Inside Daily Brief

For July 02, 2023

Hey Insiders,

Today we bring you the latest on the affirmative action decision, an analysis of health and meditation apps, the Singapore suicide rate, and more.

Scroll down for Art of the Day and our upcoming events, and let us know which areas you would like us to cover next.

Happy reading!

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More than half of Americans (52%) support the Supreme Court ruling restricting the use of race in college admissions, while 32% disapprove, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll. Republicans (75%) and independents (58%) are more likely to approve of the ruling compared to Democrats (26%).

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There are significant divisions among racial groups, with 60% of white people and 58% of Asian people approving the decision.
- However, only 25% of Black and 40% of Hispanic people support it.
Despite support for ending affirmative action, two-thirds of Americans believe that white and Asian students have a fair chance of getting into college, compared to 47% for Black students and 50% for Hispanic students.
53% of Americans believe the Supreme Court rules based on partisan political views instead of the law.
In another ruling, 45% of Americans support the Supreme Court's decision to strike President Biden's student loan forgiveness program, while 40% disapprove.
The Supreme Court's decision on whether creative businesses can refuse to serve LGBTQ+ customers received mixed views, with 43% approving, 42% disapproving, and 14% unsure.

Zoom Out:

The Supreme Court rejected affirmative action at colleges and universities nationwide this past Thursday, declaring that the race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the UNC were unlawful.
According to a Pew Research Center report released last month, only 33% of American adults approve of race-conscious admissions at selective colleges.

What the numbers say: In May 2023, BetterSleep, a meditation app based in Canada, topped the global charts with around 957,000 downloads, making it the most popular meditation app of the month. Calm, a market leader in the industry, secured the second spot with approximately 800,000 downloads, followed by Sweet Dreams with 764,000 app downloads.

Relevance: Calm Health, the mental health offering of the meditation app Calm, officially launched last October, aimed at condition-specific mental health programs for various diseases.

Impact: The rising demand for behavioral health services surpasses the availability of providers, creating a favorable landscape for the digital mental health market, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies like Spring Health, a digital mental health benefits provider, secured a significant funding round of $71M and achieved a valuation of $2.5B. Additionally, Apple has shown an increased commitment to mental health by enhancing its support for mental health tracking in the Health app.

NOTE: Inside.com founder and CEO Jason Calacanis is an investor in Calm.

Singapore recorded its highest suicide rate since 2000, reflecting increased mental distress from social pressures and economic uncertainty, according to a report by Samaritans of Singapore Ltd. Singapore reported 476 suicides in 2022, with a significant rise among youth and the elderly.

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Suicide was the leading cause of death for 10- to 29-year-olds in the city-state for the fourth consecutive year, accounting for almost 39% of deaths in this age group.
The alarming increase in suicides emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health issues and promoting awareness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to reduce the global suicide rate by one-third by 2030.
In 2019, an estimated 703,000 people worldwide died by suicide, making it one of the leading causes of death globally, as stated in a WHO report.
However, the current global rate of decline in suicide is not sufficient to meet the 2030 target, with a 36% drop over the past 20 years.

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In the U.S., recent studies indicate that 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide, with 40% attempting it and trans youth being the most affected.

Canada has officially banned testing cosmetics on animals, joining other countries and states in outlawing the practice. Canada joins the EU, Australia, the U.K., South Korea, and other countries that have banned cosmetic testing on animals.

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The Canadian government passed Bill C-47, amending the Food and Drugs Act to ban both cosmetic testing on animals and the sale of products relying on animal testing data.
In total, 44 countries have passed laws banning cosmetic animal testing, and 10 U.S. states have also banned the practice.
Health Canada is working to identify effective alternatives to animal testing in the cosmetic industry.
Cosmetic testing on animals involves toxicity tests, which can cause pain and suffering, and is less effective than newer assessment methods like computer modeling and tests using human cells.

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In March 2013, the EU banned the marketing of cosmetics containing ingredients that had been tested on animals.

Israel is set to purchase a third squadron of F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. in a $3B deal, expanding its fleet of stealth aircraft to 75. The purchase of the F-35 jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp., will be financed through U.S. military aid to Israel.

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The global interest in the F-35 has increased due to geopolitical tensions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. recently approved the sale of up to 24 F-35 planes to the Czech Republic, while South Korea has expressed interest in acquiring more of these jets.
Israel was the first country outside the U.S. to receive the F-35 aircraft.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant decided to buy the additional planes based on recommendations from Israeli military and defense officials.
Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer, have committed to involving Israeli defense industries in producing aircraft components.

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The United Arab Emirates has reportedly long sought to buy F-35 jets from the U.S.; however, its ties to China have meant no deal has yet gone through.

Thousands rallied in Australia to support a constitutional change recognizing Indigenous people ahead of a referendum following a recent decline in support for the proposal. The upcoming referendum aims to amend the constitution to establish the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an advisory body allowing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a say in policies affecting them directly.

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The Labor government led by PM Anthony Albanese supports the change, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a "No" vote.
Sydney rally attendees were seen wearing "Vote Yes" T-shirts and caps featuring "The Uluru Statement," a significant document calling for an Indigenous Voice.
Yes23, the group organizing the rallies, estimated the crowd in Sydney to be around 3,000 and expected up to 25,000 participants nationwide.
Recent polling showed a shift in support for the referendum, with "No" leading for the first time at 51% to 49%.

Zoom Out:

Studies revealed that Indigenous communities continue to experience over-policing, leading to higher arrest rates.

QUICK HITS:

The powerful probiotic Halle Berry swears by to improve her sugar & carb metabolism. Inside readers get 20% off the first month of any Pendulum membership with code INSIDE20.*
Ten soccer players to watch out for at the 2023 Women's World Cup, due to begin on July 20.
Two people are dead and 28 people were injured in a mass shooting at a Baltimore block party, officials say.
American tennis world No. 4 Jessica Pegula said doing business with Saudi Arabia can help the WTA in its quest to ensure equal prize money.
China is on a natural gas shopping spree, and officials are happy for importers to keep striking deals even after a global energy crisis has eased.
Apple's next AirPods Pro may check your hearing health and take your temperature.
Scientists found a mysterious "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean.
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