Mega Million hits One billion

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What’s Hot? Mega Millions jackpot hit $1.05 billion after no winner was drawn on Friday, marking the 5th time the prize has reached such a sum. This comes after a recent $1.08 billion Powerball win in Los Angeles. Mega Millions draw will take place on Tuesday with an estimated lump sum of $527.9 million up for grabs, prior to tax.

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🚫 SEC asked to Halt All Coinbase Trading Except Bitcoin, CEO Reveals

US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) recommended Coinbase to halt trading in all cryptocurrencies excluding Bitcoin before suing the exchange. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed the SEC's stance: "We believe every asset other than Bitcoin is a security." Armstrong argued that accepting this would threaten the US crypto industry, necessitating all to register with the commission. The crypto oversight has been a grey area, with SEC pushing for wider authority.

🏦 Fed Fuels Hope for a Smooth US Economic Descent

Despite the Federal Reserve's 11 interest rate increases, economists believe that the U.S. can avoid a recession, given the persistent strong growth and slowing inflation. Recently, data shows inflation cooling to 4.1%, the lowest level since October 2021. While the Fed aims to return to a 2% inflation target, analysts suggest a landing closer to 2.6 or 2.7% could be sufficient without significant job losses. The economic strength has boosted U.S. markets with the S&P 500 almost 20% up year-to-date.

🌍 Poland Raises Alarm: Russian Wagner Forces Nearing Border

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has warned that around 100 Russian Wagner mercenaries are moving closer to Poland's border via Belarus. Morawiecki suggests the mercenaries could pose as Belarusian border guards to facilitate illegal migration. He sees this as a step towards a "further hybrid attack on Polish territory." Poland, along with Lithuania and Latvia, may jointly decide to shut their borders with Belarus should incidents with Wagner mercenaries occur.

💥 Pakistan Political Rally Suicide Bombing: 44 Dead, Almost 200 Injured

A suicide bombing at a political rally in Pakistan's former militant stronghold, Bajur, resulted in at least 44 deaths and nearly 200 injuries. The attack targeted the supporters of hard-line cleric Fazlur Rehman's party, Jamiat Ulema Islam, with Islamic State as the potential suspect. The bombing, seen as an attempt to divide Islamists, is one of Pakistan's deadliest in recent years.

🌌 This Week's Night Sky: Supermoon, Saturn's Rings, and 'Lost' Stars

August 2023 boasts two "supermoons," named the "Sturgeon Moon" and "Blue Moon," making it the month with two full moons due to the lunar year's 354 days versus the solar year's 365.24 days. These moons will be the closest and brightest of the year, though the difference is hard to discern. Moreover, August 1 is celebrated as Lammas, marking the astronomical midpoint between June's solstice and September's equinox.

🔍 Scientists Uncover Loopholes in AI Chatbot Security Protocols

Carnegie Mellon researchers have revealed that it's possible to bypass the safety protocols of AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, allowing them to generate harmful content. New forms of automated "jailbreaks" enable virtually unlimited adversarial attacks on chatbots. The findings heighten concerns about the safety of AI models, especially as autonomous applications increase. Companies like OpenAI are already working to bolster defenses against such attacks.

🎬 SAG-AFTRA Upholds Indie Productions' Crucial Role in Strike Plan
SAG-AFTRA has allowed over 100 independent productions to film amid a strike, a move that has been criticized by members like Sarah Silverman and Viola Davis. However, the union claims these interim agreements are a "vital part" of the strike strategy. Such agreements require producers to agree to SAG-AFTRA's proposed terms, including a 2% streaming revenue payment to the cast, making AMPTP platform distribution "unfeasible."

🎤 Cardi B Drops Mic as Fan Hurls Drink Onstage
Cardi B retaliated after an audience member threw a drink at her during a performance in Las Vegas, continuing a concerning trend of concertgoers throwing objects at performers. This event follows similar incidents involving Bebe Rexha, Kelsea Ballerini, and Harry Styles. These incidents have sparked a conversation about the safety of performers on stage, with artists urging fans to respect the performers and prioritize safety.

✈️ Four Fatalities in Separate Crashes Precede Oshkosh Air Show

Four people were killed and two injured in separate aviation accidents in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during the AirVenture convention. A vintage military craft crashed into Lake Winnebago, killing two, while a midair collision between a RotorWay 162F helicopter and an ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter resulted in two more fatalities and two injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the causes of both accidents.

🏛️ Trump's PAC Allocates Over $40M for Legal Battles Amid Indictments

Former President Donald Trump's PAC, Save America, has spent over $40 million on legal fees in H1 2023, twice its 2022 total. The PAC funds legal defenses for Trump and his associates amid increasing legal challenges. Trump’s team is also launching the Patriot Legal Defense Fund to offset costs. The spending comes as Trump faces new charges over mishandling classified documents and ongoing investigations into business fraud and voter fraud claims.

🔥 Phoenix Prolongs Heat Record, Washington Wildfire Crosses Into Canada

Phoenix, Arizona experiences its 31st consecutive day of temperatures above 110°F amid increasing wildfires across the US and Canada. These fires have been fueled by human-induced climate change and have burned an unprecedented 31 million acres of land in Canada this season alone. The extreme heat wave is impacting low-income residents lacking air conditioning, while wildfires continue to force mass evacuations and endanger millions' air quality.

🛍️ Walmart Acquires Tiger Global's $1.4B Stake in Flipkart: WSJ

Walmart Inc. purchased Tiger Global Management's remaining stake in Indian retailer Flipkart for $1.4 billion, increasing its ownership to about 77%. The transaction, valuing Flipkart at $35 billion, provided liquidity to Tiger Global's investors and marked a successful exit for the firm, which invested in Flipkart in 2009. Tiger Global stated, "We are grateful for our partnership with the Flipkart team and for the opportunity to invest in the company through early chapters in its growth."

On July 31, 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin made an unscheduled pit stop during their lunar drive, discreetly collecting the valuable "Seatbelt Rock". The lunar rovers used in Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions not only ingrained American automotive culture on the moon but also broadened the scientific exploration capabilities of the astronauts, solidifying it as a symbol of the Apollo era.

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