Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
China sends a special envoy to North Korea. US president Donald Trump has called the visit a “big move,” though it’s unclear whether there will be a major breakthrough at a time when Beijing-Pyongyang relations are at a low point.
Angela Merkel works the weekend. A month of talks between the three German parties trying to form a coalition government missed the Friday deadline. The Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, and Greens need to iron out their policy differences on refugees, climate, and finances fast—or Germany could face a snap election.
NAFTA talks continue. As the three North American countries press on with negotiations in Mexico City, Reuters reported that Canada is open to a Mexican proposal to review the agreement every five years. Both countries oppose the US demands to end the deal if it is not renegotiated.
The SpaceX Zuma mission is now set to launch on Friday. A second delay this week pushed the US government’s mystery satellite mission back to Friday night, possibly later. Watch the launch from Cape Canaveral on the SpaceX live stream.
While you were sleeping
Robert Mugabe is still refusing to step down. The 93-year-old Zimbabwean president, under house arrest since the army took over the government two days ago, is reportedly resisting pressure to step aside. On Friday, Mugabe made his first public appearance since the coup, attending a graduation ceremony in the capital, Harare.
Tesla unveiled its electric big rig—and a new Roadster. CEO Elon Musk’s showmanship went full throttle in California when the new Tesla Roadster drove out of the back of the company’s first electric truck. Musk said the $200,000 sports car would be the fastest production car ever. A Michigan grocery chain immediately ordered four of the heavy-duty trucks, which promise a range of 500 miles on one charge.
Apple’s first-ever diversity chief is leaving already. Denise Young Smith took the job in May and is leaving the company at the end of the year, TechCrunch reported. It’s not clear if Young Smith had decided to leave before her controversial comments at a conference in Colombia last month. She’ll be replaced by Christie Smith, formerly of Deloitte.
More suitors chased 21st Century Fox. News emerged last week that Walt Disney talked to Fox about buying some of the company. Now Comcast and Verizon (paywall), and separately Sony’s entertainment unit, are reportedly eyeing parts of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire too. Assets up for grabs include the Twentieth Century Fox studio, some US cable networks, and the international business.
Nissan blamed untrained inspectors for its problems. The Japanese company, which recalled 1.2 million cars last month, said uncertified inspectors has been signing off on vehicle checks at its plants for decades. The recall will cost Nissan over $200 million.
Quartz obsession interlude
Yomi Kazeem on the 40 African countries that help explain what a coup is. “Since the 1960s, Africa has seen at least 200 successful and failed coups. The coups have inspired Hollywood flicks such as Tears of the Sun which starred Bruce Willis and depicted a bloody overthrow of a Nigerian president… Burkina Faso, land of Thomas Sankara, is the coup capital of Africa after witnessing 10 attempts—the most on the continent.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Sex addiction is not an excuse for criminal behavior. Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey set a dangerous precedent by (falsely) framing their scandals as a neurological struggle.
Silicon Valley is beating Detroit on self-driving cars. Traditional automakers can’t match the breakneck pace set by Alphabet, Apple, and Uber.
America’s prescription drug epidemic is changing hip-hop. Lil Peep, the 21-year-old rapper who recently died of a suspected overdose, frequently rapped about Xanax.
Surprising discoveries
Scientists found a forest in Antarctica’s ice. The fossilized remains, roughly 260 million years old, prove the continent had plant life despite long sunless winters.
Coldplay had the third-highest-grossing tour in history. Chris Martin’s band made more than $500 million on their recent tour, just after U2’s 2009-2011 tour and the Rolling Stones’ a decade ago.
The Malaysian government is looking into the aphrodisiac value of durian. It’s pungent, delicious, and “good for men.”
Chinese videogames now include Xi Jinping’s teachings. Players can absorb the Chinese president’s socialist exhortations as they kill their enemies.
Vantablack is the new ultra-black. The man-made material absorbs 99.96% of visible light, creating a visual effect like looking at a black hole.
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