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Misinformation floods social media, none more than Musk’s X

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

By Barbara Ortutay | Associated PressWhile Twitter has always struggled with combating misinformation about major news events, it was still the go-to place to find out what’s happening in the world. But the Israel-Hamas war has underscored how the platform now transformed into X has become not only unreliable but is actively promoting falsehoods.Experts say that under Elon Musk the platform has deteriorated to the point that it’s not just failing to clamp down on misinformation but is favoring posts by accounts that pay for its blue-check subscription service, regardless of who runs them.If such posts go viral, their blue-checked creators can be eligible for payments from X, creating a financial incentive to post whatever gets the most reaction — including misinformation.Ian Bremmer, a prominent foreign policy expert, posted on X that the level of disinformation on the Israel-Hamas war “being algorithmically promoted” on the platform “is unlike anything...

What’s wrong with the California Golden Bears’ defense?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

BERKELEY — Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon has a new title these days.“I’m the suggestion coach right now,” he said.He figures he has earned the moniker after the Bears experienced something they’ve never faced in his six seasons on coach Justin Wilcox’s staff.Twice in the past three weeks, Cal has allowed more than 50 points in a game — 59 at Washington and 52 at home against Oregon State. Opponents reached the 40s a few times against the Bears but never 50.Until now.“When things are going good there’s not a lot of people who offer suggestions,” Sirmon said. “Right now, giving up some points the last three weeks . . . a lot of suggestions are coming across the desk. Sometimes they’re great suggestions.”If only it were that easy.The Bears (3-3, 1-2) are in just Week 2 of their five-game gauntlet against Pac-12 rivals ranked in the AP Top-25. Cal visits No. 16 Utah (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the Utes have won 17 in a row and 28 of 29, ...

Mary Lou Retton’s lack of insurance raises questions as crowdfunding passes $250,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

News broke Tuesday that Olympian champion gymnast Mary Lou Retton is in an ICU unit at a Texas hospital, “fighting for her life” with a rare form of pneumonia, sparking alarm among sports fans all over the United States. But fans were just as dismayed to learn from her daughters that Retton, a highly decorated public figure who supposedly earned millions from endorsement deals over the years, has no health insurance.Because of this lack of health insurance, the oldest of Retton’s four daughters said the family had had to start a crowdfunding campaign to help cover the hospital bill. As of Wednesday morning, the Spotfund campaign for Retton, a star gold medalist at the 1984 Olympics, had blown well past its original goal of $50,000, exceeding $250,000 and growing.“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on Spotfund. Kelley also said her mother is not able to breathe on her own ...

USS Eisenhower to deploy to Mediterranean amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

For the first time in more than two years, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier will deploy Friday from Naval Station Norfolk.The warship and its strike group — a combined force of more than 5,000 sailors — have long been scheduled to deploy to the Mediterranean.“Our presence will undoubtedly strengthen relationships with our allies and partners, as we share the goal to deter aggression, and if required, deliver overwhelming combat power,” Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander of the strike group, said Tuesday in a written statement.The warship will be supported by Norfolk-based cruiser USS Philippine Sea and destroyer USS Gravely. The USS Mason, a destroyer, will depart from Naval Station Mayport in Florida.Embarking with the strike group will be the Virginia Beach strike fighter squadrons known as Gunslingers, Fighting Swordsmen, Rampagers and Wildcats. From Norfolk will be the Screwtops of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123, the Dusty Dogs of Helicopter Sea Combat Sq...

“Beheaded Babies” Report Spread Wide and Fast — but Israel Military Won’t Confirm It

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

This article includes graphic images and depictions of death.The Israel Defense Forces could not confirm a horrific claim that Hamas beheaded babies during a weekend assault, a spokesperson for the military told The Intercept on Tuesday. The claim went viral, becoming a headline-grabbing aspect of a massacre that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead.“Women, children, toddlers, and elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action and we are we are [sic] aware of the heinous acts Hamas is capable of,” the spokesperson wrote in response to questions from The Intercept about the viral reports. “We cannot confirm it officially, but you can assume it happened and believe the report,” she reiterated in a follow-up phone call.Despite the IDF’s inability to confirm the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson Tal Heinrich repeated it on Wednesday — a window into how unverified reports become part of the historical record.The claim about beheaded babies is the ...

Pro Picks: Expect Broncos to be competitive, but still lose to Chiefs for the 16th straight time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.___Turning the Denver Broncos into a winner has been a tougher task than Sean Payton could’ve imagined when he ended his brief retirement and returned to coaching.Even though Russell Wilson has improved from a woeful first season in Denver, the Broncos (1-4) keep finding ways to lose. The schedule doesn’t get any easier.The Broncos visit the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (4-1) on Thursday night and will face them again in Week 8. Peyton Manning was Denver’s quarterback the most recent time the Broncos beat Kansas City in 2015.There’s no reason to think that streak of 15 straight losses will end when the Broncos line up against two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a prime-time matchup at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are 10 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Pro Picks, coming off its best week of the sea...

Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher after the first of 2 big updates on inflation this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Most U.S. stocks ticked higher Wednesday amid mixed yields in the bond market, which has been the main driver of Wall Street’s moves recently. The S&P 500 rose 18.71, or 0.4%, to 4,376.95 for its fourth straight gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 65.57 points, or 0.2%, to 33,804.87, and the Nasdaq composite gained 96.83, or 0.7%, to 13,659.68.Wall Street has been mostly struggling since the summer as longer-term yields shoot higher in the bond market, weighing on prices for all kinds of investments. Some relief has come this week, and yields have eased after officials at the Federal Reserve suggested they may be done raising their main overnight interest rate.The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.56% from 4.66% late Tuesday and from more than 4.80% last week, when it reached its highest level since 2007. Besides hurting prices for investments, high yields have jacked up rates for mortgages and other loans, which saps momentum from the economy.But ...

BWI Marshall Airport slowly reopens after large police investigation brought traffic to standstill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

A large police investigation at BWI Marshall Airport centered on a suspicious vehicle near the terminal led authorities to shut down roads leading to the airport Wednesday afternoon.At about 4:15 p.m.., the airport said the vehicle had been “cleared” and roadway operations would return to normal. During the incident, traffic on Interstate 195 — the main artery to the airport — was blocked for nearly an hour and travelers inside the airport were advised to remain in place. There was a brief ground stop, as well.The investigation also suspended light rail service, terminating at the Cromwell station.As of 4:30 p.m., the upper level roadway is open for both passenger drop-off and pickup, the airport said.Southwest Airlines passengers are allowed to retreive their bags from Bag Belts #1-5. Passengers will not be allowed to exit to the Lower Level.All passengers and visitors need to go to the Upper Level to exit the airport.— BWI Marshall Airport (@BWI_Airport) October 11, 20...

Kansas escapes postseason ban, major penalties as IARP panel downgrades basketball violations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas men’s basketball program was put on probation and ordered to take down its 2018 Final Four banner but escaped a postseason ban Wednesday, when an independent panel created by the NCAA to handle complex cases downgraded five Level I violations lodged against the Jayhawks.The violations stem from a 2017 federal investigation into college basketball corruption, and hinged on whether representatives of the apparel company Adidas were considered boosters when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits. Kansas officials never disputed that payments were made, only that they had no knowledge of them, and they appealed the violations through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. Their hearing took place in April and the ruling was announced less than a month before the start of the college basketball season in which the powerhouse Jayhawks will be a national championship contender.“Today’s decision by the Independent Resolution ...

Donald Trump’s financial statements were key to getting loans, ex-bank official tells fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in loans using financial statements that a court has since deemed fraudulent, a retired bank official testified Wednesday at the former president’s New York civil fraud trial.Trump’s statements of financial condition were key to his approval for a $125 million loan in 2011 for his Doral, Florida, golf resort and a $107 million loan in 2012 for his Chicago hotel and condo skyscraper, former Deutsche Bank risk management officer Nicholas Haigh testified.They also helped Trump secure bigger loans and lower interest rates, said Haigh, who headed the risk group for the bank’s private wealth management unit from 2008 to 2018.A judge last month ruled that Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, committed years of fraud by exaggerating the value of Trump’s assets and net worth on the financial statements he gave to banks, insurers and others to make deals and secure loans.Trump’s longtime finance chief, Allen...