Trump may strengthen CFTC's control over crypto.
Brian Quintez, President Donald Trump's nominee for chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is set to testify before lawmakers as his nomination advances in the Senate. His role could significantly expand if the current legislation transferring oversight of cryptocurrencies to this agency becomes law.
The committee meeting will take place against the backdrop of the anticipated Senate review of the Digital Asset Market Clarification Act (CLARITY) following its passage in the House of Representatives.
The bill on the structure of the digital asset market is expected to give the CFTC more authority to regulate cryptocurrencies as part of the oversight shift currently conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Additionally, Quintez's potential confirmation before the U.S. financial regulator could completely reshape the commission's personnel following resignations and term expirations.
The European Union was unable to open the first cluster of negotiations on Ukraine's accession.
The European Union was supposed to open negotiations on the first cluster of Ukraine's accession on July 18, but this did not happen. This was reported by the president's commissioner for cooperation with the USA, Olga Stefanishina.
"We worked hard to ensure that on Friday, July 18, this decision [to open negotiations on the first cluster] would happen... But ultimately it became clear to us that this decision would not take place," she says. In Stefanishina's opinion, a key political element was lacking within the European Union.
The Russian Federation attacked Ukraine overnight with 426 drones and 24 missiles.
Air defense forces neutralized 424 drones; the vast majority of missiles were intercepted, with the rest suppressed by electronic warfare/location lost.
Darnytskyi district of Kyiv: a supermarket caught fire, and roofs of residential and non-residential buildings were damaged. There is at least one fatality;
Dniprovskiy district: trade kiosks and a kindergarten were burning;
Shevchenkivskyi district: fires in a residential building and the 'Lvivsky' residential complex;
Lukyanivska metro station: entrance damaged, smoke reported inside;
Kharkiv: overnight, 12 drone strikes were recorded, one of which was near a high-rise building. A fire broke out at a civilian enterprise;
Ivano-Frankivsk region: there are injuries from the strikes. Air defense was active, but in one village, houses were damaged: windows were shattered.
One person has died in Kyiv.
The majority of Germans oppose the ban on the AfD party.
According to a survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research, the majority of Germans oppose banning the 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD) party. The survey showed that 52% of Germans oppose the ban, while only 27% support it. The majority also report knowing supporters of the AfD personally — 67% in Western Germany and 88% in the East. While 54% consider the party far-right, only 5% view the views of these acquaintances similarly. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party is preparing for a potential legal challenge to ban the AfD party, which, according to a survey conducted last week, is supported by 25% of the population, just 2% less than the CDU/CSU.
Portugal is tightening immigration legislation.
Portugal has approved a major immigration reform. With the support of center-right and patriotic lawmakers, parliament has green-lighted measures that increase the requirements for obtaining residency permits, family reunification, and strengthen border control. Now, a decision from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is awaited, who has 20 days to either ratify or veto the bill.
Immigrants will now need to have at least two years of legal residence before applying for family reunification. Additionally, only minor family members who entered the country legally or are related to highly skilled workers will have the right to reunification. It is no longer sufficient to just have housing and a minimum income; housing must meet health and safety standards, and applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to avoid dependence on social assistance. A new requirement has also been introduced: basic knowledge of the Portuguese language and the constitutional values of the country. An even more ambitious proposal is scheduled for a vote in September: the abolition of the right to citizenship by birth for children of migrants.
The early warning system on Android phones has detected over 1000 earthquakes worldwide since 2021.
A study published on Thursday in the journal Science by Google engineers shows that global Android-based algorithms can detect early seismic activity and send appropriate alerts, the effectiveness of which is comparable to traditional ground-based seismic stations. Since 2021, the system has detected over 1000 earthquakes worldwide, sometimes warning people 15 seconds to a minute before the earthquake reaches their direction. The system operates using the phone's accelerometer, the same feature that rotates the phone's screen when it is turned. This sensor can also detect vibrations — even those occurring underground. When an earthquake begins, the phone's sensor can detect so-called P-waves, which many people cannot feel. When multiple phones simultaneously detect these vibrations, they send this signal and their location to Google's server. The algorithm assesses whether it is an earthquake by analyzing the characteristics of the signal, and the system decides whom to notify. The system officially began operating in 2021 and is now available in 98 countries. It is enabled by default on Android devices, provided that geolocation is turned on. Users can check if this feature is enabled in their phone settings. As of March 2024, the system has detected and issued alerts for 1279 events, with only three of them being false. Of those who received alerts, 85% said they felt shaking. About 36% received the alert before ground movements began, 28% during, and another 23% after the event. (WP)
The CEO of Astronomer resigns after the Coldplay concert scandal.
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned after a viral video showed him hugging Chief People Officer Christine Cabot at a Coldplay concert. It is unclear if Cabot will be replaced. She is currently on administrative leave pending an official investigation. The software development company became famous overnight due to the scandal and may use this momentum to introduce itself to a new B2B audience. (Axios)
News in brief
According to new regulations, in the Czech Republic, it is allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants at home and possess no more than 100 grams of the substance. One can carry up to 25 grams with them.
Germany, Britain, and France will discuss Iran's nuclear program.
The Security Service of Ukraine is conducting searches of certain detectives at NABU on suspicion of state treason.
Zelensky has imposed sanctions against Korolevska, Latinina, and Balashov.
Oleksandr Usyk knocked out British boxer Daniel Dubois.