President Biden is reportedly considering taking executive action for the migrant crisis at the southern border. And it’s the return of “panda diplomacy” as China plans to send two giant pandas to the U.S.
Reports: Biden considering executive action to handle border crisis
President Joe Biden is considering taking executive action to get a handle on the migrant crisis at the southern border. According to multiple reports citing officials within the administration, the changes being considered are not yet finalized and would be weeks away from taking effect.
The reports say Biden is looking at the possibility of barring migrants seeking asylum if they crossed into the U.S. illegally between ports of entry, citing a law also used during the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. The president is also reportedly considering making it harder for asylum seekers to pass initial screening questions and working on ways to deport those who don’t meet the asylum criteria quickly.
CNN reported the Justice Department is reviewing the proposed executive action to determine if it could withstand legal challenges. In January, U.S. border patrol reported more than 124,000 migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to federal data, apprehensions dropped 50% from December 2023 amid ongoing talks between the U.S. and Mexico.
The news of a possible executive action comes after Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill in the Senate addressing immigration reform and foreign aid. A White House spokesperson released a statement in response to these reports criticizing Republicans for rejecting the border security bill.
“No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide,” the spokesperson added.
Boeing replaces head of 737 Max program after midair mishap
The head of Boeing’s 737 Max program is out, weeks after a panel blew off one of its planes midflight. Boeing announced that Ed Clark, the program’s vice president, has been replaced after nearly 18 years with the company. It was on Jan. 5 when the panel broke off from an Alaska Airlines flight, forcing an emergency landing, and resulted in the FAA temporarily grounding all Max 9 planes and for airlines to conduct inspections.
Investigators believed bolts needed to keep the panel in place were missing when it left the Boeing factory. The FAA later limited Boeing’s production of 737 Max jets. In an email to employees, Boeing said several leadership changes were underway as the company focuses on ensuring every one of its planes meets or exceeds safety requirements.
Chipmaker Nvidia’s profits surge amid growing demand for AI
Wall Street is abuzz after the U.S. tech giant Nvidia reported its fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, Feb. 21, surpassing expectations and showing artificial intelligence is very much in demand. The company announced its profits grew to $12.3 billion in the quarter, up from $1.4 billion a year ago. Nvidia’s net income surged 769% year-over-year.
The California company makes chips for AI systems developed by Microsoft and Meta. Nvidia currently accounts for around 70% of all AI semiconductor sales. The company said revenue for the current quarter is expected to be $24 billion, an increase of 233% from 2023.
President Biden’s dog ‘bit staff 24 times in one year’
Secret Service records released recently have unveiled that President Joe Biden’s German shepherd, Commander, was involved in at least 24 biting incidents over the past year, more than what was initially reported. The disclosure, which includes 269 pages of related emails, sheds light on the severity and frequency of these incidents.
The emails document the concern among Secret Service agents, with at least 11 of these incidents necessitating medical attention. The situation has highlighted the challenges faced by security personnel in managing the First Family’s pet within the confines of the White House.
Commander, a gift to Biden from his brother James in December 2021, had to be removed from the White House premises in October. The decision came after one particularly severe incident where a Secret Service agent was bitten and required medical treatment. The two-year-old German shepherd’s behavior has sparked discussions about pet management and safety protocols within the presidential residence.
China to send more pandas to US, bringing back panda diplomacy
Just months after some of the few remaining pandas in U.S. zoos were sent back to China with tensions between the two nations mounting, panda diplomacy is returning. The China Wildlife Conservation Association signed an agreement to send two giant pandas, a male and a female, to the San Diego Zoo.
The announcement came months after a family of pandas who had lived at the Smithsonian National Zoo since 1972 was sent back to China, and as the last remaining family of pandas living in the U.S. at the Atlanta Zoo is set to return to China next year. According to San Diego Zoo officials, if all goes to plan, the zoo could welcome the new pandas as soon as the end of summer 2024. In return, the Associated Press reports, zoos typically pay the China Wildlife Conservation Association $1 million per year.
At a meeting in San Francisco in November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Biden reportedly talked about panda diplomacy, which has long been a part of U.S.-China relations. While those relations have been rocky, Xi said at the meeting that China would again begin to lend the U.S. pandas to strengthen relations between our “two peoples.”
For more about the history of panda diplomacy, you can find our full report here.
Private spacecraft set to make first US moon landing in 50 years
If all goes according to plan, on Thursday, Feb.22, we will see the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. Odysseus, the robotic lunar lander from Houston’s Intuitive Machines, is scheduled to land on the moon’s surface at 5:30 p.m. ET. The company has been providing images from the mission as Odysseus moves closer to the moon.
NASA paid $118 million for the private spacecraft to deliver six experiments, including a stereo camera and radio receiver. The agency will be live-streaming the landing on its NASA TV service. Odysseus hopes to be the first private spacecraft ever to touch down on the moon and the first American moon landing since 1972.
