SEC and Bitcoin Drama & Unrest Over Secret Tunnel in Synagogue

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

2️⃣ This Morning’s Two Reports:

• 🌐 Bitcoin SEC Drama Shakes Up Crypto World

• 🚨 Unrest in Brooklyn Synagogue Over Secret Tunnel

📊 Market Snapshot

• DOW: 🔽 0.42% (37,525.16)

• S&P 500:  🔽 0.15% (4,756.50)

• NASDAQ: 🔼 0.094% (14,857.71)

• BTC: 🔽 0.36% (45,923.40)

• ETH: 🔼 0.13% (2,347.91)

_{*Stock numbers as of market close, cryptocurrency as of 9:55pm EST yesterday.}

First Report

🌐 Bitcoin SEC Drama Shakes Up Crypto World

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) experienced a significant security breach when its Twitter account, @SECGov, was allegedly hacked. An unauthorized tweet erroneously announced the approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), leading to a temporary surge in Bitcoin's price before a sharp decline below $46,000. The SEC quickly refuted the tweet, emphasizing that the announcement was false and not made by any SEC staff. This incident occurs amid heightened anticipation in the cryptocurrency market, as the SEC is expected to make a pivotal decision on Bitcoin ETFs soon. The regulator has historically been cautious about cryptocurrencies, with SEC Chair Gary Gensler often voicing his skepticism and the commission actively pursuing legal actions against various crypto exchanges. The market's reaction to this misinformation underscores the volatile and sensitive nature of cryptocurrency investments and the significant impact of regulatory news. 💵 🔓

TL;DR ⏳: False SEC tweet on Bitcoin ETF approval causes brief market frenzy.

Second Report

🚨 Unrest in Brooklyn Synagogue Over Secret Tunnel

A historic synagogue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, became the epicenter of an unexpected conflict when a group of young men, part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, started an underground project. They clandestinely dug a tunnel, starting from an abandoned Jewish ritual bath, to expand the synagogue's sanctuary. This covert operation, using basic tools like shovels and pickaxes, went unnoticed until neighbors reported strange noises. The tunnel, stretching about 50 feet long, was discovered beneath the synagogue, leading to a significant uproar. NYPD intervened when the situation escalated as the young men tried to stop workers from sealing the tunnel, resulting in arrests and charges including criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. This incident has shaken the local community, highlighting tensions over religious space and tradition. 👮‍♂️ ⛏

TL;DR ⏳: Secret tunnel dug by young men under Brooklyn synagogue leads to arrests and community unrest.

⚡ Quick Hits

1. 🛡️ Defense secretary Lloyd Austin undergoes prostate cancer treatment

2. ❄️ Southeast winter storm results in 4 deaths, over 7 million on tornado watch

3. 🔍 Newly revealed documents implicate associates in Jeffrey Epstein case

4. 💥 Downtown Fort Worth, Texas explosion injures at least 21

5. 🥈 Polls indicate Haley in second place behind Trump in New Hampshire

6. 🚨 Ecuador faces ‘internal armed conflict’ amid gunmen's live TV takeover

7. 🚫 Facebook, Instagram restrict teens from accessing sensitive content

8. 🚗 Honda unveils 'Space-Hub' and 'Saloon' concepts in new EV teaser

9. 🍺 Miller Lite introduces beer mints for Dry January campaign

10. 🍏 Apple instructs developers to label AR, VR apps as 'spatial computing' for visionOS

Games

Fun Fact: Did you know? The first oranges weren't actually orange? That's right, they were green! Imagine the confusion at a green traffic light – "Go? No, wait, it's just an orange!" Nature truly had its own sense of humor, painting these citrus fruits in disguise. 🎨🍊