INSIDER
The rise of deepfakes: navigating misinformation ahead of Election Day
Read full article: The rise of deepfakes: navigating misinformation ahead of Election DayAs we approach Election Day, the threat of misinformation looms larger than ever. Researchers in the field of disinformation are particularly concerned about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology.
Israeli soldiers fatally shot an American woman at a West Bank protest, a witness says
Read full article: Israeli soldiers fatally shot an American woman at a West Bank protest, a witness saysA witness tells The Associated Press that Israeli soldiers fatally shot an American woman participating in a protest against settlements in the West Bank.
Lamar High School alum set to play in College Football Playoff Championship with Washington
Read full article: Lamar High School alum set to play in College Football Playoff Championship with WashingtonWhen Jaivion Green sat in his high school gymnasium at Lamar and committed to play football at the University of Washington in 2022, he didn’t think he’d have an opportunity to play in his hometown.
Washington, Minnesota become trans refuges, shield abortions
Read full article: Washington, Minnesota become trans refuges, shield abortionsDemocratic governors in Washington state and Minnesota have enacted legal protections for people who travel to those states seeking reproductive and gender-affirming procedures and treatment.
Lawmakers push mental health days for kids amid pandemic
Read full article: Lawmakers push mental health days for kids amid pandemicCorroon, now 20, has struggled with her mental health since fourth grade, and she’s not alone. The portion of children's emergency-room visits related to mental health was 44% higher in 2020, compared with the year before. Plotnick said mental health days can be even more effective when paired with mental health services in schools. In Oregon, students are given five excused absences every three months, and those can be either physical sick days or mental health days. Part of her routine is taking a step back to prioritize her mental health — a chance she says other kids deserve, too.
Starbucks' recovery, solid in China, still slow in the US
Read full article: Starbucks' recovery, solid in China, still slow in the USStarbucks said its business in China, its second-largest market after the U.S., has largely recovered, with same-store sales up 5% in the first quarter. Starbucks said it’s seeing fewer customers in China, but they’re spending more when they visit. The company opened almost 160 stores in China during the first quarter, for a total of more than 4,800. But in the U.S., same-store sales were down 5% for the quarter despite the holiday drinks that usually draw customers. Starbucks said it's confident U.S. same-store sales will rise between 5% and 10% in its fiscal second quarter as the pandemic's impact continues to fade.
Pompeo unloads on US universities for China ties
Read full article: Pompeo unloads on US universities for China tiesWASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday accused U.S. universities of caving to Chinese pressure to blunt or bar criticism of the Chinese Communist Party. Pompeo took aim at universities across the U.S., claiming they refused to address the Trump administration’s concerns about China’s attempts to influence students and academics. Pompeo defended the Trump administration's tough stance on China in remarks at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “MIT wasn’t interested in having me give this speech on their campus," Pompeo said. “Now, thank God, Vera was eventually released, and returned to the U.S,” Pompeo said of the student.
Coronavirus deaths are rising again in the US, as feared
Read full article: Coronavirus deaths are rising again in the US, as fearedNewly confirmed infections per day are rising in 47 states, and deaths are up in 34. Health experts had warned that it was only a matter of time before deaths turned upward, given the record-breaking surge in cases engulfing the country. Deaths are a lagging indicator — that is, it generally takes a few weeks for people to sicken and die from the coronavirus. The virus is blamed for more than 8.6 million confirmed infections and over 225,000 deaths in the U.S., the highest such totals in the world. Deaths are still well below the U.S. peak of over 2,200 per day in late April.