• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry urged Meta to reverse its fact-checking policy rollback in the US.
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said Meta's latest move should "deeply concern us all."
• The couple said that Mark Zuckerberg's company was allowed "ego or profit" to guide its decision-making.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle criticized Meta's decision to cut third-party fact-checking in the US and said the move would allow the spread of "hate, lies, and division" on its platforms.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have a record of speaking out about misinformation on social media and online bullying, published an open letter on Monday urging Mark Zuckerberg's company to reverse the policy change announced last week.

"It doesn't matter whether your views are left, right or somewhere in between," the Sussexes wrote. "The latest news from Meta about changes to their policies directly undermines free speech. This should deeply concern us all."

Meta and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

The couple took aim at Meta's "talking points" about replacing its third-party fact-checking program with community notes — similar to X's approach. They also voiced disapproval of Meta's decision to roll back DEI initiatives.

Meta said loosening its fact-checking program would promote free speech by "lifting restrictions" on topics that are part of "mainstream discourse" and take a "more personalized approach to political content." The Sussexes argued it would ultimately "silence speech and expression, not foster it."

"This latest move from Meta is an example of a social media company— fully aware of their power to shape public discourse — disregarding any responsibility to ensure that power is not abused and instead allowing either ego or profit, likely both, to guide decisions that affect billions," the Sussexes said.

Meta's policy changes may increase the likelihood that users encounter controversial content and debates on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads around topics such as "immigration, gender identity, and gender," Business Insider previously reported.

Harry and Meghan also took aim at the apparent link between the company's policy change and President-elect Donald Trump's reelection, which said Meta had "come a long way" in a press conference following the announcement.

The same day, Meta CMO Alex Schultz told BI that Trump's victory directly influenced the decision, saying that "elections have consequences."

Meghan returned to Instagram earlier this month after an absence that began in 2020. The couple have previously spoken about how they met on the platform.

Her new Netflix documentary titled "With Love, Meghan" will now be released on March 4 rather than January 15 because of the "ongoing devastation" of the Los Angeles wildfires.

• An Israel-Hamas cease-fire and hostage deal is looking increasingly likely.
• US, Israeli, and Palestinian officials have expressed optimism that an agreement would be reached.
• White House officials say it could come before President Joe Biden leaves office on January 20.

An Israel-Hamas cease-fire and hostage deal is looking increasingly likely in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration, with officials from all sides expressing optimism that an agreement could soon be reached, potentially in the coming days.

The devasting conflict has been raging for 15 months, after Hamas-led militants launched a surprise terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

Hamas and its allies still hold 94 of the hostages, including the remains of at least 34 who have died, according to Israel's government.

Meanwhile, Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which has left large parts of the Strip in ruin, has killed more than 46,000 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

However, there's growing hope that the violence may soon come to an end, and that some hostages may be freed.

On Monday, Biden said cease-fire talks are "on the brink" of coming into fruition.

In the past, officials have expressed optimism about the prospect of a deal, only for negotiations to flounder.

"I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up," Biden said, adding that the US is "pressing hard" to close the deal.

During the speech in Washington, DC, Biden told reporters that the proposed deal would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow for the increase of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told MSNBC that a deal is "closer than we've ever been."

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan also offered glimmers of home on Monday, saying in an interview with Nexstar Washington that "we are so close to a cease-fire and hostage deal."

Sullivan called it a "distinct possibility" that the US would be able to get it across the line this week, "before President Biden leaves office."

President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025.

On Monday, Trump told Newsmax that he understands "there's been a handshake and they're getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week."

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told The Washington Post on Monday that "significant progress" had been made in negotiations and that the mediators had a final draft agreement.

"We are so close," he told the outlet.

Qadura Fares, who leads the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, also suggested there was some movement in negotiations.

He told CNN on Monday that he was traveling to Qatar to advise negotiators on the list of hostages to be freed "in the event the deal materializes."

There's also optimism in Israel, with several local media outlets reporting that a deal was nearing completion.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said during a news conference on Monday that Israel had been working with both the outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration to hopefully secure a deal "within a short time."

He said, "There is progress, I said it looks much better than previously."

Meanwhile, a group representing the families of the hostages said in a news release that representatives will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.

"The families are hopeful that any deal, even a limited one, represents an important first step toward a comprehensive agreement," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

It added, "They are grateful for every hostage who returns home and see each release as progress toward their ultimate goal: the return of all hostages — the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial."

• GitHub is Microsoft's code-hosting platform that lets users collaborate on open-source projects.
• GitHub has a free version, and several tiers of paid subscription versions.
• GitHub is extremely popular among software developers, and is used by most Fortune 100 companies.

If you're interested in software or software development, you've likely heard of GitHub.

For a coder, GitHub is akin to what Pinterest offers to an interior designer — a place where a person goes not just to upload content, but also for creative inspiration and collaboration.

The company bills itself as the world's leading software development platform, and says over 100 million developers use GitHub, as well as 90% of Fortune 100 companies.

GitHub is owned by Microsoft. The company was founded in 2007, but Microsoft acquired it in 2018 for $7.5 billion in stock, and Microsoft's CEO said at the time that the deal would "strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation."

GitHub has also recently integrated Copilot, Microsoft's AI tool. CEO Satya Nadella said in a July 2024 Microsoft earnings call that Copilot is "by far the most widely adopted AI-powered developer tool," and is responsible for 40% of GitHub's revenue growth.

GitHub's annual revenue run rate is now $2 billion, thanks to Copilot and GitHub's premium subscriptions.

Here's what you need to know about GitHub and how it relates to coding.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is, fundamentally, a hosting platform for coders. The cloud-based service allows coders to effectively manage and maintain open-source programming projects while collaborating with others.

To understand how GitHub works, you have to have an understanding of "Git" and the idea of "version control" in relation to Git.

Git, started by Linux creator Linus Torvalds, is an open-source version control system that tracks changes in files over time.

Version control is an important system when it comes to coding. It enables coders to be nimble with programming, and allows for apps to constantly have new version releases, expansion to other platforms, and bug fixes, among other tracked changes.

Version control systems like Git help maintain the integrity and security of ever-evolving code by safeguarding modifications, and those revisions are then hosted by GitHub, or an alternative "repository" hosting service — although GitHub is the most popular among developers.

This allows developers to easily collaborate, allowing them to download a new version of the software, make changes, and upload the newest revision. Every developer can see these new changes, download them, and contribute.

There are disadvantages to Github, too. GitHub users have been vocal in the past about complaints with the platform; some say GitHub is expensive, buggy, and insufficient for large teams.

Is GitHub free to use?

GitHub has a free version with limited bandwidth and storage, and two paid versions. The Team subscription is geared towards individuals and organizations seeking "advanced collaboration" options, and costs $4 per user per month.

The Enterprise subscription costs $21 per user per month, and has the same advantages as Team, plus a host of other advanced features, greater security, and premium support services.

How to start using Github

If you're looking for a resource to maintain and share code, you can easily install Git and sign up for GitHub for free. Here's how to get started:

1. First, you'll need to install the Git version control system, which you can download for free. Follow the directions specific to the device you're using.

2. Next, you can create your GitHub account at GitHub.com. A free account will have some limitations, but gives you access to both public and private repositories.

3. With your free account, you can get started right away and create a repository by clicking Create a repository on the GitHub homepage to start a new project.

From the same page, you can also access learning materials like a "What is GitHub?" video or an exercise in GitHub flow if you need more expertise before getting started with creating a repository.

• My daughter told me she was dropping out of high school at 16.
• I didn't argue and gave her the space to take a courageous leap into early adulthood, instead.
• "My high school's full of drugs and drinking. I don't want to get into trouble," she told me.

A week before the start of her high school junior year, my 16-year-old daughter walked into the kitchen with a smile of pure delight. "I emailed my principal," she reported. "I said it gave me great pleasure to inform her that I'd no longer be attending her school."

I attempted to maintain a neutral expression like the one I'd affected when — for show and tell in a middle-school science class — she'd brought a leech from her tank in the corner of our living room where she kept three of them along with several bullfrog tadpoles and a crayfish.

"So what will you do about high school this year?" I asked. She'd grown more and more miserable in high school, bewildered by constant social drama and classes full of busy work.

She immediately answered: "I'm going to community college to study marine biology."

"Good plan," I said, but my brain whirled with questions.

My daughter didn't want to get in trouble at school

My daughter has sprung similar revelations on me her entire life.

As a person with ADD, she's struggled with traditional classrooms since kindergarten, finding it difficult to concentrate in a room packed with peers unless she's thoroughly engaged with a subject.

Over her 12-year education, she tried public schools, charter schools, homeschooling, and private schools. I learned to be flexible and curious rather than rigid and angry. Dropping out of high school completely, though, was a new development.

Over my shoulder at the kitchen table, she said in her defense. "My high school's full of drugs and drinking. I don't want to get into trouble."

I worried about a different kind of trouble.

"Is this really legal?" I kept asking her College Now advisor — as if a Truant Officer might nab my teen en route to her beloved marine biology class and haul her back to high school.

"It's legal," said the advisor, who I had on speed dial. She just needs to enroll in the right transfer courses and take her GED exam, the equivalent of a high school diploma, the advisor said.

I brushed up on my research and discovered my daughter's decision could be for the best.

"Community college can be a great way to explore interests inexpensively before committing to a major," I read in the book "The Complete Guide to College Transfer: Find Your Ideal School, Maximize Your Credits, and Earn Your Degree."

The book tells students of any age to consider working toward an associate degree while enrolled at community college. "Not only is it a valuable credential on a resume, but it can also provide transfer benefits with partner universities."

So, my daughter and I worked with her advisor to devise a two-year plan for earning her Associate's degree at the community college and taking her GED.

However, as a young higher-education student, my teen was slightly out of her element. Initially, I helped her find her classes, taught her how to email her professors, and deconstructed her syllabi with her to figure out homework assignments and what textbooks to order. All of this was only possible thanks to my flexible work schedule.

Dropping out of high school was the right move

I admit to some sadness. I adored my high school, and I'm sorry my daughter didn't have the same positive experience.

However, different brains crave different pathways to education.

Despite my trepidation, I gave my daughter the space to take a courageous leap into early adulthood.

She passed her GED exams and is transferring to the University of Oregon next year as a junior.

These days, she wakes up at 9 a.m. and heads for classes she finds meaningful and relevant.

She hangs out with her classmates at lunchtime, comes home mid-afternoon to study, and then goes to the dance studio.

Just 18 and in her second year of college, she's become an independent and joyful young woman.