Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The Christchurch shooter appears in court. The suspect, who is believed to have killed 51 and wounded dozens when he opened fire on a New Zealand mosque, will face 50 murder counts as well as charges of terrorism—a first for the nation.
Julian Assange attends an extradition hearing. UK home secretary Sajid Javid signed a US request for extradition of the WikiLeaks founder, and now a London court will decide whether the order is compatible with Assange’s human rights.
Indonesia braces for protests. As the country prepares for its first presidential election dispute hearing, the government could implement social media shutdowns to prevent the spread of misinformation it says causes riots.
EuroPride takes to the streets. Since 1992, Europe’s largest pride parade has been attracting thousands—sometimes millions—of demonstrators to different cities in Europe. This year, the march takes place on Saturday in Vienna.
While you were sleeping
The US blamed Iran for the latest oil tanker attack. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the type of weapons used in Thursday’s Gulf of Oman attack points to Iran, which insists it had nothing to do with this or another attack last month. The Japanese tanker involved exploded while prime minister Shinzo Abe was meeting with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Oil prices jumped in response.
Boris Johnson took a step closer to becoming PM. Some 310 conservative British MPs voted to select their next leader—and their country’s next prime minister—in the House of Commons. Johnson picked up a third of the total votes, much more than any of the other nine candidates received.
The White House is losing its press secretary… Donald Trump tweeted that Sarah Huckabee Sanders will step down at the end of this month. He congratulated her on a job well done and signaled that she could be considering a run for the governorship of her home state of Arkansas, but did not indicate who her replacement will be.
…But is unlikely to lose Kellyanne Conway. According to the US Office of Special Counsel, the Trump advisor should be fired for routinely violating the Hatch Act—which prohibits federal employees from partisan political activities while on duty. The White House has accused the department of trying to limit Conway’s free speech, and it would fall on Trump to fire her.
Tyson blended fake meat with real meat. The new “Raised and Rooted” burger is half pea protein, half Angus beef, and all good news for investors, who sent share prices up on the news (paywall). Tyson says the flexitarian-aimed product is a “billion-dollar brand” that will hit store shelves and restaurant menus later this year.
Broadcom took a dip. The chip manufacturer blamed US export restrictions on Huawei, which it said was one of its biggest customers, for its lowered revenue guidance for the fiscal year and deflating results for the second quarter of 2019. Shares fell more than 7% after the report.
Membership
The rapid decline of the world’s bee population presents a major challenge to farmers. In the latest chapter of our deep-dive into next-generation food startups, we speak with Israeli technologists working on ways to support and monitor bee colonies. This week’s Private Key explains the ground rules for building a blockchain business, and in our members-only video series, Strava CEO James Quarles discusses how to grow a business anchored in an online community.
Quartz Obsession
Lox is a modern twist on an ancient practice. Humans have long preserved fish of all kinds with salt, smoke, and fermentation. All it took was a transcontinental railroad and a wave of Yiddish-speaking immigrants to New York City to compel us to pile thin slices of cured salmon atop bagels and cream cheese. Dive in with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Your home office needs at least two chairs. A seat that’s different in design than your desk chair can change your perspective.
Slack has a workplace harassment problem. The communication tool doesn’t have the functionality to mute or block someone.
Do talk to strangers. Research suggests that connecting with random people can be surprisingly fulfilling.
Surprising discoveries
The only known recording of Frida Kahlo’s voice was found at a Mexican library. It comes from a radio show that profiled the artist’s husband Diego Rivera in 1955.
Humans were getting high on cannabis 2,500 years ago. A tomb in western China revealed the earliest evidence to date.
The London Metal Exchange is sobering up. In an effort to clean up an image that’s been alcohol-soaked since Victorian times, the LME has banned booze on the floor (paywall).
Wyoming is an unlikely blockchain hub. The least populated state in the US is increasingly crypto-friendly, ahead of a formulated federal policy.
A British athlete mailed his amputated toes to Canada. They’ll be preserved in rock salt for at least six weeks before featuring in a Yukon hotel’s famous whiskey Sourtoe cocktail.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, toeless drinks, and old weed to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Jessanne Collins, Patrick deHahn, and Susan Howson.