Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump kicks off his re-election campaign. The US president formally launches his bid for a second term at a rally in Orlando, Florida. His campaign fired several pollsters yesterday after unflattering numbers were leaked.
UK prime minister hopefuls face a second round of votes. Six Conservatives are competing to become the next party leader, and thus prime minister. Candidates need to secure a minimum of 33 votes to remain in the race today, with the list whittled down to two by Friday. Party members will select the winner by July 22.
Facebook unveils its new global cryptocurrency, Libra. The digital currency would allow Facebook users to make purchases and send payments to each other, and within its family of apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.
The US and Africa talk business. A dozen heads of state gather in Maputo, Mozambique for the US-Africa summit to discuss agriculture, energy, health, infrastructure, and finance. In what some have seen as a slight, the highest-ranking US representative in attendance will be deputy secretary of commerce Karen Dunn Kelley.
While you were sleeping
Trump said millions of undocumented migrants would soon be deported. The US president tweeted last night that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would next week begin to remove millions of people from the country. He also said that Guatemala would sign an agreement (paywall) that would require asylum-seekers to claim refuge there.
The US is sending 1,000 troops to the Middle East. Citing “hostile behavior” from Iran, the move is likely to heighten tensions between the two countries, as Washington blames Tehran for attacks on two oil tankers last week. The deployment is in addition to the 1,500-troop increase (paywall) announced last month following earlier tanker bombings.
China announced Xi Jinping will visit North Korea. The two-day trip, starting on Thursday, will be the first visit by a Chinese president to the country in 14 years. Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program is likely to feature in discussions.
Hong Kong’s leader apologized for a controversial extradition bill. Chief executive Carrie Lam said she had “much to learn” from the huge protests sparked by a bill that would send suspects to mainland China. Lam has suspended the bill, but not withdrawn it, prompting calls for her resignation.
Google teamed up with a French drugmaker. The search engine giant will work with biopharmaceutical company Sanofi to use artificial intelligence and cloud services to deliver healthcare. The collaboration will focus on personalized medicine and improving research on major diseases.
Membership
At the intersection of the $4 trillion wellness-industrial complex, the $17 billion legal cannabis industry, and the anxiety epidemic crippling America sits a little bottle of CBD oil. To some, it’s a radical cure with massive, untapped potential. To others, it’s snake oil. We continue our deep dive into the CBD boom with an insider’s view from cannabis analyst Vivien Azer.
Quartz Obsession
We can thank the big screen for the little macaron. A current favorite of fashion editors and Instagram influencers, the small French almond cookies owe their recent rise to the 2006 Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette, which portrayed them as part of a luxe life (now available at European McDonald’s locations) before social media fell for the brightly colored confections. Have a tiny taste at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Garages are the new affordable houses. They could ease housing shortages in cities around the world.
English should be the official language of post-Brexit Europe. It would be a neutral language for European countries with competing mother tongues.
Driverless cars could kill the airline industry. Autonomous vehicles let you pack anything, leave anytime, and maybe even stretch your legs.
Surprising discoveries
The last Inca rope bridge in Peru has been rebuilt. The handwoven, grass-fiber bridge has been ceremonially replaced every year for the past 600 years.
Dogs evolved puppy eyes to bond with us. Their human-like eyebrow muscles give them a range of expressions that wolves lack.
Elon Musk did not delete his Twitter account. The Tesla CEO tweeted “Just deleted my Twitter account” from his active, very much not-deleted account.
US sanctions are cramping the Iranian art scene. Cash-only transactions and scarce supplies are making life a logistical nightmare for artists and galleries.
Taiwan is obsessed with arcade claw machines. Players use joysticks to jostle for prizes like plush toys, hairdryers, lingerie, and vegetables.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, macarons, and inventive claw machines prizes 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.