Arturo Béjar worked at Meta (formerly Facebook) for eight years and raised concerns about harm to young users on Instagram. After his warnings were ignored, he left the company and has testified multiple times to the US Senate about Meta’s knowledge of these issues.
Key Facts
Arturo Béjar was a consultant on Instagram’s wellbeing team at Meta.
He sent a detailed email in 2021 to Mark Zuckerberg and other executives about high rates of bullying and unwanted advances on Instagram.
His email revealed that more than half of Instagram users experienced harm weekly, but very few reports led to content removal.
Zuckerberg did not respond to Béjar’s warnings and emphasized impact and winning over user safety.
Béjar compared Zuckerberg’s behavior to the portrayal of him in the movie The Social Reckoning.
In 2023, Béjar testified under oath before the US Senate about Meta’s internal knowledge of harm caused by its platforms.
Béjar has testified at least seven times in trials and hearings against Meta.
The article mentions a major 2023 lawsuit by 29 US states accusing Meta of knowingly harming users.
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Republican political groups are spending large amounts of money to support some Senate candidates in states they won easily in previous elections while reducing spending in races they see as lost causes. President Trump is actively campaigning in key states to help Republican candidates ahead of the November elections. Democrats are also adjusting their ad spending based on polling confidence.
Key Facts
Republican super PACs are increasing spending in states considered safe for them and cutting ads in races likely to be lost.
President Trump has been campaigning in several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio, and Nebraska.
Republicans have spent over $100 million on Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton and seek more funds for Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio Senate races.
Democrats are pulling back advertising in some states where they feel confident about winning.
The Republican Senate Leadership Fund is financially strong and helps support candidates in red states.
Both parties have reduced ad spending in certain House races where victory seems unlikely.
Vice President Vance has campaigned in Alaska and Ohio recently.
Political spending shifts reflect strategic decisions to focus on the most competitive races.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson raised $30 million in the third quarter, bringing his total fundraising to $156 million for House Republicans this election cycle. He has distributed over $91 million to Republican candidates, committees, and state parties as they work to keep control of the House.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson has raised $156 million for House Republicans in the current election cycle.
He collected $30 million in the third quarter alone.
Johnson has distributed more than $91 million to Republican members, candidates, committees, and state parties.
$46 million of that went to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
Johnson’s fundraising since becoming Speaker in October 2023 totals over $220 million.
He has visited over 40 districts in 22 states to support Republican candidates.
The NRCC has a cash lead of $13 million over the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Despite fundraising success, several competitive House races have shifted in favor of Democrats recently, including many districts carried by President Trump in 2024.
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U.S. politicians from both parties are working to protect children from harmful social media effects on mental health. Laws and actions are being proposed and taken to regulate social media companies, requiring them to add safety measures for kids.
Key Facts
Texas U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico (Democrat) and Ken Paxton (Republican) both want to limit harm from social media on children’s mental health.
Talarico supports a ban on social media use for kids under 16 and a bill against explicit deepfakes, which are AI-made fake videos.
Paxton is suing major tech companies for allegedly targeting youth and not restricting harmful content for kids.
Social media giant Meta agreed to a $17 billion settlement to change policies and better protect children.
Many Senate candidates have sponsored bills or investigations to regulate social media’s impact on youth.
The Kids Online Safety Act is a federal bill aiming to require social media companies to add protections like limiting contact between adults and minors.
Some tech companies, including Apple, support regulation, but Meta promotes parental control instead of outright bans.
Big Tech is actively lobbying senators to influence new laws, with many companies and groups involved.
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China has a law requiring its citizens and organizations to help with state intelligence work. The FBI recently arrested a U.S. resident accused of spying for China on the son of Taiwan’s president. The U.S. is actively working to protect itself from Chinese espionage while balancing civil liberties.
Key Facts
China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law requires citizens and companies to support state intelligence efforts.
The law promises protection to those who cooperate, but primarily protects the Chinese Communist Party.
Wanying “Heather” Zhang, a naturalized American living in California, was arrested for allegedly spying for China.
Zhang is accused of spying on Taiwan’s president’s son, who lives in Seattle.
She faces charges related to acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, with up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Zhang studied at the University of International Relations in Beijing, known to be a training ground for spies.
The U.S. and other democracies face large amounts of spying from China but are working hard to defend themselves.
Authorities stress that all accused individuals have the right to a fair trial and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are debating in Michigan’s Senate race, a key contest in the 2024 midterms. They are discussing major issues important to Michigan voters, including the cost of living, trade tariffs with Canada, data centers, and health care.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed are Michigan’s main candidates for the U.S. Senate in the 2024 election.
Both candidates debated for the first time on September 21, 2024, in Grand Rapids, with a second debate planned before Election Day.
Michigan voters say the economy and cost of living are their top concerns.
El-Sayed supports Medicare for All and taxing the wealthy to address costs; Rogers focuses on education, housing, and job creation.
President Trump imposed high tariffs on Canadian cars and parts, which has increased costs for Michigan families.
Rogers recently called for ending the tariff conflict with Canada but hasn’t directly criticized President Trump.
El-Sayed criticized Trump’s tariffs and was endorsed by the United Auto Workers union.
The race is very close, making voters’ opinions on these key issues especially important.
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The article discusses the challenges of managing multiple after-school activities for children. It highlights a parent's effort to provide varied experiences to help children discover their interests, while also recognizing the difficulties and costs involved.
Key Facts
The author’s child attends after-school activities Monday through Thursday.
The child takes two back-to-back hip-hop dance classes on Tuesdays.
The author’s children are enrolled in basketball, dance, Hebrew school, and tennis classes.
Parents spend a lot of time driving children to and from activities.
After-school lessons can be expensive and time-consuming.
The author believes children need to try many activities to learn what they like or dislike.
The author notes the importance of kids learning how to be bored.
The article reflects a balance between encouraging activities and following the children’s interests.
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President Donald Trump is considering buying potash fertilizer from Belarus to pressure Canada to lower prices. However, Belarus is a risky choice because it is landlocked, politically close to Russia, and faces sanctions, making it a less secure supplier for American farmers.
Key Facts
Potash is an important fertilizer used by American farmers.
Canada is the major supplier of potash to the United States.
Belarus produces potash but has no access to ocean ports.
Belarus borders countries that refuse to trade with it due to political tensions.
Belarus is led by Alexander Lukashenko, who is allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Belarus supported Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which caused global market disruptions.
The European Union has sanctions on Belarusian potash.
Shipping potash from Belarus to the U.S. would likely go through Russia, raising security and cost concerns.
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Suki, a healthcare AI company, is partnering with Wolters Kluwer Health to launch Ask, a clinical decision support tool. This tool uses Wolters Kluwer’s UpToDate Expert AI to help doctors get patient-specific medical advice directly in their normal workflow without switching apps.
Key Facts
Ask is integrated into Suki for Clinicians and uses UpToDate Expert AI’s medical knowledge.
UpToDate is a trusted medical resource used by over 3 million clinicians worldwide.
Ask uses patient information from electronic health records (EHR) to give tailored clinical guidance.
Doctors can ask questions by typing or speaking, and receive text-based answers with evidence citations.
The tool is available across major health software systems like Epic, Oracle Health, athenahealth, and MEDITECH.
UpToDate Expert AI provides clinical answers based only on physician-reviewed content, not general internet sources.
Early tests showed clinicians preferred responses with patient context 83% of the time.
The tool is being rolled out to over 400 health system customers, with activation depending on each health system.
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Democrat James Talarico is leading Republican Ken Paxton in recent Texas Senate polls, a closer gap than Democrat Beto O’Rourke had in 2018. However, success depends on whether Talarico can turn potential voters, especially younger and diverse groups, into actual voters, which has been a challenge for Democrats in Texas.
Key Facts
James Talarico has a small but steady lead over Ken Paxton in Texas Senate race polls.
Beto O’Rourke had a similar but less strong polling position in 2018.
Turning potential Democratic voters into actual voters remains a challenge.
Talarico is a former public-school teacher and Texas House representative since 2018.
Ken Paxton is the Texas Attorney General and has faced legal and ethical controversies, including impeachment articles.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Ken Paxton.
Recent polls show Talarico leading by 1 to 6 points among likely Texas voters.
Experts say candidate favorability may be influencing polling in a usually Republican state, but actual voter turnout is the key issue.
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A study of over 62,000 children in South Korea found that the actual rate of autism has stayed about the same from 1998 to 2010, even though more children are being diagnosed. The increase in autism diagnoses is mainly because doctors and schools have gotten better at finding children with autism, not because autism itself is becoming more common.
Key Facts
The study looked at 62,081 children born between 1998 and 2010 in South Korea.
Researchers checked autism diagnoses using strict criteria called DSM-5.
Autism rates ranged between about 2% and 3.4%, without a clear increase over time.
Many autistic children were previously undiagnosed because they had not been seen by doctors or schools.
Over time, more children were identified before the study, showing better early detection.
Girls with autism were more likely to be missed in earlier diagnoses.
The study only followed children up to age 7, so some may get diagnosed later in life.
Experts say the rise in reported autism is due to better screening and awareness, not an actual rise in autism.
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The article reviews recent actions and statements by President Donald Trump and other political figures, showing how Trump's social media posts continue to influence politics in various ways. It highlights incidents involving politicians, controversies over language, and public reactions to these events.
Key Facts
President Trump shared Senator Tom Cotton’s personal phone number, encouraging voters to call him about daylight saving time.
Trump called for the resignation of former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after a critical federal report, urging the Attorney General to investigate.
Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds removed many references to Trump from his campaign website, but Trump still supports him and scheduled rallies for him.
Trump used a derogatory term against a South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee who is not transgender, causing some Republicans to distance themselves from his language.
Congressman María Elvira Salazar criticized some of Trump’s immigration policies and broke with him to appeal to Latino voters; Trump responded with attacks against her.
Trump praised Boeing's CEO after a plane incident where a passenger helped regain control following a co-pilot's attack on the captain.
The article uses a system of arrows to show whether public figures’ reputations are rising or falling based on current events.
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Oil prices rose sharply due to rising tensions in the Middle East and the threat of a hurricane near the US Gulf of Mexico. This increase has caused concern about oil supply and inflation, affecting global stock and bond markets.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil price increased by 3.8% to $104 per barrel.
The US White House requested the Pentagon to prepare strike options against Iran before the US midterm elections.
The conflict between the US-Israel and Iran is in its eighth month, with recent attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
A tanker was hit by multiple projectiles near Qatar, causing casualties.
Tropical Storm Isaias became the first Atlantic hurricane, leading Shell and Chevron to pause oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Maersk raised its emergency fuel surcharge due to higher energy prices.
Global bond yields rose, indicating falling bond prices and concerns about inflation.
Stock markets in Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the UK experienced declines amid these tensions and economic concerns.
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The article explains that adding AI to existing software does not automatically make it better. AI should help people by removing repetitive tasks and improving how work gets done, not just add more complicated features. The author warns that using AI poorly can make work harder, but used well, AI can transform businesses and industries.
Key Facts
Many companies add AI labels to their products without significant improvements.
Nearly 90% of companies surveyed use AI in at least one business area.
44% of companies are expanding AI use throughout their operations.
AI should help people by automating repetitive tasks, not replace human judgment.
Successful AI tools will be specialized, working with other systems and supporting humans.
Poor AI use can create more work, increase costs, and confuse employees.
AI has shown real progress, such as helping discover new medicines like rentosertib.
The future of AI depends on its practical usefulness, not just hype or marketing.
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Voters are choosing a new member of parliament in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London, where Labour is expected to keep the seat despite a strong challenge from the Green Party. Meanwhile, talks are ongoing about the UK possibly rejoining the European Union and strengthening security partnerships with Germany, alongside tensions with Israel over a British consulate in East Jerusalem.
Key Facts
Polls opened for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, a seat formerly held by Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Labour’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is predicted to win, but the Greens, led by Zack Polanski, are campaigning hard.
Labour won the seat by large margins in previous elections: 11,500 votes in 2024 and over 30,000 in earlier years.
France’s finance minister Roland Lescure said the UK could rejoin the EU anytime if the British people choose to do so.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham may reconsider Britain’s relationship with the EU, including possibly rejoining it.
Andy Burnham is meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss a new security partnership and support for Ukraine.
The UK and Israel have a diplomatic dispute over the British consulate in East Jerusalem, with Israel saying it has ceased to function but the UK saying it will stay open as the “UK Mission.”
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Mountain gorilla populations in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have grown to over 1,100 after being close to extinction in the 1980s. Conservation efforts, supported by science, policy, and community involvement, have helped some wildlife species recover despite global declines in animal populations.
Key Facts
Tourists pay about $800 to see mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The gorilla tourism supports local jobs and businesses, benefiting nearby villages.
Mountain gorillas help nature by spreading seeds and maintaining their habitat.
Since the 1980s, mountain gorilla numbers have increased to more than 1,100 in some African countries.
The 2024 Living Planet Report shows a 73% decline in average wildlife populations over the last 52 years.
Some species like tigers, green sea turtles, bluefin tuna, and Southern African elephants have shown population recoveries.
International cooperation and long-term conservation efforts have contributed to these positive outcomes.
The green sea turtle was moved from “endangered” to “least concern” due to sustained conservation work.
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Isaias has become the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and is expected to hit the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. This storm will bring heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous flooding, leading to evacuation orders in parts of Florida and Alabama.
Key Facts
Hurricane Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026.
The storm is expected to reach the central Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast by Friday night.
It will bring heavy rain, strong winds, and a life-threatening storm surge. Storm surge means ocean water pushed onto land, causing flooding.
Florida’s Okaloosa County declared a state of emergency and ordered mandatory evacuations for some coastal areas starting Thursday at noon.
Alabama issued a state of emergency for 40 counties and recommended voluntary evacuations in coastal and low-lying areas.
Residents of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, are encouraged to evacuate voluntarily.
Florida residents can check evacuation zones using the state’s Division of Emergency Management map.
Officials warn of serious flooding risks due to the storm’s impact on the northern Gulf Coast.
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India has shifted its relationship with Israel, growing closer under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza. India has increased business and military ties with Israel, even while the war in Gaza causes widespread casualties.
Key Facts
Several countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, banned Israel’s far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich due to his views on Palestinians.
In September 2025, India welcomed Smotrich with a multi-city visit, signing trade deals and visiting investment hubs.
India’s support for Palestine has changed since Modi and his party took power in 2014, moving closer to Israel.
In February, Modi visited Israel and met Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is facing international criticism and legal charges over Gaza.
The war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including many children.
Despite its traditional support for peace talks, India has exported weapons to Israel during the conflict and is Israel’s biggest weapons buyer.
Modi strongly condemned the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism.
Analysts link Modi’s support for Israel to his domestic politics, which focus on opposing Islamist extremism and promoting Hindu nationalism (Hindutva).
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The BBC will cut many Radio 4 programs, including You and Yours and Thinking Allowed, to save £500 million. Some shows will be expanded, and new ones will be created, especially about technology and AI, while Radio 5 Live will reduce its new content.
Key Facts
The BBC plans to save £500 million by cutting several Radio 4 shows.
Long-running programs like You and Yours, Thinking Allowed, and Free Thinking will end.
Radio 5 Live will also have fewer new programs and podcasts.
The BBC will create new shows about consumer issues, technology, and AI.
Some popular programs like In Our Time, Start the Week, and Farming Today will be longer.
BBC Sounds director Jonathan Wall says these changes aim to focus on digital growth and strong journalism.
The BBC has already announced 550 job cuts and considered closing some channels due to financial pressures.
MPs recently suggested ending political appointments to the BBC board and extending the license fee beyond TV.
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Christa Pike, a death row inmate in Tennessee, regained consciousness after a failed execution. Her lawyer said she spoke words asking where she was just before life support was about to be removed.
Key Facts
Christa Pike is on death row in Tennessee.
A planned execution did not go as expected, described as "botched."
Pike was placed on life support after the failed execution.
She woke up before life support was turned off.
When she woke, she asked, "Where am I and who are you?"
Her lawyer reported these details about her condition.
The incident raises questions about the execution process.
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