Newsletter May 12, 2023

Quick Six

Tensions spike at the US-Mexico border as Title 42 expires
The US lifted COVID-19 border restrictions known as Title 42 on Friday, signaling a major policy shift that has drawn thousands of migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border. In the backdrop of the chaotic scenes, President Joe Biden's administration is surging personnel and funds to the border while implementing a new regulation that will deny asylum to most migrants who cross the border illegally. The new measure took effect when Title 42 ended at midnight Friday, along with the broad COVID public health emergency.
WILL NEW POLICY PREVENT TODAY'S EXPECTED SURGE?

US, China hold talks to discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, spy balloon
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna this week, seeking to maintain ties amid rising tensions including over Taiwan. Both sides described the meeting in carefully choreographed statements as "candid, substantive and constructive," mirroring one another's language in the tentative, high-level rapprochement. Topics discussed also included the war in Ukraine and the downing of a spy balloon.
THE LONG LIST OF CONFLICTS BETWEEN US AND CHINA

EU seeks more talks about data transfer agreement with US
EU lawmakers on Thursday urged the European Commission to continue talks to reinforce a proposed data transfer pact with the US, saying there were still shortcomings in the agreement. The move could further delay an accord which is critical for thousands of companies. The EU executive in a draft decision in December said that U.S. safeguards against American intelligence activities were strong enough to address EU data privacy concerns.
THE STICKING POINTS IN THE EU-US DATA TRANSFER PACT

You Might Like

Markets

DJIA	33,309.51	-0.66%
S&P 500	4,130.62	-0.17%
Nasdaq Composite	12,328.51	0.18%
Japan: Nikkei 225	29,126.72	0.02%
UK: FTSE 100	7,730.58	-0.14%
Crude Oil Futures	71.42	-1.57%
Gold Futures	2,020.40	-0.82%
Yen	134.54	-0.01%
Euro	1.09	0.01%
* As of market close

George Santos facing charges in US, Brazil

A day after being arrested on 13 charges in the US, Congressman George Santos faced more legal headaches in Brazil, where a court hearing was held Thursday in a fraud case against him. The first-term Republican from New York, who has been embroiled in scandal for lying about much of his biography, has been summoned for a hearing over accusations he used a stolen checkbook to buy some $700 in merchandise from a clothing store outside Rio de Janeiro in 2008.

CAN SANTOS KEEP HIS JOB DESPITE GROWING LEGAL WOES?

Trump town hall has CNN on the defensive

Donald Trump's airing of falsehoods and insults in a prime-time CNN appearance triggered a deluge of criticism of the network, as media organizations once again grapple with how to cover the rule-breaking Republican seeking to win back the White House. CNN pushed back Thursday, insisting the hour-long live "town hall" in New Hampshire was key to holding him accountable. But critics said it had merely provided Trump with a powerful platform to spread repeatedly debunked claims.

SEE TRUMP'S STATEMENTS ON JAN. 6, ABORTION, LEGAL WOES

eSports tourney rocked by cheating scandal

An eSports final at the Southeast Asian Games was rocked by cheating charges that led to the gold medal being shared between two countries on Thursday. Singapore and Indonesia were awarded gold but instead of basking in victory some players reported receiving online threats. The dispute arose after Indonesia's players claimed their opponents were using an in-game camera that allowed them to track players' movements, leading to wrangling over the rules into the early hours.

SEE THE BACK AND FORTH IN THE ESPORTS CONTROVERSY

Extra point

Who has the world record for the most winnings in ESports competition?

Thursday's answer: Appearing on Philo Farnsworth's image dissector camera tube in 1927, TV's first transmitted image was a straight line.