Today’s topics

• The nation’s best pizza

• SpaceX and NASA’s $1 billion contract

• Rivian’s daring strategy

• AI-powered CarePod for a quick diagnosis and treatment

• The inaugural debate of the 2024 general election

  and more…

Despite a pullback in stocks, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remained near record highs at the close of the first half of 2024. The Dow Jones dipped by 41 points (0.1%), the S&P 500 fell by 0.4%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.7%. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq flirted with record levels, briefly trading above them during the day.

First 2024 Debate: a clash of personal attacks and misdirections. The inaugural debate of the 2024 general election was a spectacle of personal attacks and muddled claims. President Biden's rambling answers were met with a barrage of falsehoods from Republican rival Donald Trump. Trump misrepresented the Jan. 6 Capitol attack as a minor incident facilitated by police and overstated his administration's economic prowess. Meanwhile, Biden leaned on exaggerations, misstating the cost of insulin and overplaying Trump's comments on using disinfectants for COVID.

Banks pass the test, shareholders ace the rewards. Fresh off acing the Federal Reserve stress test, some of the U.S.'s top banks are treating their shareholders. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is hiking its dividend to $1.25 per share from $1.15 and unveiling a $30 billion share buyback plan. Bank of America (BAC) bumps its dividend to $0.26 from $0.24, Citigroup (C) lifts it to $0.56 from $0.53, and Wells Fargo (WFC) raises the bar to $0.40 from $0.35.

Rivian teases five new mystery vehicles amid turbulent 2024. Rivian has hinted at five new vehicles, showcasing its commitment to the long game despite ongoing financial challenges. This bold move comes in a year already packed with the launch of the affordable R2, the buzzworthy R3 and R3X, and the revamped R1T and R1S, featuring new architecture, motors, and batteries. With softening EV demand and rising costs, Rivian’s decision to introduce five new mystery models is either a daring strategy for future relevance or a desperate bid to stay afloat.

Forward Health Unveils the Future with AI-Driven CarePods

Why wait hours to see a doctor when you can stroll into an AI-powered CarePod for a quick diagnosis and treatment? Adrian Aoun, CEO of Forward Health, has scaled healthcare innovation from tech-centric doctor offices in 2017 to these self-contained medical stations. The CarePod, packed with body scanners, smart sensors, and AI algorithms, offers comprehensive tests like blood draws and throat swabs without needing medical staff. For just $99 a month, you get swift, smart healthcare on your schedule—prescriptions included. Aoun's vision: healthcare that scales effortlessly and efficiently.

Perplexity AI startup faces backlash over content theft allegations. Perplexity, an AI startup known for its "answer engine," is under fire amid accusations of content theft, ignoring robots.txt files, and plagiarizing articles. Despite having secured funding from high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos and being in talks to raise hundreds of millions more, the company’s credibility is in question. Perplexity claims on its website that "every answer" is "backed by citations from trusted news outlets, academic papers, and established blogs," but these recent allegations cast doubt on those assurances.

Chang'e 6 Returns: China Secures First-Ever Lunar Far Side Samples

China's Chang'e 6 mission has triumphantly returned, with its capsule now in Beijing, revealing its precious lunar cargo. After a fiery re-entry and landing in Inner Mongolia on June 25, the 53-day mission concluded successfully, delivering the first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon. The scientific community eagerly awaits the insights these samples will bring.

SpaceX lands $1 billion contract to safely deorbit the ISS by 2030. NASA has awarded SpaceX nearly $1 billion to build the spacecraft that will deorbit the International Space Station, which is set to end its operational life in 2030. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, will develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, ensuring the ISS can be safely deorbited while avoiding risk to populated areas. The contract, valued at up to $843 million, marks another major collaboration between NASA and SpaceX in the final phase of the ISS's mission.

Rare white buffalo calf born at Yellowstone. The rare birth of a white buffalo calf named Wakan Gli in Yellowstone is seen by the Lakota as a fulfillment of a sacred prophecy, symbolizing hope and renewal.

Goal post to gaping hole. In an unexpected twist, a colossal sinkhole, measuring 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep, has swallowed an Illinois soccer field that sat atop a limestone mine—conveniently after the last amateur teams had cleared out. Talk about dodging a literal pitfall!

New York Slices Its Way to the Top. For the third consecutive year, Una Pizza Napoletana on the Lower East Side secured the title of the nation's best pizzeria. Clearly, when it comes to pizza, New York is still the city that never stops topping!

Brewed awakenings at 30,000 feet. United Airlines is elevating your in-flight coffee experience starting July 1 with illy’s canned, ready-to-drink cold brew coffee. No more settling for tepid, disappointing coffee—enjoy a refreshing caffeine boost as you soar through the skies.

TikTok of the day: watch here

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