🌏 The chip wars are rising

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Here’s what you need to know

Semiconductor maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) dropped $4.9 billion to buy systems builder ZT Systems. The move could help the chip company compete with AI semiconductor rivals like Nvidia.

Goldman Sachs brushed off recession concerns. The firm said recent economic data “shows no sign of a recession.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Carl Icahn and his firm for hiding stock pledges. Icahn and his company have agreed to a $2 million settlement and a cease-and-desist order. 

Southwest Airlines braces for proxy battle with activist investor Elliot. The hedge fund is pushing for changes to help the airline “chart a brighter future.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first at-home test for syphilis. The new test requires only a single drop of blood with results ready in 15 minutes.

Starbucks’ recipe for success is all mixed up

Former Amazon executive John Rossman is slamming Starbucks for its recent missteps, claiming the chain’s former CEO Laxman Narasimhan “diluted” the brand by focusing on value deals instead of its premium qualities.

Rossman, who played a key role in launching Amazon’s Marketplace, argues that Starbucks has fallen victim to the Innovator’s Dilemma, where past successes hinder adaptation to market changes. Quartz’s Francisco Velasquez has more on what Starbucks needs to do to succeed, and why that’ll require more than 170,000 custom beverage options.

Pharma has some big power players

The S&P Global’s new report has ranked the top pharmaceutical companies based on how strong their business is and how financially risky their current situation might be. The report takes a look at factors like competitive advantage, revenue growth prospects, and product diversification.

Quartz’s Bruce Gil has more on which firms made the list, and why Johnson & Johnson was just one of two companies with a nearly perfect score.

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Surprising discoveries

Wrong love web. Spiders could be tricking male fireflies into their webs by imitating signals of female fireflies.

Very demure, very cutesy. Mentions of “demure” soared by +3,631% last week, with nearly 1 million X users using the term.

The chicken nuggets come with a little surprise. Perdue recalled thousands of pounds of frozen nuggets and tenders after metal wire was discovered in the products. 

Deep brain implants could help treat Parkinson’s disease. Early trials of the smart implants are showing promising results, with motor symptoms being cut in half when compared to traditional implants.

Jackson Hole’s using Selfie Control. The Instagram filter, which emphasizes a red image of an animal when someone’s too close, is being used to prevent dangerous encounters with wildlife.

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Our best wishes on a safe start to the day. Send any news, comments, demure tips, and selfie controls to [email protected]. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Francisco Velasquez and Bruce Gil.