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What to watch for today
The UK economy likely shrank… Surveys of economists suggest GDP probably contracted in the three months to June, as a no-deal Brexit looms. Both foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, who clashed in a debate last night as they compete to be Britain’s next prime minister, are prepared to leave the EU without a deal.
…And the US takes stock of its economy. Fed chairman Jerome Powell will take the congressional stage for the next two days to deliver his semiannual testimony. He’s likely to signal a coming rate cut as an attempt to buffer the US economy from the effects of trade disputes and a global economy slowdown. The Fed’s June minutes will also be out.
The IAEA holds an emergency meeting on Iran. At Washington’s request, the UN nuclear agency will meet to discuss Iran breaching the uranium enrichment limits set in a 2015 nuclear agreement from which the US withdrew last year.
While you were sleeping
Mexico got a new finance minister. Arturo Herrera, a former World Bank executive, replaced Carlos Urzúa, who quit yesterday after accusing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration of making economic policy that is not “based on evidence.” The peso tumbled on the resignation.
The top US and China trade officials got on the phone. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin chatted with Chinese vice premier Liu He and commerce minister Zhong Shan. In-person trade talks collapsed in May and it’s still unclear when they’ll resume.
The US warned Turkey over its drilling near Cyprus. The US urged Turkey to stop its oil-and-gas drilling off the island, which is divided into a Turkish-recognized north and an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south. Egypt also warned the drilling could escalate tensions in the region.
Central Perk will relocate to a new Netflix rival. WarnerMedia said its subscription streaming service will be called HBO Max, and will be the exclusive home from next year for the classic sitcom Friends, currently licensed to Netflix. It’s another sign a more fragmented and expensive age of entertainment is approaching.
An Israeli minister called intermarriage “a second Holocaust.” Education minister Rafi Peretz made the comment about diaspora Jews marrying outside the religion, particularly in the US, at a meeting on the state of the world’s Jewish population.
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Continuing this week’s deep dive into data brokers, Olivia Goldhill examines how propaganda spread by data “bombs” pushed Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro to power, and what this means for elections around the world. Plus, we continue our members-only video interview with Brandless CEO Tina Sharkey, who describes the one thing employers should look for in prospective hires that isn’t on their resume.
Quartz Obsession
If an eco-tax doesn’t keep you from flying, maybe Flugscham will. It’s the sinking feeling you get when you realize your trip to Miami or Lisbon is a mighty contributor to climate change. Globetrotters are turning to trains, buses, and boats in increasing numbers in an attempt to limit the carbon footprints of their travels. Take a look from 30,000 feet with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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It pays for young people to move abroad. Workers under 35 get big raises and new skills as expats.
Robots are the new space adventurers. While humans languish on the space station, drones zoom across the solar system.
It’s time to leave Facebook forever. Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak says its benefits don’t justify the loss of privacy.
Surprising discoveries
Post-it notes have become a protest weapon in Hong Kong. It’s part of a colorful strategy to spread demonstrators’ demands.
Kids shouldn’t play with sporks. A plush doll based on Forky the spork, from Toy Story 4, has been recalled over safety issues.
Hackers can peep through Zoom users’ webcams. You’re at risk if you’ve ever installed the videoconferencing software on a Mac.
Hand dryers harm children’s hearing. A 13-year-old scientist measured bathroom decibel levels dangerous to kids’ sensitive ears.
A plan to shame plastic bag users backfired. A Canadian grocery store printed embarrassing logos on its bags, but customers wanted them even more.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, political Post-its, and tasteful tote bags 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 Tripti Lahiri and edited by Isabella Steger.