Small Plane Crash in San Diego Neighborhood Causes Multiple Fires

Michael Smith, a North Carolina medical clinic owner, has been arrested as part of the first AI streaming fraud case in the U.S., accused of generating over $10 million through fraudulent means. According to federal prosecutors, Smith allegedly deployed software bots to artificially inflate stream counts of AI-generated music, leading to a reported billion streams but no actual fan engagement. Smith and collaborator Jonathan Hay released a jazz album, "Jazz," in 2018, which initially gained popularity but vanished from charts shortly after. Suspicion grew when analytics indicated a peculiar listening pattern concentrated in unexpected regions like Vietnam. Investigations revealed that Smith directed staff at his clinics to stream the tracks, resulting in streaming service flags for fraudulent activity. The Boston-based AI song generator Boomy, linked to Smith, produced thousands of tracks that were assigned to fictitious artists with bizarre names, further complicating the scheme. Smith pleaded not guilty, while Hay, who claims ignorance of the fraud, has cooperated with authorities and expressed relief at the investigation.

A bomb explosion outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2025, resulted in the death of 25-year-old Guy Bartkus, who allegedly had connections to antinatalism, an ideology opposing procreation. According to the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, Bartkus targeted the clinic in a calculated act of terrorism that injured five individuals and caused significant property damage. Investigators uncovered Bartkus’ online presence hinting at nihilistic beliefs, with writings suggesting he viewed himself as "anti-life." Notably, he expressed motivations to minimize human suffering, aligning with promortalist viewpoints. Officials noted that the attack was possibly motivated by Bartkus's rejection of life and pro-creation efforts, raising concerns about the influence of online nihilism on violent actions in the U.S. and Europe. This incident follows a report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) that links nihilistic ideologies to several violent acts and warns of a growing trend in the normalization of such beliefs among younger demographics, potentially signaling a need for preventive measures against similar future attacks.

Bitcoin reached an all-time high of over $111,000 on Thursday, continuing its remarkable bull run in 2025, despite declines in US stock markets, particularly the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Analysts attribute this surge to heightened institutional interest, with significant inflows into bitcoin investment products amounting to $557 million last week, raising year-to-date totals to $7.5 billion, according to Nexo Dispatch analyst Iliya Kalchev. Regulatory developments in the United States are also bolstering market confidence. The GENIUS Act, aimed at providing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, advanced in the Senate, potentially alleviating compliance concerns for cryptocurrency firms. Lane Rettig, head of research at Near Foundation, emphasized the importance of ensuring regulatory clarity without imposing excessive burdens on startups. Supply dynamics contribute significantly to Bitcoin's price rise, as reserves on centralized exchanges have dwindled to historic lows. Data from CryptoQuant indicates that 7,206 BTC were withdrawn from exchanges in the last 24 hours alone. With ongoing demand and reduced supply, analysts expect Bitcoin's rally may continue, with Standard Chartered forecasting prices could eventually reach $200,000.