Daily Briefing: Is COP27 doing any good?
COP has going on for decades, but the bad news about climate change keeps coming. Also in the news: It's the day before Election Day and disinformation poses a major threat to millions of voters. The Georgia Bulldogs stay on top of college football.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Time change got you down? Here's how to cope.
Now, here we go with Monday's news.
Global diplomats are talking about climate change — again.
More than 30,000 people are meeting at the United Nations' climate change conference in Egypt that began Sunday. Called COP27, the 13-day conference brings together diplomats, scientists, activists, lobbyists, environmental groups and businesses to work out the details. Read more
One thing to know: It will be hard for world leaders to make progress given all the other things happening in the world. And China, India and Russia will be missing while the U.S. midterm elections will be grabbing headlines.
President Joe Biden will be attending COP27 for at least a day. But Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said the meetings are mostly a chance for "leaders and people in power to get attention, using many different kinds of greenwashing."
But as the effects of climate change grow more dire, danger is rising for Americans in floodplains, coastal marshlands, wildfire-prone areas and swaths of land struggling with drought.
The pattern of extremes becoming the norm fits the model for a warming planet, experts say. On the Mississippi River, low water levels mean harvested crops and other cargo are being shipped much more slowly, straining crews and costs.
Climate activism has been drawing attention: A German group behind an attack on a Monet painting are called “The Last Generation” because they say they fear they may be the last human generation.
Disinformation could keep millions of voters at home, analysts say
Disinformation, or disseminating intentional lies disguised as truth, is a major concern ahead of Election Day Tuesday when it comes to getting people to vote. These mistruths are hard to trace yet powerful enough to swing U.S. elections. Sometimes the lies are designed to confuse people on how, when and where to vote. Sometimes the lies play on fears to try to make them vote a certain way. Researchers are tracking which actors are behind efforts to spread false information about poll closings or changed locations, from foreign operatives to U.S. politicians. And the lies are often targeted at communities of color. Read more
Security officials are concerned about claims of a hacked (or stolen) election. Here's why.
New voting laws and state discrepancies have left young voters anxious about their absentee ballots.
Protectors of democracy: Why these 27 races may be the most critical in midterm elections.
USA TODAY's live midterm coverage: Clinton, Sanders rally voters ahead of midterm elections; GOP "will accept" results.
👉 Can't make it to the polls on Election Day? Here's how to vote absentee in the midterm elections.
More news to know now
📰 North Korea said its missile tests were practice to attack South Korean and U.S. sites.
🔦 Russian attacks have left Kyiv and other regions in the dark.
⚾ Dusty Baker finally won a elusive World Series ring after 25 years as a manager.
💼 The economy added 261,000 jobs in October even as recession fears and interest rates rose.
🔮 Tempted by $1.9 billion? Here is how to play Powerball ahead of Monday night's drawing.
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, USA TODAY Congressional editor Ledyard King looks at whether democracy is in danger in the U.S. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
💡 Got an idea for an original "I Voted" sticker? Submit your design here.
🌤 What's the weather? Check your local forecast here.
A combination vaccine for flu and COVID-19 is in the works
As the holiday season draws near, more Americans may be sporting two Band-Aids after receiving both their flu shot and the new COVID-19 bivalent booster. Vaccine developers are looking to relieve people from the unpleasant nature of getting two shots by creating one that offers strong protection against both viruses. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, companies that have led the COVID-19 vaccination strategy, say they're beginning trials to assess the safety, efficacy and dosage of their candidate vaccine that combines four flu strains and two coronavirus strains. Health experts say these combination vaccines could be available as early as next flu season. Here's what to know.
What's going on with Twitter?
Twitter just finished its first full week with new owner Elon Musk at the helm and the social network is in turmoil. As Musk laid off an estimated half of Twitter's staff, he also acknowledged that advertisers are fleeing the platform. And the first signs arrived that the social media site's iconic verification system is set to turn into a subscription service: an update to Twitter's iOS app mentions a Twitter Blue $7.99 offering that includes the blue checkmark and will soon have "half the ads & much better ones," as well as the ability to post longer videos. Read more
Considering joining the Twitter migration? Check out these platform alternatives.
Twitter sued for mass layoffs with zero notice days after Elon Musk's takeover.
''SNL'' took jabs at Twitter: Amy Schumer schmoozed with Kenan Thompson as her digital socialite was accused of being a Twitter bot.
Just for subscribers:
🔵 Defense Department health plan Tricare drops 15,000 pharmacies from network.
🏠 Which home appliance brands have customer safety complaints? Search our database.
📉 Tennessee had a huge spike in applications after the Alabama college football win, and the trend continues.
🐶 My dog's eternal belief it can catch a squirrel is a lesson for us all.
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Week 10 college football winners and losers: Bulldogs on top
Two months after christening the regular season with a 46-point win against Oregon, the top-ranked Bulldogs made another huge statement by pushing around No. 3 Tennessee in a 27-13 win that essentially locks down the SEC East. There's no longer any question over which team is the best in the FBS: Georgia is the undisputed No. 1 and the current favorites to repeat as national champions. Read more
Talent rules college football – and No. 1 Georgia shows in Tennessee win it has more of it than anyone.
What's left for Alabama football after LSU loss? Soul-searching for Nick Saban and team.
College football Week 10 report card: Stanford hits rock bottom.
Here are the best photos from Week 10 of the 2022 college football season.
📷 Photo of the day: 2022 New York City Marathon 📷
In the men’s race, Kenya's Evans Chebet's victory in 2:08:41 continued a Kenyan stranglehold in marathon majors this year, where a male runner from that country had won all of five of those races coming into New York City. Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, an NCAA champion in 10,000 meters in 2018, won the women’s pro race in her NYC Marathon debut. Lokedi picked up the pace in the final three miles to break away from the pack and cross the finish line in 2:23:23. Read more
Click here to see more photos from the 2022 New York City Marathon.
A little less heavy
🟠 Nick Carter says his ''heart has been broken'' amid brother Aaron's death; Backstreet Boys pay tribute.
🏳🌈 ''My Policeman'' doesn't shy away from gay sex. We shouldn't, either.
🏆 Welcome to our 2022 Best of Year awards!
💋 Evan Rachel Wood on her Madonna transformation: She ''is the most confident person on Earth.''
🏈 Best photos from Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note, shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COP27, midterm elections, Twitter, RSV, Nick Carter, marathon: Daily Briefing
