Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The boys rescued from the Thai cave speak to the media. Following their discharge from the hospital, the 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach will give a single press conference before finally returning to their families. A government spokesperson requested the media leave the boys and their family members alone for the next 30 days
Mumbai faces a milk shortage. The effects of striking dairy farmers in rural Indian areas will make their way to the Mumbai region, as protesters continue to forcibly detain milk tankers headed towards the city. Beset by low demand, farmers are insisting on increased procurement prices and subsidies before they’ll let the milk flow.
South Korea talks cars with the US. Trade minister Kim Hyun-chong leaves Canada for meetings with US officials and automakers, as well as a South Korean delegation that includes the president of Hyundai. Kim is expected to argue that exporting Korean cars to (and manufacturing Korean cars in) the US makes good financial sense for both parties.
While you were sleeping
Trump took back his Helsinki comments. After receiving harsh bipartisan criticism, the US president retracted his statements to Vladimir Putin about American intelligence agencies incorrectly believing that Russia had meddled in the 2016 election. Trump now claims faith in the US organizations, and says his administration will protect the 2018 congressional elections.
Lloyd Blankfein is leaving Goldman Sachs. After leading the investment bank for 12 years, and through the 2008 financial crisis, the seasoned CEO will step down in October. David Solomon, who is expected to help the firm transition into consumer finance, will take his place.
Japan and the European Union signed a historic trade deal. The two groups, recently burdened by Trump’s protectionist policies, agreed to the biggest trade deal in either’s history by eliminating nearly all tariffs between each other. The trade zone created by their economic partnership will cover 600 million people and nearly one third of global GDP.
The Brexit campaign is in trouble. Britain’s electoral regulators fined “Vote Leave” for violating spending rules, while budget watchdogs indicated that Theresa May’s “Brexit dividend” wouldn’t happen. Campaign transparency group Fair Vote UK has called for another Brexit vote, claiming that these findings render the initial referendum illegitimate.
Italy’s highest court controversially reopened a case. The court of cassation ordered the retrial of a 2009 rape case, making the retrograde ruling that aggravated circumstances cannot be applied to sexual assault cases if the victim voluntarily drank alcohol prior to being attacked.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Rosie Spinks on a chilling tale of cultural imperialism: “After a brief stint in debtors’ prison, Tudor employed the time-honored sales tactics of a drug dealer by topping up his wealthy customer’s ice block orders—which they mainly used for cooling medicine and food—with some free product, encouraging people to try drinking their beverages on the rocks.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Strongman politics destroy democracy. Former US president Barack Obama criticized leaders who “make stuff up,” (paywall) describing a familiar-sounding hypothetical leader.
Buprenorphine could solve the opioid epidemic. Americans don’t have enough access to the medication, which has been proved to be a life-saving intervention.
Quitting social media will help, not hinder, your career. The digital detox will reduce procrastination and strengthen mindfulness.
Surprising discoveries
Madagascar has the fastest broadband speed in Africa. The island nation’s speed is more than double the world average, and outpaces many more developed countries.
Astronomers discovered 10 more moons orbiting Jupiter. The planet now has 79 moons in total, and one is even on a collision course with the others.
Multi-grain pita is the oldest bread in the world. Archeologists found the 14,400-year-old specimen in an ancient fireplace in the Jordanian desert.
Chicago is spreading anti-ketchup propaganda. Electronic signs spurning the condiment can be found on the city’s expressways.
A genealogy website might crack another cold case. Police uploaded DNA samples (paywall) to help nail down a suspect for the rape and murder of 8-year-old April Tinsley in 1988.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, condiment campaigns, and Jupiter’s 80th moon 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 Aisha Hassan and David Wexner and edited by Susan Howson.