This week in the news | 15 June 24
News from the past week, and a few other things.
👋 Hello Reader, I hope you had a great week.
Below you’ll find the “quick shot”—a supercharged summary of summaries, followed by the “slow brew”—longer summaries with select graphics, and comments from me.
THE QUICK SHOT 🚀
A supercharged summary of summaries
A lock icon (🔒) indicates articles behind a paywall, and a chart icon (📊) indicates an informative chart/graphic in “Slow Brew.”
World
G7 leaders are meeting in Italy to discuss global issues, including conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza (BBC News). The G7 agreed to use frozen Russian assets to fund a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, while President Biden and President Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security deal (BBC) 📊.
North America
Eight suspected terrorists with potential ties to ISIS were arrested in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, having crossed into the US through the southern border (NBC News). A flotilla of Russian warships, including a nuclear submarine, passed near Florida on their way to Cuba, tracked by the US Navy and Coast Guard (NY Post). Hunter Biden was convicted of lying about his drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been convicted of criminal charges (WSJ🔒). Commercial shipping traffic has resumed at the Port of Baltimore after a cleanup effort following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (AP).
Latin America
China is constructing a megaport in Chancay, Peru, which could significantly boost trade between Asia and South America, challenging US influence in the region (WSJ🔒) 📊.
Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron has called a snap parliamentary election after losing to far-right candidates in the European elections, marking a significant shift in the EU Parliament towards center-right parties (BBC). Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered a cease-fire in Ukraine, contingent on Ukraine withdrawing troops from regions claimed by Russia and abandoning its NATO aspirations (NYT🔒). Ukraine is recruiting inmates to serve in its military as it faces a shortage of troops (WSJ🔒). An armada of old tanker ships, many registered under obscure flags, is moving sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil, raising environmental and safety concerns (WSJ🔒).
Middle East
Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas face significant challenges, with disagreements over hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza (AP News). An ambitious floating aid pier off Gaza collapsed shortly after being constructed, complicating aid delivery efforts (WSJ 🔒) . Hezbollah launched 215 rockets at northern Israel following the killing of a senior commander by an Israeli airstrike (Times of Israel). Benny Gantz has left Israel’s war cabinet, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict (WSJ 🔒).
Africa
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River, the largest in Africa, is causing concern for downstream countries Egypt and Sudan due to potential impacts on water resources (WSJ 🔒) 📊. High-level Russian officials are meeting with African partners to strengthen military and economic ties, enhancing Russia's influence on the continent (Critical Threats) 📊.
Government
The U.S. Postal Service’s $40 billion overhaul is facing challenges, including overwhelmed sorting centers and pushback from employees and union leaders (WSJ) 📊.
Economy
Federal Reserve officials expect only one interest rate cut this year despite recent progress in reducing inflation (VOA) 📊. Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly turning to vocational training and blue-collar jobs, with skilled trades becoming popular on social media (WSJ🔒).
Business
Sony Pictures is acquiring Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a move that could revitalize the theater chain (NYT🔒). De Beers faces challenges as diamond prices fall to 2003 levels and lab-grown diamonds gain popularity (WSJ🔒). Colorado’s marijuana market is experiencing a downturn, affecting local businesses and state tax revenues (Politico).
Energy
Bill Gates is investing over $1 billion in TerraPower to develop a smaller, cheaper nuclear reactor, though the project faces regulatory and logistical challenges (NYT🔒).
Auto
Tesla shareholders have approved Elon Musk's compensation package, but legal challenges to the stock-option deal remain (WSJ🔒). Auto insurers are using data from automakers and apps to monitor driving behavior, raising privacy concerns (NYT🔒). The European Union plans to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, despite opposition from European automakers (WSJ🔒) .
Real Estate
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to limit the powers of homeowners’ associations, reducing fines and increasing transparency (Florida Politics) 📊.
Technology
Apple is integrating AI into its devices and partnering with ChatGPT to improve its virtual assistant Siri (AP) 📊.
Life
The Supreme Court has rejected an effort to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, preserving its availability (WSJ🔒). Gen Z and Millennials are moving away from dating apps and attending more live singles events (WUSA9). Researchers in China report feeling compelled to commit research misconduct due to job pressures (Nature) 📊. The rise of xylazine in the illicit drug supply is leading to severe health issues and amputations among users (WSJ🔒). The term "brainrot" describes the effects of excessive consumption of low-value internet content (NYT 🔒).
For Fun
Joey Chestnut has been banned from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest after partnering with a vegan brand (BBC). Drew Carey was stunned as a contestant on The Price Is Right made show history with a winning bid in the Showcase Showdown that was off by only one dollar (NY Post).
THE SLOW BREW ☕
A more relaxed approach to the summaries.
World
G7 leaders meet in Italy with Ukraine and Gaza on agenda (BBC)
Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni is welcoming leaders of the world's seven richest nations at the G7 summit in Italy. Representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US will discuss issues including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The G7 summit will also involve leaders from Africa and the Indo-Pacific region, and will discuss economic co-operation with developing countries. The group cannot pass laws. However, some of their past decisions have had global effects, including backing a deal in 2021 to tax multinational companies. This year, the summit is expected to agree a plan to use frozen Russian assets to raise billions of dollars for Ukraine.
G7 agrees $50bn loan for Ukraine from Russian assets (BBC)
The G7 has agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise $50bn (£39bn) for Ukraine to help it fight invading Russian forces. US President Joe Biden said it was another reminder to Russia "that we're not backing down", but in Moscow President Vladimir Putin said the move was "theft" which would "not go unpunished". Also at the G7 summit in Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Biden signed a 10-year bilateral security deal between Ukraine and the US, hailed by Kyiv as "historic". The agreement envisages US military and training aid to Ukraine - but it does not commit Washington to send troops to fight for its ally. According to the White House, the security deal means Washington and Kyiv will work to build and maintain Ukraine's defence and deterrence capability, bolster the country's defence industrial base, and support economic recovery and energy security.
Share of Population that is Foreign-born (NYT🔒) 📊
In nearly every large Western country, the foreign-born share of the population has risen sharply since 1990.
North America
8 suspected terrorists with possible ISIS ties arrested in New York, L.A. and Philadelphia, sources say (NBC News)
Eight men from Tajikistan with potential ties to ISIS out of central Asia were arrested over the weekend in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News on Tuesday. The suspects had been on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force radar and were arrested by personnel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, the sources say. All eight men crossed through the southern border into the U.S., and their criminal backgrounds checks came back clean when they crossed, say two officials familiar with the matter. At least two of the men crossed the border in spring 2023, and one of those men used the CBP One app, which the Biden administration created to allow migrants to book appointments to claim asylum, those officials say.
Coast Guard, Navy track Russian ships on ‘long-distance missions’ sailing near Florida en route to Cuba (New York Post)
A flotilla of Russian warships passed within hailing distance of Florida’s eastern coastline Tuesday, with the US Navy and Coast Guard following close behind, according to open-source maritime and air tracking information. The Russian flotilla, which includes the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, tanker Akademik Pashin, rescue tug Nikolai Chiker and nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, is expected to make a port visit to Havana Wednesday through Monday.
Hunter Biden Convicted in Gun Case (WSJ🔒)
Hunter Biden was found guilty Tuesday of falsely claiming to be drug-free when applying to buy a handgun six years ago, adding to his family’s personal turmoil as his father President Biden campaigns for re-election. The younger Biden, 54 years old, was convicted of three felony counts by a federal jury, which deliberated for about three hours over two days in a case that exposed the turmoil Hunter’s addiction caused in the Biden family. He is the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of criminal charges. The jury found that when Hunter bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018, he lied on a federal form by checking a box to say he wasn’t addicted to or using drugs at the time. During a week of trial proceedings, jurors heard about his yearslong struggle to stay sober, including evidence that he bought and used drugs in the weeks before and the days after he purchased the firearm from a gun shop in his hometown of Wilmington.
Traffic resumes through Baltimore’s busy port after $100M cleanup of collapsed bridge (AP)
Authorities anticipate commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore will soon return to normal levels since the channel fully reopened earlier this week for the first time since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. “They are back open for business, ready to bring in the largest container ships that call there,” U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said during a virtual press briefing Tuesday afternoon. Some shipping companies rerouted their cargo to other ports following the deadly bridge collapse in March. The disaster halted most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s busy port as crews worked around the clock to clear an estimated 50,000 tons of fallen steel and concrete from the Patapsco River — a roughly $100 million effort that involved federal, state and local agencies, officials said. Crews were able to reopen portions of the deep-draft channel in phases, restoring some commercial traffic in recent weeks. Some cruise ships and large container ships have already passed through, officials said.
Latin America
A New Chinese Megaport in South America Is Rattling the U.S. (WSJ🔒) 📊
In this serene town on South America’s Pacific coast, China is building a megaport that could challenge U.S. influence in a resource-rich region that Washington has long considered its backyard. The Chancay deep-water port, rising here among pelicans and fishermen in small wooden boats, is important enough to Beijing that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to inaugurate it at the end of the year in his first trip to the continent since the pandemic. Majority-owned by the giant China Ocean Shipping group, known as Cosco, Chancay promises to speed trade between Asia and South America, eventually benefiting customers as far away as Brazil with shorter sailing times across the Pacific for everything from blueberries to copper. As nations around the world shudder at a new flood of cheap Chinese manufactured goods, the port could open new markets for its electric vehicles and other exports. China is already the top trade partner for most of South America.
Europe
Europe's night of election drama capped by Macron bombshell (BBC)
France's President Emmanuel Macron has called a bombshell snap parliamentary election after being defeated by the far right in the European elections - in a night of drama that overall saw the centre-right tighten their grip on the EU Parliament. Mr Macron made the announcement after losing to his rivals Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella and their National Rally party. France’s result was one of the big gains that Europe’s far-right parties had expected, and confirmation came with all the exit polls giving National Rally more than 30% of the vote, double that of Mr Macron’s centrist Renaissance party. But beyond France, the broader story of Europe's four-day vote marathon really belonged to the parties of the centre-right. They strengthened their majority in the European Parliament, with victories in Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain, and significant advances in Hungary, against long-dominant Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Putin Makes Cease-Fire Offer With Sweeping Demands on Ukraine’s Territory (NYT🔒)
President Vladimir V. Putin said on Friday that Russia would be ready to order a cease-fire in Ukraine and enter negotiations with its government if Kyiv were to withdraw troops from the four regions that Moscow has claimed as its own and drop its aspirations to join NATO. Ukraine’s foreign ministry quickly denounced Mr. Putin’s statement, saying that his goal was “to mislead the international community, undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just peace and split the unity of the world over the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.” Mr. Putin’s new announcement stipulates that Ukraine effectively surrender huge swaths of land it now controls to Moscow, including the capitals of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It represents Mr. Putin’s most concrete set of territorial conditions to stop the war to date.
Like Russia, Ukraine Is Now Recruiting Soldiers From Prisons (WSJ🔒)
In a sign of the Ukrainian military’s desperate need for fresh troops, Kyiv is taking a leaf out of Russia’s playbook by recruiting inmates from prisons to serve in its armed forces. The government says that 4,656 convicts have already applied for the program in which prisoners will have to serve till the end of the war before winning their freedom. Kyiv is faced with stark choices as an initial wave of volunteers fades and they lose ground against an enemy that can draw on a population 3½ times as large. Many front-line units say they are depleted and exhausted, and Ukraine is struggling to draft enough men to hold off mounting Russian offensives.
Russia Taps Unlikely Allies to Help Ship Sanctioned Oil (WSJ🔒) 📊
An armada of old tanker ships has sprung up to move sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil, putting sailors in peril and threatening environmental catastrophes. At the center of this trade is a surprising new player in global shipping: Gabon, a nation better known for its dense rainforest and a recent coup than maritime acumen. The Gabonese ship registry has ballooned to hold more than 100 tankers, according to ship brokers and owners, and an official at an established rival registry. Lloyd’s List Intelligence estimates more than 70 of those vessels have obscure ownership and form part of a shadow fleet of tankers dedicated to sanctioned oil trades. Other ships sport banners from Comoros—a tiny island nation on the other side of Africa off the coast of Mozambique—or Cameroon. In opting for these obscure “flag states,” the shadow fleet is sidestepping a system that has long helped keep the oceans safe, by ensuring ships are properly insured and seaworthy, and that sailors are well treated.
Middle East
What are the main sticking points in the cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas? (AP)
The latest proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza has the support of the United States and most of the international community, but Hamas has not fully embraced it, and neither, it seems, has Israel. Hamas this week accepted the broad outline but requested “amendments.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly disputed aspects of the plan, raising questions about Israel’s commitment to what the U.S. says is an Israeli proposal. Hamas has insisted it will not release the remaining hostages unless there’s a permanent cease-fire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. When President Joe Biden announced the latest proposal last month, he said it included both. But Netanyahu says Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, and ensuring it can never again carry out an Oct. 7-style assault. A full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, where Hamas’ top leadership and much of its forces are still intact, would almost certainly leave the group in control of the territory and able to rearm. That’s in part because Israel has yet to put forward a plan for Gaza’s postwar governance, and has rejected a U.S. proposal that has wide regional support because it would require major progress toward creating a Palestinian state.
How Ambitious Plans for a Floating Aid Pier off Gaza Fell Apart (WSJ🔒)
The $230 million pier was installed amid the Israeli military advance in the city of Rafah and the closure of the two southern border crossings that were supplying most of the aid to the Gaza Strip. The maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gaza—and an ongoing airdrop campaign—was meant to supplement ground deliveries, which are cheaper and more efficient. But the hastily constructed pier was never designed to handle the Mediterranean Sea’s rough waters, which are expected to worsen over summer, and the logistics of delivering aid from the pier to the Gazan population proved vexing. The floating structure broke apart late last month after 10 days of operation, something defense officials privately described as all but inevitable, and some humanitarian organizations have all but given up making longer-term plans around the pier. After a week of repairs, the pier went back in place Saturday, only to be shut down again Sunday because of the rough waters, the Pentagon said. It reopened Tuesday.
215 rockets fired at north after IDF killing of ‘most senior’ Hezbollah officer yet (Times of Israel)
Hezbollah launched some 215 rockets and several more missiles and drones at northern Israel on Wednesday, in what it said was a response to the killing of a senior commander in the terror group by an Israeli airstrike a night earlier.
Netanyahu’s Chief Rival Quits Israeli Government to Try to Topple It (WSJ🔒)
A centrist member of Israel’s war cabinet quit the government on Sunday over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, after a daring Israeli commando mission rescued four hostages but threatened to trip up efforts to end the conflict and free the remaining captives. Benny Gantz, who leads the National Unity party and was one of three war cabinet members, said he was leaving due to a lack of long-term strategy for the war in Gaza, among other reasons.
Africa
Why Ethiopia’s $5 Billion Megadam Worries Egypt and Sudan (WSJ🔒) 📊
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River is the largest ever built in Africa and promises to transform Ethiopia’s economy. But for countries downstream, like Egypt and Sudan, the dam is seen as a threat. Photo illustration: Rami Abukalam.
Africa File Special Edition: Russian Diplomatic Blitz Advances the Kremlin’s Strategic Aims in Africa (Critical Threats) 📊
High-level Russian officials are meeting with Russian partners across Africa, seeking to advance the Kremlin’s strategic goals of projecting greater Russian influence to supplant the West and better positioning Russia for prolonged confrontation with the West. The visits are strengthening Russia’s military footprint on the continent, which enables the Kremlin to use its limited resources to threaten NATO’s southern flank and degrade Western influence, advancing the narrative that Russia is a revitalized great power on par with the West. Russia is also attempting to strengthen economic engagement with Africa in various sectors to alleviate the impact of tensions with the West by exploiting new revenue streams and export markets. The Kremlin additionally seeks to gain political allies on the continent, which helps mitigate Western isolation in international forums and advance Russian information narratives.
Government
The Postal Service’s $40 Billion Overhaul Is Off to a Rough Start (WSJ🔒) 📊
The U.S. Postal Service has been hemorrhaging money for years, due in part to declining mail volumes, limits on what it can charge customers and a costly mandate to deliver to every address. The agency is fighting for a larger share of the package business to turn itself around. It is overhauling its vast network of sorting centers and truck routes that had long been focused on moving flat letters. The $40 billion plan includes outfitting sorting centers with new equipment, purchasing electric vehicles to replace aging trucks, and consolidating processes and facilities. The efforts haven’t gone smoothly. Employees in the Palmetto facility said the new sorting machines were overwhelmed by the volume of mail and packages when the processing center became fully operational in February. Dozens of workers didn’t show up, saying work reassignments went against longstanding job-bidding processes established in collective-bargaining agreements. Union leaders are pushing against what they describe as a rush to implement plans, insufficient training and poor management from inexperienced supervisors.
Economy
US Federal Reserve sees inflation progress but envisions only one rate cut this year (VOA News)
Federal Reserve officials said Wednesday that inflation has fallen further toward their target level in recent months but signaled they expect to cut their benchmark interest rate just once this year. The policymakers' forecast for one rate cut was down from a previous forecast of three, because inflation, despite having cooled in the past two months, remains persistently elevated. In a statement issued after its two-day meeting, the Fed said the economy is growing at a solid pace, while hiring has "remained strong." The officials also noted that in recent months there has been "modest" further progress toward their 2% inflation target. That is a more positive assessment than after the Fed's previous meeting May 1, when the officials had noted a lack of progress. Still, the central bank made clear Wednesday that further improvement is needed.
Gen Z Plumbers and Construction Workers Are Making #BlueCollar Cool (WSJ🔒) 📊
The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. Fostering that appeal are workers like Czumak-Abreu, whose short videos have racked up millions of views. Some skilled-trades influencers are so popular, they’re making more money as influencers than they do plumbing or wiring. Homeowners who’ve taken to watching do-it-yourself YouTube tutorials and attempting their own sink or ceiling-fan installations are also tuning in. On TikTok, the hashtag #bluecollar drew 500k posts in the first four months of this year, up 64% over the same period in 2023. Posts hashtagged #electrician increased 77% over the same time, with #constructionworker and #mechanic posting similar jumps, TikTok says. Many posts tout the wages blue-collar workers can make. Pay for new hires in construction now outstrips pay for new hires in professional services like accounting, according to ADP data. Skilled-trade influencers say they’re also trying to combat decades of stereotypes in which practitioners were seen as grease monkeys or stuck in low-end careers.
NOTE: I guess AI can’t fix your toilet. Ah, the beauty of supply and demand.
Business
Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse in Lifeline to Cinema Chain (NYT🔒)
Sony Pictures Entertainment is acquiring Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and will manage its 35 locations, a rare example of a traditional Hollywood studio’s owning a theater chain. The deal, announced Wednesday, followed the Justice Department’s decision in 2020 to rescind the so-called Paramount consent decrees — movie distribution rules dating to 1949 that forced the largest Hollywood studios to sell off their theater holdings. Those rules were intended to prevent studios from controlling the film business, from creation to exhibition.
For Diamonds, It Matters Who De Beers Hooks Up With Next (WSJ🔒)
The diamond industry is going through a rough patch, so the timing isn’t great. Jewelry sales boomed in 2022 as consumers splurged on luxury goods, but last year they pulled back. Weak demand has sent diamond prices to 2003 levels, says Liberum analyst Ben Davis. Moreover, traditional diamonds are increasingly being challenged by lab-grown ones, which cost a fifth of the price. In April, 45% of all engagement rings sold in the U.S. had a synthetic stone, according to Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data. It is impossible to tell whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown with the naked eye, and they have the same chemical makeup.
Colorado’s Weed Market Is Coming Down Hard and It’s Making Other States Nervous (Politico)
For years, Colorado’s marijuana market minted successful local entrepreneurs who bootstrapped small businesses into national brands. The market drew aspiring cannabis professionals from across the country, whether ambitious college grads with a business idea or investors looking to get in on the green rush. In 2020, the market soared to $2.2 billion. But just three years later, sales had plummeted to $1.5 billion, leading to layoffs, closures and downsizing. The market downturn has spelled trouble for state finances too: Colorado took in just $282 million in cannabis tax revenues in the last fiscal year, down more than 30 percent from two years earlier. A messy assortment of factors has led to the pioneering industry’s struggles. A supply glut caused weed prices to plummet in the wake of the pandemic. The spread of cheap, largely unregulated intoxicating hemp-derived products further heightened competitive pressures. And marijuana remains federally illegal, subjecting operators to sky-high taxes and costly regulations.
Energy
Nuclear Power Is Hard. A Climate-Minded Billionaire Wants to Make It Easier. (NYT🔒)
Workers began construction on Tuesday on a novel type of nuclear reactor meant to be smaller and cheaper than the hulking reactors of old and designed to produce electricity without the carbon dioxide that is rapidly heating the planet. The reactor being built by TerraPower, a start-up, won’t be finished until 2030 at the earliest and faces daunting obstacles. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hasn’t yet approved the design, and the company will have to overcome the inevitable delays and cost overruns that have doomed countless nuclear projects before. What TerraPower does have, however, is an influential and deep-pocketed founder. Bill Gates, currently ranked as the seventh-richest person in the world, has poured more than $1 billion of his fortune into TerraPower, an amount that he expects to increase.
Auto
Musk Pay Victory Removes Cloud at Tesla, but Fresh Legal Fight Looms (WSJ🔒)
Tesla shareholders’ backing of Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar compensation package helps clarify his immediate future atop the world’s most valuable automaker. Now the electric-car company has to figure out how to pay him. Musk and Tesla face legal opposition to the stock-option deal that was passed in 2018, now valued at roughly $48 billion. The latest vote is also being challenged in court.
Is Your Driving Being Secretly Scored? (NYT🔒)
For the last two decades, auto insurers have been trying to get people to enroll in programs, commonly called usage-based insurance plans, that monitor their day-to-day driving so rates better reflect the actual risk. But privacy-minded consumers have been reluctant to sign up. So the industry has taken a different tack, getting data about how people drive from automakers or from apps that drivers already have on their phones. Experts say most people have no idea the insurance industry can track them this way. After The New York Times revealed that General Motors was sharing driving behavior with LexisNexis, customers filed dozens of lawsuits and the carmaker ended its contract with the data broker. But data is still being collected from other automakers and it is still being collected from apps.
Europe to Hit China With EV Tariffs That Its Own Automakers Oppose (WSJ🔒)
The European Union plans to impose tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles, marking an early victory for officials who view the imports as a threat to the region’s powerful car sector despite deep divisions in Europe over the issue. The baseline level of tariffs, calculated at 21% for companies that cooperated in an EU probe, would come on top of the EU’s existing 10% tariff, the bloc said Wednesday. While some individual companies would face lower or higher tariffs—up to 38.1% in additional duties for Chinese company SAIC—they are still well below the duties the U.S. announced recently, likely blunting how much they can disrupt the flow of Chinese EVs to the continent. China was the source of nearly one in five European sales of fully electric vehicles last year and that proportion should grow, according to data from green lobby group Transport & Environment. Concerns have grown in Europe that China’s low production costs and what European officials found are hefty state subsidies could soon price out European carmakers.
Real Estate
Gov. DeSantis signs bill to rein in overbearing HOAs (Florida Politics)
Domineering homeowners’ associations (HOAs) will have fewer ways to pester residents with nitpicky complaints and fines under a new law going into effect next month. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1203, which limits HOA fines and requires more transparency from the organizations.
Technology
Apple leaps into AI with an array of upcoming iPhone features and a ChatGPT deal to smarten up (AP)
Apple has jumped into the race to bring generative artificial intelligence to the masses, spotlighting a slew of features Monday designed to soup up the iPhone, iPad and Mac. And in a move befitting a company known for its marketing prowess, the AI technology coming as part of free software updates later this year is being billed as “Apple Intelligence.” Even as it tried to put its own stamp on technology’s hottest area, Apple tacitly acknowledged during its World Wide Developers Conference that it needs help catching up with companies like Microsoft and Google, which have emerged as the early leaders in AI. Apple is leaning on ChatGPT, made by the San Francisco startup OpenAI, to make its often-bumbling virtual assistant Siri smarter and more helpful. “All of this goes beyond artificial intelligence, it’s personal intelligence, and it is the next big step for Apple,” CEO Tim Cook said.
Engineering
Behind the Scenes at Disney’s R&D Lab With Its Top Imagineer (WSJ🔒)
Lanny Smoot, Disney’s most prolific inventor, is behind some of the company’s most advanced tech, from lightsabers to “magic” floors, that are incorporated into its theme parks. He gives a rare inside look at Disney’s long-secretive R&D lab.
NOTE: How fun!
Life
Supreme Court Rejects Abortion Pill Challenge, Preserving Wide Access to Drug (WSJ🔒)
The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously rejected an effort seeking to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, preserving for now the widespread availability of the most common method American women use to end their pregnancies. The case was the first major abortion issue to come before the court since its 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and rescinding the federal constitutional right to the procedure that it had recognized since 1973. That ruling bitterly divided the court over constitutional views on individual rights and set off a series of state-level battles that have expanded abortion access in the Northeast and Pacific Coast while largely outlawing the procedure in most of the South and parts of the Midwest.
Gen Z, Millennials are leaving behind dating apps, new report finds (WUSA9)
Younger generations are swapping dating apps for live events as they grapple with online dating app fatigue. A new report from event management site Eventbrite found a rise in speed dating and singles events in the last year, with over 1.5 million searches for such events on the platform. The report, comprised of event data from a one-year period, found attendance to singles and dating events increased 42% from 2022 to 2023.
Education
Elite researchers in China say they had ‘no choice’ but to commit misconduct (Nature)
“I had no choice but to commit [research] misconduct,” admits a researcher at an elite Chinese university. The shocking revelation is documented in a collection of several dozen anonymous, in-depth interviews offering rare, first-hand accounts of researchers who engaged in unethical behaviour — and describing what tipped them over the edge. An article based on the interviews was published in April in the journal Research Ethics1. The interviewer, sociologist Zhang Xinqu, and his colleague Wang Peng, a criminologist, both at the University of Hong Kong, suggest that researchers felt compelled, and even encouraged, to engage in misconduct to protect their jobs. This pressure, they conclude, ultimately came from a Chinese programme to create globally recognized universities. The programme prompted some Chinese institutions to set ambitious publishing targets, they say.
Health
‘Tranq’ Turns More Illicit Drug Users Into Amputees (WSJ🔒)
The rise of xylazine in the illicit drug supply is creating a generation of permanently disabled amputees. Hospitals in Philadelphia, a hot spot for xylazine contamination, are overwhelmed with patients who require costly and complicated care. Three-quarters of residents at Beacon House, an emergency shelter in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, have crippling wounds or amputations resulting from xylazine wounds that doctors don’t fully understand. Their disfigurement is an extreme manifestation of the suffering illicit drugs are visiting on chronic users. For more of them, recovering from addiction means living with permanent disabilities. The worst cases are the growing number of people with maimed or amputated limbs. Xylazine is spreading as dealers purchase it from China and Puerto Rico to mix into fentanyl and other drugs. Xylazine was detected in about 40% of urine samples from Pennsylvania that contained fentanyl in the year through April, according to drug-testing company Millennium Health. In New England, Xylazine’s presence doubled to 28% of samples in April from six months earlier.
If You Know What ‘Brainrot’ Means, You Might Already Have It (NYT🔒)
If you or someone you love speaks almost exclusively in internet references — “It’s giving golden retriever boyfriend energy” or “Show it to me Rachel” — they may be suffering from a condition known as “brainrot.” The term refers primarily to low-value internet content and the effects caused by spending too much time consuming it. Accusing someone of having brainrot is not a compliment. “One of the easiest ways to tell if someone’s brain has been destroyed by social media is to notice how often they reference internet jargon,” the influencer Joel Cave recently posted in a TikTok. “The fact that the internet can infiltrate our brain so much that people don’t even have control over what they’re saying — they just have to spout out whatever meme they’ve been seeing a lot — is crazy to me.”
Food & Drink
US hot dog contest can't stomach champ's vegan deal (BBC)
Competitive eating star Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has been told he cannot join America's premiere hot dog contest after striking a deal with a vegan brand. His removal from next month's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York came after he agreed sponsorship from Impossible Foods, a vegan hot dog maker in competition with the Nathan's brand. "We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest," Major League Eating (MLE) said on Tuesday. MLE added that Mr Chestnut was welcome to rejoin the competition, but only if he dropped his vegan sponsorship.
Entertainment
Why Pop Music Is So ‘Meh’ Right Now (WSJ🔒)
For pop fans, the first half of 2024 was supposed to be the best ever: Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa all came back with much-hyped albums, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé dropped blockbusters in the same window for the first time in 16 years and even Jennifer Lopez welcomed a new addition to her discography. As it turns out, “Pop Girl Spring”—as some called it—has ended up…kind of meh. Pop stars aren’t popping—at least not like they used to. A striking number of Top-40 artists have fallen flat with tentpole albums this year, either due to lackluster sales, negative reviews or just a diminished capacity for cutting through the noise and shifting the culture, music-industry executives say.
Sports
The Miniature Secrets of Championship Rings (NYT🔒)
In the past few years, Arasheben has established himself as a go-to jeweler for title-winning teams — carving out a corner of the market long dominated by Jostens — by creating dynamic rings that include reversible faces and detachable compartments.
NOTE: Fun read!
San Antonio ranks in top 100 for naked biking, event scheduled this weekend (News4SA)
Clothing-optional bike trends have become increasingly popular across the country. According to a report published by LawnStarter, four Texas metropolitans have ranked within the top 100 for best cities for naked biking. Austin ranked the highest at #9, with Houston at #13, Dallas at #81, and San Antonio at #87. The study used five categories for their research; naked biking popularity, cyclist-friendliness, nudist-friendliness, climate, and safety. Experts say those interested in experiencing naked biking should have a plan, know the local laws, and make sure they have an up-to-date bike with working lights and a repair kit. A naked bike ride is scheduled in San Antonio this upcoming Saturday, June 15. For more information visit the event website.
For Fun
Drew Carey stunned as ‘Price Is Right’ contestant makes show history with winning bid (New York Post)
One freaking dollar. A lucky contestant on The Price Is Right left host Drew Carey marveling on Friday after getting astonishingly close to the exact value on Showcase Showdown. Patrice Masse from Grande Prairie, Alberta had already overcome multiple obstacles to get to the final moment of the show, where he bid $39,500 on a package that included a new car and a trip to Miami.
Have a great weekend!
The Curator
Two resources to help you be a more discerning reader:
AllSides - https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news
Media Bias Chart - https://www.adfontesmedia.com/
Caveat: Even these resources/charts are biased. Who says that the system they use to describe news sources is accurate? Still, hopefully you find them useful as a basic guide or for comparison.