Afghan Chaos & China Laws

Heyo, reader! We hope you’re having a good Wednesday morning!

2️⃣ This Morning’s Two Reports:

• 🚁 Generals Criticize State Dept. Over Afghanistan Evacuation Delay

• 🚔 Hong Kong Tightens Grip with New Security Law

📊 Market Snapshot

• DOW: 🔼 0.83% (39,110.76)

• S&P 500: 🔼 0.56% (5,178.51)

• NASDAQ: 🔼 0.39% (16,166.79)

• BTC: 🔼 1.32% (62,723.00)

• ETH: 🔼 1.71% (3,211.10)

📎 Market Clips

• The Federal Reserve is holding a policy session today (read our report to know what to expect)

• Stock Highlight: Shares of Fusion Pharmaceuticals soar, approaching a 100% increase

_{*Stock numbers as of market close, cryptocurrency as of 8:60pm EST yesterday. Source for Market Clips.}

First Report

🚁 Generals Criticize State Dept. Over Afghanistan Evacuation Delay

During a recent congressional hearing, retired Generals Mark Milley and Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the top military officials overseeing the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, voiced strong criticisms against the State Department for its delayed decision to evacuate U.S. citizens. They highlighted the direct consequences of postponing the noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO), which they believe led to the swift Taliban takeover and the chaotic final days of the U.S.'s longest war. Their testimonies shed light on the significant friction between the Defense and State Departments, with the military pushing for an early evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel in Kabul alongside the military forces, while facing challenges in coordinating with the U.S. Embassy on evacuation plans. This situation underscores the complexities and miscommunications that exacerbated the withdrawal process, revealing the deep divisions within the U.S. government's approach to ending its military presence in Afghanistan. 💥🇦🇫

TL;DR ⏳: Top U.S. generals blame the State Department for the chaotic and rushed evacuation from Afghanistan, underscoring significant governmental missteps.

Second Report

🚔 Hong Kong Tightens Grip with New Security Law

On Tuesday, Hong Kong's legislature unanimously passed a comprehensive new national security law, raising alarms among critics and analysts over the potential for this legislation to bring the city's legal landscape closer to that of mainland China. The law, introduced with unusual speed and without opposition in the Legislative Council, encompasses 39 new national security crimes, expanding the already considerable powers granted by the initial national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. This previous law had marked the beginning of a crackdown that saw political opponents jailed, civil society groups disbanded, and a significant shift in the city's ethos towards prioritizing patriotism over freedom. The new offenses, including treason, espionage, and unlawful handling of state secrets, carry severe penalties, with the gravest being life imprisonment. Critics argue these laws not only further erode Hong Kong's autonomy but also pose significant risks to the freedoms of its residents and the international business community, fearing a chilling effect on the city's once vibrant civil and economic spheres. 🇨🇳📷

TL;DR ⏳: Hong Kong enacts a sweeping new national security law, deepening fears of alignment with mainland China's oppressive policies.

📜 The Corner

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— It’s The Mix-up Team

⚡ Quick Hits

1. 🗳️ Track live updates on the 2024 US primary elections

2. ⚖️ Texas gets green light from Supreme Court to enforce immigration statute

3. 👮 Former Mississippi officers receive nearly 20-year sentences in torture case

4. 🏛️ Trump's legal team petitions US Supreme Court to drop election interference lawsuit

5. 📄 Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged with Covid vaccination record fraud

6. 🍽️ Blinken highlights Gaza's severe food crisis, urges Netanyahu to reconsider military strategies

7. 🇮🇱 Trump criticized for claiming Democrat-voting Jews 'hate Israel'

8. ✈️ JetBlue to discontinue service in 5 cities, cutting losses by axing unprofitable routes

9. 🚗 Newsom unveils clean car initiative with Stellantis in California

10. 🥤 Subway to switch from Coca-Cola to Pepsi products by 2025

Games

Fun Fact: Did you know? In Meghalaya, India, locals don't just cross bridges, they grow them! People there have mastered the art of guiding rubber tree roots across rivers, creating living, breathing bridges. Some of these leafy overpasses are over 500 years old, proving nature's construction beats human efforts by centuries! Next time your GPS says "Bridge ahead," you might want to specify: built or grown? 🌳🍃