MyPillow founder Mike Lindell must pay $5 million to a 64-year-old from Nevada who successfully disproved Lindell's claim of having data showing voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. A federal judge upheld a previous ruling from a private arbitration panel, stating that Lindell owes the payout plus interest to Robert Zeidman, a computer forensics expert who participated in Lindell's "Prove Mike Wrong" challenge. Lindell, a prominent election denier and supporter of former president Donald Trump, faces legal and financial troubles, including a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems over false election claims.
An independent arbitrator has ruled that Massachusetts State Police must reinstate seven troopers who refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19, stating that the agency violated a collective bargaining agreement by summarily dismissing the troopers instead of reviewing their accommodation requests. The troopers, who have been on unpaid leave, can now return to work with retroactive pay if they choose. The union representing state troopers plans to hold a news conference to address the issue and continue fighting for the reinstatement of 13 other troopers who were fired or dishonorably discharged for failing to get vaccinated.
Iraqi and Turkish officials are set to meet to discuss a new arrangement for Iraqi oil exports via Turkey after an international tribunal penalized Turkey last week over Kurdish oil exports without Baghdad’s consent. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ruled in favor of Iraq last week and ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad some $1.4 billion in damages for 2014-2018. The halt of oil flow prompted Washington to urge Ankara and Baghdad to resume the flow. A win-win solution appears unlikely between the sides in the short run, but at least all parties appear open to discuss a new road map to avoid falling into a lose-lose trap.
