Global Courant
A blow to affirmative action in the US
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that race-based admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina are unconstitutional. The decision means elite US campuses that have been trying to increase diversity among their students are likely to become less black and Hispanic.
“This was a momentous decision,” said my colleague Anemona Hartocollis, who covers US higher education. “We don’t know exactly how it will turn out, except we know that the traditional way of doing things is over.”
The verdict was decided 6-3 by the court’s conservative majority. Chief Justice John Roberts said race-conscious admissions programs “inevitably use race in a negative way” and “involve racial stereotyping.”
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Sonia Sotomayor wrote that “the devastating impact of this decision cannot be overstated.” The court, she added, was “further entrenching racial inequality in education, the bedrock of our democratic government and pluralistic society.”
Asian-American recordings were at the heart of this debate. For years, job applicants have downplayed their identity to appear “less Asian.” Prosecutors accused Harvard of systematically discriminating against Asian Americans for years by using a subjective measure to gauge traits, such as likeability.
What’s next: The ruling could dramatically change U.S. hiring procedures and prompt employers to rethink race when hiring.
Comments: President Biden criticized the decision, saying this was “not a normal court” and directed the education department to “analyze what practices could lead to a more inclusive and diverse” student body. Republicans running for president welcomed the ruling.
France protests a police killing
The murder of a teenager in a Paris suburb has sparked anger in France over police brutality, especially against people of color.
A police officer who fatally shot the 17-year-old driver on Tuesday has been charged with murder. The murder sparked riots in more than a dozen cities.
But authorities braced for further demonstrations, with around 40,000 officers deployed to quell possible riots across the country – a big increase from the 9,000 the night before. At least 180 people have been arrested.
Public anger over the shooting was exacerbated by initial reports in the French news media, based on anonymous police sources, that the teenager had been plowed into officers during a traffic stop. But one video seemed to contradict that claim.
Victim: He was identified as Nahel M., a French national of Algerian and Moroccan descent. He was an only child and was raised by his mother, who yesterday took part in a march in Nanterre, the suburb where he was killed.
Background: In recent years, beatings and deaths in custody have led to increased scrutiny of police tactics. Some lawmakers believe a 2017 law that made it easier for officers to shoot at moving vehicles should be repealed or at least revised.
How Shein’s influencer plan failed
Fast-fashion brand Shein is facing a backlash after bringing influencers to China to visit its factories in hopes they would post upbeat stories about the company.
The company, founded in China but now based in Singapore, has been grappling with allegations that it uses forced labour. Shein and the social media creators have been roundly berated over the past week by users who have viewed the videos in disbelief.
“They weren’t even sweating,” says one creator Posted to Instagram and TikTok. As creators tried to tell their followers that they were interviewing happy employees, users left comments like “integrity is worth more than a trip.”
Shein released a statement saying he was “saddened” to see the answer.
THE LAST NEWS
Asia Pacific
My colleagues were rarely allowed access to a military field hospital in eastern Ukraine. Their striking 20-minute documentary captures the brutal toll of the Russian war through the eyes of frontline combat medics and wounded soldiers.
“They’re not just defending their country,” Yousur Al-Hlou, a Times video journalist, told The Morning. “They are defending the lives of their families and their own lives.”
The scenes are graphic. I recommend that you at least watch the video. It intimately shows the pain and sacrifice of the fight.
Silly AI detection tools
Computers powered by artificial intelligence can generate surprisingly lifelike images that can mislead people (like one of the popes in a puffer coat). A group of new companies are now offering tools to detect what’s a real photo and what’s not. They use advanced algorithms to see beyond humans, but they can still be fooled.
The Times tested five services with more than 100 images, both synthetic and real. At least one service was fooled by the images on the right, while all five were fooled by the image of a giant on the left.
PLAY, WATCH, EAT
What to cook
That’s it for today’s briefing. Have a nice weekend! — Amelia
PS Our travel editor, Amy Virshup, discussed how the agency compiled a list of suggestions for long walks around the world.
“The Daily” is about the battles between Washington and Big Tech.
I would like to know what you think of our newsletter. You can write at [email protected].
