A U.K. online law is choking free speech. Trump to the rescue?
British users of the X social media platform got a shock last month when they discovered they weren't able to read certain posts. Instead, they were confronted with the following message: 'Due to local laws, we are temporarily restricting access to this content until X estimates your age.'
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
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Zelensky, EU Leaders Meet Trump in Historic White House Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with General Keith Kellogg, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, in Washington D.C., ahead of Zelensky's meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on August 18, 2025. Credit - Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images President Donald Trump is scheduled Monday afternoon to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, where six months ago the two leaders engaged in a televised shouting match that threw into doubt how long the U.S. would continue its support for Ukraine against a Russia invasion. Zelensky is returning backed by an extraordinary delegation of European leaders determined to present a united front against Russia to Trump, days after Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without any concrete steps toward a peace agreement. Zelensky is expected to be joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, is also attending. According to the White House schedule, Trump will first meet with Zelensky at 1:15 p.m. before greeting the European leaders, followed by a multilateral meeting with all parties at 3:00 p.m. Zelensky and the other world leaders will face the challenging task of trying to retain Trump's support for his country's defense against Russia as Trump has made public statements in line with Putin's positions for a peace agreement, including asserting that Zelensky must accept territorial concessions and that Ukraine must end efforts to join NATO. In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that Zelensky could end the war "almost immediately" by agreeing to these terms, framing Ukraine as having the primary responsibility to resolve the conflict initiated by Russia's 2022 invasion. This stance, coupled with Trump's rejection of Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations, has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials and European allies about diminishing U.S. support for Kyiv's sovereignty. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected ceding territory to Russia over the course of the war, emphasizing that it must end the war on terms that safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty. Ahead of the meeting, Macron said that 'if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflicts,' highlighting broader concerns that any forced compromise could embolden Moscow and threaten European security in the years ahead. The high-stakes discussions will largely focus on securing robust security guarantees for Ukraine, exploring potential pathways to a sustainable peace, and countering Russia's ongoing aggression while navigating Trump's push for a rapid resolution that aligns with his deal-making approach. Russian attacks on Ukraine have continued amid the ongoing diplomatic talks. Just hours before Zelensky's meeting with Trump, Russian strikes on the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia killed at least 10 people, including a child, and injured dozens of others, according to Ukrainian authorities. Zelensky has called the timing of the strikes an attempt by Putin to put pressure on Ukraine to accept its terms. Zelensky is expected to press for a NATO-style security framework, potentially involving multinational peacekeeping forces, to deter future Russian incursions without relying solely on U.S. support, which has become increasingly uncertain under Trump's leadership. The outcome of the meeting could reshape the trajectory of the war and U.S.-European relations. A failure to secure firm commitments from Trump risks leaving Ukraine vulnerable and could strain the transatlantic alliance, while a successful push for security guarantees and continued support might strengthen Ukraine's position against Russia. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Write to Nik Popli at Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
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Maryland's first-in-the-nation tax on digital ads violated Big Tech's free speech, judges say
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland's first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising violated the Constitution, a federal appeals court says, because blocking Big Tech from telling customers about the tax violates the companies' right to free speech. Supporters say Maryland needed to overhaul its tax methods in response to significant changes in how businesses advertise. The tax focuses on large companies that make money advertising on the internet such as Meta, Google and Amazon, who say they're being unfairly targeted. The ongoing legal fight is being watched by other states that are considering taxes for online ads. Maryland estimated the tax could raise about $250 million a year to help pay for a sweeping K-12 education measure. Maryland's law says the companies must not only pay the tax, but avoid telling customers how it affects pricing, with no line items, surcharges or fees, said the appeals court Friday in siding with trade associations fighting the tax. Judge Julius Richardson cited the Colonial-era Stamp Act, which helped spark the Revolutionary War, and wrote that 'criticizing the government — for taxes or anything else — is important discourse in a democratic society.' The plaintiffs contended Maryland lawmakers were trying to insulate themselves from criticism and political accountability by forbidding companies from explaining the tax to their customers. 'A state cannot duck criticism by silencing those affected by its tax,' the judge wrote. The unanimous ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a decision by U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby and sends the case back to her with instructions to consider an appropriate remedy in light of the panel's decision. Trade groups praised the decision. 'Maryland tried to prevent criticism of its tax scheme, and the Fourth Circuit recognized that tactic for what it was: censorship,' said Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, said in a statement. The law imposes a tax based on global annual gross revenues for companies that make more than $100 million globally. Under the law, the tax rate is 2.5% for businesses making more than $100 million in global gross annual revenue; 5% for companies making $1 billion or more; 7.5% for companies making $5 billion or more and 10% for companies making $15 billion or more. The law has been challenged in multiple legal venues, including Maryland Tax Court, where the case is ongoing. The Maryland General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, overrode a veto of the legislation in 2021 by then-Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican. Brian Witte, The Associated Press
Bloomberg
17 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Don't See the Point of a Trilateral Meeting Right Now Says Miller
Trump will host Zelenskiy and several European leaders to set out terms for a potential peace deal he discussed with Putin at last Friday's meeting in Alaska. While the US is expected to focus on territorial concessions demanded by Russia, Kyiv will seek to pin down possible security guarantees. Unease hangs over the allies, who have few options for pushing back on demands from Trump that Ukraine may oppose, and are skeptical that Putin really wants peace. Another challenge is Trump himself: he wants a quick peace deal but has offered little clarity on how to get there. Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to recap the Trump-Putin summit and discusses what's to come with the European Leaders (Source: Bloomberg)
