Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A big week of Senate intelligence hearings. Top officials from the FBI, NSA and Justice Department will testify in both public and closed-door proceedings. The same committee will hear testimony from fired FBI director James Comey on Thursday.
Can artificial intelligence save the world? UN representatives, AI experts, policymakers, and industrialists will discuss whether artificial intelligence can help with sustainable development at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.
9.4 million students finish cramming. The gaokao, China’s annual two-day national college entrance exam, begins. Seen as a ticket to a well-paying job, the highly competitive test inspires months of rigorous preparation.
While you were sleeping
Xi Jinping talked climate change with Jerry Brown. In an unusual diplomatic move, the Chinese president hosted the governor of California, just days after Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Brown has called for a “countermovement” against Trump’s policies, and China says it wants to lead the world in reducing carbon emission.
South Africa is in a recession. GDP unexpectedly contracted for the second straight quarter, receding 0.7%, as every industry except agriculture and mining shrank. It’s the second recession since 2009, and economists warn it may get worse.
Donald Trump took sides in the against Qatar. The US president sent several tweets backing the Saudi-led move to isolate the Gulf state, saying it was just punishment for Qatar’s alleged backing of terrorist groups. US officials subsequently urged for a resolution of the conflict.
Uber fired more 20 employees after a sexual harassment investigation. The probe, launched after a worker published an account of the startup’s toxic workplace culture, looked into 215 claims of misconduct. The findings from a separate investigation, led by former US attorney general Eric Holder, have yet to be released.
A man with a hammer attacked police officers at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The unidentified man shouted “this is for Syria” and injured one officer before being shot and wounded outside the popular tourist attraction.
Quartz obsession interlude
Oliver Staley on how J.Crew’s iconic boss couldn’t adapt to the internet. “CEO Mickey Drexler was an Apple board member who helped Steve Jobs create the first Apple stores. Yet despite his front-row seat to the marriage of technology and retail, he admitted he was unprepared for the changes wrought by online shopping.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
Where to stash your dough? / Gold? Bonds? Or a currency / that is nine years old?
Matters of debate
The Gulf state feud is all about natural gas. Qatar’s massive reserves allowed it to challenge Saudi Arabia for regional dominance.
Canada doesn’t need the United States. Foreign minister Chrystia Freeland says it’s time to step out of its neighbor’s shadow.
The days of $1 billion movies are almost over. Changing viewer trends will make blockbuster films a rarity.
Surprising discoveries
A Siberian gardener found a massive pair of mammoth tusks. They date back about 400,000 years.
There was no $110 billion US-Saudi arms deal. The highly touted sale is mostly letters of interest and pre-existing contracts.
Scientists have found the hottest planet ever. KELT-9 has temperatures so high (7,820°F / 4,326℃ ) that it’s rapidly evaporating.
Canada rented an 11-ton counterfeit duck. A massive floating sculpture to honor the country’s 150 birthday is a complete rip-off, says the artist behind the “original” model.
Japanese interpreters are struggling with Donald Trump. They’re complaining about his garbled syntax and colloquial style.
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