Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Britain’s big pre-Brexit vote. A conservative landslide in today’s snap general election will more or less seal the country’s EU exit, but any other outcome could throw it wide open, and voters acting as a bloc could have a big impact. An interest rate decision by the European Central Bank is also expected to test markets.
James Comey’s big day. The fired FBI director will testify in front of the Senate intelligence committee at 10am ET. According to his prepared testimony (pdf), Comey will detail how president Donald Trump pressured him for loyalty, not honesty, in the FBI’s investigation of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
India and Pakistan shake hands. The not-so-friendly neighbors will officially join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-based group aimed at military cooperation and intelligence sharing, at a summit in Kazakhstan.
While you were sleeping
Trump nominated a new FBI director. Christopher Wray, a “safe, mainstream pick” (paywall) is considered qualified and “fairly non-controversial.” The former federal prosecutor is likely to face questions about his work as an attorney for scandal-ridden New Jersey governor (and Trump supporter) Chris Christie.
Iran blamed Saudi Arabia for yesterday’s terror attacks. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the assaults by gunmen and suicide bombers in Tehran that killed 12 people, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has pointed the finger at Riyadh. The move is likely to raise tensions in the Middle East, where a Saudi-led coalition is feuding with Qatar.
The global economy got a thumbs up. The OECD upped its global economic growth forecast for the year to 3.5%, and for next year to 3.6%—slightly higher than its March forecasts. The US didn’t fare as well—its projected growth was cut to 2.1% due to delays in Trump’s tax cut and infrastructure proposals.
IKEA will test sales through third parties. Flat-pack furniture and home furnishings may soon be available on platforms like Amazon and Alibaba, as the Swedish giant experiments with new modes of digital shopping.
A newly discovered fossil changed human history. Researchers at Jebel Irhoud, a site in Morocco, found evidence that Homo sapiens—our ancestors—were around 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. The new evidence, which shows them dispersed throughout Africa, could rewrite the story of human evolution.
Quartz obsession interlude
Corinne Purtill on a young developer who made a huge mistake. “The point is, any system in which humans are involved will at some point be disrupted by human error. Organizations distinguish themselves not by stamping out the possibility of error, but by handling the inevitable mistake well.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
Stocks climb ever up
Alpinists know the descent
Is what’s dangerous
Matters of debate
Retail trends are taking a dangerous turn. Fidget spinners and vape pens are bypassing retailers and regulators alike.
Yoga needs an ethical makeover. Recent lawsuits reveal widespread sexual misconduct in the industry.
Qatar will be ok. Although its neighbors have cut trade ties, major Asian markets still rely heavily on its natural gas.
Surprising discoveries
Russian hackers are using Britney Spears’s Instagram. One prominent group hid instructions for malware in the comments section.
Jumping spiders have eyes like telescopes. They can see the moon—and maybe even its craters.
An antique photo captured both Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Teddy was just a little boy, watching Abe’s funeral procession in New York.
Fake science saved lives in Victorian England. The theory that bad smells cause illness was wrong—but it inspired a new era of sanitary living.
Beware: Ravens hold grudges. If you cross them, they will remember.
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