Good morning readers. Google Maps is transforming into a one-stop app for planning outings with friends and navigating public transit more efficiently. Its latest update includes a nifty social feature that takes group planning from chaotic chats to organized, collaborative lists right within the app. Users can share, vote on places with emojis, and plan from A to Z. Additionally, enhanced transit directions now factor in ETA, transfer ease, and walking distance, complete with exact station entrances and walking paths. Keep an eye out, as these features will be hitting Android and iOS in the upcoming weeks.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Biden and Xi navigate tensions in high-stakes summit

• Headline Hustle: FCC imposes new rules on telecoms, New York sues PepsiCo, Meta allows ads saying 2020 election was rigged

• The new era of medical trials

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

POLITICS

Biden-Xi Summit: Modest agreements in a complex U.S.-China relationship

In a high-stakes meeting of global giants, President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently sat down to discuss critical issues facing their nations for the first time in a year. The summit, aimed at stabilizing the often turbulent relations between the U.S. and China, resulted in modest agreements on military contacts and combating the trafficking of fentanyl.

While the meeting managed to tone down the acrimony between the two superpowers, it didn't completely resolve the underlying tensions that have marked their interactions. This gathering was part of a broader effort to recalibrate their relationship after months of negotiations, with both sides acknowledging that the mere occurrence of the meeting was a positive step forward.

What did they talk about?

• Cooperation on global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and counternarcotics took center stage during the discussions.

• The U.S. officials expressed concerns about the Chinese military's activities near China, while China was singled out as a source of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl by Mexican cartels.

• The proposed agreements aim to restore previous cooperation that had been strained by past disputes.

Beyond these specific issues, the summit touched on a range of topics, including economic engagement, global conflicts such as Russia's war on Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, and regional security concerns like Taiwan and the South China Sea. While both nations recognize the need for cooperation on certain global challenges, there's also a strategic competition at play. Both the U.S. and China are actively pursuing their own interests and values, above all else.

Big picture: The limited agreements reached at the summit reflect a cautious approach, focusing on managing disputes rather than fully resolving them. This underscores the emerging realism in U.S.-China relations, where cooperation and competition coexist in a complex, interdependent, and sometimes contentious relationship.

Headline Hustle

🖥️ The FCC can now punish telecom providers for charging customers more. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fired a shot across the bow of internet service providers (ISPs), raising concerns and eyebrows among America's tech giants. In a 3-2 party-line vote, the FCC adopted a new regulation that targets "digital discrimination" based on income or race, effectively putting ISPs like AT&T and Comcast on notice. The rule opens the door for the FCC to hold ISPs accountable for actions that "differentially impact consumers' access to broadband." This includes decisions on network upgrades, pricing, marketing, and maintenance. In essence, the FCC is wading into the contentious debate over government's role in ensuring equity in the digital age, aligning with progressive groups advocating for universal access to broadband, particularly in underserved communities.

🥤 New York AG sues Pepsi over plastic. New York State is taking a sip of legal action against PepsiCo, accusing the beverage and snack giant of environmental harm and public health risks due to its single-use plastic products. In a groundbreaking move, the state alleges that PepsiCo contributes significantly to plastic waste in the Buffalo region, failing to warn consumers about potential health and environmental hazards. The lawsuit seeks to make PepsiCo clean up its act, stop causing a nuisance, and pay for damages caused by plastic waste. Environmentalists hail it as a template for other states, signaling that the plastic pollution battle is on.

🫢 Meta allows ads saying 2020 election was rigged. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is stirring controversy by allowing political ads that question the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In a bid to appease free speech concerns, Meta's updated policy permits advertisers to claim past elections were "rigged" or "stolen." This shift, largely unnoticed, comes as part of a series of changes, including reducing organic political content on Facebook. Critics worry it could amplify misinformation and impact voter turnout in the 2024 election. The move also coincides with Meta's workforce layoffs, causing delays in election ad approvals.

HEALTH

Turns out, medical studies are too white

In the realm of medicine, a new trend is taking the spotlight, and it's not the latest fad diet or wonder drug. Instead, it's something that could actually make a difference: diversifying medical research. Historically whiter than a starched lab coat, medical research is finally getting a much-needed pigment infusion.

Enter initiatives that are as groundbreaking as they are overdue: engaging communities of color, setting up shop in diverse neighborhoods, and—get this—actually paying people for their time. Leading the charge is Dr. Carol Horowitz, who's taking medical devices back to the drawing board. She's redesigning devices like pulse oximeters for all skin tones after a collective face-palm moment where we realized they weren’t quite cutting it for Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients. It took a while, but hey, progress. Part of the team’s key findings:

• Ancestral genetics stole the spotlight, showing us just how much our roots influence disease risks and treatment reactions.

• African-American tumor studies are revealing mutations as unique as fingerprints, highlighting why one-size-fits-all is a no-go in the gene pool.

• Our DNA is as diverse as our Spotify playlists.

Big pharms joins the inclusivity party

In the wake of George Floyd's death and the racial justice reckonings, Big Pharma is rolling up its sleeves too. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are broadening their horizons, and their clinical trials, which is a win-win for drug development and the mosaic of patients they serve. But let's not sugarcoat it—convincing communities burned by medical missteps to jump into the research pool is no cakewalk. Trust is the currency, and it's earned in small, steady deposits.

Looking ahead…the journey to full representation in medical research is a marathon, not a sprint. And if we're really serious about crossing that finish line, the science of the future needs to reflect the society it's trying to heal. It's not just about better data—it's about building a fairer, healthier world for all.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• For the sixth year running, the Pentagon's ledger is more mystery than history, flunking an independent audit once again.

• UBS dodges a $2 billion bullet as the French Supreme Court partly overturns a hefty fine, while still confirming the bank's role in aiding tax evasion for wealthy clients.

• SpaceX has received approval from regulators to launch its Starship rocket for a second time, nearly seven months after the initial orbital flight test, which concluded with a dramatic mid-air explosion.

• Microsoft looks to free itself from the GPU shackles by designing it’s own custom AI chips.

• The House Select Committee wants answers from Apple's CEO Tim Cook on whether the discontinuation of "The Problem With Jon Stewart" on AppleTV+ is linked to China.

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