Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
James Comey unplugged. Amid a media frenzy worthy of a major sporting event, 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.
Britain goes to the polls. Forty-six million Brits are eligible to have their say today. A Conservative Party landslide in today’s snap general election would help prime minister Theresa May ensure the country’s EU exit happens on her terms. Other outcomes could throw the process wide open, and the Labour Party has been steadily closing the gap in polls.
The ECB drags out a policy change. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi is set to announce the bank’s latest policy decision today, but despite the EU economy gaining pace, he’s not expected to make any changes to the ongoing stimulus program (paywall) and is unlikely to cut interest rates.
While you were sleeping
California and Tsinghua University set up a climate institute. The Chinese university and the state of California will cooperate on research and technology to combat global warming at the new Climate Change Institute. California announced earlier this week that it would take matters into its own hands after Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris accord, and work directly with China on developing clean tech.
Renault-Nissan planned a battery mega-plant in Europe. The group’s 100 megawatt storage plant, which still has to be built, would compete with utility companies by selling energy to the grid. It’s working with specialists at the Mobility House on creating a mega battery from second-hand lithium-ion car batteries.
Iran called Trump’s reaction to Tehran’s ISIL attack “repugnant.” Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected Trump’s condolences for the victims of the attacks after the president added “states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote.” Thirteen people were killed in the attack on the Iran parliament and shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini yesterday.
North Korea fired more missiles into the sea. One day after South Korea’s new president put the deployment of the US-backed THAAD missile defense system on hold, Pyongyang launched what were believed to be four surface-to-ship cruise missiles about 200 km (124 miles) into the sea.
Japan revised its GDP down. The world’s third-largest economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1% (paywall), compared to a preliminary estimate of 2.2%, thanks to lower-than-expected business inventories and consumer spending. But strong exports meant it was still the fifth straight quarter of growth.
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.
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 (paywall) 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 slyly used 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.
A newly discovered fossil changed human history. Researchers in Morocco found evidence that Homo sapiens were around 100,000 years earlier than previously thought.
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.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, revenge-seeking ravens, and ethical yoga instructors to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.