Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
China reveals some telling economic numbers. The world’s second-largest economy will announce its second-quarter GDP growth rate figure. The country’s growth appears to be ratcheting down, according to analysts surveyed recently, partially as a result of slowing property sales and restrictions on bank lending in the country.
Britain engages in a new round of Brexit talks. Another session of negotiations between the UK and the EU to determine how it will leave the union begins Monday. Main topics to be discussed include what happens to EU citizens in the UK after the split, how much the UK will pay the EU for leaving, and whether the UK will remain a member of the bloc’s nuclear agency.
India elects its next president. India’s parliament and state legislatures will elect a new head of state. The main contenders for the role are Ram Nath Kovind, the heavy favorite from the Bharatiya Janata Party—prime minster Narendra Modi’s party—and the former speaker of India’s lower house in parliament, Meira Kumar. The current president, Pranab Mukherjee, said recently he will not seek re-election.
It’s a big day for second quarter earnings reports. Netflix, Altaba—the investment company created from the ashes of Yahoo’s sale to Verizon—and BlackRock are among the companies expected to announce earnings. Analysts expect strong numbers from Netflix and BlackRock, and a marginal report from Atlaba.
Don’t forget it’s world emoji day. “We use emojis every day, so why not celebrate them?” So says the website for Monday’s celebration of the digital hieroglyphs we have come to use to replace actual words. Make sure to 📝 all your 📧 today with a 😊 and perhaps a 💃.
Over the weekend
China’s president Xi Jinping promotes an ally, investigates a rival. The country’s Communist party announced it was putting Sun Zhengcai, party chief for the city of Chongqing, under investigation, replaced by Chen Min’er, a leader from the Guizhou province. Sun’s dismissal has been seen by some (paywall) as part of an effort by Xi to consolidate power—Sun was seen as a possible contender for a top position within the party, or even the presidency.
Donald Trump’s administration proposed an expanded travel ban. Under rules being considered (paywall) by the US department of homeland security, some 17 additional countries were flagged as not providing enough information about their citizens who want to travel to the US. Nations that don’t meet new standards could face travel restrictions similar to those imposed on the six Muslim-majority countries. Expect more litigation.
Roger Federer won the men’s final at Wimbledon. That makes him the oldest man to ever win, at just shy of 36 years old. Venezuelan-born Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, 23, crushed American Venus Williams in the women’s final match, denying Williams, 37, the crown of oldest single women’s Wimbledon champion.
The US health care bill got delayed. Again. The Senate’s majority leader Mitch McConnell said consideration will wait until senator John McCain recovers from surgery for blood clot near his eye. A procedural vote could have come on Tuesday. The controversial legislation is opposed by Democrats and some Republicans; McCain’s support is critical.
Israel reopened a holy site after deadly attacks. The site—known as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims and Temple Mount to the Jews—reopened after an attack on Friday where three assailants killed two guards. Police are now allowing worshippers to enter through two gates to the site, which includes the Dome of the Rock, after passing through new metal detectors.
Quartz obsession interlude
Gwynn Guilford on the hogs of New York. “In this seemingly obscure history of New York’s pig woes lies the beginnings of conflicts America still grapples with today, such as gentrification, the extent of the government’s responsibility to its citizens, and the tenuous economic security of poor and working class Americans.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Amazon, Google, and Facebook aren’t innovators, just monopolies. The ever-expanding reach of tech companies has upended the creative industries and seems set to do the same (paywall) to transportation, medicine, and retail.
Artificial intelligence could spark a war. Speaking at the US National Governor’s Association on Saturday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk called AI “the greatest risk we face as a civilization,” saying that the technology could be used to harm humanity, create disinformation, and pump up military spending.
Women are better tippers than men. Women consistently tip more often than men, according to a study published by Bloomberg.
Surprising discoveries
20 million mosquitos are a good thing. Alphabet’s life sciences unit plans to release bacteria-infected males in Fresno, California, in a bid to trick wild females into mating with males that can’t reproduce. Good news for us: The boys also don’t bite.
You’ll be able to live in the world of Star Wars soon. Disney resorts plans to open a Star Wars-themed hotel at its Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida. Employees will stay in costume and in character at all times.
Winnie the Pooh has been blacklisted in China. AA Milne’s cartoon bear with a fondness for honey has been banned (paywall) in the People’s Republic. Some say it’s the result of a viral image from 2013 comparing a picture of president Xi Jingping walking alongside Barack Obama to one of a portly Winnie strolling with Tigger.
Most people don’t get married in June. The panic surrounding the Chapter 7 filing of a big bridal retailer in the US revealed that most weddings now take place in September and October.
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