Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> "Wicked" sequel gets official title "Wicked: For Good" with film set for November 2025 release date (More) | Lionel Messi-inspired animated series tapped for Disney Channel and Disney+ (More)
> Jill Jacobson, actress known for roles on "Falcon Crest" and "Star Trek," dies at 70 (More) | Dick Van Arsdale, three-time NBA All-Star, dies at 81 (More)
> Documentary in the works by filmmaker Alex Gibney about the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (More) | Jamie Lee Curtis in talks to play lead role in upcoming "Murder, She Wrote" film (More)
Science & Technology
> Google's DeepMind reveals Veo 2, the latest update to its AI-generated video platform; product is meant to compete with OpenAI's Sora (More) | Generative AI 101, from how it works to why it hallucinates (1440 Topics)
> James Webb Space Telescope confirms two-decade-old mystery, finds evidence planets bigger than Jupiter formed around stars much earlier in the universe than predicted by theory (More) | Explaining the JWST in four minutes (More, w/video)
> Researchers discover closest known relative to Psilocybe cubensis, also known as magic mushrooms; fungi potentially reached North America as much as a million years earlier than believed (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow -0.3%, Nasdaq +1.2%); Nasdaq notches record ahead of Federal Reserve's interest rate decision tomorrow (More) | Nvidia closes in correction territory, down roughly 11% from record close last month (More) | Bitcoin hits new record midday, briefly surpassing $107K (More)
> TikTok asks Supreme Court to block the US' divest-or-ban law pending an appeal of a lower-court ruling to uphold the law taking effect Jan. 19 (More) | Ken Leech, former co-chief investment officer at Western Asset Management Co., pleads not guilty to federal charges over improperly allocating trades to favored clients (More)
> Honeywell considers spin-off of lucrative aerospace business—a move backed by activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which took a $5B stake in the conglomerate last month (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Japanese tech giant SoftBank pledges to invest $100B into US companies over next four years and create 100,000 jobs; SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who met with President-elect Donald Trump yesterday, made a similar pledge in 2016 (More)
> Former FBI informant pleads guilty to fabricating claim that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter accepted bribes from a Ukrainian energy company; false claim was used as part of evidence in GOP-led efforts to investigate Biden family (More)
> Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigns following dispute with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over tax policy and the country's response to Trump's tariff threats (More)
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" album tops Billboard 200 chart, his fifth consecutive album atop the charts; "Wicked" film soundtrack debuts at No. 2 (More)
> Fifty-six people die in southeast Guinea from violence and crowd surge following a controversial call made by a referee at a soccer match (More)
> Ted Danson tapped to receive Carol Burnett Award at 2025 Golden Globes (Jan. 5) (More) | "Moana 2" officially breaks all-time five-day Thanksgiving Day weekend US domestic box office record, hauling in $225M in its debut (More)
Science & Technology
> Paralyzed patients regain control of their leg muscles and ability to walk after scientists apply deep brain stimulation to the lateral hypothalamus; brain region is not typically associated with motor control (More)
> Researchers demonstrate photonic processor—computer chips using light to process information—for potential use in AI applications; would allow ultrafast, high-efficiency AI calculations (More)
> Scientists begin study of remains of a spade-toothed whale in New Zealand; animal is world's rarest whale species, with only seven documented since 1880 (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow -0.3%, Nasdaq +1.0%); S&P 500, Nasdaq rise to new intraday highs and close at new records (More)
> Stellantis shares close down over 6% after CEO Carlos Tavares resigns following board dispute amid stagnating US sales (More) | Volkswagen workers in Germany strike in largest walkout since 2018 as company plans to shutter three plants (More) | Tesla CEO Elon Musk loses legal challenge to reinstate $56B pay package (More)
> Super Micro Computer shares close up nearly 29% after independent review finds no evidence of accounting fraud; review recommends installing new chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, and general counsel (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Israel and Hezbollah militants reportedly trade fire at disputed border zone despite US- and French-brokered ceasefire that began last week (More) | Israeli American soldier thought to have been taken hostage in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack now presumed dead, per Israel's military (More) | See war updates (More)
> Iranian-backed Iraqi militias enter Syria to assist the Assad government's counteroffensive against rebels who have taken control of Syria's largest city of Aleppo (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Jury deliberations to begin today in trial of Daniel Penny, a former Marine charged in the May 2023 death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Abdi Nageeye becomes first runner from the Netherlands to win men's New York City Marathon; Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui wins women's title (More)
> UK prosecutors investigating comedian Russell Brand on possible sexual assault charges (More) | "Venom: The Last Dance" hauls in $317M at global box office (More)
> Alan Rachins, Emmy-nominated actor known for starring role on "LA Law," dies at age 82 (More) | "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek reveals colorectal cancer diagnosis (More)
Science & Technology
> Researchers develop technique similar to large language models—the approach used to train chatbots like ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude—to teach robots new skills (More)
> Utah's Pando tree is between 16,000 and 80,000 years old, making it one of the oldest organisms on Earth, genetic analysis shows (More) | The single plant consists of nearly 50,000 tree-like stems spread across 106 acres (More)
> Chemists make molecules previously thought to be too unstable to exist; chemicals feature a double carbon bond in a location that breaks a century-old rule, may lead to development of new drug compounds (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.8%) (More) | Nvidia to replace rival chipmaker Intel in Dow Jones Industrial Average Nov. 8; paint maker Sherwin-Williams to replace chemicals company Dow Inc. (More)
> Striking Boeing workers to vote on latest contract today to potentially end seven-week strike; latest offer from Boeing includes increasing wages 38% over four years (More) | TGI Fridays files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; the fast-casual restaurant chain's locations will remain open amid restructuring (More) | 1440 Business & Finance: This week we'll take a deep dive into how bankruptcy works (Sign up here)
> IRS raises limits for 401(k) and other retirement plans, increases catch-up contributions for 60- to 63-year-olds in 2025 (More) | Learn about 401(k) plans (More, w/video)
Politics & World Affairs
> Israeli forces capture senior Hezbollah naval leader (More) | Israel says it carried out ground raid into Syria in recent months, seized a Syrian citizen who they believe is tied to Iranian network targeting Israel (More) | See Middle East updates (More)
> UK Conservative Party elects Kemi Badenoch as its leader; Badenoch becomes the first Black woman to head Britain's oldest party (More)
> At least 200 Bolivian soldiers reportedly taken hostage by armed supporters of Bolivia's former President Evo Morales amid ongoing abuse investigations into Morales (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí wins Ballon d'Or as soccer's best female player for second straight year; Manchester City's Rodri takes honor for best male player (More)
> French actor Gérard Depardieu's criminal trial for sexual assault postponed until March by French court due to Depardieu's health issues (More) | Actor Jay Johnston sentenced to one year in prison for role in Jan. 6, 2021, US Capitol storming (More)
> Jon Stewart extends deal to continue hosting Monday edition of "The Daily Show" through December 2025 (More)
Science & Technology
> Apple debuts its Apple Intelligence features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac; marks the company's first public foray into AI products (More) | UK man sentenced to 18 years in prison for AI-generated child sexual abuse content; advocates call outcome a landmark decision in AI law (More)
> Biologists decode genetic adaptations that allow critically endangered Cat Ba langurs to drink salt water; traits give increased ability to metabolize calcium and sodium (More)
> Engineers demonstrate prototype device using recycled polystyrene—a common packing material—that generates enough static electricity from air motion to lower air-condition power demand by 5% (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.3%) as investors await earnings reports this week from five of "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks—Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta (More)
> Boeing launches $19B stock sale by issuing 90 million new shares, $5B in depository shares to avoid credit downgrade amid ongoing machinists strike (More) | Volkswagen reportedly plans to shut down three factories in Germany, lay off thousands, and cut salaries by 10%; domestic closures would be the first in the 87-year history of Germany's largest employer (More)
> Nuclear startup Pacific Fusion Corp. raises over $900M in funding; startup seeks to commercialize fusion technology for energy (More) | Nuclear fusion 101 (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Suspect vehicle identified in connection with devices that set fires to ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state (More) | Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) sues to halt political action committee led by Elon Musk from awarding $1M daily giveaways to voters registered in swing states (More)
> Man sentenced to life for the 2022 killing of Memphis teacher and 34-year-old mother Eliza Fletcher, an heir to a multibillion-dollar hardware company who was abducted while jogging (More)
> Pentagon confirms North Korea has sent roughly 10,000 troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine (More) | See war updates (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> New York Liberty defeats the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of decisive Game 5 to win their first WNBA championship (More)
> Cher, Jimmy Buffett, and Mary J. Blige among 16 inductees into the 2024 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (More) | Aaron Kaufman, Emmy-nominated director, dies at age 51 of an apparent heart attack (More)
> Oregon leads AP Top 25 college football poll for first time since 2012; Georgia and Penn State round out the Top 3 (More)
Science & Technology
> SpaceX awarded $733M in launch contracts from the US Space Force, beating out United Launch Alliance (More) | Everything you need to know about SpaceX (More, w/video)
> Chinese scientists demonstrate the world's strongest resistive (made out of normal metals like copper or aluminum) magnet; the 42 Tesla field is roughly 800,000 times the Earth's magnetic field (More)
> Researchers discover protein to improve cardiovascular health in patients with progeria, a rare genetic disorder causing accelerated aging in children (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq +0.6%), with the S&P 500 and Dow closing at record highs (More) | Netflix shares jump 11% after beating Q3 expectations (More) | Gold prices climb to all-time high amid uncertainty over US election, Middle East tensions (More)
> Boeing offers production workers a 35% raise over four years, up from 30% in bid to end strike; union workers to vote on deal Wednesday, when new CEO Kelly Ortberg is set to give first public comments (More) | CVS workers in Southern California begin strike at seven stores (More)
> Berkshire Hathaway invests additional $42M in Sirius XM last week, raising company's stake in the radio broadcasting firm to 32.5% (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Israeli airstrikes kill at least 87 people in Gaza, per Hamas-run Health Ministry (More) | Lebanese drone targets home of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu; no one injured, per Israel (More) | US intelligence on Israeli preparations to retaliate against Iran exposed in pro-Iranian account online (More) | See war updates (More)
> Cuba power outage leaves entire population of 10 million people without energy following electrical grid collapse (More) | Collapse came as Hurricane Oscar, a Category 1 storm, approached the island (More)
> Indonesia inaugurates Prabowo Subianto as country's eighth president; the former defense minister was elected with close to 60% of the vote (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Argentina edges Colombia 1-0 in extra time to win a record 16th Copa América championship (More) | Twenty-seven arrested amid security breach at main entry gate, which caused a delayed start to the Copa América (More)
> Disney investigating hacking after a trove of internal communications data was leaked by a hacktivist artists' rights group (More)
> The American League takes on the National League in tonight's (8 pm ET, Fox) 94th MLB All-Star game (More) | MLB Draft continues today; see complete draft tracker (More)
Science & Technology
> AT&T reportedly pays $300K ransom to hacker group to delete stolen data following the company's second major breach in three months (More)
> Researchers pinpoint gene capable of slowing the aggressive spread of pancreatic cancer; gene produces the molecule HNF4A, and gets "switched off" in early stages of the disease (More)
> Gulf War Illness explained in new study; mysterious illness, affecting up to one-third of veterans from the 1990-91 Gulf War, likely caused by intestinal exposure to biological and chemical agents (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.4%), with Dow closing at a record high; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals the Fed won't wait until annual inflation hits 2% before cutting interest rates (More)
> Amazon kicks off Prime Day 48-hour sale today; this year's Prime Day expected to set record in US online spending, with an estimated $14B in total sales (More)
> Macy's ends buyout talks to go private for $6.9B with activist investors Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management; Macy's shares close down 12% (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Gambian lawmakers uphold ban on female genital mutilation, reversing course months after an initial vote; despite the ban, the practice remains widespread in Gambia, with more than 70% of girls and women undergoing the procedure (More) | What is FGM? (More)
> Moscow court convicts US journalist Masha Gessen in absentia for violating Russia's law criminalizing criticism of Russian war in Ukraine (More) | See latest updates on the war (More)
> Rwandan President Paul Kagame expected to extend his 30-year rule after defeating two candidates permitted to run against him in yesterday's election (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Spain tops England 2-1 to win record fourth UEFA European Championship (More) | Copa América final delayed over an hour as fans break through entry gates (More) | Cleveland Guardians take Oregon State's Travis Bazzana with top pick in 2024 MLB Draft (More)
> Richard Simmons, iconic TV fitness guru, dies at age 76 (More) | Shannen Doherty, actress best known for "Beverly Hills, 90210," dies at age 53 of breast cancer (More) | Dr. Ruth Westheimer, pioneering sex therapist, dies at age 96 (More)
> Carlos Alcaraz tops Novak Djokovic to win back-to-back Wimbledon titles (More) | ... and Barbora Krejcikova edges Jasmine Paolini to win her second career Grand Slam singles championship (More)
Science & Technology
> OpenAI reportedly working on AI model capable of advanced reasoning; project, codenamed "Strawberry," would navigate the internet on its own and perform deep research (More) | The short history and rapid rise of OpenAI (More, w/video)
> Oldest-known relative of modern spiders identified in nearly 500-million-year-old fossil; the specimen lived in what is now the South Pole, family includes scorpions and horseshoe crabs (More)
> 3D imaging reveals the last meal of a crocodile mummified by ancient Egyptians; researchers believe the animal was deliberately caught by fishermen for a ritual (More) | Ancient Egypt 101 (More, w/video)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.6%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +0.6%) with gains partially driven by Caterpillar and Home Depot (More)
> Alphabet is reportedly in final talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23B; acquisition would mark the largest purchase ever for Google's parent company (More)
> Cost of First-Class postage stamps rise by 5 cents, tied for highest-ever jump as US Postal Service navigates reduced volume and a projected net loss of $6.3B this fiscal year (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Joe Biden cancels planned trip to Texas following assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump; live interview with NBC News' Lester Holt reportedly still on track to air tonight at 9 pm ET (More) | See Biden's address following the assassination attempt (More, w/video)
> UN-mediated cease-fire talks underway for Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to end 15-month war that has left over 19,000 people dead and over 33,000 wounded, per UN figures (More)
> North Korea threatens to resume campaign of sending trash-filled balloons to South Korea as sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accuses South Korea of continuing to send leaflets into the country (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> LeBron James signs two-year, $104M deal to remain with Los Angeles Lakers; James' son Bronny was selected by the Lakers at last week's NBA Draft (More)
> Robert Towne, Oscar-winning screenwriter best known for "Chinatown" and "Mission: Impossible," dies at 89 (More)
> Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Bryce Harper headline list of starters for 2024 MLB All-Star Game (July 16) (More) | British cyclist Mark Cavendish breaks Tour de France record with 35 career stage wins (More)
Science & Technology
> Three new species of plants related to cacao trees discovered in South American rainforests; scientists say finding sheds light on the species' biodiversity, may lead to climate-resilient chocolate (More)
> Mysterious Denisovan population—ancient human relatives whose remains have only been found in a few locations—subsisted by hunting animals on the Tibetan plateau (More) | Who were the Denisovans? (More)
> Researchers create most detailed map to date of the brain cells associated with language processing, identifying neurons that encode the meaning of individual words (More)
Business & Markets
> US markets end Wednesday mixed (S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow -0.1%, Nasdaq +0.9%), with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting new highs (More) | Monthly jobs report to be released today; 200,000 jobs expected to have been added in June (More)
> Saks Fifth Avenue parent company to acquire luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in nearly $2.7B deal (More)
> European Union raises tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, citing unfair subsidies by China; additional duties range from around 18% to almost 38% depending on manufacturer (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Israel reportedly approves largest land expansion in the West Bank in three decades; move opens roughly 5 square miles for Israeli settlements in the territory (More) | The West Bank explained (More)
> Hurricane Beryl to pass over Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula today, on track to reach southern Texas early next week; hurricane left at least two people dead in Jamaica (More) | See trajectory (More)
> Runoff elections in Iran to be held today to replace former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a May helicopter crash; reformist Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian faces hard-liner Saeed Jalili (More)
SOURCE: 1440 News
Iranians vote in snap presidential elections.
As of this writing, hard-liner Saeed Jalili is in the lead, followed by reformist Masoud Pezeshkian. Both candidates are still short of the votes needed to avoid a potential July 5 runoff election. A candidate must secure more than 50% of the votes to win. A total of four candidates are vying for the presidency following former President Ebrahim Raisi's fatal helicopter crash.
Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of six-week abortion ban.
The court's 4-3 ruling dismissed a challenge to a new Iowa law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and directed a lower court to dissolve a temporary injunction as court proceedings continue. Before the latest law, Iowa had banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The six-week ban will take effect in three weeks. See an overview of state abortion laws here.
Bolivia detains four more military officers tied to failed coup.
The number of people arrested in connection with Wednesday's failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Luis Arce has risen to 21. Those arrested include the Bolivian army's commanding general, Juan José Zúñiga, who allegedly led the coup attempt. Zúñiga claims he was following a scheme hatched by Arce to boost his popularity; Arce has denied the accusations.
Nike shares fall 20% after weaker full-year forecast.
The drop in Nike's shares is the largest daily decline on record and erased roughly $28B in market value. The drop comes after the footwear company announced it expects sales to fall 10% in the current quarter amid softer sales in China. Analysts had forecast a 3.2% drop in quarterly sales. Nike also expects fiscal 2025 sales to drop, a reversal from its previous growth forecast.
Key US inflation measure rises as expected in May.
The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which measures costs consumers pay across a wide swath of items, excluding food and energy, rose 2.6% year-over-year and 0.1% month-over-month. Both figures are in line with analyst estimates, while the annual rate is the lowest reading since March 2021. The index is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge.
FDA says new study shows milk pasteurization kills bird flu.
The Food and Drug Administration said a widely used treatment that heats milk for at least 15 seconds at 161 degrees Fahrenheit kills the bird flu virus in cow’s milk. The virus, known as the H5N1 avian influenza, was first detected in cows in March, though the FDA has said the risk to the public remains low. See the findings here.
SOURCE: 1440 News
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The Atlanta Hawks take France’s Zaccharie Risacher with the top pick of the 2024 NBA Draft; Round 2 kicks off this afternoon (4 pm ET, ESPN) (More) | Team USA women's soccer 18-player roster announced for Paris Olympics (More)
> Investigation into "Friends" actor Matthew Perry's death reportedly could result in charges against multiple people involved in supplying Perry with ketamine (More)
> UEFA European Championship Round of 16 set; see latest bracket and schedule (More) | ... and Copa América group stage continues; see latest standings (More)
Science & Technology
In partnership with Eli Electric
> Daily multivitamin use shows no association with lower risk of death, including from cancer or heart disease, new research finds; study tracked almost 400,000 participants over 20 years (More)
> World's first usable titanium-sapphire laser on a microchip demonstrated; prototype is 10,000 times smaller and 1,000 times cheaper than commercial versions of the powerful research-grade laser (More)
> Scientists capture early moments of butterfly metamorphosis at the microscopic level, shedding light on how the insect's unique scale architecture forms on its wings (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.04%, Nasdaq +0.5%); Nasdaq set for nearly 19% gain in first half of year, led by Nvidia and AI boom (More) | Amazon tops $2T market cap for first time as shares hit all-time high (More)
> Federal judge to likely reject $30B settlement between payment processors Visa, Mastercard, and merchants who say they have overpaid in credit card processing fees—which are often passed down to consumers (More)
> Japanese yen falls to weakest level against the US dollar since 1986; the yen has so far fallen 12% against the dollar this year, with analysts citing the gap between Japanese and foreign interest rates as a reason for the drop (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> US Supreme Court rejects lower court ruling restricting the Biden administration from contacting social media companies to remove misinformation (More) | The court is also planning to allow Idaho doctors to perform abortions in medical emergencies, per opinion accidentally published early (More)
> Bolivian general Juan José Zúñiga arrested after a failed coup attempt at the presidential palace; Zúñiga claims he was acting at the behest of the president (More) | Kenyan President William Ruto backs down on plans for tax hike following violent protests earlier this week and police crackdown (More)
> Centrist George Latimer defeats Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D, NY-16) in most expensive primary race in US history; total spend was $24.8M, almost $15M from pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC (More)
SOURCE: 1440 News
