China & Taiwan War on Cards?

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What’s Hot. Wildfire smoke from Canada has sparked 'hazardous' air quality alerts in over a dozen U.S. states, leading to event cancellations and temporary grounding of airplanes. As international firefighters mobilize to combat Canada's wildfires, meteorologists anticipate the smoky haze will clear over the weekend. Residents are urged to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities

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🚨 SEC Moves to Freeze Binance US Assets Globally

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed an emergency motion in a Washington D.C. federal court, seeking to freeze the assets of Binance's U.S. platform over allegations of disregard for U.S. law. The order aims to preserve assets for any potential judgment and prevent the destruction of evidence. The freeze applies only to Binance’s U.S. entities and would necessitate the repatriation of customer fiat currency and crypto assets.

🎓 Biden Vetoes Bill Reversing Student Loan Relief

President Joe Biden vetoed the House Joint Resolution 45, which sought to repeal months of student loan payment forbearance and bar his proposed $20,000 debt forgiveness. Biden's action prevents potential backpay and interest charges for 40 million borrowers. Despite an agreement to not extend forbearance past September, Biden assured his commitment to making college affordable and offering relief to borrowers. Vetoed measure reportedly lacked sufficient votes for an override. Borrowers are advised to prepare for repayments to resume in September.

🤝 Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Holds Meeting 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to affirm their commitment to advancing Middle Eastern stability, security & prosperity. They discussed Yemen's peace efforts, human rights, economic cooperation & normalization of relations with Israel. This marks a rapprochement between US & Saudi Arabia following strained relations over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and fluctuating oil prices. Blinken also thanked the Crown Prince for aiding US citizens' evacuation from Sudan.

🛫 Taiwan Launches Air Defence Against Intruding Chinese Aircraft

Taiwan activated its defense systems in response to 37 Chinese military aircraft entering its air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The aircraft included J-11 and J-16 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers. Taiwan responded by monitoring with aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems. This comes amid a visit from Laura Rosenberger of the American Institute in Taiwan, who stated the US has an enduring interest in maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait.

🚀 NASA's Mission to the $10,000 Quadrillion Asteroid is a Go

NASA's delayed mission to the $10,000 quadrillion asteroid, 16 Psyche, is officially set to begin this fall, following significant progress and the addressing of an independent review board's recommendations. Launching from Kennedy Space Center, the spacecraft will journey 1.5 billion miles, assisted by a gravity boost from Mars in 2026, to reach the asteroid by August 2029, providing valuable insights into planetary formation and the interior of terrestrial planets.

🔬 OpenAI's GPT-5 Training on Hold, Announces Sam Altman 

OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman has confirmed that the company is not yet training GPT-5, echoing his earlier stance to pause development on AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. This follows concerns raised by industry leaders regarding rapid advancements in AI. Altman mentioned that the company is considering safety measures such as external audits and red-teaming before embarking on the new model and is actively engaging with lawmakers globally on potential AI abuses.

⚽ Messi Chooses MLS Over Barcelona, Heads to Miami

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is set to sign with Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and ending speculation about his future. Messi said, "If Barcelona didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight, and think more about myself." The deal includes creative financial arrangements with Apple and Adidas and is considered a significant victory for MLS. Despite this, MLS confirmed the deal is not yet complete.

🎥 SAG-AFTRA, Studios Initiate Media Blackout Amid Talks

SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began contract negotiations, agreeing to a media blackout throughout the process. Key demands include robust AI regulations, a better streaming residual formula, and self-taped audition restrictions. SAG-AFTRA members approved a potential strike post-June 30 if negotiations fail. The current contract expires on that date. Meanwhile, permits for film and TV are down 54.5% compared to the same week in 2022, likely due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.

🌳 NY Governor Offers 1 Million N95 Masks Amid Canadian Wildfires' Impact

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the distribution of one million N95 masks to New Yorkers due to the ongoing impact of Canadian wildfires on the state's air quality. Approximately 400,000 masks will be available at public distribution points across NYC, and an additional 600,000 masks will be distributed to local governments. Governor Hochul urged schools to cancel outdoor activities and residents to limit outdoor activities, stating, "Prolonged exposure to this harmful air will cause negative health impacts."

🏛️ House Republicans Withdraw Contempt Charge Against FBI Director Wray

House Oversight Committee Republicans have withdrawn a contempt charge against FBI Director Christopher Wray after the FBI allowed the committee access to a confidential document about an unverified tip concerning President Joe Biden. Chairman Rep. James Comer said, "Allowing all Oversight Committee members to review this record is an important step toward conducting oversight of the FBI and holding it accountable to the American people." This move is part of the continuing tension between Republicans and the FBI.

💳 Bill Challenging Visa-Mastercard 'Duopoly' Sparks Lobbying Frenzy

A bipartisan group led by Rep. Lance Gooden is pushing Credit Card Competition Act to foster competition in the credit card industry. The legislation mandates credit card issuers with assets over $100 billion to offer at least 2 network choices for transactions, one not owned by Visa/Mastercard. Gooden says it is to challenge Visa-Mastercard's "duopoly". Critics claim it serves big business interests & imposes price controls. Advocates counter that competition could save retailers & consumers $11 billion annually in lower fees. Visa/Mastercard haven't commented.

On this day in 1977, the world got a tad more 'Yeezy'. Kanye West, the beats maestro who turned the mic around, popped onto the scene. Boldly bridging production genius with lyrical prowess, this Gemini nudged boundaries and made Hip-Hop his own constellation. Happy Birthday, Kanye!

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