Title 42 is expiring; Iran executes a protester; Putin dangles bombs; and “Wordle” tops Google searches. These stories and more highlight the morning update for Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.
Biden administration appeals end to title 42
Last month, a judge ruled Title 42 would have to be lifted on Dec. 21, calling the COVID-era border policy outdated.
Now, the Biden administration is appealing that ruling. They are asking the courts to wait on ending the policy, while other Title 42 litigation plays out and while the government draws up a replacement policy.
Employees at New York Times go on strike
Hundreds of employees at the New York Times are holding a 24-hour walk out at their company today. It is the first strike of its kind at the newspaper in more than 40 years.
The union employees have been in contract negotiations now for a year-and-a-half. Wage increases and remote work policies are at the center of the stand still.
Iran executes anti-government protester
Today, Iran carried out its first execution linked to the protests and unrest over human rights. The protester, who was hanged, was blocking a main road in the capital. He also injured an officer at one of many demonstrations that have been carried out in the country.
Authorities are seeking the death penalty for 21 others who participated in protests.
Putin says war in Ukraine could be lengthy
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine might be “a long process.” He sat down with state media, confidently discussing Russia’s position.
Putin brought up the potential of nuclear war, saying the risk is growing, but also adding Russia “has not gone mad” and would not “recklessly threaten to use such weapons.” The Russian leader touted Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which is the largest in the world.
House to vote on Respect for Marriage Act
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to hold a vote in the House today to pass a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriages.
The measure already passed the Senate and is expected to pass the House. It’s meant to act as a safeguard to marriage rights.
The House is also supposed to take a vote on the defense policy bill this week.
‘Wordle’ tops Google searches of 2022
Every second that goes by includes 40,000 google searches from around the world. Google gets more than 1 trillion searches in a year. So what are people googling the most?
This year, “Wordle” was the most-searched word. The game people can play on their phones took the world by storm in 2022. It beat out searches for “election results,” which came in second.
Betty White, Queen Elizabeth, and Ukraine were also part of the top 10.
Google also released its most searched people of the year. The person who came in first was Johnny Depp. His defamation trial became America’s soap opera this past summer.
