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Legal

META

A U.S. District Judge in Oakland, California, partially dismissed claims against Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg in lawsuits alleging harm to children from Facebook and Instagram. The judge ruled plaintiffs couldn't prove Zuckerberg had a duty to disclose risks. Meta still faces other allegations in ongoing lawsuits involving tech giants like Alphabet, ByteDance, and Snap, related to social media's impact on youth.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

April 16, 2024 | 5:45 am

META

MSFT

The UK government is set to criminalize the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images without consent. This move is part of broader efforts to combat violence against women and includes new offenses for non-consensual intimate images and aggravating factors for causing death through abusive behavior. The rise of deepfake technology has led to significant concerns globally, including a $25 million corporate scam and potential election interference in Asia.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

April 16, 2024 | 4:04 am

DJT

The criminal trial against Donald Trump began in New York, focusing on jury selection and discussions over evidence. Trump criticized the trial as 'political prosecution' and expressed concerns over being unable to attend personal events due to trial obligations. The trial is expected to last 6-8 weeks, with Trump required to be present daily. Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT) fell over 18% amid the trial's commencement.

Portfolio Pulse from Chris Katje

April 15, 2024 | 10:45 pm

GRPN

Groupon's Italian subsidiary, Groupon S.r.l., faces financial challenges as Italian tax authorities have placed a lien on its bank account, restricting outgoing payments. This action follows the Second Tier Tax Court's denial of Groupon S.r.l.'s request to suspend the appeal bond, requiring the company to post approximately €21 million immediately and an additional €48 million by October 22, 2024. Due to liquidity issues, Groupon S.r.l. cannot post the full amount and will pause sales of local vouchers in Italy, expecting a revenue loss of €1 million per month.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 15, 2024 | 9:36 pm

VRNOF

A group of cannabis companies, including Verano Holdings Corp. (OTC:VRNOF), is challenging federal cannabis prohibition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. They seek oral arguments against the DOJ's motion to dismiss, arguing that the federal enforcement oversteps its bounds on matters that should be regulated within the state's jurisdiction. The DOJ justifies prohibition under the Commerce Clause, citing out-of-state tourism boosted by legal cannabis markets. The outcome could impact federal enforcement and the path toward legalization.

Portfolio Pulse from Rolando García

April 15, 2024 | 8:39 pm

BA

DAL

A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale returned to Atlanta shortly after takeoff due to the Boeing 757 aircraft 'yawing aggressively'. The incident adds to recent scrutiny of Boeing following other incidents, including a door blowout on a 737 in January.

Portfolio Pulse from Dustin Blitchok

April 15, 2024 | 7:36 pm

VRNOF

Marijuana companies, led by Verano Holdings Corp., Canna Provisions, Wiseacre Farm, and Treevit CEO Gyasi Sellers, are challenging the DOJ's enforcement of cannabis prohibition, arguing it infringes on state rights. They request oral arguments in a Massachusetts federal court to address constitutional questions and the DOJ's stance that cannabis legalization promotes 'tourism' justifying federal prohibition. The case, supported by law firms Boies Schiller and Flexner LLP and Lesser, Newman, Aleo and Nasser LLP, highlights the conflict between state-legal cannabis activities and federal enforcement under the Controlled Substances Act.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 15, 2024 | 7:26 pm

GD

LMT

NOC

RTX

Members of Congress have been purchasing shares in defense companies such as Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics amid escalating Middle East tensions. This activity raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest as the U.S. considers its response to recent attacks in the region. The trading activity, highlighted by Benzinga and Unusual Whales, includes transactions by Reps. Kevin Hern, Kathy Manning, Josh Gottheimer, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, among others.

Portfolio Pulse from Chris Katje

April 15, 2024 | 5:09 pm

GOOGL

Japan's antitrust watchdog is set to take action against Google for alleged unfair practices in a search advertising partnership with Yahoo. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has been investigating Google's keyword-targeted search ad technology provided to Yahoo, now part of LY Corp. Google has submitted an improvement plan, which the JFTC is expected to accept, focusing on creating a more level playing field in its advertising business, which accounts for 80% of its revenue. This comes amid increasing international scrutiny of Google's digital advertising dominance.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 15, 2024 | 5:03 pm