Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Jared Kushner talks peace in the Middle East. Donald Trump’s son-in-law and advisor will hold separate meetings with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas; no major breakthroughs are expected. Meanwhile, US defense secretary James Mattis will meet with Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko after viewing Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations.
India decides the fate of privacy. The country’s supreme court will vote on the legality of Aadhaar, a 12-digit biometric unique identity number that some say violates citizens’ privacy. Critics claim the IDs have been used by the government to spy on individuals. India’s constitution currently omits privacy—the government defines it as a right, but not an absolute one.
The National Association of Realtors shares July numbers on existing-home sales in the US. In June, sales fell 1.8% from the month prior as prices surged on tight inventory. The numbers for last month will give a better idea (paywall) of how much those factors are deterring prospective home buyers.
While you were sleeping
Uber’s second-quarter results were a pleasant surprise. The embattled ride-sharing company disclosed that gross bookings reach $8.7 billion, doubling from a year earlier. Net revenue increased to $1.75 billion, up from $800 million a year ago. The results follow a summer of costly scandals (paywall), and it’s worth noting that Uber still had a CEO—and most of its board—for the majority of the second quarter.
The death toll from Typhoon Hato reached 12. Eight people were killed in Macau, while four were reported dead in mainland China. The storm caused flooding and destruction in Hong Kong, which was brought to a standstill with damages estimated at up to $1 billion.
Leading Republicans rebuked Donald Trump. Rattling markets, the US president suggested at a rally he’d shut down the government over funding for his border wall. House speaker Paul Ryan responded, “I don’t think anyone’s interested in having a shutdown,” and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he did not want to hold basic federal funding hostage over the issue.
Ford Motor hired a new leader for its China operations. The carmaker said Key Safety Systems CEO Jason Luo would take the reins in the world’s largest auto market. Key Safety, an auto parts marker, is acquiring the troubled air-bag maker Takata. Ford recently announced an electric vehicle joint venture in China.
Samsung revealed a new Note. The company unveiled the successor to its infamous Note 7, with assurances that the larger Note 8 will not explode. According to Samsung, the Note 8 has passed a rigorous safety test; just in case, its battery is also physically guarded from the rest of the phone. A massive recall of the Note 7 last year cost the South Korean company $3 billion.
Quartz obsession interlude
Jenny Anderson on the teen friendships that make for happier adults. “Most kids won’t have the same best friend at 25 that they had at 15, but making close friends develops muscles that can become self-defining characteristics. These help to build self worth, and give kids confidence that they can build trusting relationships, which is something the researchers say bodes well for the next chapter of intimacy in life: romantic relationships.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
Walmart taps Google / to keep Amazon at bay / in a war of words
Matters of debate
Google shouldn’t own “google.” The verb is as ubiquitous as kleenex, and only references a fraction of what parent company Alphabet has in the works.
Wellness culture is making us unwell. “Orthorexia” is an eating disorder characterized by an obsession with consuming “pure” and “clean” foods.
Ivy League schools don’t admit enough students. The best American universities are minuscule compared to their foreign counterparts, exacerbating socioeconomic inequality.
Surprising discoveries
Salmon used the eclipse to hatch an escape plan. Up to 5,000 Atlantic salmon escaped into the Pacific on Monday, prompting Washington state to temporarily lift fishing limits.
Disco is a weapon. The polarizing genre that gave us the Bee Gees is being used to disarm British neo-Nazis.
Dublin airport’s lost-and-found contains one headstone. “You will always be remembered,” reads an inscription on the forgotten grave marker.
Climate change is coming for your champagne and cava. Rising global temperatures could change harvest time and the taste of grapes so drastically that sparkling wine as we know it goes extinct.
Neptune’s forecast calls for diamond rain. Due to its hot temperatures and complex atmosphere, the icy planet’s interior is studded with minuscule diamonds drizzling down glitter.
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