Tuesday☕️

May 23, 2023 • 4 min read

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Ukraine vs Russia:

Yesterday, two pro-Ukrainian Russian groups launched attacks on several towns in Belgorod, Russia. This action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated plans to hand over the city of Bakhmut to the Russian army by June 1. Despite his statement, Ukraine claims Bakhmut remains under its control.
The situation in Bakhmut is complex. While the Wagner group is pushing for control, Ukrainian President Zelensky denies any Russian occupation of the city. This back-and-forth contributes to the tension in the region.
Both sides frequently present differing narratives, which might be tactically tailored to serve strategic goals. Given this intricate backdrop, the risk of information being distorted or manipulated should not be underestimated.

TikTok:

A group of five TikTokers has filed a lawsuit challenging the recent TikTok ban enacted by the state of Montana. Last week, Montana became the first state in the US to implement a statewide ban on TikTok, set to take effect on January 1, 2024.
The law imposes penalties not only on TikTok but also on app stores that make the app available. In a swift response, just hours after the bill was signed into law by Montana's governor, the five TikTokers, collectively with over 500,000 followers, filed a federal lawsuit against the state's attorney general.
The lawsuit argues that the ban infringes upon their right to free speech and exceeds the state's authority. It draws a comparison between the ban and prohibiting a news outlet based on its ownership.

Colorado River:

In response to persistent warnings about the impending risk of the Colorado River drying up, the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California, and Nevada – have agreed to a significant reduction in their water usage.
This decision was reached on Monday, alongside farmers, Native American tribes, and other parties, all of whom consented to a 13% cut in Lower Basin usage for the next three and a half years.
These efforts are an attempt to mitigate potential water cuts imposed by the federal government, which had given all seven states that rely on the Colorado River – including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico – a deadline of May 30th to establish a water usage limitation agreement.

Statistic: