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It’s Thursday, May 16 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter:

• The latest Putin-Xi meetup

• The crew of the Dali still aboard the crashed ship

• 4 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

The Putin-Xi meetup

Putin and Xi Jinping met in Beijing for a Russia-China summit. Politico says their “bromance” signals a deepening alliance: They're showcasing a united front against Western pressures.

DW thinks the alliance was born of convenience, though: Xi and Putin want to offset The U.S.'s power on the world stage.

Newsweek: In fact, Putin's visit to China is borne out of necessity. The two leaders have mutual goals and needs, but their friendship has limits.

But an NYT Op says it's deeper than that: Post-Putin, Russia's future is tied to China, not the West. China's a huge player in Russia's economy and culture.

Either way, The Telegraph thinks the Putin-Xi meetup is a power play: Don't be fooled by their claims of “peace talks”.

Stuck on the Dali

Weeks after a tragic crash into Baltimore's bridge, the crew of the cargo ship Dali remains on board. CBC says it's due to ongoing investigations and the need to continue operating the vessel.

The BBC reports that they're facing a morale crisis. Their phones have been confiscated, and visa issues prohibit them from going ashore.

Their unions are worried that the crew's rights are being “infringed upon”: Without their phones they can't handle their personal affairs, including financial transactions.

The Dali may be “refloated” soon, reports CNN. But what happens to the crew after that is still uncertain.

Poll

1) "The Portal" art installation linking NY and Dublin closes in Dublin over misuse, but plans expansion.

2) Biden uses executive privilege on Hur audio, amid House GOP's push for impeachment inquiry.

3) Supreme Court upholds Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding, dismissing a conservative challenge.

4) GameStop and AMC see a downturn as the latest meme stock frenzy begins to wane.