Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Julian Assange attends an extradition hearing. A London court will consider whether a US extradition request for Assange, signed by UK home secretary Sajid Javid, is compatible with his human rights. The WikiLeaks founder faces 18 charges in the US related to computer hacking and publishing classified information.
Millions of workers strike in Brazil… Bus drivers and metro workers are among those taking part in a nationwide labor action against president Jair Bolsonaro’s plans to overhaul the country’s pension system. The strike is expected to be bigger than one in 2017 that drew 40 million workers in 150 cities.
… while Hong Kong braces for more demonstrations. Protest organizers have called for another march on Sunday, a week after one million people turned out to call on the government to scrap a controversial bill that would allow suspects be sent to the mainland for trial. The protests forced the government to postpone debate on the law.
The World Health Organization evaluates an Ebola outbreak. The global health body will decide today whether to declare a recent outbreak in the DR Congo, which has killed 1,400 so far, a “public health emergency of international concern.” Violence and attacks on health workers have hampered efforts to administer a vaccine, with the outbreak recently spreading to neighboring Uganda.
While you were sleeping
The fallout over suspected oil tanker attacks continued. The owner of the Japanese Kokuka Courageous, one of two vessels evacuated yesterday in the Gulf of Oman after catching fire in an apparent attack, contradicted US military reports (paywall) that naval mines were responsible. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has pinned the blame on Iran, which denies any involvement.
The Christchurch shooter pleaded not guilty. The charges include 50 counts of murder, 41 of attempted murder, and a terrorism charge for the mass shootings in March at two New Zealand mosques, which were partly broadcast live on social media.
China’s industrial output hit a 17-year low. Growth in May slowed to 5%, below expectations. The weaker numbers could prompt Beijing to ramp up stimulus measures, as the US-China trade spat continues to weigh on the world’s second-largest economy. Yesterday, 600 US companies signed an open letter criticizing Trump’s tariffs.
Fiat Chrysler struck a green deal. The Italian-American automaker reached an agreement with European utilities companies Enel and Engie to roll out charging stations for electric vehicles. Fiat pledged last year to invest $10 billion over a five year period to develop hybrid cars and EVs.
The Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title. The Raptors—whose name was inspired by the 1990s movie Jurassic Park (paywall)—toppled the reign of the Golden State Warriors, winning 114-110 in Game Six of the finals.
Membership
We wrap up our look at Israel’s central role in the future of food with a Q&A with Didier Toubia, CEO of Aleph Farms, which is attempting to make meat from cell cultures. Unlike many other players in the cultured-meat space, however, Aleph is not aiming to create ground-beef products, but whole cuts of meat, like steaks.
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
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
Your home office needs at least two chairs. A seat that’s different in design to 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.
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. It comes from a 1955 radio show that profiled the artist’s husband Diego Rivera.
Humans were getting high on cannabis 2,500 years ago. A tomb in western China revealed the earliest evidence to date of toking habits.
The London Metal Exchange is sobering up. In an effort to clean up its alcohol-soaked image, the LME has banned booze (paywall) on the trading floor.
Wyoming is an unlikely blockchain hub. The least populated state in the US is increasingly crypto-friendly (paywall).
A British athlete mailed his amputated toes to Canada. They’ll be preserved in rock salt before featuring in a Yukon hotel’s famous whiskey Sourtoe cocktail.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cool office chairs, and fancy lox to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof.