jobs: The Indians signed up for “support jobs” with the Russian army, such as cooks, drivers, and medics.
Duped: Some reports claim that fraudulent travel agents deceived a few of them into enlisting in the army on the frontlines. They received false translations of documents and thought they were going for support jobs, but they landed on the frontlines instead.

A US private company, Intuitive Machines, has achieved the first lunar touchdown by a non-governmental entity in history.

Landing: The spacecraft, named Odysseus, landed near the moon’s south pole and sent a faint signal back to Earth.
Payload: Odysseus carries scientific instruments and technology demonstrations for NASA and other customers.
History: Odysseus is the first US spacecraft to land on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.