Podcast: Rivian R2 First Drive, BYD Goes Nuts on Flash Charging, Donut Lab’s Miracle Battery Is Dead, and More
Electrek’s weekly podcast highlighted the first drive of Rivian’s upcoming R2, showcasing its range and features that challenge the Tesla Model Y. BYD announced a rapid rollout of its 5‑minute “flash” charging stations, delivering 2.4 times more charging power per month than Tesla. The show also exposed Donut Lab’s alleged solid‑state battery as a conventional lithium‑ion pack, while covering Waymo’s new $30‑per‑month Premier service and BMW’s iX3 achieving a 500‑mile range. The episode streams live on YouTube and is archived on major podcast platforms.
JBS to Close Pennsylvania Beef Plant Amid Cattle Shortage
JBS NV announced the closure of its Souderton, Pennsylvania beef plant and a value‑added packaging facility in Memphis, Tennessee, citing a severe U.S. cattle shortage. The Pennsylvania plant processes about 2,000 head daily, roughly 8% of JBS’s U.S. beef capacity, and...
Marysville Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing Development
The Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) broke ground on Leonard Crossing Apartments, a nearly $47 million affordable‑housing project in Marysville. The four‑acre site will host 124 one‑, two‑, and three‑bedroom units alongside a clubhouse, gym, game room and bike storage....
Astronomers Fear Orbital Data Centers Will Interfere with Observations
SpaceX announced it will begin launching its AI1 orbital data‑center satellites as early as 2027, with test "canary" units slated for 2026. The AI1 platform will be a 70‑meter‑long, 20‑meter‑tall spacecraft generating up to 150 kW of power to run roughly...
Xbox Exec Clarifies that Netflix-Style In-Game Ads that Interrupt Gameplay Would Be a Bad Idea, Actually
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball addressed recent speculation that Xbox plans to embed Netflix‑style ads directly into gameplay. He clarified that while he supports using ads to create lower‑cost subscription tiers, he opposes any ad that interrupts the player’s experience,...
Banks Fight to Scrap an SEC Cyberattack Rule
A coalition of five banking trade groups, including the ABA and BPI, is lobbying the SEC to repeal its 2023 cyber‑incident disclosure rule that forces public companies to report material hacks within four business days. At the same time, they...
OIG To CMS: Collect Data, Probe MA Post-Acute Care Denials
The HHS Office of Inspector General has asked CMS to collect detailed data and investigate Medicare Advantage (MA) post‑acute care denials after a June 2024 audit showed the three largest MA insurers recorded the highest denial rates for certain services....
State AGs Back Nebraska Parental Consent Law
More than two dozen states and the District of Columbia have filed a friend‑of‑the‑court brief urging a Nebraska federal judge to enforce the state’s Parental Rights in Social Media Act. The law mandates age verification for all users, blocks anyone...
HRSA Seeking Applicants for Rural Hospital Financial Assistance Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has opened applications for grants targeting rural hospitals and providers, focusing on opioid mitigation and broader financial assistance. Concurrently, Rep. Randy Feenstra introduced legislation to reauthorize the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program and to...
Xbox CEO Reportedly Wants To Speed Up Release Of Next Halo And Fallout Games, But Spinning Off The Business Entirely...
Xbox’s newly appointed CEO Asha Sharma is pushing to accelerate the release schedules of flagship franchises like Halo and Fallout while keeping the overall gaming budget flat for fiscal 2027. The plan involves cutting lower‑performing studios and reallocating resources toward...
Tempo Signs HQ Lease in San Diego to Expand Industrial Electrification
Tempo, a thermochemical energy firm, signed a lease for a 35,000‑square‑foot facility at 6680 Cobra Way in San Diego’s Sorrento Mesa. The space will serve as the company’s new headquarters for materials development, prototype assembly, system testing, and eventual electricity...
Elder Scrolls Online Outlines Upcoming Hybridization-Focused Changes To Smooth Out Wrinkles In Stats And Buffs
Elder Scrolls Online announced a set of hybridization‑focused updates slated for late August. The changes merge Mundus Stone bonuses, eliminate redundant sorcery and prophecy buffs, and overhaul alchemy by combining spell and weapon power while adding new traits and ingredients....
China Opens Its First Photonic Computing Lab as It Bets on Light to Outrun US Chip Curbs
China opened its first dedicated photonic computing laboratory in Shanghai on June 11, a joint venture between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and photonic‑chip startup Lightelligence. The lab will explore silicon‑photonics integration, optical components and algorithms to make light‑based AI accelerators...
The Space Elevator Track at ISDC
The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISDC) hosted its first two‑session track, dedicating the morning to power‑delivery options for climbers—solar, microwave, and laser beaming—and the afternoon to architecture, environmental impact, policy, tether materials, and settlement implications. Experts debated the pros and...
$3.5bn US Solar Storage Financing Powers Cypress Creek Large-Scale Renewable Construction Expansion
Cypress Creek Renewables secured a $3.5 billion debt‑financing package to fast‑track a multi‑state portfolio of utility‑scale solar farms paired with battery energy‑storage systems. The capital will fund active construction and late‑stage development through 2026, aligning EPC contracts, equipment procurement, and grid...
Biglaw’s Summer Of Money: Tracking The 2026 Salary Wars
Milbank broke the $235,000 base salary ceiling for 2025‑2026 associate classes, prompting a wave of matching raises across Biglaw. By early June 2026, at least nine other firms—ranging from McDermott to Kellogg Hansen—have announced comparable base pay and, in many...
Spyro: A Realm Beyond Was Helped By Its "Loud And Consistent" Fan Base
The Xbox Showcase unveiled *Spyro: A Realm Beyond*, a brand‑new adventure slated for spring 2027 and the first original Spyro title since the 2020 Reignited Trilogy. Toys for Bob highlighted the franchise’s strong sales and, crucially, a “loud and consistent” fan...
Google TV Launches Soccer Hub, New Voice Command Features
Google TV unveiled a Soccer Hub on its Sports page, giving users instant access to live World Cup 2026 matches, upcoming schedules, highlights, and post‑game analysis from services like Fox One, Tubi and YouTube TV. The same rollout adds Gemini‑powered voice commands that...
Reconfiguring Health Coproduction: Infrastructure, Village Doctors, and Physical Activity in Rural China
A new study of rural China examines how health‑promotion outcomes depend on both human and material capacities. Village doctors serve as the human coproduction engine, while sports facilities represent material capacity. The research finds that while doctors increase residents’ physical‑activity...
Ebola Strains Coffee Supply Chains, with Smallholders Most at Risk
Uganda, Africa’s top coffee exporter, is projected to produce about 7.2 million bags this year, with smallholders accounting for roughly 90% of output. In response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ugandan government closed its western...
CMS Finalizes Changes to Requirements for Accrediting Organizations
On June 12, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule that overhauls how it oversees accrediting organizations (AOs) responsible for Medicare Conditions of Participation. The rule eliminates “look‑back” validation surveys, substituting them with direct‑observation surveys where...
As the US Targets Brazil’s Payment System, Europe Should Pay Close Attention
The U.S. Trade Representative has added Brazil’s Pix instant‑payment platform to a Section 301 investigation, alleging it disadvantages U.S. firms through state‑backed advantages. Pix processed roughly $6.7 trillion in 2025 and could handle half of Brazil’s e‑commerce by 2028. The move signals...
“We Look Into It”: Minneapolis & Philadelphia Could Be Turkish Airlines’ Newest US Markets
Turkish Airlines is evaluating Minneapolis, Orlando and Philadelphia as potential new U.S. destinations, marking a shift from its traditional focus on major hub airports. Chairperson Murat Şeker emphasized that while these routes are long‑term goals, the carrier will first deepen...
Japan Launches Stripped-Down H3, Orbits Six Smallsats
Japan’s JAXA successfully launched the H3 Type 30 rocket on 12 June, marking the first fully operational flight after two prior stage‑ignition failures. The stripped‑down configuration uses three LE‑9 engines and no boosters, delivering six university‑built smallsats and a Performance Evaluation Payload...
Can Ebola Disrupt Coffee Prices and Stocks?
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has reached 695 cases and 138 deaths, prompting border closures that could restrict Uganda’s coffee‑sector inputs. Uganda, the region’s sixth‑largest coffee exporter, may see reduced harvests if restrictions persist....
Shipowners Owners Brace for Hormuz Reopening as Peace Deal Nears
Shipowners are closely monitoring a potential US‑Iran peace deal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where about 127 oil tankers are currently positioned inside the Persian Gulf. Despite the official closure, dark shipments are moving 4‑7 million barrels of oil...
Evo 2026 Final Entrant Registration Leaderboard Revealed Showing a Big Drop in Attendance over the Last 2 Years
Evo 2026 announced a final registration total of 5,774 unique competitors, roughly half the record‑breaking 10,000‑plus entrants seen in 2024. The drop continues a two‑year decline, with 2,767 fewer players than Evo 2025’s 8,541. Organizers attribute the slump to the June schedule...
Optimizing EUV Source Efficiency With Radiation-Hydrodynamic Simulations (U. Of Osaka Et Al.)
Researchers from Osaka University and partner institutes used the STAR-1D radiation‑hydrodynamics code to simulate over 140,000 laser‑parameter combinations for tin‑plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources. The study identified a global conversion‑efficiency maximum of 5.63 % at a 5.5 µm driver wavelength, and a...
"The only Way to Keep Bungie Alive": As Destiny 2 Ends, Ex-Bungie Dev Says Supporting Marathon Will Help Keep the...
Bungie launched Season 2 of its extraction shooter Marathon, introducing a new Runner shell and a night‑time Dire Marsh map. The studio simultaneously announced the end of live‑service development for Destiny 2, sparking community backlash that blamed Marathon for the franchise’s demise....
Meta Apps Receive Temporary World Cup Makeovers
Meta is rolling out temporary World Cup‑themed experiences across Threads, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp, adding stickers, live‑chat hubs, AI‑driven jersey try‑ons and dedicated content hubs to capture fan enthusiasm. The upgrades feature former players such as Sergio Aguero and Ian Wright...
Real-World Evidence Submissions to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research & the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Under the reauthorized PDUFA VII, the FDA will publish aggregate, anonymized data on real‑world evidence (RWE) submissions to both the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). The report will only include...
Spotify Redefines a Podcast Play
Spotify is redefining a podcast "play" by requiring listeners to watch at least 30 seconds before a play is counted. The rule applies to both audio and video streams, eliminating accidental starts and quick skips from inflating metrics. This change...
ECRD 2026: Europe’s Rare Disease Bottleneck Is Funding Rather than Science
Rare disease R&D investment in Europe now outpaces the broader biotech market, yet funding shortages and regulatory complexity are the primary barriers to patient access. At the 13th European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products, speakers warned that non‑profit...
Real-World Evidence Submissions to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
The FDA’s PDUFA VII reporting reveals a sharp rise in real‑world evidence (RWE) submissions to CDER. Protocol submissions grew from 10 in FY 2023 to 31 in FY 2025, while NDA/BLA filings containing RWE increased from 4 to 10 over the same period....
Norwegian Shipping Group Orders Two Electric Short-Sea Container Vessels
Norwegian maritime group Eitzen, through its Zen subsidiary, placed an order with Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding for two 900‑TEU electric short‑sea container vessels. Each ship will carry battery packs over 100 MWh, delivering a 500‑600 nautical‑mile range, and is slated for delivery...
RPG Maker Users Could Lose Years of Important History as Official Forums Shut Down
Gotcha Gotcha Games announced the closure of RPG Maker’s long‑standing official forums, with all content slated for deletion on December 11. The site will become read‑only on June 18 before the new RPG Maker Guild platform assumes community duties. The forums have...
$66 Billion Sydney-Newcastle High Speed Rail Project Seen Easing Australia’s Housing Crisis
The Australian government is advancing a $66 billion high‑speed rail line that would connect Sydney and Newcastle in about an hour, with a 30‑minute link to the Central Coast. Planners say the corridor could support roughly 160,000 new homes, redistributing population...
Senate Committee Backs Multi-Year Deals for F-35, F-15EX
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 18‑9 to advance FY2027 NDAA language that authorizes multiyear contracts for F‑35A, F‑35B/C and F‑15EX fighters, letting the Air Force lock in prices and guarantee a steady production flow. The bill requires Boeing to...
Before the Massive IPO, Elon Musk Said This in 2008—And It Predicted SpaceX’s Entire Future
SpaceX completed the largest IPO in history, pricing shares at $135 and lifting its market value to roughly $2 trillion. The debut follows a decade‑long journey that began with early launch failures and culminated in the profitable Starlink satellite‑internet business, which...
SpaceX Revealed Its Rocket Launches Are Losing Millions—Here’s How It Actually Makes Money
SpaceX’s S‑1 filing shows Starlink generated $3.3 billion in Q1 2026, representing 69% of the company’s $4.7 billion quarterly revenue. In fiscal 2025, Starlink contributed $11.4 billion of total $18.7 billion revenue, while the launch business produced only $619 million in Q1 and $4.1 billion for...
New No Law Dev Diary Goes over the World of Port Desire
Krafton and Neon Giant released a new development diary showcasing Port Desire, the cyber‑grunge city at the heart of *No Law*, an upcoming first‑person open‑world shooter RPG for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The video walk‑through highlights cluttered markets,...
Manufacturers Can Barely Keep Up With the Data Center Gold Rush
The data‑center boom is forcing manufacturers to race for capacity. Carrier Global now targets over $2.5 billion in data‑center sales with a $600 million capex boost, while 3M expects $600 million in revenue and 10% annual growth in related gear. 3M’s optical‑fiber business,...
‘A Place to Grow’
GO Transit’s parent agency Metrolinx unveiled a new commemorative locomotive scheme titled “A Place to Grow.” The Wabtec MP40PH‑3C #636 was wrapped in English and French slogans and the names of Ontario cities it serves. This is the first permanent...
How DHA Plans to End Leidos’ Run as the Military's Health Record Integrator
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) will award five sole‑source contracts to the vendors that supply core technologies for the military’s MHS Genesis electronic health record, ending Leidos’ role as the lead integrator. Oracle Health, Philips North America, Amwell, Henry Schein and Solventum...
Vodacom Lifts Lid on R12.6-billion Fibre Deal
Vodacom disclosed that its R12.64 billion ($666 million) purchase of a 30% stake in fibre group Maziv was driven by R6.28 billion ($331 million) of goodwill, reflecting expected synergies. The transaction was funded with R7.93 billion ($418 million) in cash, R4.57 billion ($240 million) of fibre assets and...
Caterpillar Signs LiDAR Deal for Mining Truck Autonomy with MicroVision
MicroVision acquired Luminar’s Iris and Halo LiDAR assets for $33 million, positioning itself as a key sensor supplier for heavy‑duty autonomous equipment. On June 10, 2026 the company announced a Master Development Agreement with Caterpillar to embed its Iris LiDAR units on...
China-Linked Hackers Backdoored Linux Login Software to Hide for Nearly a Decade
Sygnia uncovered that the China‑linked group Velvet Ant inserted backdoors into Linux PAM and OpenSSH login binaries, remaining undetected for nearly ten years. The attackers replaced trusted authentication modules, enabling secret password entry and credential harvesting without triggering typical alerts. Their...
Navy Awards 59 Seats on $249M Logistics IT Contract
The U.S. Navy has awarded 59 companies seats on a five‑year, $249.9 million Logistics IT Integration and Support (LIIS) contract. The award follows 72 bids and will be executed through firm‑fixed‑price, cost‑plus‑fixed‑fee, and cost‑reimbursable task orders. The contract targets modernization of...
How to Complete the FC 26 Journey of Nations: Asia+Oceania Objective Fast
The guide outlines a two‑phase strategy to finish the FC 26 Journey of Nations Asia+Oceania objective, a prerequisite for unlocking the 97‑rated Maradona. Phase 1 requires six Live Event wins using Japanese players and a Qatar/Uzbekistan starter, while Phase 2 relies on...
Judge Rejects Bid to Stop UFC White House Show
A federal judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction aimed at stopping UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. The plaintiffs, represented by the Public Integrity Project, could not demonstrate a specific risk of irreparable...