Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The US and China face off over tariffs. Both countries are scheduled to begin enforcing tariffs on many of each other’s goods on Friday, but the time difference means that China’s would go into effect first. Beijing’s finance ministry says it won’t “fire the first shot,” however, until the US makes a decisive move. Meanwhile, a cargo ship filled with soybeans is racing to make it to China before the tariffs begin.
The US checks on North Korean denuclearization. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo arrives in Pyongyang on Friday for a visit with Kim Jong-un, whose nuclear program only seems to have progressed since he promised to dismantle it. On Sunday, Pompeo will meet with representatives from South Korea and Japan in Tokyo to discuss the issue.
Moon prepares to talk money with Modi. The South Korean president heads to India on Sunday, and will first attend the India-Korea business forum on Monday, then broach financial deals with India’s prime minister on Tuesday. The two are expected to iron out details that will further their trade partnership.
While you were sleeping
US Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt has finally resigned. Pruitt has been under investigation for various ethical lapses and had been facing pressure to step down for months. US president Donald Trump tweeted that the resignation would take effect Monday, and announced that Pruitt’s successor in the interim would be Andrew Wheeler, a former coal-industry lobbyist.
The EU parliament voted against copyright control legislation. The controversial Copyright Directive would have required every online upload to be checked for copyright violations and would have led to the scrutiny and surveillance of internet users.
The UK’s home secretary said the country is a “dumping ground” for Russian poison. Sajid Javid accused Moscow of making British people “deliberate or accidental targets” after the poisoning of a couple in Wiltshire, England, by Novichok, the same nerve agent used to harm the Skripals in March.
Iran threatened to disrupt crude oil shipments over US sanctions. President Hassan Rouhani suggested that Tehran would block the Strait of Hormuz—which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through—if Washington does not lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports. The US has signaled it is ready to use military force in retaliation.
Germany, Austria, and Italy said they’ll meet about shutting down migrant routes. European leaders set a meeting for next week, where they’ll decide how best to block the passage from Africa to Europe currently used by tens of thousands. The initiative comes after pressure on German chancellor Angela Merkel from anti-immigrant parties.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Lila MacLellan on whether sonic weapons could literally blow your mind: “Ultrasonic sound waves can damage a body by causing ‘cavitation’: as the waves travel in the body, pushing and pulling the molecules around them, the pressure can create ‘bubbles’ within human tissue, or within the liquid of the inner ear.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Facebook’s real privacy problem is its targeting system. Big Tech can’t perform automated persuasion, but it can target more credulous users.
Scientists should refocus their search for life. Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, has confirmed oceans, making it more promising than Jupiter’s Europa.
Touchscreens are useless in cars. Quick glance operability and muscle memory are benefits that only analog tools can provide.
Surprising discoveries
Facebook removed the US Declaration of Independence. The platform’s AI and human-run review system was likely triggered by the phrase “Indian savages.”
A “Trump Baby” balloon will fly over the UK parliament. Thousands petitioned and raised funds to help the inflatable infant take flight during the US president’s visit.
Giving men more testosterone makes them prefer luxury goods. A new study found that desire for high-status items over high-quality products increases with the hormone.
No World Cup distractions at weddings, please. The Church of England wants guests to stay focused instead of checking scores on Saturday’s England vs. Sweden match.
Non-stop singing could pay for your taxi ride. The “singalong shuffle”—in which the ride stops when the singing does—will debut at Finland’s Ruisrock music festival.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, presidential baby balloons, and cab karaoke requests to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by David Wexner and Aisha Hassan, and edited by Susan Howson.