Donald Trump’s social media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which owns Truth Social, has seen its significant stock market gains vanish due to a sharp sell-off. The company’s stock, which had surged earlier this year, dropped below $17 per share, erasing the remarkable gains it experienced since January. Although Trump holds a majority stake valued at $2 billion, this is a substantial decrease from its $4.9 billion value in March.

The financial performance of TMTG has been underwhelming, with the company generating only $4.13 million in revenue in 2023 while suffering a loss of $58.2 million. Additionally, Truth Social, the social media platform launched by TMTG, has shown sluggish growth.

Research indicates that the platform had just 7.7 million visits in March, a stark contrast to the 6.1 billion visits garnered by X (formerly Twitter) during the same period. Despite this, TMTG was valued at nearly $10 billion in the stock market in March.

Trump faces potential financial challenges due to ongoing civil trials, which could result in significant penalties, impacting his personal wealth. Nevertheless, Trump Media has dismissed any speculation that Trump might sell his shares in TMTG, asserting that there are no indications of such plans. Trump has also returned to X, after initially abandoning it following his ban, participating in a lengthy interview with Elon Musk.

The stock market surge of TMTG was fueled by its emergence as a “meme stock,” akin to other volatile stocks like GameStop. The company caught the attention of retail investors who drove up its stock price through a wave of online memes, many of which were circulated on Truth Social itself. This phenomenon led to a dramatic increase in trading volume for Digital World Acquisition Corp, the shell company set to merge with TMTG.

However, the excitement surrounding TMTG’s stock was short-lived. After Digital World and TMTG finally merged in March, the initial surge was followed by a rapid decline, reminiscent of the dramatic rises and falls seen with other meme stocks like GameStop and AMC Entertainment. This pattern underscores the volatility and risk associated with such stocks, which can experience explosive growth followed by significant crashes.

Oregon’s innovative 2020 drug decriminalization law, which was the first of its kind in the United States, officially ended on Sunday. This pioneering measure decriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs by reducing penalties to a ticket and a maximum fine of $100. The aim was to move away from punitive measures and instead focus on providing treatment and support for individuals struggling with drug addiction.

Starting Sunday, the new legal framework reclassifies the possession of personal-use quantities of illicit drugs as a misdemeanor. Offenders now face up to six months in prison, marking a return to more traditional criminal penalties. The revised law also includes stricter controls on public drug use and imposes harsher penalties for drug dealing in parks, indicating a tougher stance on drug-related offenses.

The new legislation, passed in March, revises the 2020 ballot measure that had been approved by 58 percent of Oregon voters. The original measure was intended to reform the criminal justice system and prioritize treatment over incarceration for drug users. Supporters had argued that imprisonment was ineffective in addressing drug abuse and that treatment should be the primary response.

Despite the good intentions, the execution of the 2020 law faced significant challenges. State auditors found that the system struggled to establish new addiction treatment programs, particularly in the face of the fentanyl crisis and ongoing COVID-19 disruptions. As a result, the state did not achieve the anticipated improvements in addiction services, prompting the shift back to more conventional legal approaches.

The new law aims to enhance treatment options by encouraging counties to create diversion programs for those apprehended for drug-related offenses. However, there are concerns that this approach could lead to disparities and confusion, as relying on counties to develop these programs may result in an uneven application of justice.

While $20 million in grants is being distributed to support these efforts, some leaders, like Republican Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich, worry that the rush to implement these programs could ultimately hinder their effectiveness and set individuals up for failure.

The long-awaited United Nations-led campaign to vaccinate children in Gaza against polio officially commenced on Sunday, following a preliminary distribution of vaccines to infants on Saturday.

The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has set an ambitious goal to immunize 640,000 children in Gaza, targeting over 90% of those under the age of 10. This large-scale vaccination effort is made possible by a series of temporary pauses in fighting agreed upon by Israel.

UNRWA, which plays a crucial role in Gaza, has been working to manage and facilitate the vaccination drive. However, there are significant challenges. Palestinian health officials have highlighted the necessity of a full ceasefire for the campaign to be successful, emphasizing that the virus can cross borders and reach any location.

Deputy Health Minister Yousef Abu Al-Reesh has stressed the need for international support and a lasting ceasefire to ensure that all targeted children can receive their vaccines safely.

The vaccination campaign is planned to occur in three phases, each spanning three days from September 1 to September 12. Despite the preparations, there are concerns about whether the Israeli military will uphold the agreed pauses in fighting. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are known for pursuing Hamas targets even during temporary ceasefires, raising doubts about the campaign’s smooth execution.

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has underscored the urgency of the campaign, calling for respect for the temporary pauses to reach the children in need. Similarly, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized the importance of peace for the success of the vaccination efforts, highlighting that the ultimate goal is to protect children through both vaccines and a lasting ceasefire.

The resurgence of polio in Gaza reflects the severe impact of ongoing conflict, as the virus reappeared in sewage samples earlier this year and a baby recently contracted the disease for the first time in 25 years.

Prior to the conflict, Gaza had nearly universal polio vaccine coverage, but this has now fallen below 90%. Polio, a highly infectious disease with no cure, primarily affects young children and can lead to severe health complications or death if not prevented through immunization.

As Asian markets begin the new trading month, investor sentiment is notably positive, buoyed by hopes for a ‘soft landing’ in the U.S. economy and a more dovish outlook from the Federal Reserve. This optimism is expected to enhance risk appetite and increase interest in emerging market assets.

The recent decline in the U.S. dollar, coupled with falling bond yields and a rebound in global equities, has eased financial conditions significantly, encouraging a cycle of growing investor confidence.

Recent U.S. economic data has been promising, with growth surpassing forecasts and inflation showing signs of easing. This backdrop, alongside an upcoming Fed easing cycle and a robust Q2 earnings season, suggests a favorable ‘Goldilocks’ scenario. However, there’s a cautionary note regarding the potential for complacency, as market volatility can still arise unexpectedly, reminiscent of the August 5 volatility shock.

China’s economic data for August, released in the form of the official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), revealed troubling trends. Factory activity has dropped to a six-month low, and deflationary pressures are increasing, highlighting a pressing need for stimulus.

Manufacturing activity has contracted for the fourth consecutive month, while service sector growth remains minimal. The composite PMI, at 50.1, indicates nearly stagnant economic conditions.

The forthcoming ‘unofficial’ Caixin PMI index is anticipated to show slight improvement, moving to 50.0 from 49.8, suggesting marginal growth in manufacturing. Additionally, PMIs from other Asian economies like Japan, India, Australia, and South Korea will be closely monitored. The yuan’s strength against the U.S. dollar is also notable, reflecting growing corporate demand and anticipated U.S. rate cuts.

Despite lighter trading volumes due to U.S. markets being closed for Labor Day, the overall financial environment remains supportive. Goldman Sachs reports that emerging market financial conditions are at their lowest in over a year, with U.S. and global conditions also at extended lows.

The S&P 500 and MSCI indices have shown strong performance, suggesting a generally positive outlook for Asian markets. Key developments to watch include August PMIs from China and Japan, Indonesia’s inflation data, and Australia’s Q2 company profits.

In August, South Korea experienced its 11th consecutive month of rising exports, though the growth rate slowed compared to previous months and fell short of market expectations. Exports increased by 11.4% year-on-year, reaching $57.90 billion. This was a deceleration from July’s 13.9% growth, which had been the fastest in six months, and also missed the anticipated 13.0% increase forecasted by economists.

The slowdown in growth was largely attributed to reduced demand for semiconductor exports, which hit a five-month low, and a continued decline in auto sales. The automotive sector faced challenges including wage negotiations and factory upgrades, contributing to a third straight month of sluggish performance.

Export performance varied by destination; while shipments to China grew at a slower rate, exports to the United States increased more rapidly. Notably, exports to the European Union surged by 16.1%, breaking a six-month streak of declines and setting a record high of $6.4 billion.

Despite the slower growth, South Korea’s exports are on track for a record-high performance for the year, according to Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun. Imports also rose by 6.0% in August, totaling $54.07 billion, slightly under the expected 6.3% increase. This resulted in a trade surplus of $3.83 billion, a slight improvement from July’s $3.60 billion surplus.

A recent study published in *Pediatrics* on August 6 highlights that sexual- and gender-minority (SGM) students have a higher prevalence of binge drinking compared to their peers.

This study, led by Meg D. Bishop, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland, analyzed data from nearly a million secondary school students who participated in the California Healthy Kids Survey between 2017 and 2019.

The study assessed binge drinking rates over the past 30 days among students of various grade levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientations or gender identities. The findings revealed that differences in binge drinking related to SGM status emerged early in secondary school, with certain subgroups of SGM students reporting significantly higher rates compared to their white, non-SGM counterparts.

Specifically, SGM adolescents belonging to minoritized racial and ethnic groups were found to have higher binge-drinking rates than their same-grade, white non-SGM peers. This suggests that the intersection of sexual orientation, gender identity, and racial or ethnic minority status may contribute to an increased risk of binge drinking among these students.

The study’s authors emphasize the need for developmentally and culturally appropriate prevention and intervention strategies to address these disparities.

They advocate for programs and policies developed in collaboration with community members, which focus on intersectional stigma, inclusive education, healthcare access, and cultural diversity within family contexts, as essential steps toward reducing the higher rates of binge drinking among SGM students.

Mark Boucot, president of Potomac Valley Hospital in Keyser, West Virginia, is preparing to install signs at his facility stating that committing a violent act against healthcare workers is a federal crime.

Boucot made this announcement during a press conference held by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). He expressed his readiness to display these signs as a step towards reinforcing protections for healthcare workers.

Several speakers at the press conference advocated for the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, also known as the SAVE Act. This proposed legislation aims to make it a federal crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, to physically assault a healthcare worker. The bill also includes provisions for exceptions related to disabilities and mandates a Government Accountability Office study on the law’s effectiveness.

Senator Joe Manchin, the bill’s chief sponsor, highlighted the need for similar federal protections for healthcare workers as those provided to workers in aviation and airport industries. He emphasized that the bill seeks to ensure minimum protections without overriding existing state laws. Despite a politically divided Congress, the bill has garnered substantial bipartisan support.

James Phillips, an emergency physician, highlighted the growing issue of violence in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments. He pointed out that the increase in violence is contributing to burnout among healthcare professionals and shared personal experiences of violence, including an incident where he was exposed to potential hepatitis C.

Boucot also noted that the rise in methamphetamine abuse is exacerbating violence against healthcare workers. He described incidents at his hospital involving physical assaults on staff, stressing that the current legal framework is inadequate. Chad Golder, general counsel for the AHA, agreed, arguing that a federal law would provide a more effective deterrent and centralized enforcement.

While awaiting the bill’s progress, hospitals are proactively addressing the issue through training programs. Indiana University Health West Hospital, for example, has implemented a “Handle With Care” program to teach staff de-escalation techniques and self-defense. Boucot’s hospitals have established a workplace violence task force to educate and reinforce the message that workplace violence is unacceptable.

The FDA uses warning letters to enforce compliance with regulations for regulated entities. These letters might not be publicly available for weeks or months following their issuance. Companies are given a 15-day window to respond, with the letters typically being sent only after the company has had an extended period—ranging from months to years—to resolve the issues.

Recently, the FDA issued a warning letter to Greenfruit Avocados LLC based in Newport Beach, California, on July 8, 2024. This action followed several inspections, the latest of which occurred from January 16-18, 2024.

The warning letter highlighted serious violations of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) regulations, which ensure that imported foods meet U.S. safety standards. Specifically, the FDA found that Greenfruit Avocados failed to properly evaluate and approve foreign suppliers and did not establish or adhere to written procedures for importing foods from these suppliers.

The key violations identified for Greenfruit Avocados included a lack of proper supplier approval and failure to establish written procedures. The company did not comprehensively evaluate the performance of its avocado growers, focusing only on packers, which is insufficient under FSVP regulations.

Additionally, Greenfruit Avocados did not have written procedures to ensure compliance with FSVP requirements and did not follow their own outlined procedures for evaluating suppliers.

In response, the FDA has requested Greenfruit Avocados to submit detailed corrective actions, including revised FSVP procedures and records of supplier evaluations.

If the company fails to address these issues adequately, it may face further enforcement actions, such as refusal of admission of its products into the U.S. market or detention without physical examination, which would prevent its products from being imported until compliance is demonstrated.

Similarly, Key Foods Co., operating as Key Food Services in Alsip, Illinois, received a warning letter from the FDA on June 27, 2024, following inspections conducted in April 2024 and April 2023. The FDA found that Key Foods Co. had failed to develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP for several imported food products.

This omission means the company did not perform the necessary risk-based activities to verify that these foods met U.S. safety standards. The FDA has required Key Foods Co. to take corrective actions by developing and implementing FSVPs for all imported foods and providing documentation to demonstrate compliance with FSVP requirements.

Nestle Canada Inc. is recalling certain Gerber brand baby cereals due to Cronobacter contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) discovered this contamination in the Oat Banana & Mango Baby Cereal, prompting the recall notice issued today.

The contaminated cereal was distributed in 227-gram containers across several provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. It is also possible that the cereal reached other provinces and territories.

The recall affects products marked with the UPC number 0 65000 13361 5 and the code 2025 MA 30 3334007809. The recall notice did not provide any images of the product. Currently, there have been no reported illnesses related to this contamination.

Consumers are urged to inspect their homes for the affected cereal and discontinue use immediately, as Cronobacter infections can be severe. The CFIA is conducting an investigation into the food safety issue and is ensuring that all recalled products are being removed from store shelves.

Heading into the Paris Games, American women’s soccer fans might be feeling uneasy due to recent developments. Last year, the US National Women’s Team experienced an unprecedented early exit from the World Cup, falling to Sweden in the Round of 16.

With key veterans like Alex Morgan and the retired Megan Rapinoe missing from the Olympic roster, there’s a sense of uncertainty about the team’s performance this year.

Despite these concerns, the team is under new leadership with coach Emma Hayes and features a roster brimming with fresh talent. Notably, 22-year-old Trinity Rodman has made a significant impact. Rodman’s remarkable extra-time goal against Japan helped propel Team USA to the semifinals, keeping their medal hopes alive.

Trinity Rodman is no stranger to the spotlight. Her father, Dennis Rodman, is a well-known NBA player famous for his rebounding skills and colorful personality. Though Rodman and her father have had a strained relationship, she acknowledges the influence of his athleticism and has expressed gratitude for the lessons learned from his public life.

Rodman’s soccer journey began early, and despite committing to UCLA, she never played in the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, she joined the Washington Spirit as the youngest player ever drafted into the NWSL, where she made an immediate impact, earning accolades like NWSL Rookie of the Year.

Her rise continued with the USWNT, where she made her debut in January 2022. Rodman’s first start for the national team was memorable but controversial, as a goal she scored was disallowed following a VAR review. Despite this setback, she has remained a prominent player for the team.

In addition to her soccer career, Rodman has ventured into writing. She co-authored a children’s book, “Wake Up and Kick It with Trinity Rodman,” which chronicles her journey in soccer and aims to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams.

Rodman’s personal life has also garnered attention. She recently revealed her relationship with Trinity Benson, an NFL free agent. Their shared first name has become a fun aspect of their public interactions, with Benson showing strong support for Rodman’s soccer career.

Off the field, Rodman has taken up pickleball, which she enjoys as a relaxing hobby that also helps her agility in soccer. Her next challenge is the semifinal match against Germany on August 6. Depending on the outcome, Team USA will either vie for the gold or bronze medal in the subsequent matches.

In Bangladesh, a series of bans have been implemented affecting popular messaging and social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The disruptions began on July 17, when mobile internet services were first disabled. The following day, broadband services were also shut down.

Between July 17 and July 31, restrictions extended to major social media platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp. On July 23, broadband services were partially restored, but mobile internet remained unavailable until July 28.

The most recent ban, which was announced on a Friday afternoon, targeted TikTok and YouTube, impacting mobile connections while broadband connections remained functional.

The primary reason behind these measures is the ongoing protests against a controversial quota system in Bangladesh. Students nationwide have been protesting against a reservation system that allocated 30% of government jobs to descendants of those who fought in the 1971 War of Independence.

Protesters argue that this system unfairly benefits supporters of the ruling Awami League party, which led the fight against Pakistan during the war. The protests have been intense and have resulted in over 200 deaths due to clashes with the police and groups affiliated with the ruling party.

After more than two weeks of unrest, the Supreme Court intervened and revised the quota system, reducing the reservation from 30% to 5%. The majority of government job seats, now 93%, will be allocated based on merit, while the remaining 2% are reserved for ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities.

Despite this legal adjustment, the protests continue as campaigners demand the release of individuals who have been unjustly imprisoned and the resignation of officers responsible for the violence.

The effectiveness of censorship as a response to such protests is debated. While censorship can prevent the spread of inflammatory content and reduce the potential for escalating violence, it also impedes the free flow of information and may infringe on citizens’ rights to free speech.

Countries with autocratic tendencies, like North Korea and China, often use censorship as a tool to maintain control. In Bangladesh, the current blackout reflects this approach, though it raises concerns about its impact on public discourse and access to information.

The duration and ultimate resolution of the bans in Bangladesh remain uncertain. As the situation evolves, the balance between maintaining public order and respecting democratic freedoms will continue to be a contentious issue.

The ongoing nature of the protests and the government’s response highlight the complex interplay between state control and civil liberties in times of social unrest.

Mickle, a prominent figure in the XRP community, forecasts that imminent U.S. cryptocurrency regulations could trigger a dramatic increase in XRP’s value. He suggests that these regulations, which are expected to be announced soon, might result in a staggering 1,000X rise in XRP’s price.

This prediction comes amidst a growing political focus on cryptocurrency as the U.S. election season approaches, with potential implications for how the market and regulations could evolve.

As the election season nears, the crypto community has garnered significant attention from presidential candidates, recognizing its potential impact on the election. Candidates have started to engage with the crypto sector, acknowledging its influence in the political landscape.

This shift is partly driven by the evolving stance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on cryptocurrency regulations.

The SEC has recently shown a more accommodating approach towards cryptocurrencies. It has approved spot Ethereum ETFs and previously approved Bitcoin ETFs, signaling a change in regulatory stance.

Additionally, the SEC concluded its investigation into Paxos Trust Company regarding BUSD without pursuing further legal action. The SEC has also retracted its previous assertions that certain coins are securities in its ongoing cases against Binance and Coinbase.

Mickle’s prediction on July 31 hints at a major shift in U.S. politics that could benefit top cryptocurrencies, including XRP. He points to historical patterns in XRP’s price movements, highlighted by narrow Bollinger Bands, which often precede significant price surges.

Based on this analysis, Mickle anticipates a substantial rally for XRP, projecting a potential 1,000X increase that could drive the coin’s price to $582.

While Mickle’s forecast is ambitious and suggests an extraordinary increase in XRP’s market capitalization, which would surpass both Gold and Bitcoin, some in the crypto community view this target as highly unrealistic.

Despite the skepticism, Mickle’s prediction reflects a strong belief in the potential for substantial growth, driven by the anticipated changes in the regulatory and political landscape.

Coinbase faces allegations of breaching U.S. campaign finance laws due to a significant donation to a super political action committee (PAC). The controversy centers on Coinbase’s $25 million contribution to the Fairshake PAC in May 2024, a donation that came during the period when Coinbase was in discussions for a federal contract with the U.S.

Marshals Service (USMS). Critics, including crypto critic Molly White, argue that the timing of the donation suggests a potential attempt by Coinbase to influence the contract award process.

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, has publicly refuted these claims, asserting that the company is not a federal contractor and thus not subject to the specific campaign finance regulations cited.

Grewal’s response, made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasized that Coinbase’s status as a non-federal contractor exempts it from the 11 Code of Federal Regulations 115.1 clause, which pertains to federal contractors making political donations.

White’s report also highlighted that the USMS selected Coinbase Prime for providing advanced trading services and custody for Class 1 digital assets based on Coinbase’s reputation and security track record.

The USMS contract, which began after Coinbase’s substantial donation to Fairshake, has fueled suspicions about potential impropriety, particularly given the timing of the donation.

The Fairshake PAC, which promotes pro-crypto political candidates, received considerable financial support from Coinbase.

This included a $5 million donation in November 2023, $15.5 million in December 2023, and the latest $25 million donation in May 2024. The donation’s timing, coinciding with Coinbase’s bid for the USMS contract, has led to concerns about whether the donation was intended to secure favorable treatment.

In response to these allegations, Grewal clarified that the USMS’s payments to Coinbase come from the Asset Forfeiture fund, derived from the sale of forfeited property rather than direct federal appropriations.

Grewal’s clarification aims to counter claims that the donation was an attempt to influence the federal contract process and asserts that Coinbase’s actions are compliant with campaign finance laws.

Character AI, an AI avatar company founded in 2022, is forging a significant partnership with Google. The startup announced that it will license its large language model (LLM) technology to Google, which will result in increased funding for Character AI.

This financial boost will allow Character AI to expand its operations and concentrate on developing personalized AI products for users globally.

As part of the agreement, Character AI’s co-founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, along with some research team members, will transition to Google. Despite this shift, the majority of Character AI’s employees will stay with the company. Dominic Perella, the company’s general counsel, will step in as the interim CEO, ensuring continuity in leadership.

Character AI plans to leverage Google’s LLMs to enhance its post-training capabilities and focus on creating innovative products. The company’s blog post highlights its intention to invest in developing new tools and applications for its users while adapting to the evolving AI landscape with more readily available pre-trained models.

Founded in 2022, Character AI gained significant attention and valuation, reaching $1 billion by March 2023 following a $150 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company initially built its AI avatars using its own models through a comprehensive approach that included pre-training and deployment.

Recent developments in the AI industry, such as Meta’s decision to discontinue its celebrity AI chatbots, have underscored the shifting landscape. Google and Character AI have not disclosed specific details about their agreement, and it remains unclear if the arrangement resembles an acquisition or acqui-hire. Notably, Character AI has been previously involved in potential acquisition talks, including rumored interest from Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI.

A new Android malware named BingoMod has been identified, which poses a significant threat by not only stealing money but also erasing all data from infected devices. This malware can steal up to 15,000 EUR per transaction and is currently active.

It was discovered by the Cleafy TIR team in late May 2024. The malware’s authors are reportedly focusing on developing more obfuscation techniques, indicating that they might be relatively inexperienced compared to more seasoned malware creators.

BingoMod is distributed through SMS phishing schemes where it masquerades as legitimate mobile security tools. It disguises itself with names such as WebsIndfo, InfoWeb, WebSecurity, App Protection, or Antivirus Cleanup to trick users into installing it.

Once installed, the malware requests access to “Accessibility Services,” which grants it extensive control over the device, including the ability to execute remote commands.

The malware’s functionalities include over 40 remote commands, such as screen monitoring, keylogging, and screenshot capture. After installation, BingoMod employs techniques like Account Takeover (ATO) and Device Fraud (ODF) to intercept messages, steal login credentials, and bypass bank authentication processes.

It is also designed to evade behavioral detection methods used by banks, making it difficult for traditional fraud detection systems to catch suspicious activities.

In addition to stealing financial information, BingoMod has a destructive component—it wipes all data from the infected device after completing its theft. This deletion of data is intended to prevent forensic analysis and hinder security experts from detecting and understanding the malware’s operations.

The malware also has the capability to block certain apps, including security apps, rendering them ineffective against the infection.

The malware’s authors are believed to be Romanian, based on their use of English, Romanian, and Italian in their phishing attempts. However, beyond this linguistic clue, little else is known about them.

The Cleafy TIR report notes that BingoMod exhibits common features of Remote Access Trojans (RATs), including remote control capabilities and SMS suppression, highlighting its effectiveness and the challenges in combating it.

Ethereum ($ETH) has traditionally lagged behind Bitcoin ($BTC) in prominence, primarily due to Bitcoin’s reputation as digital gold and a store of value. However, the recent launch of Ethereum ETFs on July 23 has the potential to shift this dynamic.

Unlike Bitcoin’s more straightforward value proposition, Ethereum’s primary strength lies in its ability to power decentralized applications (dApps) and decentralized finance (DeFi) through smart contracts, which could enhance its appeal among investors and users alike.

The introduction of $ETH ETFs has been met with considerable enthusiasm. In just one day following their launch, Ethereum ETFs achieved a trading volume of $1 billion, and this figure surged to $2.6 billion at its peak. This rapid uptake indicates strong investor interest and confidence in Ethereum’s potential.

Analysts, such as Katalin Tischauser from Sygnum Bank, project that Ethereum ETFs could accumulate $10 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) within their first year, further reflecting the growing institutional interest in Ethereum-based investments.

This burgeoning interest is supported by the early success of Blackrock’s $118 million inflow into its $ETH ETF, which surpasses the $74.9 million inflow into its Bitcoin ETF. This is notable as it marks the first time Ethereum ETFs have outperformed their Bitcoin counterparts in terms of initial investment.

The success of Ethereum ETFs can be attributed to Ethereum’s unique programmable blockchain and smart contract capabilities, which provide a broad range of functionalities beyond what Bitcoin’s Lightning Network can offer.

In contrast, the Lightning Network—Bitcoin’s second-layer solution designed to enhance transaction speed and scalability—has seen substantial growth but does not fundamentally alter Bitcoin’s core functionality.

While the Lightning Network has improved Bitcoin’s transaction capabilities and integration across popular exchanges, it remains a layer added to Bitcoin’s original design. Ethereum’s inherent flexibility, on the other hand, allows for more complex financial operations directly through its smart contracts, offering a more versatile approach to financial transactions and applications.

Looking ahead, Ethereum ETFs could play a significant role in shaping the future of finance by leveraging Ethereum’s broad utility and smart contract capabilities. With only 10% of Ethereum’s supply currently available on exchanges, a surge in demand could notably impact Ethereum’s price.

Although Bitcoin will likely retain its status as a digital store of value, Ethereum’s diverse applications make it a strong contender for broader adoption in financial operations, positioning it as a more practical choice for various financial activities.

A new study led by Gregory Gray, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch, suggests that more livestock workers have been infected with bird flu than previously reported.

The study, which is pending publication in a leading infectious disease journal, highlights significant gaps in current surveillance systems. Gray emphasized that the underreporting of bird flu cases among farmworkers poses a risk to public health, as it could delay the detection of a more contagious virus strain.

Health officials may not promptly notice an increase in bird flu contagion due to the underreporting of cases. The U.S. government’s flu surveillance system would respond to a large surge of infections beyond farmworker communities, but such a response might come too late to effectively contain the virus. Gray stressed the urgency of addressing the issue, noting that bird flu is not simply disappearing on its own.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bases its decisions on the current surveillance data, which has led to a conservative approach regarding bird flu vaccinations for farm workers.

Despite having vaccines available, the CDC has not offered them to farmworkers, citing a low number of reported cases. However, Gray’s study challenges the accuracy of these reported numbers, suggesting that many infections go undiagnosed and unreported.

Gray’s research stands out as it focuses on undiagnosed infections among workers exposed to sick dairy cattle. The study involved blood sample analysis from 14 farmworkers at two Texas dairy farms with bird flu outbreaks. The findings revealed antibodies in two workers, indicating a prior infection rate of nearly 15%. This rate is significant given the large number of dairy farms affected by bird flu outbreaks across multiple states.

The study’s results align with the suspicions of Richard Webby from the World Health Organization, who believes that the official count of human bird flu cases is an underrepresentation.

The findings bring fresh urgency to addressing the lack of testing and undiagnosed ailments among farm workers and veterinarians. The CDC has warned about the potential for the bird flu virus to swap genes with seasonal flu, which could result in a highly transmissible human strain.

Despite no current evidence of such gene swapping and the rarity of asymptomatic bird flu cases, the study’s findings highlight the need for increased testing and surveillance among farm workers.

Challenges such as precarious employment and lack of health insurance complicate these efforts. Without better surveillance and cooperation between the government and livestock industry, the U.S. risks remaining uninformed about the true extent of bird flu infections.

Communication breakdowns further exacerbate the issue, as evidenced by a Colorado dairy worker who sought medical care for eye irritation but was not tested for bird flu.

Many farm workers are unaware of bird flu and lack the necessary protective gear. Financial constraints and fear of retaliation from employers also prevent workers from seeking medical care, making it difficult to identify the cause of their symptoms without proper testing.

The CDC’s current flu surveillance system, which monitors hospital visits and patient samples, has not detected any significant anomalies related to bird flu. However, experts like Samuel Scarpino warn that this system may miss emerging health threats that start with a small number of infections. By the time a significant number of cases are detected, it could be too late to control the virus effectively, echoing the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers caution that the H5N1 bird flu virus has evolved to become more infectious to mammals, including humans. The virus is mainly spreading through milk and milking equipment, and there are troubling signs of it spreading inefficiently through the air in laboratory settings. Observations from Gray’s study and other research underline the need for improved surveillance to make informed decisions rather than relying on guesswork.

The Minister for Law and Institutional Reform, Azalina Othman Said, announced that Malaysia is working on legislation for a new ‘internet kill switch’ aimed at enhancing digital security, expected to be presented to parliament by October.

This kill switch would allow authorities to quickly cut off access to certain websites or online services to prevent cybercrimes such as financial fraud, bullying, sexual harassment, and child abuse. The details of what content would be blocked and under what conditions the kill switch would be activated were not disclosed.

Minister Azalina emphasized the initiative’s goal of encouraging social media apps and internet messaging providers to improve their security measures. The misuse of these platforms by criminals has become a significant concern, and the kill switch is seen as a means to combat these issues effectively.

Additionally, the government is exploring amendments to better define and classify cyberbullying, which will help in crafting appropriate measures to address it.

In conjunction with this initiative, Malaysia will host a conference in September to discuss online dangers, featuring academics and former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen.

The conference aims to bring attention to the severity of these issues and explore potential solutions. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that social media and online messaging platforms with over 8 million Malaysian users must obtain a license by January 1, 2025, or face legal consequences. This regulation extends existing licensing requirements under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While some view the measures as necessary for protecting internet users, international human rights organization Article 19 and 66 partner organizations criticized the move as an abuse of power.

They argue that such government intervention could stifle social media and hinder democratic participation, expressing concerns that it may be used as a political tool to censor and exert pressure on social media channels.

The controversy reflects ongoing tensions between the need for online safety and the risks of overreach by authorities. As Malaysia moves forward with these initiatives, balancing security and freedom of expression will be crucial in shaping the country’s digital landscape and ensuring that measures to combat cybercrime do not infringe on civil liberties.