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What to watch for today
The US and India hold trade talks… Secretary of state Mike Pompeo arrives in New Delhi ahead of a meeting between US president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit. The two sides will talk tariffs, oil exports, US visa restrictions, and India’s controversial data storage requirements.
…while a US-led conference on Palestine kicks off in Bahrain. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will lay out his $50 billion plan to spur the Palestinian economy at the two-day event. Critics say the plan ignores the political roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Palestinian officials are boycotting the meeting.
Earnings insights from the trade war. Trade uncertainty has hit both chipmaker Micron Technology, which expects to see its third-quarter revenue drop more than a third, and FedEx, which reports fourth-quarter profit. FedEx yesterday sued the US government over a Trump administration ban on exports to some Chinese companies.
While you were sleeping
Iran responded to sanctions. The country’s foreign ministry said that new sanctions imposed by the Trump administration signaled the “permanent closure of the channel of diplomacy.” John Bolton, speaking today from the first-ever trilateral summit between US, Russia, and Israel national security advisers in Jerusalem, said the US was still open to talks.
Boris Johnson defended his positions. The frontrunner to replace Theresa May as UK prime minister told the BBC that he was willing to let the UK leave the EU without a deal if necessary, and refused to address a recent police visit to his home after an apparent fight with his partner. Meanwhile, an analysis of Johnson’s proposed tax cuts estimate they would most benefit the country’s wealthiest.
The White House said it would bar Kellyanne Conway from testifying to Congress. Trump’s senior adviser will not testify before a House panel about her alleged violations of the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in some political activities. The move sets up another potential subpoena battle between the executive and legislative branches.
Nissan set out new governance steps. Shareholders approved a plan by the Japanese automaker to overhaul its approach to compensation, board nominations, and auditing. French alliance partner Renault initially said it would abstain from the vote, signaling how strained relations have become since last year’s arrest of former longtime chairman Carlos Ghosn.
A successful space launch and return. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy accomplished its third launch last night, carrying 24 experimental satellites. Meanwhile, Canadian, Russian and American astronauts returned to Earth today from the International Space Station after more than six months in space.
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On day two of our guide to traveling like a pro we’re looking at when to find the best hotel deals and how to apply for the US government’s expedited screening programs for frequent fliers, including Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. In our members-only video series, we chat with Box CEO Aaron Levie on the questions every founder should answer in their pitch to investors.
Quartz Obsession
After five decades, the cryonics movement hasn’t cooled. In 1967, a TV repairman put the first cryonics patient on ice, and though only three companies offer the service, hundreds of people have been frozen and thousands are on a waiting list. But proof of concept hasn’t advanced beyond nematodes. Gaze into the future at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Infants could be protected from adversity before it happens. Researchers are trying to identify the children most vulnerable to stress with a resilience test.
Gender pronouns in the workplace aren’t a passing trend. The corporate world is waking up to the power of inviting people to be seen for who they are.
Young people are getting less tolerant. The rise of hate speech on social platforms is cultivating a toxic culture.
Surprising discoveries
A rare giant squid took a trip to the Gulf of Mexico. The young 10-footer was caught briefly on camera—the first known appearance in that part of the world.
Bacteria could boost our physical performance. A type of gut bacteria appears to be more abundant in marathon runners after a race, and may give athletes a helping hand.
Neo-Nazis went thirsty at a far-right rock festival. A German court banned beer at the event in hopes of keeping attendance down.
China is haunted by “ghost” museums. A boom in cultural facilities has left hundreds of architecturally impressive buildings underused or empty.
Horseshoe crab blood fetches up to $60,000 a gallon. The “blue gold” blood is used to test for infection.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, altruistic bacteria, and crabs-on-the-lam 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 Amanda Shendruk and edited by Jackie Bischof.