Newsletter Sep 20, 2021

The US boasted about its new defense pact with the UK and Australia, which managed to make the rest of the world mad. Will President Biden backpedal?

3 things you must know

US angers allies and enemies with UK-Australia defense pact
What was billed as a national security home run now has America's allies and enemies calling foul. The recently announced defense pact between the U.S., U.K., and Australia that was meant to make all three safer has served to isolate them from the rest of the world.
At the top of the list is France, which lost a $36.5 billion deal to sell the Aussies submarines. President Joe Biden has requested a meeting with French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron to patch things over after he recalled ambassadors from all three nations.
Paris complained of feeling "stabbed in the back" and other allies expressed concerns about being left out of the agreement. North Korea warned of a nuclear arms race and China charged the trio of "shooting themselves in the foot." It's rare for the U.S. to anger allies and enemies with the same deal, so this sub pact is sinking fast.
FIND OUT HOW BIDEN PLANS TO REASSURE FRANCE, ALLIES

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All eyes on The Fed as policy meeting to decide on tapering
In what is being billed as one of the milestone policy meetings of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve will begin a two-day strategy session on Tuesday that will set the future course for the economic recovery. Investors are monitoring the meeting closely.
At stake is whether The Fed will continue its policy of bond-buying to keep inflation and interest rates under control, or whether it will begin to taper off the stimulus measures and begin the transition back to normal fiscal policies. There's a lot riding on the meeting's outcome.
FIND OUT WHAT ANALYSTS THINK THE FED WILL DO NEXT

Robots to the rescue for businesses during labor shortage
The ongoing labor shortage could accelerate a trend that was already growing before the pandemic -- an increasing reliance on automation. While millions of Americas are out of work despite the abundance of job openings, many employers are turning to robots.
Although most employers are still holding out hopes of hiring humans, more are turning to robotics to solve the labor shortage, particularly businesses in the service industry. Several restaurants have turned to automation to fill their unanswered job openings.
SEE HOW MORE COMPANIES ARE RELYING ON AUTOMATION

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Petito's body found? Laundrie still on the run

A coast-to-coast crime drama that has gripped the nation saw some major developments Sunday when a body tentatively identified as YouTuber Gabby Petito was discovered near Grand Teton National Park. The 22-year-old hiker is believed to have been a victim of foul play by her fiance.

While searchers were finding remains out West, police were trying to track down 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, who was reportedly the last person to see Petito alive. He has gone into hiding in the swamps of South Florida after refusing to answer questions from authorities investigating the case.

READ ABOUT A WITNESS WHO SAYS SHE GAVE LAUNDRIE A RIDE

Justice for J6 rally suffers from low turnout

Just as most movie sequels fail to live up to the original, Sunday's Justice for J6 rally turned out to be a much tamer and less attended affair than the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. In fact, the estimated crowd of 400 right-wing, pro-Trump supporters were heavily outnumbered by police and the media.

The rally, which was organized by Look Ahead America and former president Donald Trump's campaign aid Matt Braynard, was intended to call for justice for those arrested in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot. But this time law enforcement was ready for the event -- even if marchers weren't.

FIND OUT HOW MANY ATTENDEES WERE ARRESTED AND WHY

Emmy Awards make up for lost year in style

Sunday's 73rd Emmy Awards saw Hollywood's A-list make up for last year's toned-down gala with a magical night on the red carpet and a party atmosphere. Host Cedric the Entertainer led a comical opening number to "Just A Friend" in tribute to the late Biz Markie, and the festivities were on.

After last year's Hollywood showcase was limited by COVID restrictions (no red carpet, outdoor venue, socially distanced crowd), this one almost seemed strange even to the presenters on the stage: "Let me start by saying there are way too many of us in this little room," actor Seth Rogen joked. ."Why is there a roof? It's more important that we have three chandeliers than that we make sure we don't kill Eugene Levy tonight."

CHECK OUT THE WINNERS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EMMYS

Actress in action

The late Ed Asner won more Emmy Awards than any other male actor, but what actress holds the overall record and how many has she won?

Fridayâ€™s answer: Although Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein won Pulitzers for their reporting on Watergate, veteran WAPO crime reporter Alfred E. Lewis wrote the original break-in story.

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