Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Trump Baby will fly. President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in the UK for a series of events, including bilateral talks and a meeting with the queen—but in central London, a “Stop Trump” march is planned, featuring a giant inflatable infant Trump, set to hover above parliament.
Malaysia’s defense minister will visit Rohingya refugees. Mohamad Sabu’s official visit to Bangladesh will focus on the plight of the Rohingya, with stops in the camps at Cox’s Bazaar and the Malaysian Field Hospital there.
Typhoon Maria becomes a tropical storm. The typhoon that made landfall in China’s coastal cities has lost strength, but heavy rain, wind, and risks of flooding remain. Meanwhile, over 50 people remain missing in Japan’s worst typhoon-related disaster in decades, with the death toll connected to Typhoon Prapiroon already at 176.
While you were sleeping
Trump stepped up his rhetoric at NATO’s summit. The US president told European members to up their defense spending to 4%, a number which some called outrageous—and which the US itself doesn’t meet. Trump, who will have more meetings today before the summit’s close, also accused Germany of being too reliant on Russia for energy.
Puerto Rico’s power chief abruptly resigned. Only four months prior, Walter Higgins had been put in charge of stabilizing electricity throughout the US territory, which still struggles with delivering power after Hurricane Maria. Though Higgins’s $450,000 salary had drawn sharp criticism, the wages of his successor, former General Electric executive Rafael Diaz-Granados’s are significantly higher (paywall).
The US opened the final door for ZTE. The Commerce Department signed off on an escrow account, in which the Chinese telecommunications has agreed to deposit $400 million. The sum will be held apart from the $1 billion payment ZTE has already made, in case the company violates its settlement.
A Morgan Stanley executive departed amid lawsuits. At least four women have taken legal action (paywall), accusing Robert Perry of mishandling reports of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior in departments he managed. Perry himself leaves the firm after an internal investigation into his management style and behavior.
Greece said it will expel Russian diplomats. Russia has reportedly tried to foster discontent within the country’s historic agreement with Macedonia—soon to be called Northern Macedonia. The agreement would pave the way for Macedonia to make a bid for NATO membership, which Russia believes would dilute its own influence in the Balkans.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Corinne Purtill on the culture of sucking up: “The straw debate is not really about straws. It’s about the broader effects of a culture of thoughtless consumption and disposal. To consider whether to take a straw is to be conscious, even for a fleeting moment, of the resources it takes to prop up the illusion that life is cheap or convenient.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Add some ice to your wine. Summer is too short for putting up with peer pressure over the correct ways to drink certain types of alcohol.
A Thailand cave escape movie would flop. Films these days aren’t able to capture the subtle yet heroic nature of the rescue.
Let humans die out. The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement might be onto something with their controversial suggestion for saving the earth.
Surprising discoveries
The world’s ugliest dog died. Zsa Zsa went to her well-deserved rest just two weeks after being crowned most repugnant pooch.
Airbnb’s going glamping. Tentrr helps land-owners rent campsites to visitors, and investors are mesmerized.
Marcel Duchamp didn’t create “Fountain.” The iconic urinal—er, work of art—was actually crafted by Dada poet Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven.
Sarah Palin says she was duped by Sacha Baron Cohen. The comedian disguised himself as a disabled vet, before the US politician stormed out.
A clay tablet reveals the oldest-known Odyssey excerpt. Archaeologists excavating the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece, believe the writing dates to the third century.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, celebrity canines, and miscredited art 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.